Robotech Kickstarter Funded at $1.44 Million!

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**Mike1975**

I'll have a game update up shortly. Here is an updated copy of the pre-released rules with updates based off of the Tactical Briefings and some info from the RPG.

https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0VSNzmthd1vSUhEWklpejNwb2s&usp=sharing

**Easy E**

So, when does this actually go on sale for the general public?

**warboss**

Supposedly shortly after backers get their products. The timetable says mid Dec 2013 right now for backers but it is a kickstarter... run by Palladium who haven't finished their previous two crowdfunding endeavors scheduled for release in late summer 2012... worked on by the guys who have yet to bring you Relic Knights. I'd suggest flavoring the Dec 2013 date with a whole lotta salt just in case.

They had previously stated that they're shipping to backers first and right after to distributors/stores. Only a select portion of the minis will be available on the normal market right away though (basically, the starter box and boosters of anything in the starter box IIRC).

**Forar**

A tiny, almost pedantic clarification; Wave 1 is supposed to be the Starter Box and the following expansions;

Battlepod pack (6)
Command Pod Pack (Command Pod, Recon Pod, Recovery Pod)
Artillery Support Pack (4, can be made as Light or Heavy).
Veritech Pack (2 fighters in 3 modes each)
Tomahawk/Defender Pack (2 each, 4 models total)
Spartan/Phalanx Pack (2 each, 4 models total).

So basically 'what is found in the starter, plus one other expansion for each side', in that the Artillery Pods and Phalanx/Spartans aren't found in the base box.

But everything else said is right on the money. They gave an initial target of December, then the day after the campaign closed they revised that to a tentative/hopeful October/November, then doubled down by hoping to debut the game at Detroit Fanfare at the end of October, and then last week they revised it again to December for Backers, with retail sometime (presumably shortly) thereafter.

I've taken to reading through the updates provided for Relic Knights, to see how they compare against the Ninja Division efforts. It's interesting to see how SP started providing stat cards and regular updates compared to the Robotech campaign. Obviously there are more cooks in the kitchen on this one, it being a joint endeavor between 3 entities, one of which is made up of personnel from several others, but it'd be nice to start getting, say, a weekly card (front and back).

Starting to hit updates closer to when the original estimate showed up, I imagine the following pages should make for enlightening reading material.

Edit: apparently one thing they used to assuage the ire of the backers was to promise a pdf version of the rules back in April. Preeeety sure PB will be quashing that.

**warboss**

I've been peripherally following the relic knights thread so I may be off on my dates but IIRC that campaign is on track to be 6 months late at this point (assuming nothing else goes wrong). IIRC it was only once they announced just how late they were going to be that they started releasing rules and other paper-type products to placate the masses. If they only started releasing weekly stat cards when for instance 4 months late (taking a wild guess there), it wouldn't be fair to compare Robotech to Relic Knights until 4 months after the initial KS due date of December 2013.

That said... I firmly believe that they should publish the stats and rules prior to the game's release for free. This isn't an RPG like they're used to selling and they won't make their profits off of the rules themselves but rather the hordes of minis you can use with the rules. Palladium is *ahem* not exactly known for solid rules and apparently the first release of Relic Knights rules weren't exactly well recieved either so a public vetting might help get rid of some of the most obvious and egregious problems that the playtesters didn't catch or that the companies didn't feel were problems but are. Publishing the rules (assuming that they're not buggy flawed pieces of crap) is basically advertising for your game and encourages hype/discussion.

**Forar**

Nah, going back through the updates, they started putting out at least a few cards and book pages in, like, February, but didn't announce the push to November until April. I'm not actually in the campaign, so I'm just perusing the comments and updates. They also had giant piles of pics for figures during December, some kind of 'christmas present', it seems.

But yeah, 5-6 months delayed, though that seems to tie into both Chinese New Year and getting their stuff slotted into the production schedule of the factory they're working with.

... hopefully Ninja Division isn't working with the same one. "ooops, looks like Robotech will have to get pushed back to March because Relic Knights ate up 3 months of production time we were hoping to snag."

If that happened they might as well just include a trollface.jpg in with the update.

**warboss**

Forar wrote:
... hopefully Ninja Division isn't working with the same one. "ooops, looks like Robotech will have to get pushed back to March because Relic Knights ate up 3 months of production time we were hoping to snag."

If that happened they might as well just include a trollface.jpg in with the update.

You know.. even my pessimistic mind hadn't thought of that... wow.. yeah.. that is possible as a worst case scenario and would suck royally. I would hope that the two schedules/contracts/factories are separate but, judging from reports across the virtual street from the videogame world where money/resources/people paid to work on one game are reappropriated for another when the poop hits the fan, it's not impossible. I have *zero* insider info but my impression was that Palladium was using Soda's connections in the minis world as they themselves have almost none so there is a big chance that they're being made at the same place since there doesn't seem to be alot of factories interested in doing toy soldier minis. Hopefully it's not the case and CMON directly handled the relic knights plastics production.

**Mike1975**

I've created stats that I feel are close to what is intended with the Robotech release. I have all the UEDF and Zen units except the Jotun, YF-4's, and experimental Zentraedi units. I've been tinkering with stats for Southern Cross, New Gen, Invid, and Sentinels units. They are availble to download on my google drive. I should probably update with what I did earlier this week. I've had to create a few new traits like shield to handle the invid's arm shields and the Hovertanks and Logan's shields. I also invented a quick stat. This makes units that are small and fast like cyclones and bioroids have a +1 bonus when dodging but does not increase the defense stat. So these units are not harder to hit but can dodge easier when they are hit and the cost of a command point.

**Cypher-xv**

From the recent press release...
"Also in final production is Robotech® RPG Tactics™. The finished rule book, stat cards, box designs, and other elements are all in final production and starting to come in for final feedback and approval. ALL sculpts but one have been completed, approved and sent to manufacturing for mold-making. The game line is dynamic and powerful. Though there have been some unexpected delays at Ninja Division and in mold-making, we are still shooting for a December release."
also...
"Yes, there are some advertisements and promotional material circulating that says Robotech® RPG Tactics™ will be out in the Fall of 2013. Others suggest November or December. These were our original projections based on the best information Palladium Books and Ninja Division had at the time. A) We are still shooting for a December release, but don’t know yet if that’s a sure thing. B) Kickstarter supporters will be shipped goods BEFORE Palladium ships to distributors. We appreciate your support and have your back.

"

I got the above from the comments section. This could explain a lack of updates. Also real classy of PB throwing ND under the bus in case there is a delay announcement.

**rigeld2**

Did you really expect anything else? (wrt the bus throwing)

**Brother Weasel**

It's not really throwing under the bus if there are delays at ND and in mold making...

would you rather them say everything is going fine and it should be released tomorrow, and have it not happen?

or maybe "we have problems so there will be a delay" (at which time everyone who cares will be up in arms that they don't tell what the problems is)

**Taarnak**

Brother Weasel wrote:

or maybe "we have problems so there will be a delay" (at which time everyone who cares will be up in arms that they don't tell what the problems is)

That is throwing ND and the caster under the bus though. They didn't tell what the problem(s) is/are. Just that there were some, and not on their end.

Everyone expected the delays, I think. Probably no one familiar with Palladium is surprised by them passing the buck, though.

~Eric

**rigeld2**

Brother Weasel wrote:
It's not really throwing under the bus if there are delays at ND and in mold making...

would you rather them say everything is going fine and it should be released tomorrow, and have it not happen?

or maybe "we have problems so there will be a delay" (at which time everyone who cares will be up in arms that they don't tell what the problems is)

A statement by Palladium is saying "it's late but the other guy did it". The right way is for Palladium to say "it's late due to some unavoidable issues. We're working to get things out ASAP. " and potentially have ND release a statement. As the project manager (essentially PBs role) throwing someone under the bus like that is annoying to me.
We don't need specifics of what caused the delay (unless there's delay after delay after delay... Ref: Sedition Wars).

**Brother Weasel**

so, either they should tell everything or nothing. (by reading 2 different posts...)

I'm no megafan of Palladium, though i did enjoy their stuff when i played more RPGs,

But seriously "it's late due to some unavoidable issues. We're working to get things out ASAP. " you thin that won't cause an uproar of people who would just blame it on palladium always being late?

Meh, i just don't see it the same way, maybe i'm to old

**warboss**

It's not technically late... yet. They just didn't live up to their ridiculous revision of the goal.

**Forar**

It's not hypocritical to ask that they A) communicate clearly with their backers, and B) be realistic, both with us and themselves.

Particularly because B has been a problem for Palladium for longer than many of their fans have been alive.

**rigeld2**

Brother Weasel wrote:
But seriously "it's late due to some unavoidable issues. We're working to get things out ASAP. " you thin that won't cause an uproar of people who would just blame it on palladium always being late?

As the people managing the project, they are late. It's their responsibility it the product makes it out late.
Is it always their fault? No. But they're the ones that announced the deadlines (and shortened/extended them). They're the ones coordinating everything.

If I order something from my FLGS and he tells me weekly that the distributor hasn't filled it for 4 months straight, I don't see it as his distributors fault. The FLGS is the one that took my money and should be getting me product.

Now - it's not realistic to take the molding/casting work elsewhere, but Palladium should take responsibility for building in essentially zero padding time into the schedule.

Didn't they say that most of the molds were already done?

**Forar**

Nah, they've been saying that most of the models were done for months now, but last we heard they're just starting to get molds done recently.

From their Sept 20th update:

Also in final production is Robotech® RPG Tactics™. The finished rule book, stat cards, box designs, and other elements are all in final production and starting to come in for final feedback and approval. ALL sculpts but one have been completed, approved and sent to manufacturing for mold-making. The game line is dynamic and powerful. Though there have been some unexpected delays at Ninja Division and in mold-making, we are still shooting for a December release.

**warboss**

A quick update on the Kickstarter with a preview pic. No word unfortunately on the almost 4 month delayed Design the Ace Contest.

Sorry for the Silence

At long last, an update! Sorry for the last couple weeks, everyone. Fear not, we've been very busy behind the scenes, working to put the final touches on everything and get manufacturing started. The rulebook is in final layout, and should be sent in for approvals sometime next week. The Jotun Armored Valkyrie sculpt is done, and you can see some posed renders below. We’re down to just a couple of sculpts left to finalize, namely a minor change to the Super Valkyrie, and a few modifications to the YF-4 Guardian and Battloid modes. Those should all be coming in any time now. Game stat cards have been laid out and are being finalized now. Product packaging is also in the works, so hopefully we can start showing final designs soon.

Delivery Estimate
We are still shooting for a December ship date, but we don’t know yet if that’s a sure thing. What we do know is that Kickstarter backers will be shipped goods BEFORE we ship to distributors. What’s more, you’ll receive everything all at once, while the initial retail release will only include the main game and the first six expansion packs, with the rest coming out in waves throughout 2014. But you, wise Kickstarter backer, will already have all the things.

Including, as mentioned above, the mighty Jotun Armored Valkyrie, pictured here:

And from the latest murmur on the Palladium site....

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™

Whew, we are getting near the finish line for this project as well. We've had several telephone calls, traded scores of emails, and had one conference call to get Robotech® RPG Tactics™ into full-blown manufacturing. Jeff and Wayne have reviewed and sent feedback on 133 mecha stat cards, a few final sculpts, and preliminary material for the final packaging and text for it. Plus some last minute artwork additions. We are on the job and the game is looking good!
UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Kickstarter Supporters

We’ll try to keep posting updates here and on the Kickstarter page with updates and progress on Robotech® RPG Tactics™. We appreciate your support and excitement about this product line.
The Alliance Trade Show, First Weekend of October

Wayne, Jeff and I will be at the Alliance Trade Show next weekend, where we’ll be demonstrating Robotech® RPG Tactics™, showing off game pieces, and chatting with Alliance sales reps (they are our biggest distributor) and a few hundred retailers. We have BIG plans for Rifts®, Robotech®, and all our game lines. If you are a retailer planning to attend the show, make sure you swing by the Palladium booth.

**Forar**

Eh, it's something. I'd like to hold them to a higher standard, but at this point I'll take what I can get.

They have 96 days until the end of the year (yes, I'm counting), and between production and two rounds of shipping (China to distribution, distribution to backers) I'm not overly optimistic. Like, it's nice to hear they're still aiming for December, but it's not going to be too long before they're going to have to gak or get off the pot, and either give us a thumbs up, or start the unfortunate update we're all at least partially expecting to show up any day now.

Bonus points if it's delivered as some kind of grand opportunity to deliver a quality product that they can all be happy with and know we'll totally love, like woah man.

**Mike1975**

Updated my rules with Force Org Charts from all 3 factions included, did a cheat sheet for game modifiers too.

Ready Pics
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0VSNzmthd1vMUtSd1FiR1lZQW8&usp=sharing

Rules and Stats as well as conversion spreadsheet from RPG to Tactics and Cheat Sheet for gameplay
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0VSNzmthd1vSUhEWklpejNwb2s&usp=sharing

Counters
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B0VSNzmthd1vNkxvTTJ2SnJzZ2s&usp=sharing

**warboss**

Forar wrote:
Eh, it's something. I'd like to hold them to a higher standard, but at this point I'll take what I can get.

They have 96 days until the end of the year (yes, I'm counting), and between production and two rounds of shipping (China to distribution, distribution to backers) I'm not overly optimistic. Like, it's nice to hear they're still aiming for December, but it's not going to be too long before they're going to have to gak or get off the pot, and either give us a thumbs up, or start the unfortunate update we're all at least partially expecting to show up any day now.

Bonus points if it's delivered as some kind of grand opportunity to deliver a quality product that they can all be happy with and know we'll totally love, like woah man.

Getting it during the original real release period (and not the farce that was the October revision) would be great and a bit unexpected so I've cautiously been expecting January instead. As long as it comes in January, I won't start whining about the delivery date. If I don't have all of it by May then imo there is ample reason for massive grumbling to start. That said... the "updates" are starting to sound alot like the ridiculous "we're in final stages... last bits of art are coming in.. almost ready to go!" announcements that we saw with the Northern Gun books this time last year that were obviously not true. They said the majority of sculpts were done *PRIOR* to the kickstarter which obviously wasn't true if they're still making changes to the super valkyrie which was one of the first couple of real unlocks (and something everyone expected unlike the Jotun). I consider sculpts done when they've been approved by Harmony Gold and are ready to go.. not just that some guy in the digital department says they're done and no one at ND or PB has preapproved them let alone sent them to HG for changes. Same thing with the art.

Here is the blurb from the front page of the KS that has been there from the very beginning. It sure does sound like they haven't done much since mid-April if you take both at their word...

To help ensure realistic deadlines, we have completed the vast majority of our development before launching the Kickstarter. Sculpts for the game pieces are almost entirely complete. The rulebook and game components are deep in development and will be ready for layout soon. Our manufacturers are also ready and have reserved factory time for the project. This means that as soon as the project is funded, we can lock down a timeline with our manufacturers to get the game produced.

**Mike1975**

To be fair warboss remember that the original KS did not have a large selection of minis. Valks, battloids, pods, and maybe the Glaug. If they people at Palladium honestly did not believe that the KS would get as far as it did then their statement that most of the molds were already done is true and correct. I think that adding of the backer # bonuses shows that they did not expect the response that they had and we pleasantly surprised. They may have not even thought they would as far as releasing the Mac II. Now they have to adjust for the final kickstarter results and be honest with us and with themselves and I am not 100% confident they are at this point.

**warboss**

I realize that which is why I specified a difference between the super valk being unfinished versus the Jotun. They had a bunch of "unlocks" that they had planned to include from the very beginning (like dice and markers) as they were in the intro video prior to the kickstarter actually starting let alone being unlocked. It's likely that the same is true of the "unlocked" models that everyone expected. Basically, anything that had a render pic during the KS is something that they obviously worked on but those same supposedly almost finished models are almost finished 4 months later yet again. I'm not sure if you're new to Palladium fandom but the above is a tried and true method they have used for decades (claiming they've done more than they actually have and counting their chicks before they've hatched).

**warboss**

Looks like we're in January territory as I expected back in May. I'd rather have a more realistic revised release date than the NG1 style endless circle of reassuring but empty platitudes. Kudos to palladium for putting on the big boy britches and taking off the rose colored glasses. Hopefully this will be the only delay. Also, it looks like the waves will be spaced apart about 3-4 months which is probably a good idea so it'll likely take all of 2014 to get the whole macross series out. They really should put this kind of stuff in Kickstarter updates though...

http://www.palladiumbooks.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=688:palladium-booksr-weekly-update-october-12-2013&catid=52:weekly-updates&Itemid=183

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™

The rule book is laid out. We’re helping Ninja Division give it one last proofread. Alex and Julius went through it on Friday. Wayne’s looking it over now. The final sculpts for the YF-4 have also come in, and we’re looking over the redone 130+ data cards. Packaging has also started to come in. Once everything is finalized, we send it in to Harmony Gold for their stamp of approval (and any changes). After Harmony Gold signs off, we send it all in to manufacturing! Like I said last week, we can hardly wait to get Robotech® RPG Tactics™ into full-blown manufacturing and into your hands. Getting there. Looking awesome.

Palladium Books will be demonstrating the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game all weekend at the Detroit Fanfare Convention in Dearborn, Michigan, October 25-27. Convention special figures of Max and Miriya’s mecha (both in metal) will be available for sale at Fanfare – 100 of each. Sold on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last. These are the same convention exclusives sold at Gen Con, only Miriya is in white metal this time, not resin. The Harmony Gold Robotech® Tour is also taking place at this gaming and comic book convention, with special guest speakers and giveaways. Join the fun!

**snip**

UPDATE: Robotech® RPG Tactics™

The only product people are more excited about than the two Rifts® Northern Gun releases is Robotech® RPG Tactics™. Momentum is building to a fever pitch. Fans will not be disappointed. Demos at the Alliance Trade Show got nothing but big, toothy smiles and positive reviews. (You can demo it yourself at Detroit Fanfare, October 25-27, in Dearborn, Michigan). Here are some of the latest developments . . .

● Flexible Date of Release: We are still hopeful for December, but its release may slip into January, 2014. Ninja Division’s original projections had product delivery at October or November. I fear we were all a bit too optimistic. In order to make this game line everything it can be, there have been delays. As a result, the game has yet to begin manufacturing. That said, 98% of the work is completed, the game pieces look incredible, and Ninja Division is wrapping up on final packaging, layout and tweaks. We expect to get final approval from licensor Harmony Gold in two or three weeks. At which point, Robotech® RPG Tactics™ goes into manufacturing. Factoring in manufacturing time, shipping from China and other factors, it is looking more and like a January 2014 release. We’ll see. Note: As stated in the past, we will ship product to the Kickstarter supporters before we ship to distributors.

● Plastic game pieces. All of the 1/285th scale game pieces in the box set and expansion packs are plastic. (Special editions and limited releases for conventions and the Kickstarter may be in resin and/or metal.)

● Expansions released in waves. Palladium plans to release Robotech® RPG Tactics™ products in waves. The core box game and first six expansion packs will be the initial release. 4-6 additional expansion packs of mecha game pieces will ship approximately every three months thereafter.

● Robotech® RPG products – available now. Don’t forget that Robotech® RPG products are available now. They include the Robotech® Shadow Chronicles® core rule book available as a $30.95 hardcover (Cat. No. 550HC) and as a $16.95 manga-sized RPG paperback (Cat. No. 550), and the Macross® Saga Sourcebook (Cat. No. 551) which is the same setting as the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game. Each book is a wealth of background information about Robotech® and fun to read and play. With excitement growing for Robotech® RPG Tactics™, there is renewed interest in the Robotech® role-playing game line.

● New Robotech® RPG products coming in 2014. Palladium has three new Robotech® sourcebooks in development. UEEF Marines Sourcebook One, UEEF Marines Sourcebook Two and The Zentraedi Protectorate Sourcebook are all slated for release before Summer 2014. Additional Robotech® sourcebooks are on the drawing board.

● Palladium is working with Harmony Gold to expand the scope of its license to provide you with an even greater range of Robotech® products.

**Forar**

Yeah, for whatever snark and mockery I may bring up, I'd rather be dealt with honestly and clearly. I'm not excited about a January delivery, but if they make it, it's not a big deal either. If it becomes an ongoing series of delays one after the other, it'll be a problem.

As noted in the comments, I think early November will be our next checkpoint. If HG comes back with "yah bro, totes badass" and production actually begins (rather than just totally being 98% of the way to being done, where we've been for about four months), that'd be great. If we get "so we need to revise a couple of things, and maybe rewrite a bit, it's totally cool and you guys are going to love it!" some more, we might as well go find the torches and pitchforks, because if NG-1 has taught us anything, it's that simple patience just means you wait an extra year.

**warboss**

I'll start believing the palladium press release claims of "everyone at the office loved it! zomg!" when they post something about an upcoming book stating that "you know... pretty much everyone thought it sucked" and they don't get fired. You can't have every product be the ultimate superlative and expect people to not think you're full of crap/yourself.

**Cypher-xv**

warboss wrote:
I'll start believing the palladium press release claims of "everyone at the office loved it! zomg!" when they post something about an upcoming book stating that "you know... pretty much everyone thought it sucked" and they don't get fired. You can't have every product be the ultimate superlative and expect people to not think you're full of crap/yourself.

Are you talking about ng1? PB throwing ND under the doesn't surprise me. With too many cooks in the kitchen Kev now has egg on his face, and from what I've read from the links posted here an on the ks comments I would bet that when the game comes out if it doesn't met folks expectations I'm sure he'll publicly blame everyone but himself. "Jazz Hands"

**warboss**

Lol, Forar, your *jazz hands*™ are officially a thing! While I agree that Palladium has a long history of playing the blame game, I don't think they're throwing ND under the figurative bus with those statements. While I doubt that the blame lies (pun intended) solely with one link in the chain, if ND has been busy with their own Relic Knights it is possible that they're at least partly to blame. The big issue for me is the grand proclamation preKS that 90% was done including HG approvals and sculpts (both absolutely untrue). What exactly about the super valkyrie was done and approved if theyre still tweaking everything from the rules to the art to the sculpt DURING the revised Oct delivery estimate?

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

I fear they will find that both manufacturing and especially shipping in the run up to Xmas (especially as it clearly has yet to be booked) will be a lot harder than they thought

You've then got customs just before or just after Xmas (so either when they're snowed under, or when they're giving time off in lieu for extra Xmas work)

Plus coming into a US where the Government may or may not be running right (or with luck may be recovering from the damage of not running)

my guess it will arrive at the warehouse late February and take till the end of April to finish shipping