Robotech Kickstarter Funded at $1.44 Million!

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**Mike1975**

Messing with options for playing and easily posting results.....

**Mike1975**

Idea Nixed, takes too much time and effort, easier to play on the table by far.

**warboss**

Have you tried Vassal? I've used it for HG. It's not very easy to play but it is better than nothing.

**fruitlewps**

Anyone know where I can get 3d models of buildings in the same scale as the RRT figures so I can 3D print them? I backed a kickstarter for a 3D printer and wanted to get resources together to print some stuff out!

**Forar**

Update #139 May 1 2014
Regult and Glaug Command Pack Sprues, and a Message from the Publisher

Hey, all. Another busy week. Here are the highlights:

Valkyrie sprue layouts are done, at last.

Latest word on the Valkyrie prototypes is that “they should be mailed this week to the USA.” Our fingers are crossed.

All of our edits for the Destroids have been addressed, so tooling for them should begin any time.

Jeff and I have been making our final adjustments to the painting guide. Primarily, Jeff collected all the hex color codes, and modified the Valkyrie Battloids and a handful of other mecha images to show one arm turned, so you can see all four sides.

Final plastic colors have been chosen for the production game pieces. Zentraedi mecha will be in a light gray, and UEDF forces in a light brown. I’ll get a good photo to show you how they compare as soon as I can.

Tooling for the Regult Battlepods and Glaug Command Pack is done, and the molds have had some test runs. As the title above says, we've got some photos of those to show you, and I’ll put them below. But first, a word from the publisher.

UPDATE Robotech® RPG Tactics™ - May 1, 2014

Based on some rumblings we have been hearing, I would like to try to clear up what seems like a misunderstanding by some people. Robotech® RPG Tactics™ has not been delayed because Palladium Books is continuing to produce role-playing products or putting our efforts elsewhere. In fact, it is the other way around; many of the RPG products we had planned for 2013 release were delayed until this year and they are only now just starting to be released in 2014. That’s because we have been devoting so much time to Robotech® RPG Tactics™. The Robotech® Kickstarter has been our top priority since day one.

The manufacturer is NOT waiting on Palladium, we are waiting on them. When we get prototypes for approval we jump on reviewing them, making any necessary adjustments and contacting Ninja Division to pass them on to the manufacturer. We are every bit as dismayed and frustrated as you when it comes to why there have been so many delays and why EVERYTHING seems to be taking so long. It has been driving us absolutely bonkers, so we understand exactly how you feel. It was Palladium Books’ honest and sincere expectation that Robotech® RPG Tactics™ would be released last November or December, and then in the Spring. We've been waiting weeks now – since the GAMA Trade Show – to get the prototypes and final sprue layout for the iconic and pivotal Valkyries. Apparently, there were delays and problems getting the molds broken down into sprues and done right. We've only been getting final sprue layouts in recent weeks.

As you know, Palladium is completely new to the wargame business. That’s why we joined forces with the talented gents at Ninja Division – the combined talents of Soda Pop Miniatures and Cipher Studios. Palladium is trusting their knowledge and expertise in all aspects of sculpting, mold making, sprue breakdowns and manufacturing. Like you, we assume they are doing everything in their power to make this the best product possible and to get Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to market as quickly as possible. You know the Ninja Division/Soda Pop/Cipher Studios reputation for quality, so you KNOW what you can expect from them with regard to Robotech® RPG Tactics™. In fact, both Palladium Books and Ninja Division (Soda Pop/Cipher Studios) are known for their quality products. And our goal from the start has been to make Robotech® RPG Tactics™ a fun, quality game that wargamers and Robotech® fans will go wild over.

For reasons beyond our control and full understanding, this project has proven to be much more challenging than I think any of us at Palladium or Ninja Division anticipated, but we are working hard to give you a product that captures the look, detail and experience of Robotech®. A game with gorgeous sculpts and that is a ton of fun to play.

We have put our hearts and souls into this product line. Palladium Books has NEVER put Robotech® RPG Tactics™ aside to work on something else. In fact, while we've been waiting for molds, sprues and manufacturing to be finalized, we have been fine-tuning and adding to the things we have some direct control over, such as the creation of a comprehensive color guide, reworking the decal sheet to include as many vital images as possible, and other aspects of the product. As soon as the last prototypes and sprue breakdowns are hammered out, we are off to the races with Wave One.

We want Robotech® RPG Tactics™ NOW, just like you! And if we could have made it happen more quickly, we would have done so. But it’s not as easy as that. And so we wait, with you, until it is all done right, without sacrificing quality. Every day, we get a little closer. We have tried to be positive about it all, because wringing our hands and complaining won’t make things go any faster. We know how hard we are all working to make Robotech® RPG Tactics™ great. We are confident you’ll be pleased with the final product. And it is coming. I promise.

As for missing Adepticon. Palladium has been so busy working on various products, including Robotech® RPG Tactics™, that Adepticon was not even on our radar. My apologies for that. I wish the guys at Ninja Division had reminded us about this important convention, and we would have been there. But I’m sure they have a lot on their plate. That’s where you, our Kickstarter supporters, can help. Please point out the 3-6 most important wargame/miniature game conventions you think Palladium Books should attend and we’ll look into being at some of them. Remember, we are new to your world and we could use your help to get better acquainted with it. We always appreciate constructive and positive suggestions, so please give us a hand. Your help is super-important and greatly appreciated.

Sincerely – Kevin Siembieda, Publisher

New Sprues

And now, as promised, the new photos.

Here we see, fresh off the presses, the Regult Tactical Battlepods. Sorry for the poor lighting in this pic. Don’t worry, when we get our test runs from the factory, we’ll take more photos and show them to you.

Here are the Glaug Officer’s Battlepod and Quel-Regult Recon Pod. Note: This plastic is a darker gray than what will be used for the final product.

And here’s the Quel-Gulnau Recovery Pod.

I haven’t gotten to assemble the Artillery Pod yet. I've got my X-acto knife and model glue ready, but I just haven’t been able to find a spare moment these last few days. Soon, I swear. Believe me, I'm looking forward to it.

Have a good weekend, everyone.

**deleted20250424**

Oh man, the responses should be good. I can't wait to see them.

It's late and the 2 things I caught when I skimmed....

You forgot about Adepticon. Really? I.... wow... that has to be one of the worst BS lines I've heard since someone told me the check is in the mail.

Secondly, I love the "pass the buck/blame ND & Soda Pop" lines. Total class right there. If ND/Soda Pop are supposed to be the lead on the minis... why do the RRT ones look like they do compared to those companies products?

Curious that.

**Bob the Accountant**

Mother of....if they worked for me they all would have been fired by now.

**Morgan Vening**

TalonZahn wrote:
Oh man, the responses should be good. I can't wait to see them.

It's late and the 2 things I caught when I skimmed....

You forgot about Adepticon. Really? I.... wow... that has to be one of the worst BS lines I've heard since someone told me the check is in the mail.

Secondly, I love the "pass the buck/blame ND & Soda Pop" lines. Total class right there. If ND/Soda Pop are supposed to be the lead on the minis... why do the RRT ones look like they do compared to those companies products?

Curious that.

That's what infuriates me about the fanboi defense. "I don't care about the delays, as long as we get quality!". Well, I don't care that much about the delays (it's the lack of communication and apparent ineptness, more than the time loss itself). But we're getting IMO, crap, not quality. They're not going to be suitable for game pieces, they're more likely to be error prone (either as cast, or in attempting to get them off-sprue and assembled), they're not really posable (which I couldn't care less about) and it's not like they're even really dynamic. The base Spartan looks like the base Archer BT made 20+ years ago, except with the option to have missile pods open. And while they're more detailed than the old BT ones, it's not OMG levels of magnitude. So, umm... yay?

And it's always been about "quality over timeliness". Except now. Because of GenCon. It's "Screw it, need to get it done, need to get it done now!". Which leads to stuff like "Valkyrie Sprue Layouts are done. We should see what the prototypes look like next week. Maybe. We don't know.". Doing the sprue layout before you've seen the pre-prod prototypes is essentially hoping they're acceptable. Which means anything short of a major issue is either going to be ignored, or changed at the source without rechecking from PB. Which has the capacity to be a HUGE cluster for the most iconic mecha of the era.

And that's assuming they're done by GenCon. Even though the last two comments on deadline were May/June in an actual Update, and June/July "as they've said before" (Note, they'd never said it before). And that June/July statement says it will DELIVER in June/July. Not ship. Deliver. As it takes about 3 weeks to ship to Aus at the cheaper rate, I'm not seeing that. Sure, they could express post it, but they're already spending 30-50% of what I paid them to ship. Express posting that could easily double that.

But it's 100 days to GenCon. Even if they blow off the KS backers (and I have very little doubt they will, their disdain for us, and the cheerleaders who think it's acceptable aiding in that), it's 14 weeks. No estimate given on how long production will take. How long to the start because it's not like the company will be keeping the machines idle, how long to run the required numbers through and what those numbers are (are they going to do a run just for backers? Include GC stock? Include retail stock?), and how long to get it to the shipping company. No estimate on how long shipping will take. No estimate on how long it'll take them to fulfill 6500+ boxes, across 5342 orders, with 6 staff, a couple of Ninjas, and some volunteers.

So even though there's progress, and I'll admit there is, there's still so much unknown, that having faith they can deliver even this substandard (again, IMO) quality, on the timeframe they've revised twice already (more than twice, but I'm concentrating on their firmer dates, December and February), is next to nil, given their track record, and lack of transparency.

**Krinsath**

Clearly you guys should all write Ninja Division and ask them to not mention GenCon to Palladium; that'll get you a full month of attention since evidently PB has never heard of a calendar and will simply forget about it.

A statement like that does make clear where the source of snafus can be found...not that it was really in doubt of course.

**Morgan Vening**

Krinsath wrote:
Clearly you guys should all write Ninja Division and ask them to not mention GenCon to Palladium; that'll get you a full month of attention since evidently PB has never heard of a calendar and will simply forget about it.

A statement like that does make clear where the source of snafus can be found...not that it was really in doubt of course.

Yeah, that was ludicrous. So it makes the whole blame game suspect. "We can't find our own arse, with both hands! Must be someone else's fault!".

**judgedoug**

Sprue shots makes me super excited all over again. Those regults look like a cinch to assemble; can't wait to put together my horde.

Now, to paint them the SDF Macross or Macross DYRL color scheme...

**Conrad Turner**

Morgan Vening wrote:
Krinsath wrote:
Clearly you guys should all write Ninja Division and ask them to not mention GenCon to Palladium; that'll get you a full month of attention since evidently PB has never heard of a calendar and will simply forget about it.

A statement like that does make clear where the source of snafus can be found...not that it was really in doubt of course.

Yeah, that was ludicrous. So it makes the whole blame game suspect. "We can't find our own arse, with both hands! Must be someone else's fault!".

Could have been worse, it could have been an anomaly.

That's where they can find a cheek with one hand, but not the other!

(This post in no way reflects a belief that PB could find a single ass cheek with BOTH hands and an ass detector.)

**Forar**

Whelp, at least we have the Zentraedi Wave One stuff sprue'd out. 3 expansions down, 3 to go.

2 weeks from production starting (supposedly) and only half the sprues have been test molded? I'm no expert, but I continue to feel wary about this.

But hey, we've finally gone from 1/6 shown to 3/6. Progress! Not sure it's fast enough to keep pace with what they need to do in the next 3 months, but progress all the same.

**warboss**

Forar wrote:
Whelp, at least we have the Zentraedi Wave One stuff sprue'd out. 3 expansions down, 3 to go.

2 weeks from production starting (supposedly) and only half the sprues have been test molded? I'm no expert, but I continue to feel wary about this.

But hey, we've finally gone from 1/6 shown to 3/6. Progress! Not sure it's fast enough to keep pace with what they need to do in the next 3 months, but progress all the same.

Indeed. At least we're being shown something and that is progress. We're not just hearing about how Kevin showed his masseusse the minis and she couldn't stop raving about it. I still don't think it'll get out to any of us by gencon but there is a chance that Palladium can get a few hundred air freighted over to sell at gencon to ebay scalpers.

**Forar**

That'll just be the cherry on top. "So, anyone who was thinking of speculating a bit to fluff up our funding numbers? Feth you. Enjoy watching people sell Core Boxes for like 2 or 3 times MSRP while you wait for yours to deliver. Maybe you'll get a chunk of that, but oh well, enjoy your discounted models. I mean miniatures. Feth it, they're tiny models."

I mean, full disclosure, I do have a hefty list of gak that'll be going up for sale, and I can recoup tons even selling below retail, but yeah, I can see some people getting frustrated as ebay buyers potentially get their stuff before the people who funded the damned thing in the first place (let alone convention goers likely picking up Exclusives Wave 3 on our dime as well.

**Eumerin**

TalonZahn wrote:
You forgot about Adepticon. Really? I.... wow... that has to be one of the worst BS lines I've heard since someone told me the check is in the mail.

That's almost as brazen as Harmony Gold's explanation of why they didn't file suit when Macross Plus was released in the US without their "permission" - "We weren't paying attention."

**PapaSmurf**

sigh....why is it I see the cool AVP models i backed and then have to look at the overly complicated gak that these assh@ts are showing me....sigh

cheers
Papasmurf

**warboss**

You should really add GNAP! to that post if you're going to go angry purple smurf on us.

**Triple9**

Definitely not going to have the patience for assembling this one. I see this going into the closet when it arrives and only pulling a sprue out when I want to paint something different as a one off. So, probably get to a figure every 2 or 3 months.

**PapaSmurf**

GNAP!!

cheers
Papasmurf

**Bob the Accountant**

PapaSmurf wrote:
sigh....why is it I see the cool AVP models i backed and then have to look at the overly complicated gak that these assh@ts are showing me....sigh

cheers
Papasmurf

Not to mention Prodos announced AVP is starting manufacturing today.

**Cypher-xv**

So avp ended after the PB ks and it will probably get to backers before RRT. This just makes PB look even more incompetent.

**RogueRegault**

Eumerin wrote:
TalonZahn wrote:
You forgot about Adepticon. Really? I.... wow... that has to be one of the worst BS lines I've heard since someone told me the check is in the mail.

That's almost as brazen as Harmony Gold's explanation of why they didn't file suit when Macross Plus was released in the US without their "permission" - "We weren't paying attention."

I heard that Saban had swept through and hired away all of HG's licensing lawyers in while preparing to release Mighty Morphin Power Rangers in America.

**Bob the Accountant**

Cypher-xv wrote:
So avp ended after the PB ks and it will probably get to backers before RRT. This just makes PB look even more incompetent.

I think it's safe to say it has better odds than probably. LOL. PB is the definition of incompetence in my book now.

**deleted20250424**

Cypher-xv wrote:
So avp ended after the PB ks and it will probably get to backers before RRT. This just makes PB look even more incompetent.

All Quiet on The Martian Front ended 2 weeks after the RT KS.

It's a company smaller than PB, which is ludicrous anyway.

It's their first game that I know of, and first foray into miniatures, again that I know of.

That stuff is closer to being in my hands than RRT. The minis look better, and better made as well.

**Joyboozer**

I decide to sign up on their forums and post the following.

Hi
It would seem that even amongst Palladiums supporters their reputation for meeting deadlines and Kevin's exaggeration on project completion is less than favourable.
I started playing Palladium RPGs back in the late eighties and early nineties. At the time there was a group of about 20 players and there was never trouble getting a game. A few years later everyone had moved on to other systems. No real reason was given, but there was a definite lack of enthusiasm towards the end and no interest shown in ever going back.
That was my last contact with Palladium until Robotech RRT. Robotech, awesome right? I'll get every one I know on board, they'll all love it!
Turns out no, none would have a bar of it because of Palladiums reputation. This was the first I'd heard about peoples "issues" with Palladium, and is that widespread I can't find another player anywhere near me. Oh well, I decided to jump in anyway, it's Robotech, right? I've played games by Alessio Cavatore and his rules were solid, and the quality of the miniatures in Super Dungeon Explore is excellent, I have them all, what could go wrong? They'll all see after their worries were for nothing and will be all over this game on release.
So, now here we are, everything these naysaying friends said would happen, has.
While I can't claim to be angry, I'm disappointed. Even now in the kickstarter we're being told we should have done our research on Palladium and known what to expect, and that's coming from your defenders!

I'd like to know what's the plan for Palladium to turn things around? Not just in regards to RRT, but the companies reputation as a whole?
Why haven't we seen Kevin take the bull by the horns and adders the problems?
My first reaction as a project manager would be to jump on kickstarter and say right, here's the problems, here's what we're going to do by this date. Then keep on it every week. Earn back that trust.
Same here on the forums for the RPG stuff.

I'm sure suggestion in regards to this gave come up before, has anything ever been accomplished?

**Mike1975**

Joyboozer wrote:
I decide to sign up on their forums and post the following.

Hi
It would seem that even amongst Palladiums supporters their reputation for meeting deadlines and Kevin's exaggeration on project completion is less than favourable.
I started playing Palladium RPGs back in the late eighties and early nineties. At the time there was a group of about 20 players and there was never trouble getting a game. A few years later everyone had moved on to other systems. No real reason was given, but there was a definite lack of enthusiasm towards the end and no interest shown in ever going back.
That was my last contact with Palladium until Robotech RRT. Robotech, awesome right? I'll get every one I know on board, they'll all love it!
Turns out no, none would have a bar of it because of Palladiums reputation. This was the first I'd heard about peoples "issues" with Palladium, and is that widespread I can't find another player anywhere near me. Oh well, I decided to jump in anyway, it's Robotech, right? I've played games by Alessio Cavatore and his rules were solid, and the quality of the miniatures in Super Dungeon Explore is excellent, I have them all, what could go wrong? They'll all see after their worries were for nothing and will be all over this game on release.
So, now here we are, everything these naysaying friends said would happen, has.
While I can't claim to be angry, I'm disappointed. Even now in the kickstarter we're being told we should have done our research on Palladium and known what to expect, and that's coming from your defenders!

I'd like to know what's the plan for Palladium to turn things around? Not just in regards to RRT, but the companies reputation as a whole?
Why haven't we seen Kevin take the bull by the horns and adders the problems?
My first reaction as a project manager would be to jump on kickstarter and say right, here's the problems, here's what we're going to do by this date. Then keep on it every week. Earn back that trust.
Same here on the forums for the RPG stuff.

I'm sure suggestion in regards to this gave come up before, has anything ever been accomplished?

Unfortunately I think the last update was KS versions of taking thing in hand. Keep in mind that not everyone thinks that or accepts the "you should have done your homework" idea. I think that argument would have been better left unsaid. Of course there are many things on both sides that would have been better left unsaid.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
I think that the internal fan fighting keeps PB in the status quo because they see ardent defenders and point them out as fans and the others as not fans. What is needed are level heads and not hotheads that can bring the arguments to PB in a way that they are more likely to listen.

**Salacious Greed**

Mike1975 wrote:
I think that the internal fan fighting keeps PB in the status quo because they see ardent defenders and point them out as fans and the others as not fans. What is needed are level heads and not hotheads that can bring the arguments to PB in a way that they are more likely to listen.

PB is who made them all "not fans".

And PB has zero, or more probably, negative interest in actually being approached and told how terrible their KS and their company are. PB is only interested in keeping the status quo: Everyone shows up to work, types 50 words a day and collects a paycheck. HOW they collect enough money to pay everyone and keep the lights on is a complete mystery, but they do. So no reason to change anything. Sunshine blowers are encouraged. Everyone else is ignored.

I hope everyone that can goes by the PB booth at Gencon and tells them they suck.

**Forar**

Well, according to Kevin, he's showing off RRT at "Penguicon" or whatever little thing they're doing (no offense, but apparently the visitor pool is listed around a thousand or two? We're talking small time even compared to the Detroit Fanfare, let alone Adepticon or Gencon), and apparently a dozen backers approached them to tell him how happy they were with what they saw, and everyone's super excited, etc, etc, ad nauseum.

**Talizvar**

It was Palladium Books’ honest and sincere expectation that Robotech® RPG Tactics™ would be released last November or December, and then in the Spring. We've been waiting weeks now – since the GAMA Trade Show – to get the prototypes and final sprue layout for the iconic and pivotal Valkyries.

I am glad they can admit to the Nov/Dec date release they had said.
I am not glad they had an "honest and sincere expectation" to release at that time.
Based on what logic?
Basic manufacturing principles: design time, design approval stage, production part approval, prototype/initial build, limited run then full production.

Apparently, there were delays and problems getting the molds broken down into sprues and done right. We've only been getting final sprue layouts in recent weeks.

They produce books for RPG, they understand the importance of layout and how long that takes for efficient use of space and logical placement of media, molds are no different.
Funny only in recent weeks they are getting them now, how long ago did the die manufacturer receive what they needed for the layouts?
Probably a similar timeline for their books.

For reasons beyond our control and full understanding, this project has proven to be much more challenging than I think any of us at Palladium or Ninja Division anticipated

It was all in their control, every last bit of it, I have to draw the line on a statement like this.
Here are a few sources of "understanding" with a single google search:
http://www.3dsystems.com/quickparts/learning-center/injection-molding-basics
http://www.solidconcepts.com/technologies/injection-molding/ "Production as fast as 45 days" that hurts...
http://www.makepartsfast.com/2012/03/3272/design-tips-for-injection-molding/ Guide on when you need to change things at the tooling stage (where we are at).
http://www.wired.com/2013/01/protomold/Interesting quotes; "20,000-$40,000 with 8 week delivery for traditional molds", "down to 15 days".
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Toy-Model-Kit.html
http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/136136 "Estimation of Time for Manufacturing of Injection Moulds"

It is all out there to demystify the process if you chose to look.

I am tired of general statements, just say : "here is where we are at", "here are all the steps", "here is our estimated timeline for each element".
The "gee-wiz we had no idea how darn complicated this all is!" is garbage, they either did not want to know and really did a breach of trust with us OR knew and just felt it was better to spin everything and keep it to themselves.
This may be a new thing to PB but this is an old as the hills process that could have been estimated down to the day if the tooling supplier finally got all the design elements they needed.

I am sure at the very least if they found all the parting line options too difficult, they could have looked at other models that exist out there: http://www.collectiondx.com/toy_review/1982/tactical_pod_regult
Heck, many of us fanboys would give feedback on these decisions of what was good or bad about the sprue...
But I am sure they were happily recreating the wheel because they know best... er, are new to this process... er, ND knew best but fumbled it... er, what is the official line now?