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**Swabby**

Show me anywhere in the rulebook where it says you or your opponent has to be engaged in hand to hand in order to attack.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also Phaze admitted they were fudging rules during the demos at gencon.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Combat step three mentions nothing about needing to be engaged in order to be attacked.

**Dark Severance**

Swabby wrote:
Show me anywhere in the rulebook where it says you or your opponent has to be engaged in hand to hand in order to attack.

When you read rules you can't just pick and choose sections to apply when you want. The rules lay out the steps and procedures fairly straight forward. It isn't my fault you can't seem to comprehend what is written.

Step 3: The Combat Step -> A mecha can attack either at range with its various built-in weapon systems, or in hand to hand combat using its powerful metal fists and feet. In either case, the attack is handled during the Combat Step. However, there are other restrictions on combat. For instance, you must check LOS and range to a target mecha before a ranged attack can be made against it, and a mecha must be in base to base contact with an enemy mecha if it wishes to attack that mecha in hand to hand combat. It is also important to note that it's possible for some mecha from a squadron to engage in hand to hand combat while other mecha from the sqaudron are attacking at range during the same Combat Step. Both Ranged Combat and Hand to Hand Combat are handled in detail in their own rules sections below.

While in the combat step, you choose to attack either ranged or hand to hand. There are qualifiers that need to be met to either attack at ranged or hand to hand. If you pick ranged, you check LOS, measure distance and then proceed to the "Ranged Combat" section.

Choose a Weapon System -> Each mecha has a number of weapon systems that represent its built-in armament. When a mecha attacks, it picks one of these weapon systems with which to attack. A player may also spend Command Points at this time to attack with more than one of that mecha's weapon systems. For each additional Combat Point spent, the mecha may attack with any weapon system once per turn, unless permitted by a special ability such as Rapid Fire.

(Then the rules go on through the rest of Ranged Combat, Choose a Target, Roll to Strike, Attempt to Dodge, Roll with Impact, Taking Damage, Cover, Close Formation, Back Strike, and Crossfire.)

Weapon Systems and Hand to Hand attacks are listed separately on the cards. They aren't mixed. So you can't use command points to suddenly engage in hand to hand combat while shooting ranged. It is one or the other. You could spend Command Points to fire multiple weapon systems though. If you are choosing Hand to Hand then you must be in base to base contact with the mecha you wish to engage, then proceed to the Hand to Hand Combat section.

To make Hand to hand attack, an attacking mecha only needs to move into base to base contact with the enemy mecha that it wishes to attack (during the Movement Step), then roll to Strike as normal.

Engaged in Hand to Hand Combat -> Once a mecha is in base to base contact with an enemy mecha, the two are considered to be engaged in hand to hand combat and cannot attack with weapon systems at all. Additionall, an engaged mecha can't be attacked by other mecha with weapon systems. If either mecha wishes to move out of base to base contact with the other mecha, then its player must pay Once Command Point to do so. Note: A mecha may move, or change facing, as long as it doesn't move out of base to base contact with the mecha that it is engaged with. If a mecha is in base to base contact with multiple enemey mecha, it costs one Command Point fore each enemey mecha in base to base contact with it to be able to move out of hand to hand combat.

(Then the rules go on through the rest of Hand to Hand Comgbat, Choose an Attack, Choose a Target, Roll to Strike, Roll to Parry, Roll with Impact, Taking Damage, Outnumbered in Hand to Hand Combat, Back Strike, and Hand to Hand Attacks (Body Block, Club, Grab, Kick, Jump Kick, Punch, Power Punch, and Stomp)

Remember where during the Combat Step it says there are other restrictions on combat. Aircraft is one of the Special Abilities which has a restriction on combat and specifically states, "An aircraft is never considered to be engaged in hand to hand combat.". To engage in Hand to Hand to have to be in base combat, except Aircraft have a restriction. In Rules specially Magic and WoW TCG, since I've judged more of those tournaments than anything else, Can't > Can and Never > Can. That is how they establish an order or chain of events that happen. When two things are in conflict, one says can and another says can't, can't always trumps the can. There is no leap or shoryuken attack that a mecha can do in the rules.

The reason ranged doesn't use the word 'engaged' and Hand to Hand uses 'engaged' is because 'engaged' means something. It means when you are engaged in hand to hand combat, you cannot attack with weapon systems at all. It is also probably defined as engaged because if expansions or other rules later are to come out, they may at some point call or refer to something being engaged in hand to hand. You either have ranged attacks or you are engaged in hand to hand. There is no, "I"m not engaged in HtH but I will still make HtH attacks". Without that restriction there would be nothing from stopping me from using ranged attacks while in base to base contact, hence why you are engaged in hand to hand.

However there is one thing that is unclear which is Hover. There doesn't appear to be any restriction on Hand to Hand, it just says ranged attacks against it suffer -1 penalty to Strike. It says that terrain is treated as open ground but doesn't specifically have a restriction in it like Aircraft or Flight does. It implies that it isn't actually touching the ground, like flight, but doesn't mention it can't be in base to base contact and doesn't mention that it can never be considered engaged in hand to hand combat. If that is a mistake, it will need to be corrected.

**Swabby**

The only requirement in the rules to attack in hand to hand combat is to be in base to base contact with an enemy mecha.

In the spartan/gnerl example the spartan is engaged in in hth while the gnerl is not.

You are totally ignoring the very clear definition of engagement in HtH combat.

Attacking an aircraft in hth is perfectly legal if you are in base to base contact and capable of using a hth attack. The Gnerl however can never attack in hth and must use a weapon system.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Oh and if 40k and warmachine do not count as examples in your book you probably shouldn't drag magic into this.

**warboss**

At first I completely disagreed with Swabby but now I see his point and I don't think it is pedantic. While b2b grants "engaged" status to both models, it is no longer referenced later on in regards to attacks and being "engaged" isn't a prereq for being attacked in close combat but rather being in b2b is. When attacking, the rules on the next page no longer refer to "engaged" models but rather ones in b2b. Aircraft per the exact rules aren't engaged so they can move away from b2b models without paying a CP, can shoot and be shot at, and can't make close combat attacks themselves despite being in b2b. Other models can move up to b2b and swat at the model as they are considered engaged and b2b. Granting "engaged" status is done as a dual state but the later attack rules don't require both models to be engaged. I frankly don't think it is the intent though but each side does have it's merits and this will only be solved by a day 1 faq that clearly clarifies whether aircraft can be hit by close combat attacks.

The interesting caveat to this is that the ground model is still technically "engaged" so can't be shot at. If the intent is that aircraft should be able to be hit in close combat (but not suffer the other penalties of "engaged"), then the rule should say that neither model is engaged which would allow the gladiator trying to uppercut the gnerl to be shot at. As it stands right now, it is a get out of jail free safety card for almost dead models to move into base to base contact with aircraft that have already moved. If the intent is to never allow aircraft to be hit in close combat, the faq should probably clarify that in the definition of aircraft.

**Dark Severance**

Swabby wrote:
You are totally ignoring the very clear definition of engagement in HtH combat.

Oh and if 40k and warmachine do not count as examples in your book you probably shouldn't drag magic into this.

No I understand the definition of hand to hand and I also understand the restrictions that are laid out on special abilities. You are ignoring the simple rule of combat that says, "However, there are other restrictions on combat.". Do you understand what that means, how can you ignore that?

I didn't use magic to explain the differences of actual rules, it is used (hopefully so you can understand the differences when certain words are used like "never", "restriction" vs "something that says can". It is used as an example of how Never > Can and how Can't > Can. To be fair they are some concepts that some players never understand, which is usually why there are Judges at tournaments. It is a simple concept but I can understand how it can be confusing. Yes the definition of hand to hand combat is clear, except you are ignoring the restrictions which is specifically states there are and again "Never" trumps "Can". The fact that it says "Never" means that even though it is in base to base contact, you can't engage it in hand to hand.

At this point I'm done because its obvious you don't understand the basic rule concepts or we're being seriously trolled here. So for now I'll just agree to disagree as we are going around in circles and it is just easier to wait to until an actual tournament, official FAQ or a official rules section to cover these things that can be referenced too.

**Krinsath**

Actually, based solely on your earlier post, I agree with Swabby's interpretation. The rules you quote as written state that to use a HtH attack, you must be in base contact. There is no requirement to be "engaged" to use them in the quoted passages.

To make Hand to hand attack, an attacking mecha only needs to move into base to base contact with the enemy mecha that it wishes to attack (during the Movement Step), then roll to Strike as normal.

"Only" is a pretty clear word as well. Are you in base to base contact? If yes, you may use Hand-to-Hand attacks. It does not state that the target must be engaged in Hand-to-Hand combat for you to use the attacks rather that you ONLY must be in base-to-base contact. That the target doesn't count as engaged is irrelevant in the scope of being able to utilize hand-to-hand attacks as presented.

The aircraft special rule means that none of the conditions of being in hand-to-hand apply to the aircraft model. It can be targeted, it can use other weapon systems and it can move away freely. The model that moved into base contact is considered engaged and thus cannot be targeted nor can it move away if the aircraft doesn't move out of base contact on its own.

However, unless it says somewhere else in the rules that you must be engaged in hand-to-hand combat to be the target of hand-to-hand attacks then as written the aircraft could be attacked in hand-to-hand. That seems ridiculous, even for the subject at hand, so hopefully further down it does say something to that effect and you've just glossed over it.

**Swabby**

Yes there are restrictions to combat. You must be in base to base contact to initiate a hth attack. That is the restriction as the rules are written.

The aircraft special rule specifically states that the aircraft can never be considered to be engaged in hand to hand combat and then goes on to state that the aircraft does not have to pay the command point to leave base to base contact.

No where does it say that the attacking mecha cannot attack the model in hth or not end up engaged itself. It only excepts the aircraft from dealing with the penalties involved with breaking engagement.

And since we brought up magic again I will only say this. My 40k and warmachine examples are far more relevant to this conversation than your magic experience.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
What they should have done is state that aircraft cannot be attacked with hth abilities if that was there intent. 40k states as much in regards to flyers.

I have to ask though, is punching an aircraft that outlandish in a game based on a show where a spaceship punching another spaceship is a signature move?

**Mike1975**

Engaged in Hand to Hand Combat – Once a figure is in base to base contact with an enemy figure, the two are considered to be engaged in hand to hand combat and cannot attack with weapons systems at all.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Nuff said

**MangoMadness**

I agree with Swabby.

As the rules are written it sounds like the old 40k vehicle rules to me.

'Intent' isnt an excuse for poorly written rules

**Swabby**

Mike, there is a huge difference in making a HtH attack and being engaged in HtH.

Notice that it doesn't say that you must be engaged to make a HtH attack. It actually states the following:

"To make a hand to hand attack, an attacking mecha only needs to move into base to base contact with the enemy mecha that it wishes to attack (during the movement step, pg 15), then roll to strike as normal."

It says absolutely nothing about requiring one or both models to be considered engaged in hand to hand combat. I am pretty sure buildings are also not considered engaged in hand to hand, but you can beat them down as well.

You are buying into the idea that you cannot attack an aircraft without actually understanding the rules as written. Other games play it this exact way in regards to attacks and engagements, it really is not abnormal.

**Morgan Vening**

And the exclusion of "engagement" from the HTH that allows the Spartan to punch out a Gnerl may have been intentional. That way, a mecha can physically attack an objective (like a radar tower or HQ building).

If the intent is to not have the Gnerl punched out, the rules as have been shown here, need to be errated. Either on the flight rules, to preclude it, or on the engagement rules. But unless there's something we haven't yet seen, it seems like a valid rules interpretation, regardless of what was intended.

**Mike1975**

You must be in base to base contact to perform a HTH attack.

If you are in base to base contact you ARE considered engaged in HTH combat.

Pretty clear.

**warboss**

Mike1975 wrote:
You must be in base to base contact to perform a HTH attack.

If you are in base to base contact you ARE considered engaged in HTH combat.

Pretty clear.

Except that aircraft are never engaged...which doesn't affect the other model in base to base at all which remains both engaged and b2b. It may not be the intent but the wording is clear.

**Mike1975**

Just for the hell of it I can ask as to what the intention of the rules are and add the clarification

**Swabby**

Mike, you might want to mention that if they actually do not intend for aircraft to be capable of being hit in HtH that they should probably mention it not in the standard rules, but in the aircraft special rule itself.

**Dark Severance**

warboss wrote:
Except that aircraft are never engaged...which doesn't affect the other model in base to base at all which remains both engaged and b2b. It may not be the intent but the wording is clear.

To a very small degree I can understand what you are trying to say... but I still disagree. The roll to strike is summary, when the rest of the hand to hand goes more into hand to hand combat: Choose an Attack, Choose at Target, Roll to Strike, Roll to Parry, Roll with Impact, Taking Damage. You don't just move base to base, then roll to strike and that is it. You read the rest of the way through the rest of the other instructions for completing your hand to hand attack.

It does state "Once a mecha is in base to base contact with an enemy mecha, the two are considered to be engaged in hand to hand combat and cannot attack with weapon systems at all." It implies that when you are base to base, both mecha are engaged in hand to hand combat (not just one). Since an Aircraft can't be engaged in hand to hand combat, that would also mean the other mecha can't be engaged by default (since it requires two models to be engaged). For example the saying old sayings of "It takes two to tango, it takes two to fight, and it takes two to argue" because you can't fight yourself.

Using the reasoning and path you are going along that would also mean that mecha on the ground couldn't shoot at aircraft, because you are still saying they are engaged. It doesn't make sense that you can punch an Aircraft but you then you can't shoot it because if it was engaged in hand to hand, it couldn't use their weapon systems at all.

warboss wrote:
While b2b grants "engaged" status to both models, it is no longer referenced later on in regards to attacks

Engaged is referenced in multiple parts as well as disengaged, which is no longer being engaged. In the Hand to Hand attacks, it does talk about becoming disengaged from hand to hand combat. "The target of a successful Body Block is disengaged from hand to hand combat with the original attacker at the end of the Body Block. If the target should be pushed into base to base contact with another enemy mecha, it is then engaged in hand to hand combat with that mecha, which can attack the target mecha with hand to hand attacks of its own when its gets to attack."

It also talks about Grab, "The attack does no MD, but prevents the enemy mecha from spending Command Points to disengage from hand to hand combat until the beginning of the next turn if the grab strikes and isn't parried."

Outnumbered in Hand to Hand Combat, "One sure way to lose a hand to hand combat is to be outnumbered. All attacking mecha gain a +1 bonus to Strike in hand to hand combat for each other friendly mecha that is engaged with the target and is not engaged with any other enemy mecha. This is applied to each of the attacking mecha's roll to Strike against the outnumbered defender."

It seems fairly clear to me through reading through the whole thing what is meant by engaged and disengage. If you are only reading the first sentence of Hand to Hand combat, then yes I can agree. But if you continue to read the whole section, the intention and what is meant seems outlined. I could agree that that line about rolling to attack could be removed but I honestly don't think it is that difficult to understand.

**Morgan Vening**

Dark Severance wrote:
Using the reasoning and path you are going along that would also mean that mecha on the ground couldn't shoot at aircraft, because you are still saying they are engaged. It doesn't make sense that you can punch an Aircraft but you then you can't shoot it because if it was engaged in hand to hand, it couldn't use their weapon systems at all.

No, the disconnect seems to be that you believe that a hand to hand attack, can only be attempted by a model that is engaged. The rules we've seen mentioned don't have that requirement. Engagements have one set of rules, and hand to hand attacks have others. There is some overlap (in that you can do hand to hand attacks in an engagement), but they're not, at least given the rules mentioned, completely entwined. If that's the intent, then there needs to be an errata issued. Though that'd rule out H2H against static objects. If it's not intended against flying units, that'd require errata to the Flight rules.

**Platuan4th**

So, just read the newest update and it's full of gak. I passed the PB booth at least 3 times during GenCon and all 3 times the demo tables were empty. There was no crowd surrounding the tables like there were, say, the FFG demo areas like they want you to believe.

There may have been some peak times, but definitely not the constant attention they want you to believe.

**Swabby**

Actually Dark Severance, you are correct IF the mecha in question that was attacking the aircraft was base to base, because that model is not exempt from the standard rule for engagement. Only the aircraft is never considered engaged in HtH, the mecha that was in base to base would have to have the aircraft special rule to also be exempt.

So yes, if you go base to base with an aircraft you can only attack it in HtH, as you would be considered engaged in HtH.

**sqir666**

Platuan4th wrote:
So, just read the newest update and it's full of gak. I passed the PB booth at least 3 times during GenCon and all 3 times the demo tables were empty. There was no crowd surrounding the tables like there were, say, the FFG demo areas like they want you to believe.

There may have been some peak times, but definitely not the constant attention they want you to believe.

This seems to be about par for the course with palladium lately.

Also, I've noticed that there will be a lack of QC on the majority of this if the lack of laminated cards, templates and tokens are any indication.

Le sigh, I'm about ready for this to be over.

**Forar**

They said before that container 2 was supposed to arrive the week they got back from Gencon.

Now it's not even due to leave china until the end of the month, meaning they'll be lucky to have it in hand by the end of Sept (assuming it doesn't roll a 99 on the percentile as well!), meaning delivery is already another month behind, and any backers unlucky enough to not be in wave one will get to listen to those gush about their packages (well, or bemoan them) for a month and a half or more.

Also, it'll be a fun race to see if they even manage to get boxes to retail before Christmas at this point.

Well, unless they had to dedicate some for retail to build hype and buzz about the game during the busy holiday season, but no, they'd never do that.... >.>

**Swabby**

Forar, you are totally wrong man. They have two fan friends who will be shipping us our stuff. It will totally arrive way before christmas.

**Forar**

Curses!

I always fail to account for their legions of fan friends!

**Dark Severance**

Morgan Vening wrote:
No, the disconnect seems to be that you believe that a hand to hand attack, can only be attempted by a model that is engaged. The rules we've seen mentioned don't have that requirement. Engagements have one set of rules, and hand to hand attacks have others. There is some overlap (in that you can do hand to hand attacks in an engagement), but they're not, at least given the rules mentioned, completely entwined.

I've read them multiple times and I have really tried to see what everyone else is seeing but I must be completely blind. The only part that I can see as possibly confusing is the part where it says "then roll Strike as normal" just before it explains the rest of the Hand to Hand in the Engaged section. But if we are going just on that, you roll strike and then what... since we've skipped over the choose an attack.

Spoiler:

As seen in the image under the Hand to Hand Combat, specifically as part the "Engaged in Hand to Hand Combat", section it states, "When a mecha makes a hand to hand attack, the players must do the following:". Then it indents the next paragraphs, the next steps of Hand to Hand combat. Those paragraphs are indented as a list within the "Engaged in Hand to Hand Combat" part. It isn't separate from the Engaged section. As part of that section, Choose an Attack, Choose a Target, Roll to Strike, Roll to Parry, Roll with Impact and then Taking Damage... all part of Engaged in Hand to Hand Combat.

Spoiler:

It doesn't break out of the list to start a completely new paragraph differentiating from Engaged in Hand to Hand, until we get to "Outnumbered in Hand to Hand Combat" paragraph.

Spoiler:

Then it proceeds to explain the various types of Hand to Hand attacks that you can choose, depending on what is actually available depending for the type of mecha. I don't seem to see where engaged rules are one thing and Hand to Hand rules are completely separate and not related. If I'm only reading the engaged rules, then where are the hand to hand rules that are separate?

**Krinsath**

You are forging a logical (and sensible) link that is not actually in the rules. The rules for HtH attacks, even in the picture shown, mention one condition to be able to use HtH attacks and that is that you are in BtB contact. If you are in BtB you can use HtH attacks, full stop. Engagement is not mentioned at all.

Now, engagement is a condition caused by being in BtB contact and thus would normally occur at the same time as being able to make HtH attacks. However, being engaged clearly does certain things as evidenced by it's own section, but if you read closely granting the ability to use HtH attacks is not actually mentioned. Being engaged prevents the use of weapon systems, but does not in and of itself grant the ability to use HtH attacks. The only thing that mentions allowing HtH attacks is being in BtB.

So, the two rule sections involved share a trigger, but are not actually linked in any way beyond that nor do the mechanics of attacking mention the engaged status. Under Choose a Target, it again only specifies BtB contact and does not require that the target model is engaged (which would be the specific status that aircraft are exempt from). So while an aircraft is never engaged, it's irrelevant because being engaged is in no way a requirement to be hit by HtH attacks.

This can lead to nonseniscal situations (a Battlepod body blocking and then stomping an aircraft), so it's likely there was an intent for them to be linked at least as regards attacking aircraft. That said, such a link does not appear to be in the rules as simply sharing a trigger does not mean that given rules are intertwined. That one seems a good candidate for an FAQ to either fix it or make it clear that this was the intended function.

**Alpharius**

Update #154

Aug 23 2014
Gen Con Report
84 comments
41 likes

Hello, Wayne here. We’re all back from Gen Con. As most of you know, we did not get our miracle, so Robotech® RPG Tactics™ wasn't released from US Customs in time for us to have it for sale at the convention. However, we did have three copies with us to display, and we ran tons of demos. For more details, I’ll let Kevin’s Gen Con Report below fill you in.

-----------------

The reaction to Robotech® RPG Tactics™ at Gen Con was overwhelmingly positive. People liked what they saw, enjoyed the demos, and liked the game play and the size and detail of the game pieces. Some were positively giddy. I have to admit, so are we. We met many Kickstarter backers who expressed their support and appreciation for the game, and we returned the favor by shaking their hands and expressing our appreciation for them. It has been a long, rough journey, but the end product is sweet. Cannot wait till we can start shipping out product.

And speaking of product, I am happy to report that the first container from China has been released by US Customs and we expect to begin shipping by the end of next week. Meanwhile, Wayne Smith has been working with various out-of-house tech people to set up our new shipping hardware and software. We had technicians and IT people in and out of the office all week as they set up the new systems and customize software to suit our needs.

We have been hesitant to offer completion and shipping dates, because they seem to be constantly shifting and changing. I think the completion and ship dates for Container One changed something like four or five times; one day here, three days there, another two day delay later, then the boat left port a day and a half late, made up that day and a half at sea, only to see the container tagged and held up by US Customs for a random inspection. It seems crazy to us at Palladium Books to subject YOU to that kind of frustration and tension. However, many of you have told us that is exactly what you want to know. We aim to please, so we’ll tell you what we know, when we know it, but you need to realize that timetables and dates are almost certain to change. Shifting schedules in China, shipping schedules and intervention by Customs are beyond our control. Wayne is tentatively scheduled to visit the China factories in September to see the manufacturing process and help build strong communications. Things should start to move more quickly now, with a new container of product shipping every week or two. That said, the schedule has already slipped a bit from what we were told before Gen Con. Containers Two and Three were supposed to have shipped together this past week. However, a manufacturing delay has changed that.

At this time, Container Two is now tentatively scheduled to be packed around the middle to end of next week. We do not yet have a definitive date for when the ship will leave China. Probably between August 28 and September 3. Container Three should ship about one week later, and Container Four a week or so after that. This is the data we have at this time, but as noted, it often changes. By the way, these four containers should allow us to fulfill our Kickstarter obligations for Wave One. That’s everything, prints, accessories, etc.

Oh, and we only recently realized that the plastic blast template is not painted, and it is too late to do anything about it now. This detail slipped past all of us – Palladium, Ninja Division, the factory, everyone. Sorry. It still looks great, is a quality piece of plastic and is easy to use.

Meanwhile, we are working with Harmony Gold to be allowed to provide PDFs of the core rules and other key elements of play and other fun stuff.
Robotech® RPG Tactics™ Wave Two

Everything is in motion and Wave Two is coming. We’re also already thinking about the Masters Saga (Southern Cross), New Generation (Invid), and other eras and battle fronts (like the Zentraedi’s interplanetary war with the Invid!). I think you’ll like the things we are kicking around.
2014 Gen Con Report

Without Robotech® RPG Tactics™ to sell, there was no reason to bring our new, special storefront. We went with the usual rolling shelves and tables. We filled space with specialty items, prints and artwork we would not normally have brought along. Having Robotech® RPG Tactics™ at Gen Con was just not meant to be.

We met a large number of Kickstarter backers, and hundreds upon hundreds of gamers enjoyed demos of Robotech® RPG Tactics™. We had three sample boxes of the main game on display (one completely laid out across a six foot table), and people got to examine the actual box contents, sprues, cards, rule book, etc. Most people were thrilled with what they saw and we got many positive comments about the quality.

We had a bunch of professionally painted Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game pieces in two glass display cases, along with some unpainted ones and a few sprues, so people could see them painted and unpainted. On the two small demo tables – one manned by Palladium’s very own Jeff Burke and the other by volunteer and uber Robotech® fan, Thomas Roache – were more game pieces professionally painted by Blue Table Painting. I think Jeff and Tom were surrounded (and I do mean surrounded) by interested fans non-stop throughout Gen Con, from morning till close of the Exhibit Hall. Unfortunately, that meant many of those passing by could not get a clear look at, or the chance to photograph, these superior painted pieces. Many did, however, get to play with them. Thank you, Tom and Jeff, for your hard work and tireless efforts to demonstrate Robotech® RPG Tactics™. And to Jeff Ruiz (NMI on the Palladium boards), who pitched in and did a good job running demos during breaks.

Carmen Bellaire manned the big Robotech® RPG Tactics™ demo table at the booth. Sadly, Carmen was not his usual flamboyant and fun self. His wallet was stolen two days before we were all to leave for Gen Con. As a Canadian, without his Enhanced Driver’s License, Carmen could not cross the border from Canada into the USA. He applied for an Emergency Passport, which seemed an unlikely turn of events. To everyone’s surprise and joy, Carmen was granted an Emergency Passport, and drove all Wednesday night to arrive at Gen Con by Thursday morning. Unfortunately, the stress of the theft (canceling credit cards and such), not knowing if he would get the passport in time, and very, very little sleep took a heavy toll on him. He looked tired, even a bit sickly, and as a result, his demos lacked the energy and zip that people have come to expect from Carmen. People still had fun, but it was not the rollicking Bellaire experience folks have come to expect. Moreover, Carmen had done a quick, basic painting of the Robotech® RPG Tactics™ game pieces with an unconventional color scheme that some people did not think showed them off in their best light, but we had to make due with what we had.

There were only so many advance game pieces from China to paint and use in demos. Despite having Blue Table Painting do nearly 60 game pieces and two other gents painting up another 10 or so, there were only so many for demonstrations. Carmen’s table used a combination of the actual plastic game pieces and our old demo pieces. As the other two, smaller demo tables were in constant use and usually surrounded by players and spectators, the large table with the unconventional painted game pieces was what many people got to see, especially when just walking by.

Pat Jakubowski ran two or three “official” Robotech® RPG Tactics™ games as part of Palladium’s block of 50+ Gen Con gaming events. From all reports, Pat rocked these games and players had a blast. I had several players come to the Palladium booth the next day specifically to tell me how much fun they had in his games. Awesome. I also had several people who played in demos as well as these games tell me they thought Robotech® RPG Tactics™ was fast, fun and a winner destined to be a big hit. (From your mouths to God’s ears.) Many people also commented on the quality and level of detail, and how much they were looking forward to the game’s release. Fantastic.

**PallyDrone**

Well at least we now have someone to blame for this 'whole' debacle.
Frikken Carmen 'Grumpy Cat' Bellaire, thanks for dragging down the awesome-ness with your crap attitude and shoddy substandard painting.

Thank the gaming gods that Kevin S. was there to salvage Gen Con for the rest of humanity.

The nerve of some people.

**stanman**

Update #154

I had several players come to the Palladium booth the next day specifically to tell me how much fun they had in his games...

...(From your mouths to God’s ears.)

Somebody thinks rather highly of himself.

**Albertorius**

...I'll just put this here, cross posted from the Heavy Gear thread and from someone completely unrelated to the Robotech KS:

IceRaptor wrote:
It was very... shall we say telling... to compare DP9's booth to the booths for Dark Age, Mercs, Relic Knights, DZC, Infinity, Malifaux. Warmachine is the beast it always is; but Malifaux's plastics beat the snot out of everything else, and gives them a great position long term, I think. Infinity had a better presence again this year; I caught part of their seminar and their growth is basically geometric at this point. They're up to 33 FTEs at this point and project further growth. Relic Knights had a fairly strong showing - good banner, great booth, excellent rulebook (in terms of composition) - check it out yourself http://sodapopminiatures.com/media/downloads/relic-knights-rulebook-web.pdf. They shared a long booth with DZC, which has fantastic production quality for their figures and the paper-terrain to help them make good sales. I was impressed with what they can accomplish with DP9 style prices which was the real killer - better quality for the same price. Mercs had a strong showing as well, building off their previous success with 4 (!) new games; Myth (kickstarted), Mercs Recon, Mercs Conflict and Emergence Event. Their booth and demo area was always hopping. Dark Age also had a strong showing, with a small tournament and new miniatures. They seemed to be gaining steam more than losing it. Robotech Tactics was present as well... but, well - see the other thread for that. I had my heart set on buying a box, saw the miniatures and kept my wallet in check. I might get a Super VF-1S as a desk model, but that will be about it.

IceRaptor wrote:
The Tomahawks and Spartans aren't bad, though the flash on their feet is annoying. The guardians were so static is was painful. The VFs looked okay from a tabletop perspective, but there's no way I'm assembling 12 models of 30 pieces each for a starter army. Forget that.

**Manchu**

Platuan4th wrote:
So, just read the newest update and it's full of gak. I passed the PB booth at least 3 times during GenCon and all 3 times the demo tables were empty. There was no crowd surrounding the tables like there were, say, the FFG demo areas like they want you to believe.

There may have been some peak times, but definitely not the constant attention they want you to believe.

I can confirm all of this. I just rolled my eyes when I read the update.