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 Cypher-xv wrote:
Don't forget that little bit where Wayne says it'll be another couple of weeks before another update. Man these guys suck.

Well, here's the list of statements, including and following the March 1st Update (the last to have actual news, and not just a few notifications), and aside from mentions of shipping (another issue), is pretty much the entirety of communication from PB regarding the project in the last 2 and a half months.

March 1st, KSU#173 - "More will be coming in the following days."

March 6th, PBWU - "We are working on a number of things we think will make Robotech® RPG Tactics™ fans happy. We hope to do a big update soon."

March 13th, PBWU - "We continue to work on a number of things we think Robotech® RPG Tactics™ fans will be very pleased with, but nothing we can reveal quite yet. We intend to do a big update soon."

March 18th, PBWU - "Much more about our plans for Robotech® RPG Tactics™ in the weeks to follow."

March 27th, PBWU - "Gotta keep this one brief, but we have all kinds of things boiling that we’ll be talking about soon."

April 2nd, PBWU - "So much going on. We continue to hammer out a number of projects and plans we think our Kickstarter backers and all Robotech® supporters will be excited about. We don’t have everything worked out yet, so we are hesitant to discuss them yet, but very soon."

April 10th, PBWU - "We have wanted to write and post a rather expansive update to all our Robotech® supporters for a number of weeks now. We plan to do so next week."

April 19th, PBWU - "We have so much underway for this product line. And not just the engineering aspect of Wave Two items, we just requested a quote for a handful of new items. I have been wanting to write and post a couple of comprehensive Updates about this game line, but we have all been overwhelmed with work on several fronts from conventions and the Open House, to new product releases, plus some of the details are not yet known. Will try to get something out to our supporters soon."

April 24th, PBWU - "We are still working on a lot of different things for RRT, but hope to have a couple of big announcements coming very soon."

April 30th, PBWU - "We have been working away on a number of RRT items. So much more to announce. It’s coming."

May 9th, PBWU - "We have never stopped working on a number of RRT items and I hope to have some exciting news to announce very soon. It’s coming."

Then today we got, as Forar and Cypher mentioned, we get
May 14th, KS#175, "Sorry for the long time between updates. I will be posting another update in the next couple of weeks with some exciting news, but for now..."

Meaning that even if they DO announce something at the Open House, they have no intention of letting the backers know, and I guess hoping that the Open House fans will gin up the enthusiasm for them. Even though part of their schtick has been about PB improving communications. Then failing. Then making further commitment to it. Then failing again.

To be completely fair to PB though, in the above, the references to days and weeks are accurate, if you don't mind counting the former into triple digits, and the latter into double. Sure, most people would use "months", if that was the intention, but PB aren't most people. Similarly, soon is also technically accurate, as long as you're using an appropriate timeframe. I mean, if you assume the end of the millenium, anything in the next half century could be considered "soon".

It would take an evening to catalog the entire two years of that same continuous lie-procrastinate-apologize cycle. That would make a hell of a post for the megaversal forums though... and probably your last despite being entirely factual.

That would be great to see the reaction to that.

 FacelessMage wrote:
That would be great to see the reaction to that.

If anyone does that, be sure to post it somewhere (everywhere) else where it won't be deleted. I don't foresee it being posted at their forums for more than an hour.

It's almost like they don't read their own updates?

Maybe they enter into some sort of trance like state, pound on the keyboard, wake up, hit send?

Then a short time later, rinse and repeat?

 Alpharius wrote:
It's almost like they don't read their own updates?

Don't be ridiculous; of course they read them! You have to do that in order to find the parts to copy and paste into the next "major" update two months later. It takes effort to go back almost a whole year to rehash that old info instead of putting in the stuff you've been supposedly working on and hinting at for months (my guess... dice cups!). In a cult, though, the absurdity of it is lost upon the devotees (paid or otherwise) of the Siembiedassiah.

 warboss wrote:
It would take an evening to catalog the entire two years of that same continuous lie-procrastinate-apologize cycle. That would make a hell of a post for the megaversal forums though... and probably your last despite being entirely factual.

I did do a quick reference guide for September 26th 2013 through March 15 2014, where I boiled them down to the rawest points. I didn't use direct quotes, because at the time they were still quite flowery, and I just wanted dates for specific throwbacks to various announcements of completion, and deadlines. This was back when (for example) they were pushing in November that they were three months (February, maybe sooner) for completion of the entirety of the project. It wasn't until late January they announced the split. And I was tired of people saying "But they never said X!".

Note, the first date, Sep 26, 2013, was Update 113 which is for me, the reason why PB have literally zero credibility on anything, but specifically promises about where their progress is. It's just so full of fail, it's literally amazing that they were able to put so much crap into just 230 words.

I also did a quote-list for shipping, because the excuses for AU/RoW were wearing thin.

So, here's by the numbers for the work on Palladium's end. It only accounts for stuff PB are responsible for, and NOT stuff like port delays.

US/Can Shipping, some 200 orders, started August 29th, finished not long after. As they were cagey on what they were shipping*, not much detail.
US/Can Shipping, some 3600+ orders, started October 4th, finished November 17th. (44 days, 81+ orders a day)
US/Can Shipping, some "hundred + couple hundred orders" (I estimated 400 as reasonable), started November 17th, finished along with retail, before Black Friday Nov 28th (11 days, 36 pledges per day).
UK Shipping, some 900** orders, started at some unknown date, finished Dec 4th, 2014. So no data on rate there.
AU Shipping, some 200** orders, started December 4th, finished January 22nd, (49 days, 4 pledges per day). Even if you account 4 weeks off for Christmas, that's still less than 10 per day.
Then despite saying they were moving on to RoW, they took 78 days off. Cause screw RoW, that's why?
RoW Shipping, some 100 orders, started April 10th, finished May 14th (34 days, 3 orders per day)

Just be glad they care about their international backers.

* This was when they shipped an entire container of base boxes, because they intended to sell at GenCon. The announcement of the vote came just days before (June 13) the first container was "On a boat" ("a couple of days ago", June 18), and the evidence while circumstantial, is clear they never had the capacity to send out Battlecry's. So, even if it had arrived, and the vote had NOT gone their way, they still couldn't have delivered except to the 200 First Contact buyers.

** I can't recall the exact numbers, but I do recall these numbers being close, and they do fit the 5300 number pretty close.

Morgan:
All those quotes you are doing:

For the backers, it only reminds us how angry we really should be.

For PB, only reminds them that what they say does not magically disappear.
At least it is a handy list to shake-up the wording a bit week to week.
I really wonder what goes through a mind that thinks that saying you have done "stuff" and say nothing is better than actually saying what you did?
I hate to say, it is actually better to write nothing at all rather than "No! we did not forget RRT but have nothing to say just yet!".

Other items of note:
Now the BIG hobby shop in my area picked up a bunch of Robotech stuff last week, I will be going up tomorrow and see if anything moved, as I buy other stuff...
Mind you, it went on one of the higher shelves so may have a marketing disadvantage.

I have to put together more of these models since some crazy individuals want to play bigger games.
Is it inappropriate to feel dread at the prospect?
Will do Destroids first, yeah, they're not so bad.
it is a mixed blessing imbibing before assembly of Veritechs: results may vary but it hurts less.

Anyone have any idea of what to use for "gravity bombs" on the Veritechs?
I am not sure if I saw anything in the show so I have no idea what they look like.
I would like to fancy two of them up (6 models!) as dedicated bombers to add to a squadron.

Since there's more Battletech players here than Robotech, I may as well ask in this thread.

We ever find out who the "Master" was behind the Jihad?

 Forar wrote:
In hindsight, my new favourite part of that giant copy/paste from Update 163 is the realization that 3 people (assuming they coughed up the money) paid $3,500 apiece for a Battle Cry and a 'studio painted' Core Box and Rick.

Which means they paid $3,500 up front for wave one of a Battle Cry, and will in theory receive wave two plus a (hopefully) nicely painted core box *some day*.

I'd kind of forgotten anyone even went for that back in the day, but the update reminded me it was even 'a thing'.

And what's truly shuddering is that they were probably given to Blue Table painting to be done.

 Stormonu wrote:
And what's truly shuddering is that they were probably given to Blue Table painting to be done.

I was thinking the same thing. Paying more than 3K for a boxed set to be painted to the standard we've seen so far, AND having to wait at least another six (likely 8+ IMO) months, these people must have the temperance of saints.

My question is, while yes, the initial pledge was to have the painted components ship late, that was when they were still expecting a) a single wave, and b) a December release date, why hasn't it been done yet?

I find it baffling (though I shouldn't) that this hasn't been done already. With the exception of the Rick Hunter figure, they've had everything to get the rest of it done, for 9+ months. Given what these people paid, get it done, get it shipped (as a Wave 1.5), and not leave three of your biggest backers twisting in the wind. Get the Rick sculpts done first, with four sample sprues airfreighted (one to show off, if you can manage a picture), and then the Rick's get painted up and go out with the first orders of Wave 2.

But I fully expect, as with the resin components, that the first containers will arrive, and someone at PBHQ will finally realize "Crap! We forgot to get the Gloval's and resins done!". At which point, the decision will be made that well, the Glovals and anyone with resins in their order will just have their pledges delayed until such time as they're ready. Because it's been made readily apparent that PB don't have much capacity for forethought and planning.

And it's not like a pro assembly and paint job on 102 (105 if they do all 6 Battloids per box) figures takes very long, right? Knock that off in a weekend, I'm sure!

 Forar wrote:
And it's not like a pro assembly and paint job on 102 (105 if they do all 6 Battloids per box) figures takes very long, right? Knock that off in a weekend, I'm sure!

Well, for BTP...yeah, that's about right.

Merijeek wrote:
Since there's more Battletech players here than Robotech, I may as well ask in this thread.

We ever find out who the "Master" was behind the Jihad?

Yes, the Master is Kev.

M.

And what's truly shuddering is that they were probably given to Blue Table painting to be done.

Actually, they will be Siembieda "originals".

 n815e wrote:

And what's truly shuddering is that they were probably given to Blue Table painting to be done.

Actually, they will be Siembieda "originals".

Which he will claim later were "misplaced"?

Morgan Vening wrote:


I find it baffling (though I shouldn't) that this hasn't been done already. With the exception of the Rick Hunter figure, they've had everything to get the rest of it done, for 9+ months. Given what these people paid, get it done, get it shipped (as a Wave 1.5), and not leave three of your biggest backers twisting in the wind. Get the Rick sculpts done first, with four sample sprues airfreighted (one to show off, if you can manage a picture), and then the Rick's get painted up and go out with the first orders of Wave 2.

But I fully expect, as with the resin components, that the first containers will arrive, and someone at PBHQ will finally realize "Crap! We forgot to get the Gloval's and resins done!". At which point, the decision will be made that well, the Glovals and anyone with resins in their order will just have their pledges delayed until such time as they're ready. Because it's been made readily apparent that PB don't have much capacity for forethought and planning.

Hoo Boy.

Snowball, meet Hell! Call the press, Satan seen skating to work in scarf and mittens!

Based on what has happened already [Rewards split ing to 'Wave 1' and 'Wave 2', then PB sending a single stinking decal sheet despite having been told I don't want it until Wave 2], they'll probably send each different figure in it's own little 'Wavette". So my guess is:
Rick, Wavette 1.1
Roy, Wavette 1.2
Khyron, Wavette 1.3
Mirya, Wavette 1.4

And who knows from there. I'm still looking at the SDF-1, YF-4, and probably another couple of bits - it's been so long, I can't remember what I pledged for and am finding it hard to care at this point. After all, it won't be arriving anytime soon* so I don't need to remember right now.

Would someone please give me a prod sometime in July? Thanks.

 Conrad Turner wrote:
Hoo Boy.

Snowball, meet Hell! Call the press, Satan seen skating to work in scarf and mittens!

Based on what has happened already [Rewards split ing to 'Wave 1' and 'Wave 2', then PB sending a single stinking decal sheet despite having been told I don't want it until Wave 2], they'll probably send each different figure in it's own little 'Wavette". So my guess is:
Rick, Wavette 1.1
Roy, Wavette 1.2
Khyron, Wavette 1.3
Mirya, Wavette 1.4

And who knows from there. I'm still looking at the SDF-1, YF-4, and probably another couple of bits - it's been so long, I can't remember what I pledged for and am finding it hard to care at this point. After all, it won't be arriving anytime soon* so I don't need to remember right now.

Nah, they won't do that. Because that'll be an increased shipping cost, and they don't like to spend money. Like, at all. The only way it'd happen is if they do a similar thing to what another campaign (Shadows of Brimstone) are planning to do, and offering those waves, as long as the backers pay shipping. In that case, I can fully see them doing it, and using the excuse "Well, if backers wanted it first, they had the option to pony up the dough.". The difference being, I don't recall FFP ever making a similar promise, regarding "backers first, no exceptions". But given the mental gymnastics PB went through for GenCon last year, I can see them running that angle.

 Conrad Turner wrote:
Would someone please give me a prod sometime in July? Thanks.

Did you mean this July or next July?

 warboss wrote:
IThat would make a hell of a post for the megaversal forums though... and probably your last despite being entirely factual.

Ok done. I'm sure I'll get banned soon.LoL

http://palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=2859336#p2859336

At least you're giving them the truth.

I wonder if they can handle it.

I bet The one freelancer who's always there will throw a fit and talk some trash. Lately he's been getting a tad upset every time someone questions about rrt. In one of his last posts he was blaming ND and HG again.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Looks like the other shoe dropped.

http://palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=2859386#p2859386


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 JohnHwangDD wrote:
At least you're giving them the truth.

I wonder if they can handle it.

It seems they can't NMI locked it.

Up for just over 3.5 hours before lock. Not bad

Color me surprised, didn't expect for it to last even that long.

I am still trying to figure out their criteria (according to them) for locking.
They may view the list as "harassment".

Simple. Sometimes the truth hurts and they get to lock hurtful things.

Ergo, they can lock things simply for being true.

Just an extension of their "advertising".
If it looks bad: "kill it".

Picture if things like that were allowed to continue and Kevin came across it.
It is like the forums are groomed as a "pick-me-up" for him during a "rough day" to review.

So, wonder what critical mass is needed before Wave 2 information leaves the circle of silence?
Is the reasoning still because "backers are mean" and estimated dates of completion require greater accuracy than a mentally disturbed weatherman predicting rain with dousing rods?

So, do we place bets we hear Wave 2 would be for sale at Gencon? (sorry backers, we need the momentum!).
Next target, maybe Christmas? Easter? Which year?

I fully expect PB is so "Mono-task" that many stages needing approval / input had been put off: "we have an open house! Too much to do!"<jazzhands!>. They really seem to focus more on last minute items that could generate revenue now.

I fully expect their staff are twiddling their thumbs because Kevin's input que is overloaded and they dare not make a decision without him.

I dare not speculate what Harmony Gold is doing, or not doing.

Very rant of me, the false pause for dramatic effect by PB is wearing thin I am afraid.

 Cypher-xv wrote:
I bet The one freelancer who's always there will throw a fit and talk some trash. Lately he's been getting a tad upset every time someone questions about rrt. In one of his last posts he was blaming ND and HG again.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Looks like the other shoe dropped.

http://palladium-megaverse.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&p=2859386#p2859386

It wasn't even a brutal listing the way you phrased it. It was simply a posting of their "meaningful" communication for *ONLY* the past two months. It seems like they're ramping up the modding to the summer con season level like last year. I haven't posted there since I was banned for precrime (seriously, I got a 3 month ban for trolling the NEXT kickstarter because I said I'd pledge $1 just to post comments).
It seems they can't NMI locked it.

Now there's also at least two yelp reviews. Here's one where Kevin cusses out some poor woman for only doing her job.

Owner is a very rude and angry person, we came to do a service for him and we gave him a discount on the cost, and we saw we had to buy a special tool to do the work for him. We offered that next time we came we would give a discount and we would waive the service call next time we came. He refused to pay the service call which he was told about before we came out to him, and he signed a invoice saying he agreed to everything, he called us names, and swore at the girl who works for our company. And he wanted all of this work done because he thinks his employee is stealing from his company.
The Owner name is Kevin his phone number is 734-788-8681


Automatically Appended Next Post:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/palladium-books-westland

 Cypher-xv wrote:
Now there's also at least two yelp reviews. Here's one where Kevin cusses out some poor woman for only doing her job.

Owner is a very rude and angry person, we came to do a service for him and we gave him a discount on the cost, and we saw we had to buy a special tool to do the work for him. We offered that next time we came we would give a discount and we would waive the service call next time we came. He refused to pay the service call which he was told about before we came out to him, and he signed a invoice saying he agreed to everything, he called us names, and swore at the girl who works for our company. And he wanted all of this work done because he thinks his employee is stealing from his company.
The Owner name is Kevin his phone number is 734-788-8681


Automatically Appended Next Post:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/palladium-books-westland

"And he wanted all of this work done because he thinks his employee is stealing from his company"

What, again? Or is it just that he believes every single one of his employees is stealing from him?

I did security and surveillance for eight years, and I can't conceive of any special tool you would need to do the job in a warehouse that you wouldn't already have.

Of course it's entirely possible a pathetic cheapass like Kevin would try calling "Big Jim's Cameras And Stuff" who isn't actually a professional and doesn't have the equipment he should have.