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He's probably like a random event. Sometimes one of the workers will just flip and start attacking everyone, maybe? I think he's a step in the right direction. Now if they'd just step up their communication a bit.

I doubt he is, today starts with -181$ but also with backers at -1.

In the comments one dared to suggest the art direction of the tiles is too present day and that some futurization would make it look better and the swarm got out for his head (he also dared saying the two semicircles look bad on design and something less in your face might had been better).

I love how they have something awesome super secret planned for 350k but we have to reach it first for them to show us... Well if you want to get people excited about this, by all means show it to make interest and goodwill.

That's super funny that they have a secret SG planned, and that it's awesome. They keep saying how FANTASTIC their current SGs are. If the SGs were fantastic, the money would be piling up. Not having people pulling their pledges.

Also, having watched the gameplay videos last night, I was a little miffed that they were using "tokens" from Myth for this game, and the little metal coin tokens were cool. But not cool enough to put into Recon. Punch tokens after a KS are kind of lame. Most other games are upgrading tokens to physical markers anymore.

This one will still most likely finish at $600K to $700K - and that would still be quite nice.

And maybe all they're after, in the end?

From the outside looking in, that would seem like a 'missed opportunity', but for them?

Maybe not?

I find it interesting that you can purchase more Workers as an add-on but not more of the security force figures. Those look like solid sculpts of near-future troops, you'd think if they sold them separately they would bring in some easy money.

Seems like another missed opportunity.

I'm not sure that there is a surprise SG at $350k,..... They just said that they had a surprise.

But I hope that it is a freebie,..... I could be a tie-in similar to how they announced the Twilight knight was one of the big pledge characters in MYTH and that each backer would get one,..... But it could also just be a silly pulp add on :/

Who knows,..... I still think there is a "traffic to the page" issue on top of some folks PTP'ing.

Still hopefull,.... Last year when they did show promotions at Adepticon,.... There was a big in crease in the daily pledges,.... Basically, they more than doubled their previous daily run rate, and it kept up for a week or so until the big final days.

Mercs: Recon, the missed opportunity.

I would rather it not been that fit to the current situation, alas t is.


@ Alpharius

it might end that or it might go higher if they make the deal right in the end, but, if the myth did not get any of the upgrades made from the kickstarter passed on the box and this will be the same on this, I am afraid the actual non KS game will not go well.

Well... who cares if the eventual game does badly if they make a bunch of bad choices. Darwinism in the marketplace.

I trudged into the comments, and find it funny that they make a difference, as in cost, between the workers and secfor, and the actual Mercs figures. The cost difference of those two plastics is neglible, pennies, per figure.

They also apparently (through convention conversation) said they made money on Myth, which is good. But that means that they are seeking actual profit from Recon, which doesn't sit well with me.

Guess I'll watch from the fence, see what the next 3 weeks hold. I hope their next gameplay video is better, and doesn't involve them losing the game...

 Salacious Greed wrote:


They also apparently (through convention conversation) said they made money on Myth, which is good. But that means that they are seeking actual profit from Recon, which doesn't sit well with me.

Well crap,...... You are supposed to lose money on a KS project? I somehow missed the memo on that.

Lets not get into the dreaded "What Kickstarter Should Be For" conversation, please!

Well I think he is ok with them to make money, but not to make profit as in not giving the money of KS to the project but keeping them like a retail thing, can't express it right.

I, somehow, still want to see this succeed and go well, but their decisions make it doubtful.

 PsychoticStorm wrote:


it might end that or it might go higher if they make the deal right in the end, but, if the myth did not get any of the upgrades made from the kickstarter passed on the box and this will be the same on this, I am afraid the actual non KS game will not go well.

you probably have to take into account these games are meant to retail for $60 (so will be discounted to less), rather than the $100 which most KS box games seem to be set for

(so less wiggle room to add stuff to the retail box before it becomes uneconomic, while adding a few minis would not cost a lot once the moulds are done, dropping counters does not save anything as you pay per sheet so as long as you're including some of them no saving)

They are at 60$ on the kickstarter, I am expecting them to be more on retail, at least 20$ more.

That is not the main issue though, the boardgame market has set their presets, a miniature boardgame is expected to have miniatures and not counters, if the game comes with 10 mercs of whom 5 only get rarely used, 5 secfor type 2 and 5 secfor type 3 all the same pose and the secfor type 1 and civilians remain counters it will not get a warm reception, remember decent 2.0 coming from a rather big dog of the boardgame genre got flack for having the lieutenants as counters and by all means it had lots of figures, the latest SDE expansion was criticized for having scull counters instead of actual 3D pile of sculls.

To be frank, after sculpting and molding costs are done plastic miniatures are dirt cheap, so I cannot understand why they refuse to upgrade the basic box with things kickstarter has allowed funding.

I kind of see each of the two boxes as the retail equivalent to a Zombicide box set. They'll both compete for customers and shelf space at stores.

Zombicide rules are built along the number of zombies included (zombies get extra activations if all the figures for that type are in play). Zombicide does not give you 4 plastic zombie walkers and 20 cardboard counters for walker...

They do not even give you a single miniature for two categories.

its not a walker and 20 counters , its 20 counters.

We will have to see,.... I've asked the question,..... But the lack of a definitive answer tells me that they may not have decided yet on exactly what might make it to the retail box.

They have hinted that the expanded team members might make it in,.... But nothing clear cut. I'd like to see the employees and secfor1 have minis too,.... But I do understand that most of those appear and are kills within a number of seconds (I think they only have one HP),... So if they wanted to cut corners to hit a price point, I see the logic.

I'm sure they could have offered a big box with all the minis for the over $100 retail mark. I wonder which has a better potential retail success?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Btw - I think I was right about the $350k surprise,.... I don't think it is a SG at $350,.... But just some more stuff added too the campaign,...

I'm sure the masses will erupt in indignation :/

I think a future backer number base goal will be released as well as some add ons,..... Maybe another set of pulp figures that they have eluded to.

 yamato wrote:
We will have to see,.... I've asked the question,..... But the lack of a definitive answer tells me that they may not have decided yet on exactly what might make it to the retail box.

Or the lack of a definitive answer could be indicative of their piss poor communication on this project.

I know which possibility I would bet on...

I haven't really bought in on the ones out yet,.... But would buy an Office Space, baseball bat wielding Michael Bolton if they added that!

The other thing that was hinted at earlier was a possible game mode where you could be "Roy McClane"

That might be cool!

I'm wondering how hard it would be to work up usable stats for figures you already have?

 CptJake wrote:

 yamato wrote:
We will have to see,.... I've asked the question,..... But the lack of a definitive answer tells me that they may not have decided yet on exactly what might make it to the retail box.

Or the lack of a definitive answer could be indicative of their piss poor communication on this project.

I know which possibility I would bet on...

Well all things considered,.... There been pretty responsive,.... But I understand,... Some think that if they don't answer every question, that they are neglecting things.

I've seen waaaaaaay worse on KS. I did not send them a PM,... Just posted on their forum

I've sent them a PM. More than a week ago. No answer. I don't mind that they didn't answer my question, I know they have lots of things going on. But they pick and choose which questions they answer in the comments section. So I don't feel that only answering the questions that make you look good and ignore all the questions about possible issues is a good response.

Orlando, if they send the two Recon boxes to retail at $60, then I squarely put this KS as a ripoff. Especially as they want me to buy more things to improve the game experience, such as Worker models, doors and the solo play sheets. So, for the backers to pay retail prices for the game, they give you the GCC Judge figure, which doesn't have rules. Since they'll be selling the games to retailers for $30 or so, they aren't really passing on anything for me to be a backer.

I think some of their Myth level backers are getting restless too, as the $40 pledge level isn't delivering nearly enough for that price, even with the revealed future SGs.

Yamato, I think you're right. If they just reveal more stuff to buy at $350k, I think they might get a negative reaction from the backers. But their comments all seem to be ok with this "valley" they think they're in. Kind of disappointing.

I have seen guys repost questions multiple times, include while Mercs is posting, sometimes even pleading "Can you please answer my PM?"

Additionally, they list add ons and stretches with NO explanation as to what these things bring to the game. It is Pretty Picture, better up your pledge! instead of explaining how cool add on X is and what exactly it comes with and how it will enhance my Recon experience.

If that is your definition of pretty responsive and good communications, we are just going to have to agree to disagree.

Well they piped up on a BGG thread and sort of explained the situation.

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/1145883/hesitant-to-back/page/2

Even opened the door to play testers so long as they signed an NDA.

[q="BShotton"]Heck yeah.

To be aware of all the play test opportunities available (if you are in Indy or close), I would apply to this Facebook community:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/238806622926324/

I should add that play testers are under an NDA.



[/q]

Since they have uploaded the rulebook, the playtesters are under NDA, for?

I am guessing they will disclose other aspects of the game they don't want to disclose yet or the play testers may be privy to other info that is not for public consumption at this point.

Always the negative waves with you, moriarty, always the negative waves.

Might be coming from the fact most NDA I have seen are to force people to no voice their opinions, rather than protect "corporate secrets".

Discussing the NDA is a red herring here.

The cool fact is they have given grass roots gamers the opportunity to test and shape the game.

How many times have we seen on this forum and other ones people say "they should have let real gamers playtest the game first". Looks like these guys are giving this opportunity.

Maybe, maybe not, but I will have to agree its a good move.

Just find odd the NDA

NDA's are standard practice for play testing of games in development. I've signed a few. (None MERCS related)