Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:
No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.
If you are already a member then feel free to login now.
2015/04/22 22:09:33
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
I know that these pics are bad,..... but I'm concerned that the plastic that is being used is not holding the detail that is in the existing pewter models (granted,.... that perhaps they can't hold the same detail),...
but the details look "soft" on these. I hope that some of this is due to the poor pictures :/
2015/04/23 00:26:44
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
That's a fair point. Detail is pretty deep on the pewter minis, so I'm hoping the softness is more a measure of the pictures than the material loss. I prefer pewter and have all the starter sets, so crossing fingers the plastic ones to fill out each faction won't stand out too much.
2015/04/23 06:15:35
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
They said the pictures were not good from the start, so there is hoping to that, the material is known and Myth holds good detail.
I still think the sculpts do not represent the artwork style as good as myth does, they feel in between, they either needed to be more "cartoony" to be like the artwork, or more realistic/ detailed.
2015/06/19 12:06:06
Subject: Re:MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
In case anyone missed the update here's the relevant bits
TL: DR - Probably shipping in July although even that's vague and the tabletop rules are delayed to Q4 - so next year then
We are close to the end now! You have until the end of June to alter your mailing address. All addresses in place July 1 are the addresses being used. To change your address you need to access the pledge manager.
DO NOT email us to change your address. The system in place allows you to update your own address. We ARE responsible for shipping packages to the address on record. We are NOT responsible if that address is wrong.
Each package should have an itemized list of what is in the box. We’ll put out an update when the fulfillment group receives the product and when they begin to mail stuff out.
MERCS Tabletop 2.0
We know that the book and cards will NOT be in the Recon shipment. Hopefully, by the end of the update you see why. If you want the short version: card and idea redesign led to a large rewrite of the book and it not going to print in time to be included in the Recon shipment. ..................
............Closing
We remained quiet because we were hoping to get 2.0 to the printer in time for the Recon shipping. We were not able to do this. We are getting final feedback on the cards and the rule book is in editing.
We felt it was important for MERCS table top players, both present and future, to get you the best 2.0 we could. We hope you understand. It really is a better game because we have taken extra time with it. We aren't just giving you 1.0 with a face lift. In my opinion, 2.0 is a better game in every way.
We expect it to go to the printer shortly after Gencon and be shipped in 4th quarter. There will be another chance to update your address before table top 2.0 is mailed out.
They really need to manage their projects better and communicate better rather than clamming up when something goes wrong even Myth Journeyman has gone silent with just a PM some time in the summer comment recently.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/06/19 12:06:39
2015/06/19 14:26:03
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
I've noticed that many creative types (ie, project creators) feel the need to put a lot of energy into their updates while at the same time tap dancing around set-backs. The net effect is (what seems like) months between updates and a wall of text that opens up more questions than it answers.
Fairly frequent, short, declarative sentences and facts are all that's needed to keep people engaged and not going into rage mode.
2015/08/24 19:26:20
Subject: Re:MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
Everything is there to try the game out if you have the desire to do a little printing. All they have held back is the Waza team, and more of the mission cards. (and I guess the back sides of the tiles),... but still, every game card, player board, full punch board items, etc is all there,.... there are even dice templates.
not bad!
I don't have the time my self to do all that,.....
Unboxing video is said to be coming next week
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/09/03 19:02:06
2015/09/11 14:59:12
Subject: Re:MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
One of the lessons we learned from Myth 1 was things change about every week and to tell the backers what is happening hurts you immensely more than just dealing with the facts and delivering the product. And for the most part this has been true. Regardless of how you feel about our communication, the backlash and anger was much worse with the first Myth KS. Reminding people that they aren't getting something every week tends to be taken poorly. We have tried to do an update per month. We haven't always succeeded so we thank you for your patience.
In the past I have CAPITALIZED words so that skim readers can get the jest of what an update quickly. I didn't intend it to be confrontational, but I have read that some feel it is rude. That is not my intention. I simply want to communicate what I need to say quickly and without a lot of platitudes. And for readers to not miss things I feel are important. Sorry, I didn't mean to come across as rude or insulting. I am very much a "just the facts" kinda person.
Rumors
However, rumors have grown and with good reason. Rumors of a lost shipment, rumors of cash flow issues, rumors of us not even finishing the game. I will address what I can then deal with the facts as I know them.
It has been rumored that our shipment has been lost? This is not true. See Fact 1 below.
It has been rumored that we are experiencing cash flow issues so we need the money from the next KS to push out the previous one? Also not true. We manage our monies quite closely and keep a significant amount in the bank as a reserve. I understand this rumor started in response to an update I did detailing the need to get Emergence Event here. That had more to do with how we pay production and shipping. We pay production up to 50% front and 50% after we have the product in house or at fulfillment. Recon's producer was really pushing hard for us to pay the full payment so they could "expedite" Recon. We weren't going to pay the back 50% for Recon when we had not even got Emergence Event in house. And I can tell you it was a good thing we didn't. See Fact 1 below.
There is even a rumor that Recon doesn't exist? It does. We have a large amount of payment receipts that could prove it, but we would rather just get the product to you. However, it has to be up to our standards and of the quality you were promised. See Fact 1 and Fact 2 below.
Facts
I can tell you there have been issues, major issues. And those issues have pushed Recon back further than we would have hoped. We haven't shared the problems until now because the solution was very much a moving target.
Fact 1: With Recon we are using a new printer/miniature maker based off a recommendation. We received samples from them and selected the hardness of plastic and delivered everything as we would normally. The early samples came back perfect and we were off to the races. We are a careful group and periodically ask for production minis. The printer delayed sending them and really tried to avoid it all together, all the while pushing us for payment. This was the first red flag.
Finally, they sent us "production minis" in June. Now, you should know, these are actual miniatures like the ones you would have received in the games. Long story short, they were not the same plastic we had agreed on. We told them in no uncertain terms that this was unacceptable and we feel they kept this from us until they thought we wouldn't have the time or courage to have them redo it. They were wrong. The minis you would have received were inferior in every way. We would rather be more late than give you something that was not what we promised. It doesn't matter that everything was done. They were going to have to redo them.
We haven't said anything to the backers because we didn't even know if we were going to convince them they had to redo them. But as I mentioned above, they still haven't been paid the last 50% of their money. That kind of money makes people pause and make better decisions.
In the end, we proved we had agreed upon a different plastic and they agreed to redo them. This is the major reason for the delay. They are in the process of printing the minis in the correct plastic now.
Fact 2: After the issues with the minis and much twisting and turning, we were able to get a production copy of the game. We were already in full rage mode from the quality of the minis and in negotiation with them on what would be done when it arrived. In addition to the minis, there were many inconsistencies with the color in the sample they had sent us. I thought Keith was going to flip out.
So in a matter of 6 weeks we learned that the product we were on the cusp of shipping to you was full of quality issues. We put the breaks on it. There was a moment right before Gencon that I thought I was going to be writing an update to explain that we were going to have to start over.
We had numerous conversation with them in July and August in regards to the product they sent us. Once again, I feel they listened because we still owed them 50% of the money.
In the end, Keith was able to identify why the issues were happening. He has made an extraordinary effort to fix these issues across the board, going through every file again in detail to fix something that really shouldn't have been an issue. They are reprinting the files with issues.
Just as a precaution, we also commissioned color proofs from a printer in the US so they can match the colors.
Why wait to explain all this?
We chose to wait until we had a solution and saw proof the changes were being made. They are. We have the production minis in hand now and they are using the correct plastic. We have seen the digital proofs and the issues are resolved.
The next step is, once again, to get a complete production sample of the game. It is on the way. When we get it, we'll do the unboxing as promised.
It would have been a catastrophe to explain to you all the issues and how much we are working to correct them if I had to come back to you and say the corrections failed and we have to start over.
What does this mean?
It means that Recon is looking to ship to you in November. So this is a rumor that appears to be correct.
We want to apologize for all the delays with Recon. We have been able to ignore the rumors because we knew the facts and now you do too. We simply couldn't stand the idea of you all opening a product that was inferior to what we intended and promised. We pride ourselves on the quality of our components. We have built our reputation on the quality of our miniatures and our games. What you were set to receive before we halted it, would have harmed us much more than a few rumors and a further delay. How much more angry would a backer be if they got the game and it was messed up?
It has got to be right. It has got to be what we promised. It is not your responsibility to get it right, it is ours. You have trusted us with your money for a quality product. Keith is contemplating putting a video up on the differences in the miniatures just to show how bad it was. We feel quality trumps timeliness. We pray you are okay with the choices we have made on your behalf.
I wonder what company they're working with - or do we already know?
2015/09/11 15:21:22
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
Assembling is my favorite part, despite how obtuse and obnoxious parts may be sometimes.
Board gamers are going to flip out for sure. Especially since these were all supposed to come assembled.
I'm pretty sure they said there would always be some assembly. If you go back and find the update where Tom assembles the Kemvar Heavy prototype, they talk about how much easier it will be to assemble the minis than the metals. Assuming the part count is pretty similar to the metal line, assembly shouldn't be too big a deal other than FCC, it's usually just pop an arm and backpack on. I would hope they reduced the part count on FCC though.
2015/10/28 18:01:25
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
PsychoticStorm wrote: Sigh unacembled minis in a boardgame and the expansions do not seem to hold assembled models inside....
I know that's a big deal for boardgamers, but you're on a wargaming site here, we're not that bothered by it!
I am more interested in the longevity of the game, its a boardgame and it should be geared towards this direction, I see two major issues the models are unassembled, more importantly not glued to the base (this is the biggest issue) and the models to not seem to fit inside the boxes assembled.
2015/10/29 07:59:58
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
Maybe I'm just weird, but I would think you'd want to actually display the figures, no? I can see why you'd want space for the figures, but if like me, you plan on painting them, then you wouldn't want to just toss them back in the box.
Your assumptions are erroneous, I think; PsychoticStorm is suggesting that most boardgamers won't be wanting to paint or assemble the miniatures. He's probably correct; after all, who paints meeples? Even those photos of painted Imperial Assault or Descent minis are a minority. Being unable to fit the assembled contents back in the box means it's harder to transport the thing to your friends' board game night.
On the other hand, I think games like this, Sedition Wars, GW's Execution Force and upcoming Betrayal at Calth and perhaps also Imperial Assault are aiming at a slightly different market; these are boardgames for wargamers. The quality of the miniatures is a large part of the draw, and wargamers are used to having to assemble their playing pieces before use. Time will tell if there's a market for this sort of thing.
2015/10/29 15:21:14
Subject: Re:MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - done @ $816,274 - Shipping targeted for April
I like the idea of boardgames for wargamers (as well as hobbyists in general). Looking at most of the junk I support on Kickstarter seems to confirm that as well. Whether they stay a boutique niche, at least with the Kickstarter model these kinds of games can continue to be created.
Unlike Barzam, I'd like to put things back in the box, as I don't have space to display them. I'm thinking multiple coats of varnish and sealers should do the trick. Then again, with the all in modules I should have all sorts of boxes to store things in. A couple of boxes may end up pulling strictly tile duty while one of the main boxes houses the bulk of the figures.
Of course if I have my way I'll find some spare Mantic VHS cases laying around that I can use to transport my team around, since more than likely I'll be playing against Barzam anyways.
Poorly lit photos of my ever- growing collection of completely unrelated models!
I think you all are missing the blue cardboard insert in the box?
I think there should be plenty of room for the few minis in the boxes,.... Now, of course, those stretch goals are not all going to fit in the base boxes I don't think,... But I could be wrong
2015/10/29 21:21:08
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - unboxing video released - wave1 (two base games) to ship in December
I am not referring to the big box, but the module boxes.
Kickstarter (and FFG really) has brought in an interesting situation in boardgames, now people want miniatures over Meeples but they still want the out of the box experience, if the reactions from Essen for HINT were an indication, Boardgames still are not happy to assemble their gaming pieces.
2015/10/29 23:33:36
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - unboxing video released - wave1 (two base games) to ship in December
The minis surely fit in the expansion boxes,.... Tom even tests it out towards the end of the video. Those boxes only have to hold one tile, some instructions, a few cards and the minis,.... And none of them are larger than the standard 30mm round bases. There should be no issues storing all the expansions plus the other 5 team members in there if you've added them all.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/10/29 23:35:24
2015/10/30 00:37:00
Subject: MERCS: Recon. Kickstarter - unboxing video released - wave1 (two base games) to ship in December
