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2016/10/06 17:16:32
Subject: Re:Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter finished - pledge manager link sent - check your spam folders
Received my KS order of plastic spaceships today. Just the 2 Player Starter Set Pledge. Summary of contents:
Seriously, it's all terribly nice. The rule book is kept safe in a nice pack o'cards like sheaf. It suddenly struck me just how useful the landscape orientation is - it's super easy to keep the thing open on the page that you want. The rule book itself is a piece of art with so many pretty pictures. The models, as always, are insanely detailed. Good stuff Dave! The dog tag and T-Shirt are the cherry on the cake.
I feel like the small delay has been totally worth it. I have never backed a Kickstarter involving physical goods before (yes, even though I have quite a few of Mantic's minis), and can irrevocably say that it was worth every penny. I do hope that, if Hawk attempts more Kickstarters, they do not become dependent on them for every future endeavor. It seems as though the odd one-off big project would be a great idea now that they've done their first. (Please let it be a 30mm skirmish set in the DZ universe! One can dream...) Hawk Wargames, from what I've received, you've done a ruddy good job - well done!
I hope that everyone else's pledges arrive correctly and in good time.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I will add that the parcel required signing, so perhaps Hawk has information of the parcel's whereabouts on their end.
Edit: just noticed that I had used there instead of their. This is unacceptable!
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2016/10/09 08:31:45
Dave has been over at Beasts of War for a number of days, and we are hoping that many of you will have seen the update to backers that was on the recent Weekender video. But for those of you who haven’t seen the video or the reviews on it about the Rulebook, we have put together some information below. There will also be a range of videos coming out over the next few weeks with various focuses, whether that is gameplay, spaceships or space stations!
Kickstarter Fulfilment Update
As many of you will have seen, we have been packing and dispatching a plethora of orders, with many leaving the Hawk Warehouse on a daily basis! Our UPS and Interlink drivers have had to make several return trips with larger vans to pick up what have been going out!
Over the past 2 weeks the team at Hawk have been hard at work packing and dispatching Kickstarter pledges for Dropfleet Commander, and although we are making good progress, the logistical complexity of processing 4000 individual orders is proving to be very time consuming, and though this was planned for, the delay caused by the printed elements has further delayed the shipping, more than recently anticipated.
We have increased the number of warehouse staff and secured additional warehouse space to help expedite the delivery process, as well as sending down a number of our own ‘elite team’ to help move and pack items. We wish to emphasise that the delays in fulfilment are no way due to lack of fulfilment stock and are purely reflective of the volume of orders to be processed mixed with the delay in receiving the printed material.
Dropfleet Commander Wave 1 Retail Release
Most of you will be aware that the wave 1 of the Dropfleet Commander retail release is scheduled for the 14th of October and unfortunately it is likely that there will still be some Kickstarter pledges awaiting delivery at this point.
Since the retail release consists of around a dozen pre-arranged bulk shipments of stock to distributors, delaying wave 1 of the release would not actually speed up the Kickstarter fulfilment process. This is a hard pill to swallow for us, as we have put so much effort into endeavouring to get this Kickstarter delivered before release, but we also have to be conscious of the game and with agreements made with our distribution partners.
We will, therefore, be proceeding with wave 1 of the retail release on the 14th of October as many wheels are in motion for it, and we hope that you, as our backers, will understand that we are doing everything in our power to ensure completion of the Kickstarter fulfilment in October.
What are we doing to Prioritise Kickstarter Fulfilment?
In addition to the hiring of temp staff, increased warehouse space and deployment of the Hawk elite team, we have taken the decision to defer wave 2 of the retail release. Whilst the deferring of wave 1 of the retail release would not impact Kickstarter fulfilment, pushing back the wave 2 release does mean that the warehouse staff allocated for manufacture of the battleships can be reallocated to Kickstarter fulfilment as a priority.
We are also withdrawing the sale of promotional stock at our Dropfleet pre-release events, and will be focusing every available member of the Hawk Wargames team toward the completion of the Kickstarter fulfilment in October.
We appreciate the patience and understanding shown by you, our backers, and our supporters as we reach the final stages of delivery. It has been a big process, but we are extremely proud of the finished product and we hope that when it reaches you, you will find that it was worth the wait.
Here is the video from Beasts of War if you would like to see it - Hawk Wargames Content begins at around 1:03:50:
We can't wait to get Dropfleet Commander rewards out to you all!
Kind regards, and thank you for all of your support!
The Hawk Wargames Team
Would quite like to know just what the elite team entails, I now just have an image of Space Marines packing for the Emperor. I can fully understand their commitment to shipping wave 1, hopefully others will feel the same. Pushing back wave 2 also makes perfect sense. Well, thought this was worth posting here for those who may of missed it. Have yet to watch all of the Beasts of War video - can't wait to see the others coming up.
from what was said on the BoW show the elite team is basically the people from hawk based in London a number of who are going to be sent up to their warehouse site in Birmingham to do the packing etc
2016/10/09 10:37:04
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Elite team probably means Simon and Patrice and the like.
I just realised I'm probably a little caught out. My plans originally was to get my kickstarter, inspect the minis and build some lists to see if I really need a second starter set to flesh out my UCM and Scourge fleets.
It's going to be hard to figure that out now without losing the preorder discount opportunity for the new starter set
2016/10/09 10:47:00
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
I was a bit disappointed by the BoW video. Especially in the beginning there seemed to be a lot of attempt at damage control, only instead of much that sounded like contrition on their part for not meeting their claimed goals in the time they promised they sounded like they were trying to rhetorically frame the issue as though the kickstarter backers who are unhappy are the trouble-makers. All this talk about being flexible, when we're the ones who payed the money, it doesn't sit well with me.
The worst part is that for all Hawk has told us, the problem was with the rulebook being delayed. And then they tell us all these things that are being added to the rulebook. Now, the approach rules, yes, those sound excellent and I can see that they probably only could have been added with playtesting so I understand the necessity of a small delay to include them. But rules about integrating this game with DZC and rules for space stations - these were implied to be goals for the game for the get-go so why weren't these rules written ahead of time? It really sounds like poor planning on Hawk's part. And now the space stations which were initially portrayed to be such a small part of the game are now necessary for half the scenarios?
Again, it all comes down to communication. If they would have just communicated to us what was going on and admitted when they made mistakes, I'd probably be able to forgive it. But with them being so tight-lipped about why things aren't working and then making it sound like the Kickstarter backers wanting their product are the cause of their trouble when we are the cause of their success so far is really quite galling.
"White Lions: They're Better Than Cancer!" is not exactly a compelling marketing slogan. - AlexHolker
2016/10/09 12:50:28
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Apparently it was communicated at the wayland open day that they wouldn't be done despatching pledges until the front end of November which will be 3-4 weeks after the retail release. If your an Australian backer you could well end up not seeing this before well into December.
They messed up delivery times, communicated poorly and reneged on their promise to deliver kickstarter rewards before shipping retail and haven't apologised. Not impressed.
2016/10/09 14:06:23
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Well, I think the last few updates made everything a lot more clear in regards to what is going on, what they are planning to do and what caused the delays, but I do agree that a "sorry" would have been nice.
Nonetheless, I still do not hold it against Hawk. This is a huge project for a small company and they are working really hard to produce an awesome product. That there are some setbacks and problems along the way should not diminish that. Though I do hope Hawk learns from it for the next time they decide to do something like this.
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2016/10/09 16:20:26
Subject: Re:Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Had a look at a friends copy of the game on Thursday and made a small order of the 2 player set and a PHR Starter fleet to see how it works. Looks very pretty
A range of rules for orbital scenery These add greatly to reasons for manoeuvring and provide a plethora of tactical options for players. Most of the game's scenarios incorporate some orbital scenery and we find it improves the gaming experience greatly. Most common is Debris Fields, a constant threat in wartorn orbits of the Cradle Worlds. These come in Fine and Dense varieties, each bringing their own opportunities and challenges. For example, Fine types are particularly dangerous to strike craft, whereas Dense ones do more damage to ships that fly through them. There are also Planetary Rings (essentially, a fine strip of debris bisecting the table) and Large Solid Objects (LSOs), being small moons, orbiting asteroids and massive orbital plates. Since scenery is now integral to the game, the 2 Player Starter Set now also includes punch out card Fine and Dense debris fields!
Pleased to see this as terrain has always been an important and extermely positive element of all our previous Space ship battle games - BFG, ACTA and Full Thrust
I AM A MARINE PLAYER
"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos
"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001
Communication has been awful - has anyone in the US been notified that their order has been shipped? At this point, it looks like I'll be receiving my stuff way after retail, which is an incredible bummer.
DZC - Scourge
2016/10/12 02:31:27
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Thokt wrote: Communication has been awful - has anyone in the US been notified that their order has been shipped? At this point, it looks like I'll be receiving my stuff way after retail, which is an incredible bummer.
I haven't gotten anything on my order yet, which is disappointing. A tracking number would really help given my hectic work schedule of late.
2016/10/12 07:15:30
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Retail release goes live in the USA today as apparently one store has confirmed they have stock and will be putting it out on sale today.
So all those backers who haven't received their pledges yet are now effectively being excluded from the community the retail release that couldn't be moved was supposed to build.
UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote: Retail release goes live in the USA today as apparently one store has confirmed they have stock and will be putting it out on sale today.
So all those backers who haven't received their pledges yet are now effectively being excluded from the community the retail release that couldn't be moved was supposed to build.
I don't think people in my local tabletop community will exclude me from playing DfC just because my fleet arrives two or three weeks after the official launch of the starter sets. Mainly because most people that I know are interested in DfC have the same issue - waiting for the pledge reward to arrive. But even if people went and bought the starter boxes now it's not like the cool kids are the ones that got their plastic toys before 2016/10/14 and anyone else isn't allowed to play with the cool kids.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/10/12 09:41:39
2016/10/12 10:30:28
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
I can't understand why everyone is complaining and crying about. No communications, product going to stores before Kickstarter orders have been done.
No one is to blame but yourselves. After all this is not the first time it happened and sure it will not be the last. You should have known this could have happened. After all did Dave give anyone a guarantee? He is not the saint as a lot of you made him out to be.
Next time maybe you only support someone who actually has product out and support him that way instead of almost like every other kickstarter that fails and is the same story over and over again.
"WHAH where is my product. It's late. No communication."
I don't think anyone has right to complain. After all almost all of you should know how Kickstarters work and should have expected this. Yes it sucks and wish people were not like this but again, you have no one to blame but yourselves.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/10/12 12:06:26
Agies Grimm:The "Learn to play, bro" mentality is mostly just a way for someone to try to shame you by implying that their metaphorical nerd-wiener is bigger than yours. Which, ironically, I think nerds do even more vehemently than jocks.
Everything is made up and the points don't matter. 40K or Who's Line is it Anyway?
Auticus wrote: Or in summation: its ok to exploit shoddy points because those are rules and gamers exist to find rules loopholes (they are still "legal"), but if the same force can be composed without structure, it emotionally feels "wrong".
2016/10/12 12:26:44
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
UNCLEBADTOUCH wrote: How can you play games of dropfleet commander with no minis?
How can you learn the rules without the rulebook?
How can you discuss the new background without the rulebook?
Yes, you can't start assembly and playing right now. You don't have access to the game. You can still watch others play in your local community or even ask them to let you play with their fleet for a game. Your claim was that people are being excluded from the community just because their boxes arrive 2-3 weeks late.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Davor wrote: I can't understand why everyone is complaining and crying about. No communications, product going to stores before Kickstarter orders have been done.
No one is to blame but yourselves. After all this is not the first time it happened and sure it will not be the last. You should have known this could have happened. After all did Dave give anyone a guarantee? He is not the saint as a lot of you made him out to be.
Next time maybe you only support someone who actually has product out and support him that way instead of almost like every other kickstarter that fails and is the same story over and over again.
"WHAH where is my product. It's late. No communication."
I don't think anyone has right to complain. After all almost all of you should know how Kickstarters work and should have expected this. Yes it sucks and wish people were not like this but again, you have no one to blame but yourselves.
Of course you have a right to complain if something is handled wrong.
BUT: Products release late all the time. Including those that you preordered. Deal with it. Kickstarters ARE notorious for having a risk of delivering late.
If that's really important to you, you probably shouldn't preorder or kickstart anything as you'll get dissappointed a lot.
I'll rather have a fully tested, functional product a week or three late than an unfinished, rushed product on time. That's just my personal preference, though.
I also don't consider a KS project "failed" just because they delivered a bit later (not: a year later) than expected. It happens with enterprise level projects with 7-figure-budgets, of course it's going to happen to smaller projects, too.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2016/10/12 12:39:11
2016/10/12 12:45:57
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Davor wrote: I can't understand why everyone is complaining and crying about. No communications, product going to stores before Kickstarter orders have been done.
No one is to blame but yourselves. After all this is not the first time it happened and sure it will not be the last. You should have known this could have happened. After all did Dave give anyone a guarantee? He is not the saint as a lot of you made him out to be.
Next time maybe you only support someone who actually has product out and support him that way instead of almost like every other kickstarter that fails and is the same story over and over again.
"WHAH where is my product. It's late. No communication."
I don't think anyone has right to complain. After all almost all of you should know how Kickstarters work and should have expected this. Yes it sucks and wish people were not like this but again, you have no one to blame but yourselves.
Anyone who paid for this product has a right to complain. Please don't tell us what right we do or do not have.
This kickstarter didn't fail, so I don't get why your eluding to that?
Sure, it is expected KS are usually late, but to be fair, they did promise many many many times in updates that they will not sell retail product until KS backers got theirs. That is why many are upset over it.
So no, we are not to blame for their product being late. That is like blaming my dog for pooping on the carpet but everyone refused to take it outside when it needed to...
Of course you have a right to complain if something is handled wrong.
BUT: Products release late all the time. Including those that you preordered. Deal with it. Kickstarters ARE notorious for having a risk of delivering late.
If that's really important to you, you probably shouldn't preorder or kickstart anything as you'll get dissappointed a lot.
I'll rather have a fully tested, functional product a week or three late than an unfinished, rushed product on time. That's just my personal preference, though.
I also don't consider a KS project "failed" just because they delivered a bit later (not: a year later) than expected. It happens with enterprise level projects with 7-figure-budgets, of course it's going to happen to smaller projects, too.
This again is just a piss poor attitude to it. How will you ever help change the market if you just accept its always a crap shoot? People being upset and voicing it helps to improve how a company functions, as without its happy customers, they cease to exist.
GW is a perfect example. Sure its taken years and years, but there has been enough pissed off people that they are actually (slowly) improving their business for the consumer.
As to your fully tested comment, that was not the issue. Their issue was getting the book printed. It had nothing to do with the balance of the game or rules etc. So it coming weeks ago would make it the same game as it slowly coming out now.
2016/10/12 13:20:56
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Someone walks into rush hour traffic and gets hit and then complains they got hit by a car. Great logic there. You walking into rush hour traffic and get hit, you have no right to complain.
In other words you took the chance you take the responsibility what happens or doesn't happen. In the case of walking in rush hour traffic you are crazy enough to do so you shouldn't be complaining if you get hit.
Just like in a Kickstarter, if you should know you might not even get your product. To complain about it, you should have never bought into it in the first place.
Then again, I guess I am wrong I shouldn't have used the words "don't have a right". I was wrong there. I should have just said "You should have known better than buying a kickstarter". So to complain knowing how kick-starters are is nobody's fault buy your own.
Agies Grimm:The "Learn to play, bro" mentality is mostly just a way for someone to try to shame you by implying that their metaphorical nerd-wiener is bigger than yours. Which, ironically, I think nerds do even more vehemently than jocks.
Everything is made up and the points don't matter. 40K or Who's Line is it Anyway?
Auticus wrote: Or in summation: its ok to exploit shoddy points because those are rules and gamers exist to find rules loopholes (they are still "legal"), but if the same force can be composed without structure, it emotionally feels "wrong".
2016/10/12 18:04:33
Subject: Re:Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Kickstarters are often late, thats a given, but thats not what is annoying people.
Hawk have constantly been pushing the date to the right and have only sporadically been letting their backers aware. The most serious issue though is that Hawk have repeatedly and explicitly stated that backers would get their pledges before the general retail release.
I am still waiting for my stuff (with no email) and the official retail release date is Friday. Its looking very much like Hawk has lied to me.
Hawk have constantly been pushing the date to the right and have only sporadically been letting their backers aware. The most serious issue though is that Hawk have repeatedly and explicitly stated that backers would get their pledges before the general retail release.
I am still waiting for my stuff (with no email) and the official retail release date is Friday. Its looking very much like Hawk has lied to me.
So, in summary, it is NOT that this Kickstarter is late.
It is that backers were told (x), and (x) isn't happening.
And (x) here is, again, NOT that it would ship by (y), but that the backers would receive their pledges before retail.
2016/10/12 19:38:47
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
Sorry guys, I don't know what I was thinking of this morning. I greatly apologize for being an arse.
Agies Grimm:The "Learn to play, bro" mentality is mostly just a way for someone to try to shame you by implying that their metaphorical nerd-wiener is bigger than yours. Which, ironically, I think nerds do even more vehemently than jocks.
Everything is made up and the points don't matter. 40K or Who's Line is it Anyway?
Auticus wrote: Or in summation: its ok to exploit shoddy points because those are rules and gamers exist to find rules loopholes (they are still "legal"), but if the same force can be composed without structure, it emotionally feels "wrong".
2016/10/12 20:59:08
Subject: Dropfleet Commander News - Kickstarter orders being dispatched!
I appreciate that, Davor! I don't want to give Hawk a hard time, but it was hard to explain this to the local gamers I'm splitting my pledge with. Hopefully they'll knock it out and it will be only a few weeks out of order!
One can dream...) Hawk Wargames, from what I've received, you've done a ruddy good job - well done! 
