Mercenaries Kickstart Discussion 2: Contract Negotiations Begin

[shivanwurm]

KS main box.

[shivanwurm]

I had the same problem on a different forum but I did download the pic of the Highlanders box with Mechy McBoatface (i.e., the Gunslinger)

I figured it just didn't like it being done from my phone. Had to get on desktop, save them to hard drive, and then upload from there.

[Ghaz]

I figured it just didn't like it being done from my phone. Had to get on desktop, save them to hard drive, and then upload from there.

Nope.  Tried one as a link and it gave me a captcha... 

[Daryk]

There's definitely enough 3025 era stuff that I'll be in for the IS stuff! 

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Merc lances packs

I forget, who's selling the ELH and Kell Hounds packs?

[Lorcan Nagle]

I forget, who's selling the ELH and Kell Hounds packs?

Eridani Light Horse will be Barnes and Noble, Kell Hounds will be a CGL webshop exclusive

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Thanks.  I'd been trying to remember that for a while and the announcement post in the News section seems to have been taken down or put somewhere that I can't find.

[Daryk]

Huh?  So those aren't going to be in the Kickstarter?

[Colt Ward]

Maybe not . . . they are going to be on public sale outside of the kickstarter.  They MIGHT be available in the pledge manager, but that is going to depend on exclusivity arrangements- IE, it was what, 6 or 8 months B&N had the Dragoons exclusive?

[Daryk]

Whatever... I'll get as much 3025 stuff as I can through the KickStarter.  Trolling book stores for things with 'mechs past my preferred era is pretty low on my priority list.

[Weirdo]

Huh?  So those aren't going to be in the Kickstarter?

All the merc lance boxes are independent of the Kickstarter. They *might* be available through it, but given that they're described as being exclusive through other sources in the same way the Dragoons one was for a while, I honestly wouldn't count on it.

[shivanwurm]

There are more pics floating around FB. Here's a better view of the merc box with units and a clan star that wasn't with the first photo set I found.

[Colt Ward]

Not all are going to be B&N exclusive though- certain packs are just CGL like the Legends or through a certain distributor.  And most are going to have GoAC and old KS designs . . .

FREX Hansen's Rough Riders will have the Penetrator, Atlas, Enforcer, and jumping Hatchetman . . . basic set up seems to be 1 new mech (Penentrator), 2 repose/variant (Atlas & Enforcer), 1 jump (Hatchetman) in the boxes.

[Wolf72]

A thresher? I'd want one. Hope it lives to be more than a rumor.

[Sartris]

This setup is going to make it very hard for me to deploy a long platoon of galleons…

I guess I can keep using my unseens…

[Scotty]

https://bg.battletech.com/news/restocks-of-core-products-major-update-of-coming-releases/

For anyone who needs a refresher on the merc themed packs.

[riposte]

I hope that the CGL exclusives are at least available through the KS - I went to place an order there a couple of weeks ago and shipping seems to have gone up again, about $120 for a single mini.  I know they have the AU storefront now, but it seriously needs a restock on lance packs.

Back to the KS topic though. it does seem that the most recent CGL Kickstarters were more focused which is good.  Certainly no one here will be going over the top on spending this time around... <hides wallet>

[Daryk]

$120 for SHIPPING?! 

[riposte]

$120 for SHIPPING?! 

If they are trying to help me save money, it worked! 

[Wargame_insomniac]

@shivanwurm
Thanks for the photos!
 

[Wargame_insomniac]

Not all are going to be B&N exclusive though- certain packs are just CGL like the Legends or through a certain distributor.  And most are going to have GoAC and old KS designs . . .

FREX Hansen's Rough Riders will have the Penetrator, Atlas, Enforcer, and jumping Hatchetman . . . basic set up seems to be 1 new mech (Penentrator), 2 repose/variant (Atlas & Enforcer), 1 jump (Hatchetman) in the boxes.

If every Merc Force Pack has that split, then I intend to buy at least one of every one eventually in the course of time. Even reposes aregret if it allows me to field two of that mech for a faction and each looks different. 

And I can't wait until that Jumping Highlander gets released!! 

[I am Belch II]

Looks like some great stuff in that box set.

[Stormy]

$120 for SHIPPING?! 

It’s not particularly unusual — there’s a reason it keeps coming up.

And to keep it on topic, it’s one of the things that makes the KS so incredibly attractive. For the hard to find stuff, I’ll never have a better opportunity to get it.

[klarg1]

It’s not particularly unusual — there’s a reason it keeps coming up.

And to keep it on topic, it’s one of the things that makes the KS so incredibly attractive. For the hard to find stuff, I’ll never have a better opportunity to get it.

This.

The discussion about international shipping costs comes up quite regularly, usually around new product announcements.
It's unfortunate, but it's pretty clear that there isn't an easy solution.

[Aotrs Commander]

The solution would require changing the delivery company, which are just extracting the urine, because they don't want to deliver outside the US or equally that they just think they can use the situation to stuff money out of people and profiteer like nobody's business. (A look at the prices the last time it came up suggested they were changing tens of dollars to send LETTERS to Canada, where they don't even have the excuse of crossing the sea.)

For comparison, after seeing this the first time, I wanted to buy some dice from Chessix (it took me YEARS to be able to buy some new 10mm D20s...), and I actually had them check the postage price... Which was a sane one (about $25 to the UK, which is about what I'd expect for a small package - it was about what I was paying to send parcels TO the US for my own customers). So you can send stuff - small stuff, anyway, like individual models - at a sensible price; it's just the particular company CGL uses, unfortunately, and I suspect dropping them to the kerb like hot cakes isn't something CGL can do easily. Hense why CGL I think is trying to set up a European distrubution hub, for one.

[riposte]

And to keep it on topic, it’s one of the things that makes the KS so incredibly attractive. For the hard to find stuff, I’ll never have a better opportunity to get it.

Exactly, I mean, I'd like it to be more focused than the Clan Invsasion kickstarter, but selfishly the option to add some or all of the available packs that are exclusive is always going to be appealing.  And I say this knowing I have a relatively local FLGS that stocks Battletech enough that I already have the new Beginners Box - this is one of the areas that I can't support them as much.

[riposte]

The solution would require changing the delivery company, which are just extracting the urine, because they don't want to deliver outside the US or equally that they just think they can use the situation to stuff money out of people and profiteer like nobody's business. (A look at the prices the last time it came up suggested they were changing tens of dollars to send LETTERS to Canada, where they don't even have the excuse of crossing the sea.)

Another factor I'd add is that in some cases some shipping companies haven't reopened to all countries.  For example, USPS is shipping to Australia again for some time, but took longer again for New Zealand.
Ultimately, this is what made the Clan Invsasion KS so attractive, it was a way for us to get access to bulk rates in a way which worked so well. 
I am hoping it won't be too disimilar this time, considering how the local currencies are currently dropping - at least while CGL are working on their local shopping front for the region (which does exist, but hasn't a great variety of stock).

[Death_from_above]

A Scroggins reply on in the Grizzly comments section.
~ "Good guess. I've seen a lot of wrong guesses on the final Clan mechs for the KS."

So more clan mechs it seems.

Another (later) reply by Anthony in the Patreon comments :

How about I mention the Galahad isn't in this one, in case that's on peoples lists.

Since the discussion is about Clan Mechs, I'm relatively sure he's talking about the Glass Spider.

That would free up a spot in the Clan Direct Fire Star (and brings us back to 10 Mechs).

[marauder648]

Looks good! I really do hope that the Merc lances are available through the pledge manager, because exclusivity or no, not having them in just means less money because people who are not in the US want them and don't want to

A - Wait at least half a year to try and get them (and it is try because it'll be a case of "We've got 3 new ones in stock! For the entirity of this country!")

B - Get a grand piano shoved up their hoop by shipping costs, especially if they tried to order from the Catalyst store who's shipping prices are absurd.

IIRC there was a thread/discussion where folks had compiled a list of the Mechs/vehicles that had been done/seen/drawn on Patreon etc, and were putting them into Lances or Stars, can someone kindly point me at that.

[Death_from_above]

   Overview taking into consideration all Mechs/vees shown/mentioned/hinted at so far            
   (ACS Patreon, Mercs KS announcement, KerenskyCon, WolfNet Ep. 50, GenCon).            
               
   Items in italics have yet to be confirmed as being part of below mentioned packs.   

   Comments in italics are assumptions/personal opinion.      
               
   Mercenaries Box Set (GenCon)            
1 -    2x Inner Sphere Standard Battle Armor (Ambusher, 6"j) - WolfNet Ep. 50 confirmed            
2 -    2x Maxim (Size 2, Striker, 16"h)            
3 -    2x Galleon (Size 1, Scout, 12"t)            
4 -    Firefly (Size 1, Striker, 10"/8"j)            
5 -    Starslayer (Size 2, Skirmisher, 10"j)            
6 -    Caesar (Size 3, Brawler, 8")            
7 -    Devastator (Size 4, Juggernaut, 6")            
8 -    Flea (Size 1, Striker, 16")            
9 -    Chameleon (Size 2, Scout, 12"j)            
10 -    Quickdraw (Size 3, Skirmisher, 10"j)            
11 -    Ostsol (Size 3, Skirmisher, 10")            
               
   IMHO, it is feasible that IS Standard BA could (also) get a standalone ForcePack            
   or maybe even a Battlefield Support-style release (2x Maxim, 2x Galleon, 4x BA).             
               
   Taking a cue from the Retaliation Pack from the Clan Invasion KS, we might also            
   see the Mechs from the Box Set as a standalone pack (or possibly a pair of Lances).            
               
   Clan Direct Fire Star (GenCon)            
12 -    Grizzly (Size 3, Skirmisher, 8"j)            
13 -    Rifleman IIC (Size 3, Sniper, 6"j)            
14 -    Highlander IIC (Size 4, Missile Boat, 6"j)            
15 -    Bane (Size 4, Sniper, 6")            
16 -    Phoenix Hawk IIC (Size 4, Sniper, 10"j)            
               
   Clan Cavalry Star (GenCon)            
17 -    Locust IIC (Size 1, Striker, 16")            
18 -    Jenner IIC (Size 1, Striker, 18"/14"j)            
19 -    Griffin IIC (Size 2, Missile Boat, 12"j)            
20 -    Shadowhawk IIC (Size 2, Striker, 12"j)            
21 -    Black Python (Size 3, Skirmisher, 10"j)            
               
   Battlefield Support : Recon & Hunter (GenCon)            
22 -    2x Warrior VTOL (Size 1,Scout, 18"v)            
23 -    2x Skulker (Size 1, Scout, 14"w)            
24 -    2x Ontos (Size 4, Juggernaut, 6"t)            
25 -    2x Behemoth (Size 4, Juggernaut, 4"t)            
               
   Battlefield Support : Assault & Cavalry (GenCon)            
26 -    2x Pegasus (Size 1, Striker, 16"h)            
27 -    2x Condor (Size 2, Striker, 16"h)            
28 -    2x Schrek (Size 4, Sniper, 6"t)            
29 -    2x Demolisher (Size 4, Juggernaut, 6"t)            
               
   Battlefield Support : Objectives (GenCon)            
30 -    Mobile HQ (Size 1, None, 12"w)            
31 -    2x Mobile Long Tom (Size 2, Missile Boat, 4"t) & trailer - WolfNet Ep. 50 confirmed            
32 -    2x MASH (Size 1, None, 10"w) - WolfNet Ep. 50 confirmed            
               
   Battlefield Support 4 (conjecture)            
33 -    2x Vedette (Size 2, Brawler, 10"t)            
34 -    2x Manticore (Size 3, Brawler, 8"t)            
35 -    2x SRM Carrier (Size 3, Ambusher, 6"t) - KS announcement confirmed            
36 -    2x LRM Carrier (Size 3, Missile Boat, 6"t) - KS announcement confirmed            
               
   Inner Sphere Recon Lance (GenCon)            
37 -    Javelin (Size 1, Striker, 12"j)            
38 -    Spector (Size 1, Striker, 14"j)            
39 -    Firestarter (Size 1, Scout, 12"j)            
40 -    Ostscout (Size 1, Scout, 16"j)            
               
   Inner Sphere Pursuit Lance (GenCon)            
41 -    Dervish (Size 2, Missile Boat, 10"j)            
42 -    Clint (Size 2, Striker, 12"j)            
43 -    Hermes II (Size 2, Scout, 12")            
44 -    Cicada (Size 2, Scout, 16")            
               
   Inner Sphere Security Lance (GenCon)            
45 -    Scorpion (Size 2, Skirmisher, 12")            
46 -    JagerMech (Size 3, Sniper, 8")            
47 -    Whitworth (Size 2, Missile Boat, 8"j)             
48 -                
               
   Also requires a Scout, so either Charger or Vulcan.            
               
   Inner Sphere Assault Lance (GenCon)            
49 -    Goliath (Size 4, Sniper, 8")            
50 -    Hoplite (Size 2, Sniper, 8")            
51 -                
52 -                
               
   Shogun probably goes here.            
               
   Inner Sphere Heavy Recon Lance (GenCon)            
53 -    Assassin (Size 2, Scout, 14"j)            
54 -    Ostroc (Size 3, Skirmisher, 10")            
55 -                
56 -                
               
   Still requires a 2nd Scout, so either Vulcan or Charger.            
               
   Currently unallocated Mechs             
   Shogun (Size 4, Missile Boat, 6"j)            
   Vulcan (Size 2, Scout, 12"j)            
   Charger (Size 4, Scout, 10")            
   Merlin (Size 3, Brawler, 8"j) - Patreon hint            
               
   Logical assumption : one more Mech to fill out the aforementioned ForcePacks.            
   My money is on the Mauler, which would tick all the boxes for the Assault Lance.