Mercenaries Kickstart Discussion 3: Securing Salvage Rights

[Shin_Fenris]

It should be pointed out that it looks like CGL timed this such that it gives the best chance of avoiding Chinese New Year disruptions. Could be a coincidence, might not.

I hadn't thought about that (switched jobs at the end of '21 so CNY no longer impacts my workflow) but if not a coincidence, that'd be smart planning.

[carlisimo]

It feels like it was scheduled to start after the Leviathans Kickstarter, which kinda dragged on at the end due to their apparent staff of one falling ill in November and getting zero support that we could see.  Leviathans’ pledge manager closed on March 1.  That’s a pretty ideal closing date if you’re scheduling around people taking time off for Chinese New Year.

[S2pidiT]

Well, looks like I'll at least fall at the $150-tier, if not a tier up from that. It will be tough to pick which force packs to get, though...

[bobthecoward]

Well, if they have the Merchant level pledge . . . it all depends on your local store.

Economy of scale . . . the swag, depending on what it is, does not add $10 to the cost.  Same reason they are offering the Timber Wolf at the earlier level, the price per unit is driven down by the more it is included.

Even to save a dollar I would get a pack only tier.

[Death_from_above]

Surprised to see the "two ForcePacks of your choice" in the Company pledge level blurb.

In my understanding, the Battlefield Support (i.e. vees) sets are ForcePacks too, so that
would allow netting 16 minis with the two rewards.

Unless I'm wrong and the other pledge levels use the same wording, that could potentially
mean a lot of vehicles..

[Kerfuffin(925)]

I’m CI they allowed comstar 6 packs as a pick. It’s not really odd.

[DarkISI]

Well, if they have the Merchant level pledge . . . it all depends on your local store.

The 4" Timber Wolf image mentions a "Company Store" pledge that comes with three of them.
I think we can all guess what that one will be

[Death_from_above]

I’m CI they allowed comstar 6 packs as a pick. It’s not really odd.

Yeah, but that had the downside of Wave 2 shipping (i.e. longer wait). AFAIK, the Mercs KS will be one wave only.

[Ghaz]

Yeah, but that had the downside of Wave 2 shipping (i.e. longer wait). AFAIK, the Mercs KS will be one wave only.

Yes.

Loren Coleman is on the latest WNRP podcast and has stated that there will only be one shipping wave in this kickstater. He also stated that there will be dice!

[I am Belch II]

So happy its only one wave....my Clan Invasion was a part of 2.5 so it was months and months till I got mine.

[shivanwurm]

It’s here.

[Cyc]

Hmmm, return of factions from last Kickstarter too or only all new?

[Wolf72]

Think we'll get a doubling of packs again? ... maybe even a few double-packs if we hit a certain goal?

[Aresneo]

Hmmm, return of factions from last Kickstarter too or only all new?

Kell Hounds and Wolf Dragoons are back with different versions of their logo as leaving out the two most iconic mercenary companies during a mercenary themed campaign would have likely raised a lot of complaints, the rest of the stuff should be factions that weren't included last time.

[Fruitfly]

Think we'll get a doubling of packs again? ... maybe even a few double-packs if we hit a certain goal?

I think a doubling by the time all is said and done is the safe bet.

[Daryk]

I would be totally there for double packs of vehicles... 

[DarkSpade]

No interest in doubles.  Looking for one of each.

[Colt Ward]

No interest in doubles.  Looking for one of each.

Not how it worked . . . FREX, you get 2 packs in the 'Company' level pledge . . . when we hit a certain stretch goal, they doubled the packs . . . so instead of 2, you got to pick 4.

[pokefan548]

That being said, that was the horribly underestimated CI Kickstarter. My guess is it'll be more like Levs. Company gets one extra box choice, next up (presumably Battalion) gets two extra box choices, next up (Regiment?) gets three extra box choices, and so on, and so on.

[Cyc]

Kell Hounds and Wolf Dragoons are back with different versions of their logo as leaving out the two most iconic mercenary companies during a mercenary themed campaign would have likely raised a lot of complaints, the rest of the stuff should be factions that weren't included last time.

Understood that, but my question was more only new or will existing factions be again made available for the swag. But guess we won't know til launch.

[Daryk]

Fingers crossed the Lothian League will be one of them...

[klarg1]

“Across all eras”

I’d be more than a little thrilled with a Terran Hegemony patch and dice set. Rim Worlds Republic would also be pretty sweet (and make a good t-shirt) 

[shivanwurm]

What reveals are we expecting tomorrow? $300 ish star colonel type tier and top level tier?

[Kerfuffin(925)]

Probably, it looks like two a day and a fun thing or two.

[Kerfuffin(925)]

Well in terms of time to see retail we have a rough idea. Atleast 30 days after the retailer ‘wave’

[Greatclub]

Well in terms of time to see retail we have a rough idea. Atleast 30 days after the retailer ‘wave’

Honestly, I think the stores should be the first to have their stuff shipped - and no, I don't have one.

[Geont]

I mean the AS box is the same price for just about the same amount of stuff, 13 mechs vs 8 mechs, 4 vees and 2 BA. Plus some freebies

I don't think that the Merc boxset will have BA as was in the Clan Invasion boxset. Maybe it could be a stretch goal as in the previous KS but we don't know that yet.

[thedancingjoker]

I think a doubling by the time all is said and done is the safe bet.

I hope you are right but I don't think it is a safe bet.  As far as I could tell the Leviathans KS didn't include a doubling, and I don't think it was originally planned in the Clan Invasion KS.  I would love it if true, but I wouldn't count on it.

[Shin_Fenris]

I hope you are right but I don't think it is a safe bet.  As far as I could tell the Leviathans KS didn't include a doubling, and I don't think it was originally planned in the Clan Invasion KS.  I would love it if true, but I wouldn't count on it.

Yeah, I'm not looking at it as a given, but definitely hopeful. When all was said and done from the first KS, including all charges and taking into account the things that weren't perfect, picking minis up from retail outlets that have solid discounts like Aries or MM would have been fairly cheaper had the force packs not been doubled. That made it one of the most cost vs reward BattleTech purchases I've ever done though and if this one goes the same route, I'll increase my pledge significantly beyond the base I'm planning right now.

[Death_from_above]

Personally, I don't think a doubling is in the works :

if you take the current prices of BT products (CGL webstore) and only look at the miniatures
(i.e. disregarding all other content and not taking shipping into account), you end up with the
following "cost" per mini :

12.49 (Beginner Box - 2 Mechs)
7.5 (AGoAC - 8 Mechs)
7 (Shilone Salvage Box)
6.24 (IS Lance Forcepack - 4 Mechs)
6.15 (Alpha Strike Box - 13 Mechs)
5.98 (Clan Star ForcePack - 5 Mechs)
5.83 (ComStar Lvl II ForcePack - 6 Mechs)

Compared to the currently known KS pledge levels (assuming that Battlefield Support sets are
considered a single ForcePack for reward purposes and again disregarding other content/shipping) :

11.66 (Recruit - 3 Mechs)
6.66 (Veteran - 8 Mechs + 4 vees)
6.25 (Company "A" - 12 Mechs + 12 vees)
5.35 (Company "B" - 8 Mechs + 20 vees)

In the Company "B" example, two Battlefield support sets were chosen as rewards. If this were
to be doubled, we'd potentially get 44 minis (8 Mechs + 36 vees) for 150 (i.e. 3.40 per mini).

For comparison's sake, I had a heavily reinforced Star Colonel in the Clan Invasion KS. Taking into
account split shipping and the character buyback credit, I ended up with a "cost" of 4 USD/mini.

Possibly we'll get a Leviathan-like approach as mentioned by Pokefan.. we'll know soon enough.