BattleTech: Clan Invasion Kickstarter Discussion, Vol. 4, The Madness Begins

[Wolf72]

If they are able to include more items in wave 1, would they go ahead and do it anyway? 

Or would they stick with what the PM brings out?

OR would they open things back up to redistribute the waves (that just sends shivers of administrative fear all over imo, but everything is online and theoretically should be able to change with a keystroke or two)?

[Colt Ward]

I would imagine once we see it in the PM, its locked in place- it does not matter if Anthony Scroggins & his whole team fall into a pocket universe where time runs faster and while 5 minutes passed here they spent a year there perfecting the remaining mechs so they are ready to be produced before that pocket universe expels them.

[Wolf72]

I would imagine once we see it in the PM, its locked in place- it does not matter if Anthony Scroggins & his whole team fall into a pocket universe where time runs faster and while 5 minutes passed here they spent a year there perfecting the remaining mechs so they are ready to be produced before that pocket universe expels them.

[HomerSimpson] Stoo-pid pocket universes![/HomerSimpson]  xp

[Asgo]

If they are able to include more items in wave 1, would they go ahead and do it anyway? 

Or would they stick with what the PM brings out?

OR would they open things back up to redistribute the waves (that just sends shivers of administrative fear all over imo, but everything is online and theoretically should be able to change with a keystroke or two)?

as the PM contains wave specific shipping costs per item, I doubt a change would be possible later on.

[Colt Ward]

This image from the producer in China is great . . . as I Wolf player I have never put a Executioner on table top (BV is usually a problem) but with this . . . I am going to have to try (besides the new variant I want to play with . . . ) it looks outstanding.

With that said . . . we are coming up on 2 months since the close of the KS campaign.  Despite the mix up in the tags for the fundraising levels, it will have been 2 months since the Founding of the Clans 1 was supposed to be released with no clear answer- FotC II coming in December and III's writing is being finished, got it.

[Adrian Gideon]

If they are able to include more items in wave 1, would they go ahead and do it

No. this is an argument I’ve already fought (against) behind the scenes. Add just one more mini, and it causes a cascading effect across products and production. We know what’s in wave 1 internally, and we’ve working hard to get that done in a timely manner. While everyone wants more, sooner, production pipeline and deadlines are what it’s all about.

[Jaim Magnus]

No. this is an argument I’ve already fought (against) behind the scenes. Add just one more mini, and it causes a cascading effect across products and production. We know what’s in wave 1 internally, and we’ve working hard to get that done in a timely manner. While everyone wants more, sooner, production pipeline and deadlines are what it’s all about.

It's the old speed versus quality argument. I for one am willing to wait. I'd rather it be done right, not fast.

[Insaniac99]

No. this is an argument I’ve already fought (against) behind the scenes. Add just one more mini, and it causes a cascading effect across products and production. We know what’s in wave 1 internally, and we’ve working hard to get that done in a timely manner. While everyone wants more, sooner, production pipeline and deadlines are what it’s all about.

Thank you.

Better to under promise and over deliver than the reverse.  by setting your wave 1 sights low and refusing to change then, you keep the safety margin you likely budgeted for and make an on-time release more likely.

[Greatclub]

So if CGL gets the production equivalent of a royal flush, we just get our minis a bit early?

Makes sense. Things going well are usually just Murphy making you overconfident for later.

[SteelRaven]

I appreciate CGL's commitment to quality.
   

[Wolf72]

Add just one more mini, and it causes a cascading effect across products and production.

Thanks for the answer.

totally understandable.

What was that quote from The Meaning of Life ... "Finally Monsieur a mint ... it's wafer thin" (close to it)

[carlisimo]

These semiweekly insights into game development is something they should consider sharing outside of the Kickstarter.  They’re fun… but they’re not really updates, are they? 

[LightGuard]

Just looked at the latest Backer update. Of all the development images, the biggest surprise was dat Mist Lynx. Unf.

Still never going to use it on purpose  :D, but visually it is stunning. ^-^

[Colt Ward]

Just looked at the latest Backer update. Of all the development images, the biggest surprise was dat Mist Lynx. Unf.

Still never going to use it on purpose  :D, but visually it is stunning. ^-^

You say that . . . and then you need something fast with ECM and BAP with not a lot of BV . . .

[DarkISI]

These semiweekly insights into game development is something they should consider sharing outside of the Kickstarter.  They’re fun… but they’re not really updates, are they? 

Depends on what you see as update.
They are insights into the development process and we now also know they are off to the next step in the production process. That would be the "update". But with the policy of 2 per week, it was always a given that the amount of information we can get in each one will be limited. They are forgoing big updates with all the images at once to keep engagement up with smaller insights.
Fine by me, but if you expect more "update" like posts, they need to be a lot rarer.

[StoryReader]

These semiweekly insights into game development is something they should consider sharing outside of the Kickstarter.  They’re fun… but they’re not really updates, are they?

This is my first kickstarter (so I have no idea what is a "normal" communication level), but to be honest, I think 2 communications per week is more than is necessary (I'd be good with something every couple of weeks).  I seriously don't expect earthshaking revelations twice every seven days.

Pretty sweet looking minis though!

[Greatclub]

This is my first kickstarter (so I have no idea what is a "normal" communication level), but to be honest, I think 2 communications per week is more than is necessary (I'd be good with something every couple of weeks).  I seriously don't expect earthshaking revelations twice every seven days.

Pretty sweet looking minis though!

way more communication that normal. One per month isn't unusual, baring milestones, and then you always gets the one that goes dark for half a year before sending a 'shipping happening' update.

[truetanker]

I just want to throw money to pay for these already...just itching so much!

Can't wait much longer, it's like a bad dentist visit for a triple root canal procedure and you have a very hot date later on!

TT

[pixelgeek]

way more communication that normal. One per month isn't unusual, baring milestones, and then you always gets the one that goes dark for half a year before sending a 'shipping happening' update.

They have a lot of things to talk about at the moment. I suspect that it will die down once they are in the 'the boat just left china' phase of the Kickstarter

[StoryReader]

way more communication that normal. One per month isn't unusual, baring milestones, and then you always gets the one that goes dark for half a year before sending a 'shipping happening' update.

Ok, that's neat to know.  It is fun to get these ongoing miniature images!

They have a lot of things to talk about at the moment. I suspect that it will die down once they are in the 'the boat just left china' phase of the Kickstarter

"The boxes are currently becalmed in mid-ocean, awaiting even the slightest of breezes to grace the mainsail"

[Weirdo]

"The boxes are currently becalmed in mid-ocean, awaiting even the slightest of breezes to grace the mainsail"

I see somebody has tried tracking things when Fantasy Flight does a restock...

[psionics313]

I see somebody has tried tracking things when Fantasy Flight does a restock...

So much waiting for ffg. Never disappointed though with the end results

[I am Belch II]

With all the money thrown at the kickstarter....maybe produce them in the States??

[Greatclub]

With all the money thrown at the kickstarter....maybe produce them in the States??

Not a hope. Look up heavy gear's first kickstarter to figure out why. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/heavygearblitz/heavy-gear-blitz-war-for-terra-nova-starter-set/posts. search in some previous kickstarter threads for a summery, I can't be bothered to try.

Than add in assembly at North American pay rates (Yes, they have to be assembled, they sell much better that way.)

North American production would jack prices out of this market. Unfortunate, but welcome to the modern screwed up economy.

[victor_shaw]

After to many issues with the staff of CGL.

I would like to withdraw my support for this Kickstarter.

How would I go about doing that.

[DarkSpade]

If you mean get your money back, I believe that's not possible once the kickstarter ends.

[victor_shaw]

If you mean get your money back, I believe that's not possible once the kickstarter ends.

It has already been done before by another backer so is should be possible.

[Syzyx]

If that is your pursuit I would recommend contacting CGL via Kickstarter. Here is mostly for fan venting, not Kickstarter business.

[pixelgeek]

Than add in assembly at North American pay rates (Yes, they have to be assembled, they sell much better that way.)

North American production would jack prices out of this market. Unfortunate, but welcome to the modern screwed up economy.

I think this is a common assumption based on little to no actual evidence. It also speaks to the fact that, if true, out hobby is based on the exploitive labour of others. Not a happy fact

I think that the bigger issue is that since western governments have allowed business to outsource most manufacturing to places like China it has meant that there is not really any North American companies around to do this sort of work at the scale that is required.

We’ve also missed out on the development of ancillary businesses. A local designer gets his neoprene gaming mats produced in China because there is no-one available locally to do this sort of work at the smaller scale he needs. Lots of places in China do since there are small businesses there that have sprung up to handle work required from larger gaming companies.

It’s not so much an issue of cost but that this outsourcing of manufacturing has also allowed China to develop a wide range of associated businesses to do other work required.

Also, anyone who doesn’t think that we can’t get cheap labour in North America to exploit just needs to do a google search for conditions in warehouses like Amazons and other similar companies.

[DarkISI]

I think this is a common assumption based on little to no actual evidence. It also speaks to the fact that, if true, out hobby is based on the exploitive labour of others. Not a happy fact

I think that the bigger issue is that since western governments have allowed business to outsource most manufacturing to places like China it has meant that there is not really any North American companies around to do this sort of work at the scale that is required.

We’ve also missed out on the development of ancillary businesses. A local designer gets his neoprene gaming mats produced in China because there is no-one available locally to do this sort of work at the smaller scale he needs. Lots of places in China do since there are small businesses there that have sprung up to handle work required from larger gaming companies.

It’s not so much an issue of cost but that this outsourcing of manufacturing has also allowed China to develop a wide range of associated businesses to do other work required.

Also, anyone who doesn’t think that we can’t get cheap labour in North America to exploit just needs to do a google search for conditions in warehouses like Amazons and other similar companies.

It's both, actually. There are only a few comlanies left in the Western hemisphere doing work like this and they are more expensive. Which does not necessarily mean, workers in China are exploited, but that the living costs might be lower, which means they can get lower wages and still live a "normal live".

Edit:
An example to show just what I mean: a friend of mine moved to Munich recently. There he will earn 10k per year more (roughly) than he would have earned at. And you know what? For his living standard, Munich wasn't any better than the job around here, because rent and food is just that much more expensive in Munich. 8t takes away most of the higher salary