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

[Wolf72]

@massey:

You could use the ComStar mechs - which are really Star League mechs - as Clan second line mechs.

Totally! Highlander, Black Knight are perfect for that.

[Daryk]

What surprises me is that this boardgame kickstarter brought almost as much money as the HBS computer game kickstarter (2.58 vs. 2.78 million) - and that the average pledge for the board game KS is four times as high as for the computer game, seeing how the computer game KS had four times the number of backers.

It's also a pretty good bet there's significant overlap between the two communities...

[DarkISI]

What surprises me is that this boardgame kickstarter brought almost as much money as the HBS computer game kickstarter (2.58 vs. 2.78 million) - and that the average pledge for the board game KS is four times as high as for the computer game, seeing how the computer game KS had four times the number of backers.

I'm not surprised at all. The board game community is smaller, but willing to invest more money into a single game. Just look at the prices for some of the miniature heavy board games. I recently spent over 160 bucks on Imperial Assault (it was in a sale and would have been more than 300 regularly). Board game fans are fully willing to commit that much money into a single game.
Computer game fans are not. Also, there wasn't much to gain from HBS for that kind of pledge. You got the game and some stuff, but the sheer volume of products here is something else entirely.

[Sharpnel]

What surprises me is that this boardgame kickstarter brought almost as much money as the HBS computer game kickstarter (2.58 vs. 2.78 million) - and that the average pledge for the board game KS is four times as high as for the computer game, seeing how the computer game KS had four times the number of backers.

I think the reason that the average per bidder was higher for CGL than HBS is that the swag was better for CGLs campaign. MOst of which i very tactile, not digital/virtual.

[Empyrus]

People tend to use video game KS as glorified pre-order. And given that video game prices effectively cap out around 50 to 70 dollars (depending on platform and location a bit), most video game backers aren't interested in putting in more money,

[DarkISI]

People tend to use video game KS as glorified pre-order. And given that video game prices effectively cap out around 50 to 70 dollars (depending on platform and location a bit), most video game backers aren't interested in putting in more money,

HBS had some swag, though.
Catalyst had more swag. By about two truck loads.

[BlCharger]

Congratulations to CGL!  :thumbsup:

That was an amazing and fun month to experience. Now I have plenty of time to slowly collect new painting supplies and work on my painting skills or should I say lack of them.

[hf22]

What surprises me is that this boardgame kickstarter brought almost as much money as the HBS computer game kickstarter (2.58 vs. 2.78 million) - and that the average pledge for the board game KS is four times as high as for the computer game, seeing how the computer game KS had four times the number of backers.

Somewhat counter-intuitively, it seems tabletop games are much bigger in general on Kickstarter than video games, and increasingly so. There are some figures online saying tabletop games as a category raised $165m in 2018 on Kickstarter (up nearly 20% year-on-year), whereas video games raised on $15.8m (down 8% year-on-year)#.

Video games are of course much bigger business than tabletop games, but minis on Kickstarter seem to be in a sweet spot at the moment.

# These figures are presumably not unrelated to HBS selling out to Paradox recently, rather than seeking to fund their next game via Kickstarter.

[Daryk]

I think Empyrus' idea of video gamers treating Kickstarter as a glorified pre-order might explain that.  The bigger video game companies can do their own pre-order hype.

[hf22]

I think Empyrus' idea of video gamers treating Kickstarter as a glorified pre-order might explain that.  The bigger video game companies can do their own pre-order hype.

Yes, it would contribute.

The other factor may be the higher risks for backers in a video game context. Even for a successful project, the delivery time can be a lot longer, and the chance you won't like even a fully completed game is much higher.

[Teulisch]

lets see... free urbie, free legends mech... yup, we get good swag with this KS.

now we just need a custom urbie TRO. because thats a lotta urbies.

[pheonixstorm]

Rifle Cannon Urbie, RAC Urbie, Arrow IV Urbie, LRM Urbie... Urbie kabobs, Stir Fry Urbie...  :drool:

[Daryk]

Blazer Cannon Urbie…  ^-^

[massey]

@massey:

You could use the ComStar mechs - which are really Star League mechs - as Clan second line mechs.

That's true.  I went through and made a list of which boxes I was going to need.  Like I want at least 2 of this kind of mech, so I'll need 2 boxes of this Star, etc.  I went through 10 boxes pretty quickly, and Star Colonel gives me 12.  That's enough to pick the two Comstar boxes.  I may have to do that.

[BlCharger]

Rifle Cannon Urbie, RAC Urbie, Arrow IV Urbie, LRM Urbie... Urbie kabobs, Stir Fry Urbie...  :drool:

Blazer Cannon Urbie…  ^-^

Urbie the Flamethrower! The kids will love that one.

[Sharpnel]

Blazer Cannon Urbie…  ^-^

or my crazy ICE engine and AC/2 equipped Junkyard dog

[NeonKnight]

I SAID STOP BEING SO EXCITED PEOPLE!!!!!!!!
 ;D
 :D
 :thumbsup:

[wolfspider]

The only thing I worry about for Catalyst is proper allocation of resources now that the Kickstarter is done. I know at GenCon they mention wanting to do a kickstarter for the flying ship game next year but with amount of money they just made for this Kickstarter it’s time to focus on battletech and other projects can wait a few years. This project could put Catalyst “back on the map” and propel them to new heights undreamed of if they stay focused! Great Job Everybody  :D

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Rifle Cannon Urbie, RAC Urbie, Arrow IV Urbie, LRM Urbie... Urbie kabobs, Stir Fry Urbie...  :drool:

Bombast Laser Urbie or bust.

[Daryk]

And Artillery Cannons!  The BA and fast movers LOVE those...  >:D

[DarkISI]

The only thing I worry about for Catalyst is proper allocation of resources now that the Kickstarter is done. I know at GenCon they mention wanting to do a kickstarter for the flying ship game next year but with amount of money they just made for this Kickstarter it’s time to focus on battletech and other projects can wait a few years. This project could put Catalyst “back on the map” and propel them to new heights undreamed of if they stay focused! Great Job Everybody  :D

The won't do Leviathans u til Wave 1 of the Clan KS has been delivered. They want to show that they can do it, before the engage in something new.

[General308]

We made it with 2 hours to spare. And then spending died down noticeably. People were really throwing money at it to reach the 2.5 Million goal.

No more stretch goals after 2.5 is why it died down.   Still we added a lot of new backers after that point

[Charlie 6]

Congratulations CGL and good luck.  The hard part begins now.

[wolfspider]

The won't do Leviathans u til Wave 1 of the Clan KS has been delivered. They want to show that they can do it, before the engage in something new.

Does wave 1 include all the lance/star/level II packs?

[Charlie 6]

Does wave 1 include all the lance/star/level II packs?

If I recall from the AMA from last night the first wave would only be the IS and Clan Command packs and Clan Battle Star.  The Clan Fire Star might make it and I didn't hear a mention of the IS Battle Lance.

[DarkSpade]

Damn, 10 pages since last night.   :o  Not even going to try and catch up.

[Sartris]

If I recall from the AMA from last night the first wave would only be the IS and Clan Command packs and Clan Battle Star.  The Clan Fire Star might make it and I didn't hear a mention of the IS Battle Lance.

That would match up largely with what had been shown as prototypes before the KS started

[DarkISI]

If I recall from the AMA from last night the first wave would only be the IS and Clan Command packs and Clan Battle Star.  The Clan Fire Star might make it and I didn't hear a mention of the IS Battle Lance.

The first three to five unlocked Lance packs, the Urbie and probably the Unique pack. Everything else will be heavy.

[Ursus Maior]

The only thing I worry about for Catalyst is proper allocation of resources now that the Kickstarter is done. I know at GenCon they mention wanting to do a kickstarter for the flying ship game next year but with amount of money they just made for this Kickstarter it’s time to focus on battletech and other projects can wait a few years. This project could put Catalyst “back on the map” and propel them to new heights undreamed of if they stay focused! Great Job Everybody  :D

Yes, it could put them back on the map. But they absolutely need to diversify, too. Just BT won't do it for them for more than a year.

[Ursus Maior]

Does wave 1 include all the lance/star/level II packs?

No, just the box set and two to four packs.