Clan Invasion Kickstarter Discussion 12 - The Last Hurrah?

[RazorclawXLS]

I guess the lesson is don't give out free things to some people, because the rest of the people will get upset at not getting a thing that they didn't ask for, expect, pay for, or earn.

Shilone was a not a gift to some people, it was a gift for ALL kickstarter backers.
Give me a valid reason why should it be OK for some ks backers to get it, but other backers should not get it?

[RazorclawXLS]

When did they promise it?  I remember them saying they were throwing it in with the second wave and would look for a way to get to everyone who didn't get a second wave, but I don't remember them flat out promising everyone would get one.   They certainly didn't say it before anyone put any money down with an expectation of getting it.  Either way, they did find a way to get one to people for free, but "free" and "at no cost" rarely ever mean the same thing when shipping is involved. I can totally understand not wanting to pay insane shipping to get one fig, but it's not like you've lost anything if you just let it go.

Thanks for the meaningful reply, DarkSpade. You made me go back and check the info about this on the KS page. You were 100% correct with your info. I got too fixated on the line saying that they intend to send the Shilone box to all Wave 1 backers, while missing the little caveat they added later.

[Nibs]

Shilone was a not a gift to some people, it was a gift for ALL kickstarter backers.
Give me a valid reason why should it be OK for some ks backers to get it, but other backers should not get it?

I understand that it is a little disappointing not to receive one after hearing about it. It was exciting that it was being distributed! Maybe that built up an expectation.

And yet it remains a gift, of which you did not ask for, expect, pay for, or earn. You are not poorer one iota for not receiving it (and in fact, CGL seems to be doing their best to accommodate the logistical issues without trying to bankrupt themselves in the shipping costs of small gifts around the world). As Sartris said in a prior post, if there was no cool extra bonus send out, there would be no complaint. Nothing would change for you other than the entitlement that you feel for a gift given out in the name of good nature.

Occasionally, I bring my students donuts. I intend to bring enough for all, because I want to be nice to everyone. But sometimes logistics get in the way and there aren't enough. Despite this, these children understand that they are not entitled to one. They understand that I went out of my way to pay and bring these treats to them, even if they didn't get one.

[RazorclawXLS]

I understand that it is a little disappointing not to receive one after hearing about it. It was exciting that it was being distributed! Maybe that built up an expectation.

And yet it remains a gift, of which you did not ask for, expect, pay for, or earn. You are not poorer one iota for not receiving it (and in fact, CGL seems to be doing their best to accommodate the logistical issues without trying to bankrupt themselves in the shipping costs of small gifts around the world). As Sartris said in a prior post, if there was no cool extra bonus send out, there would be no complaint. Nothing would change for you other than the entitlement that you feel for a gift given out in the name of good nature.

Thank you for your wise words and a free life lesson.

You just raised an interesting point, maybe you can elaborate and shed some light on it.

CGL mentioned 1000 backers left from Wave 1 who didn't participate in Wave 2, that will miss out on Shilone salvage boxes.

So how can shipping a 1000 Shilone salvage boxes bankrupt a company that had a successful kickstarter campaign and was able to raise 6 million US dollars?

[ANS Kamas P81]

So how can shipping a 1000 Shilone salvage boxes bankrupt a company that had a successful kickstarter campaign and was able to raise 6 million US dollars?

How much of that six million went back into the production costs for a buttload of miniatures and the box sets, books, maps, and other accoutrements?  It's not like the total raised by the kickstarter is sitting in a bank account waiting to be used.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Especially given that global shipping prices went through the roof in the interim between the end of the kickstarter and the start of the fulfillment.  And things have only gotten worse since then.

[Frabby]

Shrug.
Fwiw, I am one of those backers who got the wrong (non-backer) box. Yes I was slightly disappointed, but my world didn’t exactly end. I decided against giving CGL grief over something they never actually sold me but were prepared to give me anyways. Getting unexpected bonus stuff, like so many things in life, is a privilege not a right.

[RazorclawXLS]

How much of that six million went back into the production costs for a buttload of miniatures and the box sets, books, maps, and other accoutrements?  It's not like the total raised by the kickstarter is sitting in a bank account waiting to be used.

Especially given that global shipping prices went through the roof in the interim between the end of the kickstarter and the start of the fulfillment.  And things have only gotten worse since then.

Nobody said that six million bucks are still there in the bank, untouched. Of course they used most of it to start the production and fulfill the kickstarter.

I am just addressing the notion that sending 1000 Shilones is going to bankrupt CGL.

Single BT salvage boxes on ebay have shipping prices going at $15-$75. So that is $75k at the extreme higher end to ship out 1000 Shilones. If that is enough to bankrupt CGL than they have a problem.

Shrug.
Fwiw, I am one of those backers who got the wrong (non-backer) box. Yes I was slightly disappointed, but my world didn’t exactly end. I decided against giving CGL grief over something they never actually sold me but were prepared to give me anyways. Getting unexpected bonus stuff, like so many things in life, is a privilege not a right.

I understand this sentiment, and for what it's worth, I would have preferred that happened to me, as I am more partial to the retail packaging then the kickstarter one, hehe.

Still, I don't see how receiving the same product, with cosmetic difference by clerical mistake, can compare to not receiving an item as it wasn't shipped out at all, because you live too far away.

In the end, I think we chewed on this topic far enough, we can all agree to disagree, and we don't want mods to lock this thread up.

So, back to more important matters, I've gotten the new kickstarter Orion in my mitts. I wasn't too thrilled about this redesigned when I saw Anthony's 3d model and also when I saw the samples for the Direct Fire Lance. I overall preferred the design from the Battletech video game. But having taken a look at it in person, I really like it. It definitely is a textbook example of one of those miniatures that when you see it in an image you go "Meh.", but in person you go "Wow, that's nice.".

[BoyOfSummer]

I got an email from DHL today that ShipQuest handed them a shipment for me.
I hope it's the missing Tukayyid book and AS-Mat.

It's the missing items.
Advantage of the long wait: the Tukayyid book is the corrected second printing.

[General308]

It is more than dice, there are a LOT of digital rewards that are overdue.

To make Sartis happy . . . we are what, 2 years & 2 months behind for Founding of the Clans 3?

Yea and it is sad the digital rewards are not done.  They have had plenty of time.  I really want the Dragoon's Origins novel.   If Stackpole isn't going to do it then it is time for them to get a different author at this point.

[00Dawg]

EDIT:
My mode would drastically improve if we got these 2 stretch goals from the kickstarter fulfilled:

• Camospecs: A Guide to Faction Paint Schemes ($1,750,000)
• Camospecs: A Unit Art Manual ($2,000,000)

As someone intimately involved in one of them, I can say it’s still underway, and not easy to complete.
The other, I have no inkling of, despite the name.

[Colt Ward]

yeah, since CamoSpecs are volunteers and they had the website re-do after the KS it is not a surprise.

[RazorclawXLS]

As someone intimately involved in one of them, I can say it’s still underway, and not easy to complete.
The other, I have no inkling of, despite the name.

Thank you for the update, mate. Very much appreciated.

[MarauderD]

Yea and it is sad the digital rewards are not done.  They have had plenty of time.  I really want the Dragoon's Origins novel.   If Stackpole isn't going to do it then it is time for them to get a different author at this point.

That would be cool yes.  I can also imagine it would be a nightmare to fact check and continuity check.

[Hellraiser]

Is there a list of what Digital Rewards HAVE been done & what ones HAVE NOT been done?

[MyndkryM]

I recall an email was sent, but I don't remember the details.

There is this...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cgl/battletech-clan-invasion/posts/3283613

Also, Sarna has an entry.

[Prometheum5]

I'm wondering if there's any chance we will get the rules sheet from the CI Reinforcements box available as a PDF? It's a great box of goodies that I want to use in my games and it would be super handy to have the rules sheet with the additional battlefield assets on the computer for reference.

[shivanwurm]

In case anyone has not seen this:

https://www.acdd.com/bt-northwind-highlanders-command-lance.html

Northwind Command pack  listing on ACD preorder. No pics or details on mech contents.

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Let the speculation commence!

Anyone think there will be a Black Watch in it?  A Highlander is pretty on-the-nose.

[Colt Ward]

Gallowglas would be thematic, and I think the art is done?, but the pilot card would have to talk about how it was sold by the Dragoons to the Highlanders.

[Mendrugo]

I'd strongly suspect a Crab and a King Crab, since both are done and both are made by Cosara on Northwind.

[Sartris]

Gallowglas would be thematic, and I think the art is done?

Nope

[Empyrus]

Think someone jumped the gun? It is Friday...
Anyway, i think the existence of the Dragoons pack leaked beforehand as well.

As for the contents, Cosara designs seem plausible but since we're talking about mercs, other designs are possible as well, or even Clan 'Mechs (assuming circa Operation Bulldog side A options, while side B is 3150 variants). The Wolf's Dragoons pack had Blackjack, did anyone ever really associated that with the Dragoons?

Given that Ariana Winston used a Cyclops, i could see something like Crab, King Crab, Cyclops, and maybe something classic and common like a Warhammer, or maybe some typical Smoke Jaguar design like the Cauldron-Born.

[The Colour Red]

Let the speculation commence!

Anyone think there will be a Black Watch in it?  A Highlander is pretty on-the-nose.

Maybe alongside a Summoner, Hellbringer and a Kit Fox.

[Weirdo]

I dunno how likely it is, but I'll put forth the Hollander as a possibility. The Highlanders played a big part in that mech's testing.

Beyond that, I'm predicting 3 of the 4 machines at least will be ones that are widely available to mercs everywhere during the Invasion era, and one of the four will be a  3055 machine.

[Weirdo]

A thing to remember is that the Dragoons box only had one entirely new mech, with the other four being reposes or variants of existing machines. We should probably be prepared for more of the same, with 2-3 of the mechs being similar repeats.

And of course, we should be prepared for this to be a complete fabrication. It is a known fact that distributors lie at the drop of a hat. Until CGL actually confirms this, it doesn't exist.

[Ghaz]

I dunno how likely it is, but I'll put forth the Hollander as a possibility. The Highlanders played a big part in that mech's testing.

Beyond that, I'm predicting 3 of the 4 machines at least will be ones that are widely available to mercs everywhere during the Invasion era, and one of the four will be a 3055 machine.

The 3055 battlemech could be the Penetrator that Loren Jaffray piloted on Wayside V as we've seen a concept sketch for that 'mech on Anthony's Patreon.

[Empyrus]

As it happens, the Penetrator has a 3150NTNU variant though we lack a record sheet. Depending, it could look identical to its original version.

[Daritus1988]

Until CGL actually confirms this, it doesn't exist.

May I remember, that there was an "Alpha Strike Starter Set" which never happened,,,

[ActionButler]

May I remember, that there was an "Alpha Strike Starter Set" which never happened,,,

**sad Butler noises**