Author Topic: Found a BattleTech box review (Read 3159 times)

pheonixstorm · « **on:** 01 February 2019, 18:30:44 »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaxy98zX-E

Biggest complaint is paper maps. Some of the commenters have grumbled about that as well as the value of the bigger box.

Overall though the review seems positive. 7k views when I watched it. Hope only a handful of those were from BT players. Could get some new people interested maybe...

RoundTop · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 February 2019, 19:05:50 »

Quote from: pheonixstorm on 01 February 2019, 18:30:44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaxy98zX-E

Biggest complaint is paper maps. Some of the commenters have grumbled about that as well as the value of the bigger box.

Overall though the review seems positive. 7k views when I watched it. Hope only a handful of those were from BT players. Could get some new people interested maybe...

Price of cardboard went up insanely in the last 2 years. (No joke)

ANS Kamas P81 · « **Reply #2 on:** 01 February 2019, 20:47:32 »

Global demand went up as much as 20%, industry growth went up 3%. Math's simple there. Add in the Canadian fires a couple years ago and some shutdowns of pulp factories in Brazil, and then the Chinese e-commerce industry going off like a rocket, well...yeah, that happens. Source.

(NO POLITICS JUST ECONOMICS)

brother elf · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 February 2019, 02:50:21 »

Well yeah, Dice Tower's background is in board games, not tabletop. "We" expect our boards to actually stay flat without plexi put over them. If it's thinner than the countersheets, it's either cards or paper money (and in the latter case, we'll replace it with poker chips).

StoneRhino · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 February 2019, 18:25:35 »

I wish that anyone complaining about the box set would surrender them to me.

The cardboard maps were nice, but I didn't get a chance to buy them beyond the one introbox that I was able to purchase. Those maps are now going to be the oddity of my collection and as I told a friend, "This is likely the first and last time these will be used". It would have been nice if they were continued, but I really just need mapsheets and whatever gets them out onto the market is fine with me.

Daryk · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 February 2019, 18:40:30 »

First for that weight of cardboard, sure, but definitely not first use of cardboard. The original maps (and map sets) were all cardboard too.

Maingunnery · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 February 2019, 19:03:44 »

I have used paper maps for years without significant wear, and in large games we used large vinyl/felt hex maps.

Sartris · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 February 2019, 23:43:24 »

Quote from: Maingunnery on 02 February 2019, 19:03:44

I have used paper maps for years without significant wear, and in large games we used large vinyl/felt hex maps.

Yeah I still have maps from map set 2 I picked up in 97 that see regular use and are still in good shape. If you’re really concerned so the old war game trick and lay plexiglass over the top. I used to see the ASL guys do it all the time

Matti · « **Reply #8 on:** 03 February 2019, 10:27:08 »

Quote from: StoneRhino on 02 February 2019, 18:25:35

but I really just need mapsheets and whatever gets them out onto the market is fine with me.

Did you know you can make and print maps by yourself? Look up HeavyMetal Map for that. And are there other software available? If it can be saved as image or PDF file, you can take it to printing service and have it printed in right size. Maybe even on cardboard (or paperboard).

NeonKnight · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 February 2019, 11:33:49 »

Quote from: Matti on 03 February 2019, 10:27:08

Did you know you can make and print maps by yourself? Look up HeavyMetal Map for that. And are there other software available? If it can be saved as image or PDF file, you can take it to printing service and have it printed in right size. Maybe even on cardboard (or paperboard).

Well....now you are in MY wheelhouse!

I cannot recommend enough PROFANTASY Software! It is an entire suite that can do EVERYTHING for your Battletech Games!

The absolute BEST thing about this line of Software, is with it I can make pretty much anything and everything I have seen in Battletech!

I can redo the Maps from the Original Box Set:

I can make my own maps

I can even make game aid maps for my home games - 3D TERRAIN TILE games (Last night's Game:)

Want to do maps like in the Touring the Stars products...Yup, can do that too!

Reproduce maps from OLD products (NAIS 4th Succession War Military Atlas, page 14) :

Which, meant I needed to make a new Symbol Catalog for the Units, and I can do that in the software as well!

And the files can be printed in a multitude of formats, and best of all (though I DO NOT recommend for BATTLETECH), is you hold the commercial license for any and all maps you produce with this suite of software.

From their FAQ page https://www.profantasy.com/service/faq.asp#FAQ_commercial :

Quote

Can I use maps I create in CC3 for commercial purposes?

The answer is simple: Yes, you can. You hold all the rights to the maps you create with ProFantasy's Software.

What you may not do, is re-distributing the artwork that we provide, i.e. the symbols and catalogs that come with the software. This includes maps that are created solely for the purpose of distributing symbols. We also include floorplan-resolution exports (eg PDFs) consisting predominantly of our artwork in this proviso.

Think of the symbols as a True Type font you have bought. You may create and sell documents created with that font, but you may not redistribute the font itself, or create a book of fonts. You can get the exact details in the license agreement.

But there is a simple caveat, yes the software is not cheap, but if you are like other gamers, and play D&D or anything else, this software is of use regardless the game setting (D&D, Traveller, GURPS, Shadowrun, etc!)

Euphonium · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 February 2019, 16:11:15 »

Quote from: NeonKnight on 03 February 2019, 11:33:49

I cannot recommend enough PROFANTASY Software! It is an entire suite that can do EVERYTHING for your Battletech Games!

How did you find the learning curve for the Campaign Cartographer suite? I had v1 (DOS) and v2, and made some BT maps with v2, but tbh the learning curve was steep enough that I gave up and switched to Heavy Metal Map.

NeonKnight · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 February 2019, 18:22:01 »

Quote from: Euphonium on 03 February 2019, 16:11:15

How did you find the learning curve for the Campaign Cartographer suite? I had v1 (DOS) and v2, and made some BT maps with v2, but tbh the learning curve was steep enough that I gave up and switched to Heavy Metal Map.

Never used the DOS version, the newer versions are quite simple to use, or I think so.

Especially now that the program uses SHEETS. This means that the effect can be applied to the various sheets individual from the layers. (sort of like Photoshop)

Daryk · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 February 2019, 18:32:45 »

Cool... ProFantasy has been on my "after I retire" list for years now. Five or six more to go! :)

NeonKnight · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 February 2019, 18:55:37 »

Quote from: Daryk on 03 February 2019, 18:32:45

Cool... ProFantasy has been on my "after I retire" list for years now. Five or six more to go! :)

Yeah, I've been a user since....1998 I think...

Daryk · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 February 2019, 19:00:33 »

Up until this tour, I never thought I'd have time to devote to it, and I'm leery enough of my next one not to invest yet (two and a half years away it may be). They clearly enjoy broad popularity, and support their product appropriately. I'm positive it will be around when I finally hang up my spurs.

Bigkahuna · « **Reply #15 on:** 04 February 2019, 06:00:15 »

Quote from: pheonixstorm on 01 February 2019, 18:30:44

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psaxy98zX-E

Biggest complaint is paper maps. Some of the commenters have grumbled about that as well as the value of the bigger box.

Overall though the review seems positive. 7k views when I watched it. Hope only a handful of those were from BT players. Could get some new people interested maybe...

Yeah I have to agree on the paper map thing and not so much because of the paper maps but because the previous box set had cardboard so the game has taken a step back in quality. To me as a game developer you shouldn't release something unless its a improvement over the last thing you did. You should always be moving the line forward, making it better not taking steps back. So I agree the paper maps were a disappointment in particular when you watch youtube videos of people playing who got the last box set with nice cardboard box maps.

That said, the miniatures are a vast improvement over anything that has been done in Battletech for 35 years, its 99% of the reason I picked it up so bravo on that end. The art is really great as well, huge noticeable different in quality and effort.

nckestrel · « **Reply #16 on:** 04 February 2019, 07:38:40 »

It is an improvement. The art is better, it’s lighter, and it doesn’t cost $40 just for the maps. I like the cardboard maps, but hauling around six of them weighed more than the minis. They also take up a lot less shelf space. And the new map sets coming out are going to have more than one-two mapsheets, because they are paper. Paper has lots of advantages.

Bigkahuna · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 February 2019, 07:54:35 »

Quote from: nckestrel on 04 February 2019, 07:38:40

It is an improvement. The art is better, it’s lighter, and it doesn’t cost $40 just for the maps. I like the cardboard maps, but hauling around six of them weighed more than the minis. They also take up a lot less shelf space. And the new map sets coming out are going to have more than one-two mapsheets, because they are paper. Paper has lots of advantages.

Yeah I suppose I could sort of understand and make piece with that, but there are options between thin easy to rip paper and thick hard cardboard.

Matti · « **Reply #18 on:** 05 February 2019, 11:08:19 »

Quote from: Bigkahuna on 04 February 2019, 07:54:35

Yeah I suppose I could sort of understand and make piece with that, but there are options between thin easy to rip paper and thick hard cardboard.

Like paperboard maybe? Also all my map sheets are in usable condition, and I got my first some 10 years ago in then new Introductory Box Set.

Weirdo · « **Reply #19 on:** 05 February 2019, 11:19:06 »

I would not call this stuff easy to rip. It's more or less the same paper as the older maps(from before the hexpacks). Many of mine are pushing 20 years old(holy crap...), and on only some of them are they getting delicate along the creases. Barring accidents like drink spillage, or actively trying to destroy it, I feel comfortable expecting my Beginner Box map to last just as long.

E. Icaza · « **Reply #20 on:** 05 February 2019, 11:31:49 »

While I would LOVE more of the cardboard maps, I'm going on almost 30 years with my paper maps with minimal damage (nothing that a few small pieces of tape can't fix), so I'm fine with whatever gives me more maps!

I bought the Beginner Box and was very impressed with the two plastic minis in it.

Weirdo · « **Reply #21 on:** 05 February 2019, 11:38:49 »

Moreover, I believe the worldwide demand for cardboard has skyrocketed in recent years, with a corresponding increase in price. Between the options of a fancy map and a box that's actually affordable, I'm glad CGL chose the latter.

OpacusVenatori · « **Reply #22 on:** 06 February 2019, 07:14:40 »

Another review of the beginners box set. It also does complains about the paper map, but then he makes an interesting observation about them.

https://youtu.be/ysRdpuJ1sn0

00Dawg · « **Reply #23 on:** 06 February 2019, 12:31:17 »

That's a well done review. I particularly like how he continued to question his initial impressions.

Matti · « **Reply #24 on:** 18 April 2019, 09:56:04 »

One more on A Wargamer's Needful Things.