Upcoming Releases Volume XV: Pitter Patter Let's Get At'er

[BoyOfSummer]

RATs, scenarios refer to official sheets.

Why should RATs refer to official sheets? Why should they refer to sheets at all?
Where is a unit built, when is the unit built, who fights against whom, who trades with whom, that are things deciding the contents of RATs, not sheets.

And even if these are not issues, how many are going to make custom units before a game? Much faster to use canon sheets.

Which really sucks when you want to play a Dark Age scenario with smattering of latest tech and can't because the stats are not available.

If I really want to play the latest tech I take the time and effort to make my 'own' sheets. Which I can use time after time, so the time making one doesn't really carry weight.

[Wrangler]

The other function of the canon record sheets is to establish cement guide line that STOPS or ENDs arguments what a machine has. People in past get fluttered because placement what they think the thing has.

I know CGL needs make a profit. They have a slim staff. They need focus on things to keep them going. The record sheet thing is important. These releases have been all over the place with thing we didn't expect or existing fan base didn't think game needed. New players are super important but keeping our existing player base is important too.

We need stable routine releases of products. Record Sheet thing one of them.

[Fat Guy]

The reason they're not high priority is that they're money losers.

So are maps. To an even higher degree.

Yet Catalyst, having no maps in print for a game that's played on maps, bit the bullet and is giving is three map packs. Grasslands, Tukayyid, and Alien Worlds. With two of those sets being done in neoprene as well.

If they can do all that, it shouldn't be too much to ask for one record sheet product that collects all the missing sheets from 3150 NTNU, TRO Prototypes and the Year of the Star League products. A collected volume would be much more cost effective that three small ones.

[Sartris]

the map packs were funded in part by the four million dollars collected so far in the kickstarter

[Weirdo]

I daresay Weirdo wouldn't be so fanatical about canon sheets if someone back in the day hadn't screwed him with a surprise in this vein.

Nope. Not any such examples that I can remember.

The fact of the matter is that there really isn't a comparison with wysiwyg games, because those also require record sheets. It might not have the same name, it not even be a sheet of paper, but the fact remains that just about every miniatures game (there might be an exception, but I can't think of any) has two components to represent a unit. There's the thing that moves around the table and shows the unit's place on the battlefield, and often looks really pretty. Some games place requirements on the Pretty Thing in order to facilitate line of sight, or identify a unit's loadout, or to pay the bills of Pretty Thing Producers. Others have no requirements beyond the Pretty Thing's ability to clearly indicate location, direction, and identity.

Regardless, every unit must also have a second component, the Record. Wether it be a sheet of paper, a card, lines of text scattered across multiple locations or even symbols or a dial directly attached to the Pretty Thing, there must be a Record that tells you where a unit can move, how it affects opponents, how it defends itself, everything it can do and everything that has been done to it. Without the Record, the unit is nothing.

Regardless of any requirements for the Pretty Thing, the Record has to be unambiguous, absolute, and unimpeachable. Gamers are a naturally competitive lot, and the less socially-adjusted of our species is often drawn to us. There will always be those among us that will bring a game to a grinding halt so they can take advantage of any inaccuracy or ambiguity (real or perceived) to their benefit. That's why we all work from the same rulebook, and why we all need to work from the same Record.

Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.

[NeonKnight]

If they can do all that, it shouldn't be too much to ask for one record sheet product that collects all the missing sheets from 3150 NTNU, TRO Prototypes and the Year of the Star League products. A collected volume would be much more cost effective that three small ones.

*FIRST AND FOREMOST - THE FOLLOWING IS BASED ON ME A PLAYER NOT ME A DEMO AGENT!*



From what I understand from past reports for Record Sheets is:

1: There is NO LICENSED PROGRAM that allows for official record sheets. This important due to the Split IP: CGL on behalf of TOPPS has the paper/physical stuff, and I believe Windows owns all Digital Rights. This means an official Record Sheet maker fall on the digital side.

Again, this is based on my understanding as it currently stands

2. Heavy Metal Pro, which is (again, as far as I KNOW) the only officially licensed, but that is woefully out of date and not currently supported by the licensed holder

3. YES, MEGAMEK and SOLARIS SKUNK WERKS can do record sheet, and has been used to do so, I believe we had heard some time in the past from the POWERS THAT BE that there is still a lot of physical work that must be done to ensure the math works out, and there is no errors.

Again, this is my understanding.

[Fat Guy]

the map packs were funded in part by the four million dollars collected so far in the kickstarter

Grasslands and it's associated neoprenes were out long before the Kickstarter.

[Sartris]

Grasslands and it's associated neoprenes were out long before the Kickstarter.

yeah, as part of the "completely shut down the line and put all the priority into the new player experience" plan of 2018-19. this does not include a hundred fringe units (prototypes unabridged excepted)

Edit: It should be noted that we ARE getting new canon sheets in the back of Turning Points and other products - they're just not the sheets you personally want. tokasha turned up with plenty of interesting surprises. golden century will presumably as well if it ever sees the light of day. it's pretty clear that without an explicit vehicle to justify including them, the record sheet book (pdf) is largely an endangered species based on recent history (post-3145u/ntnu).

because of the nature of human attention span, your player base needs to be disproportionally new - most aren't going to make it much past even the base game or the first expansion (which we now have in CI). to most people trying the game out without a fast track from being surrounded by vets, if the base game is Battletech 1, then the Dark Age will seem like Battletech 4 with five DLCs. the timeline got too stretched out to keep the whole garden watered. dark age record sheets are just one part of the collateral damage.

[Colt Ward]

Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.

Its this . . . not about trust, but just keeping it simple and cutting down on any friction so the game is about playing and not arguing.  My group has the rule requiring official record sheets as the source . . . but I use my HMP sheets though sometimes I have to fill in parts when it has advanced tech in crits (AES for example), some use SSW, one or two guys use MML, we had someone using sheets from products in the early 90s, and we have someone who uses copies of blank sheets that he hand fills in from sources.

Afaik none of the sheets have ever been questioned for accuracy, but if someone is unfamiliar with a variant or even the base design (like when I pull out 3145 designs for open games) you just say what product its from.  Some times it results at someone looking at it on Sarna and then checking out more 'current' designs because the tech changes the capabilities- lol, made some Pixiu fans that way.

[BoyOfSummer]

The record sheet thing is important.

No. There are thousands of units with 'official' sheets. A few dozens known units w/o these. So what?

If you can't live w/o playing these few units: make your own sheets. Show them to your playing group, if needed include their input. If there's no accord: wait until the most vocal naysayer isn't present and play your unit at this opportunity.

[Doom]

So... Anything about upcoming products? This talk of record sheets that aren't upcoming products seems out of place here.

[SteelRaven]

Audio book is still in the works

[Empyrus]

So... Anything about upcoming products? This talk of record sheets that aren't upcoming products seems out of place here.

Well the sheets should be upcoming products.
Or at least the stats.

In absence of those... TRO Golden Century? That Milestones series? IlClan? New Spotlight On?

New record sheets?

[Empyrus]

yeah, as part of the "completely shut down the line and put all the priority into the new player experience" plan of 2018-19. this does not include a hundred fringe units (prototypes unabridged excepted)
snip
because of the nature of human attention span, your player base needs to be disproportionally new - most aren't going to make it much past even the base game or the first expansion (which we now have in CI). to most people trying the game out without a fast track from being surrounded by vets, if the base game is Battletech 1, then the Dark Age will seem like Battletech 4 with five DLCs. the timeline got too stretched out to keep the whole garden watered. dark age record sheets are just one part of the collateral damage.

They should've finished the Dark Age and set up new introduction period in IlClan era. Move folks to the current moment of the timeline, something that is actually clean sleet for everyone, and leave 31st century to historicals.

Now, i like new minis, but i would like them more if they were at proper place in the timeline...

[BoyOfSummer]

An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.

Also one manual with all necessary rules.

That's not something I see in the ilClan time period.

[Empyrus]

An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.

Also one manual with all necessary rules.

That's not something I see in the ilClan time period.

The few pieces of text we've seen from IlClan era imply introtech machines are used in gladiatorial combat.
Intro rules can be set in such things, using old tech.
Or things can be set in the Periphery. Or whatever else contrived thing can be done if needed.

Alternatively you can prune tech for an intro product, and have variants featured there use only tech described in the intro rules.
Only ER lasers and ER PPC and flamer for energy weapons, only double heat sinks, only one type of engine, etc etc.

Tech isn't a reason not to use latest time period. Just an excuse at best.

Time period isn't a problem either. Just set things in median res, like original BT was set during the late Third Succession War. A new intro set could've been set, say, the 101st year of the Third Star League.

[Cubby]

Audio book is still in the works

Audiobooks, plural - nothing specific to announce yet, but management is aware of the positive reception to the two so far and has greenlit more. Takes a little while to produce them.

In absence of those...

Lightning round!

TRO Golden Century?

Art is in process, same for TRO IrregularTech. Hoping to have some preview art to share in the not-too-distant future. It'll be in this thread and on social media and the website when ready.

That Milestones series?

Not dead. ilClan first.

IlClan?

Not dead. Milestones first.

...I kid. The story summit last fall led to some revisions and updates. It's got some wind under it, especially on the fiction side building up to it.

New Spotlight On?

Two new ones are next on my list of things to edit.

New record sheets?

You were doing so well.

I've followed the recent RS discussion, just haven't had anything new or interesting to add to it. It's a known problem. Ray or management would have to speak to any plans to address. In fact, Ray did:

It’s not a “never” thing, it’s a low, low, super low priority, thing.

An introduction era for new players needs intro tech 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And then - maybe - some standard tech.

Please, please, for the love of god, let's not go down this road again.

[SCC]

The few pieces of text we've seen from IlClan era imply introtech machines are used in gladiatorial combat.
Intro rules can be set in such things, using old tech.
Or things can be set in the Periphery. Or whatever else contrived thing can be done if needed.

Alternatively you can prune tech for an intro product, and have variants featured there use only tech described in the intro rules.
Only ER lasers and ER PPC and flamer for energy weapons, only double heat sinks, only one type of engine, etc etc.

Tech isn't a reason not to use latest time period. Just an excuse at best.

Time period isn't a problem either. Just set things in median res, like original BT was set during the late Third Succession War. A new intro set could've been set, say, the 101st year of the Third Star League.

Close but wrong, what we've seen, including I think some forum posts, can't remember exactly, suggests that there will be a new, unified, tech-base and any units not manufactured under it are hopelessly out of date and using them in combat against new-tech units is a quick trip to an early grave, thus they are used in gladiatorial combat.

[Empyrus]

Lightning round!

Wait, whoah, Irregular Tech is a thing? I honestly thought that was completely canned. No idea why though.
Good news, both TROs. Can't wait for news.

Okay, figured Milestones is tied with IlClan somehow. It got announced way too early certainly...
Was the story summit stuff public or only for CGL and KS backers who qualified?

Interesting to see what's next for Spotlight Ons.

Sorry 'bout the record sheet thing, just frustrated about them. And worried about future TROs and whether they get record sheets because stuff got skipped and most recent release i recall is primarily rehashing stuff (RS Succession Wars).

Close but wrong, what we've seen, including I think some forum posts, can't remember exactly, suggests that there will be a new, unified, tech-base and any units not manufactured under it are hopelessly out of date and using them in combat against new-tech units is a quick trip to an early grave, thus they are used in gladiatorial combat.

I wasn't talking about what previous line devs may have thought. There are no indications unified tech base is gonna be a thing nowadays. I was just throwing an example how things could be done.

[Daryk]

Nope. Not any such examples that I can remember.
*snip*
Full disclosure: I have absolutely no issues with people that play using hand-filled sheets, or ones printed from other sources like MML or SSW. But there must exist an official sheet, something players can check those sheets against in order to forestall any arguments or confusion.

Thank you for the clarification!  On that basis, I still maintain as long as everyone gets a look at everyone else's sheets prior to the game so there are no surprises, everything is copacetic.  Official record sheets may or may not factor into that.  Personally, I would have absolutely no issues with a heat sink here or there being placed differently (regardless of what that does to the chance of an ammo explosion), and I'll note that SSW (at least) does show where they are placed, as well as what actuators are present or not.

All that said, I'm perfectly happy to use sheets provided by a GM (which has been the case for most of the games I've recently played).  If I think a GM has made an error, I'll certainly point it out, but I'll also certainly abide by their judgment of the particular case.

[Cubby]

Was the story summit stuff public or only for CGL and KS backers who qualified?

I think you're conflating two different things.

Khan-level backers for the recent KS will have a gathering with CGL management and guests of honor; that's happening in the near future. What may or may not become public from that, I can't say. (My own advice to management has been PR 101: assume anything said or done will be shared publicly in some form...but use that fact to hype upcoming and exciting things.)

What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.

[SCC]

What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.

Herb trolledshared some interesting pictures from the last one of these before he left the position of Line Dev, any pics from this one?

[Cubby]

I remember seeing a handful back in the fall, when it occurred. But I don't think there were any teasers (true and otherwise) like Herb posted back then--it was just shots of folks around a conference table.

[Empyrus]

I think you're conflating two different things.

Khan-level backers for the recent KS will have a gathering with CGL management and guests of honor; that's happening in the near future. What may or may not become public from that, I can't say. (My own advice to management has been PR 101: assume anything said or done will be shared publicly in some form...but use that fact to hype upcoming and exciting things.)

What I was referring to was a story summit last fall only for BT developers and top contributors to chart out plot and product for the next few years. Those details, obviously, are not public and will play out...over the next few years.

Ahh, i see. I just remember there was some KS update about story summit and there was talk about high-tier backers something-something-something CGL. Thought they were the same thing.

---

Before someone asks, no i did not watch the vid. I absorb info very poorly from vids of someone just talking so i never bother. I might remember a face afterwards though, i'm mostly visual learner.

[Wrangler]

Hopefully new reading material will come out soon.
Im worried with mass cancellations going on now over medical emergency that Origins Game Fair and Gencon will get prematurely cancelled before the new stuff will get more delayed.

[BigAl]

I am glad to hear y'all are working on Golden Century, Irregular tech, Il Clan and other items.  Just like to hear or see samples or more update information.  I can dream.

[Bosefius]

We are pleased to announce that "Lethal Heritage", The Blood of Kerensky trilogy book one, is back in print, for the first time in roughly 30 years. And it has a new cover by Alex Iglesias, who is also doing the cover art for books two and three.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1947335170/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_WKXAEbBHKTXJB

"A DANGEROUS NEW ENEMY APPROACHES…

Two decades after the events that nearly brought the Successor States to the brink of all-out war, the Great Houses exist in an uneasy peace.

But now, from out beyond the Periphery comes a new threat. A swift-moving military force of unknown origin.

Nothing the Inner Sphere has can stop them. Their power, speed, and ferocity are unparalleled. Some of the finest warriors and ablest units have challenged them and been crushed. No force has faced them and won.

They are the Clans! A military juggernaut whose sole reason for existence is battle. A race that selectively breeds itself for combat.

Humanity’s only hope is an alliance of mortal enemies. The Federated Commonwealth and the Draconis Combine, interstellar empires at war for 300 years, must now stand side-by-side—or face certain destruction."

[rebs]

Love that new cover art!  Ah, the description brings back fine memories...

[Colt Ward]

Does this mean our e-pub will change to that cover?

[Karasu]

I like how it's reminiscent of two of the previous covers - the original FASA one and the Roc version - while also being an improvement on both.  And I'm trying to remember whose 'mech that is.  Is it Shin Yodama's?