Clan Invasion Kickstarter Discussion 5, Green Eyeshade Edition

[Daryk]

Well, I hope Wave 2 isn't going to slip...  :P

[Maingunnery]

Well, I hope Wave 2 isn't going to slip...  :P

It is a kickstarter project, hopefully it is only going to slip a bit.  ;)

[Daryk]

The title of the update would have been depressing if I'd gone for any Wave 1 shipping...

[Empyrus]

Wait, March was really a target? lol, i've been figuring things will take until April or May anyway.
So nothing changed for me... still need to finish with pledge manager... can't decide between dice option....

[Bedwyr]

Not a big deal tbh. I'll say this, though. I've seen enough shenanigans regarding guarantees and promises from manufacturers in China to say they're basically a chimera and should be taken with a large box of salt. Think Lucy vs. Charlie Brown and the football. It will always happen. Not really a surprise or even a point of frustration, just an observation; it's just how things normally work. Bigger clients get priority and that's just how it is there. Only way you can do better/faster is to a) speak the language and b) have someone visit the company weekly in person.

Edit: I should add that the account of what was going on isn't really that sort of problem.

[Asgo]

Well, I hope Wave 2 isn't going to slip...  :P

how is it supposed to start moving if it doesn't slip at some point. Every step forward starts with conquering friction. ;)

all in all actually a good update. With so many production pipelines having just one off track isn't that bad. And the length and specificity of the new date seems to suggest that someone on the factory side actually planned it out a bit and didn't just give out feedback of the accuracy of "may take some weeks" or the like. Of course no assurance, but altogether a positive sign. Being a plot stopper for Wave1 might work out for the best in the end, switching stuff between waves more or less on the fly is a good recipe for a logistics chaos that might take more time to clean up than the delay. ;)

[General308]

Honestly I am hoping they use the delay to fix some of the subpar dice

[I am Belch II]

Lets hope all the problems get solved out and product goes inbound.

[Fat Guy]

A slip of only one month is better than we could have hoped for.

Personally I thought we'd be lucky to see it by Memorial Day.

[Sartris]

I’m shocked. SHOCKED that there’s a delay.

“Maybe we were too ambitious.”

I had figured since the first day of the campaign when the numbers went bananas that this was a highly likely outcome.

To be clear, I consider a 1.5 month delay a smashing success for wave 1.

[jimdigris]

As long as wave 1 arrives before summer, I’ll be content.

[BirdofPrey]

Frankly I am shocked the reasons for the delay aren't related to the MASSIVE scope creep, but we'll see if there's any logistics complications once everything reaches the distribution centers.  There's still time for things to go sideways trying to get products to people.

The tooling issue is kind of a funny thing to have popped up, it would have effected the project even if it had barely met its funding.  Still a bit disappointing it came up, of course, but at least they are fixing it for free rather than just going ahead and making an inferior product or charging for the upgrade.

[shivanwurm]

This have any effect on the PM end date?

[DarkSpade]

I honestly don't expect this to be the only delay.  There's a lot of plates that need to keep spinning for this to all come in on time.  Odds are another one is going to fall.  There's a lot going on, and a lot of it isn't in Catalyst's control.  Not bothered by this in the slightest.  I set my expectations for fall 2020 before I even entered my credit card info.  Any sooner is just a happy surprise.

[Valkerie]

I’m shocked. SHOCKED that there’s a delay.

“Maybe we were too ambitious.”

I had figured since the first day of the campaign when the numbers went bananas that this was a highly likely outcome.

To be clear, I consider a 1.5 month delay a smashing success for wave 1.

My thoughts exactly.  My brother and I were bouncing it around two weeks ago.  Our bet is June.  And we're good with that. :thumbsup:

[pheonixstorm]

I've got a backlog of BattleTech, Zombicide, 40k, and Age of Sigmar minis to clear up first so 45 days is a break before the mountain of boxes come crashing down off my bookcase.

[hf22]

Interesting to note the update says they have already sold 40,000 of the current box sets, which is more then I realised.

[Sartris]

without any context besides the vague hints we get occasionally, 40,000 still seems like a lot.

[Greatclub]

it would not surprise me. I know two stores that have sold over 30 each. One of them claims to have ordered five retailer packs of the clan invasion box set.

Battletech is - or maybe was - the game that everyone used to play. Now it's updated and easily accessible in a way that it hasn't been in years, with a robust digital footprint to act as an entry vector.

I suspect that the problem is going to be following this up. Namely, the next beginner box/starter set in maybe 6-8 years.

[Pat Payne]

Not a big deal tbh.

This. Actually, I was expecting something along this line, and actually 45 days is actually not as long as I was afraid the delay was going to be.

I'll say it once again: Kickstarter is not for the faint of patience.

[Reldn]

I'll say it once again: Kickstarter is not for the faint of patience.

Agreed. 45 days isn't terrible for an inevitable Kickstarter delay. Heh...There's one project I backed that ended in 2016...and it's only now hitting fulfillment and getting shipped out here soon(fingers crossed) after some major production and manufacturing setbacks. xp

[Liam's Ghost]

without any context besides the vague hints we get occasionally, 40,000 still seems like a lot.

Based on my limited experience with the handful of game stores in reach, they can't keep the boxed sets in stock. As soon as they get new product it gets gobbled up.

(I know I have a powerful desire to Amazon me some more boxed sets. I need three more battlemasters)

[Sartris]

I should clarify - it sounds like a lot as in “a bigger number than the previous boxes” not “I think the number is inflated”

[MoneyLovinOgre4Hire]

Agreed. 45 days isn't terrible for an inevitable Kickstarter delay. Heh...There's one project I backed that ended in 2016...and it's only now hitting fulfillment and getting shipped out here soon(fingers crossed) after some major production and manufacturing setbacks. xp

I'm waiting on something I backed in 2016 that's in its second round of legal arbitration between the developer and the distributor to try and actually get it out.

[BoyOfSummer]

Quality minis are worth waiting two extra months.

[worktroll]

I should clarify - it sounds like a lot as in “a bigger number than the previous boxes” not “I think the number is inflated”

40,000 boxes - I am officially amazed. Pleased. Gratified that the game I love has so much interest.

At this point, it doesn't matter if every grognard has bought 5 boxes. I doubt that could account for more than half that quantity. And it keeps selling.

If this keeps up, I'm going to suspect the old furphy "Battletech? Isn't that dead?" is - at last - dead itself.

We're back.

[Asgo]

...
If this keeps up, I'm going to suspect the old furphy "Battletech? Isn't that dead?" is - at last - dead itself.
...

if the current entertainment landscape is any measurement, the undead are alive and well - hmm, at least they walk. ;)

[hf22]

At this point, it doesn't matter if every grognard has bought 5 boxes. I doubt that could account for more than half that quantity. And it keeps selling.

Given they are talking 15k extra box sets for the Kickstarter, so 55k between the 3 current gen boxes, it is fairly serious numbers indeed. It would have to be the strongest Classic Battletech sales since before Clickytech I’d guess.

[Cubby]

You will receive surveys for all 3 characters seperately.

Source? Because I built the surveys and am overseeing their deployment, and I don't think this is quite accurate.

They aren't separate surveys in the sense that I built, say, three distinct ones, and you would get three separate links. What's most likely going to happen is that people with multiple characters to submit will be identified and will receive one link that allows for multiple responses. The difference to the respondent is basically nothing; the reason for two different links has to do with back-end control, export, and data management. Still working it through with management a bit, but that's my preferred approach.

If you already got one survey, because you pledged as Star Colonel during the Kickstarter, you could just drop that one to free up the money for your friend and later fill out the surveys for the 2 other SCs you will get once Wave 1 closes down.

Otherwise, though, this advice is sound. Taking a credit on this initial survey shouldn't affect your receiving the second, multiple-allowed link.

And: how can I give the information for more than one character in the survey?

You can't, with this initial link. It only allows for one character/submission, though it does allow you to go back in and change/finish answers if you use the same browser and same device.

There's a couple reasons I didn't want to allow multiple submissions just yet. One is data hygiene, so that people with one character who accidentally submit before completing their survey or who want to change something don't generate a second respondent record that we then have to reconcile and de-dupe. Another is system stability and refinement; I wanted to get a handle on how the export and reporting process would go before adding the complication of backers with multiple submissions.

I'm pretty sure anyone with a background in marketing would agree that this survey was somewhat more complicated than you generally want to present to people. But it was unavoidable given the amount of potential usable detail we wanted to allow. I've built plenty of SurveyMonkeys before, this was by far the most complex in terms of construction, deployment, and data collection.

[Cubby]

Do we know what will and won't be available for when the pledge manager opens back up for Wave 2?

The pledge manager will re-open for Wave 2 (that's been said officially elsewhere, but officially saying it again). However, I don't have an exact list of what will or won't be available. TBH, I'm not sure even management has gotten that far yet--I'll pass a note to them to be sure to be clear about this question when the time comes.