Where is the (digital) Force Manual: Davion?

[BrianDavion]

So... honest question but what gives? Where is the digital copy of force manual Davion? The book in hard copy is out in the wild, but I like to have a digital copy as well so.... where's the digtal copy on the CGL store? this book release feels really... weirdly disorginized...

[SteelRaven]

Not unusual for retailers to get the physical book first.

[Sartris]

Digital / physical release combos almost always drop simultaneously without exception. This has led to significant delays in digital release of completed product like Second Succession War.

If the copies in the wild are not from GGL's distribution courtiers (eg con and backer copies) they don't count in this regard.

There has been years of this, especially from Con early copies.

[BrianDavion]

Digital / physical release combos almost always drop simultaneously without exception. This has led to significant delays in digital release of completed product like Second Succession War.

If the copies in the wild are not from GGL's distribution courtiers (eg con and backer copies) they don't count in this regard.

There has been years of this, especially from Con early copies.

this isn't the case, it's hitting retailers now

[Sartris]

Ok. Those aren't the CGL store. When it gets there, we'll see the digital copy. That's how it's worked for year

FWIW, I don't get paid until it gets released

[Gotthammer]

Last livestream Rem said there has been an issue with the webstore not allowing them to put new items live for sale, so could be the holdup.

[I am Belch II]

Maybe when it gets the general release on the Catalyst store, the PDF will come out.

[Prometheum5]

Maybe when it gets the general release on the Catalyst store, the PDF will come out.

I think that's exactly the release we keep asking where it is. Books are the only thing I buy direct from CGL so I can get the PDF version as well, so having everyone else able to get the book from local retailers first is frustrating.

[Teejay75]

Ok. Those aren't the CGL store. When it gets there, we'll see the digital copy. That's how it's worked for year

FWIW, I don't get paid until it gets released

I don't know the ins and outs of writing for a living, but that stinks that you don't get paid until it's released. You put in the time writing it, it's not your fault that their website had a case of Nurgle's rot. Granted, I don't know if you're paid a flat fee for your work or if you get commission based on numbers sold,  nor is it any of my business. Just seems an unusual arrangement to someone from the outside looking in.

[Sartris]

Pretty standard freelance arrangement

[17thRecon]

Slightly off topic, or at least veering somewhat from a straight course, but the Catalyst site release dates show Force Manual Davion for May of 2024…so unless my calendar is just a tad bit off, shouldn’t it be available now? I’ve been trying to understand that/keep checking the site (for my own convenience, I try to order straight of CGL instead of other online sellers. Either that or from a LGS). Good to know doing that means that the creators/contributors are getting their part from my purchase, too. You guys have all put in really awesome work; it’s awesome to see Battletech where it is now.

Crazy thing is I’ve had a strong dislike for Davion for most of my Battletech history, but suddenly with this Force Manual coming out and my HUGE pile of gray plastic, it’m actually excited to start painting up a Davion force as my first stab at painting minis in years (feeling like Deneb Light Cavalry, or Crusis Lancers, but waiting to see what the Force Manual has for unit info/description/who’s still around in 3150ish before I make my final decision).

[Lanceman]

Slightly off topic, or at least veering somewhat from a straight course, but the Catalyst site release dates show Force Manual Davion for May of 2024…so unless my calendar is just a tad bit off, shouldn’t it be available now? I’ve been trying to understand that/keep checking the site (for my own convenience, I try to order straight of CGL instead of other online sellers. Either that or from a LGS). Good to know doing that means that the creators/contributors are getting their part from my purchase, too. You guys have all put in really awesome work; it’s awesome to see Battletech where it is now.

Crazy thing is I’ve had a strong dislike for Davion for most of my Battletech history, but suddenly with this Force Manual coming out and my HUGE pile of gray plastic, it’m actually excited to start painting up a Davion force as my first stab at painting minis in years (feeling like Deneb Light Cavalry, or Crusis Lancers, but waiting to see what the Force Manual has for unit info/description/who’s still around in 3150ish before I make my final decision).

It got pushed in part because some folks thought it was a Kickstarter item. It's out and released now, you can get it through fine retailers like Aries or Fortress. Some of us are just waiting on the CGL Store release because we want it in PDF.

Also to that end, the Force Manual does not contain any info about units in 3150, the series is a Clan Invasion product, but a digital only ilClan era update for each one after their initial releases has been indicated.

[17thRecon]

It got pushed in part because some folks thought it was a Kickstarter item. It's out and released now, you can get it through fine retailers like Aries or Fortress. Some of us are just waiting on the CGL Store release because we want it in PDF.

Also to that end, the Force Manual does not contain any info about units in 3150, the series is a Clan Invasion product, but a digital only ilClan era update for each one after their initial releases has been indicated.

Gotcha. I was just waiting for it on CGL, and I haven’t came across it in person at any local stores, so I was confused.

Good to know it’s Clan Invasion. I misunderstood and thought these were going to bring each force current in the timeline. Regardless, I’m still highly anticipating getting a hard copy in hand.

[Prometheum5]

Also to that end, the Force Manual does not contain any info about units in 3150, the series is a Clan Invasion product, but a digital only ilClan era update for each one after their initial releases has been indicated.

I keep forgetting about this point and think it's a really stupid release strategy.

[Doc Swift]

Gotcha. I was just waiting for it on CGL, and I haven’t came across it in person at any local stores, so I was confused.

Good to know it’s Clan Invasion. I misunderstood and thought these were going to bring each force current in the timeline. Regardless, I’m still highly anticipating getting a hard copy in hand.

It's late Third Succession War through the Clan Invasion.

[17thRecon]

It's late Third Succession War through the Clan Invasion.

I’m not complaining, 😂, I just hadn’t been paying attention to details and made some assumptions. I mean, at least I didn’t miss something big, like a Clan-made clone created  from the combined DNA of a few prominent inner sphere leaders almost single-handedly conquering Terra and recreating the Star League 😂.

[Youngblood]

I keep forgetting about this point and think it's a really stupid release strategy.

I think a lot of folks in the BT development cabal would probably ask you to blame all the grogs who won't try anything past 3067.

I’m not complaining, 😂, I just hadn’t been paying attention to details and made some assumptions. I mean, at least I didn’t miss something big, like a Clan-made clone created  from the combined DNA of a few prominent inner sphere leaders almost single-handedly conquering Terra and recreating the Star League 😂.

Like Lanceman said, PDF updates for Dark Age & Gary Stu Time Hinterlands era to follow, best guess next year.

[nckestrel]

I think a lot of folks in the BT development cabal would probably ask you to blame all the grogs who won't try anything past 3067.

I would blame the long development time of books. 
When the Combat Manuals started, there was no ilClan era.  CGL was still laying the groundwork for it with the 3145 books.
When the Force Manuals were given a greenlight to bring the concept back, the Clan Invasion kickstarter was the big thing, with the Recognition Guides just taking off. Hour of the Wolf and ilClan were just being released. 

I certainly wouldn't blame grognards now. We've gotten a lot of fans on board with the current era. Even if some don't like specific people that might have big chairs to sit in. If we were starting development on them now, maybe different choices would be made. But then you'd be waiting another couple years for the first one.
I'm hoping the ilClan Supplementals do well, and we can do something like the Recognition Guides getting an eventual print compilation, or something similar. You know, after we actually release several and people can buy them. :) 

[Youngblood]

I'm hoping the ilClan Supplementals do well, and we can do something like the Recognition Guides getting an eventual print compilation, or something similar. You know, after we actually release several and people can buy them. :)

Please I'm praying yes this and bound together with MechCommander's Handbook hnnnggghh

[nckestrel]

Please I'm praying yes this and bound together with MechCommander's Handbook hnnnggghh

Bound together?  I think you're underestimating how big the ilClan Supplementals are.  (Shhh, I'm not sure CGL knows yet either.)

[Doc Swift]

I have no idea how big they are, and I think I had something to do with at least one of them? Man, I'm just happy that Davion is finally in print!

[BrianDavion]

It got pushed in part because some folks thought it was a Kickstarter item.

I held off adding mine to my KS fully expecting to get it before my KS came, gotta say it's annoying to suffer a penalty for actually being literate :)

[nckestrel]

I have no idea how big they are, and I think I had something to do with at least one of them? Man, I'm just happy that Davion is finally in print!

Yep, Davion ilClan was yours as well.  We're still getting out all the Force Manuals you've written (Davion now, Kurita all printed, Mercs in layout, Davion ilClan going to layout soon..)

[Prometheum5]

I would blame the long development time of books. 
When the Combat Manuals started, there was no ilClan era.  CGL was still laying the groundwork for it with the 3145 books.
When the Force Manuals were given a greenlight to bring the concept back, the Clan Invasion kickstarter was the big thing, with the Recognition Guides just taking off. Hour of the Wolf and ilClan were just being released. 

I certainly wouldn't blame grognards now. We've gotten a lot of fans on board with the current era. Even if some don't like specific people that might have big chairs to sit in. If we were starting development on them now, maybe different choices would be made. But then you'd be waiting another couple years for the first one.
I'm hoping the ilClan Supplementals do well, and we can do something like the Recognition Guides getting an eventual print compilation, or something similar. You know, after we actually release several and people can buy them. :)

I appreciate the insight and I'm excited for the books, but this does make it sound like the usual CGL left hand not talking to the right. It'd be killer to have these books starting to drop with support for the current era they are pushing.

[GRUD]

I remember several years back, they sold one of the new Rule books (don't remember Which one) at GC, AND they handed you a business card with a code to get the PDF for free from the CGL store.   

Sadly, that was the ONLY book I remember them ever doing that with.     Bummed that I can buy the PDF+Book Combos on the store and get the PDF for free, but if I get the "New Hotness" in print at GC, I later have to pay more to get it in PDF. 

I'm Guessing people shared the code, and they gave away FAR more PDFs than they sold at GC, and that's Why they haven't repeated it.   

[CapeMonkey]

...we can do something like the Recognition Guides getting an eventual print compilation...

Those are available now - they're the BattleTech Recognition Guides Vol 1 Classics and Vol 2 IlClan. Much like the classic Technical Readouts they are missing the record sheets; hopefully those will end up in a PDF download sooner rather than later.

[General308]

So... honest question but what gives? Where is the digital copy of force manual Davion? The book in hard copy is out in the wild, but I like to have a digital copy as well so.... where's the digtal copy on the CGL store? this book release feels really... weirdly disorginized...

CGL disorginized?  Shocker.

[MarauderD]

I for one am naively holding out hope that it is released either today or on Monday so it is still a September item!

 

[Fruitfly]

Those are available now - they're the BattleTech Recognition Guides Vol 1 Classics and Vol 2 IlClan. Much like the classic Technical Readouts they are missing the record sheets; hopefully those will end up in a PDF download sooner rather than later.

Whenever the MUL 2.0 launches it will have all the record sheets.

[Weirdo]

Whenever the MUL 2.0 launches it will have all the record sheets.

I really hope this is true, and not merely mech/tank sheets.