BattleTech 'Mercenaries' Kickstarter - SHIPPING UPDATE (UPDATE #92)

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**AegisGrimm**

insaniak wrote:
The plastic mechs are what got me to finally pull the trigger... I'd been eyeing off Battletech for years, but the dorkiness of so many of the mech designs just didn't do it for me. The redesigns were a huge improvement, and plastic instead of great lumps of metal just sealed the deal.

Exactly what brought me into the fold. I have played the computer games all the way back to Battletech on the Sega Genesis, and Mechwarrior 2 on the PC, and knew a somewhat decent chunk about the universe, but the game never pulled me in for the 25-30 years I have been painting and gaming. Mostly because of the awkward models.

Now I have about three large-ish forces of mechs and am planning on getting Alpha Strike soon.

I love how Ash Barker of Guerrilla Games said "If you told me three years ago that my one of my most played games in 2022 would be Battletech, I'd never have believed you."

**Miguelsan**

LunarSol wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
LunarSol wrote:
Finally jumped in with the Alpha Strike set. Kind of a redemption project from when I failed to figure the universe out in the early 90's. Now I've got to figure out what else I need before this KS adds more to the pile.

Check out "You bought the box set and are ready to expand your BT experience. Now what?" on the BattleTech Forums.

Thanks! Any suggestions on Lance/Star packs that are worth picking up?

That's the most difficult question to answer ever. With so many mechs to pick from it will boil down to whatever strikes your fancy. Catalyst has made a good job of spreading the mechs in the boxes following in universe themes (Support lance, pursuit lance...) The one clear divide is between Clan, and Inner Sphere. Clanners use a 5 mech config, while the IS prefers 4 mech lances (then you have Comstar but Comstar is going to Comstar)

M.

Edit: Clans are the bad guys, don't let anybody fool you. Really evil... and I'm not biased against Clans. Totally not biased!

**H.B.M.C.**

Miguelsan wrote:
Edit: Clans are the bad guys, don't let anybody fool you. Really evil... and I'm not biased against Clans. Totally not biased!

Especially compared to the goody-two-shoes Capellans and Word of Blake.

**Miguelsan**

SunTzu is the second coming of Emperor Ming I'm telling you!

M.

**RaptorusRex**

Only guys worth living under are (were) FedCom.

**Ancestral Hamster**

LunarSol wrote:
Any suggestions on Lance/Star packs that are worth picking up?

Battletech ForcePack Wolfs Dragoons Assault Star is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, and so only available for a limited time.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battletech-forcepack-wolfs-dragoons-assault-star-catalyst-game-labs/1140988046?ean=0810038456980

The Inner Sphere Command Lance has three frequently used mechs, the Marauder, Archer, and Stinger. It also has the Valkyrie, but I'm not familiar with that one as my B'tech materials are the FASA 2nd ed and selection of mechs was limited. That's a regular product, so no hurry on that one.

Similarly the Inner Sphere Battle Lance has four frequently used mechs: Warhammer, Rifleman, Phoenix Hawk, Wasp. It's a strong contender for me and my older material.

**Ghaz**

Ancestral Hamster wrote:
Battletech ForcePack Wolfs Dragoons Assault Star is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, and so only available for a limited time.

It was a Barnes & Noble's exclusive...

https://bg.battletech.com/news/available-now-wolfs-dragoons-assault-star-turning-points-foster-coming-soon-empire-alone-timber-wolf-tc/

**Ancestral Hamster**

Ghaz wrote:
Ancestral Hamster wrote:
Battletech ForcePack Wolfs Dragoons Assault Star is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, and so only available for a limited time.

It was a Barnes & Noble's exclusive...

https://bg.battletech.com/news/available-now-wolfs-dragoons-assault-star-turning-points-foster-coming-soon-empire-alone-timber-wolf-tc/

I see the price went up by $4.99, so I'm glad I bought mine just after this past Xmas.

What would I need to update my 2nd ed B'tech and Citytech to the current iteration of the game? (Besides Succession Wars record sheets for the mechs that were not in those two boxed sets.)

**Valander**

Ancestral Hamster wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
Ancestral Hamster wrote:
Battletech ForcePack Wolfs Dragoons Assault Star is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, and so only available for a limited time.

It was a Barnes & Noble's exclusive...

https://bg.battletech.com/news/available-now-wolfs-dragoons-assault-star-turning-points-foster-coming-soon-empire-alone-timber-wolf-tc/
I see the price went up by $4.99, so I'm glad I bought mine just after this past Xmas.

What would I need to update my 2nd ed B'tech and Citytech to the current iteration of the game? (Besides Succession Wars record sheets for the mechs that were not in those two boxed sets.)

Quickest update is probably just grabbing either the Battlemech Manual (if all you ever want to play is mechs) or the Total Warfare book (which has all the mech rules, plus infantry, vehicles, etc.). I have PDFs of both (thanks Humble Bundle!) and dead tree of TW, but honestly Battlemech Manual is easier to use for look-up and reference.

**LunarSol**

Ancestral Hamster wrote:
LunarSol wrote:
Any suggestions on Lance/Star packs that are worth picking up?

Battletech ForcePack Wolfs Dragoons Assault Star is a Barnes and Noble exclusive, and so only available for a limited time.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/battletech-forcepack-wolfs-dragoons-assault-star-catalyst-game-labs/1140988046?ean=0810038456980

The Inner Sphere Command Lance has three frequently used mechs, the Marauder, Archer, and Stinger. It also has the Valkyrie, but I'm not familiar with that one as my B'tech materials are the FASA 2nd ed and selection of mechs was limited. That's a regular product, so no hurry on that one.

Similarly the Inner Sphere Battle Lance has four frequently used mechs: Warhammer, Rifleman, Phoenix Hawk, Wasp. It's a strong contender for me and my older material.

I'm regularly finding myself quite pleased with the Alpha Strike box. It has an Archer, Phoenix Hawk, Warhammer, Wasp in the mix, along with a few iconic must haves like the Timber Wolf and Atlas. Maybe I just learn to be happy with what I've got rather than buy more.

**NH Gunsmith**

No, always buy more haha. I just picked up another $280 of Lance boxes to prepare for the new Kickstarter.

**TalonZahn**

This KS and BT are a hot topic for Penny Arcade today also.

More exposure.

**Ancestral Hamster**

LunarSol wrote:
I'm regularly finding myself quite pleased with the Alpha Strike box. It has an Archer, Phoenix Hawk, Warhammer, Wasp in the mix, along with a few iconic must haves like the Timber Wolf and Atlas. Maybe I just learn to be happy with what I've got rather than buy more.

<Vizzini> Be happy with what you've got?! INCONCEIVABLE!

Now you'll tell me that you are going to get involved in a land war in Asia! </Vizzini>

@Valander: Thanks for the reply. I've put both in my Miniatures Market wish list, along with Alpha Strike. I'll figure out what I want once they are restocked.

**Ghaz**

Learn More About the Mercenaries Kickstarter on our Pre-Launch Page! Plus, New Releases and Street Dates

BACKERKIT PRE-LAUNCH PAGE IS LIVE!

Our preview, pre-launch page is live on BackerKit, right now! This preview page offers a look at what’s coming in the Mercenaries Kickstarter when it launches on March 23 at AdeptiCon. This includes a list of all the ForcePacks that will be available; a new 4” Timber Wolf for Veteran-level and above backers; the Salvage Box: Visigoth aerospace fighter, free to those that back in the first 48 hours; the incredibly exciting Kickstarter Launch Parties that might come to your corner of the Inner Sphere; and playtesting materials you can access right now by registering on the BackerKit pre-launch page!

Sign-up now! https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/8fd3639a-e1cd-44b9-8f15-5279077ad7f8/landing

MERCENARIES KICKSTARTER PREVIEW 03 PDF

We continue our in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the development of the miniatures for this Kickstarter. Preview 03 PDF is now available–for free as always–covering the Ostroc and Mobile HQ!

Catalyst Game Labs web store: https://store.catalystgamelabs.com/products/battletech-mercenaries-kickstarter-preview-03

**Voss**

RaptorusRex wrote:
Only guys worth living under are (were) FedCom.

Taurian Concordant would disagree. Both for actually guaranteeing freedoms and suffering FedCom aggression.

**NH Gunsmith**

Wow. Catalyst is going all out with this Kickstarter.

**Overread**

I'm not surprised. Until the previous KS, Battletech was this big mech game that had lasted for years but was kinda in the background for many and I suspect many knew it more as the Microsoft Games than as the board game.

The last KS blew the doors wide open for new and existing people and a second kickstarter after a successful first is a golden goose for many. It's bound to at least make a fortune even if they just get returning fans and no new ones.

**Ghaz**

NH Gunsmith wrote:
Wow. Catalyst is going all out with this Kickstarter.

This looks like it's going to be smaller than the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, just with a bigger variety of miniatures with the addition of the vehicles.

**NH Gunsmith**

Ghaz wrote:
NH Gunsmith wrote:
Wow. Catalyst is going all out with this Kickstarter.

This looks like it's going to be smaller than the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, just with a bigger variety of miniatures with the addition of the vehicles.

Mainly talking about CGL going to be funding launch parties. Would be like GW paying for food and drinks when 9th edition 40k dropped. Absolutely mad for any company to provide.

**Ghaz**

NH Gunsmith wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
NH Gunsmith wrote:
Wow. Catalyst is going all out with this Kickstarter.

This looks like it's going to be smaller than the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, just with a bigger variety of miniatures with the addition of the vehicles.

Mainly talking about CGL going to be funding launch parties. Would be like GW paying for food and drinks when 9th edition 40k dropped. Absolutely mad for any company to provide.

Look at the notes on the Backerkit pre-launch page for how they will decide which stores will get a launch party. It looks like not everyone is going to qualify for a launch party.

**Gitzbitah**

But the launch parties will have at least some of the new models as prizes, months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. It's a gloriously bold move, and I hope to find one within travel range.

**NH Gunsmith**

Ghaz wrote:
NH Gunsmith wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
NH Gunsmith wrote:
Wow. Catalyst is going all out with this Kickstarter.

This looks like it's going to be smaller than the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, just with a bigger variety of miniatures with the addition of the vehicles.

Mainly talking about CGL going to be funding launch parties. Would be like GW paying for food and drinks when 9th edition 40k dropped. Absolutely mad for any company to provide.

Look at the notes on the Backerkit pre-launch page for how they will decide which stores will get a launch party. It looks like not everyone is going to qualify for a launch party.

I get that, I read the notes as well. But it doesn't change the fact that with enough interest, CGL will fund the food and drink for your local store.

And as mentioned above, the perks don't stop at just food and drink for your local store if you qualify.

It is an incredible move for a company to even attempt this the type of release.

**Ghaz**

Gitzbitah wrote:
... months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. ...

I believe you're seriously overestimating how long fulfillment is going to take, especially since unlike the Clan Invasion Kickstarter most of the miniatures for this one have already had 3D renders and been prototyped.

Spoiler:

NH Gunsmith wrote:
I get that, I read the notes as well. But it doesn't change the fact that with enough interest, CGL will fund the food and drink for your local store.

'Refreshments' can be as little as as some sheet cakes and some 2 litre bottles of soda. Hardly bank breaking.

**Sabotage!**

I'm really amped up for this after getting some more details. Myself and most of my local Battletech community will be Adepticon (my first time there too) for the launch. I'm expecting to have a really good time!

**Albertorius**

Overread wrote:
I'm not surprised. Until the previous KS, Battletech was this big mech game that had lasted for years but was kinda in the background for many and I suspect many knew it more as the Microsoft Games than as the board game.

The last KS blew the doors wide open for new and existing people and a second kickstarter after a successful first is a golden goose for many. It's bound to at least make a fortune even if they just get returning fans and no new ones.

Yeah, I'd really like to go big again, but I'm just not sure I will be able to this time around, both because everything is worse than it was and due to the new shipping costs worldwide :(

As to the store parties, I don't expect any over here xD

EDIT: So, basically from what I'm seeing, the new "Battlefield Support" rules are using the AS ways to use infantry and vehicles in regular Battletech games, right? That could be interesting, particularly for MW campaigns.

**Orlanth**

Ghaz wrote:
Gitzbitah wrote:
... months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. ...

I believe you're seriously overestimating how long fulfillment is going to take, especially since unlike the Clan Invasion Kickstarter most of the miniatures for this one have already had 3D renders and been prototyped.

That depends of what they add for stretch goals. Many companies get carried away with their promises when pledges roll in.

**Overread**

Orlanth wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
Gitzbitah wrote:
... months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. ...

I believe you're seriously overestimating how long fulfillment is going to take, especially since unlike the Clan Invasion Kickstarter most of the miniatures for this one have already had 3D renders and been prototyped.

That depends of what they add for stretch goals. Many companies get carried away with their promises when pledges roll in.

Often its not so much adding a few more models that causes problems. It's that the more backers you get the bigger everything gets. Sure you can make savings on big orders; BUT things also go up in cost; up in complexity. Eg if you've got 500 more customers that's 500 more boxes to produce, 500 more to pick, pack, store, warehouse, transport etc....

Plus because its a one and done big volume order you often can't increase production capacity to meet that demand.

Kingdom Death is a great example of where excess success resulted in degraded performance because they couldn't upscale everything and thus delivery times got way way longer.
Reaper had similar issues with their Bones campaigns early on and quickly learned that they had to break orders into blocks so that they had the option to stagger production, shipping, warehousing, delivery and more so that when they passed certain thresholds of volume they had room to give themselves longer deadlines and move things about. Rather than sticking to one massive volume with one delivery date etc....

**Ghaz**

Orlanth wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
Gitzbitah wrote:
... months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. ...

I believe you're seriously overestimating how long fulfillment is going to take, especially since unlike the Clan Invasion Kickstarter most of the miniatures for this one have already had 3D renders and been prototyped.

That depends of what they add for stretch goals. Many companies get carried away with their promises when pledges roll in.

From Mercenaries on the Move! (12 October 2022):

The much-anticipated BattleTech Mercenaries Kickstarter campaign has been officially scheduled for late March 2023.

As recently as last month, Catalyst Game Labs intended to launch the campaign in Q4 2022. However, the overwhelming recent success of BattleTech following the Clan Invasion Kickstarter necessitated the move.

“We simply can’t make new products quickly enough,” stated Loren Coleman, CGL’s founder and owner. “We’ve created more than half-dozen new BattleTech products in the past year, including the new Alpha Strike box set. Our miniature sculptors need more time to complete the designs required to launch the Mercenaries Kickstarter.”

The Mercenaries campaign will introduce over 50 new designs, including ’Mechs, armored and support vehicles, a VTOL, and a new aerospace fighter. Catalyst intends to have all of the new miniature sculpts completed before launching the next campaign, in an effort to prevent long delays in production. Though the campaign date has shifted into next year, the majority of our work will be completed prior to its launch to limit delays in fulfillment.

We are excited as you to launch this Kickstarter and can’t wait to return to the battlefield with BattleTech supporters around the world.

I believe that CGL has things well under control for the Mercenaries Kickstarter.

**Gitzbitah**

Ghaz wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Ghaz wrote:
Gitzbitah wrote:
... months (probably years) before kickstarter fulfillment. ...

I believe you're seriously overestimating how long fulfillment is going to take, especially since unlike the Clan Invasion Kickstarter most of the miniatures for this one have already had 3D renders and been prototyped.

That depends of what they add for stretch goals. Many companies get carried away with their promises when pledges roll in.

From Mercenaries on the Move! (12 October 2022):

The much-anticipated BattleTech Mercenaries Kickstarter campaign has been officially scheduled for late March 2023.

As recently as last month, Catalyst Game Labs intended to launch the campaign in Q4 2022. However, the overwhelming recent success of BattleTech following the Clan Invasion Kickstarter necessitated the move.

“We simply can’t make new products quickly enough,” stated Loren Coleman, CGL’s founder and owner. “We’ve created more than half-dozen new BattleTech products in the past year, including the new Alpha Strike box set. Our miniature sculptors need more time to complete the designs required to launch the Mercenaries Kickstarter.”

The Mercenaries campaign will introduce over 50 new designs, including ’Mechs, armored and support vehicles, a VTOL, and a new aerospace fighter. Catalyst intends to have all of the new miniature sculpts completed before launching the next campaign, in an effort to prevent long delays in production. Though the campaign date has shifted into next year, the majority of our work will be completed prior to its launch to limit delays in fulfillment.

We are excited as you to launch this Kickstarter and can’t wait to return to the battlefield with BattleTech supporters around the world.

I believe that CGL has things well under control for the Mercenaries Kickstarter.

I would be absolutely delighted to be wrong. Even Reaper Bones, to me the gold standard of kickstarter campaigns, I've never seen delivered within a year. I don't think Catalyst can pull it off- especially not as I'm looking over at my Kell Hounds Lance, Eridani Light Horse, and Dominion Divided book

- all of which were supposed to be coming out Quarter 3 of 2023. They make absolutely fantastic product, and the value is totally there- but the speed of release is not.

**Overread**

I think a lot depends how much they've tooled up before the KS and how much money they need from the KS to tool up the rest. If all the models are designed, tooled and made up then all the KS needs to do is generate orders for preorder so that can cut a lot of work and time out of things.

As I recall Reaper Bones has a big period of development and many of the things they unlock require taking from concept to finished model. So that adds a lot of time, a lot of back and forth making sure the sculpt works as a cast model and the like.