Dissapointed in the lack of Hype for the release ACTA:SF

[MongooseMatt]

What does the future hold for ACTA:SF – beyond the initial release?

Any hints on supplements, new rules, models, etc??

Well, bearing in mind the game has not come out yet

The current plan is to do one beefy supplement a year, with all the new ships, fleets and other bits and bobs (we already have an alternative campaign system ready to go in it).

However, you'll see new ships strung throughout the year, with stats on the web site.

 

[billclo]

Ooooh... Painting issues! My favorite!
Lots of replies here:
@Myrm: That's an easy one. I wouldn't use black paint on a white mini, but maybe a medium to dark grey. If you think it with distilled water (until it's about the consistency of milk) and use a long brush, you can dip the brush into the thinned paint and then gently touch it to the recessed detail and the paint will seep into the grooves and flow a good distance. I've used this method to good efect on amny miniatures over the years. It takes a bit of practice, but once you get the hang of it... somthing this size will take 3 or 4 minutes (tops) for the whole saucer.

I've learned a variation of this technique from the Battletech painters. 1 drop black ink, 2 drops distilled water, 1 drop Pledge liquid floor wax (breaks the surface tension up so the paint flows better). One person mentioned using a paintbrush to pre-wet the panel lines with distilled water first, and then touch the black ink mixture to an area and let it flow by capillary action over the wetted areas. I haven't tried that method.

 

[Little Soldiers]

Getting back to the 'Lack of Hype' topic:

Actually, just before I do, I suppose I should introduce myself!

Hello all, Martin from Little Soldiers in Australia here - I'm the boss of the new Aussie distributor for ACTA: Star Fleet.

Speaking purely from professional experience, easily the biggest hassle when it comes to 'hyping' a new miniatures game (and for most gamers, remember, this is a new game,) is a lack of miniatures!

Pretty pictures in magazines or online might be enough to get gamers drooling, but nothing - and I repeat that word - nothing beats placing shiny, new minis on a tabletop, and basking in the "Oooohs" and "Ahhhhs" of a bunch of gamers who've just discovered their new, must-have-or-will-die, obsession.

I'm inclined to suspect we will see the hype rack up as soon as a healthy number of images of painted minis hit people's monitors and devices, but it is demo games in stores and at clubs that make the sales.

Want proof? I picked up the local distributorship for another range of resin miniatures recently, and told retailers, promised discounts and deals, fanfares on my website, and sat back to await the masses of orders sure to roll in.

A few weeks later - not a thing. Not one order.

Then, a bunch of chaps who had a passion for this range of minis and the associated rules, volunteered to run a single demo night at a single store - next thing I know, that store is sending me a $1000 order, begging for the stock.

Unsurprisingly, I am now a True Believer in the power of the demo game, and that will be my primary weapon in the fight to make ACTA: Star Fleet the must-have system here in Oz for 2012.

In short - when miniatures hit the tables, wallets hit the sales counters.

 

[MarkDawg]

Now that's what I am talking about! I am glad someone like you is on the case.

 

[Garydee]

The current plan is to do one beefy supplement a year, with all the new ships, fleets and other bits and bobs (we already have an alternative campaign system ready to go in it).

A book full of all kinds of optional rules would really be awesome.

 

[LimeyDragon]

Getting back to the 'Lack of Hype' topic:
Then, a bunch of chaps who had a passion for this range of minis and the associated rules, volunteered to run a single demo night at a single store - next thing I know, that store is sending me a $1000 order, begging for the stock.

Unsurprisingly, I am now a True Believer in the power of the demo game, and that will be my primary weapon in the fight to make ACTA: Star Fleet the must-have system here in Oz for 2012.

In short - when miniatures hit the tables, wallets hit the sales counters.

I have seen this with the local stores i run Demo's at. The store thinks it's funny. But Demo's do make money.

 

[Apep]

Last demo game I saw was like an episode of “the IT crowd” :lol:

 

[Ben2]

Demo success really depends on your club/LGS and atmosphere.

I've posted a warseer thread

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=322680

What we're waiting for are more painted mini pics I think. Which should be forthcoming the middle of the month.

 

[Apep]

Demo success really depends on your club/LGS and atmosphere.

True - However gamesmanship, communication and personality comes into it. The aim of a demo game is to install interest - …. (Just imagine Roy and Moss playing a wargame in public as a demo – It was like that)

I was in the GW shops in Ayr and Glasgow a few weeks later and the shops were running games demos and the difference was unbelievable.

For anyone who does not know about the IT Crowd http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_IT_Crowd

 

[Jean]

Ben, nicely done! Thanks!!!

Jean

 

[Spence]

Then, a bunch of chaps who had a passion for this range of minis and the associated rules, volunteered to run a single demo night at a single store - next thing I know, that store is sending me a $1000 order, begging for the stock.

Unsurprisingly, I am now a True Believer in the power of the demo game, and that will be my primary weapon in the fight to make ACTA: Star Fleet the must-have system here in Oz for 2012.

In short - when miniatures hit the tables, wallets hit the sales counters.

Hello all,

I wanted to chip in my 2 cents. I haven't lurked here in a long time, but recently stumbled on to the news that there was to be a ACTA version of SF.

My FLGS is actually great at promoting games and pre-ordering. As long as they can actually find it at their distributor. But what "Little Soldiers" says has a LOT of truth in it. Nothing gets a game rolling like actual mini's on the table. Probably second only to sustainable use, games that require you to re-buy everything every one or two years have died the final death around here. My local games shop has three 5x10 'main' playing tables in separate semi-walled areas and an open gaming area with folding tables to support whatever you want. The ages range from the 30 odd cranky old farts playing RPG or wargames the very very scary pokemon card game horde of under 14's (I tend to avoid Pokemon league night :shock: ) and a healthy number across the rest of the age groups. The owners are always 100% behind any demo and provide any assistance they can.

I was really surprised at the stealth-like deployment of this game. I am always on the look out for a good space miniatures game that I can get via distribution at the store. And this was a total surprise. I have already placed a standing request to order that they will make as soon as the distributor has it (two of them show it as 'coming soon').

My biggest concern is the box sets. I mentioned those concerns here: http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/viewtopic.php?f=103&t=49115

I have big hopes for this... I really love a good ship to ship game.

 

[MongooseMatt]

I was really surprised at the stealth-like deployment of this game.

Don't be too worried about this - over the next month you hopefully won't be able to go out of your front door without hearing about the game

 

[MarkDawg]

That's good to hear mate I want people to play with. I hope you guys are thinking of putting out a Starter box with 2 factions and rules. This really helps people get in to the game.

 

[MongooseMatt]

That's good to hear mate I want people to play with. I hope you guys are thinking of putting out a Starter box with 2 factions and rules. This really helps people get in to the game.

It is something we are looking at, but we won't do anything like this until next year.

 

[Nerroth]

Actually, if you were to do a Fed-vs-Klingon starter set, depending on which ships you picked, you could add in the relevant Kestrel rules, too.

(Indeed, if you wanted a bonus ship, you could put the Romulan SparrowHawk mini in, and port over the stats needed to use it as the Klingon RKL.)

 

[Finlos]

I have a few questions for the playtesters and this seemed a fairly good place to ask them:

1) How well do the ACTA ship costs represent SFB / FC ships costs?
2) Have you tried using ACTA to play out SFB missions, particularly the larger ones?
3) While all of the ships aren't in -yet-, will something like SH16, "The WYN and the Lion" or SG8, "Assault on a Starbase" (both quite large SFB scenarios) be playable in an evening??

I'm really looking forward to the answer to question 3 as I've seen a few people scared off by the minutiae (I think I'm using that word right) of SFB and even some of us more 'determined' folks are hesitant to start a larger scenario in SFB that would require several days to complete.

As far as hype goes, hype is good and we've already seen a little of what's to come and hopefully there will be (lots) more over the next few weeks before release. Looking forward to more, until release

 

[MongooseMatt]

1. As a ratio, very close.
2. We have.
3. Easily

 

[Iron Domokun]

Finlos and I are on the same wavelength... I was just thinking that Assault on a Starbase would be an awesome game to play in ACTA:SF. Perhaps as a demo at a con...

Matt, does Mongoose accept outside submissions for ACTA:SF scenarios? I've written a few scenarios for FC (and a few conversions of SFB scenarios for FC) and had them published by ADB. I can think of a few bigger SFB/FC scenarios which would be great fun in ACTA. I'd love to write conversions or new scenarios. Would Mongoose (or Signs & Portents) be interested in publishing such material?

 

[MarkDawg]

I love the Idea of Starbase assault missions and planet assault missions just like in SFC3 that would be sweet!

 

[MongooseMatt]

Matt, does Mongoose accept outside submissions for ACTA:SF scenarios?

We do - however, read the rulebook first We would be very interested in more 'Tactical Challenges.'