Latest News on A Call to Arms: Star Fleet

[Jean]

Your confidence in the companies shouldn't be shaky; in so far as it is, that we regret.

This wasn't an easy decision for us. Over on ADB's BBS Steve Cole took the time to explain why this was the best decision:

+++

Just to make clear what was going on. There were three options:

1. resin from China: Nice thought but this proved too expensive. It may be looked at again another day.

2. take a big deep breath and keep doing what we're doing and just by golly doing it better. That would have involve people from ADB-Texas driving to Ohio, not ta take over, but to help train (and write a written manual for) a quality control inspector. This was a horrible plan for many reasons. (Expense, time away from my desk, the fact that the key man -- Mike Sparks -- could not go for two weeks due to family issues, Robert being terrified that I was there to take over, the very real chance that my ego would exceed my self control and I'd try to take over and Robert would shove my head into the resin pot, and so forth.) Matthew would have taken my offer had it come to this, but we all knew that plan 2 was never going to work with or without my help. We already tried plan 2 and it already didn't work.

3. Switch to metal, which Robert Glass is an expert at dealing with, and which is much faster to do, and ultimately less expensive as any problems can just be melted back down. That's the one we picked. In the end, I'm actually quite happy with this plan.

+++

There is a resolution to get resin and that is to email Matthew. I'm sort of seeing this as the best of both worlds, perhaps? But then I'm well-known as a Pollyanna-ish type person, too.

Jean

 

[Da Boss]

Thanks

I think the big quesitions are

1) what if any differences in models are we going to see in the metal versions from the resin ones we ordered several months ago?

2) Will the models made for resin be able to work in metal, especially with regard to stands?

3) Will there be any changes to prices?

 

[Greg Smith]

These are the same stands that Mongoose have used for B5. They will support metal ships.

Having done metal FASA ships, I have a concern about nacelles on long thin pylons. But I will wait and see.

 

[GalagaGalaxian]

Your confidence in the companies shouldn't be shaky; in so far as it is, that we regret.

Terrible quality control on the current minis, and not enough supply for the demand (with FLGS getting particularly shafted while Mongoose continues to take direct orders). A book of stats that is apparently full of incorrect/inconsistent conversion of the existing SFU ships (mistakes I could spot with 5 minutes for each ship with the FedCom Ship card and the CTA:SF stats. So many missing/extra/incorrect phasers.). A book with 3D pictures filling in on a handful ship entries for painted minis because the actual prototypes apparently weren't ready for when the book was put out?! A forum full of people confused over the wording of multiple rules. It all shows a severe lack of quality, I'm sorry.

I may be wrong here, but it really feels like the whole thing was rushed for a Holiday release and this is all just fallout from that.

Plus add in the whole ordeal it took me just to get my book through my FLGS (not entirely Mongoose's fault I will admit) and add in previous experience with Mongoose products such as 1st Ed B5:ACTA to Sky full of stars (where basically every fleet was rewritten and many rules changed) and the first release of Mongoose Traveller and, well, I'm sorry Jean but I'm having trouble staying motivated and positive.

I find the game fun, so I am very much hoping you all work this out and every one is happy again. You're obviously working very hard to make things right but things shouldn't have been this screwy to start with, the game it seems IMO needed more time in the oven. I'm hoping for the best, but it is going to be a long while before I open my wallet or recommend buying into it to my friends.

 

[Da Boss]

Your confidence in the companies shouldn't be shaky; in so far as it is, that we regret.

A book of stats that is apparently full of incorrect/inconsistent conversion of the existing SFU ships (mistakes I could spot with 5 minutes for each ship with the FedCom Ship card and the CTA:SF stats. So many missing/extra/incorrect phasers.).

I thought that reading the ADB forum that these elements were checked by people actually familiar with the SFU?

 

[GalagaGalaxian]

A book of stats that is apparently full of incorrect/inconsistent conversion of the existing SFU ships (mistakes I could spot with 5 minutes for each ship with the FedCom Ship card and the CTA:SF stats. So many missing/extra/incorrect phasers.).

I thought that reading the ADB forum that these elements were checked by people actually familiar with the SFU?

Maybe so! I'm certainly not saying that this is all on Mongoose..

 

[Jean]

GalagaGalaxian, that you are disappointed in this game, I completely understand. But ADB has been here for over 30 years and our reputation is that we make things right for our customers. We've been upfront with folks about issues, we've released information as soon as we got it, along with Mongoose we are going to do our very best to make sure that you get your ships, and we are working so that the errata (when it is released jointly by both companies) is correct.

This has been a bumpy ride, but we're working on making things better and telling you about changes so that you can make informed decisions. I am confident that things will be made right by our customers and that this will be a fun game to play.

Jean

[Edited to clarify what I meant. ]

 

[Jean]

Regarding price changes. SVC was asked about it and answered: I don't think so. I'm 99% certain no change to price.

Jean

 

[billclo]

Hmm thanks for the update.

Would have much prefered Resin ships - but I would rather have a metal ship than no ship.....

Same here. I hope the same level of detail can be maintained.

 

[Lincolnlog]

We the consumer, are also slightly to blame. We wanted this game rushed to market. I know I certainly did. Reading back through the forums, we were all sitting on the edges of our seats in eager anticipation.

The fact is, this game is fun. Does it have problems, most certainly. I have played Victory at Sea/Order of Battle, and own Mongoose Traveller. One thing Mongoose should do is hire a technical writer. I'm on many forums, and the big thing Mongoose gets blasted for is confusing rules. It is possible to keep the rule books friendly and fun, but be thorough in the rule explanations.

My dilemna with the miniatures is, why pay $15.00 for a metal mini, when you can get 2 mini's for $15.00. Yes, agreed there is more detail in the larger minis. I honestly would rather Mongoose concentrate on putting out supplements to the rules. I think both Mongoose and ADB have a great thing here, and if we, the gaming community can resist driving a wedge between this marriage made in heaven, we will reap great benefits for decades to come.

Both Mongoose and ADB need to understand that the gaming community is attempting to offer fair, honest and constructive feed back.

If I were Mongoose and ADB, I would create an E-mail account that distributes to both companies simultaneously, where gamer fans can provide constructive rules feedback. This takes some of that off the board and prevents the factionalism from rearing it's ugly head.

I may not use 2500's but I will be playing and buying and helping to sell this game for years to come.

Bob

 

[Stumonster]

I assume there will still be a resin set of clear ships for the Romulans, or has a certain Scottish engineer's formula for transparent aluminum been discovered?

 

[emperorpenguin]

+1 on the Cloaked Romulan models. I still REALLY want those

 

[Jean]

SVC is pretty sure the cloaked Romulans will be in resin.

Jean

 

[Jean]

Regarding cross information: I try to let Matthew know what is up on our various communication media (BBS, FC Forum, and ADB's page on FB) and let SVC know what is up here. It isn't perfect, but I do try. And there are those folks who are active everywhere and cross-pollinate sometimes before I can. Happens that way with a RL job sometimes -- work makes it possible to play.

Jean

 

[Nerroth]

So, in essence, the Starline 2500 range is moving to the same metal/resin split currently in place for A Call to Arms: Noble Armada?

 

[GalagaGalaxian]

I assume there will still be a resin set of clear ships for the Romulans, or has a certain Scottish engineer's formula for transparent aluminum been discovered?

Dang you for making the joke before I could! :evil:

 

[Red-24]

My first thought on all this was "No. I want resin. I'll have to make sure I special order my remaining ships."

Then I sat down and spent two more hours cleaning and assembling just three ships.

My next thought was "Ok. Let's give these metal minis a try."

;-)

 

[tneva82]

I can understand preferring resin for weight perposes, but as far as usefullness in gaming, metal rules. It's easy to work with, to clean, and it's not prone to breakage.

Frankly I prefer resin for cleaning. Lot softer to trim away excess parts. Also unlike metal it doesn't lose the paint for every god dammit little knock against hard ground. Most of my metals that are any old have parts of the paint job chipped. Not yet with resin. Since I can avoid easily them totally breaking the resin is ergo more resilient material for me.

 

[tneva82]

Folks, SVC posted over on ADB's BBS that there is an all-resin option, but you need to email Matthew promptly and let him know that is the preferred option for you.

Jean

Is that for previous orders or even for later orders?

 

[Finlos]

I also would prefer resin (have already emailed Matt -- I don't really want to know what his inbox looks like right now... ) but if I must have metal minis I would like to know how they will compare quality-wise to the current resin minis.

edit: How resilient, for lack of a better word, the metal minis would be is also a concern of mine. Will I have to keep re-adjusting warp engines every time I pull them out of the box?