Merchants & Cruisers in Stock
- Thread starter MongooseMatt
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It's available via Drivethru - http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=92155&it=1&SRC=newsletter
I looked at the preview... ZOMG!
Okay, based on the preview here's my opinion:
The graphics are utterly horrible. The ship descriptions are extremely minimal. Did I mention that the grapics suck?
I had thought about buying the pdf version of this, but after seeing the horrible production values, I'm not sure even the pdf is worth it. Granted the preview only had four small craft in it (crappy preview concept by the way!), but all were universally sucky.
I expect, well, a more professional look when it comes to published material. This one is definitely gonna be one of those products that I let my local gamestore take a hit for the team first before looking that their investment.
I looked at the preview... ZOMG!
Okay, based on the preview here's my opinion:
The graphics are utterly horrible. The ship descriptions are extremely minimal. Did I mention that the grapics suck?
I had thought about buying the pdf version of this, but after seeing the horrible production values, I'm not sure even the pdf is worth it. Granted the preview only had four small craft in it (crappy preview concept by the way!), but all were universally sucky.
I expect, well, a more professional look when it comes to published material. This one is definitely gonna be one of those products that I let my local gamestore take a hit for the team first before looking that their investment.
Sorry, I should define this, before I get the artist in trouble.
I have seen examples of his work (that we are working on) that are of much higher quality than this, and I assume the art in the book are of equivalent or better quality.
I have not been sent designs, stats, or plans for ships that are included in this book, or any other printed by mongoose, published or not.
I have seen examples of his work (that we are working on) that are of much higher quality than this, and I assume the art in the book are of equivalent or better quality.
I have not been sent designs, stats, or plans for ships that are included in this book, or any other printed by mongoose, published or not.
Yeah, I have the book, and those are the actual drawings for the shuttles. To me, these drawings look on par with every other ship book that has been put out, including those computer generated images they have been using. So this book meets my expectations based upon what past books have also looked like. So if you have been satisfied with past books, you should be satisfied with this one.
I'm in the US, so yes, it is available through US distributors.
I'm in the US, so yes, it is available through US distributors.
But the core rulebook had ginormously better drawings - even if they got they were wrong. They were at least better quality.
The ones in Merchants and Cruisers are, well, comical at best.
DFW is right, us "amateurs" can do better with crappy software. I'm just very, very, very disappointed that Mongoose published crap again. It's annoying as hell because I WANT to buy their products and support them, but I refuse to pay for sh*t like this.
The ones in Merchants and Cruisers are, well, comical at best.
DFW is right, us "amateurs" can do better with crappy software. I'm just very, very, very disappointed that Mongoose published crap again. It's annoying as hell because I WANT to buy their products and support them, but I refuse to pay for sh*t like this.
I also am greatly disappointed in the graphical quality of most of the deckplans. I dropped almost $30US (counting shipping) for this book and my first reaction was a feeling of being ripped off by what I can only view as a business need to get something out the door to generate revenue in a manner similar to the disaster known as Windows Millenium. 
I wish I could get a refund which is a pity since a few of the deckplans and external views obviously had more time put into them than most of the others and are of an acceptable and useful quality. The Centaur-class Mercenary Carrier, Stealth Scout, and Quetzalcoatl-class Scout (work of art!) come to mind as the quality I expected while the deckplans for the small craft, Deployment Shuttle, and Planetary Assault Ship are intolerably cartoonish. A large portion of this book is as bad or worse than 1980s Traveller material by Judges Guild. All IMO, of course, but since I can only get Mongoose material via Internet stores and eBay I'll be waiting for reviews on this forum before I buy any more of Mongoose's deckplan-related products.
I can't express enough just how disappointing the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this publication is. What on earth happened?!?!
I wish I could get a refund which is a pity since a few of the deckplans and external views obviously had more time put into them than most of the others and are of an acceptable and useful quality. The Centaur-class Mercenary Carrier, Stealth Scout, and Quetzalcoatl-class Scout (work of art!) come to mind as the quality I expected while the deckplans for the small craft, Deployment Shuttle, and Planetary Assault Ship are intolerably cartoonish. A large portion of this book is as bad or worse than 1980s Traveller material by Judges Guild. All IMO, of course, but since I can only get Mongoose material via Internet stores and eBay I'll be waiting for reviews on this forum before I buy any more of Mongoose's deckplan-related products.
I can't express enough just how disappointing the Jekyll and Hyde nature of this publication is. What on earth happened?!?!
Just got the PDF, which actually looks very good, at least on my iPad. I even zoomed in and it rendered very well. On my PC, I can zoom to 600% and see no issue with the resolution. This book is NOT the same as the PDF preview.
Yes, just tested it on various deckplans--repeat, the paid PDF is NOT THE SAME as the preview PDF. MUCH higher quality images.
As for the deckplans themselves, 1/3 are done by Ian Stead. His work is better than the other books. About 2/3 were done by Andrew Welty. I'm sure he'll admit that his deckplans aren't as pretty as others published by Mongoose. That does not make them any less useful, however. The designs seem solid and most importantly, there are a LOT of them. Almost all of them are in the "this may actually come into the game" size range too, unlike, say, Fighting Ships.
So, it's very interesting. Phavoc says, "I can't stand that Mongoose published crap again." I couldn't disagree more. For me, this is 100% worth every cent I paid for the PDF and now that I've seen said PDF, I'm very glad I got it electronically and not in print.
The ships are many, they are well designed, most of the plans are attractive, all are useful and the 3D renders beat anything in previously published books.
So, if I'm reviewing it on DTRPG (and I think I will), I give it AT LEAST 4/5 stars and possibly a full 5/5. It's probably my favorite ship book yet. PLUS, it includes rules for med bays and workshops.
(And contrary to what someone else said, I noticed particle beam turrets that FOLLOWED the errata...yes, they are triple turrets, but they mount ONE particle beam--that's the rules.)
I should add, too, that I'm coming from games that offer ZERO deckplans. That is why I have no trouble with Andrew's deckplans. Yes, they aren't as pretty. So what, they are accurate.
Yes, just tested it on various deckplans--repeat, the paid PDF is NOT THE SAME as the preview PDF. MUCH higher quality images.
As for the deckplans themselves, 1/3 are done by Ian Stead. His work is better than the other books. About 2/3 were done by Andrew Welty. I'm sure he'll admit that his deckplans aren't as pretty as others published by Mongoose. That does not make them any less useful, however. The designs seem solid and most importantly, there are a LOT of them. Almost all of them are in the "this may actually come into the game" size range too, unlike, say, Fighting Ships.
So, it's very interesting. Phavoc says, "I can't stand that Mongoose published crap again." I couldn't disagree more. For me, this is 100% worth every cent I paid for the PDF and now that I've seen said PDF, I'm very glad I got it electronically and not in print.
The ships are many, they are well designed, most of the plans are attractive, all are useful and the 3D renders beat anything in previously published books.
So, if I'm reviewing it on DTRPG (and I think I will), I give it AT LEAST 4/5 stars and possibly a full 5/5. It's probably my favorite ship book yet. PLUS, it includes rules for med bays and workshops.
(And contrary to what someone else said, I noticed particle beam turrets that FOLLOWED the errata...yes, they are triple turrets, but they mount ONE particle beam--that's the rules.)
I should add, too, that I'm coming from games that offer ZERO deckplans. That is why I have no trouble with Andrew's deckplans. Yes, they aren't as pretty. So what, they are accurate.
If I wasn't feeling lazy, I'd post a screenshot of the two PDFs open side by side. No comparison. The same ship on the preview and the real PDF are COMPLETELY different. MUCH HIGHER resolution in the real PDF. Trust me.
EDIT: Ok, I took a screenshot. How do I post this thing?
EDIT 2: I will try this: https://8196776315416461884-a-18027...YOtvboPcKDWOpjKjtggWfL5c4HYA==&attredirects=0
EDIT: Ok, I took a screenshot. How do I post this thing?
EDIT 2: I will try this: https://8196776315416461884-a-18027...YOtvboPcKDWOpjKjtggWfL5c4HYA==&attredirects=0
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