Starship Troopers Evolution

[combatdroid113]

are we going to fix the fluff like the one presented in the skinnies book?

 

[Lieutenant Rasczak]

are we going to fix the fluff like the one presented in the skinnies book?

Apparently the Fluff is staying the same.

 

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Wow Matt, you are overloading me with info, but I want more, more I tell you. :twisted:

 

[Doghouse]

Even more questions for Matt

What sort of release schedule will we be looking at for the PPM line as a whole? What can we expect to see first off the starting blocks?


Will there ever be any chance of seeing models being released in multiple colour schemes or will there be a standard paint job for all model types?
Obviously the original line would be done first but will there ever be alternative colour schemes once this has been completed?
For example the CAP troopers are green but will we ever see desert coloured CAP troops as well or the Warrior bugs are black will we ever see brown Warriors?



Is repainting the PPM models easy? Would a second complete paint job cover the original model without losing any of the original details?
Has this been put to the test yet?



How compatible are the existing minis with the PPMs in regards to conversions? For example could we take an arm from an existing multipart CAP trooper and replace one of the original arms of a PPM CAP?
Has this been put to the test yet?



Are the new PMM cast as multi-part and then assembled before they're painted overseas or can we expect something more like the existing single cast metal minis?

 

[CudaHP]

Actually I believe every question on your second question post Doghouse has been answered once if not multiple times throughout this thread.
Release one unit per army per month after the first eight (READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT), same for Battlefield Evolution.
Multiple color schemes possible if there is sufficient demand (READ THE THREAD, asked and answered).
Repainting depends on you, we will all find out once actual production figures come out. No reason I can see that it should be any problem to overpaint PPM. It isn't a problem with any current PPM like HeroClix etc. etc. Plus you are going to be dealing with model grade plastics not the rubbery junk used in various Clix type figures.
As for multi-part it has been stated several times that Warrior Bugs and Exo-suit will have movable posable arms or legs. That clearly indicates multiple parts.
As for limb, arm leg etc. compatibilty since scale is staying the same a little greenstuff work should act to blend where necessary, it is called modelling after all. Not a requirement a decision each player will decide for themself; if you do not have the skill or skills then I would not worry about it.
As far as a second paint job covering details I would guess that would depend on just how thick the painter laid on the second/third/twentith layer of color blending, ink, shading etc. If it is laid on too heavy, of course it will cover detail.

 

[lastbesthope]

Hi all,

First off I would like to make clear that I have just skim read all 35 pages of this thread and I focused on Msprange's posts so I apologise if I missed anything pertaining to what I am going to say.

1) I think this is good news, especially as an MI my demos of minis games have been stumped by the fact that I have nowhere in my current domicile that has space to paint them. This has not stopped me building a rather massive personal collection of ACTA minis though :lol: )

2) If the game is half of all that MSprange says it will be even I will be able to demo it locally and that can only be good for Mongoose sales in the Bristol area :lol:

3) Is this new technology likely to be applied to ACTA vessels anytime in the future?

LBH

 

[mthomason]

:shock:

I've changed my mind, It's a horrible idea, we have to make Mongoose stop right now.

Because otherwise LBH will be able to show up to games with painted minis.

 

[Doghouse]

Sorry mate, but there's thirty odd pages of stuff here to trawl through.

 

[CmdrKiley]

Actually I'm all up for a modern near future conflict sort of game. I liked the Command & Conquer Generals sort of setting. I also liked the hypothetical near future conflict novels by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond. The Battlefield Evolution sounds alot like those. I haven't quite jumped into a modern game set as I haven't seen too many modern figs that made me all crazy to jump on (Devil Dog Design and The Assault Group sculpts are OK, but don't make me crazy). Black Scorpion minis have some excellent US Marines but not a very extensive range yet. I'll probably be buying some Black Scorpions shortly.

As far as some potential political trouble, I think it'll be more from outside the gaming community than within. I recall when C&C Generals came out (just prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom), Germany banned it stating it was too violent. An Electronic Arts spokesperson stated they've been selling C&C games in that country for years, and Generals isn't any different.

 

[hamlrt]

Hello everyone ,
Well those pre-paints look very nice......but , will mongoose still release
unpainted white metal models for those of us that like to paint ?
after all if i wanted to take the instant gratification route i would be playing heroclix or similar .
john

 

[Reborn]

Except the painting and sculpting is so much better than heroclix. And SSTE models won't look like children's toys. Also there is the matter of the ruleset.

I doubt there will be unpainted models available, but the old models will still be in production and you could always try painting over if you wanted.

 

[Greg Smith]

A question for Matthew:

Will the stats of the new units be available other than in the box? ie if I want to buy a Forth army, will I have to buy the units to find the stats, or will I be able to see an army list elsewhere?

This is an annoying factor with Confrontation, in that there is no army list and the stats for each figure are only found on the card which you get with each figure (apart from a couple of fan-made web-sites).

 

[Reborn]

I think the stats for units will also be in the main rulebook, and I think I read somewhere that there might be S&P support, I dunno.

 

[Don_Silvarro]

Or just get yourself a copy of Army Builder, even in demo mode it supports up to 10 file downloads, so no problem with getting those SST files.

 

[CudaHP]

All of the Stats for the first four armies are supposed to be in the new rulbook to be released within three months of SSTE's release, stated price $24.95 USD.
Any new units added after that the stats are in the unit box and are supposed to show up either in S&P or online as downloads and as updates for older figs as well to function fully within the new system.
All this was in this thread somewhere???? I remember it, I think.

Blurry eyes an all, an all. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Traveller-61]

Well that is everything read that has been posted up to now - wow this has really put the cat amongst the pigeons! :twisted:

For my .02cr worth - I like it!
I have a few squads of troopers and the bugs to fight them - all painted by bribing a friend (or threatening to fail him at his next karate grading :twisted: ), I have neither the time or skill to paint them up well so pre-painted gets a big thumbs up from me!

As to the rules shrinking to just a few pages - what is wrong with that? One of my favourite ancient wargames was DBA; that's only a few pages long (including the campaign system) and allows much more time for considering tactics and actually playing the game rather than spending ages flipping through a 100+ pages of rules. SST is a very slick set of rules as is, if it is going to be improved - great

Just wondering now about other Mongoose products - will ACTA and War Without End be benefiting from this new production philosophy?
(Pre-painted plastic B5 ships just might get me to give up my FA ships after all :lol:

DW

 

[Reborn]

I hope WWE stays with the GROPOS miniatures. I like painting models that size.

 

[patton]

what about fluff are u gunna be able to buy additional books of fluff w/ scenarios and stuff maybe? i think that'ld be cool
edit- or maybe contain little booklets w/ the minis for fluff+special scenarios

 

[xeoran]

Actually I'm all up for a modern near future conflict sort of game. I liked the Command & Conquer Generals sort of setting. I also liked the hypothetical near future conflict novels by Tom Clancy and Larry Bond. The Battlefield Evolution sounds alot like those. I haven't quite jumped into a modern game set as I haven't seen too many modern figs that made me all crazy to jump on (Devil Dog Design and The Assault Group sculpts are OK, but don't make me crazy). Black Scorpion minis have some excellent US Marines but not a very extensive range yet. I'll probably be buying some Black Scorpions shortly.

As far as some potential political trouble, I think it'll be more from outside the gaming community than within. I recall when C&C Generals came out (just prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom), Germany banned it stating it was too violent. An Electronic Arts spokesperson stated they've been selling C&C games in that country for years, and Generals isn't any different.

TAG arent bad but they have to base most of their sculpts on dollies- usually theymake 24 miniatures from 4 dollies. Also Seth Nash (who does the Yanks) isnt great. Richard Ansells Brits are OK with a few really nice ones (Black Watch comes to mind). Never liked Devil Dog. Black Scorpion are good but their insurgents are a wee bit clumsy. The marines are 30mm too and suffer from some hackneyed poses, flatness and lack of movement. Their guns arent great either. They are the best ultramoderns so far though nowhere near as good as BS's Tombstone range.

On the political front. Well being a Frother I've seen quite a few bad reactions- particually around the IDF. However I agree, any real oppossition will come from outside the gaming world. Imagine if the British Muslim Council (idiots that they are) saw the backround for the MEA.... :x

The accepted wisdom in wargaming is to skirt around any war from Vietnam forwards.

However, I believe sensibilities are changing - you can see this in films and computer games (especially the latter). The projection forward of BF Evo also serves to distance it from real world events.

Finally, whenever we touch upon any force in the game, we always write it from the perspective of that force. Thus, the only 'evil' is found on the other side, your side is righteous and it is the other nations who are oppressive/materialistic/godless/imperialistic.

After that, it is up to the player to make up his own mind. But anyone projecting real world issues into a game probably has more than the game itself to worry about. . .

Well I dont agree with the accepted wisdom (Falklands, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Gulf War, Mogadishu one seem acceptable to me). I'd agree taboos on this sort of thing are breaking down (though there was the controversy over Black Hawk Down the movie.) Projection I would agree with but that I think 5-10 years is too short. I'm an enthusiastic Infinity players (175 years into future) but think less that 50 years is dodgy. (unless you did realistic one off games- i.e. the 2nd Korean War in 2019 or Police Actions in Mexico 2009-12 etc.) Police actions in Mexico are a possibility and the US Army predicts a 2nd Korean war within 20 years. Perspective is fine but doesnt solve much- Skaven in WHFB for example or the Eldar may not think they are evil and slightly dodgy respectively but they are. A religious fanatic who believes he is right still isnt. But I dont worry about that, what I worry is that this will be a classic "Beat the Commies and Islamics".

Aside from that there is a lack of realism- take the MEA. It would be split between Arabs and Persians, Sunnis and Shia and riven by the existence of Kurds. Also any such alliance would be powerful enough to destroy Israel (unless US gets involved). How could such an alliance work? Would they trust each other? Similarly the PLA would never fight America and vice versa. Both have far too much money tied up in each others economies- it would be disasterous. Also neither British nor American forces can conduct any large scale ativities unless they withdraw from Iraq/Afghanistan.

It kinda makes sense to project real world issues onto a real world game...

In other news I forgot to say-

Congrats MGP, brave descision, just keep up the quality levels on new minis. I dont like pre paint but admirable tech fu on them. I also like the no new army books thing. Cards make more sense (and if you happen to have online army lists for the armies- updated with the new releases you can get round that problem) and I like them- please though, art on the cards, it looks much nicer. I look forward to seeign how your game goes. And if your Battlefield Evo has nice minis I may grab a few for proxies.

 

[Greg Smith]

On the political front. Imagine if the British Muslim Council saw the backround for the MEA.... :x

Aren't they the moderate ones? Ah yes, they'd demand Mongoose withdraw anything they felt was offensive, while their less moderate associates issued a fatwah on Matthew Sprange.

I imagine the MEA will be described along national lines, rather than religious ones.

Aside from that there is a lack of realism- take the MEA. It would be split between Arabs and Persians, Sunnis and Shia and riven by the existence of Kurds.

Easy to play MEA vs MEA games them.

Also any such alliance would be powerful enough to destroy Israel

Except for nukes. Something we know Israel has, but is years away, even for Iran.

Similarly the PLA would never fight America and vice versa. Both have far too much money tied up in each others economies- it would be disasterous.
It kinda makes sense to project real world issues onto a real world game...

It does, but it is still just a game.