Starship Troopers Evolution

[MongooseMatt]

As you are now providing a game for lazy folks who want a ready-made game (not that there's anything wrong with that), how about ready-made terrain kits? Probably easier to produce than figs.

Funny you should mention this. However 'terrain kits' is a little too small in scale for what we are currently looking at. Project Uber Table is only just beginning but, if we can pull it off, will give players the mother of all set ups to play miniatures games with. . .

 

[MongooseMatt]

So how different will old models be from the new ones?


And when do we get our hands on those "airtight" rules?!

In some cases, the models will be near identical - as is the case of the Grizzly Exosuits. With others, there will be a complete redesign. Much of the Skinnie range is an example of this, as are the Hopper Bugs.

 

[MongooseMatt]

So could we get the new models unpainted at a lower price than the painted ones?

Maybe, maybe not - it is all going to depend on demand, and will likely be a special order thing anyway.

 

[MongooseMatt]

I hate to say it, but this all sounds too good to be true. I can't shake the feeling that I'm going to end up with a bunch of Mechwarrior Dark Age quality junk.
How are they going to make them without any detectable mold lines?

Heh

Our watchword, for every step in the development of these games is Quality. What you have seen in pre-painted miniatures thus far just does not compare - this really is a leap forward.

 

[Talarius]

While I knew that this high-quality pre-painted stuff was in the pipeline for Conan, I had NO IDEA SST would get the same treatment. As a frazzled, severely time-crunched parent of 2 small children I have to say... I AM SO THERE!!!! This is absolutely perfect for me as I (a) hate collectible stuff and (b) have so little time to paint anymore. I look forward to some serious bug/alien/human-killing next year! Thanks a million! I will start saving my $$ now!

This new approach will be a god-send for me. Matthew Sprange amazes me with his continued good moves in the tricky-to-stay-alive gaming business. My wallet is going to feel the hurt next year, but you certainly have my admiration. I'm not a fan-boy, but this message sure reads that way. Can't wait to see more of this development! [/u][/i]

 

[MongooseMatt]

Oh man, this really wasn't what I was hoping for. I may be able to get into Battlefield Evolution but to me modeling, converting and painting minis is half the hobby. I like the weight of lead in my hand. I like having an army that is unique because of it's paint scheme. I was so looking foward to assembling and painting Tac Fighters and dropships.

A fair point, and one I somewhat agree with - after all, on my modelling table right now is a growing 15mm Soviet WWII army. So, how do square this away with my own hobby?

Consider how many unpainted models the typical gamer has lying around. Boxes and boxes of them. Perhaps enough to last a life time of modelling? The chance to get hold of models and just start playing immediatly is an attractive one.

Pre-painted is not the be all and end all. And it will never replace the more esoteric ranges and games. However, it does provide another option and will alllow people to dip into a game without making a huge commitement in time.

It will also mark the 'master painters/modellers' out from the crowd as many people will have similar looking armies (the large range will ensure they do not look identical), while those who either touch up or repaint their models will create something visually stunning at the local tournament.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Well, after rereading the article, I think it's worse news than i though it was at first.

Less than 3 products per amry per year? That sucks.

No, no, no - you'll be getting at least one new unit every month _per_ army. It is also worth pointing out that you will be seeing four armies from the word go. . .

 

[Sgt Xin]

I think I'm with most here. Glad to see time, money and effort being poured into a game I like, yet fearful/disliking a change to wargaming as I know it.

This will most assurdly open up Miniature gaming to the "masses". Masses being those in the game stores playing CCG and CMG. Most of those guys completely ignore the wargamers in the corner of the store. They don't want anything to do with painting.

But on the other hand, it's sort of a slap in the face to gamers who do like all aspects of the hobby and have already bought into the system. Yeah you can still use your stuff, but the direction of the company is moving away from your style of play.

You have to give them credit though, they are certainly bending over backwards to not screw it's loyal existing gamers. GW would be bending you over the table, not bending to help you.

 

[Sgt Xin]

No, no, no - you'll be getting at least one new unit every month _per_ army. It is also worth pointing out that you will be seeing four armies from the word go. . .

4 Armies for SST or 4 Armies for Evolution? Or Both?

 

[MongooseMatt]

Those pre-painted Exosuits, Light Armour MI and Warrior Bugs all look amazing! I've been following Rackham's upcoming game, AT-43. Rackham are known for their quality, but your pre-painted miniatures simply blow their own out of the water! :shock:

I suppose they'll be more expensive though (their has to be a catch here somewhere)?

Rackham are keeping their cards close to their chest on pricing but, from what we have managed to work out, we should be cheaper. Also, if some recent photos of their production quality miniatures are to be believed, I think we will also have higher quality.

Funny story here - it has been the Rackham range that have driven us forward. We planned to do a pre-painted range of models and were using the latest WotC models as the baseline to beat (some of their later Star Wars stuff is not half bad). Then Rackham released the first photos of their new range.

Urk, we thought. They are a bit good.

So, we funnelled everything we could into development, trying to match the first photos Rackham released, thinking they were the production models.

Now it turns out they may not be - but we still have this production quality on our hands. . .

Anyway, back to pricing - our aim is to keep the price no more than you would pay for equivalent unpainted metals (which will actually be cheaper, as you don't need to buy paint, etc. . .).

 

[MaxSteiner]

I really dont see the difference between whats happening here and GW editions tbh.
But conversly dont see it as a problem either since thats how you make money in the business.
The only bad thing really is all the really cool stuff which people have been waiting and saving for wont be out till some time next year, but on the plus side at lease we wont have to buy new rule books and army books

 

[Zekk_Sirius]

4 Armies for SST or 4 Armies for Evolution? Or Both?

SST it would seem - MI, Bugs, Skinnies and Forth from the get go in April next year.

To be honest, I'm really liking this.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Pulling the game until January seems like it could really damage good will among retailers,

This has been one of our primary concerns - and, obviously, we had to win distributors and retailers over, even before we approached you chaps about it.

Overall, we have been very happy with the response. The general feeling is that so long as the quality is there, the reception will be warm. On that front, we are quite comfortable

To aid this, we will be releasing a large number of samples before the game's release to hammer the point home. . .

 

[patton]

so msprange, no matter what u can special order unpainted stuff, corect?

 

[MongooseMatt]

edit-i also need to say that at my flgs these kinda games come and go .... they get played for a couple weeks or months, then everyone gos back to the tried and true. In my experiance, Pre painted games get little respect and aren't taken that seriously.

A fair comment - however, an answer just as fair is that there has never been a game like this before. Mongoose is leading the charge when it comes to this sort of game (though we have no doubt there will be others following).

CMGs are made to be transitional. It is in their nature and in their marketing plans. We are looking to create a solid miniatures game with years' worth of support, where models released in the first month are just as relevant years' later.

Imagine a 40k where all the models are painted to an expert-level. That is what we are aiming for.

 

[MongooseMatt]

Well, so far I'm not impressed with your plastic M1A1 tank. I spent my time in the Army on one, and I can assure you, that whatever that is next to the Challenger is not an M1A1. Might send that one back for a resculpt.

I must state again, these are _not_ final production models - you'll be seeing those in a couple of months or so. The paint quality, however, is representative.

 

[Zekk_Sirius]

Rackham are keeping their cards close to their chest on pricing but, from what we have managed to work out, we should be cheaper. Also, if some recent photos of their production quality miniatures are to be believed, I think we will also have higher quality.

Funny story here - it has been the Rackham range that have driven us forward. We planned to do a pre-painted range of models and were using the latest WotC models as the baseline to beat (some of their later Star Wars stuff is not half bad). Then Rackham released the first photos of their new range.

Urk, we thought. They are a bit good.

So, we funnelled everything we could into development, trying to match the first photos Rackham released, thinking they were the production models.

Now it turns out they may not be - but we still have this production quality on our hands. . .

Ahhh. Yeah, I saw that - Rackham displayed their studio paint jobs of their new AT-43 before the showing the quality of the pre-painted stuff.

I don't know what you're doing to get pre-painted stuff like that, but it far, far exceeds what I've seen of Rackham's stuff. Kudos to you.

 

[KJ]

Well.....

I have to say I'm less than thrilled. That's ALL I'm gonna say right now. :?

Just one question, though: if retailers (and, granted, many of them don't know the first thing about running a retail store as a business instead of a hobby) can't be bothered to support the current version of the game, what makes you (Mongoose) believe that these same retailers will want to stock SST in the future, especially given that a number of them may still have existing product on their shelves that hasn't moved?

 

[Whatisitgoodfor?]

The pre-painted stuff does look good. I'll almsot certainly be buying.

I'l ask my big question again though.

Is this a new-fangled, high-tech method of painting minis? Or is this done by humans in low-wage economies?

 

[Major Chaos]

Will my old army lists be invalidated with the release of the new rules?