Starship Troopers Evolution

[MongooseMatt]

What is the size of a boxed unit in terms of points? i.e. will a unit be 200ish points? 300ish?

It varies - we have specced some boxes at less than 100 points, others (the Apache Longbow for BF Evo comes to mind) is at 800 points. The average is probably around 200-250 points.

What will be the price point of a "unit"? More or same as now? Is it related to the models? or the point value? The latter would be nice as then all armies would cost the same.

There will be greater parity between armies, certainly - Warrior Bugs, for example, will be sold in boxes of 12 as standard.

However, a typical squad in SST Evo is likely to cost no more than it does at the moment. That is our aim - same price, better quality.

Will individual models be available? i.e. can I purchase an LAMI with a longbow and an extra fednet reporter? I am sure this is so, but if not... :x

At the moment, we are looking at 'Officer and Hero' box sets, with 6-8 models that can be added to existing units or used independently.

How easy will it be to model different weapon configurations such as for the chickenhawk and the new forth weapon mounts? Will there be different weapons included that we can switch, or do we have to find the M-9 with the eact loadout we want?

The moulds for these have not yet been created but we are looking at ways to provide options within each box set where necessary.

As another previously asked, how easy really will it be to paint over if we want something different? Will they need stripping to get the outer finish off? I see this as more of an issue for my bugs.

We do not foresee any problems here - the finish is very different from, say, the WotC Star Wars range.

I would really like to see unbuilt models of some of the new stuff. I was really looking forward to building/painting the fleet vehicles and especially the sneak peeks I saw of the forth. I am more the modeler.

There will be plenty of previews over the next few months!

I think only the MI will really be losing out as far as the modeling goes. Most of the other armies, except for some of the bugs are mostly metal and mostly single piece models at that(most skinnes and LAMI). Since in the future I would be ordering exact bits, hopefully the correct mixture of right/left arms for exos will be more of a 50/50 mix

One advantage of this new system is that it will be impossible for the 'arm scandel' to happen again.

In respect to the modeling, at first I was bummed to see prepainted minis, but now that I think about it, the prepainted minis will simplify things for me so that I can spend more time building other models instead of sharing my building time with getting "those two last squads" done. Of course this will depend on the quality, which looks to be good for now.

This is the aim

As long as I can still get the current bug and MI models, and the price points are at most a little higher than now, I should be happy.

You are going to be happy

 

[MaxSteiner]

I'd watch it whatisitgoodfor, CudHP thinks asking how prepainted miniatures are to be painted is nit picking ... :roll: :lol:

I'm interested how its achieved as well though, there seems to be a massive increases in the amount of companies heading in this direction, and yet even as early as this time last year there was next to no one...

 

[MongooseMatt]

And what about the Mongoose Infantry? How are we supposed to demo stuff that's effectively dead until April?

Your Sky Marshal will be in touch about this soon. However, I can say that, come next year, the demo packs for this game will blow your mind. . .

 

[MongooseMatt]

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

Both - SST Evo will kick off with MI, Arachnids, Skinnies and the Forth.

 

[MongooseMatt]

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

As a special order deal, I cannot see any reason why not.

 

[MongooseMatt]

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?

This has been our number one concern, and there are many measures we are taking to counter this. Releasing BF Evo before SST Evo, rather than the other way around, is one of them. . .

 

[kirkmex]

I have a few questions I would like answered Matt.

Are the photo's you showed of the Exo's, LAMI and Warrior bugs actual "test" paint jobs from the factory or are they Adrians models?

Someone mentioned a concern about MOLD LINES. Will this be something Mongoose will insure is handled in the Quality Control of these products?

When you say "The price of these will about the cost of metal mini's for the pre-painted plastics" are you saying MONGOOSE METAL MINI'S PRICES or THE "OTHER" GUYS METAL MINI'S PRICES? ....... so does that mean the LAMI would cost about $25.00 for 20 or $50-$60 because Mongoose gave us a Deal on these mini's in the first place?


to be honest, i'm a bit uneasy with this because I've already invested over $3,500 into this game, only to find next year my stuff is not only going to SUCK paint job wise (if these new mini's do indeed look like Adrian's models) but I have to buy the stuff over again if I want a UNIFORM LOOK. :evil: you guys have a return policy on by any chance?

 

[MongooseMatt]

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

There are new-fangled, high-tech methods involved. The models are also not being produced in the Western world, for reasons of both labour and, just as important, material costs.

Now, I am not going to get into politics on these forums (you are welcome to PM me, if you genuinely want to know my position and are not simply looking for a fight!). However, I can say we have actually visited the factories involved, personally, and they are far from being the horror stories we have all heard about.

It is also worth pointing out that we have taken advantage of lower-wage economies since pretty much we started Mongoose. The economy we most took advantage of was the US. . .

 

[Sgt. Brassones]

Wow, I've just had an epiphany(?). I decided to ease my initial depression by slapping some paint on my Oversear Bug when, out loud, I said to myself; "Man I love this game". Not I love thisminiature but I love this game. If SST:Evolution is a better version of what I consider to be the best ruleset already available then I'm in. Besides, it'll take me until April to paint what I have already. Then I'll have time to paint Warmachine, Hordes, FoW, ACTA, Federation Commander, Warlord, WFB, SITS, GAH!, Someone stop me!

 

[MongooseMatt]

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

Only if you want them to be.

Yes, we want you to play with the new rules and lists - simply because we believe they are better on every level. Any of the older models we do not produce as pre-painted sets will have stats so you can still use them.

However, if you want to stick to the old rules and army lists, we will be supporting them, free of cost. Every time a new unit is produced, we will have a free download for the stats as it would have appeared in the older rules. Complete army lists will be featured in S&P.

Whichever route you take, none, repeat none, of the models and books you have bought thus far will be invalidated.

 

[Whatisitgoodfor?]

I'd watch it whatisitgoodfor, CudHP thinks asking how prepainted miniatures are to be painted is nit picking ... :roll: :lol:

I'm interested how its achieved as well though, there seems to be a massive increases in the amount of companies heading in this direction, and yet even as early as this time last year there was next to no one...

Ah. I was actually just curious as to whether there was an exciting new technology out there.

I have no objection to creating honest paying jobs in low-wage countries, and use a Sri Lankan painting service myself quite regulary.

I do paint my own stuff for fun (masochistic fun perhaps?) but they paint much better than I do, and if you compare the amount of time I spend painting a mini to the amount I can earn working in that time, they paint it much, much cheaper than I do.

I won't ask again though.

 

[MaxSteiner]

Lol I don't really care so long as the company is willing to say publicaly they stand by the conditions of their factories.
Definatly not a job I'd want though, its bad enough when you can choose what you're painting! (Although come to think of it theres alot of stuff I need to do that I don't want too... I can only assume I did at one point :? )

 

[MongooseMatt]

Are the photo's you showed of the Exo's, LAMI and Warrior bugs actual "test" paint jobs from the factory or are they Adrians models?

These are test paint jobs. Whenever you see preview models from us over the next few months, they will all be factory-produced paint jobs, of the quality you can expect to see in the final models.

Someone mentioned a concern about MOLD LINES. Will this be something Mongoose will insure is handled in the Quality Control of these products?

It is - I'll get you the technical measures being used on this soon.

When you say "The price of these will about the cost of metal mini's for the pre-painted plastics" are you saying MONGOOSE METAL MINI'S PRICES or THE "OTHER" GUYS METAL MINI'S PRICES? ....... so does that mean the LAMI would cost about $25.00 for 20 or $50-$60 because Mongoose gave us a Deal on these mini's in the first place?

Okay, two questions here.

First off we are aiming for the same price point we currently produce metal miniatures for. The Grizzly Exosuits, for example, have a projected price point of $29.95 for four (which is actually a better deal than the current metals). This price point is quite finely balanced, however, and we will not be compromising on quality to keep the price point down. I can promise that the models will certainly, hand on heart, _not_ be more expensive than a certain other UK manufacturer's metal miniatures (and plastics, for that matter). That is our absolute ceiling, and I have no intention of going anywhere near it.

As for the LAMI - 'fraid not You'll be getting a squad of 8 or 10 for these prices, in line with the rest of the range. Sorry, but you are getting a good deal on the metals and, in fact, they will likely be brought into line towards the end of the year.

to be honest, i'm a bit uneasy with this because I've already invested over $3,500 into this game, only to find next year my stuff is not only going to SUCK paint job wise (if these new mini's do indeed look like Adrian's models) but I have to buy the stuff over again if I want a UNIFORM LOOK. :evil: you guys have a return policy on by any chance?

I wish we could. I wish we could convert everyone onto the new range as quickly and easily as possible. However, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the models you have right now, and they will continue to serve you faithfully in all your battles to come

 

[Sgt. Brassones]

It is also worth pointing out that we have taken advantage of lower-wage economies since pretty much we started Mongoose. The economy we most took advantage of was the US. . .

How is that possible with the current exchange rate? Unless you're referring to our border-hopping labor force. :wink:

 

[Sgt Xin]

It is also worth pointing out that we have taken advantage of lower-wage economies since pretty much we started Mongoose. The economy we most took advantage of was the US. . .

How is that possible with the current exchange rate? Unless you're referring to our border-hopping labor force. :wink:

Don't start that in here. I like a politics free message board thank you.

 

[Eisho]

I do paint my own stuff for fun (masochistic fun perhaps?) but they paint much better than I do, and if you compare the amount of time I spend painting a mini to the amount I can earn working in that time, they paint it much, much cheaper than I do.

Agreed. I have used a painting service based in Thailand before. Much higher standard than me and, on an hour of painting-for-an-hour of research basis (I make my living as an investor) much cheaper.

Of equal importance is the potential to get other people involved in the hobby. Most of my friends have real jobs and an increasing number have new families so anything that saves on time is attractive.

Eisho

 

[KJ]

One more question: Matthew, isn't it past your bedtime?

 

[MongooseMatt]

If SST:Evolution is a better version of what I consider to be the best ruleset already available then I'm in.

For my money, it really is. It flows together so well, and new players are adapting to it in record time. There seems to be virtually no ambiguity in the rules, and they are a great deal more flexible - to the extent that I was able to convert our Star Wars SST lists (yes, we have the full range ) into the new version in just a few hours. With the old system, it was taking around a day per army list, without including characters. . .

 

[kirkmex]

will the bases come flocked or is that up to us??????

PLEASE AT LEAST LET US PAINT/CONVERT OUR OWN BASES! That'll help tell people's Armies apart from each other.

 

[Sgt. Brassones]

If SST:Evolution is a better version of what I consider to be the best ruleset already available then I'm in.

For my money, it really is. It flows together so well, and new players are adapting to it in record time. There seems to be virtually no ambiguity in the rules, and they are a great deal more flexible - to the extent that I was able to convert our Star Wars SST lists (yes, we have the full range ) into the new version in just a few hours. With the old system, it was taking around a day per army list, without including characters. . .

Did Andy Chambers have anything to do with the rewrite? Not that it's important, just curious.