whats the deal with mongoose

[computerarif]

I went to my local game store where I bought the acta:sf to order the Klingon and kzinti box set and was told that nothing would be released until the relaunch in summer and could not get a restock of the rules.

I got friends that want this stuff and cant get it because Mongoosle can't get there act together. Why did you release a good rules system to a popular franchise and not have the resources to back it up.

Shame on you Mongoose. Shame on you.

 

[Totenkopf]

I went to my local game store where I bought the acta:sf to order the Klingon and kzinti box set and was told that nothing would be released until the relaunch in summer and could not get a restock of the rules.

I got friends that want this stuff and cant get it because Mongoosle can't get there act together. Why did you release a good rules system to a popular franchise and not have the resources to back it up.

Shame on you Mongoose. Shame on you.

Yup, shame on you Mongoose for not having a crystal ball that predicts the overwhelming demand for this game...

 

[deadshane]

Stuff you need can be ordered from Mongoose direct if you need it quickly.

It's best to support your FLGS but if you need games you need games.....

 

[adm]

If Texas (in the United States, yes Texas you ARE part of the U.S. :lol: ) is closer to where you live you can also order from the ADB half of the joint venture, here;

https://www169.safesecureweb.com/starfleetstore/merchant2/merchant.mvc?

The rule book, here;
http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=1efa3aa1974c6c3bfee569ea6703dd91&Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=16

Starline 2500 miniatures, when available, here:
http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=17

The older Starline 2400s here;
http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=14

Note that you will have to select your empire on the left.

Megahex, if you are a cardboard counters type of player, here;
http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=S&Product_Code=4501&Category_Code=02

Lastly you can get the Starfleet Universe game ACTA:SF is translated from, Federation Commander, here;
http://store.starfleetstore.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=02

 

[ErikB]

I think that,

Okay, so in Y155 Rikki-Tikki Promotions LLC decides to hold a beer fest on the famed brewing world of Kegger IV. Their RnD department have developed an alcohol substitute, Synthehol, and they wish to unveil it to the galaxy. Synthehol duplicates the appearance, taste and smell of alcohol, but its intoxicating effects can be swifty dismissed.

This, they feel, is the future of drinking.

So the great and the good from across the Alpha Octant are invited to what should be the greatest piss-up yet seen in known space.

Unfortunately, it turns out that in 85% of Federation member species, imbibing large quantities of Synthehol turns the drinker in to a beserker rage zombie with a lust for sentient flesh.

Can the brave bridge crew of the USS Kongo, on planet to escort Ambassador Su'vek of Vulcan to the festival, discover a remedy before the party gets really out of hand?

 

[Nomad]

This might be a good time for Mongoose to release a downloadable .PDF of the rules, at a suitable price. People who didn't get the book could at least start playing the game using counters or proxy miniatures.

Otherwise, all these delays may disillusion potential players and rob the game of it's momentum.

 

[elakin]

This might be a good time for Mongoose to release a downloadable .PDF of the rules, at a suitable price. People who didn't get the book could at least start playing the game using counters or proxy miniatures.

Otherwise, all these delays may disillusion potential players and rob the game of it's momentum.

100% agree. Also, with all the unintentional delays, intentionally delaying the PDF of the rules feels almost spiteful.

 

[Jean]

Guys, it isn't spite. It is trying to get stores to carry the game in the future. Many stores see the e-version to be a threat to their bottom line as you don't buy it from them. They requested Mongoose give them a chance to turn a profit on this game.

We also need to stabilize the errata and have the e-version be absolutely correct. You deserve that so Matthew and SVC need to work out how the errata are going to be incorporated into the PDF.

Jean

 

[Stealth7]

Guys, it isn't spite. It is trying to get stores to carry the game in the future. Many stores see the e-version to be a threat to their bottom line as you don't buy it from them. They requested Mongoose give them a chance to turn a profit on this game.

We also need to stabilize the errata and have the e-version be absolutely correct. You deserve that so Matthew and SVC need to work out how the errata are going to be incorporated into the PDF.

Jean

Now here is just an observation. It seems to me that a better business model would have been for ADB and Mongoose to work out minor things like rules, errata ownership, and quality models BEFORE releasing the game. Had these things been worked out prior to release, Mongoose's image would have been a lot brighter. As it stands, potential player's are quickly becoming disallusioned with what should have been a 'stellar' gaming system.

I would not mind jumping on board, however things need to be shaken up at HQ before I spend any of my hard earned dollars.

 

[elakin]

Making sure the e-version is absolutely correct is the wrong place to focus -- if there's an error in the PDF, just correct it and upload the new version. The print version is the one that needs to be absolutely correct before releasing, which can be accomplished by releasing the PDF first to a wide audience of gamers. If absolute correctness is what you're really concerned about, then stop selling the print copy until that's updated as well.

 

[McKinstry]

I think the reasonable concern about a pdf version is that it will get ripped off and spread around for free. Given the cost of a Trek license, I'd make darn sure I had recovered every penny plus my needed profit long before any pdf got issued.

 

[tneva82]

I think the reasonable concern about a pdf version is that it will get ripped off and spread around for free. Given the cost of a Trek license, I'd make darn sure I had recovered every penny plus my needed profit long before any pdf got issued.

Except official pdf doesn't quicken pdf piracy. There's likely one our already and on bigger reeleases often before hard copy gets available.

Better worry for stores is price.

 

[elakin]

I think the reasonable concern about a pdf version is that it will get ripped off and spread around for free. Given the cost of a Trek license, I'd make darn sure I had recovered every penny plus my needed profit long before any pdf got issued.

Mongoose has not mentioned piracy as a reason for delaying the PDF release, only "retailer request". Not releasing an electronic version for piracy fears is failing to acknowledge that piracy can and does happen WITHOUT any sort of electronic release. If a game is popular, it'll get scanned & uploaded.

As for the license that ADB (and by extension Mongoose) has, i don't know it's details - but it's not a "Trek" license. I get the impression that it in addition to having the unusual property of non-expiring, it's also significantly more reasonable cost-wise (and also more restricted in scope) than a standard license for "Star Trek" IP from Paramount. But that's just a total guess.

 

[Nomad]

Could Mongoose produce a .PDF primer for ACtA? Something similar to ADB's First Missions module for Federation Commander.

Just the basic rules and two or three ship cards for each of the major fleets, enough to whet potential new player's appetites and show off what's good about the game.

This should boost sales of the revised rulebook, whenever it appears, rather than harm them.

 

[McKinstry]

Could Mongoose produce a .PDF primer for ACtA? Something similar to ADB's First Missions module for Federation Commander.

Just the basic rules and two or three ship cards for each of the major fleets, enough to whet potential new player's appetites and show off what's good about the game.

This should boost sales of the revised rulebook, whenever it appears, rather than harm them.

What was the initial print run? With a full color, hard bound first printing, we won't see a revised rulebook until the first run sells out which could well be post-2012.

 

[Jean]

Primarily it is the request of the retail stores that is driving the delay. It isn't spite; it isn't meanness; it isn't a grand conspiracy.

And when the PDF does go up, the errata will be incorporated in it. We need to be sure that we haven't tweaked "this" and forgotten to reflect it somewhere else. We're already hearing "Which stats do we use?" and "Did this change get reflected in the point value?" so we need to be sure that all is well so that you folks know what to use.

I'm pretty sure we don't need another topic of "How much can the company mess up?" started about the PDF. Therefore, we're going to get it right.

Jean

 

[Iron Domokun]

it isn't a grand conspiracy
Jean

That's what THEY want you to think.

 

[tneva82]

Primarily it is the request of the retail stores that is driving the delay. It isn't spite; it isn't meanness; it isn't a grand conspiracy.

Yeah. Just them aware they can't compete on equal grounding so requesting special help to uneven the playfield.

 

[Totenkopf]

I don't know about anyone else, but trying to help keep local game stores in business cannot be a bad thing. For one these stores provide a public venue for games to be played, they allow for more people with the same interest in games to meet and play together, and they're an excellent place to find new players. So yes, it's frustrating but if it helps keep your local game store competitive and interested in ACTA:SF I don't see how that is bad - frustrating yes, but bad enough to moan like a bunch of overgrown *******?

 

[tneva82]

I don't know about anyone else, but trying to help keep local game stores in business cannot be a bad thing. For one these stores provide a public venue for games to be played, they allow for more people with the same interest in games to meet and play together, and they're an excellent place to find new players. So yes, it's frustrating but if it helps keep your local game store competitive and interested in ACTA:SF I don't see how that is bad - frustrating yes, but bad enough to moan like a bunch of overgrown *******?

If the stores are worth them then they will have customers. If not they will die. Economics.

But the fact they are impeding with PDF sales just shows that THEY know they are worse option and therefore can't compete on equal terms.

They want money, they offer inferior service, they know it and are looking for twisting the balance.

If there's something I hate it's cartel-style methods.