Capt Flash | 12 Jun 2014 6:57 p.m. PST |
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chuck05 | 12 Jun 2014 7:32 p.m. PST |
Ive been looking forward to the game coming out for a while. |
darthfozzywig | 12 Jun 2014 7:56 p.m. PST |
I just started showing Robotech to my children this week. The pics of the models look amazing, and have reassured me that I made the right decision not backing that Kickstarter. Not because they aren't awesome-looking models, but because I would never, ever, get all of them assembled and painted, not as deep as I would have bought. :) |
John Treadaway | 13 Jun 2014 2:40 a.m. PST |
darthfozzywig you're so right. Jeeeez that's a lot of bits
. John T |
McWong73 | 13 Jun 2014 2:59 a.m. PST |
I'm in on that bloody kickstarter for about two hundred odd models. Thought I was buying miniatures, imagine the look on my face when I discovered I was getting model kits
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Caesar | 13 Jun 2014 5:00 a.m. PST |
Not sure I will play the game, but I am happy to be getting the models. |
GiantMonster | 13 Jun 2014 5:26 a.m. PST |
I almost backed this, looking at the model sprues, I'm glad I didn't. That is probably a good thing. If it used prepainted figures I would have bought too much. :) -Ken Radioactive Press |
mdauben | 13 Jun 2014 6:27 a.m. PST |
So finally we can look forward to gaming this! I've been looking forward to it for over a year, but that's water under the bridge! ;-) Not because they aren't awesome-looking models, but because I would never, ever, get all of them assembled and painted, not as deep as I would have bought. :) I know exactly what you mean. I backed this KS heavily to the tune of two box sets and multiple expansions. According to their pledge calculator I'm going to eventually be recieving over 200 miniatures. I can't imagine how long its going to take me just to assemble all of them, let alone paint them! If it used prepainted figures I would have bought too much. :) Ugh! If they had gone pre-painted I would have walked away from the KS without looking back. I know some people just don't like to paint, or don't have time, or don't do it well so I understand the appeal of pre-paints. For me, painting is half the fun of miniatures gaming so I hate pre-painted miniatures. :-( |
Dan Wideman II | 13 Jun 2014 7:34 a.m. PST |
I guess I am surprised at the number of people that weren't expecting model kits. You can't get the level of detail without multi parts, and these don't seem to have many more parts than several plastic 25mm minis I've built in recent years. The GW kits that people claim are wonderful kits (even if some look silly these days) often have 10+ parts for a 25mm mini as do several of the major plastic lines these days. The only difference I see is that with RRT we will be getting a whole bunch of stuff at once. Instead of building a box of 16 Eldar Guardians (which is what was in the box when I got them) that have 10-12 pieces each, I'll be getting a couple hundred mechs with 15 or so pieces each. Personally that's about what I expected. I just wish it would get here already. :) |
Failure16 | 13 Jun 2014 8:50 a.m. PST |
I'm not trying to be snarky or overly sharpshoot you, Dan, but, well, the notion that "you can't get the level of detail without multi parts" is a bit disingenuous. Other companies have produced many of the same models that are an inherent part of this project and used either fewer parts or simply were one-piece sculpts. And even at a Battlecry level you won't be looking at a "couple hundred mechs" (though that pledge level does push 100); the retail versions will probably have significantly less than that (if the First Contact level is anything to go by, that tops out at 34). Caveat: if you were simply saying that "you" personally will be getting a couple hundred mechs, then this comment doesn't apply to you, only to an individual getting a box off the shelf. Now, I understand that the materials are different and that is indeed a driving factor, but Robotech-style mecha can be made in 1/285th-ish scale with proper detail and they do not have to be completed in over 5 parts/pieces. Still, if everything is of an acceptable quality, then the game itself should be a deal all things being equal. My only qualm/position is that the actual miniatures could have been produced (from concept to materials to execution) in a better fashion to alleviate the need for them to become miniature model kits in truth. And who knows? Since I don't have any of these models in my mitts at present, all of this grousing may have been in vain. But I have an inordinately large number of similarly-themed 'Mechs in my collection and I have a bit of an understanding of dealing with design choices of models in this milieu and scale. Multipart models are not always inherently bad (like Ral Partha's MAD-3R Marauder, but that does not mean these will be flawlessly fabulous either (like IWM's MAD-5L Marauder, for example)
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mdauben | 13 Jun 2014 9:13 a.m. PST |
IThe GW kits that people claim are wonderful kits (even if some look silly these days) often have 10+ parts for a 25mm mini as do several of the major plastic lines these days. I think people with any experience in plastic wargaming miniatures were expecting multi-part kits all along, it was the *number* of parts that were the problem. IIRC, one of the first miniatures they showed us, a model only a little larger than a GW Space Marine, had something like 35-40 parts! For people like me, who are going to recieve a huge number of minis, the difference between 10-12 pieces, and 35-40 pieces was huge! I think they redid that original model to reduce the number of pieces, and some of the other models (like the Zentrati Battle Pods) have even less. Still I anticipate spending a loooooong of time puting all my Robotech figures together. ;-) |
Lion in the Stars | 13 Jun 2014 9:14 a.m. PST |
The postman is going to kill me when it comes time to deliver my box
I think I'm in for 200ish minis
Dang near one of every add-on option! |
Caesar | 13 Jun 2014 9:29 a.m. PST |
My main concern is not number of parts, but the replacement of miscast or broken/damaged parts. Palladium has already stated that they believe there won't be a need to replace anything, which means they have no plan in place to do so. |
mdauben | 13 Jun 2014 9:57 a.m. PST |
Palladium has already stated that they believe there won't be a need to replace anything, which means they have no plan in place to do so. Uh-oh! That does not sound very reassuring. I agree, they are sending out probably tens of thousands of separate model sprues. The idea that they will achieve 100% perfect products is simply ridiculous, no matter how good the QC. :-( |
Dan Wideman II | 13 Jun 2014 1:25 p.m. PST |
Yes, the couple hundred was a personal amount, not the "base set" amount. As for the need for detail, it was my understanding that Harmony Gold wanted them produced at 100% faithful to every detail on the artwork. Can you make a detailed model with fewer parts? Of course you can, but only when you plan the model around the cutting of the molds. PB/ND wasn't given that luxury. Even I have to admit though, that the first views of the Spartan (Battletech Archer) had Wayyyy too many parts. I am glad they cut that one down to about 15-17 depending on options. I don't know how it will all turn out, and I think the development could have gone far smoother, but at this point I am hopefully optimistic. I hope I am not let down. |
McWong73 | 13 Jun 2014 5:41 p.m. PST |
ultimately I'm just glad production is starting. |
Capt Flash | 13 Jun 2014 7:42 p.m. PST |
Agreed. Waiting for when The Warstore gets their stock in as my wife bought me one of each starter plus expansions for Christmas. |
Cergorach | 14 Jun 2014 7:23 a.m. PST |
Finally! I think that the whole parts issue is that some folks were just expecting magically appearing multipose no assembly required polystyrene plastic minis
The Valkyrie kit comes in three forms with a lot of optional parts, so I'm not surprised that we have a 50 piece+ frame for such a kit. For more detail, you have three options (that can be combined): - Cut smarter (this they have done a little) - Cut more (this is what they started with) - Use sliding molds (what they didn't use) We could have gotten slightly less parts if they used sliding molds, but it would have cost more to produce (but would have meant less sprue surface, saving cost). A shame for a $1.5 USD million KS (plus all the extras folks bought after the KS through the pledge manager and all the retail/distribution preorders). You could have done it with fewer parts if you used a softer pvc instead of a hard polystyrene, both are plastic. But generally the hard polystyrene sells better for a number of reasons (let's just say, it's easier to work with from a hobby perspective). To flipside with going with pvc would be that a whole different subset of pledgers wouldn't pledge or wouldn't pledge as much. I would be one of them, I'm expecting 600-700 RRT minis to assemble, so please quit complaining already ;-) I'm not unhappy though, as I never expected to assemble them all in one go. My approach: - Build one of each for the fun of it. - Build enough for a unit of Humans and of Aliens in alternate poses - Build some for Battletech ;-) - Do some conversions - Figure out what I'll need for a BIG force, put that aside and build it over the years. - Use what I can for Battletech, put that aside and build it over the years. - Sell the rest (probably a lot of Valkyries and Battlepods) and buy the some more RRT=>Battletech fodder with that. - Wait another year for the rest of the models from the pledge to arrive
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BigNickR | 15 Jun 2014 11:51 a.m. PST |
Anyone here that doesn't look forward to BUILDING these, I am US-BASED and VERY inetrested in assembly of these, and any other plastic minuatures and kits
with VERY reasonable rates. PM or email me (this username @gmail) |
Hombre | 22 Jun 2014 10:16 p.m. PST |
When I made these in 1/285, I *could* have done them in very few parts. I elected to have lots and lots of parts (30+ per kit) because 1) I viewed them as models that would work for gaming and 2) I had functioning hinges and joints on everything except fingers. That means toes, ankles, knees, hips, torso-twisting, shoulders swing and rotate, elbows swing and rotate, missile bay doors, etc. Then again, I was a bit obsessive about it. In hindsight it was a bit much. (Don't bother asking, I have no idea where any pics are and I'm not going to pull anything out of storage) I thought these offerings looked pretty good, right up until I saw the sprues and how they fit. Ugh. That never would have made it out of my shop. Honestly, I wish they would have gone the pre-painted route because I'm lazy, don't have the time to assemble and paint, I'm a lousy painter, it's simply faster to get into painting, etc. And for those who do enjoy the painting part of the hobby
You can always re-paint the figs if you think they're not good enough :) |
Lion in the Stars | 23 Jun 2014 11:38 a.m. PST |
I believe that part of the problem with the apparently bad fits was that those models had for some stupid reason been assembled and disassembled multiple times over the course of the project, so that there was dried superglue in the way of things fitting properly. I've built a couple of the Bandai kits. You know, the fully-transforming monsters with 3 different kinds of plastic (PS, ABS, and polycaps). Hell no, I'd sooner shoot myself than assemble more than 6 Valks, and I'm in for 153 models all told. Having to paint 3 different models for the different modes of the Valks really punches the numbers up, since I'm in for 19 Valks alone
9 regular Valks, a VEF-1, a VF-1D, 4 Super Valks, 2 YF-4 Valks, and the two aces: Roy Fokker and Rick Hunter. Postman is going to want to kill me
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SouthernPhantom | 23 Jun 2014 11:56 a.m. PST |
Just wondering- how much cash did those in for 200 or 600 models dump on this kickstarter? I'm mildly afraid to know. |
Lion in the Stars | 23 Jun 2014 6:06 p.m. PST |
I'm in for $680 USD, IIRC, though I didn't really optimize my model count (and have nearly $100 USD in non-model items). I should have checked to see if it would have been better for me to buy two boxes ($280) plus doubled stretch goals. I intentionally did NOT buy a lot of the powered armor, as that doesn't show up until later in the storyline. I wanted Valks and Destroids (and a trio of Monsters) versus a bajillion battlepods. |
Cergorach | 24 Jun 2014 5:54 a.m. PST |
Just wondering- how much cash did those in for 200 or 600 models dump on this kickstarter? I'm mildly afraid to know.
$1,000 USD exactly. #Hombre: Pictures or it didn't happen! I could do them in one piece models, kind of a problem that I can't do that cheaply nor in the numbers required. A lot of folks don't want these in resin, metal or even PVC. |
Hombre | 24 Jun 2014 11:44 a.m. PST |
I did the 5 basic Destroids, Glaug, and all the Regult variants. I got tired of waiting for someone to actually make high quality minis, so I did it myself (at great cost). I modeled Valks (including FAST and GBP packs), I just never got around to printing them. I actually had a whole game to go with it all (plays much different and faster than the official game, and from what I've seen of their playtest videos, mine feels more like the anime). Yes, those are hinges for working missile bay doors. And the missiles were removable (as a group) so you could have a small number of big missiles or a large number of small missiles. They look like a handful, but they were actually quite easy to assemble. And they were done for my needs, not anyone else's, otherwise I would have simplified them a lot. This is actually why I don't post very often (steering convo to me when it's really about others). I should have just kept my dang mouth shut since the work I did is entirely irrelevant. I'm glad that there's finally going to be a Macross-inspired game. Unfortunately it's Robotech/HG and Palladium. It'll be a success if/when they actually get it to market and I'm happy for the fans. There's just enough baggage that I can't get behind it. If the fit on these official models looks bad because of multiple assembly/dis-assembly attempts and residual glue, that's on them. As a potential customer, all I see are the pics that they put up, and they look bad. They also put the seams in some of the worst possible places, so it'll take some work to cover that up. Also, the proportions just plain look wrong. Yeah, the basic shapes are there, they're just not right. They're too
bulbous. Contrary to popular belief, there are actually official schematics/ortho views to work from (I guess maybe they're Bing-Fu was no match for my Google-Fu). |
Lion in the Stars | 24 Jun 2014 9:09 p.m. PST |
Beautiful stuff, Hombre! The Tactics sculpts were approved by Harmony Gold, so they should be as close as the molding technology allows. I know there have been some simplifications of details, just to reduce parts count, and apparently HG really bitched about that. Until they saw the size of the parts that were needed to make it 'right', anyway. |
John Bear Ross | 26 Jun 2014 10:13 p.m. PST |
Those seem awfully familiar
;) Best, JBR |
Capt Flash | 27 Jun 2014 4:55 a.m. PST |
@Lion-" I wanted Valks and Destroids (and a trio of Monsters) versus a bajillion battlepods." Agreed! My thoughts exactly. |
Hombre | 28 Jun 2014 6:19 a.m. PST |
Due to the subject matter I prefer to keep the spotlight on me, but if The Real Slim Shady wants to step up to the Mic I'd be happy to refocus it ;) |
TurnStyle | 05 Jul 2014 8:58 p.m. PST |
I think I speak for most Robotech fans in the U.S
.we'll take whatever we can get our hands on. Honestly when I heard the game/miniatures were coming out, my first thought was "oh thank God, Palladium sold it to someone
". Nope. Being a Palladium product I immediately lowered my expectations/standards. Robotech has been a very ignored bastard child for 20 years here in the states. All of the enthusiasm has been on the side of the fans. A few mediocre video games and some RPG re-prints is all we've seen for a franchise which should have been embraced and supported. Having spent heaps of money buying old 1/200 Bandai kits from the 80's and trying to make a wargame (I had a nice collection)
I was just happy to see an alternative option. The latest pictures look reasonable though I fully agree on the too-many-pieces approach (particularly the originals). I'm not overly picky about the figures/models I get my hands on. I just want there to be affordable freakin' models available in some form/fashion. It'd be a huge bonus if the kits delivered are good, or if some real fantastic manufacturer had gotten on board and blown us out of the water. But, sadly, as a U.S. based Robotech fan I think we've all learned to drastically lower our expectations. I'm in for the two-box+goodies option and I'm fine with the cost. I'll be using a bunch of them as Unseen Battletech stand-ins, and the rest I'll game with. The amount of figures via the kickstarter was pretty absurd (which again causes me to doubt the final quality, lol) and too good of a deal to pass up. So I suppose I'll sum this all up as: better than nothing. I would love to be surprised though. I really would. |
Lion in the Stars | 06 Jul 2014 6:20 p.m. PST |
I'll be using a bunch of them as Unseen Battletech stand-ins I think they're too tall for that, despite nominally being the same scale.
I think that's a 40mm base the model is standing on. Certainly looks that way based on hand-to-base appearance. |