KickStarter BattleTech Pre-Release Thread

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

You're right, except that it should be in the TBS category. It's a strategy and tactics game foremost, with some RPG elements sprinkled in.

Same could be said about Battle Brothers too.

 

[khavi]

Shouldn't it be moved to an HBS subforum?

next we debate where the HBS subforum would go

HBS subforum in both the RPG and TBS categories, with cross-posting

 

[khavi]

>Recap from the Alcohol and Coolant fueled live stream. This took longer, because Twitch was wonky as hell for me, so I ended up having to listen multiple times because of dropping feed and audio. Not covering everything, there was a lot more chatter and stories cause drinking. Some if it quite funny and worth a listen. I couldn’t keep up with the alcohol content, being at work an all.

Q: Jordan - Which BT character would most support day-drinking?

A: If you’re crazy enough to strap into a Mech, day drinking is cake. Of all of them, like Natasha and Jaime Wolf. But pretty much mercs as a general rule would be smoke ‘em if yah got ‘em.

Q: What is your favorite mission type to design.

A: I’ll tell you what it’s not, escort missions. Really a bitch to design. Anything that isn’t just stomp the enemy is a step up. Enjoy creating missions that enable tactical thinking and challenges through a variety of objectives. Defending, rescuing a hostage, specific equipment destruction. Anything that takes it out of just going toe-to-toe.

Mitch: From Mechcommander, I’m proudest of the missions that had clumps of enemies around the map with different strengths and weaknesses and you could choose which route you took to achieve the objective based on your force.

After Mitch tells McCain to down a bottle of liquor for a raise, it’s revealed he’s in charge of HR.

Q: How does PVP being reached change the goals for mech balance and design?

A: When balancing single player there is a lot more latitude, but now when taking into account single and multiplayer the balancing becomes a lot more complex. This is however something we’ve been thinking about since the beginning. The first priority is single player, but we believe that we can provide the balance to have both great single player and multiplayer.

There may be literal mech components that are exclusive to single player or multiplayer, but what HBS does not want to do is have mech components with different behavior for MP/SP. They would choose to balance by omission in that aspect. Mechs and Variants would be the same for SP/MP.

Jordan states unequivocally that Multiplayer will not take away from the single player.

Q: Hexes, squares or no grid…(asked…again)

A: Clarified that it would be no visible grid, but underneath that there would be an extremely minuscule very small grid, likely made up of hexes.

Q: Combat Log so we can see the math? Parse friendly format?

A: Jordan: Interesting idea. One of our key goals with combat is to avoid having to have a log to see what the fuck happened. If you have to open a log to check results, we’ve failed at presentation. You should be able to see what happens and make informed tactical decisions without opening a log. As far as a background log that can be accessed, we don’t know at this point.

Mike: We have talked about UI in presentation layers, philosophically we don’t want you to feel you have to have a log, but we could make a layer that presents a log.

Mitch: These are the cracks in our management structure revealing themselves right here.

Q: Area or subject in Btech that you’d like to see that hasn’t been done if you had more money?

A: Geographically: the lowest rung, the periphery, which is where we actually plan on starting our mercenary campaign. Hint: south-spinward section of the map.

Broader view: LAMS.

Q: How much more funding for live-team and co-op mode?

A: No set number, but it’s looking like there will be the money. In success they can further add to the game (missions, etc).

Q: Colorblind mode?

A: Yes, we’re thinking about it. Two ways, dedicated mode, or consciously designing the UI to avoid the conflicting colors.

Q: Content based on existing material, novels, or historical events?

A: We use and cherry pick existing material to enhance the new story we are telling. There will be little pieces of lore from novels and material that will definitely be in the game.

Q: How much voice acting will there be?

A: Emote sets for mechwarriors, and key story moments and characters will be voice acted. Not all story elements, there will still be lots of text.

Reactor online, sensors online, weapons online confirmed.

George Ledoux will be voicing multiplayer Solaris.

Q: How dedicated are you to the concept of scarcity in the campaign? How do you prevent the accumulation of mechs and equipment through the length of the campaign?

A: The concern is understood, but at this point they are not completely sure. They don’t want power creep, but they do understand the power curve of a single player campaign. Possibly through mission and economy design. Using economy to balance the campaign, what it costs to field/repair the mechs.

Q: Broadcasting tools for Multiplayer matches?

A: Sounds great! Moving on! (drunk laughter)

Q: Will your pilots have personal relationships with each other? Love, hate, etc?

A: Mitch: Is this gonna be a Bioware game? Is this a Bioware game? Is this a kissing book?

Mike: Someone can write slash fic about it.

Mitch: [Princess Briding] Someday you may not mind!

Jordan: No. Probably not.

Mitch: [Princess Briding] We are men of action, and lies do not become us!

After an hour and 30 minutes of drinking the toast requests start to be greeted with choruses of “Sweet Jesus” and “Fuck it.”

Q: DLC and non-combat microtransactions?

A: No microtransactions. The only thing they are considering is sponsored tournament entry tickets. DLC packs with missions and/or additional campaigns are also a maybe.

Q: Customizing the dropship, cosmetic? Gameplay?

A: Ship big enough to expand into it. Both cosmetic and gameplay as explained in the stretch goal. A derelict ship that you are refitting and repairing as you go. A big dropship that doesn’t have all it’s capabilities as you begin, and you can upgrade it to fit your desires.

Mike: Think Spacehulk.

Jordan: No.

Q: Sequel with larger unit size or scale of engagement.

A: Mitch: In success, all things are possible.

Jordan: In success, hey…(laugh) my secret hope is to advance the timeline in a sequel to the fourth succession war and to have a co-op asynchronous campaign.

Mitch: Hope is not a viable management tool.

Q: Defense missions for a dropship? Dropship versus dropship in PvP?

A: Not planned, but take and hold missions are some of Mike’s favorite. Defending dropship also possible.

Mike: Speaking of small bladders, brb.

Mitch: Let’s add features while he’s gone.

Jordan: Hah!

Mike: I heard that…

Q: Forums?

A: Mitch: I’d be happy to talk about the forums, Klimecky, get in here and talk about the forums.

Chris: Forums live after the kickstarted ends tomorrow.

Jordan: We want to keep the party going.

Mitch: I want something to do at 1:30 in the morning.

Q: Any ideas on social groups for PVP for you and your friends? Clans, Merc Units?

A: Solaris VII includes the concept of stables, which HBS is thinking of using as a groundwork for those larger social groups. No specific plan yet.

Q: Player character be bound to a specific house?

A: Player character origin stories allows you to define your own past and identity, but it does not strictly determine who you follow or be work for in the campaign.

>The last half hour descends into drunken madness. I’ve taken what I can from it and barely returned cognizant. Mitch is reduced to yelling, single syllable words and non sequiturs. I feel for him.

Mitch: (slurring) I’m so glad I don’t have any meetings for the rest of the day…

Q: When will we be able to buy merch? (asked every single livestream)

A: We’re working on it, it will happen, but unfortunately not until after the kickstarter. T-shirts, Hats, etc. Creating merchandize that is highly contextual to the property rather than just logo-slapping.

Jordan: My turn to leave (heads to restroom).

Mitch: (drunk voice) You better excuse yourself! How much time do we have left on this thing?

Mike: Let’s shotgun questions!

Mitch: Jordan’s not here, let’s hit this shit.

Q: Any chance of a spinoff for space combat - Aerotech?

A: Mitch: You know, I’m just gonna kill a man.

Mike: I love space combat.

Mitch: I love space combat too, hold your horses. Next question!

Q: Custom music theme when you enter the Solaris arena like wrestling?

A: Mitch: Not out of the question, Jon Everist we’re looking at you.

Q: Will you run the unit like a god or will you be a player character and can die?

A: Mike: Currently planning on the player being a mechwarrior, details TBD. Looking to have injuries and death on the field, with the player character being able to be injured but have plot armor and not die.

Mitch: Like what he said, next. I’m pretty frosty.

Q: Player created missions?

A: No. Player created skirmish games, yes. Determining victory conditions, placing enemies, etc…yes.

Q: Solaris arenas like http://www.sarna.net/wiki/Solaris#Arenas]Ishiyama and the Factory?[/url]

A: Not sure how the engine will handle interior spaces, but we would like to do these arenas justice.

Q: What is the stretch goal amount for a new liver for Mitch?

A: Jordan: 2.8 mill and we’ll put some money aside for a new liver for Mitch.

Mitch: In Shadowrun new livers are de rigueur!

Q: Will we see a Jordan character in the game?

A: Mitch: A dead Jordan character perhaps, did I say that wrong?

Jordan: In Shadowrun Returns a Jordan NPC was at the Seamstresses Union. Not planning to do that in Btech—

Mike: But they did fund the legendary mechwarriors goal!

Q: Jordan: How did FASA get named?

Mitch attacks the camera on the way out.

It’s a good story, listen to the stream.

 

[Luka-boy]

Reactor online, sensors online, weapons online confirmed.

Thanks for the summary!

 

[Infinitron]

Last day! Will it manage to surpass D:OS 2's number of backers as well? Even if not it's going to come close.

 

[Darth Roxor]

Mitch: Is this gonna be a Bioware game? Is this a Bioware game? Is this a kissing book?

 

[veevoir]

khavi You forgot the disclaimer in your recap:

"All statements made during this #BTdrunkstream are subject to post-inebriation clarification and/or denial. Drunk developers are drunk."


The recording is terrible, audio drops like Bethesda's quality. Hope it's only first few minutes

 

[Grotesque]

is there a link for the stream?

 

[Nikolaj]

Here you go.

 

[Darkzone]

Mitch: Is this gonna be a Bioware game? Is this a Bioware game? Is this a kissing book?

Mitch sees to wear his heart on his tongue, and this attitude towards romance in games is also great. In every interview he drops some bombs that even Jordan looks confused, and it was clear that if someone pulls down the camera, then certainly he will be the guy.

 

[Crooked Bee]

I love baiting idiots as much as the rest of the codex, but this is an obvious case of misclassification. This game is not pitched, described or will be implemented as an RPG. It's a TBS game.

I haven't been following this, really, but in one of the interviews, I believe, HBS described RPGs as focused on story and reactivity, which is the storyfag definition of an RPG. This game sounds much more like a TRPG/SRPG than just a TBS game. My guess is that HBS don't want to call this an RPG simply in order to avoid any confusion with their story-focused Shadowrun games.

Basically, for HBS, RPG = Bioware's definition of an RPG, so I wouldn't trust them on the nomenclature.

 

[Rhapsody'n Blue]

I haven't been following this, really, but in one of the interviews, I believe, HBS described RPGs as focused on story and reactivity, which is the storyfag definition of an RPG. This game sounds much more like a TRPG/SRPG than just a TBS game. My guess is that HBS don't want to call this an RPG simply in order to avoid any confusion with their story-focused Shadowrun games.

Basically, for HBS, RPG = Bioware's definition of an RPG, so I wouldn't trust them on the nomenclature.

HBS doesn't consider this any more of an RPG than XCOM, which they don't consider an RPG at all.

This was officially stated in their first Q&A (well, first I saw.. perhaps "the Q&A before this one" would be more appropriate).

*edit: here's a link to the details, as reported by one of our own: #791

 

[khavi]

HBS doesn't consider this any more of an RPG than XCOM, which they don't consider an RPG at all.

This was officially stated in their first Q&A (well, first I saw.. perhaps "the Q&A before this one" would be more appropriate).

*edit: here's a link to the details, as reported by one of our own: #791

I believe that's exactly what Bee is referencing when describing that HBS's own definition of RPG is too limiting. With the acknowledgement that the player will have a player character avatar, unlike X-COM, and that avatar will be represented on the game field with skills further blurs the lines into JA2 or tactical RPG territory. It's interesting because as Battletech's systems are currently described, it fits many, if not all, of the RPG definitions bandied back and forth in the current philoso-wank thread.

Edit: stats->skills.

 

[J_C]

Isn't there a campaign ending stream? The big budget kickstarters all had it, and it was such a cool way to end the campaign. It also generated hype and helped impulse backers to pledge more.

 

[Infinitron]

Campaign is about to end.

Isn't there a campaign ending stream? The big budget kickstarters all had it, and it was such a cool way to end the campaign. It also generated hype and helped impulse backers to pledge more.

They're still getting over their hangovers from yesterday.

 

[Infinitron]

FUNDED!

 

[veevoir]

2,8 mil with change, nice result.

 

[J_C]

Wow, great job HBS! Never would have imagined that this campaign will be this successfull.

 

[Zorba the Hutt]

Paypal 80k so total $2,865m. Pretty successful

I believe that's exactly what Bee is referencing when describing that HBS's own definition of RPG is too limiting. With the acknowledgement that the player will have a player character avatar, unlike X-COM, and that avatar will be represented on the game field with skills further blurs the lines into JA2 or tactical RPG territory. It's interesting because as Battletech's systems are currently described, it fits many, if not all, of the RPG definitions bandied back and forth in the current philoso-wank thread.

Edit: stats->skills.

One of the KS comments solved the classification issue once and for all

Just because it isn't a role playing game doesn't mean we aren't role playing. Every RPs when they play a game that requires some suspension of belief. Are Battlemech's real? No. check, RPing. Is the Battletech universe real? No. Check, RPing. That is reality.

 

[Infinitron]

This thread is now in Strategy Gaming. This thread has always been in Strategy Gaming.

 

[DeepOcean]

This thread is now in Strategy Gaming. This thread has always been in Strategy Gaming.

This thread is now dead.

 

[Infinitron]

UPDATE: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/webeharebrained/battletech/posts/1403208

What an amazing month of excitement around BattleTech.We are deeply appreciative of the outpouring of support that the Global BattleTech Community has shown for our Kickstarter project. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Backer Missions Final Tally
Wow. When we asked for the Global BattleTech Community to come together to complete a set of Backer Missions, we had no idea how cool the outcome would be! We asked for you to share your passion, your art, and your stories with us. We’ve seen your pumpkins and costumes, your decades-old BattleTech collections, and your carefully painted and papercrafted ‘Mechs.

You’ve joined your voices to become one loud, booming voice that has rallied folks across social media to our BATTLETECH cause, and we are so grateful! Look at all the stuff you did!

Yowza!

Through your continued effort, you’ve unlocked EVERY SINGLE Mission Reward including cameos from classic BattleTech characters, a full length novel from Michael A. Stackpole, and livestreams galore.

Yesterday Mike, Mitch, and Jordan did an Alcohol-Fueled (read: drunk) Livestream Q&A which you can watch here:

Drunk game developer is drunk.
Click the image or this link to watch the... fun. http://www.twitch.tv/ngngtv/v/23674097

Speaking of livestreams- we have to be completely honest, we were nervous about reaching the final Backer Mission Reward: a Livestream of Mike, Mitch, and Jordan playing Tabletop BattleTech with Randall Bills, Loren Coleman, and Brent Evans from Catalyst Game Labs! Six Beards Enter, Three Beards Leave - winners keep their beards!

We’re not sure when this will be yet (gotta get past pre-production & the holidays and then find a good time for everyone), but keep an eye out for an update on that. Again, thank you so much for rallying your friends and family to back us and take part in our Backer Missions!

And for those about to lose your beards...we salute you.

ComStar: The Global BattleTech Community Forum
The sharing of BattleTech memories, war stories, and fiction along with future hopes and desires has been a big and rewarding part of this campaign. The discussions these stories and experiences have generated has hopefully been as exciting for you as they have been for us!

It’s abundantly clear that we’re part of a passionate, dedicated community and we want to help you continue the great discussions that have developed. So, in that spirit, we are happy to bring you ComStar: The Global BattleTech Community Forum!

http://community.battletechgame.com

We invite you to join the fun and get in on the ground floor. This will be a much easier and more enjoyable place to communicate with your fellow MechWarriors than the Kickstarter Comments page (for sure). The new forum (obviously) looks a bit bare at the moment, so jump in and get the conversation rolling!

Consider this our first baby step in creating a place for BattleTech fans around the world to connect, discover all the great BattleTech-related community sites out there, have fun, and (cross your fingers) eventually buy cool physical items like the ones in our backer rewards.

If you have initial questions about the ComStar forum, your backer rewards or our BATTLETECH game itself, please check the FAQ section of the forum first:

http://community.battletechgame.com/forums/categories/15

Kickstarter, BackerKit, and Rewards - What’s Next?
We know a lot of you have never backed a Kickstarter before, so we thought we’d share what happens to your pledge and how we manage your 41,000 (!) Backer accounts.

Starting today, Kickstarter will begin charging your pledges on your credit card but it will take aFEW WEEKS to process over 41,000 backers. If there is a problem charging your account, you’ll receive an email and will have a couple weeks to work that out.

If your pledge payment doesn’t go through on Kickstarter, don’t panic. Your pledge will remain in the system and you’ll be able to make your payment through our pledge management tool - a website called BackerKit.

BackerKit is where you’ll tell us which store you want your game key from, which Heraldry kit you want, the size of your jacket, and shipping information. If you added extra funds to your Kickstarter pledge, it will show as a credit that you’ll be able to apply towards Add-Ons. You’ll also have the option to upgrade your Reward Level or choose more Add-Ons.

Perhaps most important, BackerKit is where you will return to find all your digital rewards as they become available.

We anticipate opening BackerKit accounts during the early part of December, so be sure to keep an eye out for a Kickstarter update with more details around then.

Second Chance Backer Opportunity
From our experience running Kickstarters in the past, we know that there are people out there who won’t find out about the Kickstarter campaign until after it’s over. Our Second Chance Backer site is open so latecomers can support the project and join the community.

Thanks again, y'all!

- HBS

 

[Tripicus]

This thread is now in Strategy Gaming. This thread has always been in Strategy Gaming.

Just like Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence?

 

[Infinitron]

http://community.battletechgame.com/forums

Their forum software is pretty snazzy-looking. Definitely better than the atrocious Shadowrun.com forums.

 

[khavi]

This thread is now in Strategy Gaming. This thread has always been in Strategy Gaming.

There goes my postcount by forum stats :D