Battlechat 16. März 2013 – Teil 1

Zuletzt aktualisiert am 16. März 2013 von DarkISI

Ich habe mich mit der Uhrzeit wohl diesmal etwas vertan, er startete bereits um 17 Uhr, dann kam es aber zu Verzögerungen aufgrund eines Stromausfalls bei Herb und der Chat ging erst gegen 17:30 wirklich los. Ich war aber ebenfalls zu spät, jedoch wurden mir die verpassten Minuten dann rübergeschickt. Das Log ist also vollständig 🙂

Wichtig: Der zweite Chat findet damit um 1 statt, nicht um 2!

Greetings:
<Habeas2>: Hello!
<Habeas2>: Sincere apologies, everyone! There was a power failure in my neighborhood
<Habeas2>: To make up for the lost, this chat will run to at least 1:30 PM.
Gravedigger waves
<Habeas2>: The usual rules, of course apply: Be nice, and you’re logging on your own, because I’m not. I will answer questions in the order received to the best of my ability.
<Habeas2>: That said, we may begin

Era Report 3145
[17:34] <Ike_the_genius> Will Era Report: 3145 RATs contain mostly new units (from TRO 3145)?
[17:37] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – It will contain new units from TR 3145, but whether we can call that „mostly“ is another matter. These tables are rather large now.

Novels
[17:35] <CyNickle> Now that Shadow run is getting print novels how long before gets their turn (not incl. BattleCorps anthologies?
[17:37] <@Habeas2> CyNickle – Unknown

Novels/ePub:
[17:36] <Spaceman> Can we expect Battltech epubs to return again now that shadow run has print novels?
[17:41] <@Habeas2> Spaceman – Not yet

3145/Weapons:
[17:35] <garydee> Can we expect a lot of new weapons/equipment for 3145?
[17:40] <@Habeas2> Garydee – Depends what you call „a lot“. In all, I count maybe 8 new items that come out for the Dark Age, not counting the whole new unit types (QuadVees and Tripods)

WarShips:
[17:36] <Weirdo> Herb: The two pieces of information I most seek right now are paint schemes for the WarShips of the Rim Worlds Republic and also of the Republic of the Sphere. Bearing that in mind, what products should I most be looking forward to for those bits of information?
[17:41] <@Habeas2> Weirdo – CamoSpecs Online
[17:42] <Weirdo> So they’re never going to get a sourcebook description, like every other navy did? That’s more than a little disappointing.
[17:45] <@Habeas2> Weirdo – Not really, no.

Field Reports 2765:
<Ike_the_genius>: How is work going on the 2765 Field Reports?
<Habeas2>: Ike_the_genius – As we speak, all six 2765 Field Reports have finished first drafts. Of those, the first two have completed second drafts, and the first of these is now in layout. There will be a slight delay longer as we address art needs, but they are, overall, doing quite well.

State of the Game:
<Trboturtle>: How is the product line doing? (In general terms)
<Habeas2>: Trboturtle – The product line is meeting or exceeding expectations, despite some often-strenuous deadlines and occasional unforeseen delays in production.

[17:57] <Spaceman> How are Print Releases comparing to PDF Releases? Are you happy with both? Is one more popular than the other?
[17:59] <@Habeas2> Spaceman – We’re happy with both as long as they sell, though I’d have to admit if pressed that print products are much more costly to produce and slower to profit from.

Pax East:
<Spaceman>: Herb are you going to be at PAX East next weekend?
<Habeas2>: Spaceman – Yes

Battletroops:
[17:40] <Clutch> The BattleTroops game was a tiny slice of genius. Any chance we’ll see a new infranty game on the 25-28mm scale?
[17:41] <@Habeas2> Clutch – No
[17:42] <Clutch> Why?
[17:44] <@Habeas2> Clutch – Because we don’t consider it a worthwhile investment, given that the AToW RPG already covers actical combat at the level of individual soldiers.

XTROs/Primitives:
[17:42] <Ike_the_genius>  Status of the remaining primitive XTROs?
[17:44] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – Both have completed first drafts, and are in review.

XTROs/Primitives/Compilation:
[17:50] <Ike_the_genius> A bit early to ask, but is there any chance on a paper compilation TRO for the primitives?
[17:50] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – There’s always a chance….
[17:50] <Ike_the_genius> And how can be improve the chances?
[17:51] <@Habeas2> Ike_the-genius – Buy everything!
[17:56] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – (Continuing earlier answer) Consider this, actually: Print-publishing a whole bunch of PDFs verbatim has two major flaws from a marketing perspective: 1) It makes anyone who bought all the PDFs feel „ripped off“ because they could have waited until the print book, and 2) It makes people decide not to buy PDFs because they’re certain a print compilation is coming if hey just wait another year or so.

XTROs/Boondoggles:
[18:39] <mib_n6qqys> Herb- are you considering doing Boondoggles II?
[18:42] <@Habeas2> Mib_n6qqys – Yes.

Alpha Strike
[17:45] <Pa_Weasley> Can you give any nuggets of information about the Alpha Strike book/product you mentioned in previous chats? (Sorry if that’s already  been asked.)
[17:48] <@Habeas2> At present, the book is well into writing, and is planned to release as a hardcover, full-color supplemental rulebook. The core writing is largely done or well underway, and we have ample material for a series of PDF-exclusive support products that simply wouldn’t have fit in there without breaking the bank. Fans of miniature wargaming, in particular, should find it a great resource.

[17:55] <garydee> Is Alpha Strike Quick Strike renamed?
[17:58] <@Habeas2> Garydee – Mmmmmmmmmmaybe?
[18:06] <@Habeas2> Pa_Weasley – You’re not the only one.

Release Schedule:
[17:51] <Trboturtle> What sort of DTF/PDF products could we see in the next six months?
[17:57] <@Habeas2> Trboturtle – You can expect one core book, one Hex Pack product, one Historical, one TRO, one Field Manual, one Era Report, and one BattleCorps Anthology this year. We also hope to get the last Handbook out.

[17:59] <Pa_Weasley> Hmm, any word on whether or not that core book will be IO (vol. 1 through omega) or Alpha Strike?
[18:01] <@Habeas2> Pa_Wealey – It will be Alpha Strike.
[18:04] <Pa_Weasley> Thanks. I a bit saddened by the IO news but intrigued by AS.

Tech Kit:
[17:55] <Ike_the_genius> How large and heavy is a ‚Tech Kit‘?
[17:57] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – WOuld you believe we have no idea how large the Tech Kit is yet?
[17:58] <Ike_the_genius> Yes

ilClan:
[17:56] <Spaceman> Is the IlClan book the end of the Dark Age Era?
[17:58] <@Habeas2> Spaceman – At this tim, I remain unable to tell you when/how the Dark Age era ends, or what lies beyond.

Morale Support:
[17:59] <Ike_the_genius> As for Post-DA & 3250, I know you can’t say anything, but please know you have my full support to do anything you deem fit.
[18:00] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – Thanks!

Brooklyn Stevens/Herb’s Private Stories:
[17:59] <mib_n6qqys> Herb- standard question- how is the Ballad of Brooklyn Stevens going?
[18:00] <@Habeas2> Mib_n6qqys – Brooklyn Stevens‘ saga, sadly, cannot continue as long as I am behind schedule on projects. So, I have to make sure the product flows before indulging my own stories.
[18:03] <DarkISI> Could I have a link to something Brookly Stevens related? Will send people who read the log on the right course
[18:04] <mib_n6qqys> Log out of Battlecorps- when you look at the front page its right there: Forgotten Worlds 1.
[18:05] <@Habeas2> DarkISI – This should be the link: http://battlecorps.com/BC2/fiction.html?folder=Herbert+A.+Beas+II%2FForgotten+Worlds+%28The+Hunt+for+Jardine%29

Rules:
[18:09] <Frabby> A question for Herb that I’ve been meaning to post for many months: Do you think the rules will ever be complete (do you even want that)? Asking because of that 3250 peep with the infamous „20 weapon systems“ obsoleting all older stuff idea
[18:09] <Frabby> …so that your job will concentrate on storyline instead of rules?
[18:12] <@Habeas2> Frabby – Seriously? While that would sound ideal, the fact of the matter is that the flow of new tech and toys drives sales. BattleTech cannot survive on its fluff and fiction alone. In fact, I have heard that there are fans out there who actually consider the fluff and fiction and unwelcome distraction. They don’t WANT fiction in their books. They want rules and toys.

Turning Points/Terra
[18:11] <mib_n6qqys> It would be nice to get a „Turning Points: Terra“ with a scenario whose lead in is events at Hilton Head that led up to the blast
[18:14] <@Habeas2> Mib_n6qqys – What happened at Hilton Head would actually be more of a story than a Turning Point, really.

Interstellar Operations:
[18:18] <Ike_the_genius> So how big is IO now? I have heard it can produce 9000 of blunt damage.
[18:20] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – There is so much in IO now that I don’t even KNOW what’s in it! But that 9000 damage still requires it be fired from orbit.

Field Manual 3145:
[18:22] <Spaceman> How close to done is FM 3145?
[18:24] <@Habeas2> Spaceman – Writing-wise, pretty damn close, really. Art-wise, um, we’re working on that….

Wallpapers:
[18:25] <Ike_the_genius> I am looking for desktop background pictures, I would to have one of Era Report: 3145, when can that be expected? (x time after release)
[18:27] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – Tere’s no set schedule for desktop wallpapers. It tends to happen whenever we can manage the time and resources. (And we’re currently burying the layout guys with work.)

[18:27] <Spaceman> When can we expect more Desktop Wall papers to be added to the gallery?
[18:28] <Drufause> Space while not CGL there are lots of new ones here http://mwomercs.com/media/concept
[18:30] <@Habeas2> Spaceman – Again, I don’t have a schedule available to say when there will be more desktop wallpapers.

A Time of War:
[18:27] <Frabby> How strong is AToW doing within the BT franchise? What supplements (adventure/campaign modules) are planned?
[18:29] <@Habeas2> Frabby – We have been working on a series of PDF-exclusive adventures to support AToW, and–of course–there are the Era Report books, which are aimed at providing campaign assistance for RP campaigns as well as Chaos-driven campaigns. In all, we’re happy with how solid AToW is.

[18:28] <Frabby> Herb, while I haven’t had a chance to actually *play* AToW (my group is firmly entrenched in fantasy for now), I have read it through and have to say I’m impressed with most, probably all of the mechanics for typically problematic issues. It’s a really great ruleset. Let me take this opportunity to thank and congratulate you.

Supplemental Products:
[18:28] <WJP> rather envious of the goodies Shadowrun gets. Any hope, even if in the distant future, for a BT non collectible strategy card game, or a battletech themed board game (like an Axis and Allies type version, just with capability for expansion sets/campaigns for various eras?)
[18:31] <@Habeas2> WJP – How many different ways do you really need to play BattleTech? O.o

Computer Games:
[18:39] <Ike_the_genius> Herb have you tried out any of the ’new‘ Mech games?
[18:43] <@Habeas2> Ike_the_genius – Actually, I have not. Simply no time here…

Being the Line Developer:
[18:43] <Frabby> Is Line Developer a full-time job?
[18:44] <@Habeas2> Frabby – Yes!

What you want to do:
[18:44] <mib_n6qqys> Do you have a project you’d love to do but probably won’t be able to work into the schedule?
[18:45] <@Habeas2> Mib_n6qqys – I actually have several, and am trying to launch one anyway, but because it’s basically a completely „optional“ piece, we have to keep shunting it to lower priority. This is a business, after all.
[18:46] <mib_n6qqys> Can you tell us what it is?
[18:47] <@Habeas2> Mib_n6qqys – It’s a SURPRISE!