2023 Mercenaries Crowdfunding Campaign
Sarna News

- Bad 'Mechs - Jackrabbit
- Inside The Storm — Talking Ghost Bear: Flash Storm with Chris Lowrey
- Rise of Mechnificent Seven - Forging Community with Tex and Paul & Jesse of Focht's Network
- Your BattleTech News Round-Up For March, 2025
- Artistically Speaking with BattleTech's New Art Director, Marco Mazzoni
- Read more →
Contents
Summary[edit]
The 2023 Mercenaries Crowdfunding Campaign is a Kickstarter campaign that took place from 23 March 2023, 22:00 EDT to 20 April 2023, 22:00 EDT. Originally slated for launch in the Fall of 2022, the campaign was pushed back by CGL to coincide with the first day of the Adepticon 2023 wargaming convention.
News Release[edit]
“ | Across the BattleTech universe, mercenary warriors are an undeniable presence on the battlefield. Whether they fight for pay, personal glory, the thrill of combat, or just the hope of keeping their unit together a little longer, mercenaries have played a decisive role in conflicts around the Inner Sphere for centuries. Building on the wild success of the Clan Invasion Kickstarter, the new campaign from Catalyst Game Labs will bring more than 50 new plastic miniatures to your battlefields, including BattleMechs, and for the first time ever, plastic combat vehicles to augment your 'Mech forces. Among the miniatures in production are the Firestarter, Griffin IIC, Ostroc, and Kraken ’Mechs, as well as the Galleon Light Tank, SRM/LRM Carrier, and Demolisher Heavy Tank. A variety of mercenary-themed stretch goals will also be included.[1] | ” |
Before the Campaign[edit]
To build interest ahead of the campaign a number of PDF previews were released along with a pre-launch backerkit page on 13 January 2023. They also released a dropbox link to the open Beta playtest documents for BattleTech: Aces.
AdeptiCon 2023[edit]
When CGL launched the campaign, it was during Adepticon that they were attending in Schaumburg, IL. They also live streamed some of the events of the first 48 hours on CGL's official Youtube channel, SixSidesofGaming's Youtube channel and SixSidesofGaming's Twitch channel. Videos of these events and pre-recorded segments were uploaded later and were available on SixSidesofGaming's Youtube channel:
- Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon Launch Video Part 1
- Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon Launch Video Part 2
- Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon Interview with Randall Bills
- Fiction Panel - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Line Developer Ray Arrastia - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Art Direction - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Battletech Encounters - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Fiction Round Table- Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Miniatures Design - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Interview with Loren Coleman - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Interview with John Helfers - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Interview with Michael Ciaravella - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
- Mech Design Process - Battletech LIVE at AdeptiCon
During the Campaign[edit]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. |
24 hour Live Stream[edit]
During the last 24 hours of the Kickstarter Campaign, CGL did a live stream event that included interviews with many of the influencers, artists, developers involved with BattleTech. It was streamed on CGL's official Youtube channel, SixSidesofGaming's Youtube channel and SixSidesofGaming's Twitch channel. People featured were:
Development:
- Loren Coleman (Catalyst CEO and BattleTech writer)
- Randall Bills (Catalyst's Lead Developer and BattleTech writer)
- Ray Arrastia (BattleTech Line Developer)
- Aaron Cahall (BattleTech Assistant Line Developer)
- Talon Coleman (Online Operations Director)
- Rem Alternis (Community and Marketing Director)
Art:
- Brent Evans (Catalyst Art Director)
- Anthony Scroggins (BattleTech Art Director)
- Marco Mazzoni (BattleTech Artist)
- Bishop Steiner (BattleTech Artist)
- Elden Cowgur (BattleTech Artist)
Fiction:
- John Helfers (Catalyst's Fiction Director)
- Michael Stackpole (BattleTech writer)
- Michael Ciaravella (BattleTech writer)
- Phillip Lee (BattleTech writer)
- Bryan Young (BattleTech writer)
- Joshua Franklin (BattleTech Sourcebook writer)
Influencers:
- Jordan Weisman (co-founder of BattleTech)
- Ross Babcock (co-founder of BattleTech)
- George Ledoux (Voice Actor)
- Mike Tuñez (Game developer)
Rewards[edit]
The following products were announced as part of the upcoming crowdfunding campaign, either as core items, stretch goals, or add-ons:
Name | Item Type | Status |
---|---|---|
Mercenaries | Box Set | New |
Mercenaries with exclusive box | Box Set | New and exclusive |
BattleTech: Aces Open Beta Playtest | Game Aid | New |
BattleTech Universe | Sourcebook | New |
BattleTech Universe Precentor Martial Edition | Sourcebook | New and exclusive |
Double Blind | Novel (digital) | Pre-existing |
Poisoned Honor | Novel (digital) | New |
Corrupted Honor | Novel (digital) | New |
Shattered Honor | Novel (digital) | New |
A Night at the Lake | Short Story (digital) | New |
Fortunes of War | Novella Series (digital) | New |
Not the Way the Smart Money Bets | Novella (digital) | Pre-existing |
A Tiny Spot of Rebellion | Novella (digital) | Pre-existing |
A Clever Bit of Fiction | Novella (digital) | Pre-existing |
If Auld Acquaintance Be Forgot... | Novella (digital) | Pre-existing |
Tales of the Bounty Hunter | Anthology (digital) | New |
The Mercenary Life | Anthology (digital) | Pre-existing |
No Greater Honor | Anthology (digital) | Pre-existing |
A Splinter of Hope | Audiobook | New |
A Rock and a Hard Place | Audiobook | New |
Close Quarters | Audiobook | New |
Eclipse | Audiobook | New |
BattleTech: Legends II | Art Book (digital) | New |
BattleTech: Legends II | Art Book | New and exclusive |
Cracked Canopy Cookbook: Recipes from the Inner Sphere | Art Book (digital) | New |
Eridani Light Horse Wallpaper | Digital Wallpaper | New and exclusive |
Eridani Light Horse/BattleMech & Vehicle Recognition | Poster | New and exclusive |
Lexington Combat Group Wallpaper | Digital Wallpaper | New and exclusive |
McCarron's Armored Cavalry/Lexington Combat Group | Poster | New and exclusive |
Northwind Highlanders/21st Centuari Lancers | Poster | New and exclusive |
4" Timber Wolf (Mad Cat) Backer Bonus Model | Model | New |
BattleTech Beginner Box, Second Edition | Box Set | Pre-existing |
Visigoth Salvage Box | Miniature Set | New |
Mercenaries Salvage Box | Miniature Set | New |
Vehicle Salvage Box | Miniature Set | New |
Legendary II & III Salvage Box | Miniature Set | New |
Blood Asp Salvage Box | Miniature Set | New |
Mercenary Retaliation | Miniature Set | New and exclusive |
Alpha Strike Retaliation | Miniature Set | New and exclusive |
Inner Sphere Recon Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Inner Sphere Pursuit Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Recon & Hunter | Miniature Set | New |
Inner Sphere Security Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Clan Cavalry Star | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Assault & Cavalry | Miniature Set | New |
Inner Sphere Assault Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Inner Sphere Heavy Recon Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Battle & Fire | Miniature Set | New |
Clan Direct Fire Star | Miniature Set | New |
Inner Sphere Battle Armor Platoon | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Objectives | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Heavy Battle & Sweep Lance | Miniature Set | New |
Legendary MechWarriors II Pack | Miniature Set | New |
Legendary MechWarriors III Pack | Miniature Set | New |
Battlefield Support: Rifle & Command | Miniature Set | New |
Somerset Strikers ForcePack | Miniature Set | New |
Sun Tzu's The Art of War, Translated (& Annotated by Jamie Wolf) | Sourcebook | New |
Double Sized Mercenary Themed Shrapnel issue | Magazine | New |
Shrapnel Year One Compilation | Magazine | Pre-existing |
BattleTech | Graphic Novel | New |
Encounters: BattleTech | Game | New |
Mercenaries Premium Record Sheets | Sourcebook | New |
BattleTech Mercenary Novels: Hardback Collection | Novels | New |
BattleTech Mercenary Novels: Leathersoft Collection | Novels | New |
Map Pack: City | Map Pack | New |
Map Pack: Savannah | Map Pack | New |
BattleMat: City | BattleMat | New |
BattleMat: Savannah | BattleMat | New |
BattleTech Paint Starter | Accessory | New |
CountersPack: Alpha Strike | Accessory | New |
CountersPack: BattleForce | Accessory | Pre-existing |
Challenge Coins | Accessory | New and partially exclusive |
Challenge Coins Collector Set | Accessory | New and exclusive |
Lapel Pin | Accessory | New and exclusive |
Lapel Pin Collector Set | Accessory | New and exclusive |
Faction Patch | Accessory | New |
Patch Collector Set | Accessory | New and exclusive |
LosTech Faction Dice (with diameter case) | Accessory | Pre-existing, New, and exclusive |
Laser-effect Faction Dice | Accessory | New, and exclusive |
Liquid Core "Chevron" Dice | Accessory | New, and exclusive |
Laser-effect "Chevron" Dice | Accessory | New, and exclusive |
More BattleMech Plushies | Accessory | New |
KerenskyCon Invite | Event | Exclusive |
Community Launch Parties[edit]
In recognition that BattleTech is a global game, and to coincide with the Adepticon launch party, CGL organized and supported Community Launch Parties worldwide as companion events.
Notes[edit]
- The email that was sent out for Update #39 was accidently titled More Dics Photos instead of More Dice Photos
- During the BattleTech AMA at the start of the 24 hour stream, Loren Coleman was seen as a black screen with the text iPhone (206). This lead the stream chat to joke that this was a reference to a new unit 206th iPhone Rangers.
- During Ross Babcock's segment, it showed Unseen BattleTech art (assumed to be accidental).
- During many of the live stream intermissions, the video never cuts and Randell Bills (among others) was still seen on camera. During these times he seen passionately discussing things to whom can only be assumed as the live team.
- During the Fiction segment, it was mentioned that they (assumed to be CGL) are seeking a new German licensee.
References[edit]
External Links[edit]
- 2023 Project Date Announcement
- Adepticon Launch Announcement
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #1
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #2
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #3
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #4
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #5
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #6
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #7
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #8
- BattleTech: Mercenaries Kickstarter Preview #9
- Pre-launch sign-up page