2023 Mercenaries Crowdfunding Campaign

Promotional Image for the 2023 Mercenaries Kickstarter

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:


During the Campaign[edit]

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:

Art:

Fiction:

Influencers:

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 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) Model Model New
BattleTech Beginner Box, Second Edition Box Set Pre-existing
Visigoth Salvage Box Miniature Set New and exclusive
Mercenary Salvage Box Miniature Set New
Vehicle Salvage Box Miniature Set New
Legendary II & III Salvage Box Miniature Set New and exclusive
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: Savannahs Map Pack New
BattleMat: City BattleMat New
BattleMat: Savannahs BattleMat New
Army Painter 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]