Built for War: February 2017

Sunday, February 19, 2017

Project Update

Today's update has three fronts:

Art front - we've got just gotten our first sketches from a new artist in. Looking good and more on that will be shared as his first commission moves to completion. Also Matt Plog is working on a batch of four battle armor, and while he finishes them the next batch is being prepped to go to the sketch stage.

Technical front - in the preview we released, a number of people noted issues with the text, especially when it came to the record sheets. We've got a pretty good hunch that the embedded .pdfs are what's causing it, and we're working to find a solution that makes the dang thing actually readable while retaining the functionality that they provide.

Community front - We're starting to work on the donation rewards for people who've contributed, starting with high-level rewards and working our way down. If you want to up your contribution level to get into a higher tier this is the time to do so, since it's a lot easier to work the rewards in now rather than later.

- the Built for War Team

PS: Haven't posted any art in a bit so here, have a teaser!

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Project Update

News from the past couple of weeks:

First, Matt Plog is wrapping up a batch of four 'Mechs and is working on a batch of four Battle Armor. The 'Mechs look very slick. I'm seriously considering breaking from tradition and giving them full pages in the TRO so that it's not smushed in next to the stats, that's how good it looks.

Second, we have another artist who's going to get started on his first piece for us in a few days. I've been looking for more artists for a while, since the main speedbump for the TRO at the moment is the rate at which art can be finished.

What is Built for War?

Meet the Team

Josh DeBoe: Head Developer

I got started on Mechwarrior 2 back in 1995, and was interested in Battletech forever after. I didn't really get into the tabletop game until 2008, when I ran across a thread on Battletech and was drawn in. What really hooked me was the ability to design and build your own units and use them on the table alongside the official stuff. After years of designing mechs and helping others make their own, I decided to start work on a fan TRO to bring our designs to life. I've also been running a campaign set in 3145 since 2014, in which agents of SAFE try to protect the reformed FWL from exterior plots.

Chris Hart: Assistant Developer

I've been playing Battletech in one form or another since 1998, whether computer games or tabletop. I've run a number of tabletop campaigns in the Battletech setting, most often set in an alternate history - experience that will help with setting things up for this TRO. My biggest ran from 2005 to 2012, with two days of gaming a week. Started in 3049, with nine players taking the role invading Clans and spheroid Houses, and ran until the end of our AU version of the Jihad that left the Inner Sphere almost unrecognizable. My current game follows the players and their mercenary company, Wallen's Vanguards, as they adventure around the Inner Sphere in the 3100's and face an oncoming attack from the resurgent Republic of the Sphere.

Doug Buchanan: Assistant Developer
Unlike Josh and Chris, I was only introduced to BattleTech in 2011. I was hooked after playing an introductory MegaMek game. Then I was introduced to Solaris SkunkWerks and my productivity has never quite recovered. I've since played in or run several MegaMek and AToW campaigns, and introduced a few people to tabletop BattleTech. I got involved in this project as one of the big custom unit nuts in our little community and to promote my obsessive love of light mechs.