Federation Commander

As ACTA:SF is a joint venture between Mongoose & ADB, is ADB allowed to sell the PDF of the rules on e23? Mongoose seem inclined to not release it.

It's a bit frustrating that the game has had delay after delay, and yet the ONE THING that can be released with no delay (the PDF of the rulebook) is intentionally delayed.

Eric, ADB won't release it until Mongoose does. That's the way that joint ventures work. The reason we aren't releasing it is that the game stores would like to have a chance to sell the rulebooks for this game and we need to give them that chance. We also want to finalize the errata and incorporate those into the PDF. That seems to be taking a bit to coalesce. When we release it, we want it to be right.

Jean wrote:The reason we aren't releasing it is that the game stores would like to have a chance to sell the rulebooks for this game and we need to give them that chance.

It seems that many people have complained of retailers not having stock, and not being able to get stock until the re-launch. Also, if holding back the PDF is for the retailer's best interests, wouldn't it also make sense to stop selling the minis online until retailers can get stock of that as well? Otherwise, when the minis finally reach the retailers, people will be "meh, already bought it from mongoose online (though i'm still waiting for it to ship)".

We also want to finalize the errata and incorporate those into the PDF. That seems to be taking a bit to coalesce. When we release it, we want it to be right.

Then it would be better to release the PDF first and only release the print version after the errata is finalized so that people aren't buying books with errors. Downloading an updated PDF basically free; buying a new book isn't.

I have noticed that Mongoose routinely delays PDF editions of games by several months vs the paper editions. Both minis games and RPGs.

Originally the PDF was supposed to be released around the new year, which would've been shortly after the print edition was released:

http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/vie ... 03&t=49483

But then things changed:

http://forum.mongoosepublishing.com/vie ... 03&t=49912

Which frankly doesn't engender feelings of support for retailers from me.

Eric, what you asked was if ADB could release the PDF when Mongoose wasn't doing so. The answer is no. A joint partnership seems to work much as parents do. Asking Dad for candy after Mom says "no" should get you the same "no" answer. The reasons may be different (supper is in an hour vs. I don't want to be in the doghouse), but the answer should be the same. Once Mongoose says the PDF is delayed, then it is delayed.

I believe you are on the Mongoose forums; the debate about why is there. I have to say that scoutdad did an excellent job of explaining why we support "real" stores.

I'll be interested in a PDF copy just to have the errata integrated.

And you will have it, just not today.

We're not done with errata yet.

Steve Cole wrote:And you will have it, just not today.

We're not done with errata yet.

Good to hear, ACTA: Starfleet has a lot of potential.