Strakes represent the first X ships (the technology has an add on look to the same hull construction). I imagine the X2 ships as new hull constructions will have a more streamlined (and different) look with the X-technology.

I appreciate all the work done by the designers of the ADB Shapeways miniatures. I am a collector of the white nylon plastic with a matte finish (WNVP) 1/3788 scale (and soon the 1/7000) miniatures, I am very pleased with them.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:07 am: Edit

In isolation, the engines on Will's CX are distinctive enough. But there is more than one X ship. X ships of other empires have tiny engines, no external engines, or engines under the hull and would have to have strakes. And I am not going to inflict on my customers two different sets of X tech identifiers. They all get strakes because "none of them get strakes even those without visible engines" is a non-starter.

So strakes it is, and nothing to date has convinced me otherwise. Repeating failed arguments doesn't help, so please stop unless you have something new to say.

By Jeff Anderson (Jga) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 01:37 pm: Edit

This is just the opinion of one dingbat (namely me ), but there is one big thing about the strakes that really jumps out...

To me, they scream that they're the mounting hardpoints for Megaphasers (E107.0; Module P6); they're practically BEGGING for the addition.

Does an X-ship REALLY need even more firepower?

(...Aaaand after a post like that, I fully expect a Slirdarian Corporal will be someone leading the welcoming party I often get; the one with the torches and pitchforks...)

By AW Cookson (Awcookson) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 02:55 pm: Edit

Aaron - The time argument really doesn't work. Even not counting the fact that SFB is a game that takes hours to play (so what's 20-60 min), prepping and painting the figure takes a fair amount of time. I've done a *lot* of figures. adding 20-60 min for some figures would just be the cost of an artistic choice to me.
And the chance of screwing up a fig... if I don't think my skill is up to a removal mod I either paint it or putty it to conceal the issue or just suck it up and move on.
A parallel line of figs isn't effective. Dead discussion point.
The figure doesn't change the way the game is played. The figures are go-ga. It's time to move forward.

SVC, strakes as a universal answer feel cookie cutter to me but the artists have shown they can make them not look cookie cutter.
You've accommodated where you can and entertained discussion. Aaron and others can call it 'kiss ass' but if you were inclined to, you could easily produce messages (public & private) that show I am not a sycophant. (I know you would not). BTW, may of our exchanges I value and some I regret because I could have communicated better.
You've let us play with your football on your field. You've said you (the guy who puts up the money) would like strakes. I trust you'll present them the best they can be, so let's do them.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 04:15 pm: Edit

Cookson, ADB is putting up the money to buy me miniatures?! Kewel!
My money is my money, just like everyone else who has a wallet. You have to convince me that your product is worth spending MY money on.
Fact of the matter is the time issue is valid considering when a one piece shapeways miniature arrives its ready for painting. No one should have to "kitbash" a regular production ship, even if its an x-ship. If you buy a cx, you shouldnt have to kitbash it.
The one thing you are absolutely right about is using the term "cookie cutter". It is the key phrase.

As for the "This is an x-ship because it has strakes that can be seen 6 feet away" arguement, i find it totally lazy. All these wonderfully taleneted 3D artists and they (aparently) cant be trusted to make x-ships from all the different races that have their own unique distinctive x-ship features? I can see the tholians with strakes, klingons with a different command module style, roms and gorns with distinctive looking engines, etc.
This would show a true interest in making really cool unique ships rather than just slapping 8 strakes on each ship and saying "there". I could do the same with ships i designed; go get me some little "hello kitty" stickers, plaster them to the minis and say these ships are special. They have hello kitty stickers on them.
May as well glue a little flag on the top of each mini tha says "x-ship".

By AW Cookson (Awcookson) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 04:56 pm: Edit

Aaron, with respects, you're being obtuse. I understand and appreciate your enjoyment and passion for the game. That said, your arguments are becoming barely more than badly founded straw men.
ADB is putting up the company's money, like it does with any product, with the thought of drawing the largest market, conducting a financial transaction, and then finding something else to sell, be it new or replacement. In this case ADB, while noting your suggestions, doesn't feel that your specific points you are looking for is what they choose to market, for many reasons. If you don't like it, don't buy it. If you think that sounds placating, come to my house and see how much FedComm I own. (answer - None. And neither myself or SVC looses a second of sleep on that. Nor should we.)

Figures - I've quite literally painted thousands of figures in my life. Some for myself, some for pay. A great number if not a majority had modifications done. If you want a tailored figure you are going to have to work from what is offered or convince Hero Forge to make their process so they can produce figs for ADB. The degree of what you personally are willing to do to a figure is your choice. See the above.

You've said your peace. Buy or don't buy. What you value is your decision and I respect that but I think as much to accommodate all points of view has been done. It's a *lot* more than most companies do for their market. IMO, it's time to move on to something where we can contribute (if we choose) to some other part of the game.

There may be one other thing that could be addressed. Jean, would you please look into the process and marketability of little X-Ship flags?

(Because of context, let me state that I said the last in a good intentioned way.)

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 05:54 pm: Edit

Cookson. Clap.... clap...... clap.
Your arguement is not only the one that is obtuse; it is completely silly. No one should have to paint a miniature that is not ready to go (and if you really think strakes are ready to go you got a screw loose my friend). I also have painted thousands of minis. So whats your point? So have a hundred thousand other people. You special? Or just the ego? I think its just the ego. Lets see if you can reason.
Well i disagree. I dont think that what COULD BE DONE, to satisfy ALL POINTS OF VIEW, has been done. And no, i have not "said my piece". I dont post anywhere else for any reason whatsoever. I CARE about what ADB does with X-ships.
Glad to hear you dont own fed comm crap. And this has to do with???? What????
ADB can put up all the money they want. Doesnt mean anyone will buy it. But thats not the REAL point. More people will spend their hard earned money on the things they REALLY want. If they dont really want strakes (which my instincts tell me are true) ADB will make money buuuuuut not as much as they will if they present the alternative, non-cookie cutter version. If they present both theyll make even more.
They are NOT trying to draw the largest market. In my opinion, they are trying to draw the largest market without doing quality work, or, to be charitable, not doing very much work. About 40% of the customer base are going to close their wallets. Wherr as if they had both versions or the non strake version on the fed CX, they would get 100% guaranteed. I havent heard ANYONE SAY THEY WONT BUY WITHOUT STRAKES. Hello?
I like you Sally. I like you very very much. You speak my language and you are direct. BUT you really do not get the overall overall overall pount. ADB has never had an empathy with its customers. (The people who post on this board arent even 2% of their real customer base) you and I and everyone else who "post" are the real loudmouths.
Dont worry about the flags. Wait for my YouTube video that makes fun of strakes. Lol. Also wait for my YouTube video documenting the Big Mac carrier group, showing the extreme benefits of buying shapeways minis from adb to make a heavy carrier group that couldnt really be done before.
You are outmatched cookson. Severely outmatched.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 06:07 pm: Edit

What does AW stand for? I think normally people have to have their names visible.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 06:19 pm: Edit

I want ALL you folks to understand something. Im not here right now for any reason OTHER than the Fed CX. This is a horrible decission
There are MANY alternatives if ADB would re-examine this. Ask yourself this question; are you here to get the product you WANT, or the product which makes ADB the most money? (If you make them more money, you get more of what you want, so you NEED TO SPEAK UP AND NOT MINCE WORDS)

Im here for the product i want. But i also firmly believe the product I want WILL make ADB the most money. (Is that bad?).
When the FED CX goes to print, i go away. Everything else in sfu for me has become meaningless. But the minis, those i still like. And if there is no product i want, and what i believe 80% of your customer base really really wants; im going to have a little fun with that. And im going to invite quite a few others to "have a little fun with that also"
The strake idea flies like a bee and stings like a butterfly.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 06:51 pm: Edit

OK SVC, head to head. You said:
"X ships of other empires have tiny engines, no external engines, or engines under the hull and would have to have strakes. And I am not going to inflict on my customers two different sets of X tech identifiers. They all get strakes because "none of them get strakes even those without visible engines" is a non-starter."
You might just find that your customers MIGHT like the VARIETY of DIFFERENT identifiers.
Do you not realize that most SFU fans do not even read this board? Not only that, only half of the ones who do (if that) read this board dont bother to post?
And you inyend to base the lack of opposition on strakes on this?
Im telling you, you are not going to make the money you deserve to make on this product. This is not like the past; you cookie cutter this one, some folks are never going to trust you again. Take an extra month, shut this topic down. Hold meetings. Do research. Think somemore. Design more. The more you design, the more youll make. IMO
and i wouldnt bother redoing the graphics on the mssbs. Sheesh.

By Matthew Lawson (Mglawson) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 06:58 pm: Edit

I sent my preliminary King Eagle-X WITH strakes to SVC and team and frankly I think it looks great. I guess I should have sent it to your approval first, Aaron, given your expertise; so I apologize for that ahead of time.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:20 pm: Edit

Matt. I havent seen it because this is the topic for the Fed CX. Further im not a final approving authority. Are you you saying you do not have the talent to make an x-ship design without strakes? Because if you are.....well.....

By Matthew Lawson (Mglawson) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:33 pm: Edit

The KE-X will get it's own topic when it's posted. I'm capable of designing anything, in this a case a design as designated by ADB guidelines.

And by all means, do finish your sentence. I would like to know your thoughts on my modeling skills.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:35 pm: Edit

For those of you who are watching and have not posted yet. Please post. Just say what you think. Im still waiting for all those who emailed me to grow a set of intestines and say something. Dont rely on me. When this post is done; im GONE. no more. I have my own game to deal with. You want good looking x-ships, Say so. You want cookie cutter krispy kreme strakes. Say so. But get in here and add your name to the list. Theyre never going to believe me because of hate. Youve seen and read the posts. If you really want what id like to see, you better add your name. Stand up and be counted.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:38 pm: Edit

Lawson. Ahem. Which sentence would you like me to finish?

By AW Cookson (Awcookson) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:38 pm: Edit

"When the FED CX goes to print, i go away. Everything else in sfu for me has become meaningless."

Congratulations, you just cut your own legs out from under yourself. I am very sure that with the $25 total of future revenue you represent your opinion now means almost nothing.

You are abusive to the point of being ignored and threats to go to social media are laughable because a single complaint from ADB will have your posts yanked.

The *ONLY thing you have left anyone cares about is the promise to leave. With that in mind I recommend to ADB they send the CX *as is* to print immediately.

Don't bother responding, you are in the 'ignore' bin and are only echoing to yourself.

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:49 pm: Edit

Lawson. I see what you are saying now. Dont be disengenuous, do you NOT have the confidence and skill, talent, expertise, etc. To produce X ships without strakes? Or do you absolutely have to have strakes to produce x ships? Here. Let me COMPLETE my sentence. If you cant do this. you are not worth employing. Make sense? Good thing i'm nobody eh?

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 07:55 pm: Edit

Awwww mrs cookson. I REALLY like you now. You were the one who first used the word sycophant in an earlier post. Let me say, you qualify. Lol!

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:01 pm: Edit

Doh! I Meant, Mr. Cookson. Cellphones suck. Dont you agree?

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:02 pm: Edit

Enough with the personal attacks and comments.

I wasn't here earlier because I was trying to pack the fragile stuff in my apartment so I can move. I came home to find this going on.

Aaron, criticizing the sculptors' talent is rude. Stop it now. Calling Federation Commander "crap" is rude. Threatening to make fun of the company's ships if you don't get your way is childish. And saying that the company doesn't have empathy for its customers is false and demonstrably so. If we didn't care, we wouldn't have asked for suggestions or taken the ones we got to shorten the strakes and reduce the length.

Folks, please stop engaging Aaron. It just fans the flames.

Jean
WebMom

By Jean Sexton (Jsexton) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:06 pm: Edit

Aaron, four posts ago you wrote it was your last post. I strongly suggest that you make it so at this point.

Jean
WebMom

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:12 pm: Edit

Folks. Ignore cookson. Sycophant who thinks hes a meglomaniac and wants others to be sycophants but probably not that snart (or dumb; matter of opinion isnt it?).

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:16 pm: Edit

Jean. I was praising their talents. Are you really an english major and cant tell the difference? Or do you hate me?

By Aaron Staley (Awwwdrat) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:18 pm: Edit

And no. Didnt say it was my last post. Please prove.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, February 16, 2020 - 08:21 pm: Edit

Jean or the powers that be, please ban this troll.