Sanctioned Patreon

I'm very glad that CGL has allowed you to share these works of art with all of us as a preview of what's coming. I believe it is helping to bring about the rebirth of this beloved game. I am also grateful that the artists who have created some of these have been willing to allow you to share them. I just hope that a few Troll's don't ruin everything for the community as a whole.

Jeffery Smith

Don't feel bad about having pirate minis, especially if you didn't know better. But absolutely if you want to use them as basing material you'd never get in trouble for bringing those to an official tournament lol. Local game agents still end up using unseen and other minis that technically aren't official.

Anthony Scroggins

I went over there simply because it's my old stomping ground, and that's the language they speak there haha. But I agree it was foolish in a way.

Anthony Scroggins

I have 1 question... Early on in my Battletech rebirth, I came in contact with such models... I had acquired some and painted them foolishly... I'm sorry for my contribution, I've since ordered official replacements and/or have at least 2 or 3 heading my way via kick starter.... Anyways as I decommission all nockoff minis - can I use them as basing material??? I think the official minis stomping on some piracy would proov a point. Thank you guys for expanding the universe I love!!!

I’m in some of the battletech Facebook groups that were reacting to the cease and desist orders. I saw a lot of people posting screen captures supposedly from you making posts in 4chan /tg. I went there and read the back and forth to get the full context of the conversations, because I try not to take anything at face value. If you are the Shimmering Sword who was posting there, then for the most part I agree with your anti pirate sentiments. However, I think posting about this issue there is a mistake. I also think how you were talking about it in an inflammatory manner and saying some negative things about CGL was unprofessional. People have been waiting for a long for this Battletech revival. It would be a shame for it to be derailed if the lead sculptor was fired for causing bad PR. You are a very talented artist and responsible for a lot of the positive developments in battletech over the last few years. Please don’t put yourself in jeopardy by trolling 4chan.

It's hard to see being mostly contained to small 3D printing groups where they have an in-group they can feel safe around voicing pro-piracy positions. I think even if CGL hadn't also hit non-infringing items they'd still be up in arms.

Anthony Scroggins

It's crazy seeing how nuts everything went and so fast. The BTI groups seem to be toxic in general. From the top to bottom. I've started frequenting the main forums once again. It's nonsense.

Andrew McKenna

I had to leave the various battletech groups on social media platforms over the type of attitude you are describing. There is so much venom and nastiness getting thrown around. There is no way to have a civil disagreement in any of those groups and when you point out people using double standards to support their own argument, ot was quickly devolving into name calling.

Sounds like I am missing a show somewhere. Or, well, like there is a show going on somewhere, and I am not missing it at all. :)

Now you just have to wait until CGL releases the illustration

You may call me naive, but it never crossed my mind you would do anything not-cool after all you (and the other artists of course) have been doing for BT. Embrace that sweep leap of faith.

Swen Decker

As I am watching the hostility of the attacks against you mount, I wanted to express that your comment they are quoting was not out of line and no one at CGL should come after you over it. You specifically spoke about pirates making minor manipulations to 3D IP images and then using those images for personal gain. Theft should ALWAYS be spoken of harshly and straight forward. You made a solid comment and have nothing to regret or apologize for. I sincerely hope that CGL stands behind you for being protective of your and their work. This head hunt because youre the only named individual involved beyond Ray is nonsense. People's mental fortitude in modern society is pathetic.

Andrew McKenna

I totally believe people should have seen it coming. I'm sure everyone knows my opinion of MWO minis and if they were only sapping MWO's revenues I couldn't care less. But, with Battletech finally making such headway, this was the logical conclusion. Although I just saw a post where apparently Ray's request is resulting in non-IP items being pulled and calls for people telling thingiverse to reject the request to be more specific, not sure if you guys already had a plan in place for that. 3D printing is cool but I'd only do it if I had the know-how to make my own designs.

Andrew McKenna

Yeah that's pretty innocent of a thing to do. Especially if you mean the concept sketches, they're not NDA for very long before openly posted on the KS.

Anthony Scroggins

I don't know completely myself but I think it was mostly a surprise nuke, though some definitely smelled it in the wind ahead of time.

Anthony Scroggins

I assumed everything you were doing here was above board (IP, copyright, etc.). I will admit to using the art published here for making a couple of standees (literally two) in approximately 1:72 scale for use in my tabletop RPG with some of my friends. I figure this really doesn't matter in the big picture. Thanks for the clarification and keep up the good work.

Joe M Emmert

My biggest question is what the chain of events was. Was there a "watch out! here we come!" or as you responded "nuked from orbit" Wobbie style? This was a huge shock coming into the aftermath of this during my lunch break today hahaha

Andrew McKenna

yeah I saw some folk trying to say you were making money off other people's work, etc... Well, most of us aren't allowed to do "official leaks" in our NDAs, so if we want to show off? We do it here. Most of the stuff has also been massaged by Anthony to one degree or another, so at least I have zero issue with it being posted here. Would I like to be able to post early peaks on my own? Sure. But you got any idea how much headache that would be for the PTBs to have to juggle, police and keep an eye on a dozen individual artists, modelers, etc, o make sure no one is going off the ranch? So it's an imperfect compromise, to attempt to service everyone as best as possible. *Shrugs*

Benjamin Myers (Bishop Steiner)

I may have been asked to be less abrasive haha, but I'm just telling it how it is. Unfortunately that doesn't go down well when someones perspective it heavily skewed. I'm sure this looks like all sorts of favoritism to them.

Anthony Scroggins

Yeah, while many inquiries are more genuine even if spurred by the recent events, there's definitely a group out there now positing that if their type of IP "use" is theft, then how is mine different haha.

Anthony Scroggins

I hope you are not in trouble or something. You are doing an amazing job for the IP! From my point of view, you have always been very clear about what is your work, what is other people's work, what is meant for Patreons only, and what can be shared publicly.

I've never thought otherwise...were these recent questions posed to you about the validity of you posting up pics from the CGL KS in relation to the very recent hammer-drop on the fan-sculpts up on Thingiverse for 3D printing???

Danny

I wouldn't be surprised if they intermittently revoke the deal when I'm not working full time on large projects, but we'll see where it goes. Either way I'll be doing what I can to retain you guys.

Anthony Scroggins

I may have got a little over-excited and made a meme with your KGC without thinking. After reading this post, I can tell you that won't happen again.

Jarod DePastene

Well I hope you and cgl keep it cool. I love what you're doing.

Jordan G Roberts