All Quiet on the Martian Front Kickstarter

[Ray Rivers]

The "All Quiet on the Martian Front Kickstarter" has gone live and reached it's initial funding goal of $50,000.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1117201778/all-quiet-on-the-martian-front-miniature-tanks-vs

I signed up early for this one and got the Human Hunter. Tripods Baby! 

[Quendil]

Me too with the Human Hunter

[Vanvlak]

Noooooooooo!
I'm ruined, I resisted a plethora of Kickstarters following Zombicide 2, and now this happens.
Could never resist tripods. I went for the more modest Pod Leader.

[Ray Rivers]

Got a confirmation from Kickstarter for my pledge inside the US. Ooops!

So I went into "manage your account", confirmed I had selected the correct level for outside the US and then added in the shipping costs to my pledge amount.

Another confirmation email, which again states "inside the US." I tried to edit that, but it wouldn't take.

And so starts the confusion... 

[fastolfrus]

Would go for it if there was a Martian only pledge - I really dislike the human vehicles.

[Sterling Moose]

NO! Not another period, scale, ruleset etc etc must resist...................

[Kitsune]

I've got a martian pod early bird, but not really sure if I'll hold on to it as I think its a little expensive for 15mm. See what happens throughout the campaign and then decide, I think.

[Ray Rivers]

Yep, they do seem a bit on the pricy side and I was checking out their web site quite thoroughly before committing.

I decided to go for it because I believe the SIZE of the vehicles warrant the price:



The tripods come out at 4 to 5 inches in height.

Even the US tanks are quite large.

[fastolfrus]

Even the US tanks are quite large.

Large is probably the most generous description I would give them.
That flame tank is just absurd.

[Ray Rivers]

Large is probably the most generous description I would give them.
That flame tank is just absurd.

Pretty wonky, isn't it! 

Personally I like the Mark III and Mark IV Monitor and will probably/eventually pledge for them to even out my forces.



Early days though, I want to see if they have anything else up the sleeves.

[Ray Rivers]

So... looks like these will work for 28mm. 



The Assault tripod is 6 inches tall, the Dominator - 7 inches and the Overseer - 9 inches, or there abouts.

I do like that Mark IV Monitor tank though, but I'm afraid of throwing more money at them sight on-seen.

Seems a major hurdle right now for the developer is finding a UK stockist.

[Dr. The Viking]

I think it looks completely fantastic!

Very very very very tempted-

[fastolfrus]

Personally I can't stand the human designs.
Far too clunky, and not original enough.

That and the fact that they are all supposed to be running on coal-powered steam, despite the USA having a historic lead on vehicles.
Why use the GW-looking "Mark IV male with extra big guns randomly added"? The Baldwin III don't look feasible - unless they don't carry any ammunition for the guns? I'm probably just picky because I've seen how cramped the interior of the Mk IV is (at Bovington).
And if you're going for a SPG design why not use the Mark I gun carrier rather than sticking a howitzer on the roof of a Mk IV like a Basilisk? The Mk I gun carrier is also a design that might not be familiar to non-historical gamers and looks more practical.
Why opt for steam power in 1914? Given that there were gasoline-powered caterpillar vehicles (Holt) by 1905 (developed in California and used as a basis for the first British tracked vehicles).
The background says this second invasion begins at the end of 1908, a few months after Model Ts started to come off the Michigan lines.
America already had armoured cars, although only fitted with bullet-proof shields, in 1901, the Davidson from Illinois.
Since both Model Ts and Davidsons are petrol-driven it seems illogical to propose coal-power as a superior alternative.
Even the Belgians had armoured cars by 1912 (the Minerva) although the Belgian army in 1914 still had machine-guns on carts pulled by dogs.
For steam power I would have preferred some variant of armoured train, perhaps like HG Wells Land Ironclads (1903) - a 100 foot long vehicle.

[fastolfrus]

But I have backed it anyway (despite the rant).

Like the cylinder though.

[Ray Rivers]

Seems Northstar will be handling UK distribution.

Should make folks happy!