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Author Topic: Deadzone 3rd edition coming  (Read 2953 times)

Offline Chief Lackey Rich

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Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« on: September 15, 2021, 05:01:02 PM »
I see Mantic is getting set to release a new edition of their Deadzone skirmish game, and running a series of teaser articles on their blog, starting here:

https://www.manticgames.com/news/deadzone-third-edition-why-third-edition-will-be-the-best-deadzone-yet/

and a discussion of squad building here:

https://www.manticgames.com/news/deadzone-third-edition-creating-your-strike-team-is-easier-than-ever/

Seems like pretty reasonable changes from 2nd edition so far, mostly quality-of-life improvements.  The decision to separate health from figure size is a bit overdue, and should open up some design space for small-but-tough figs or big guys with glass jaws.  Perhaps the most interesting thing so far is the news that there's a "street accessories" set coming for their modular terrain system, which is supposed to let you give a more lived-in cyberpunk look to a table.  Some of it shows up in this tease image:



Looks pretty good to me.  The new starter box will apparently have a slew of terrain in it, as well as minis for both GCPS and Veer-myn, aka Imperial Guard versus Space Skaven.
« Last Edit: September 15, 2021, 05:06:29 PM by Chief Lackey Rich »

Offline Bloggard

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2021, 09:47:46 AM »
nice refresh.

I think all the new parts etc are shown on the Mantic (UK) site now - if you go to the core set's 'gallery' iirc.

Offline zemjw

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2021, 12:28:50 PM »
Yeah, I will probably pick up the street scenery sets. I have more than enough Deadzone sprues in the loft to keep me going.

I just wish Mantic would settle on a decent plastic/pvc, as some (not all) of their material choices have been a major pain to work with.

Offline Major_Gilbear

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2021, 02:31:50 PM »
I just wish Mantic would settle on a decent plastic/pvc, as some (not all) of their material choices have been a major pain to work with.

Honestly, this is the #1 reason I won't buy any more Mantic stuff.

A close #2 reason is how often their (usually great) concept art gets poorly translated into (at best) mediocre model sculpts.

I am pleased to see DZ still going though, as I backed the previous DZ1 and DZ2 games at high levels and have absolutely masses of stuff for both. Still, I would have hoped that by now Mantic could release a new edition without needing to go back to KS again...  :?

Offline Mammoth miniatures

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2021, 02:36:27 PM »
I never played the first one despite having the starter set and very much nejoying the demo game I played at the mantic open day before it released. BUT I am interested in all those little scenery accessories. lol

Offline Sir_Theo

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #5 on: September 16, 2021, 03:15:29 PM »
Honestly, this is the #1 reason I won't buy any more Mantic stuff.

A close #2 reason is how often their (usually great) concept art gets poorly translated into (at best) mediocre model sculpts.

I am pleased to see DZ still going though, as I backed the previous DZ1 and DZ2 games at high levels and have absolutely masses of stuff for both. Still, I would have hoped that by now Mantic could release a new edition without needing to go back to KS again...  :?

this one isn't being kickstarted is it?

I also have more than enough Deadzone stuff from the very first kickstarted. I bought the 2nd edition rulebook and command dice but only played it a couple of times. I will no doubt buy the rules again this time. Its a fun game!

Offline Major_Gilbear

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #6 on: September 16, 2021, 03:28:09 PM »
Ah, I thought it was a KS - my apologies if I misunderstood and it's not! If it's not, then that's a good thing IMO. :)

Offline Bloggard

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #7 on: September 16, 2021, 03:47:03 PM »
Honestly, this is the #1 reason I won't buy any more Mantic stuff.

A close #2 reason is how often their (usually great) concept art gets poorly translated into (at best) mediocre model sculpts.

I am pleased to see DZ still going though, as I backed the previous DZ1 and DZ2 games at high levels and have absolutely masses of stuff for both. Still, I would have hoped that by now Mantic could release a new edition without needing to go back to KS again...  :?

interesting.

I've recently put together a forge-father grunt, couple of enforcers and a space -elf cyborg - and I was impressed by the actual plastic - very fine detail: seemed better than GW to me.

Now, the lack of assembley instructions, that's another matter!

and I must admit some of the dwarf 'fit' was a bit approximate.

Offline Major_Gilbear

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #8 on: September 16, 2021, 04:13:43 PM »
I've recently put together a forge-father grunt, couple of enforcers and a space -elf cyborg - and I was impressed by the actual plastic - very fine detail: seemed better than GW to me.

If these are the sprued plastics, then yes, the material on those is fine - I wish everything Mantic did was in that material!

Offline Chief Lackey Rich

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2021, 04:25:08 PM »
Ah, I thought it was a KS - my apologies if I misunderstood and it's not! If it's not, then that's a good thing IMO. :)

It doesn't appear to be crowdfunded, no.  Available for preorder right now, due to start shipping October 25th according to the site.

I agree with you to some degree about Mantic's sculpting and casting quality, but I think I'd describe them as extremely erratic rather than just plain bad.  They have some quite good plastics (eg the Asterian Marionette kit, which I reviewed here: https://brokenstarsburningships.blogspot.com/2018/03/dance-puppets-deadzone-marionette-kit.html ) but they also have some fairly wretched "restic/PVC" figs and even some of the plastic is a nuisance to work with.  OTOH, even some of the PVC stuff is okay - eg the Nameless figs here:  https://brokenstarsburningships.blogspot.com/2018/12/2018-retrospective-gallery-finale-day-8.html 

If they're consistently bad about anything, it's their damn catalog photos - but that's a widespread plague on the entire industry.  Even Reaper is terrible at providing focused, multi-angle shots of minis with some kind of uniform size/scale indicator.

I mostly played 1st edition and never did like 2nd as much, but what they've shown of the changes to 3rd all seem good steps to me.  It's almost as though they listened to their player base about what wasn't working as well as it could be and took steps to change accordingly - but what company would do that in this day and age?  :)

Offline Bloggard

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2021, 06:12:17 PM »
If these are the sprued plastics, then yes, the material on those is fine - I wish everything Mantic did was in that material!

ah, gotcha. Yes they were all 'sprued'.

I had Star Saga again - and for one piece plastics I didn't think they were too bad at all. Pretty good actually, apart from some bits being 'soft' and needing the hot water treatment. Lovely 'large' figures too (a bit bigger than their sprued jobs I thought).
« Last Edit: September 16, 2021, 06:16:03 PM by Bloggard »

Offline Malebolgia

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2021, 08:01:35 AM »
Woohoo! So glad they're doing 3rd edition. I've played tons of 2nd edition and think it's the best sci-fi skirmish game there is. Such a nice compact, fluid and fast game with great and fun mechanics. But the rules got a bit clunky here and there and the force lists could use some tweaking...so it's perfect they did just that.
Can't wait to get these books and dive into third edition.
As for the models, I think they are adequate and paint up nicely. With some paint on they look very cool, even the PVC and restic stuff. Mantic did switch to resin for their recent models and these are insanely detailed and well cast.
“What use was time to those who'd soon achieve Digital Immortality?”

Offline Ultravanillasmurf

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #12 on: September 18, 2021, 06:54:36 AM »
Good to know.

CLR: thanks for the link on the Mantic figures and conversions, very useful.

Offline Chief Lackey Rich

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2021, 07:20:42 PM »
Some new models teased too.

https://www.manticgames.com/news/deadzone-third-edition-new-units-and-minis/

Boss rat, at size 2 with no obvious guns might make a good rat ogre for Skaven in WFB, AoS, and Bloodbowl.  Also not out of place in Rumbleslam.



Corporate riot trooper - hate the color scheme paint scheme but not a bad sculpt, very dynamic and Necromunda-friendly.



New sculpt for the 1st edition Plague-infected teraton, a pretty good generic alien bruiser type.  And again, I could see him in the ring for Rumbleslam.



And my personal favorite, because cool as Squats are that thing's also begging for head swaps (or at least proper cockpit armor).  Think he may be taking first place in the "Chunkiest Armor To Be Worn Without A Helmet" category despite GW's ceaseless efforts to retain the title.  I'll concede Ghazghkull may give him a run for his money, though.



Supposed to be coming out with hard plastic marauders for the Orx as well, but there's nothing beyond an early render at this point.
« Last Edit: September 19, 2021, 07:25:44 PM by Chief Lackey Rich »

Offline Bloggard

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Re: Deadzone 3rd edition coming
« Reply #14 on: September 20, 2021, 08:43:08 AM »
like the look of the new dwarf stuff they've teased - there was a doc Ock'- like Artificer on the blog a while ago.

and 'ouch' re: colour scheme - when I was thinking of painting up some of their armoured enforcers and peacekeepers I was thinking of just such a blue and green combo' !
I like some of the other new GCPS rather more than the ones with shields tbh.

 

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