(KICKSTARTER) Mantic: Warpath

[Major_Gilbear]

I have a *ton* of DZ scenery from the KS.

My observations are:

1) Some pieces have a little warping. Nothing major enough to spoil your build completely, but enough that you will need to test fit all the pieces as best you can first, and that you will still occasionally have to perform some surgery on the parts.

2) It's very modular. However, whilst you can change the configuration a bit before you finalise your design, it's not really suitable for building and unbuilding regularly. The parts are designed too precisely and moulded too imprecisely for that to be a real option. In other words, this not Lego quality!

3) It's designed around 3" cubes, which regardless of the repetition of the components, does leave all the buildings looking rather similar and crudely-shaped. Not the end of the world, and they can still produce a nice varied table full of terrain, but to really get a "wow!" effect, you will need to add a bit of effort yourself in terms of (basically) conversion work with plasticard and a saw.

4) The distribution of parts on sprues and sets is not great. I think the sprues should have been designed as a core of simpler panels with less variation, and then had supplement sprues which added doors, windows, and appliqué detail panels. This would have made it easy for Mantic to either juggle the sprues around to get better parts balance in each set, and also to sell individual sprues according to demand. Instead, you inevitably end up with a fair collection of odds and ends that never make anything useful on their own. I also feel that each terrain set needs at least one more connector sprue than is supplied.

5) The connectors are often too tight or loose to fit smoothly, and too delicate for reliable disassembly without breaking. I would use some smooth-faced needle-nose pliers to clip the connectors into the panels, and then use very thin superglue around them to make the joins permanent. I would also use plain plasticard or such for bigger floors - the panels and connectors make for a very uneven and knobbly surface to balance miniatures on.

6) Quite a lot of key elements are simply missing; there are almost no stairs or ramps, and there are no low-level lips to fit around roofs (only waist-high pieces). Walkways have to be made up from short 3" pieces that makes them wobbly, and the doors are a nuisance to fit as they only "clip on" via a little peg at the top. There are also no shutters for the windows.

7) The terrain is okay value. If you can get a discounted set, or a bundle deal, then it's pretty good value. The sets in the current WP kickstarter are not very different in price from full-price RRP, so I'd shop around a bit. That said, the KS does have a really nifty graphic that shows what you get in each set/sprue (which is so helpful, I can't believe they don't have it on their webstore!)


So in conclusion: They are good, but need work; they are good value if you can get a bit of discount on them; they are versatile but not reconfigurable.

[rosafari]

The smaller "watch tower" set has a much better ratio of flat panels and X beams to windows and lamp posts! Troll Trader has the set for £7.99 delivered which is well below rrp too:

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Wargames-Mantic-Necromunda-Infinity-Marine-Space-Imperial-Sci-fi-Watch-Tower-/311207983678?nav=SEARCH

- bear in mind it has no ladders though.

Presumably at some point 'Operation Heracles' will be an actual starter box, with rule books, order dice, tokens, plastic figures etc for £50-£70, so all the components being listed separately during the campaign is a bit disingenuous?

[Vermis]

Gonna be honest, anything Mantic does to make any of their ranges less cartoony, I'll back to the hilt. (Whether they have to fall back on their KS habit for it, or if my wallet will be involved, are other matters) I'm already looking with despair at those space-ratmen, the space-dwarf Masters of the Universe tank, and the space-elves with space-bows.

Space elf drones don't look altogether bad, though. IMO.

[YPU]

Hey, I like the cartoony space rats.  But I get what your saying, things are ofthen either very down to earth grim or over the top cartoony in miniatures, that or downright bland.

I think I might back just to get the kickstarter exclusive rat. I think I would like him for both superheroes and shadowrun games.

[Major_Gilbear]

Presumably at some point 'Operation Heracles' will be an actual starter box, with rule books, order dice, tokens, plastic figures etc for £50-£70, so all the components being listed separately during the campaign is a bit disingenuous?

I agree a bit - if they don't list the components out, it makes it hard to keep track of what you're getting exactly (the problem they had with Deadzone 1 in fact).

I prefer seeing it as a schedule of components because it clarifies what's an add-on, and what's an upgrade of a component previously included.

Jeebus wept sainted tears of blood for these people.  

Er, "these people" = Mantic, or those who want non-GW orks...?

Gonna be honest, anything Mantic does to make any of their ranges less cartoony, I'll back to the hilt. (Whether they have to fall back on their KS habit for it, or if my wallet will be involved, are other matters) I'm already looking with despair at those space-ratmen, the space-dwarf Masters of the Universe tank, and the space-elves with space-bows.

Space elf drones don't look altogether bad, though. IMO.

I brought the He-Man dwarf tank up several times. One of the answers I got from a fan of them was:

I see your point however my point is that dwarfs are traditionalists and one of those traditions is they make faces on everything and as far as practicality goes they aren't that practical look at the troops that have BEARD ARMOR. Now don't get me wrong I like the look but it isn't practical and could be seen as VERY SILLY However the design fits cohesively together when looked at as a whole. If you get rid of one then I'd say you have to go down the line and then you might as well have generic armored beans because they make the most sense for glancing armor from all angles and it would be highly effective but boring. Dwarf in the future are smart enough to make it work and support their proud heritage. I again see your point but there are valid points to these designs as well based on the racial heritage and look that they come from.

Hey, I like the cartoony space rats.   But I get what your saying, things are ofthen either very down to earth grim or over the top cartoony in miniatures, that or downright bland.

I think I might back just to get the kickstarter exclusive rat. I think I would like him for both superheroes and shadowrun games.

I like space rats, but prefer them to look vicious instead of... like comical dogs. I think Mantic have improved their space rates somewhat for their upcoming plastics, but would have preferred it if they had been a bit more aggressive and sleek still.

[Vermis]

Hey, I like the cartoony space rats.   But I get what your saying, things are ofthen either very down to earth grim or over the top cartoony in miniatures, that or downright bland.

Don't worry though; looking at other forums (and the KS itself) I can see I'm in the minority.

But yeah, there's too much dissonance between the races for my liking. And like Gilbear, I'm not altogether opposed to the idea of space rats, but (in my eyes) these guys... well...

I see your point however my point is that dwarfs are traditionalists and one of those traditions is they make faces on everything

Since when?

More to the point, that plus...

Dwarf in the future... based on the racial heritage and look that they come from.

I know the look wasn't exactly subtle to begin with, but is this guy's defence that they're straight-up fantasy dwarfs just ported over IRL*, and descended from the same in-universe?

*I.e. the official overarching reason GW's squats got the boot, 'cos they couldn't think of anything more unique and interesting to do with them.

[Major_Gilbear]

What worries me is that the Ork Marauder stuff will go down the route of ramshackle vehicles with faces on them as well, thust obviating any real reason for not doing them in in plastic in this KS. 

"Beard armour" notwithstanding though, I fail to see why that means a tank/APC needs a face. That's like bolting shoes onto it becuase troops in that army have footwear. 

But yes, I somewhat agree that if you're copying a race that was dropped from another game due to lack of anything imaginative to do with it... Well, good luck to you.

[YPU]

Like I said, I'm considering the kickstarter exclusive, which is I think the least cartoony of them. Most sleek and deadly looking I think. The leader models that are all bloated lumbering giants don't really work for me either sadly.

[Momotaro]

Just built a squad of skaven stormvermin with leftover bits from a box of 40k skitarii.  Bit of shaving, bit of filling here and there, but generally a good fit.  Some of them will even do for fantasy Jezzails.

Following on from your comments, what made them look really sleek and ratty was shaving the crests off their helmets.  So the Mantic gasmasked rats don't do it for me at all, sadly.

Just about enough in the KS to keep me interested, although I'm thinking of dropping to the rulebook pledge level.

[Momotaro]

I, er... I actually liked the Orx Marauders, although I tarted up the squad I got from one of their Mystery Boxes with a load of 40k bitz.

Much less insulting than the Forge Father plastics, which had bugger all choice on the sprue, massive blocks of plastic infilling between the arms and torso rather than have separate arms and, IIRC, didn't even fit together especially well.

Latest reveal is the Corporation troopers - if they are anything at all like the artwork, they could be amazing.  I know, I know...

Less fussed about the Mule transport buggy - looks like a rough version of some of Antenocititititi's vehicles.

[Major_Gilbear]

Well... I liked the Marauders idea, I just didn't like it as a poor clone of the GW Orks.

The Marauders in DZ were much better than those in the first versions of WP, but still played to the GW Orks too much for my liking.

If leaving them (and the other races that didn't get a look-in) for next time gives Mantic time to *genuinely* improve the concept they have for Marauders, then I say fair play to them. On the other hand, if they just make more green ill-proportioned not-40k Orks with ramshackle vehicles and equipment, then I'm going to be pretty miffed.

I suspect  that we will see another DZ kickstarter before the the next WP one; it will focus on the Zzor (an insect race), and will likely feature some Enforcers again along with the GCPS forces (a good excuse to tool special forces sprues for them), Marauders, and Rebs. After this, the basic plastics used for these factions will form the basis of the next KS for WP, and the existing plastic armies being funded this time time around (along with the initial sprues funded through DZ3) will probably be used to bulk up offers to entice funding for new vehicles.

[Momotaro]

oh yes if you replace entire chunks of the marauders kit they come up rather nice....

I replaced some of the guns and gave them backpacks and a flamethrower.  Still recognisable as Marauders.  Still like the basic figures.

[Vermis]

I think they are at the point where they can man up and stand on their own two feet and have a bunch of original ideas for the mk 2 version of the marauders.

Given some of the minis for this kickstarter included a dwarf tank with a bearded face, a dreadnought/warjack armed with spear and chainsaw, space-elves with space-bows, and an old mini of a human commander with a sword, I have to say I'm dubious.

[Ajsalium]

Latest w.i.p. rules update to be found here:

http://manticblog.com/2015/10/06/warpath-new-alpha-rules-battle-reports-gameplay-video-and-interview/

[Argonor]

Am I the only one who finds it a bit odd, that some of the stretch goals are minis already funded by the last Deadzone KS?