(KICKSTARTER) Mantic: Warpath

[Maccwar]

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?

But it isn't the production of those minis which is being funded - it is their inclusion in bundles.

Tooling the new plastic sprues costs way more than the stretch goal intervals might suggest.

[Major_Gilbear]

Agreed Maccwar.

In the same way that they clearly need more than the stated funding goal to actually make the game, they also need more than the stretch goal markers to actually tool the models in plastic.

They pretty much admitted this in the comments in DZ2 when I expressed surprise at how few hard plastic sprues were actually being funded (four sprues IIRC).

I personally feel that they're struggling with this KS right now. They are in that awkward position where they can't offer anything more that people want to add to their pledge, but at the same time they can't offer something that can't afford to make.

I also feel that their very generous pledge manager system is partly to blame here - it gets them more funding overall, but until the pledge managers are completed they don't know quite know where they stand. Compared to having the bulk of pledges up-front, I think it also robs the KS campaign of some momentum/excitement.

[obsidian3d]

I love Mantic's sci-fi stuff overall but haven't really paid much attention to this campaign. I have hundreds of dollars worth of Dreadball, Xtreme and Deadzone. There are a few items I'd like from Warpath 2.0 like the flyers and jetbikes, but a large scale sci-fi game is really not what I am looking for.

It might also be the end of the bubble for KS, or at least a dip. As much as I enjoy getting lots of toys for my money, using it for every project feels unsustainable long term, as I think their core audience is largely the same for each. Eventually those people (myself included) will simply run out of money, lose interest, or a combination of the two.

[Maccwar]

There are a few items I'd like from Warpath 2.0 like the flyers and jetbikes, but a large scale sci-fi game is really not what I am looking for.

Warpath Firefight might be of more interest to you "as few as 30 soldiers a side" doesn't sound too large.

If you back it for $1 you get the PDF rulebooks and access to the pledge manager to add in any bits and pieces you might be after.

Personally I'm more looking forward to the new Deadzone rulebook but I might extend my DZ forces a little to play Firefight depending on the rules.

[Argonor]

Well, I need to get my DZ2 stuff and see how I like the actual minis, before deciding if I want to level my involvement up to Firefight.

Right now, I am on an Old/Weird West rampage, and need to channel my hobby funds into getting that going.

[Ajsalium]

Last hours. There has been a good number of vehicles unlocked, the latest of which is a flyer (get to da choppa!) for corporation and plague.

[Major_Gilbear]

All done! $485k with 3355 backers.

Well done Mantic. 

[tnjrp]

Warpath pledge manager has opened, there'll be an invite in the e-mail shortly if it's not there already as it was for me this morning. Postage & packing was a bit steep for small pledges
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/warpath-the-sci-fi-battle-game/posts/1447686

[eilif]

Thanks for the heads up.  I just checked and mine came through. Haven't paid much attention to the KS since I pledged (just for the rulebooks) but it looks like the game is really coming along.

I really liked the look of them and  almost added a bunch of Forge Fathers Steel Warriors to my order, but decided not to.  While the Forge Guard and Iron Ancestors are different enough to look good alongside my squats, the Steel Warriors would clash a bit much.

Then I saw the shipping!  $20 on a $50 order just for the books, dice and counters!  It may be actual shipping costs and it's my fault for not checking ahead of my pledge, but a KS is supposed to be a deal and it has always seemed to be the case for the previous Mantic KS's I've done (Kings of War and Deadzone)

Seeing as how...
-I don't care much about dice and counters
-There's a history of Mantic stuff showing up at retailers about the same time as backers
-There's always lots of retailers offering Mantic product at a good discount with reasonable or free shipping
...I will not be making anymore basic level pledges from Mantic kickstarters.  

Maybe I'll participate if something grabs me enough to make a big buy, but that's not terribly likely.  Despite some issues, I've always felt good after a Mantic KS, but this is the first one that's leaving me with a bit of a bad taste.

[rwwin]

If you go in big, Mantic Kickstarters are still a decent deal over retail, but smaller orders, or competing against discounted retail, coupled with the fact that there's a really good chance the stuff hits retail before your particular box makes it through fulfillment puts a dent in any enthusiasm I have for Mantic's campaigns anymore.  That and then there's the possible midstream switch in production materials as happened with Deadzone.  I know I'll be waiting until the last day (February 29th) to close my pledge manger to see if there's anything I actually want to gamble on or just let them have my $1.

I don't have any interest in the Warpath rules, I just want some decent plastic sci-fi models, so it's starting to look smarter to wait 6 months post-KS delivery when MM or TWS puts them into the digital bargain bin.

[tnjrp]

Then I saw the shipping!  $20 on a $50 order just for the books, dice and counters!

I *think* the p&p actually starts at $20, even if you just take a bag of dice or whatever's the smallest physical thing available. Not sure when it starts going over that, but it's definitely a "gentle nudge" towards pledging more. I put in for a 20+ set of Asterian droid troopers so the whole shebang came to $40 which isn't really all that bad.

[Agis]

I *think* the p&p actually starts at $20, even if you just take a bag of dice or whatever's the smallest physical thing available. ...

It is worse, (maybe even a bug) I am in with a $ 1 pledge just to get the digital stuff.
Mantic still want to charge me $ 20,00 for shipment!!!

I will write them soon...

[robh]

Mantic seem to have decided there is profit to be made in overcharging shipping.  On the Dungeon Saga KS they are forcing backers to pay the shipping costs for the replacement of the faulty/error ridden rulebook.

I have a $1 pledge on this KS and unless they change the shipping costs I will not be increasing it, currently I am considering asking for a full refund. I only wanted a $12 box of figures but not paying $20 extra for shipping.

[tnjrp]

It is worse, (maybe even a bug) I am in with a $ 1 pledge just to get the digital stuff.
Mantic still want to charge me $ 20,00 for shipment!!!

It's either a bug or they have a really expensive ISP...

[Momotaro]

UK shipping on the rulebook pledge was $12, which still isn't great.

It's taken me four months to get my Kings of War rulebook pledge out of them, as they were still waiting on the Blaine T-Rex model.  I'd have been cheaper and quicker waiting for the book to appear in shops.

As for this one, there's a couple of figures I'd quite like, but I'll wait for them to appear in the retail chain.  I'm just not feeling the love for the armies, even if they are a good deal.

This is probably my last Mantic Kickstarter.