(KICKSTARTER) Mantic: Warpath

[obsidian3d]

I wanted the jet bikes and some other figures so I knew I'd have to pay shipping. I'll not be looking at the pledge manager until after Christmas though.

[rwwin]

I think people need to police up the way they kickstart stuff. More questions more hard arse and far more cynical because at the moment its people like me that are reaping the rewards of your efforts and that should not be the case.

Mantic and Prodos are not the rule of Kickstarter though.  I have participated in more kickstarter campaigns that did well than those that did poorly (Zombicide, Kingdom Death, Dreamforge, Tablescapes, Bombshell, and Incursion).  True they were all behind schedule (in some cases years) but it was still faster and cheaper than retail.

I agree that people should take a rational look at a companies track record before participating in a KS campaign, but as a model it can still work.

With Mantic specifically, I think their declining numbers campaign after campaign show people are starting to vote with their wallets.  Dungeon Saga was their high point and things have only dropped off from there.

[eilif]

Mantic and Prodos are not the rule of Kickstarter though.  I have participated in more kickstarter campaigns that did well than those that did poorly (Zombicide, Kingdom Death, Dreamforge, Tablescapes, Bombshell, and Incursion).  True they were all behind schedule (in some cases years) but it was still faster and cheaper than retail.

I agree that people should take a rational look at a companies track record before participating in a KS campaign, but as a model it can still work.

With Mantic specifically, I think their declining numbers campaign after campaign show people are starting to vote with their wallets.  Dungeon Saga was their high point and things have only dropped off from there.

Agreed. I'm definitely not one to drop KS entirely (though I've supported less recently)  One simply has to be careful to examine EVERY potential KS pledge.

I assumed, based on previous Mantic KS's that shipping would be reasonable. I was wrong.  Clearly the Mantic KS's are a much better deal at higher pledge levels and I'll be more careful next time.   I'm pretty careful to only invest in KS's with companies that have a good track record.

As an example, though I liked the concept, I skipped the Defiance games KS for many reasons and I'm glad I did. On the other hand, Burrows and Badgers, MegaMInis Salvage Crew and others have fulfilled on time and with quality.  And of course you have to be willing to wait if something takes longer. I've no doubt I'll get my figs, but I'm not at all surprised that my RAFM Airship figs are going to

Getting back to Mantic, I'm open to the possibility of participating in future KS's, but I've got enough figs that buying in BIG is unlikely and I refuse to pay their shipping price for a rulebook pledge anymore, so the chance I'll do future Mantic KS's is fairly low.

[tnjrp]

Oooh!

Your Warpath Wave 1 Pledge has been Dispatched!

Not quite sure  any more if I actually have anything left to Wave 2, but I think not

Regarding shipping, it looks like several British KS projects have either been hit by some kind of general postage pricing hike or else they've just up and decided to charge p&p through the nose. Unpleasant either way.

[Dentatus]

Mantic still planning to do the skirmish "Firefight" game? I can envision a nifty Pathfinders v. Vermyn (or Plague) type brawl.

[Sir_Theo]

Mantic still planning to do the skirmish "Firefight" game? I can envision a nifty Pathfinders v. Vermyn (or Plague) type brawl.

I backed Warpath at the £1 pledge level and then didn't add anything on in the end.  I've just had the pdfs and Firefight is there as a separate set of rules.  I haven't looked through that yet but the main game look interesting.  Reminds me a bit of the old GW Epic game in its abstraction. 

[Dentatus]

Thanks Sir Theo.

Not like I don't have plenty of stuff already.

[eilif]

Mantic still planning to do the skirmish "Firefight" game? I can envision a nifty Pathfinders v. Vermyn (or Plague) type brawl.

The pledge for rulebooks comes with Warpath (company level and above) rulebook, Firefight (Platoon Skirmish) rulebook and a sourcebook.

[Momotaro]

Hey - it arrived!  Lovely rulebooks in a slipcase, looks very classy.

And, mirabile dictu, we even get the novel this time!

[eilif]

Just got mine.

The production values are really high!  Even a bit better than Kings of War and defintiely up there with the rest of the big-name games. 

I am a smidge worried that they may have a bit over-complicated the simplicity that I love about Mantic games.   Also, I HATE that you need special dice (which are arriving in a different shippment??) to do your special activations.

However, it still seems ALOT more rules-lite than it's competititors and I'm really looking forward to trying it out.  If I can get my club interested it will be a major impetus to finish up my Squat army.

[Predatorpt]

Just a quick question - is the dropship already available to the KS backers? Or is it still in production?

I should have backed this KS and the Star Saga one but didn't do it 

[Momotaro]

Also, I HATE that you need special dice (which are arriving in a different shippment??)

I got my dice and token sets with the books, eilif - best to drop Mantic a line?

[Vanvlak]

I got my dice and token sets with the books, eilif - best to drop Mantic a line?

Me too - better check.

[eilif]

I got my dice and token sets with the books, eilif - best to drop Mantic a line?

Oh funkadoodle!  I HATE dealing with Mantic's customer service parts replacement, It SUCKS! After trying to get missing parts from the First Deadzone kickstarter 3 separate times, (each time they said they'd send them and I got bupkis) I just gave up and said I'd never order minis in a Mantic kickstarter again.  Now I've got to go wade through that poopfield again....

EDIT:  Dice and counters just arrived today in a separate box.  So glad I won't have to deal with Mantic CS!!!

[tnjrp]

My 4 x 5 Asterian Infantry set arrived yesterday. Just by looking at the sprues they seem pretty decent set all in all. The only gripe I can think of ATM is that I would've preferred separate legs and torsos for easier poseability. Despite the 100% p&p on top, I think it was a reasonable deal at ca. US$1.67 per trooper.