Guildsman wrote: Glad to see that GoA is continuing their fine tradition of producing 80s era sculpts in 2015.
Also, what sort of mechanism do Bolt Action and GoA use ruleswise to balance armies?
I remember reading a quote from Rick Priestly saying they would be adding points values. I have some of the Algoryn models. They are very nice and bigger than I expected. Instead of crapping all over this, why not remember that it's still in beta. I wish more companies would do beta testing like this.
£68 - for 16 GW models + 1 cherub thing
£70 - for 19 models + 5 Flying drone type things.
Edit - I was trying to figure out what it was I didn't like about these models. The basing is terrible. It does them no favours.
How about 2 x $39 AM Skitarii? $78 for 20 models vs $122 for 19 models. On top of that, the former are properly multi-pose with tons of extra parts, while the latter look to be single-part with no options. Dark Eldar Warriors, which look very close to the Freeborn, are even cheaper, at $29 per box. Throw in the fact that I can readily order GW at 25% off, and the comparison makes GoA a worse proposition still.
So you've successfully discovered plastic is cheaper than metal. Congrats...
Since nobody else seems to have heard about it, Gates of Antares plastic starter set is coming soon.
Strike Vector One: The Xilos Horizon is the starter set for Beyond the Gates of Antares. This set contains everything you need to start gaming including complete tabletop wargame rules, army lists, battle scenarios and two opposing forces: the Concord and the Ghar.
Launch Edition of the box game contains the hardback rulebook and launch edition miniature, available for a limited time
Developed from the award winning Bolt Action game system and dynamic turn system
Written by Rick Priestley, creator of Warhammer 40,000
In depth gaming universe with epic background
Quality multi pose plastic models within the game with an ever expanding range of plastic, metal and resin models available
Mature games system, perfect for small skirmish actions through to large scale battles
Builds on the existing Beyond the Gates of Antares range
The full contents of the starter set are:
20 Plastic Concord Strike Troopers
4 Plastic Concord Support Drones
3 Plastic Ghar Battle Squad Walkers
3 Plastic Ghar Assault Squad Walkers
Launch edition metal character model
Full Hard Back Rulebook
Plastic templates and shot tokens
Scenario booklet
Plastic Pin markers
Order Dice & Polyhedral dice
These certainly aren't ME minis! I really really like the look of these! The fact that these are going to be plastic means I'll be buying at least one box!
Now see, that box is all wrong. It should have 80s style art, to go with the 80s style sculpts.
...That's rude of me. It's hard to make out much detail from the small picture. If these sculpts are new, and designed for HIPS, they might actually turn out nicely.
Apparently there are the remnants of a human in that beast somewhere. They seem to be like Daleks in that they used to be humanoid, but no-one is quite sure why they became so twisted and sealed in their war suits
If they had taken that image to KS, I can see it having funded quite quickly
If they had taken more than a designer's name, a cocktail napkin's worth of fluff, and a half done mini to KS during the naive funding years, they'd have funded. I'm glad to see they've used the subsequent years well and will take a look at this starter on its own merits.
INTERIOR GoAHQ A tagline or title is needed to capture the feel of the retail box art and studio models. Brainstorm goes as follows...
"In the neon, disco brightness of the far future, there is only static grass..."
"Nah. Accurate, but no."
"In purplest day, in bluest night, no paint can cover sculpts so s...."
"Woah."
"We will, we will, rockman you?"
"Get out."
"When it's time to party we will party really very hard!"
"Better... but maybe not the feel we're going for."
"Strike Vector One: The Xilos Horizon?"
"Meaningless. Gibberish. BRILLIANT! Now, let's price them higher than GW and get out there and sell, sell, sell!"
The GOA figures are actually very nicely sculpted, despite some peoples opinions of them. The figures in this set look very nice and this gives me hope that we'll see some of the metal infantry packs replaced with plastic.
The newsletter this was announced in also showed a Concord officer holding up the severed head of a Ghar. I'm guessing that will be the special metal figure.
Oh my gawd YES! So many more drones to add to the collection! And some decent-looking humanoid types.
Man, I am running low on excite-juice after this, Dropfleet Commander, Halo Spaceship somethings, STAW Akira Class, Terminator Plastycs, Mantic's Enfacer Faceship, Medge Pledge Managerpalooza, and WGF's upcoming sci fi stuff.
Of course, they could still screw this up with the pricing and availability.
JohnnyHell wrote: INTERIOR GoAHQ A tagline or title is needed to capture the feel of the retail box art and studio models. Brainstorm goes as follows...
"In the neon, disco brightness of the far future, there is only static grass..."
"Nah. Accurate, but no."
"In purplest day, in bluest night, no paint can cover sculpts so s...."
"Woah."
"We will, we will, rockman you?"
"Get out."
"When it's time to party we will party really very hard!"
"Better... but maybe not the feel we're going for."
"Strike Vector One: The Xilos Horizon?"
"Meaningless. Gibberish. BRILLIANT! Now, let's price them higher than GW and get out there and sell, sell, sell!"
You sir, deserve a medal: the Samaritan's Alabaster Cross of Zycanthus.
The cover of the box does remind me of the clubbing scene back when raves were new and exciting. Forever more shall the beats of Real McCoy's One More Time punctuate the flash and blasts of Strike Vector One.
(Strike Vector One also being a favorite of that young dancer with the glowstick tongue piercing.)
The Ghar looks dumb. Three legs with small feet might look alien, but it also looks like it would be incapable of walking without falling over. It needs bigger legs, more legs or a design more suited to shifting its center of gravity to maintain stability while moving.
I am comfortable with the baseless assumption that it mostly hovers for locomotion, and simply uses the legs for stability when still or meandering in variable gravity environments.
Guildsman wrote: Now see, that box is all wrong. It should have 80s style art, to go with the 80s style sculpts.
...That's rude of me. It's hard to make out much detail from the small picture. If these sculpts are new, and designed for HIPS, they might actually turn out nicely.
If you see them in person they're actually really nice little sculpts, much better than anything we had in the 80's
And besides, what's wrong with the 80's anyway?!! Other than it's music, fashion and films?!!
Interest piqued. I say this as someone who quite liked the metals, but the news that the miniatures are plastic is welcome – from what little I can see they look promising.
I've heard good things about the Bolt Action game mechanics, and infantry-focussed games are what got me into the hobby, so I'll be watching this more closely now.
I'm definitely interested in plastic. The box contents look slim for the price, but I guess that is to be expected from Warlord.
I'll look forward to some good photos of the human troops. I am interested in the lopsided make-up of the starter box forces. The robo-turtle guys must be real killers.
Warlord Games does an interview series with Rick Priestley about Gates of Antares and released part 3 a few days ago
Beyond the Gates of Antares: Ask Rick! – Episode 3
September 9, 2015 - Beyond the Gates of Antares - Tagged: Beyond the Gates of Antares
It’s been a few months now since our last installment of the ‘Ask Rick’ Beyond the Gates of Antares article series… and behind the scenes at Warlord HQ, we’ve been beavering-away in order to get everything readied for the big launch coming later this year…
[...]
These changes are the first public indications of something of a gear-shift for Beyond the Gates of Antares… with the big launch just a few months away, there are some very interesting models being sighted around the Warlord design studio, and excited chatter can be heard across all corners of Warlord HQ – whether it be about models being worked upon, new background fluff being developed, or simply the wider Warlord staff preparing army lists with the finalised form of the rules set…
[...]
John McLean – Any plans for boromite named heroes? Or warriors of renown? Or famous boromite fighting units?
Rick – No plans as yet but we certainly want to do some Boromite character models to go with the range – there are several named in the ‘fiction’ sections of the rulebook – one of which is based on the forthcoming Guildess model that accompanies our Matriarch. There are also more Boromite troop types to cover yet – but again there are references in the background to specific Guilds and clans that we can spring into models.
John McLean – Are there any human offshoots that just went wrong? Became ravening berserkers? or had some other crazy abilities that were not forseen? perhaps they were stranded on some isolated planet, but have now somehow managed to escape?
Rick – You mean in real life or Antares? If the former then yes you bet and I have worked alongside many in my time. If the latter then I’m sure there are – and there are Misgenic Rejects that have quite literally gone wrong during Renegade NuHu genetic experimentation – for which Steve has sculpted some very disturbing models indeed!
John McLean – Since gen modding and bio production is at such an advanced stage in the world, is it likely that we will see clone armies? or mercenary clone units? disposable soldiers sound like a commodity that this galaxy would have exploited at some point? … I am sort of thinking roving fleets of cloned soldiers for hire, purchase squads for elite guards, or company for defense or a whole army for an invasion
Rick – Ghar are clones… grown in vats as required…and Hansa claims that Bo has been regened so many times he’s been awarded a ‘lifetimes’ achievement award.
Matt Houghton – What is the possibility of Algoryn having even larger models representing old grizzled veterans or biologically augmented warriors for the most deadly missions
Rick – Hadn’t any plans for that – the Algoryn have a pretty big range of vehicles planned and the background makes provision for other kinds of fighting formations based in the Founder leger.
Matt Houghton – Will there be background that allows the idea of concord fighting concord for example?
Rick – Concord v Concord or Isorians v Isorians would be quite hard to justify – I’d have to work at that! – similarly Algoryn – but Ghar, Freeborn and Boromites are at each others throats given the drop of a hat.
Matt Houghton – Will there be any methods of hacking in the game to effectively use an enemies technology against them in some form even if it’s just a hinderance
Rick – I’ve created a device that enables one side to battle to control the opposing shard – they’re called a subverter matrix – you use them to snatch opposing order dice from the bag and then they become contested. In other cases there are specific exceptions or vulnerabilities because of the technology – Ghar being largely immune to many of the weapons designed to interact with opposing nano-envelopes (i.e. practically all Antarean machinery).
Matt Houghton – will we see rules for alien fauna or atmosphere types randomly effecting a game ?
Rick – There are a few examples in the terrain section – and I’d certainly like to do more for specific environments – ideal material for our projected campaign based supplements.
Andy Singleton – Will there be a unit creator kit to give people guidelines to make their own vehicles/units /Giant stompy mechs?
Rick – I had intended to include that but ran out of time – but I’d certain like to put something on-line to help folks towards assigning stats for models of their own.
Mateus Carneiro – Are the gates the only means of interstellar travel on the Antares setting? I always liked the idea of stracrafts doing hyperspeed jumps on the spot, and like to thing that the Antares gates are only a faster way of travelling, but ships from advanced societies such as the Concord are also capable of faster-than-light travel, though at a much slower speed (i.e.,the gates allow you to cross in a few hours a distance a spaceship would otherwise take weeks to traverse). Is that Rick’s vision of the whole thing?
Rick – The gates are the key to effective FTL travel – near light speed travel is possible but obviously limits the distance it is practical to colonise or explore. The Isorians perfected near-light speed travel during the isolation following the most recent gate collapse, but nothing goes faster than light!
Alan Bates – It is written that IMTeL nanospheres barely pickup Boromites, is there a potential for an army trait of stealth deployment for them on ‘core’ worlds where tactical coat has traditionally placed a heavy reliance on the nano-network?
Rick – Could be – Ghar are nano-free of course and effectively below the radar for IMTel societies.
D Anthony Radford – With some other game systems they seem to have a limit on army types/races. Will there be any such limitation with BtGoA? And if no limitation, is there a timeline for when we might see new armies, say one a year or every two years?
Rick – We have to flesh out our core six forces first – and just moulding and producing the designs we have will probably take Warlord about a year – though we can still consider new designs within that time of course. Then we’d like to continue with the Vorl range that we have in concept. Beyond that the sky is the limit – and possibly not even that!
D Anthony Radford – Will we be seeing a galactic map that shows the predominant areas for each army and where the unknown or exploration zones would be located?
Rick – Yes I’ve drawn up a solar map of the gate densities for Antares and that will be in the book – I haven’t seen the rendered version yet but it’s planned as a double page spread. It gives the background a physical geography of sorts, which is very helpful when it comes to explaining the relationships between the different factions.
Mateus Carneiro – Are there plans for very heavy infantry units, terminator-style?
Rick – The Ghar battlesuits are something like that of course – otherwise anything along those lines might give us a potential theme for a future force–the main troop types are as we have already created them and based largely upon human sized models (or thereabouts!).
[...]
Remember – to have the chance to have your question answered by the one and only Rick Priestley, head over to the official Warlord Games Facebook page – and post your question on the relevant thread – and keep your eyes peeled for a response in a future Newsletter!
Today's WL newsletter contained a pic of the painted Ghars from the starter set and some background info:
SIGHTED: GHAR BATTLE SQUAD
The Ghar are twisted, spiteful and pitiless creatures driven by an unquenchable hatred of all panhumans. They view other kinds of human as vermin that it is their job to eradicate...
Ghar Technology
Ghar technology is profoundly dangerous not just to their enemies but to the Ghar themselves. This danger is something that would never be acceptable with the advanced IMTel society of the PanHuman Concord or even the more wholly human civilisations of the Determinate.
The pollutants and high levels of radiation emitted by Ghar technology are bad enough, but nothing compared to the horrors unleashed by their quantum gravity based weapons and force fields. The consequences include micro-fragmentation of the fabric of space-time and occasional large-scale disruption to the cohesion of the local universe. These things only affect the Ghar to a minor degree because their machines are so primitive, but wreak havoc with advanced nano-based technologies.
This is one reason why worlds destroyed by the Ghar remain ruinous. They are so highly contaminated by quantum gravity fall out it is impossible for an advanced nano-based society to resettle or even occupy them.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I prefer a darker armor like in this artwork:
Yeah, I was not sold on this range at all but the bikes and walkers put the rest of the range into a nice looking light. Unfortunately, it's still priced beyond my rational gaming limit.
£70/$112 for the starter set, and £30/$48 for just the rulebook according to Warlord's newsletter. All launch copies (for however long that lasts) of the starter will have the limited C3 Strike Leader in them.
Mymearan wrote: What's the point of three-legged robots? Wouldn't they have a real hard time moving efficiently?
As opposed to two-legged robots?
If you can get over a stunty, no-knee, impossible-to-get-body-centre-of-gravity-over-one-leg Dreadnought "walking" (allegedly), these shouldn't be much of a stretch.
Mymearan wrote: What's the point of three-legged robots? Wouldn't they have a real hard time moving efficiently?
As opposed to two-legged robots?
If you can get over a stunty, no-knee, impossible-to-get-body-centre-of-gravity-over-one-leg Dreadnought "walking" (allegedly), these shouldn't be much of a stretch.
Well, yeah, as opposed to two or four legs. We have 2 legs and can walk fine, so a two legged robot with decent proportions would be fine too. I mean you're kind of assuming Mymearan doesn't have a problem with the dreadnought, which they very much might (it is ridiculous after all, but not because it has two legs). Three legs just doesn't seem like it would work very well for walking, two or four seem a better design.
Mymearan wrote: What's the point of three-legged robots? Wouldn't they have a real hard time moving efficiently?
As opposed to two-legged robots?
If you can get over a stunty, no-knee, impossible-to-get-body-centre-of-gravity-over-one-leg Dreadnought "walking" (allegedly), these shouldn't be much of a stretch.
I'm not in love with the 40k dreadnought design but humanoid robots with two legs, while pretty dumb in concept, are a staple of sci-fi and the design is iconic, which makes suspension of disbelief pretty easy. I don't know why but three-legged things just really stick out like a sore thumb to me. There was another game that had them recently as well.
Alpharius wrote: $112 seems a bit steep for what you're getting.
Are the contents 100% finalized?
Maybe I'm desensitized due to abuse by GW, but isn't it fairly standard pricing?
Hard bound full rulebook, dice(looks like army specific), templates, 2 armies.
I guess they could have done a different second army so that it had an image of more models per dollar. Looks like the Ghar walkers must be priced like SM Centurions.
TheWaspinator wrote: A lot of my opinion of that price depends on how big that rulebook is. It is hardcover, so it might be seriously affecting the value of the set.
I managed to find info the book...
the Hardback rulebook (which has grown to more than 290 pages – packed with backstory, never-before-seen artwork, army lists for all six of the initial races, and the full rules for the game.)
Alpharius wrote: $112 seems a bit steep for what you're getting.
Are the contents 100% finalized?
Maybe I'm desensitized due to abuse by GW, but isn't it fairly standard pricing?
Hard bound full rulebook, dice(looks like army specific), templates, 2 armies.
I guess they could have done a different second army so that it had an image of more models per dollar. Looks like the Ghar walkers must be priced like SM Centurions.
Sure, but GW's starters are known quantities. For some new game trying to make a splash on the scene (or some other metaphors), the pricing seems presumptuous.
Nope, not just you. I am not sure why Warlord is charging so much more for these minis. Their historical stuff is just as nice and much more reasonably priced. I have some of the Algoryn that I bought during the testing phase and while I think they're really nice, they seem a bit pricey. Being a new game, you'd hope they would come in at a decent price and get more people interested. The price tag and the fact it's only 30 minis may deter people from buying it.
Alpharius wrote: $112 seems a bit steep for what you're getting.
Are the contents 100% finalized?
Maybe I'm desensitized due to abuse by GW, but isn't it fairly standard pricing?
Hard bound full rulebook, dice(looks like army specific), templates, 2 armies.
I guess they could have done a different second army so that it had an image of more models per dollar. Looks like the Ghar walkers must be priced like SM Centurions.
Sure, but GW's starters are known quantities. For some new game trying to make a splash on the scene (or some other metaphors), the pricing seems presumptuous.
It is not just you. I also see this as a "miniatures only pledge that includes free rules", and as such it is not a good deal.
Additionally, the miniatures in the two most recent GW box sets have been really fantastic. Those DV Chosen are still basically the most awesome Chaos models in the current range.
This stuff, on the other hand, looks like GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s produced them. Not exactly AWFUL, but compared to the overall quality of wargames (not just GW) out there today, they are perhaps competitive (I personally have a low opinion of them, but others clearly like them), but even if you like them, the quality of the designs doesn't justify the price point. The only reason GW keeps getting away with outrageous pricing is that its designs and execution is pretty great.
What's actually wrong with these? They look more natural and normal than GW designs anyway. GW has these huge bulging meat sacks covered to the extreme with useless details or covered to the extreme in really thick and chunky armour also covered in details.
It's probably worth noting that it's the style of these you do not like rather than the technical quality. I personally much prefer the more normal style of these sculpts than all of the GW models I have ever purchased.
Can you explain how these models are "GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s"? Because all im seeing is a different style of models (more natural and normal compared to GW action figure style).
Swastakowey wrote: What's actually wrong with these? They look more natural and normal than GW designs anyway. GW has these huge bulging meat sacks covered to the extreme with useless details or covered to the extreme in really thick and chunky armour also covered in details.
It's probably worth noting that it's the style of these you do not like rather than the technical quality. I personally much prefer the more normal style of these sculpts than all of the GW models I have ever purchased.
Can you explain how these models are "GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s"? Because all im seeing is a different style of models (more natural and normal compared to GW action figure style).
First of all, crab-clawed tripods are normal for you?
Second, take a look at where the Gates Guys' shoulders are and where their necks are and tell me again about normal proportions.
Third, outside of the drones and Rainbow Mantis Daleks, the Gates minis are generic, without anything that makes them stand out over Mantic Enforcers, Dreamforge Stormtroopers, or MEdge Karists that would justify the price disparity.
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
All of that doesn't really matter since the price is so audacious as to render a mote in the mini's eye into a beam at the till. An expensive beam. therefore, we definitely need to judge those motes, lest we be fleeced.
(I failed that course on metaphors like a brick through butter.)
Swastakowey wrote: What's actually wrong with these? They look more natural and normal than GW designs anyway. GW has these huge bulging meat sacks covered to the extreme with useless details or covered to the extreme in really thick and chunky armour also covered in details.
It's probably worth noting that it's the style of these you do not like rather than the technical quality. I personally much prefer the more normal style of these sculpts than all of the GW models I have ever purchased.
Can you explain how these models are "GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s"? Because all im seeing is a different style of models (more natural and normal compared to GW action figure style).
First of all, crab-clawed tripods are normal for you?
Second, take a look at where the Gates Guys' shoulders are and where their necks are and tell me again about normal proportions.
Third, outside of the drones and Rainbow Mantis Daleks, the Gates minis are generic, without anything that makes them stand out over Mantic Enforcers, Dreamforge Stormtroopers, or MEdge Karists that would justify the price disparity.
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
All of that doesn't really matter since the price is so audacious as to render a mote in the mini's eye into a beam at the till. An expensive beam. therefore, we definitely need to judge those motes, lest we be fleeced.
(I failed that course on metaphors like a brick through butter.)
I don't care about generic, I actually prefer normal look generic over fanc etc.
The crab alien walker things I agree on, but the guys I looked at on the store looks pretty fine to me. Nothing backward or bad about them. I actually really like them. Again though, you seem to be attacking the style not the technical quality... I was merely saying that I like the style of these models but not GW style to show that if it's style then the models aren't "GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s " (well not that I can see) and more just a different style.
These like fine. Especially the infantry and the beginner armies on their website. Nothing like these sorts of items that actually came from the 90s
I mean come on, these gates models are way beyond that...
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
)
Put any GW mini beside any Infinity mini and say again that GW aren't out of proportion.
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
)
Put any GW mini beside any Infinity mini and say again that GW aren't out of proportion.
that quote got messed up, Eggs, it was Bob that said that...
i put GW minis next to Infinity minis everyday, and then i paint the GW mini, because that is the style i prefer...
"heavily stylized" is how i like my minis best...
i still buy a lot of Infinity, but true-scale doesn't inspire me to paint as much as heroic-scale does...
i want my minis to look like they just stepped out of a comic book...
these GoA minis are alright, but i don't see them making me reach for my wallet...
i think the price is fair...
it's not cheap to design and tool these plastics, and a hardback rulebook isn't a cheap investment either...
then there is the balance between how cheap to price it versus how many boxes you expect to sell...
it's a tough choice...
at least they've gone all-in on the quality...
i can respect that...
As for the price, look at the Bolt Action starter: 20 infantry vs. 12 infantry in an APC. Same price.
since that's all basic 25mm infantry I'd say the plastic in those sets is worth about as much.
Now look at how individual plastic kits for BA are priced: GBP 30ish for 40 infantry is no exception, and GBP 16-20 per (plastic) vehicle isn't too shabby either.
It might not be the value that GW starters bring, but at least you're not paying through the nose for the rest of the minis.
Of course I'm assuming they'll actually price GoA somewhat like BA - I agree the price point for the current GoA metal models is ridiculous.
Gw starters gave plastic templates as well, and full rules but in small softcover (at least dv; AoS of course just has the few pages also available online since that's all there is).
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
)
Put any GW mini beside any Infinity mini and say again that GW aren't out of proportion.
Put any chibi mini next to an Infinity mini and say the chibi mini is out of proportion. Then wonder why everyone else looks at you with speculative pity, then glances at each other, perhaps rolling their eyes or twirling a finger at their temples.
My point is that modern GW minis are actually well proportioned for heroic scale minis. Deriding them for not being true scale is one thing, but being oblivious to their stylistic choices and acting like they were just sculpted all wonky-wiggins bulbous heads and elbows because they are just bad...is missing the point.
It sounds to me like Swas is talking about the metal minis and not the plastic starter minis. He might be right about how great they are, but I'll never know because there's no way I'll ever buy any of them. The plastic starter minis are really the only things that make GoA worth talking about these days.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
solkan wrote: It's perfectly American to admit you have bad taste. And that goes double for anyone dissing on the tripods.
The tripods are the minis I am most excited for, but I am honest enough to admit that's because I have bad taste. I can love something and still find amusement with its flaws, perhaps because of those flaws.
Swastakowey wrote: What's actually wrong with these? They look more natural and normal than GW designs anyway. GW has these huge bulging meat sacks covered to the extreme with useless details or covered to the extreme in really thick and chunky armour also covered in details.
It's probably worth noting that it's the style of these you do not like rather than the technical quality. I personally much prefer the more normal style of these sculpts than all of the GW models I have ever purchased.
Can you explain how these models are "GW/Citadel second stringers from the early 1990s"? Because all im seeing is a different style of models (more natural and normal compared to GW action figure style).
First of all, crab-clawed tripods are normal for you?
Second, take a look at where the Gates Guys' shoulders are and where their necks are and tell me again about normal proportions.
Third, outside of the drones and Rainbow Mantis Daleks, the Gates minis are generic, without anything that makes them stand out over Mantic Enforcers, Dreamforge Stormtroopers, or MEdge Karists that would justify the price disparity.
Third and a half, GW's minis are not out of proportion, but rather heavily stylized. Complaining about them is equivalent to snarking about chibi minis for having stubby limbs and huge heads. It doesn't reflect as much on the minis as you might think.
All of that doesn't really matter since the price is so audacious as to render a mote in the mini's eye into a beam at the till. An expensive beam. therefore, we definitely need to judge those motes, lest we be fleeced.
(I failed that course on metaphors like a brick through butter.)
Thanks, "Bob" I could not have made these points better myself. I'll leave it at this then.
Nope, not just you. I am not sure why Warlord is charging so much more for these minis. Their historical stuff is just as nice and much more reasonably priced. I have some of the Algoryn that I bought during the testing phase and while I think they're really nice, they seem a bit pricey. Being a new game, you'd hope they would come in at a decent price and get more people interested. The price tag and the fact it's only 30 minis may deter people from buying it.
Same price as their historical stuff.
Bolt Action D-Day Firefight is Bolt Action mini rulebook, Scenario booklet, 1 modular plastic ruined farmhouse, 12 plastic multi-pose 28mm German Grenadiers, 1 plastic 251/1D Hanomag half-track, 20 plastic multi-pose 28mm US Army troops
Quick reference sheet, 60 cardboard (cut out yourself) Pin Markers, 2 cardboard (cut out yourself) Rulers, 10 six-sided dice, 10 Bolt Action Orders Dice
versus
20 Plastic Concord Strike Troopers, 4 Plastic Concord Support Drones, 3 Plastic Ghar Battle Squad Walkers, 3 Plastic Ghar Assault Squad Walkers, Launch edition metal character model
Full Hard Back Rulebook, Plastic templates and shot tokens, Scenario booklet, Plastic Pin markers, 10 Order Dice, a pile of polyhedral dice
Both are $112.
(honestly content-wise Antares looks better than D-Day Firefight because of all the plastic templates and pin markers)
One of the way GW gets away with much cheaper starter sets is the sprue design: you have monopose, 1-3 piece models, with no options, occupying a smaller space. Warlord gives you the full retail sprues. The Grenadiers in D-Day firefight have a pile of rifles, assault rifles, SMGs, MG42s, Panzerfausts, head options, maps, binoculars, pistols, and even a tiny plastic Iron Cross if you want to customize your dudes ever more. And the sets are definitely cheaper than retail; for example, the Armoured Fury Bolt Action Tank War starter set contains five $32 tanks plus the mini rulebook and dice for $128 - that's 20% off retail on just the tanks alone and not counting the value of the rulebook and order dice (at least another $20 on top of that)
But GW has always had the best looking starter sets; it's hard for anyone to top them.
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jah-joshua wrote: i put GW minis next to Infinity minis everyday, and then i paint the GW mini, because that is the style i prefer...
"heavily stylized" is how i like my minis best...
Different strokes... I've been painting a lot of Lord of the Rings figures lately and painted an entire Perry Miniatures DAK army and played an AWI game full of Fife & Drum and WGF minis.
And the more I'm exposed to true-scale stuff, the more I love it, and conversely, for the goofy heroic 28-32 of 40k, Maelstrom's Edge, etc, the more I despise it.
I'm all about true(ish) scale nowadays, so true(r) scale sci fi stuff strokes a pleasure center that 40k never did.
Nope, not just you. I am not sure why Warlord is charging so much more for these minis. Their historical stuff is just as nice and much more reasonably priced. I have some of the Algoryn that I bought during the testing phase and while I think they're really nice, they seem a bit pricey. Being a new game, you'd hope they would come in at a decent price and get more people interested. The price tag and the fact it's only 30 minis may deter people from buying it.
Same price as their historical stuff.
Bolt Action D-Day Firefight is Bolt Action mini rulebook, Scenario booklet, 1 modular plastic ruined farmhouse, 12 plastic multi-pose 28mm German Grenadiers, 1 plastic 251/1D Hanomag half-track, 20 plastic multi-pose 28mm US Army troops
Quick reference sheet, 60 cardboard (cut out yourself) Pin Markers, 2 cardboard (cut out yourself) Rulers, 10 six-sided dice, 10 Bolt Action Orders Dice
versus
20 Plastic Concord Strike Troopers, 4 Plastic Concord Support Drones, 3 Plastic Ghar Battle Squad Walkers, 3 Plastic Ghar Assault Squad Walkers, Launch edition metal character model
Full Hard Back Rulebook, Plastic templates and shot tokens, Scenario booklet, Plastic Pin markers, 10 Order Dice, a pile of polyhedral dice
Both are $112.
(honestly content-wise Antares looks better than D-Day Firefight because of all the plastic templates and pin markers)
One of the way GW gets away with much cheaper starter sets is the sprue design: you have monopose, 1-3 piece models, with no options, occupying a smaller space. Warlord gives you the full retail sprues. The Grenadiers in D-Day firefight have a pile of rifles, assault rifles, SMGs, MG42s, Panzerfausts, head options, maps, binoculars, pistols, and even a tiny plastic Iron Cross if you want to customize your dudes ever more. And the sets are definitely cheaper than retail; for example, the Armoured Fury Bolt Action Tank War starter set contains five $32 tanks plus the mini rulebook and dice for $128 - that's 20% off retail on just the tanks alone and not counting the value of the rulebook and order dice (at least another $20 on top of that)
But GW has always had the best looking starter sets; it's hard for anyone to top them.
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jah-joshua wrote: i put GW minis next to Infinity minis everyday, and then i paint the GW mini, because that is the style i prefer...
"heavily stylized" is how i like my minis best...
Different strokes... I've been painting a lot of Lord of the Rings figures lately and painted an entire Perry Miniatures DAK army and played an AWI game full of Fife & Drum and WGF minis.
And the more I'm exposed to true-scale stuff, the more I love it, and conversely, for the goofy heroic 28-32 of 40k, Maelstrom's Edge, etc, the more I despise it.
I'm all about true(ish) scale nowadays, so true(r) scale sci fi stuff strokes a pleasure center that 40k never did.
Same price? Sorry, I should have been more clear. I was mostly referring to the metal models. They are much more expensive than the historical stuff. For example Waffen SS box- $47. That gets you 17 infantry, a crewed gun/artillery piece, 3 crew and extra heads. For Gates, a 5 man squad is $32. The Bolt Action starter also comes with the ruined building and vehicle. I like Gates and the models. I just don't think they're justified selling them for that much more than their historical minis. My opinion, of course.
Nope, not just you. I am not sure why Warlord is charging so much more for these minis. Their historical stuff is just as nice and much more reasonably priced. I have some of the Algoryn that I bought during the testing phase and while I think they're really nice, they seem a bit pricey. Being a new game, you'd hope they would come in at a decent price and get more people interested. The price tag and the fact it's only 30 minis may deter people from buying it.
Same price as their historical stuff.
For me, the price means I won't be buying any of GoA or their WWII stuff. I basically value the rulebook, random tokens, cardboard, etc. at about $5-10, which is what I might pay for them to read the fluff. I think the concord guys could look OK with a different paint-job, and I don't mind the tripod guys, but for the money I get bucket loads more sculpts that I like much more in the same 'heroic' type style from Maelstrom's edge.
Again, tastes will vary and I can respect that, but for people who are into heroic scale stuff, I think GoA will have a hard time making the sell.
The Crab walkers look okay, but three of them is a pretty small number. As for the humans, I think they're better than the MEdge humans with square shoulderpads, but inferior to the other ME guys (with the masks and rounded armour).
Apes quite often walk tripedally, e.g. when carrying stuff with the other limb. I don't find the Trileks too jarring, particulary compared to Dreads (who I always imagine rolling around like R2D2 anyway).
Azazelx wrote: The Crab walkers look okay, but three of them is a pretty small number. As for the humans, I think they're better than the MEdge humans with square shoulderpads, but inferior to the other ME guys (with the masks and rounded armour).
Good thing you get three each of two variants for a total of six, then.
I'm not so sure your argument holds up considering the Algoryn aren't human. If that was a Concord trooper, I might agree with you. However, I've never seen anyone compare a Concord against anything else. It's always Algoryn. And they really aren't that tall. I've got an Algoryn trooper too, and he's only barely taller than my old sculpts Infinity Morats that I have him hanging out with.
Barzam wrote: I'm not so sure your argument holds up considering the Algoryn aren't human. If that was a Concord trooper, I might agree with you. However, I've never seen anyone compare a Concord against anything else. It's always Algoryn. And they really aren't that tall. I've got an Algoryn trooper too, and he's only barely taller than my old sculpts Infinity Morats that I have him hanging out with.
I only have Algoryn and Boromite figures, but the available pics of Concord on standard 25mm round Renedra style bases do show that they are equally as tall as Algoryn.
judgedoug wrote: Gates of Antares models are also much, much taller than normal 28mm figures. I am pretty sure they are 1/48, much like Terminator.
Notice how large the GoA model is and I haven't even put him on a base yet.
left to right: $10 USD Battletech Hellhound, $10 USD Sigmarite, $6.50 USD Algoryn (Gates of Antares), $2 USD Easterling
SO oversized and not easily cross-compatible, like Dystopian Legions guys? That's a bit unfortunate.
judgedoug wrote: Gates of Antares models are also much, much taller than normal 28mm figures. I am pretty sure they are 1/48, much like Terminator.
Notice how large the GoA model is and I haven't even put him on a base yet.
left to right: $10 USD Battletech Hellhound, $10 USD Sigmarite, $6.50 USD Algoryn (Gates of Antares), $2 USD Easterling
SO oversized and not easily cross-compatible, like Dystopian Legions guys? That's a bit unfortunate.
Same scale as Infinity, Terminator, and Warpath (Enforcers are tall as gak) and newer Warzone And the new Icarus Project. I'm pretty sure everyone is moving towards 1/48 at this point.
IE: Not big heads, not big hands, and a waist.
The only thing it's not really compatible with is 40k and Maelstrom's Edge. And old, dead games like Void and Vor and Warzone 1. Anything sculpted with melon head, ham fist, and missing a waist.
Automatically Appended Next Post: It looks like the Retailer edition of Gates of Antares will have a limited edition Ghar miniature (whereas the Warlord direct has the limited edition Concord miniature)
Also a FLGS with a Warlord retail account that orders the Gates of Antares store bundle also receives a giant poster of the cover art signed by Rick Priestley to display.
Wayland just sent out their preorder email for GoA. They seem to have the Concord miniature and will be selling the box for £56, which seems a bargain. The release date is the 7th of November.
Wayland are also having a launch day on the 7th, with lots of demo games. The event is free, but there are vip tickets for a fiver that get you a free model (no idea which one), plus some seminars with Rick and the development team
Well, the Ghar is certainly going to be a chunk. I looked over my figures last night and the Algoryn is pretty much the same height as a Morat. So, judging from that pic, the Concord should be just about right in line with the current Infinity figures.
Think £56 for this set seems very reasonable, just got a mail from Wayland with that price.
The Ghar design makes me think a bit of how the Idirans are described in the Iain M Banks book Consider Phlebas (three legs, bulky armoured suits). In fact, a number of things about GoA remind me of Banks' Culture novels!
The plastic Ghar look great as robots or Dalek-style cyborgs, or even as Vorlon-style encounter suits. The other designs, with the Ghar pilot sitting in the unarmored section, as well as the sculpts with visible Ghar faces, are just uncomfortably bad. The scorpion could probably be salvaged by removing the pilot, although then it would just be another sci fi scorpion robot, but the aliens(abhumans?) themselves look awful, like unreleased-Roger Corman-movie awful.
I really like them small vicious and very angry, ott small man syndrome
It's worth noting that the outcasts are Ghar that have failed in battle and are thrown into battle as cannon fodder, without their usual battle gear, kind of like 40k grots (if grots usually had mega armour)
So is the rabbit from Nu Pogodi, but I wouldn't want it anywhere near my techno-scorpions.
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endtransmission wrote: I still like the 5th Element style armour concept. It would be a shame if that isn't made
Yeah, I like those concepts so much I might even buy one of those in metal.
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edlowe wrote: I really like them small vicious and very angry, ott small man syndrome
It's worth noting that the outcasts are Ghar that have failed in battle and are thrown into battle as cannon fodder, without their usual battle gear, kind of like 40k grots (if grots usually had mega armour)
...
I think I'm just going to forge my own narrative on this one.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: The plastic Ghar look great as robots or Dalek-style cyborgs, or even as Vorlon-style encounter suits. The other designs, with the Ghar pilot sitting in the unarmored section, as well as the sculpts with visible Ghar faces, are just uncomfortably bad. The scorpion could probably be salvaged by removing the pilot, although then it would just be another sci fi scorpion robot, but the aliens(abhumans?) themselves look awful, like unreleased-Roger Corman-movie awful.
Yeah... wow. There's bad, laughably bad, and then this. Cartoony high-tech robots, with orks inside that are somehow even uglier than GW's? Are they trying to fail? I keep trying to find reasons to like this game, I really do, but then these sort of things happen.
I think it's funny that the Ghar are these big bad, psychotic killing machines that are pretty much rampaging across human space, and they actually look like that.
Barzam wrote: I think it's funny that the Ghar are these big bad, psychotic killing machines that are pretty much rampaging across human space, and they actually look like that.
Reminds me of BBC sci-fi.
from an American perspective, mind you.
Barzam wrote: I think it's funny that the Ghar are these big bad, psychotic killing machines that are pretty much rampaging across human space, and they actually look like that.
Reminds me of BBC sci-fi.
from an American perspective, mind you.
I really want some of the tripod / crab Ghar in plastic, sold independently of the box set, as I don't need any more standard sci-fi trooper humans. Love the design, and love the Dalek-esque take. Not into the outcast Ghar at all, though. I think the heads are ruining them for me. I'd like something more, well, disgusting to be concealed inside those battle suits.
The new models are looking very promising. The ghar outcasts strike the right balance between believable sci-fi and fun space opera for me – I like the fact the gameworld is less po-faced than the competition. I think a bit of humour adds a lot to a game – not least defusing tension and reminding us it's a game.
I LOVE THEM EVEN MORE NOW
i cannot believe how much these little lumpy monkey space men are stroking my visual pleasure centers
Ghar military formations are built around units of battle-armoured infantry armed with multi-functional scourer cannons. These troops make up the overwhelming proportion of Ghar forces together with other battle-suited troopers carrying specialised arms of one kind or other. Ghar battle armour is in many ways more like a small vehicle than conventional armour, a self-contained fighting machine whose pilot occupies a tiny cell within it and interfaces with the machine by means of neural implants.
The Ghar themselves would not choose to fight without the protection of their machines. Without access to mechanical sensors their native senses are poor and their bodies weak and vulnerable. Only creatures that have failed their masters and been reduced to the status of outcasts fight in this way. Their most useful role is to absorb enemy fire and expose enemy positions – a kind of reconnaissance by self-sacrifice that is judged a fitting end for Ghar who disappoint their overlords.
PREORDER UPDATE: FIRST EXCLUSIVE ITEM
All preorders placed with Warlord Games for the Launch Edition box set of Beyond the Gates of Antares will receive a print of the Xilos Horizon cover art individually signed by Rick Priestley, the games author.
Interesting, I disliked them before and now with that paint scheme they are better, they do grow on me.
The older Zbrush-'grey sculpt' pics did not do the concept a favour, but the paint schemes together with the fluff make them quite a lot less gobo (I thought they were intended to be like that) in a good way.
In comparison with for example Kev Adams' greenskins they looked bad. But these are more like shaved Gremlins or The Fraggles unearthed. Without their suits now bathing daily in Sunblocker 2000. And their eyes are not coping with the outer world succesfully either...
Let's see how this is going to continue with the other Ghar models. Looks quite cool imho
That paint scheme was clearly inspired by the transients living at the Ashby BART station. The one in the middle also has that bug-eyed, two-toothed Futurama look that helps immerse players in a new gaming universe without feeling at all like they are wasting their time and money on a product that even its own creators barely like.
It's also a huge pet peeve of mine when only one out of the squad is even aiming his weapon, with a second one in a very context-dependent shooting-over-a-crate pose. I guess I just came into gaming too late to appreciate models with this much 'character', but those are some embarrassing minis to my eyes. I can't believe a few pages ago people were praising GoA over GW for it's realistic proportions and lack of hokeyness.
It looks like the Retailer edition of Gates of Antares will have a limited edition Ghar miniature (whereas the Warlord direct has the limited edition Concord miniature)
Also a FLGS with a Warlord retail account that orders the Gates of Antares store bundle also receives a giant poster of the cover art signed by Rick Priestley to display.
Do you have any additional info on the limited edition Ghar miniature? Where did you hear about that? I am more interested in the Ghar than the Concord.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: That paint scheme was clearly inspired by the transients living at the Ashby BART station. The one in the middle also has that bug-eyed, two-toothed Futurama look that helps immerse players in a new gaming universe without feeling at all like they are wasting their time and money on a product that even its own creators barely like.
It's also a huge pet peeve of mine when only one out of the squad is even aiming his weapon, with a second one in a very context-dependent shooting-over-a-crate pose. I guess I just came into gaming too late to appreciate models with this much 'character', but those are some embarrassing minis to my eyes. I can't believe a few pages ago people were praising GoA over GW for it's realistic proportions and lack of hokeyness.
Even the fluff feels dated and half-hearted.
Whoa there Bob, there is no crate required for that pose. Assuming you're referring to the unarmored Ghar all the way on the right.
It looks like the Retailer edition of Gates of Antares will have a limited edition Ghar miniature (whereas the Warlord direct has the limited edition Concord miniature)
Also a FLGS with a Warlord retail account that orders the Gates of Antares store bundle also receives a giant poster of the cover art signed by Rick Priestley to display.
Do you have any additional info on the limited edition Ghar miniature? Where did you hear about that? I am more interested in the Ghar than the Concord.
Retailer Newsletter
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AlexHolker wrote:Those look terrible. I know that's on purpose, but deliberately ugly is still ugly.
I don't get this! They're so goddamn adorable
If anything, I went from being "meh to somewhat interested" to "head over heels in love" because of those Ghar dudes. I love them and I hope they make a stuffed teddy bear Ghar version so I can call him George.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: JudgeDoug, I hope they bring you years of happiness. I don't understand the appeal, but I will try to stop judging.
Gosh, I hope they bring me happiness, too. I don't understand the appeal either, but I love them, so very much, and I don't know why. They're so ugly that they crossed back around to cute, I dunno. Their faces are alskdjalkfjsd aslkljasdfjkdjklsdsdjfkl
BobtheInquisitor wrote: JudgeDoug, I hope they bring you years of happiness. I don't understand the appeal, but I will try to stop judging.
Gosh, I hope they bring me happiness, too. I don't understand the appeal either, but I love them, so very much, and I don't know why. They're so ugly that they crossed back around to cute, I dunno. Their faces are alskdjalkfjsd aslkljasdfjkdjklsdsdjfkl
Spoiler:
?
Or like if Brundlefly had stubby chibi-style limbs?
Really not sure about these ghar outcast. Really liker the walkers, but these guys are way tooo silly, and looks, like bad sunday morning cartoons vilains
I think they look cool with the showcase paint job. I actually find it funny they looks like untrained little dudes who are wary/frightened of the situation. They probably all wish they had one of those suits or something right now.
It looks like the Retailer edition of Gates of Antares will have a limited edition Ghar miniature (whereas the Warlord direct has the limited edition Concord miniature)
Also a FLGS with a Warlord retail account that orders the Gates of Antares store bundle also receives a giant poster of the cover art signed by Rick Priestley to display.
Do you have any additional info on the limited edition Ghar miniature? Where did you hear about that? I am more interested in the Ghar than the Concord.
Retailer Newsletter
.
Oh. So it sounds like the special Ghar miniature is just one per store or something, for ordering the retailer demo pack. That's sad.
Albino Squirrel wrote: Oh. So it sounds like the special Ghar miniature is just one per store or something, for ordering the retailer demo pack. That's sad.
I didn't copy paste over the contents. It's one per copy ordered if the store orders the launch pack (so six figures, six retail box sets)
You're getting close. I don't quite understand it myself.
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Swastakowey wrote: I think they look cool with the showcase paint job. I actually find it funny they looks like untrained little dudes who are wary/frightened of the situation. They probably all wish they had one of those suits or something right now.
That's the fluff apparently:
The Ghar themselves would not choose to fight without the protection of their machines. Without access to mechanical sensors their native senses are poor and their bodies weak and vulnerable. Only creatures that have failed their masters and been reduced to the status of outcasts fight in this way. Their most useful role is to absorb enemy fire and expose enemy positions – a kind of reconnaissance by self-sacrifice that is judged a fitting end for Ghar who disappoint their overlords.
Just to confirm something: are the order dice the same for this game and the ones for Bolt Action? Because that would reduce the annoyance of needing to buy their dice no matter what models you're using.
Honestly, you could use regular d6s for order dice as long as (a) you made a little conversion chart and (b) you and your opponent use d6s of the same size and shape (e.g., rounded v square edges) so they cannot be distinguished when drawing. But is that honestly preferable to just buying a pack of order dice?
I had, once upon a time, a very high hope for this game.
I'm incredibly turned off by this, from the sculpts to the blob bases put into plastic round bases, it's like someone dredged 1987 for it's worst scifi concepts and sculpts.
It's a brand new game that looks like it should have been advertised in an old dragon magazine.
I'm incredibly turned off by this, from the sculpts to the blob bases put into plastic round bases, it's like someone dredged 1987 for it's worst scifi concepts and sculpts.
It's a brand new game that looks like it should have been advertised in an old dragon magazine.
I think you are giving 1987 a lot of credit there... have you actually seen models from 1987?
Im really impressed with the evolution.
Makes me want to get off my ass and grunge up a alien race for them.
Mind you, I was pretty vocal on the gakky sculpts in the beginning, but in the spirit of Salvage Mogul, I can see where they are going with this.
!@#$ing amazing in concept, I hope the future give them a better lead, to be quite honest, they are looking like that they are trying to out infinity- Infinity.
Questionable, but then they said that they were going to have more races.... The spunks donmt look half bad if they are a little more vicious then they look. They kinda look like Morlocs, or something.
I could see myself getting the armored Ghar for non-Antares gaming purposes. I really like them as a small, elite force, especially for skirmish gaming where just three of them could make up an entire force. I think they might look far better in a non-white color scheme, especially black/red or a dark metal.
The Launch Edition is being made available first to you the people who have supported Beyond the Gates of Antares from its very beginning or have shown an interest by downloading the Beta rules PDF. Your orders will be shipped as a priority from Warlord Games with extra preorder exclusive goodies - so far this includes a signed print of the box cover art & a free PDF download of the Ghar & Concord army lists.
Those plastics are pretty phenomenal. Looks to be the same quality as the last few Bolt Action infantry releases - the Grenadiers and Fallschirmjager - which are both top notch.
Sprue looks good. I like that they managed to get a complete squad with drones and a weapon option all on a single sprue. Here's hoping that the Isorians get the same treatment.
I really like those drones. The troops are pretty neat, too, excepting their weird clavicle armor. They look like a bunch of stormtroopers just out of a sauna. At least the helmets and weapons are great.
I don't think those plastics look very promising. Seems to be a lot of soft edges, but hopefully they are just poor photographs. The drones are a cool design.
Not sure if it's the painting though, they're rather crudely over-highlighted, much like the Warlord historicals.
Not sure if I'll go for this, it seems really similar to Maesltrom's Edge, right down to the colour schemes in the box being carbon copied from the Epirians and Karists.
The rules being Bolt Action in space at least means it'll play well.
BobtheInquisitor wrote:I guess I just came into gaming too late to appreciate models with this much 'character', but those are some embarrassing minis to my eyes. I can't believe a few pages ago people were praising GoA over GW for it's realistic proportions and lack of hokeyness.
MeanGreenStompa wrote:
I'm incredibly turned off by this, from the sculpts to the blob bases put into plastic round bases, it's like someone dredged 1987 for it's worst scifi concepts and sculpts.
Yyyup.
Beginning to wonder if companies set up and run by ex-GW staff of yeeeaaars past can entirely pull themselves into the twenty-tens.
Well my core group of gamer friends all went insane last night and we combined our resources and pre-ordered four copies of the game.
All the "launch day" incentives and freebies helped tip it (the exclusive Fartok miniature only available for preordering on launch day was a big one!), and Manchu's nice overview of the Beta (http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/664369.page) was the tipping point.
Well all like the minis a lot and the rules look great.
Not sure if it's the painting though, they're rather crudely over-highlighted, much like the Warlord historicals.
Not sure if I'll go for this, it seems really similar to Maesltrom's Edge, right down to the colour schemes in the box being carbon copied from the Epirians and Karists.
The rules being Bolt Action in space at least means it'll play well.
That last point is what tips it for me.
I want a platoon level sci-fi game that doesn't have ridiculous amounts of miniatures/tanks on the board, isn't too overblown with its design concepts and involves an element of tactical play. As far as I'm concerned there isn't another game on the market that fulfils all three of these criteria so I'm definitely going to be getting into GoA when it's released.
I haven't seen any announcement as yet, but all of their other starter set components (Romans, Celts, WW2 etc.) have been available separately so I would be surprised if these weren't released also at some point.
As a special thank you for pre-ordering from Warlord Games you will also receive the following absolutely free...
- A print of the box cover artwork personally signed by the games creator Rick Priestley
- Free PDF downloads of the Ghar and Concord Army lists from the book
- The exclusive pre-order miniature Fartok, Leader of Battle Group Nine - this figure will not be available again after launch day!
...so - as long as you pre-order direct from the Warlord website, you'll receive all of the above - up until launch day... so, the Fartok miniature is still available if you pre-order up until launch (Early November, apparently)
Pacific wrote: Damnit I usually never go for a manufacturer direct pre-order, wish I had waited for the Warlord offer now rather than going through a retailer!
Retailer has exclusive miniature too!
See attached image from the retailer launch pack 1. Comes with 6 exclusive minis, one for each of the six box sets. (assuming your retailer has a Warlord account and deals with them directly)
This just popped into my inbox. I am not investing in this right now - Infinity remains my love, plus I don't want to get into a game without seeing all the factions first - but it was still interesting, and I thought that I would share.
LAUNCH!!!!
Posted by Dark Space Corp
Thank you for your support back in 2014 for the Beyond the Gates of Antares kickstarter. It has been an eventful 18 months-or-so since the Kickstarter campaign....
Behind closed doors at Warlord Games HQ the game has been worked-upon and the universe has been brought to life...
- Our team of sculptors have been breathing life into the six core factions - with new models appearing week-by-week... both digitally and hand-sculpted creations beyond your imagination.
We have an entire year's worth of releases already mastered and readied for release with plans for 6 core plastic kits supported by waves of support in the form of metal miniatures and resins for larger creations such as vehicles and monstrous creatures.
- Some 20,000+ members of the community have been playtesting the rules, submitting their feedback, and shaping the game mechanics...
- Rick Priestley (co-creator of the likes of Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Fantasy, the Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game, and many more.) has penned a vast, dynamic universe... a vibrant living backdrop to give context and narrative to your battles.
The hard work is almost done, and the waiting almost over...
in early November, the starter set 'Strike Vector One - The Xilos Horizon' is due to be released - followed by releases for all six core factions...
For more information on the Launch Edition of Beyond the Gates of Antares please follow this link: http://us11.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcf2fce108a2b2d6ebd1d03ae&id=d0c94e354f&e=7594e19269 or find out more at www.gatesofantares.com
The beta figures were on display at Eclectic Games in Reading, which surprised me as it is more of a boardgame shop than wargames or table top, but fair does to the Gates people for getting the exposure.
It sounds like each of the main factions will be getting basic infantry units in plastic. I wonder when we're actually going to see the Isorians available for retail. From the sounds of that press release, it's very possible that their initial release may very well be HIPS infantry.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: JudgeDoug, I hope they bring you years of happiness. I don't understand the appeal, but I will try to stop judging.
Gosh, I hope they bring me happiness, too. I don't understand the appeal either, but I love them, so very much, and I don't know why. They're so ugly that they crossed back around to cute, I dunno. Their faces are alskdjalkfjsd aslkljasdfjkdjklsdsdjfkl
Not only do I love the ugly little guys, I also want to see a sitcom where every week an average family defeats the nefarious schemes for galactic domination of the 3'2" Ghar who lives with them...
More seriously, I'm probably in for the rulebook - got enough in my paint queue to last until mid-2016, but I'm always on the lookout for a SF game that plays fast and smooth, and the size of BA games also appeals.
FREE GIFTS: When you preorder directly from Warlord Games you will receive a personally signed art print of the box artwork from the game's designer Rick Priestley, a PDF download of the Concord & Ghar army lists and the limited edition model of Fartok, Veteran Leader of Battle Group Nine, Unarmoured.
Arriving at Warlord Games yesterday we thought you would like to see the fantastic templates you will be receiving in the Launch Edition starter set.
We especially like the crescent moon shapes which are used for to indicate cover given by Batter Drones. The different shaped counters indicate the different types of probes you can take.
Barzam wrote: It sounds like each of the main factions will be getting basic infantry units in plastic. I wonder when we're actually going to see the Isorians available for retail. From the sounds of that press release, it's very possible that their initial release may very well be HIPS infantry.
Warlord have said this is the case, they have said they have a years worth of releases ready which will launch on a timescale depending on sales. Vehicles have been said to be largely resin and metal - so similar path as Bolt Action took. The plastic sets for Bolt Action really helped grow it as it made it much more affordable to start the game, the Ghar seem to be a faction to appeal to thisevening wanting to largely paint small numbers and mech style constructs.
The Isorians are the faction I want to see the most though. They've been teasing them for a good long while now, but still no releases. I would've rather seen them before the Freeborn. Here's hoping that they'll be the next release.
So it seems a lot like Bolt Action in some regards (the order dice and basic actions) but there are a lot of extra bits, such as drones you can attach to units and obviously varying levels of toughness for units.
Really stoked for this now. It's starting to look an awful lot like a game I once knew as 40k, but then was lost.
It seems like I am the only person that likes them??
I quite like their under-stated nature, they're mostly quite minimalistic (dare I see more realistic, or more 'hard' sci-fi?) which is a nice counterpoint to some of the more extreme sci-fi games out there.
The rules too, I like the fact that they're trying to do something more involved, rather than having things dumbed down all the time, which seems to be a common trend in a lot of the industry at the moment.
Anyway! A new, newsletter - key point is release date of 7th November
++Welcome to IMTel*++
(*integrated machine intelligence)
By integrating yourself with the machine you will be the first to find out everything there is to know about Beyond the Gates of Antares by Rick Priestley.
WARNING: FREE TRANSMAT STATIONS RUNNING OUT!
Last week we announced we would be giving away a free Transmat Station to everyone who pre-orders from Warlord Games up until the launch.
Even though our friends Sarissa Precision donated a large quantity it has proven to be extremely popular with only 170 left at the time of writing.
This Thursday we will be announcing the same pre-order deal on the Warlord Games main site and through a general newsletter to everyone - not just subscribers to IMTel, so we are expecting to run out very soon!
As you are connected to IMTel we wanted to give you prior warning to make sure you don't miss out. Please note everyone who has so far placed a pre-order with Warlord Games will receive the free Transmat Station.
Our friends at Sarissa Precision are currently working on more scenery products for Gates of Antares, ready for the launch and once again we would like to thank them for their donation!
PRE-ORDER GOODIES: ONLY AVAILABLE UP UNTIL LAUNCH DAY
FREE GIFTS: When you pre-order directly from Warlord Games you will receive a personally signed art print of the box artwork from the game's designer Rick Priestley, a PDF download of the Concord & Ghar army lists, the limited edition model of Fartok, Veteran Leader of Battle Group Nine, Unarmoured and the free transmat from Sarissa Precision, while stocks last.
Pacific wrote: It seems like I am the only person that likes them??
Oh, no, absolutely not, from what I hear Warlord's taken a huge number of preorders for it. I think I had mentioned previously, myself and three others in my group placed preorders for the box set (and I already own some Algoryn metals). The plastics they've shown look phenomenal, imho.
Well sculpted truescale sci-fi models in hard plastic. Brings a tear to my eye.
Pacific wrote: I quite like their under-stated nature, they're mostly quite minimalistic (dare I see more realistic, or more 'hard' sci-fi?) which is a nice counterpoint to some of the more extreme sci-fi games out there.
Dead on correct.
Pacific wrote: The rules too, I like the fact that they're trying to do something more involved, rather than having things dumbed down all the time, which seems to be a common trend in a lot of the industry at the moment.
I'm quite excited for a granular system to be applied to the Bolt Action activation.
++Welcome to IMTel*++
FREE GIFTS: When you pre-order directly from Warlord Games you will receive a personally signed art print of the box artwork from the game's designer Rick Priestley, a PDF download of the Concord & Ghar army lists, the limited edition model of Fartok, Veteran Leader of Battle Group Nine, Unarmoured and the free transmat from Sarissa Precision, while stocks last.
We had already preordered but the free terrain was a nice inclusion (probably about $15-$20 msrp, so a nice freebie considering we're already getting the signed print and Fartok)
Well, looks like we'll have our copies in about a month!
I like the Turian Mass Effect looking guys but I have no use for random Scifi figs and I don't play the games I own already enough so have no need for more.
I have need for more! I'm sick of terribly proportioned figures and bland rulesets, either from games that grew up in the rules and design aesthetics of the nineties or new games that seek to relive those days. So give me truescale models and excellent rules! Don't worry warboss I'll spend enough money for the both of us
You go, gamer! Pick up my slack! A decade ago, I'd have jumped at something like that as I was picking up random sets of figs just because I liked them (some AT-43, some Vor, some Warzone, etc) even though I never played the games as I could theoretically use them as RPGnpcs. I even considered your favorite, Starship Troopers, but the human faction figs were so damn ugly that I couldn't justify it (although the bugs were nicely done and accurate to the movie visuals). Now? The chief consideration is if I'll ever get any use out of the figs and if there is any existing local interest in the game. I jumped the shark a bit on Halo Fleet Battles but I hoped the Halo name brand would help.
I'm interested more and more. There's more models I like, though the army deals I'm not as sold on. Spoiled by plastics and kickstarter deals I guess. I'll preorder the starter set, but does anyone know what a decent size for the game is? Is an army deal substantial? Do the factions have distinct playstyles?
warboss wrote: You go, gamer! Pick up my slack! I even considered your favorite, Starship Troopers,
Gosh, you could play Starship Troopers with wooden blocks and it would still be the best minis game ever made.
Or just use any number of other powered suit figs! (my personal favorite being the Komodo from Antenociti's Workshop but I believe it's out of production right now... but I bought a bunch just to use as mobile infantry for SST )
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Zond wrote: I'm interested more and more. There's more models I like, though the army deals I'm not as sold on. Spoiled by plastics and kickstarter deals I guess. I'll preorder the starter set, but does anyone know what a decent size for the game is? Is an army deal substantial? Do the factions have distinct playstyles?
Hold off on the currently available Army Deals. It was in open beta for like a year and those army deals were for the metals, for anyone beta testing who wanted "official" models. Plastic core troops for all six core factions have already been announced, tooled, and are ready to be released, one faction per month. So there will be better army deal box sets, much like Bolt Action armies (plastic core troops, with metal special weapons etc, at a sizeable discount). so I'd just get the starter set, read the rules, and see how the community develops and watch the new releases.
warboss wrote: You go, gamer! Pick up my slack! I even considered your favorite, Starship Troopers,
Gosh, you could play Starship Troopers with wooden blocks and it would still be the best minis game ever made.
And it would be more visually appealing with those wooden blocks than those human and skinny faction minis. Zing! I will, however, try it out if I ever see folks playing it based on your zealous opinion of it.
warboss wrote: You go, gamer! Pick up my slack! I even considered your favorite, Starship Troopers,
Gosh, you could play Starship Troopers with wooden blocks and it would still be the best minis game ever made.
And it would be more visually appealing with those wooden blocks than those human and skinny faction minis. Zing! I will, however, try it out if I ever see folks playing it based on your zealous opinion of it.
The skinnies have a certain 50's charm (the plastics are pretty good, I have some for Generic Sci Fi Bad Guy Aliens With Ray Guns, but yeah, the metal Skinnies were bleargh)
Though the Mobile Infantry Pathfinders are straight up some of the coolest 28mm sci fi figures ever made
move to Richmond VA and play SST and all the other cool games with all the cool dakka kids!
Agreed about SST, it really is a wonderfully designed game.
Interested to hear that the plastic sets are coming out, although I do have a soft spot for the metal figs! Tempted by the Boromite Labour guild, I know some of them look a little bit derpy (the lavamites just look like a less fun version of a squig), but really like their support weaponry
Pacific wrote: (dare I see more realistic, or more 'hard' sci-fi?)
You can say it, sure. But then there's this:
Yeah, that's some room temperature butter soft scifi there.
yeah, seems like every game needs an orc analogue or something. But I personally am sick of WHFB/40k tropes, so tiny weak hairless lumpy alien dudes are way more interesting to me than just more green not-Orks. Kind of the same reason I got back into LOTR really heavily in the last year, because it's background and races are so much better written and defined than the mishmash that made up Warhammer (and all of the varied clones, looking at you Mantic), and I'm totally grimdarked out.
Pacific wrote: (dare I see more realistic, or more 'hard' sci-fi?)
You can say it, sure. But then there's this:
Haha yes, with the exception of those guys for sure ! Otherwise yes as Judgedoug says its nice to have something that isn't a derivative or just trying to steal 40k players with really similar faction types.
The actual background itself though makes me think of the Iain M Banks Culture novels (which is definitely a plus point!)
THE GHAR EMPIRE
The Ghar live only for battle and conquest, expending their entire energies on war and enslaving other human species they defeat. This savage race is descended from genetically adapted slave soldiers, though when or why they were created is a mystery. The Ghar themselves have little interest in such matters. They rule over a sizeable empire that borders against the Agoryn Prosperate, with whom they have been at war for many centuries. Neither the Panhuman Concord nor Isorian Shard have ever taken much interest in the Ghar, possibly because Ghar culture is relatively primitive. Ghar worlds are heavily shielded against nano-based technologies. The Ghar themselves are repulsive creatures with hunched torsos, bulging guts and what look to be spindly arms and bow legs – but they are rarely seen out of their huge, armoured battle suits. Though unattractive, their appearance belies a brutish strength and tremendous resilience to damage.
The Ghar themselves would not choose to fight without the protection of their machines. Without access to mechanical sensors their native senses are poor and their bodies weak and vulnerable. Only creatures that have failed their masters and been reduced to the status of outcasts fight in this way. Their most useful role is to absorb enemy fire and expose enemy positions – a kind of reconnaissance by self-sacrifice that is judged a fitting end for Ghar who disappoint their overlords.
I'm actually quite starting to warm to the concept and the sculpts; think you need a little bit of humour to break up all the po-faced bits, and they look like they have a Goblin-ish mischevious style to them.
I'm not looking to get into the game just yet. (Not without finding someone to play it against first, anyhow.)
But I'm sold on the Concord and Ghar hard plastic sprues. I'll be looking to pick those up as soon as they're available separately from the starter box. After that, I'll be following each hard plastic core infantry sprue release with interest, particularly the Algoryn and Isorians. As Warlord expands its hard plastic range, my interest in their universe will grow.
I think I'm too invested in the Dalek paradigm - icky, nasty things inside menacing battle armor - to go for the comedic nature of the Ghar troopers. I could almost do it if they just kept their helmets on, but I'm just not liking their faces, which seem cartoonish in their simplicty and exaggeration. But as those troopers are only available in metal, that's not much of a problem for me anyway.
For those who didn't get the Newsletters yesterday - the boxed game, 'Strike Vector One: The Xilos Horizon' is now available direct from Warlord - and they're offering a bunch of freebies for those who pre-order direct from them...
Pacific wrote: Some very cool looking pics, wonder what that second one down is?
Looks a bit like the Concorde trooper with some more organic elements (hopefully not Chaos Concorde? )
ISORIAN
During long centuries of isolation from the rest of Antarean space the Isorian IMTel was contaminated with alien organic technology, and became incompatible with the Concord IMTel.
Always glad to see more high quality plastic sci fi figures enter the market. As ever the aesthetics will be devisive but I will pick and choose as the months roll on and the core troops get released. Am especially interested by those jet bikes and how the plastic Algoryn will look.
I WANT those Ghar suits for generic skirmish game not-Daleks to combat my Sedition Wars troopers. I think they have a wonderfully "not quite right" look to them, like their operators/invevtors are just that little bit insane. Maybe its the tripodal structure.
They remind me of robotic versions of the Garthim from the Dark Crystal.
There is also an alien species in Iain M Banks 'Culture' series called the Ishorians (Isharians?) that are tri-legged and very large.
Although, they are that size naturally rather than a little guy inside a suit (although that's yet another influence from those books on this game with the concept).
AegisGrimm wrote: I WANT those Ghar suits for generic skirmish game not-Daleks to combat my Sedition Wars troopers. I think they have a wonderfully "not quite right" look to them, like their operators/invevtors are just that little bit insane. Maybe its the tripodal structure.
They remind me of robotic versions of the Garthim from the Dark Crystal.
They do have a bit of a Garthim vibe to them. I assume it was intentional since the name is kind of similar as well.
I'm not really into the cartoonish proportions on any of the Ghar outside of their walkers, but I agree with overtyrant that Fartok's helmet is a definite improvement over the other troopers' exposed heads. I hope Warlord will not be restricting that helmet to one limited edition miniature. Making helmeted heads an accessible option for more Ghar trooper kits could improve their popularity for people who prefer this look. At least it would provide more variety.
A new-newsletter about some of the terrain and how it works, with a couple of nice shots
PREVIEW: BATTLEFIELD TERRAIN A key aspect of any tabletop wargame is the terrain upon and around which your battles are fought... from hills, cliffs, water features and other topography... buildings and walls... through to smaller pieces of scatter terrain and obstacles such as foliage, rubble, craters and the like...
The worlds of Antarean space are as numerous and as varied as it is possible to imagine. Some are verdant, thriving jungle worlds covered in all manner of fauna - some familiar, some entirely undiscovered and alien, having evolved over countless millennia untouched, in isolation...
Some are consumed by towering cities - or perhaps entirely cultivated for industry or agriculture to feed the ever-hungry populations of the surrounding societies, their surfaces forever scarred by the rigours of dense populous... and as populations move on, so their buildings and other structures remain to decay - with countless once-thriving worlds now lying inert... still covered in all manner of strange and obsolete structures now left to ruin and dilapidation - their purpose and function long-lost to the annals of time.
Others lie baron, uncharted and unknown - their secrets lying as yet unexplored... deserts of broken rock and lifeless craters... perhaps covered in perma-frost many hundreds of metres thick - or their surfaces entirely covered in water - or unstable and unpredictable volcanic worlds whose surfaces are an unmappable, ever-shifting series of plates in a constant state of flux - huge sections constantly melting away into lava, only to be formed again elsewhere in an endless cycle of regeneration.
All are potential battlefields for our forces - and the Beyond the Gates of Antares Rulebook contains an extensive Terrain section, packed with information and special rules for a huge variety of different terrain types - we've picked-out a few here, as something of a special preview...
Of course - there are more advanced rules for features such as buildings, marshland, quicksand, lava, hot water geysers and much more... but you'll just have to wait for the Rulebook's release to read more about those..
BOULDER FIELD
This is an area of densely strewn rocks up to about man height affording cover to troops but impenetrable to vehicles and large models. A boulder field is sufficiently dense to block line of sight from one side to another. As with areas of rocky ground, these are common features of lunar type worlds that may be devoid of vegetation or running water.
LOS: Dense Terrain
COVER: Res+2
DIFFICULT: YES -1/Impassable to large models.
JUNGLE
Jungle is the ultimate in dense vegetation where progress is likely to be impeded by plant growth to an even greater extent.
LOS: Dense Terrain
COVER: Res+2
DIFFICULT: YES -3/Impassable to large models
CRATERED GROUND
Cratered ground is just that – an area of ground covered with fairly small craters! Such craters might be shell holes or they could be natural formations resulting from small meteorite strikes or volcanic activity. Either way, the craters are sufficiently shallow not to completely prevent movement, and will afford some cover to troops sheltering within them.
Maybe it's just the focus or the style of photography (like the kind that takes normal video of cities and turns it into something that looks like minis or model trains dioramas) but at first I thought those were 15mm minis.
warboss wrote: Maybe it's just the focus or the style of photography (like the kind that takes normal video of cities and turns it into something that looks like minis or model trains dioramas) but at first I thought those were 15mm minis.
warboss wrote: Maybe it's just the focus or the style of photography (like the kind that takes normal video of cities and turns it into something that looks like minis or model trains dioramas) but at first I thought those were 15mm minis.
Yeah, I got to that second pic and seriously thought they were spoilering a 15mm range.
I don't think it's just the painting or the detail... there's something about their proportions that just 'feels' 15mm to me as well.
It probably has to do with the truescaling (versus throwback 90's style melonheads & hamfists) and the fact that that particular photo is slightly out of focus, making everything appear soft. I'm trying to ascertain where the actual focal point is - it appears to be the wing on the larger drone.
Pretty impressive. I think I'd like the Ghar suits a lot more if it wasn't for the random crab claw on one side, flapping up and down like a maneki-neko. Reposing it in the more recent pics helps. And at least it's better than the you-kids-get-off-my-lawn of the unarmoured ones.
judgedoug wrote:
yeah, seems like every game needs an orc analogue or something. But I personally am sick of WHFB/40k tropes, so tiny weak hairless lumpy alien dudes are way more interesting to me than just more green not-Orks.
The paint work is not impressive, OTOH as usual these days the models are presented at over three times natural life size. They would look significantly better if not examined under a microscope.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: Are those plastic? I might have to buy them if they are, regardless of how much it looks like they have toilet seats over their heads.
-DE- wrote: Lens flares pasted onto pictures in 2015. My oh my...
This is some of the worst "professional" photography I've seen in a while. Certainly doesn't do the paintjobs any favors.
You should probably let Andy at Volleyfire know that his personal blog with his personal photography is some of the worst professional photography you've seen in a while. I'm sure he'll duly note your opinion about his personal photography, that his personal blog's personal photography is not up to your standards of professional photography.
-DE- wrote: Lens flares pasted onto pictures in 2015. My oh my...
This is some of the worst "professional" photography I've seen in a while. Certainly doesn't do the paintjobs any favors.
You should probably let Andy at Volleyfire know that his personal blog with his personal photography is some of the worst professional photography you've seen in a while. I'm sure he'll duly note your opinion about his personal photography, that his personal blog's personal photography is not up to your standards of professional photography.
Thanks for your wholly useless contribution
You'd think I kicked your dog into a raging volcano. Less red meat, more veggies.
I popped onto the linked blog but didn't bother reading the entirety of the essay posted on there. Given that the models haven't been released yet, was I reaching in assuming those were studio models? Either way, these can still be considered promo shots and these particular ones don't paint the models in a good light (double pun!).
Apart from that, the photography is still indubitably atrocious and the added effects lame and unnecessary. Or will you disagree in an angry diatribe?
-DE- wrote: Lens flares pasted onto pictures in 2015. My oh my...
This is some of the worst "professional" photography I've seen in a while. Certainly doesn't do the paintjobs any favors.
You should probably let Andy at Volleyfire know that his personal blog with his personal photography is some of the worst professional photography you've seen in a while. I'm sure he'll duly note your opinion about his personal photography, that his personal blog's personal photography is not up to your standards of professional photography.
Thanks for your wholly useless contribution
You'd think I kicked your dog into a raging volcano. Less red meat, more veggies.
I popped onto the linked blog but didn't bother reading the entirety of the essay posted on there. Given that the models haven't been released yet, was I reaching in assuming those were studio models? Either way, these can still be considered promo shots and these particular ones don't paint the models in a good light (double pun!).
Apart from that, the photography is still indubitably atrocious and the added effects lame and unnecessary. Or will you disagree in an angry diatribe?
No, I agree completely.
Still, you looked at a random link with random photos on a personal blog - but didn't take the few seconds to notice those facts - but instead took the time to attribute them as professional company photos and bash them as such?
Automatically Appended Next Post: Concord Overview
I like the Concord drop troopers as I stated earlier but I incorrectly thought they were Algoryn at the time. The visual design queues are there but I missed them. I'm not a fan of the normal concord guys looks but the drop troopers still look quite nice. At least for me, looking like Garrus from Mass Effect certainly helps. The regular guys aren't bad by any means but they just don't scratch an itch for me personally. The concord support/arty guys look good as well.
Wow, normally Warlord starter sets are kind of lacking in the zest department, but the full color starter guide, that nice looking rulebook, colored plastic templates and pin tokens, and even the fancy lookin' dice... I'm kind of really excited. I'm excited like I was when 40k 3rd and Warhammer 6th came out. Those boxes were stuffed full of awesome stuff like the way this looks.
@Judgedoug: Agreed on that, and some of the smaller details such as 2 quick reference sheets that seem to indicate that a good deal of thought has gone into the starter set. Seems to be very good quality as well, hardback book is a definite bonus.
The guy doing the unboxing is either really nervous or in a big hurry. He's almost the british version of the micromachine commercial guy! Slow down! Enjoy yourself! Youtube to my knowledge doesn't charge you an a fee per minute uploaded, lol.
A far more detailed unboxing from BOW, including details of the Ghar "distort" Bolt Action Order dice and a good look at the exclusive metal miniatures.
This box is an awesome surprise! Beautiful in every little detail! Look at that! Colour me very interested...
Maybe a Chistmas or even next salute grab!
This box brings me memories of the first time I picked up 40k.
After watching the BoW video I decided to buy the box now and not postpone the purchase until Christmas. It is a huge project for Rick and the Warlord crew, they have invested quite a lot into this set. And the production value shows. The starter turned out to be top-notch, including plastic templates, markers (sold separately by GW), some fine miniatures (both metal and plastics seem to be well done) and a hardbound rulebook. The extras added before Nov 7 are quite nice too.
I was positively surprised how much they added to the rulebook after the beta. The Rogue Trader style weapon schematics, the terrain and battlefield shots and the additional fluff are great. Everything looks polished now. Well done.
John Stallard announcing in the BoW video there are vehicle and monster kits on the way and the blog teasering plastic kits for the 6 starter races is a good plan for the first year of the game.
I also like the shooting and weapon rules, that's proper SciFi warfare, and that the races turn out - and I feared before and during beta they wont - to be diverse and play accordingly different.
How Ghar players manipulate the command dice of their opponents for example has some nice 2nd Edition 40k flair. Like the army ratings and strategy cards of old. I'm looking forward to playing GoA soon.
This just looks more and more tempting. From familiar rules, the Rogue Trader style look and descriptions for the weapons and the models are turning out to be quite nice.
I'm rapidly caving. If I haven't already picked this up by the time Salute arrives, I probably will then!
A chilly morning today at Warlord HQ, but a very exciting one!
This morning sees the first wave of Beyond the Gates of Antares Starter Sets being shipped out (8 cages worth of parcels this morning alone!) ...and into the hands of the eager community!
Can you see the look of fear on the postie's face?!
I have a question for those better informed than me: what's up with all of the factions being human variants? Is the Antares universe relatively devoid of full-on Alien races?
Here's what was in the Beta rules about aliens, really the Vorl which is assumed to be the first alien race they'll be releasing. No date on that though.
Aliens
Humans are not alone in Antarean space, many worlds are home to unique alien species.
There are numerous alien civilisations spread over many worlds just as there are human federations and empires.
Amongst these species are the Vorl.
The Vorl compete with the Concord and Isorians to explore new worlds and to build new colonies.
The Vorl are prone to fighting amongst themselves, but occasionally are united under a powerful faction, which then becomes the Vorl Orde
and leads a war of conquest against neighbouring human settlements. The Vorl are powerful enough to pose a threat to human ambitions,
and they are one of the few alien races that are at least as technically advanced as the Concord and Isorian Shard.
Some Freeborn Vardos trade with the Vorl and even hire Vorl warriors as mercenary fighters, although such dealings tend to be conducted in secret.
Having had a few privileged trips to the Warlord design studio, the Vorl now look nothing like the previously shown model... they've come-on leaps-and-bounds, and have a very distinct style/look...
All six factions outlined in the core Rulebook are Pan-humans.... different arms of human civilisation which dispersed through the universe, and each has evolved in isolation to suit their specific environments...
There have been mentions of various alien races in a few Warlord Newsletters, in the Beta Rules, and in the core Rulebook... and in a few interviews, I've seen it mentioned that the six factions in the core Rulebook are just the start... so it sounds like there are more to come - including various alien races...
monders wrote: I had no interest in this at all until a day or two ago, and now I NEED a set. It just looks so well put together.
I haven't played any Bolt Action, but by all accounts it's a solid system and this builds on it.
Agreed. This does really look like a well put together product, it's amazing how this has come on from the face-plant (or maybe 'small child lost in woods' would be more accurate) that was the Kickstarter programme.
Will ultimately reserve judgement until I've been able to play a sequence of games and get to grips with the mechanics but it is certainly very encouraging.
@Monders/Pacific: I agree. After the terrible aborted Kickstarter it is good that they gathered their resources to create what looks like a brilliant starter set and a great introduction to the BTGOA Universe. I hope the game and continued support lives up to the growing anticipation.
The construction manual for the GoA building in that photo looks promising. I didnt realize until now they aren't just some unrelated lasercut stuff (not a bad thing but this is a step above) - The companies website has not yet put up the kit(s) though:
Also regarding terrain types in the game like jungle, desert and so on - Rich from Warlord Games on the official forum today:
With regards to terrain.... there's a fantastic terrain section in the Rulebook, with LOADS of different terrain types to represent on your Antarean battlefields - the majority of which have special rules and effects in-game... it's well-worth pouring-over that section for a while... it's certainly given us Warlord staff a HEAP of food for thought... with all sorts of wild ideas being banded-about at various corners of the office....
Will post a full review as soon as I'm able, I'm away for a short while though and as is the way with these things no doubt the game will arrive then!
What I will say though is, despite not having received the game yet, is that it will be a better wargame than AoS (simply due to the fact that it has points values!)
Yeah I can't wait to dig into it -- but my copy arrives tonight and I am headed out of town for a week a 5AM tomorrow morning. But I plan to update my overview thread ASAP.
What is changing everyone's minds? Was the bar just set so low from the poorly planned kickstarter (the last time the game got a bunch of publicity)? They've admittedly made alot of progress since then.
warboss wrote: What is changing everyone's minds? Was the bar just set so low from the poorly planned kickstarter (the last time the game got a bunch of publicity)? They've admittedly made alot of progress since then.
I have been looking forward to it since I saw it. However seeing that inboxing with a snippet of some of the rules and ideas behind it really hit it home how great this game is gonna be. I know I personally love Bolt Action rules and always wanted to have a sci fi version.
im not sure how bad the kickstarter was, but im glad about the final result. Hopefully this game gets a lot bigger so I can some vehicles etc for the game.
Pacific wrote:Will post a full review as soon as I'm able, I'm away for a short while though and as is the way with these things no doubt the game will arrive then!
What I will say though is, despite not having received the game yet, is that it will be a better wargame than AoS (simply due to the fact that it has points values!)
Manchu wrote:Yeah I can't wait to dig into it -- but my copy arrives tonight and I am headed out of town for a week a 5AM tomorrow morning. But I plan to update my overview thread ASAP.
Guys, pls.
jimf747 wrote: I went from zero interest in this game to now its a must buy. plus the boromite gangers could be the most awesome minis released in the last 10 years.
warboss wrote:What is changing everyone's minds? Was the bar just set so low from the poorly planned kickstarter (the last time the game got a bunch of publicity)? They've admittedly made alot of progress since then.
Honestly Warboss, I think Zatsuku sums it quite well:
Zatsuku wrote:Plus just something about the name 'Beyond the Gates of Antares' screams the kind of sci-fi I want to be playing.
It's hard to pin point though.
Perhaps there's some nostalgia form gamers of a certain age, and it being a Rick Priestly Sci Fi game.
Heartily tempted to drop my Drop Fleet pledge and just get this.
Ghar outcasts look a lot better unpainted. I think they need a new paint scheme.
Isorians look a lot better with the visors down. Not a fan of the "See? They're actually human!" exposed faces. They don't really go with the rest of the outfit. (Algoryns have different face / head structures that match their overall aesthetic, after all.)
Boromites look bad@ss. Very much looking forward to seeing troopers for these released in plastic.
Concord jetbikes - fantastic design. Are these going to be metal only?
I checked some of the interviews and event reports but found no confirmation the Concord bikes are in plastic. They were shown in a CAD-like (Zbrush render?) image first, the finished minis later, I guess there is a good chance they will get the full plastic treatment
The amount of bits plus a bike base should be of similiar size as a Ghar suit sprue. Pretty likely they will come in plastic.
Yes, get the starter. The book and minis are not expensive in that set combined and you can get some games in until the Isorians have their release. Concords are probably the next, the bikes shouldnt be a long wait.
I found another photo of them - taken with activated earthquake effect nevertheless - giving another hint that the bikes are going to be plastic. Those bases... And all the sharp detail Maybe these are already the finalized kit
Yup, ordered my starter direct from Warlord last night. I also ordered the mercenary captain we saw in the old Kickstarter a few years ago.
When this set was announced a few months ago there was a lot of conversation about tthe lack of value but for me it seems pretty good. The hardbacks rules retail at £30 so I see it as £40 (less if you go via a FLGS) for:
1 metal character.
20 infantry
6 Ghar
Various assorted drones.
1 metal Fartok *if you order direct before the 7th November.
Throw in the dice and templates and it seems like a reasonably priced introduction to the game to me.
I do hope those jetbikes are plastic, looks like some exciting releases are due.
Vermonter wrote:I have a question for those better informed than me: what's up with all of the factions being human variants? Is the Antares universe relatively devoid of full-on Alien races?
Anyway. Didn't hurt Dune or BSG... or Red Dwarf too badly.
edlowe wrote:
They were originally going to be based on this model
Which was some guy's daemon prince conversion for a GD competition, and just one part of why the first unveiling was so terrible.
volume wrote:Having had a few privileged trips to the Warlord design studio, the Vorl now look nothing like the previously shown model... they've come-on leaps-and-bounds, and have a very distinct style/look...
Well that's something.
Warhams-77 wrote:
With regards to terrain.... there's a fantastic terrain section in the Rulebook, with LOADS of different terrain types to represent on your Antarean battlefields - the majority of which have special rules and effects in-game...
Pacific wrote:Will post a full review as soon as I'm able, I'm away for a short while though and as is the way with these things no doubt the game will arrive then!
I have no interest in how well the minis assemble and paint up, or how smoothly the rules play. I just want to see one piece of cardboard removed from another, and how well the sprues stack.
warboss wrote:What is changing everyone's minds? Was the bar just set so low from the poorly planned kickstarter (the last time the game got a bunch of publicity)?
Pretty much. There's actually half a good idea about mini concepts and ranges this time, and most of the initial ones look pretty good. Though I suppose there's the rules too, which are arguably better suited to the author's subsequent shot at space-fantasy than 1940K.
I simply can't understand how they've managed to harness modern digital sculpting and production methods and still churn out sculpts that would've looked dated 20 years ago. Also disappointing to see that the Hansa mini, which was widely mocked during the first poorly-though out kickstarter, is still the best figure they've put forth so far.
The rules may turn out to be the best ever put to paper, but I still won't source an entire army from other companies to replace GoA's sub-par kits.
Vermis wrote: Pretty much. There's actually half a good idea about mini concepts and ranges this time, and most of the initial ones look pretty good. Though I suppose there's the rules too, which are arguably better suited to the author's subsequent shot at space-fantasy than 1940K.
Oh, did Alessio Cavatore write Gates of Antares? Because he was, indeed the lead designer of Bolt Action (and has subsequently been in charge of all FAQ and Errata for the game since it's release). Not Rick Priestley. Oh, wait, you're not talking about Bolt Action, you're talking about something called 1940K - what's that? Is that a WW2 game using 40k rules? Because you certainly couldn't be talking about Bolt Action, which literally plays _nothing_ like 40k.
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Guildsman wrote: I simply can't understand how they've managed to harness modern digital sculpting and production methods and still churn out sculpts that would've looked dated 20 years ago.
Well, obvious hyperbole, because twenty years ago these models would have been revolutionary. Considering fifteen years ago we had the meatball head Warhammer zombies and the melonhead/hamfist Warhammer High Elf warrior multipart kit. These Concord and Ghar plastics, while no feats of engineering like the insanely perfect Age of Sigmar Stormcast Eternals plastics - are better than a lot of kits released in the last year or two (Nagash and Skaven Stormfiend Action Figures being the two obvious - and going with your hyperbole - any company could hire a toddler to etch a steel mold and it would turn out better than those laughably bad kits)
Those Isorians look pretty good. That's the faction I've been most interested in based on the original background material, so I'm really looking forward to those models being available, and seeing what's in their army list. I hope they'll be coming soon, being the only faction without any models available yet.
Guildsman wrote: I simply can't understand how they've managed to harness modern digital sculpting and production methods and still churn out sculpts that would've looked dated 20 years ago. Also disappointing to see that the Hansa mini, which was widely mocked during the first poorly-though out kickstarter, is still the best figure they've put forth so far.
The rules may turn out to be the best ever put to paper, but I still won't source an entire army from other companies to replace GoA's sub-par kits.
I don't think the "retro" look, for better or worse, is an accident or side effect but rather an intended design choice. I'm not a fan of it personally but they seem to be toning it down a little bit at least some of the plastics. I like the Algoryns, am ambivalent to all Concord except the Concord Drop troops (which I like), and think the Gar mechs are nice but the Boromites as well as little goblin monkey men gar outside of their suits as well are figs that I would only accept if they were free (and promptly put up on the swap shop to trade). The other stuff previewed here like the Isorians and the freemen are somewhere in between. The "retro" stink is on them but not as pervasive as the straight out the late 80's/early 90's minis catalog inspired by Doctor Who 1970's production value villains that make up the Boromite faction. I will however check out the rules to see if they're to my liking. If I really like them, I'll probably get a small Algoryn force with maybe some concord drop troops for gaks and giggles (or allies if they have that in the game rules).
I agree that the design and execution of the factions is largely hit and miss, but the Algoryn are my current favourites.
The appeal for me lies in what is hopefully a brilliant rule set and a new provider of, for me, good quality hard plastic kits. There is a real dearth of HIPS plastic sci-fi kits outside GW/Dreamforge/some Mantic.
The main downside for me are the bases, but I can just swap them out...and got an email from Warlord today they have already sent out my set, excellent.
I like those. This gets ever more tempting with each release
(I love these)
