District
Quadrant
Forward Strongpoint
Acrylic Windows
Expansion Sprues - $10 (NO PICTURE)
Pipe Network Sprue - $5
Industrial Components - $5
Mat
4 Mats
Rulebook
Infestation
Vermyn Dice
Paint
Don't forget shipping
As a rough estimate, the Quarantine pledge level will cost about $10 to ship in the UK, USA, EU and Canada, and around $25 to Australia and the rest of the world. This may increase or decrease based on the quantity of stretch goals we might unlock and your carrier choices.
Bringing the conversation over from the news thread: I hope the rumour about dumping the grid for wargame style measuring is a false one, because it's a dealbreaker for friends who are only knee deep in boardgames and nowhere near wargames, and it's one of the big selling points compared to other skirmish systems.
Miniature Invasion: The Kickstarter Success of Mantic Games MARCEL HELION | 12 MARCH 2015 9:00 AM Kickstarting - RSS 2.04 mgdze05-1-dz-enforcer-peacekeepers Mantic Games is a successful miniatures manufacturer based in the UK. They publish the Kings of War, DreadBall, Warpath, Dungeon Saga, and Deadzone line of miniatures games. They have successfully completed eight Kickstarter campaigns and raised a total of almost $5 million ($4,962,989 to be exact) without a single failure. As they have been unusually successful in this regard and they have a new Kickstarter campaign coming later in March, we decided that Mantic would be the optimal choice for this Kickstarting column. We taked to Chris Palmer, Mantic's Kickstarter and marketing coordinator. The Escapist: What is the latest Mantic project? Chris Palmer: The new Kickstarter is Deadzone Infestation. In 2012 we set about creating a project called Deadzone. It was conceived as our second attempt at entering the sci-fi miniatures tabletop market. We'd tried previously back in 2011 with our Warpath game, but we ultimately didn't spend enough money on it. We were in a lull where we couldn't afford to do much hard plastic, so for a bit we made kits in PVC until we hit upon Kickstarter. That lit up our Kings of War game with a load of capital and lots of new miniatures kits for the game. That in turn gave us confidence in the system and so we set about creating DreadBall - a tabletop sports game set in the Warpath universe. So, when we decided it was time to have another crack at a sci-fi miniatures game, our CEO decided that we would do so on a smaller level, for a number of reasons. For one, cost. Second, we could focus on a specific part of the Warpath universe. One of the most common complaints about our games is the lack of background, so rather than trying to create an entire universe in one go, a smaller game like Deadzone would allow us to focus in one story - in this case, a planet on the outer rim of the galaxy experiencing an alien virus breakout. Third, we wanted to have hard plastic for Warpath. You need lots of core infantry and vehicles in a mass battle game, and the best way to do that is through hard plastic. Resin Plastic doesn't do infantry well, and would have been unsuitable for vehicles. We needed a lower cost tool-maker to do it justice, one who could do both hard line objects and more organic shapes like faces and hands. And that's where the scenery came in. Deadzone is a claustrophobic game set in dense scenery, so we came up with a modular system of tiles to construct buildings. Buildings by there nature can be less detailed than infantry figures, and so sci-fi buildings became the test for hard line vehicles, flyers and armoured infantry units. The Escapist: What is the initial goal and what will that provide supporters? vm_unit2_02 Palmer: The initial funding goal is $100,000. What we've recognized since the last campaign is our rulebook is a bit difficult to read and find things in. It's inaccessible and that makes it very difficult for new players to get involved. With the funding we'll be revisiting the rulebook, making it easier to read and offer up a gentler learning curve to get into the game. We'll also take the opportunity to rewrite the campaign section and tweak a few of the things that need clarifying. And since we don't want to leave out our previous backers, we'll be providing this new rulebook free as a digital download. The bulk of the funding will go towards tooling new kits. We're aiming to add an entirely new faction to Deadzone - the Veer-myn. They will get a hard plastic infantry kit, forming the foundation of their Warpath army. We're also creating new soldiers for the Enforcers and we'll be adding to our scenery range. Those that support the project through the main pledge level with get the new rulebook, the new miniatures, the scenery, a newly artworked mat, all of the game aids, and we're also creating a resin figure exclusive to the Kickstarter in order to say thanks to our backers. We've tried to go for a pledge level value that is affordable and can have lots of stretch goals added to it. The Escapist: Mantic's past Kickstarters have all considerably exceeded the campaign's initial goal. The initial goal is $100,000, but what level of funding are you actually hoping to hit? Palmer: I just hope to hit the funding goal! Somewhere between $350,000-$500,000 would be nice because that will give us the base to cover everything we want to develop for this project. But we are planning what we call "mad [big bad swear word]" just in case we go past that value. The Escapist: How does Mantic decide how far apart the stretch goals should be? Palmer: There isn't a scientific process to it. In fact, it's very interesting to look at how other people do it. Look at Zombicide 2 as a great example of stretch goal pricing. The last goals on that campaign are over $100,000 for a single plastic model that sits on a tool with the previous seven miniatures they've funded, each at varying degrees of value. And that's very clever, because they're not overstretching themselves.
In a blog a few months ago we spoke about whether there was an appetite for a Deadzone 1.5 as an expansion Kickstarter – not a game in its own right, but supporting the core system by adding more units and factions to what’s already there. The idea was for it to build on the solid foundations that have been established but add a new faction (Veer-myn) to the mix. This would give us a chance to clean up the core rulebook (I think everything is in it, but it could be presented in a way that makes it easier to reference). It will also give us a chance to add extras to the scenery range (such as pipework linking through all the cavities) to add another dimension (oh, and wait until you see the Octagon Fortress we built this week with the extra sprue, it’s an awesome armoured Battle Base) Sorry, got distracted there! We can also get a couple of new units to the existing factions. All the units would also be compatible with Warpath too. a64619d8a42f775c4d240d68c02890f2_large We are thinking of adding some more industrial components to the Battlezone range. What sci-fi scenery would you like to see? Since we kicked off the discussions I have picked up on a number of themes: a) There is massive desire to go back and add on to Deadzone, for some doubly so if it is also developing Warpath b) Actually most people would like to see 2 new factions, not just 1. I think that’s a great idea and while a few of the suggestions are my favourites, please let me have your ideas below (but not Zz’or or Corporation Troops – we are saving those!) c) Can we prepare a way for new backers to come in if there is not a base game d) There is a big appetite for the KS, but please can it go after Christmas because people want to give this their full support and it will not be a mini kickstarter no matter how many times we say it! I also think it is not right to look again for funding until everything for the first kickstarter has been delivered and backers have had a chance to have a look. If we had managed to get the hard plastic sprues in the second shipment then any time from now onwards would be fine.. However, with those still waiting to ship it feels before Christmas would be wrong. This is the new hard plastic Deadzone Enforcer Sprue. Kickstarters backers will be getting this in December. Click the pictures for a closer look: Enforcer-Sprue-Part-1 Enforcer-Sprue-2 As always Mantic listens. And so taking on board all the feedback here is the plan. We will look at doing 2 new factions, we will create a new backer pledge from DZ 1 to let people get into the game, and we’ll go live at the latter end of the KS window we had and do it after Christmas. This way we can go as far as you want to go! We will use the time to prepare lots of ideas and concepts so if it goes past the funding goals we need, then we will have great ideas to tool and add to the warpath universe. It will also give backers time to prepare. I still think it will be gentler on the wallets than DZ1 because there is no base game and everyone already has the scenery in bulk. We will also come up with a way for new fans to jump on board too. Before then we will get a free rules/ quick start guide and reference sheet written and available to build up the number of people playing so we can talk to as wide an audience as possible. If you have ideas for faction 2 add them in the comments below or on our Facebook, and prepare for Containment Protocol – Infestation in early 2015. However… If we push DZ back into the early 2015 slot we push Kings of War out of it! If we push Kings of War back further into 2015 then we will not see the new book released until 2016, which from talking to the community it is too late. So we’ll let you know on Monday what crazy plan we’ve concocted!!
QuoteLook what’s coming to a Deadzone near you… If you’ve been looking for some great female sci-fi minis, your prayers have been answered!
Here’s an eclusive just for BoLS readers! Manticgames is launching their Deadzone: Infestation Kickstarter in March and sent over a taste of just some of the minis that will be in there. These Pathfinders are coming in hard plastic on sprue and will have many additional bits including heads and more. I think you can see the quality of Mantic sculpts keeps going up and up. In particular the female figure is very well done, with the subtle changes to the bodyshape to reflect gender. Regardless of whether you are a Deadzone fan, or just want to spruce up your minis collection, these Pathfinders should fill the bill. female-2.jpg male-2.jpg male-3.jpg
Old Veermyn Renders
Spoiler:
QuoteThere've been two Veer-myn renders floating around on the internet since the last Mantic open day, as well as a concept drawing of a large rat monster called a "beast." Here's one of the renders:
IMG_4563_zps35ef06d5.jpg I'm guessing Mantic insiders have seen quite a bit more than this image and the other two I mentioned? Automatically Appended Next Post: Beasts of War just put up some new Veer-myn renders, including what looks like a heavy weapons guy: Veer-Myn-Render-2-394x295.jpg Veer-Myn-Render-1-394x295.jpg They also posted the other render I mentioned that's been circulating since the last open day: Veer-Myn-Render-3-394x295.jpg So far I still prefer Remy's restic Veer-myn, (I prefer the original less-streamlined, ragged, covered-arms look), but these aren't bad at all. I'll be on board for at least a base pledge including Veer-myn and Pathfinder starters whenever the KS launches. Beasts of War is also saying it will happen sometime this month, incidentally.
I haven't really followed Mantic's previous KS attempts, but I have heard about them. Has their overall quality with the miniatures and post-KS service improved over time?
BrookM wrote: I haven't really followed Mantic's previous KS attempts, but I have heard about them. Has their overall quality with the miniatures and post-KS service improved over time?
The figures definitely have improved! Especially since they are moving to more kits in HIPS. I'll see if I can get the pictures of the latest sprues.
Argh I give up! Trying to load images onto Daka is a pain when using a tablet. I have no problems loading images onto Taptalk, I wish Daka could use it...
BrookM wrote: I haven't really followed Mantic's previous KS attempts, but I have heard about them. Has their overall quality with the miniatures and post-KS service improved over time?
I think so. The Deadzone plastic Enforcers and scifi zombies are excellent. If they can replace more of the restic figures with similarly detailed plastics I'll be a happy man. The Mars Attacks figures were also really nice imo
Figures have improved, the DBX ones I got recently were really nice and the hard plastics are phenominal. Veer-Myn and Pathfinders in this KS are going to be in this form. As The Beatles said, they're getting better all the time!
Service is still meh. They make it right in the end, and you often get extras/freebies, but it's a consistent problem they have.
As for the timing, it's unfortunate, but it's been expected around this time for quite a while now. I think they are one of the top competitors in the KS "march madness".
Just a squad or two, or can we put you down for an entire expiditionary force, specialists, landing craft, air support and an in-scale starship to get them deployed?
Given the epic size of your Enforcer collection, I wouldn't be surprised...
Just a squad or two, or can we put you down for an entire expiditionary force, specialists, landing craft, air support and an in-scale starship to get them deployed?
Given the epic size of your Enforcer collection, I wouldn't be surprised...
Shhhh, don't give Mantic any ideas, or else they'll make a TimeToWaste pledge!! Haha
Do they usually offer miniature only pledges? Because I'm not interested in the game, though their pathfinders do look good enough to be used for a scenario I'm working on.
BrookM wrote: Do they usually offer miniature only pledges? Because I'm not interested in the game, though their pathfinders do look good enough to be used for a scenario I'm working on.
You can usually pledge a buck and then just select add-ons, so you'll probably get your wish.
BrookM wrote: Do they usually offer miniature only pledges? Because I'm not interested in the game, though their pathfinders do look good enough to be used for a scenario I'm working on.
You can usually pledge a buck and then just select add-ons, so you'll probably get your wish.
Excellent, I'll have to keep an eye on this one then, cheers!
Plus 30-50 enforcers and 10 peacekeepers... And 30 corporation marines/rangers. Well and 20 z-corp... I think those are technically still corporation troops... oh and some spare mars attacks human soldiers as gruntier corp troops... oh and the sedition wars line troopers, those can be an elite offshoot of marines kind of like the rangers... Yeah I'd say 10 pathfinders'll do it .
I wonder too, pretre... I kind of think maybe not... Probably hard to give those peacekeepers away for 5 for 10 when they sell quite a bit more at retail.
But maybe.
Striders though.... I can't imagine they sell them that cheap again. Maybe 2 for 25-30 or something, I think the $10/per was just damage control since they had a material change or whatever.
Maybe though I could always add a few to my horde of 6...
Jesus Christ, am I the only one interested in the veer myn?
People complain GW has become all about space marines, I guess we know who's really to blame for that, eh?
Joyboozer wrote: Jesus Christ, am I the only one interested in the veer myn?
People complain GW has become all about space marines, I guess we know who's really to blame for that, eh?
Wha...?!?
A lot of people are looking forward to the unfortunately named "Veer-Myn".
It is sad that Mantic pulled a GW "Mon-Keigh" with their name though...
NTRabbit wrote: Bringing the conversation over from the news thread: I hope the rumour about dumping the grid for wargame style measuring is a false one, because it's a dealbreaker for friends who are only knee deep in boardgames and nowhere near wargames, and it's one of the big selling points compared to other skirmish systems.
I actually hope they remove it, because it's getting a bit stale playing on the same board with the same 3" square terrain all the time. Would love to be able to use my Necromunda board for Deadzone!
I actually like the Veer-myn name. It makes sense that, as these Rats evolved (presumably from the common rat+years of warp jump, Red Dwarf style), they take on the same the humans refer to them by, until it becomes something they identify with as a species. It doesn't mean 'vermin' to them, and probably doesn't to most humans, as the new meaning (evolved rat-like life forms that are a major pest) has superceded it. This then becomes a derogaroty term, taking the place of the 'old' 'vermin' and the cycle begins again.
It is slightly ironic and humerous, but I certainly think that has a place in the Mantic-verse setting.
highlord tamburlaine wrote: Maybe Veermyn will be some sort of corporation created derogatory term for the space rats.
Like the "prawn" in District 9.
Wouldn't they just be "Vermin", then? Unless they all have Centauri accents.
How about Vyr-men (prounouced veer-men)? The actual race or animal they evolved from was called the Vyr and well.. they are men which can imply both wo-men and men, unless they are considered asexual which is fine too. Other races/people would refer to them as 'vermin' in a derogatory way though.
I like to think of it as a bastardization of the German pronunciation of werewolf- Vervolf. By that reckoning, they'd be rats able to shift into the form of men, before transforming back into rats and fleeing into the bowels of the ship. An army of wererats is totally awesome.
I also love the new clean look. Much better for Space Rats. This definitely bears watching.
Paradigm wrote: I actually like the Veer-myn name. It makes sense that, as these Rats evolved (presumably from the common rat+years of warp jump, Red Dwarf style), they take on the same the humans refer to them by, until it becomes something they identify with as a species. It doesn't mean 'vermin' to them, and probably doesn't to most humans, as the new meaning (evolved rat-like life forms that are a major pest) has superceded it. This then becomes a derogaroty term, taking the place of the 'old' 'vermin' and the cycle begins again.
It is slightly ironic and humerous, but I certainly think that has a place in the Mantic-verse setting.
That's more like it, now, every time during this campaign I want you all to remember, anytime a bunch of people try and focus on getting a Mantic to do more corporation stretch goals, we belittle their tiny doodles.
I don't care what they're called, the focus of this campaign should be dirty alien scum!
Eh.. I like the concept of the space skaven but for real.. those are some boring ass poses. There is very little personality to the models and for a skirmish game that's not really going to fly IMO, especially when the figures can be posed digitally.
Personally, I'm looking for something to convince me not to just get some Skaven and some sci-fi guns from Maxmini or whatever..
Think about giant rat men. Imagine how they might move or act and tell me that any of that is similar to what they're showing. I dunno, we'll see what they come up with but I'm not excited about what I see.
The pathfinders are cool.. I'm sure most people interested in this have a surplus of sci-fi humans though and there are a ton readily available along similar lines. I'd probably still go in for some depending on the options that are available.
Like I said on the grid thing before.. I find it creates problems. I understand that there are people that enjoy Deadzone in it's current state. Here's the thing.. you can choose to keep playing it in it's current state. If they change the rules you aren't going to be required by law to use that edition. The reason I say that is, there are a lot of us who backed the KS for DZ, gave it a try.. and absolutely ended up hating it.. or at least felt extremely meh about it. A lot of that for me involves grid shenanigans. So for us, if they give us something it'll be fantastic to have a crack at it and possibly something we CAN play without hating. On another note.. if they do change the rules, perhaps you would enjoy that if you gave it a try. Green Eggs and Ham and all of that.
I may be interested in this. I love the concept of Deadzone personally (Grid based miniature game with campaign elements), but between the terrible restic miniatures and the half-hearted campaign rules I was really disappointed with how the initial release came out. That said, I enjoyed the core rules a fair bit, and hope they can improve the campaign rules.
If they do this KS in hard plastic I may just pledge.
I am a bit bummed they decided to do more Enforcers rather than create a Corporation faction.
HARD PLASTIC PATHFINDERS, WE ALL NEED TO ORDER FIFTY SO I'M NOT ALONE!!
..God, I need help.
I already did that.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alex C wrote: Well their background is being changed. If they become some sort of experiment gone wrong maybe they'll have a catchier scientific name?
Skaven?
Hm.. How about Skaevin? They can go right next to the Orx.
Interested. Although after throwing more than I should at KoW2 I'll not be going too mad on this one.
As for the talk of non-grid... meh.
The only reason I play DZ is because of the grid. If I wanted a skirmish game with real measuring I know there's other games out there with better quality figures. Why would DZ want to be just another of those?
Like I said on the grid thing before.. I find it creates problems. I understand that there are people that enjoy Deadzone in it's current state. Here's the thing.. you can choose to keep playing it in it's current state. If they change the rules you aren't going to be required by law to use that edition. The reason I say that is, there are a lot of us who backed the KS for DZ, gave it a try.. and absolutely ended up hating it.. or at least felt extremely meh about it. A lot of that for me involves grid shenanigans. So for us, if they give us something it'll be fantastic to have a crack at it and possibly something we CAN play without hating. On another note.. if they do change the rules, perhaps you would enjoy that if you gave it a try. Green Eggs and Ham and all of that.
They could always go for the "two ways to play" thing and support two (slight) variations on the system. If they did that it wouldn't upset me at all. I don't think it's likely though, since DZ seems to be (somewhat) aimed at the BG market as an entry product towards "proper" gridless minis gaming.
Sabotage! wrote: I am a bit bummed they decided to do more Enforcers rather than create a Corporation faction.
Apparently Corporation and Z'zor are being saved for another time, whether that's a different Deadzone supplement or maybe even a Warpath starter, we don't know exactly yet.
Sabotage! wrote: I am a bit bummed they decided to do more Enforcers rather than create a Corporation faction.
Apparently Corporation and Z'zor are being saved for another time, whether that's a different Deadzone supplement or maybe even a Warpath starter, we don't know exactly yet.
I suppose they could feasibly do another DZ expansion after WP is a thing. Continual support and all that.
I have stopped my terrain building from the previous KS, so I can mix the new stuff in. Interested in both the rats and the pathfinders. I like fantasy in space, and background doesn't bother me, I just want cool stuff (or stuff I think is cool).
BrookM wrote: I haven't really followed Mantic's previous KS attempts, but I have heard about them. Has their overall quality with the miniatures and post-KS service improved over time?
I'll throw a differing opinion out there: the hard plastics are pretty good but could definitely be better.
My Enforcers have missing detail, shallow detail, and some sunken areas. The issues are on all of my Enforcers, and all of the Enforcers that a local friend has too. So, it seems to be a mold issue, and not an isolated problem. I haven't had time to shoot pictures yet, but will as soon as I can.
The zombies are pretty good, especially for their first kit from this new manufacturer. I haven't gone over them, the Peacekeepers or the Forge Fathers as closely as the Enforcers yet, so I don't have any specific issues to point out.
I'll be in for a dollar on this one, but will probably only get the base pledge. Whether during the KS or during the PM period will depend upon what they have to show us during the KS.
Their hard plastics are OK, fine for mass infantry type games (Warpath) but they leave something to be desired for skirmish level games. I'm a big fan of the Forge Guard though. I still like the DZ hard plastics better than the restic DZ stuff though.
In for a dollar, I think, but that depends on what pledge levels there are. Scenery only would be nice!
There was an interview with Mantic at the Escapist website about kickstarters in general and Infestation in particular. It's worth a read;http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/columns/kickstarting/13617-Mantic-Details-Kickstarter-for-Deadzone-Infestation-Miniatures
Chris Palmer: The new Kickstarter is Deadzone Infestation. In 2012 we set about creating a project called Deadzone. It was conceived as our second attempt at entering the sci-fi miniatures tabletop market. We'd tried previously back in 2011 with our Warpath game, but we ultimately didn't spend enough money on it. We were in a lull where we couldn't afford to do much hard plastic, so for a bit we made kits in PVC until we hit upon Kickstarter. That lit up our Kings of War game with a load of capital and lots of new miniatures kits for the game. That in turn gave us confidence in the system and so we set about creating DreadBall - a tabletop sports game set in the Warpath universe.
So, when we decided it was time to have another crack at a sci-fi miniatures game, our CEO decided that we would do so on a smaller level, for a number of reasons. For one, cost. Second, we could focus on a specific part of the Warpath universe. One of the most common complaints about our games is the lack of background, so rather than trying to create an entire universe in one go, a smaller game like Deadzone would allow us to focus in one story - in this case, a planet on the outer rim of the galaxy experiencing an alien virus breakout.
Third, we wanted to have hard plastic for Warpath. You need lots of core infantry and vehicles in a mass battle game, and the best way to do that is through hard plastic. Resin Plastic doesn't do infantry well, and would have been unsuitable for vehicles. We needed a lower cost tool-maker to do it justice, one who could do both hard line objects and more organic shapes like faces and hands.
And that's where the scenery came in. Deadzone is a claustrophobic game set in dense scenery, so we came up with a modular system of tiles to construct buildings. Buildings by there nature can be less detailed than infantry figures, and so sci-fi buildings became the test for hard line vehicles, flyers and armoured infantry units.
The Escapist: What is the initial goal and what will that provide supporters?
vm_unit2_02
Palmer: The initial funding goal is $100,000. What we've recognized since the last campaign is our rulebook is a bit difficult to read and find things in. It's inaccessible and that makes it very difficult for new players to get involved. With the funding we'll be revisiting the rulebook, making it easier to read and offer up a gentler learning curve to get into the game. We'll also take the opportunity to rewrite the campaign section and tweak a few of the things that need clarifying. And since we don't want to leave out our previous backers, we'll be providing this new rulebook free as a digital download.
The bulk of the funding will go towards tooling new kits. We're aiming to add an entirely new faction to Deadzone - the Veer-myn. They will get a hard plastic infantry kit, forming the foundation of their Warpath army. We're also creating new soldiers for the Enforcers and we'll be adding to our scenery range. Those that support the project through the main pledge level with get the new rulebook, the new miniatures, the scenery, a newly artworked mat, all of the game aids, and we're also creating a resin figure exclusive to the Kickstarter in order to say thanks to our backers.
We've tried to go for a pledge level value that is affordable and can have lots of stretch goals added to it.
The Escapist: Mantic's past Kickstarters have all considerably exceeded the campaign's initial goal. The initial goal is $100,000, but what level of funding are you actually hoping to hit?
Palmer: I just hope to hit the funding goal! Somewhere between $350,000-$500,000 would be nice because that will give us the base to cover everything we want to develop for this project. But we are planning what we call "mad gak" just in case we go past that value.
The Escapist: How does Mantic decide how far apart the stretch goals should be?
Palmer: There isn't a scientific process to it. In fact, it's very interesting to look at how other people do it. Look at Zombicide 2 as a great example of stretch goal pricing. The last goals on that campaign are over $100,000 for a single plastic model that sits on a tool with the previous seven miniatures they've funded, each at varying degrees of value. And that's very clever, because they're not overstretching themselves.
I have yet to play a real game of Deadzone, but my 5 y/o son likes to play with the minis and buildings, so that's a pretty solid endorsement. I think I'll be in for $1, at least.
That interview made me excited. I'm glad a rule touch up and faction balance is on the books, I'm especially excited since they are planning an improved campaign system.
Hopefully there is a rules level pledge as I'm not really into the new factions.
I am a bit bummed they decided to do more Enforcers rather than create a Corporation faction.
Same.
Right now I have only the first Deadzone starter (terrain alone is nearly worth it). None of my friends have bought in yet. I knew a rat expansion was inevitable. My plan was to get both starters, then we could run 2 games and have 4 factions.
Now I'm not sure.
I'm interested in the veermyn, but have zero interest in more enforcers.
It depends on their pledges. If I can sub out the enforcers for Asterians or some new faction, then I may be on board.
Also, I hope they keep the grid. I think a large part of why deadzone was/is successful is due to the ease of moving. I've tried playing TT wargames with my boardgame friends. It's nearly unbearable.
Are the Pathfinders a new DZ faction or an expansion of the DZ Enforcer faction? Although I know they're in the same Warpath army I thought they would form their own DZ faction, but suddenly I'm not sure.
Pathfinders *are* Enforcers, they're hand picked and put through extra training to do what they do. Kind of like space marine scouts but.. not.. SM scouts are SM in training, Pathfinders are Enforcers who have had extra training for stealth, tracking/ tagging targets, and so on. I don't think they're better in game stats, they have less armor but can deploy further forward, but basically they're the lighter infiltration based wing of the enforcers.
Pathfinders locate the targets. Enforcers strike/assault/suppress it. Peacekeepers go in if the standard Enforcers can't handle it.
It's possible that there will be a pledge level for different factions and minimal game elements... look up the Recon pledge level for Deadzone. However, they have been making their pledges more simple in recent kickstarters...
I don't see them having a modular starter box. They'll be likely to be funding the main game for retail and that's liable to come to them sealed from the manufacture. At least it seemed to be that way in other projects.
If they do the small faction-specific pledge level.. that seems like your best bet, though I dunno if they will this run. If you have no love of the pathfinders, perhaps you can get the sweet spot pledge and trade them off? Usually, the sweet spot pledge is the most cost effective way to get what you want, even if you have to get extra stuff.
I'm hoping they do lots of new Battlezones too. Love the ruined quadrant I got before. I built so much stuff and still have tons left over to make more.
I'm probably gonna have to just pledge $1 though and then hope to get some new funds before it ends, or for the pledge manager
They've previewed an industrial BZ set, with like pipes and stuff to over up some of the connectors, kind of like what they started with the MA scenery. Dunno if they'll try more than one type or not... probably depends on how much funding they get.
If they do the small faction-specific pledge level.. that seems like your best bet, though I dunno if they will this run. If you have no love of the pathfinders, perhaps you can get the sweet spot pledge and trade them off? Usually, the sweet spot pledge is the most cost effective way to get what you want, even if you have to get extra stuff.
Thanks for the info. I didn't get in on the kickstarter last time so I'm unfamiliar with their options.
I probably will try to hit the sweet spot. I'm sure I can find some crazy person to unload a lot of pathfinders on...
If the Rats (I keep forgetting how to properly misspell Vermin and I'm afraid to spell it incorrectly wrong, so I'm just calling them Rats) have some sneaky assassin, I'm going to have a very hard time resisting. This may ruin my group's budding interest in Infinity, but it may be worth it for a cheaper and easier game to get into.
GrimDork wrote: Pathfinders *are* Enforcers, they're hand picked and put through extra training to do what they do. Kind of like space marine scouts but.. not.. SM scouts are SM in training, Pathfinders are Enforcers who have had extra training for stealth, tracking/ tagging targets, and so on. I don't think they're better in game stats, they have less armor but can deploy further forward, but basically they're the lighter infiltration based wing of the enforcers.
Pathfinders locate the targets. Enforcers strike/assault/suppress it. Peacekeepers go in if the standard Enforcers can't handle it.
Yeah I get where Pathfinders fit into the fluff, and that they're all one army for Warpath, I just thought for some reason they were forming their own individual Deadzone team - Enforcers already have a lot of options compared to the Plague, Rebs and Asterians, yet more might be a little over the top.
If they create Pathfinder Leaders, Troopers and Specialists, I think we'll be okay. Just publish new cards for those. Then you could choose to do an all pathfinder, enforcer or peacekeeper deadzone force. Pretty sweet actually.
Sure it's great if you like Enforcers, I'm just saying you'll be approaching double the options the three under-staffed forces have, which is a bit unfair for them.
NTRabbit wrote: Sure it's great if you like Enforcers, I'm just saying you'll be approaching double the options the three under-staffed forces have, which is a bit unfair for them.
Agreed. This is the Space Marine problem all over again.
I think an interesting solution (both to the overpopulation of enforcers and the poor performance of rebs) would be allowing rebel enforcers in all their flavors to join the rebs faction. Perhaps let all sorts of models be acquired by rebs for a slight points premium (1-2 points).
Uh.. whoah guys.. who said all we're going to see is Pathfinders and Skaven?
All we've seen "so far" is that stuff but given the track record of release sizes per KS.. I'd say it's a fairly safe bet that we're going to see just as much for the existing factions. In fact, I would wager that fleshing those others out is probably why we won't see corporation yet.
From what we have seen that's what 1 or 2 new kits with one possibly being hard plastics.. and people are up in arms??? The thing hasn't even started yet nor have they tipped their hand towards what the big picture is. Let's give them some room to prove where they're headed and not jump to conclusions and decide that some sort of hard plastic injustice is being done before the KS even launches.
I say that as someone who has a deep love/hate Mantic thing going on.
Maybe they can use the excess funding after the Pathfinders and Squeakers to work up some hard plastic Asterian battle drones and a walker, and some plague versions of the Rebs aliens.
As much as Rebs have problems, they actually have a wide spread of mini options if you ignore how viable they are with their current stats, while most of the others are very heavy in specialists:
NTRabbit wrote: Sure it's great if you like Enforcers, I'm just saying you'll be approaching double the options the three under-staffed forces have, which is a bit unfair for them.
Agreed. This is the Space Marine problem all over again.
I think an interesting solution (both to the overpopulation of enforcers and the poor performance of rebs) would be allowing rebel enforcers in all their flavors to join the rebs faction. Perhaps let all sorts of models be acquired by rebs for a slight points premium (1-2 points).
I like that idea.
I also wouldn't be opposed to a set of gun arms to put on Dreadball aliens for use as Rebs...
GrimDork wrote: Yeah... I've wanted a manticverse weapon/accessory sprue for years... Hassle free is such a risk, had to know if they're the right size...
Reaper has this problem too.. I've had a few things I've ordered and they showed up and it's like.. well.. what do you do with this extremely thin or overly tall or whatever scale issue model. They do a pretty good job about putting a ruler in component pictures but that doesn't always tell the whole story. I want some Hasslefree stuff but I've heard that with them it's even more sporadic. Kev White and the other more regular sculptor tend to be good about scale though.
Back to DZ/Manticverse - For me, I'm not overly fond of Marauders/Orx.. I feel like they're in the game because 40k has Orks. If/when I get around to painting mine, they'll be gray not green.. as I think they'd be good stand ins for the gorilla-like guys in 5150. Yeah I realize they're also basically not-orks, but at least there's an extra degree of separation. For the rest of DZ, I really hope Rebels get a huge boost along with Asterians. Forgefathers have gotten tons of love and Infected or whatever are powerful. They are kinda one-note but I'm afraid that if anything else gets added in they'll just end up being even more powerful. Rebels in my mind are both way under-powered but also don't have nearly the diversity that a force like that should be representing.
I'm a little concerned that with the number of races Mantic has introduced to DB, we'll be overwhelmed with additional armies that are under-supported if they bring those to DZ. If they release the bugs, robots, dinos, and tentacle dudes, then we'll have something like a dozen armies after Corporation gets released. If it carries over to Warpath, it's inevitable that we'll end up with an army sitting in doldrums while others get goodies.
As for the up in arms comments.. I dunno I read things that compare Mantic to GW as highly volatile and negative. Perhaps others don't, but NTRabbit in particular seems to have decided that Mantic has already screwed the pooch. At least that's how it looked to me.. perception is really weird on the internet... and I did see a few others but Rabbit's avatar is really noticeable too so he really stuck out
I like the Marauders myself, I usually don't even call them Orx. And I hear you on the not-green. Why the hell would anything that was mammalian be green? I mean I guess nobody sayd Orx/marauders were mammals but they look pretty similar. Regardless I feel there's just as much cause to paint them not green, as there is to paint them green
Spoiler:
Ok so the Mawbeasts are green... but that's because I was going for a Blanka theme to match the Bison/Shadowlaw Orx.
My Orx/Marauders have a reddish brown skin. I'm also avoiding the green skin. And since I play Ogres for KoW with Red Goblins...it works in both worlds if I want to do tie-ins!!
I just don't see enforcers defecting, they're probably brainwashed into unwavering faithful service, potentially with implanted kill-switches. Not to mention Enforcer armor blows up if tampered with. Or well... I think it kind of self-immolates/disintegrates, a present from the forge fathers so the corporations couldn't reverse engineer the armor.
Automatically Appended Next Post: I *could* see the rebs creating a facsimile of Enforcer armor and using it for publicity stunts. The 'Rouge Enforcer' would be kind of a mascot, severely damaging to the corporate image... but that seems more like a character/merc than a unit type.
I'm really liking that they will be touching up the rulebook (especially the campaign section), and I look forward to seeing what else they release in hard plastic. I'd love to see more Rebs personally (despite that they are apparently terrible in game - I love the models, even if they are cast in the horrid material that is restic).
Really hating the heads on the renders of the new male pathfinders. They just look like SM scout knock-offs. Give them some sort of helmet or do something a little different a more fitting in the Manticverse.
Bolognesus wrote: Anything other than HIPS Corp would be shooting themselves in the foot - and knowing Mantic...
With the amount we've heard 'Corp and Zzorr are off!' so far, I'm almost certain they will be front and centre when Warpath gets KSed, the core box being the Corp vs the Bugs with HP stuff for both.
I must admit I'm hoping the Pathfinders aren't going to be made their own faction (or at least cut from the main Enforcer faction), as I really like them in Enforcer lists.
I wouldn't object to some small HIPS vehicles, though. Martian Saucer sized? It could be the "big thing" for DZ and you'd have some light vehicle squadrons ready for Warpath, where you'd offer them in packs of 3-5 to inflate pledges.
I certainly wouldn't be averse to seeing Hard Plastic Striders, Asterian Skimmers, FF Iron Ancestors, maybe even a light vehicle for the Rebs (Hover-version of the MA US truck? Hell Yeah!)
NTRabbit wrote: Dropship is too big to fit in Deadzone, so I don't see it happening. They'll be saving that to drive money in the Warpath KS for sure.
I originally logged in to say "bah.. it could fit" but then I remembered that unless you're playing a larger than standard game, it really kinda is.
If they do add vehicles to DZ beyond what are already there, I hope they don't do the bizarre and ridiculous things that we saw concepted in the past. In the 80s for Saturday morning cartoons.. sure.. but DZ is right at the fringe of having a pretty interesting video-game type of sci-fi thing going on. This is also one of the reasons I'm put off by Marauders. Everything else looks like it belongs but they are freakin Looney Tunes.
The dropship isn't going to fit inside the 3" cube, even in a larger game it's going to be too big for Deadzone. The Goblin Guntrack and Urban Pattern Jotun are as big as a mini can feasibly get.
By which I'm saying I wouldn't be averse to the Rebs and Plague getting a small vehicle of a similar nature, the Asterians already having the multiweapon drone. The rebs having a that sized flying combat drone as a big brother to the survey drone would be cool, kinda like that one Anvil makes, or maybe an armed kettenkrad style thing and give the flyer to the enforcers
Surely it couldn't hurt Deadzone and the future Warpath kickstarter if they got each faction a hard plastic dreadnought equivalent walker included for each faction alongside the much needed infantry units. Something like hard plastic iron ancestors would be a good way to get me tempted into this kickstarter.
I'm not sure how much of a market is left amongst DZ players for walkers given they were pretty cheap in the last KS and you don't really need more than one. If they go for a model in that size, HIPS or not, it should be something new.
The Striders are fine in restic larger models work in restic so there's no major issues there even the clean up doesn't take to long better to use the new sprues for something else (like an Asterian big Mech) although I won't mind seeing some alternate Strider arms probably in resin as restic is out and metal is to heavy.
For anyone wondering if the Pathfinders will be a seperate faction from Enforcers, this si Dave Symonds on Facebook:
Pathfinders are part of the enforcers faction. Already exist as a single resin model, are now going to be a set of plastic ones, but they aren't a faction unto themselves.
Yes, perhaps they are preparing more napkin concept art for when/if it goes bonkers
Its not as if the blog posts about Deadzone have ever been very informative to people keeping up with the projects. A little something woulda been nice though.
For those of you who use twitter (i'll get on facebook, but I had to draw the line *somewhere*) are they doing anything on there to promote DZ:I?
I seem to recall some garbled transmissions from Dr. Simmonds for the first DZ KS.
David Clarke wrote: Surely it couldn't hurt Deadzone and the future Warpath kickstarter if they got each faction a hard plastic dreadnought equivalent walker included for each faction alongside the much needed infantry units. Something like hard plastic iron ancestors would be a good way to get me tempted into this kickstarter.
DaveC wrote: The Striders are fine in restic larger models work in restic so there's no major issues there even the clean up doesn't take to long better to use the new sprues for something else (like an Asterian big Mech) although I won't mind seeing some alternate Strider arms probably in resin as restic is out and metal is to heavy.
The restic striders and iron ancestors and the resin stuntbot are great, no need to replace them with hard plastic, but they do need to work up a resin line of alternate weapon arms. Using the 2.0 list the Iron Ancestor already comes in four loadouts - base, Urban Pattern, Doomstorm Pattern and Thor Pattern - and really needs a resin hailstorm right arm and a resin CC weapon left arm to make the Doomstorm and the Thor respectively, plus a missile launcher and a flamer for base variant options, while the Strider and Stuntbot mention burst lasers and MGs as alternates to the DZ loadouts. Asterians just need a walker or walker equivalent full stop and again, I'm fine with a nit that big being made in restic.
.Mikes. wrote: For anyone wondering if the Pathfinders will be a seperate faction from Enforcers, this si Dave Symonds on Facebook:
Pathfinders are part of the enforcers faction. Already exist as a single resin model, are now going to be a set of plastic ones, but they aren't a faction unto themselves.
Liking the terrain, hopfully they'll have a terrain only pledge or a way to just do that as add-ons.. dunno if I'll be able to do the full game. Gonna pledge $1 and wait and see
of note plans for hard plastics for every faction if the funds allow
Which bring us on to Warpath. Well this mini-kick is for Warpath too! We’ll get the Veer-myn in hard plastic – in fact if this kicks on every starter faction in Warpath will have some hard plastic sets. The Enforcers already have 2 sprues – and a 3rd coming in this mini-kick; we hope to get the Asterians funded, and the plague. In fact, with us adding to the scenery range too this is a Resin Plastic free Kickstarter – it is centering around the fantastic hard plastic we can now produce as we gear up for war!
Infestation is upon us
The Deadzone: Infestation Kickstarter goes live at 1:30pm GMT on Friday 20th March.
A threat lurks deep within the darkest corners of Exham IV.
Violent and aggressive in nature, uncontrollable if left to expand.
The Council of Seven has dispatched the Enforcer Pathfinders to assess and neutralize the threat in its early stages.
They are too late.
Infestation is upon us…..
Veer-myn-Mine-Escape
This week sees a mini-kick for Deadzone begin. I thought it relevant to explain a little about why we are doing it, what you can expect and a short update on the other outstanding projects while we’re at it.
So let’s start there. Dungeon Saga is off the printers in a matter of weeks. There is a big update coming but quickly I’ll say we have run two play test days, all the scenarios have been play tested – many of them by backers – and they are playing really well. We have had time to go over every part of the game and polish it aiming to make this as close to perfect as we can.
We’ve got a fantastic getting started guide, the adventures get progressively harder as the heroes toughen up, we have new art, and a very big surprise coming. I will reveal all in a blog post (ahem), but what I can say is that we have come up with a special way to say thanks to everyone who backed this project – and encourage newbies to give it a try once it is on the shelves! Watch for a video next week
Kings of War has been developed in parallel to Dungeon Saga by Alessio, with invaluable support from the rules committee. The new Abyssal and Nature army lists have been developed (and are both fantastic and calling to me, but I must resist!). As you know this was also a mini-kick and has given us a fantastic opportunity to polish the 1st edition KoW rules to play even quicker and more balanced. The point systems are just being worked through and it’s done too. There is a lot of people coming aboard KoW right now, and with a huge campaign coming up and new armies, units and heroes in the pipeline this will push the system to scale new heights. It goes off to translation in a few weeks (for simultaneous releases in German, Spanish and French!) and then to print! With you in summer and on time.
We have on the way the third wave shipment for Xtreme and seasons 5 and 6 too – they’ll be shipping May. Separate update on those – along with more play by plays for Xtreme.
Especially on KoW and DS we have taken on board the lessons from Deadzone, Mars Attacks and Xtreme. We are aiming to ship these in fewer waves, with much more pre-packed to minimize mispacks and errors. Thanks with your patience both on the old Kickstarters and the new pledge manager, all aimed at getting the product and its shipping right first time.
And Deadzone?
Well as we all know that was a massive project to serve up and delivering it certainly challenged us. We are coming back to it for a few reasons, and you can read about them in depth (and just how important your support is) in a great article here on the Escapist Magazine website.
In short, there are a few big reasons we needed to come back to Deadzone:
– We need another faction! Part of any minis game is giving us new enemies to fight against – or with! It poses new challenges and freshens up the system. When the Veer-myn hit the shelves the Forge Fathers and Asterians will have been out a year and it will be time for new blood
new 2From the Veer-myn Night-Crawler Hard Plastic Sprue
heavychem 1From the Veer-myn Night-Crawler Hard Plastic Sprue
– We’ll also add more new scenery – this has been hugely popular and the main request has been for more detail pieces, causeways, shafts and pipes. You speak, we listen – they are all in phase 1.
– Improve and simplify the army selection process and add a great campaign system
– The rules need a polish. Ideally this wouldn’t be done for a while but we need to make access into the game a little gentler
– it is a fantastic system but it takes too much effort to get there and it puts new people off. If the game is to flourish then it needs to be easier in the early stages.
The next point is really important too – we need a starter set and a range that retailers feel they can sell in their stores. The current starter set is fantastic value – filled with building sprues, rules, dice, counters, deluxe rubber mats and 2 factions – and that makes it too expensive in store and too much for a beginner to get started with. We’ll create a new 2 player set with a simple, high-quality supporting range – with all the basic sets in hard plastic to allow our retailers to constantly recruit into the universe.
Which bring us on to Warpath. Well this mini-kick is for Warpath too! We’ll get the Veer-myn in hard plastic – in fact if this kicks on every starter faction in Warpath will have some hard plastic sets. The Enforcers already have 2 sprues – and a 3rd coming in this mini-kick; we hope to get the Asterians funded, and the plague. In fact, with us adding to the scenery range too this is a Resin Plastic free Kickstarter – it is centering around the fantastic hard plastic we can now produce as we gear up for war!
male 2From the Enforcer Pathfinder Hard Plastic Sprue
male 3From the Enforcer Pathfinder Hard Plastic Sprue
Finally, the great opportunity we have for the next few weeks is that again we will get hard focus back on Deadzone – lots of people are waiting for a chance to dive in, and that chance is now. We will be running some spectacular deals on our website AND through our retail partners – AND ANY STORE CAN HAVE ANY DEAL FROM OUR WEBSITE. We want to support the trade accounts – so just go to the local gaming store and ask them to order what you want – and they’ll have it in a few days! With the crazy deals running you’ll be able to grab a faction starter or two, some great scenery – and have it all ready for the updated rules!
And backers of the previous Kickstarter needn’t worry either, as we’ll be giving each of the first Deadzone Backers a free digital copy of the new rulebook when it’s ready.
With the last four Kickstarters Mantic has signaled its intent – we are going to create exciting and deep universes – one fantasy, one futuristic in space. Each has benefited from two kickstarters that focus on developing those universes albeit with different game styles – but always to the same end. Whether it is via books, or a tabletop wargame, a sports game or a Dungeon crawler we want everyone to have a chance to collect, paint and game with minis at affordable prices. That is our mission. The support we get on Kickstarter allows that to happen.
Thank you for supporting the mission, help build the universes – and getting very cool toys along the way.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Added to OP
Automatically Appended Next Post: Oh my!
– We’ll also add more new scenery – this has been hugely popular and the main request has been for more detail pieces, causeways, shafts and pipes. You speak, we listen – they are all in phase 1.
– Improve and simplify the army selection process and add a great campaign system
– The rules need a polish. Ideally this wouldn’t be done for a while but we need to make access into the game a little gentler
– it is a fantastic system but it takes too much effort to get there and it puts new people off. If the game is to flourish then it needs to be easier in the early stages.
Something of note there is the hint of a newer, cheaper and smaller starter set, and from the sounds of it, this isn't necessarily going to have terrain (which takes up the bulk of the space in the current one). And yet, DZ without Terrain just won't work, so I'm wondering now if there are plans for Icestorm-esque folding paper terrain as an 'introductory' set. Less labour-intensive, easier to store, easier to pack. I could certainly see them adding something like that.
With that in mind, I can see the 'starter set' this time around being:
- 4-5 sprues of minis, perhaps less minis but more options (thanks to HIPS) than the old one
- quick-start rulebook
- possibly card terrain, paper mat.
- dice/tokens ect
At maybe the £30-40 price mark retail? (similar to the KOW Starter Armies)
Rampant speculation indeed, but that's how I can see this panning out. And I'd certainly be ok with that.
Well technically, the current 'starter' actually has 'too many' minis; more than you ever need in one game, at any rate. While this is awesome, as you get a 'full game' from the get-go, I can see them cutting to to a more common style where you get enough to game with (even as few as 5 minis with options per side, 50-point or so games) but the incetive is there to buy expansions to get more minis and actually expand, rather than just getting more options.
Plastic sprues means they can give you 1 'Heavy Weapon Guy' rather than Sniper/MG/Missile/Other each having their own model.
Less stuff, but I imagine Mantic will lower the price accordingly.
Could someone in the know comment on how likely, or not, it is that we'll see one of the most widely cited problems with the game - the weakness of the Rebs - get addressed in the new rulebook revisions?
From the sound of it so far, I'm guessing this isn't going to happen. But I'd be happy to be wrong.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And hey - does no resin plastic mean that the large Veer-myn "Beast" is going to be a polystyrene model? That would've been a restic kit back in the 1st KS campaign for sure.
Vermonter wrote: Could someone in the know comment on how likely, or not, it is that we'll see one of the most widely cited problems with the game - the weakness of the Rebs - get addressed in the new rulebook revisions?
From the sound of it so far, I'm guessing this isn't going to happen. But I'd be happy to be wrong.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And hey - does no resin plastic mean that the large Veer-myn "Beast" is going to be a polystyrene model? That would've been a restic kit back in the 1st KS campaign for sure.
Don't forget the difference in balance between shoting and mele!
Vermonter wrote: Could someone in the know comment on how likely, or not, it is that we'll see one of the most widely cited problems with the game - the weakness of the Rebs - get addressed in the new rulebook revisions?
From the sound of it so far, I'm guessing this isn't going to happen. But I'd be happy to be wrong.
I know that proposals were made very early in the life of the DZ RC, I don't know whether you can expect to see any of them implemented as part of the KS, maybe Scarletsquig knows?
Vermonter wrote: Could someone in the know comment on how likely, or not, it is that we'll see one of the most widely cited problems with the game - the weakness of the Rebs - get addressed in the new rulebook revisions?
From the sound of it so far, I'm guessing this isn't going to happen. But I'd be happy to be wrong.
I know that proposals were made very early in the life of the DZ RC, I don't know whether you can expect to see any of them implemented as part of the KS, maybe Scarletsquig knows?
We wrote up a suggested set of mission deck changes and stats/points changes for Rebs months ago. I don't know if they will be used in the new rules, or anything about the new rules at the moment, I'm assuming our real work will begin once we get tasked with testing and balancing them.
Very, very keen to be able to do as much as I can with Deadzone!
– The rules need a polish. Ideally this wouldn’t be done for a while but we need to make access into the game a little gentler
– it is a fantastic system but it takes too much effort to get there and it puts new people off. If the game is to flourish then it needs to be easier in the early stages
Very happy to see this is being addressed.
But this next bit got right on my nerves:
And backers of the previous Kickstarter needn’t worry either, as we’ll be giving each of the first Deadzone Backers a free digital copy of the new rulebook when it’s ready.
What about us mugs that missed the KS, but bought it retail?! Direct from Mantic, no less!
I have to admit I was tempted, but the "F-U, non Kickstarting prole!" vibe puts me off.
– The rules need a polish. Ideally this wouldn’t be done for a while but we need to make access into the game a little gentler
– it is a fantastic system but it takes too much effort to get there and it puts new people off. If the game is to flourish then it needs to be easier in the early stages
Very happy to see this is being addressed.
But this next bit got right on my nerves:
And backers of the previous Kickstarter needn’t worry either, as we’ll be giving each of the first Deadzone Backers a free digital copy of the new rulebook when it’s ready.
What about us mugs that missed the KS, but bought it retail?! Direct from Mantic, no less!
I have to admit I was tempted, but the "F-U, non Kickstarting prole!" vibe puts me off.
From their perspective, the logistics of handing out a digital copy to thousands of people is a lot easier if they use the list of KS backers.. offering a free copy to retail buyers would be pretty much impossible.
Did hear something about some DZ lite rules being made free online anyway, so there might be something offered there, in the same way that basic dreadball .pdf rules are now free:
Do you think they will change the order of the game, set terrain, then get mission, the select strike force? As the current of select force and the find out what you were sent to achieve is a bit tipsy turvy.
vorpalhit wrote: Do you think they will change the order of the game, set terrain, then get mission, the select strike force? As the current of select force and the find out what you were sent to achieve is a bit tipsy turvy.
So perhaps more like Malifaux, where until you know your mission the only thing you are locked into is your Faction. You then choose the mission/side mission and are free to build your crew around that. It could certainly work for DZ.
@Monders: I share your pain. I don't do KS for a variety of reasons, butI bought DZ pre-release direct from Mantic as soon as I could, I can see why they are doing what they doing, though, simply from a logistical perspective.
I do wonder, though, when the full rules for KoW, Warpath and I believe Dreadball are now free, why the DZ ones aren't. I can understand paying for the Faction Deck, but I am surprised Mantic haven't yet released the actual rulebook free like their other games.
vorpalhit wrote: Do you think they will change the order of the game, set terrain, then get mission, the select strike force? As the current of select force and the find out what you were sent to achieve is a bit tipsy turvy.
So perhaps more like Malifaux, where until you know your mission the only thing you are locked into is your Faction. You then choose the mission/side mission and are free to build your crew around that. It could certainly work for DZ.
Exactly like that, your in your carrier space ship with your 140? Points worth of stuff.
"Oh look new mission, lets go."
So what's the mission?
"dunno but leave the grenades behind."
Gets to LZ
"the mission is... To blow up that thing"
Gee would be sure helpful if we had some GRENADES!
I've been unfortunate enough to have a kill mission where due to him taking lots of not more than 10+ point models meant I couldn't get to 10points
Even as a backer, I don't want a fething digital copy. Especially since Mantic tends to make most of their rules available free anyway. I prefer a rulebook that I can put tabs or highlights in if need be. I prefer one that does not require a power source or doesn't turn off after a minute of inactivity.
MLaw wrote: Even as a backer, I don't want a fething digital copy. Especially since Mantic tends to make most of their rules available free anyway. I prefer a rulebook that I can put tabs or highlights in if need be. I prefer one that does not require a power source or doesn't turn off after a minute of inactivity.
So pledge for or buy a physical one. Or print out the digital copy.
MLaw wrote: Even as a backer, I don't want a fething digital copy. Especially since Mantic tends to make most of their rules available free anyway. I prefer a rulebook that I can put tabs or highlights in if need be. I prefer one that does not require a power source or doesn't turn off after a minute of inactivity.
Yup just print it out if you need to, They are trying to be nice by giving you a pdf. copy they don't even have to do that, they could go gw way and go, ooo got deadzone have you? Ha ha ha new rule book 80 dollars.
Personally looking forward to this nwe rules minis and hopefully balance on my favourite faction (rebs), Be curious to see why the Asterians would get involved but we'll see.
All the other games have the stats and rules free. Why not Deadzone?
Exactly.
I'm relatively sure Infinity has some free sci-fi skirmish rules, plus I own Necromunda.. and there's one-page rules and a few other free skirmish sci-fi games. They're not doing us a favor. This is a product.
I personally found the first rulebook to be beyond shoddy and I helped pay for it's production along with several others. I think it was poorly edited and needed a lot more testing. I'm not alone in my views and I'm not wrong to feel the way I do.. I also don't like when people try to shame me for feeling like I was shortchanged on something. They half-assed the initial rulebook and IMO providing a hardcopy for people who backed at least $300 shouldn't be that big of a deal. Whatever the case is, Mantic is in fact slowly adopting GW-like practices. Let's stop pretending they're the patron saints of gaming.
I'm relatively sure Infinity has some free sci-fi skirmish rules.
Aye, not only does Infinity have the full rules available free, but when they launched their 3rd Ed last year, the new PDF was released within a week of the book shipping (maybe even the same day as release) and contained not only the updated core rules but also fully updated profiles for the new edition. I think it's fair to say this generated a huge amount of goodwill from the community (many of whom happily bought the full book for the fluff/art anyway) and kept it simple for people to get into the game.
Now, I'm not going to turn on Mantic just for not doing that with DZ, as their service generally seems to be decent enough, but if they are going to do it for the KS backers, it would be nice if they did the same for those who supported them by buying from them direct right from the start. Surely all it would take is to do an automatic email to anyone who ordered the DZ core set/book from them with the update attached (data I would guess they have).
Or they could just put it online in general. Generates even more goodwill, people could check it out before buying, and they couldnt play the game without cards anyway, so youre not even losing sales there.
And Im not only saying that cause I got my copy of DZ from an independent retailer... <.<
I get the impression it's going to go the same as Dreadball - a respectable amount of time to convince more people to buy/placate those who backed, followed by a fluff-free digital rulebook with unit stats, sans art of print and play layout, as an appendix at the back. You'll just need a little patience.
After three waves of shipping, tens of thousands of comments, messages and more man-hours than we can possibly count, the Deadzone Kickstarter is finally closed.
What this means is that we no longer have any more packages to ship, and will no longer be monitoring the comments or messages on Deadzone. If you do have a query please email dave@manticgames.com and he will assist you with it.
Deadzone has been an amazing phenomenon and a huge, massive learning process. It’s taken us to the next level in terms of our company growth with all of the growing pains that become associated to that. But we’re through the other side, wiser, greyer for all the hard work. And you know what, we’re thinking of doing it all again…
The Infestation is upon us...
The Deadzone: Infestation Kickstarter goes live at 1:30pm GMT on Friday 20th March.
A threat lurks deep within the darkest corners of Exham IV.
Violent and aggressive in nature, uncontrollable if left to expand.
The Council of Seven has dispatched the Enforcer Pathfinders to assess and neutralize the threat in its early stages.
They are too late.
Infestation is upon us…..
You can find out more about the new Kickstarter here. >>>http://e3.kickstarter.com/mpss/c/4AA/6TYCAA/t.1lg/MTaWgUuKSiaxnGYdOO9GkQ/h2/P6eUOoExUf49lAepFFOEsAUmGkvQC60plAzQi2fiH-2F2FpH47ovJPuPOkCRSCcGiK9sDevQH-2B-2BJngFNvkXYTK9A-3D-3D Note that we will be giving you a free digital download of the updated rules when they are available, to say thank you for all of your support. We want to include you in refreshing the book, and we'd love for you to tell us what you like about the current rules and where you think we could improve them.
On the Kickstarter itself we will have a low cost pledge level available where you can get just the new book, a main pledge level where you'll be able to get the book and new hard plastics - a great bundle for existing players to add to their collection or for new backers to get involved with Deadzone - and, later in the campaign, a dedicated scenery-only pledge level.
Deadzone Update 168 wrote:
Note that we will be giving you a free digital download of the updated rules when they are available, to say thank you for all of your support.
Wow. Thanks for that Mantic.
#sarcasm
I didn't get a cheap rulebook or pdf. I wasn't aware of Deadzone till after it had been made.
I paid full retail for the digital rulebook and full retail for the Starter Set rulebook - but I'm not due an updated rulebook.
I'm also a retail player that can't get several weapon options or figures that are detailed in my starter set as they were exclusive to KS backers.
The more I read about (and by) Mantic puts me more and more off them. Why are retail customers that pay more treated like pond scum?
Deadzone Update 168 wrote:
Note that we will be giving you a free digital download of the updated rules when they are available, to say thank you for all of your support.
Wow. Thanks for that Mantic.
#sarcasm
I didn't get a cheap rulebook or pdf. I wasn't aware of Deadzone till after it had been made.
I paid full retail for the digital rulebook and full retail for the Starter Set rulebook - but I'm not due an updated rulebook.
I'm also a retail player that can't get several weapon options or figures that are detailed in my starter set as they were exclusive to KS backers.
The more I read about (and by) Mantic puts me more and more off them. Why are retail customers that pay more treated like pond scum?
Try emailing them before flipping the feth out... That was an email to KS backers.
As has been said before, they'll probably hook you up.
I bought retail and certainly don't expect Mantic to give me free stuff. That's more suited to a special offer for people who helped fund the game so I could buy it retail in the first place. Though as has been said, I'm sure they'll give it to anyone who asks.
Yeah i dunno.... I mean buying at retail is more expensive but then that's nobody's fault is it? I dunno if I get the sense of entitlement for people who knew nothing of the project or adopted a wait-and-see policy and picked it up later. I mean, I backed DZ *heavily* and wouldn't expect to be sent a PDF from a separate project even if it is one that updates my rules, I consider a bonus. Kind of just the nature of the beast though, if someone gets something for free, everyone else will want it regardless of relative situation.
I'm also getting pretty excited to see whats coming, especially now that I see another confirmation of hard plastic, and in the same update as giant rats and pathfinder bikes. Pathfinder bikes in hard plastic? Oh man.. oh man... awesome. I always wanted some space marine scout bikers but never could justify the cost... these may just do that.
I can only assume monowheels after they already made one, but we'll see I guess!
I know they had renders of bulkier not-cyphers that were maybe fully robotic drones, but maybe that was gonna be their giant and not their infantry... not sure, excited. May have to actually paint some cyhpers.
Yeah, very confused about the Asterian clones, given they've already shown some Asterian battle droid concepts that looked like they would be the cannon fodder.
I really hope they haven't dropped the battle droids altogether. Those concepts looked ace.
See?
I remember clones being kicked around as a Rebs cannon fodder hard plastic trooper idea at one point. Maybe Asterian clones mean that the Rebs - or the Corp forces - will now get battle droids instead, then?
GrimDork wrote: Yeah i dunno.... I mean buying at retail is more expensive but then that's nobody's fault is it? I dunno if I get the sense of entitlement for people who knew nothing of the project or adopted a wait-and-see policy and picked it up later. I mean, I backed DZ *heavily* and wouldn't expect to be sent a PDF from a separate project even if it is one that updates my rules, I consider a bonus. Kind of just the nature of the beast though, if someone gets something for free, everyone else will want it regardless of relative situation.
If GW doesn't get a free pass for flip flopping editions after only two years, why should mantic?
I guess that's a fair point but it wasn't really what I was talking about. I was going on about backer/not-backer/entitlement/schism/blahblah, I hadn't really said anything about it being too soon for a new edition.
For what you've said, I think a couple of of things...
Its not gonna have the hard-to-swallow price tag of the GW book (sure it's consummate with quality/size/whatever to some degree, but when all you want is working rules the GW book is a bitter, bitter pill).
And secondly, IF they genuinely improve the rules and make the game more accessible to new players at the same time? I'm cool with that. I'd be down to buy a new DZ rulebook just to glean a few more snippets of fluff and stick it with it's now obsolete brothers on the shelf.
But sure, if Mantic ends up putting out a new DZ rulebook every 2 years, that'll probably be annoying. I dunno that this will be the case... but if it is, they deserve no more of a free pass than GW. (nor did I at any point say such a thing )
You said you didn't understand the sense of entitlement. I unabashedly think that we as consumers are entitled to get more than 2 years of use out of a gaming book from its first publication so I reframed the question in a way that may better explain where those unhappy with this may be coming from. If they didn't get it right and feel the need to replace the product on store shelves in less than half the typical life cycle normal for those products then they should give everyone the rules update for free and sell the premium version through the KS. I hold everyone to that standard and have criticized companies that ignored it regardless of how much I like the IP (like 40k and Heavy Gear... both of which are guilty of doing the same thing).
But sure, if Mantic ends up putting out a new DZ rulebook every 2 years, that'll probably be annoying. I dunno that this will be the case... but if it is, they deserve no more of a free pass than GW.
As far as that point is concerned, I don't disagree with you.
But, with any luck, this pass will see the necessary improvements and we'll see the Warpath kickstarter before they feel the need to make a bunch more deadzone and/or any new/modified/updated rules for it.
Still *really* curious as to the campaign changes, I didn't get to play much DZ original to comment on playability or balance with any credibility, but even with my limited skirmish game experience the campaign looked awful light.
But sure, if Mantic ends up putting out a new DZ rulebook every 2 years, that'll probably be annoying. I dunno that this will be the case... but if it is, they deserve no more of a free pass than GW.
As far as that point is concerned, I don't disagree with you.
But, with any luck, this pass will see the necessary improvements and we'll see the Warpath kickstarter before they feel the need to make a bunch more deadzone and/or any new/modified/updated rules for it.
Still *really* curious as to the campaign changes, I didn't get to play much DZ original to comment on playability or balance with any credibility, but even with my limited skirmish game experience the campaign looked awful light.
I know but I was just explaining the reasoning behind my post. If anything can predict the future, it'll be what mantic has done with their other main line (Kings of War). Looking at the wiki page, it was released in 2010 as a physical copy in a boxed set, significantly revised in 2013 as a hardback, and kickstarted a 2nd edition in 2014 to be delivered in mid 2015. To their credit, I believe at least the first two versions were also available for free legal downlaod as well but their established pattern is to put out a new rulebook every 2-3 years. That doesn't bode well if you expect more than just 2 years of utility from a mantic rules purchase and deadzone is following that same pattern.
Vermonter wrote: Yeah, very confused about the Asterian clones, given they've already shown some Asterian battle droid concepts that looked like they would be the cannon fodder.
I really hope they haven't dropped the battle droids altogether. Those concepts looked ace.
See?
I remember clones being kicked around as a Rebs cannon fodder hard plastic trooper idea at one point. Maybe Asterian clones mean that the Rebs - or the Corp forces - will now get battle droids instead, then?
I was pretty certain at the time that this concept was meant to be the Asterian large walker, not another infantry sized line trooper
But sure, if Mantic ends up putting out a new DZ rulebook every 2 years, that'll probably be annoying. I dunno that this will be the case... but if it is, they deserve no more of a free pass than GW.
As far as that point is concerned, I don't disagree with you.
But, with any luck, this pass will see the necessary improvements and we'll see the Warpath kickstarter before they feel the need to make a bunch more deadzone and/or any new/modified/updated rules for it.
Still *really* curious as to the campaign changes, I didn't get to play much DZ original to comment on playability or balance with any credibility, but even with my limited skirmish game experience the campaign looked awful light.
I know but I was just explaining the reasoning behind my post. If anything can predict the future, it'll be what mantic has done with their other main line (Kings of War). Looking at the wiki page, it was released in 2010 as a physical copy in a boxed set, significantly revised in 2013 as a hardback, and kickstarted a 2nd edition in 2014 to be delivered in mid 2015. To their credit, I believe at least the first two versions were also available for free legal downlaod as well but their established pattern is to put out a new rulebook every 2-3 years. That doesn't bode well if you expect more than just 2 years of utility from a mantic rules purchase and deadzone is following that same pattern.
I generally disagree. The life time of 1st Ed would be unacceptable, but 1st Ed. was a bit of a mess and them basically saying that the rules need to be clearer is a lot better than trying to build on 1st Ed. with more supplements. Stings a bit, but for me this is the best way forward.
From a rules standpoint, it's no worse than what MegaCon are trying to do with Myth.
Both games have a great foundation to work from, but there's lots of little things that can be fixed and clarified that would vastly improve both games.
I really want a better campaign mode. I never tried 1st edition, but reading through it was quite underwhelming.
Given that this isn't even 24 hours old, I don't think it's unreasonable for either backers or retail customers to at least expect a PDF of the rules.
From Deadzone update #168
After three waves of shipping, tens of thousands of comments, messages and more man-hours than we can possibly count, the Deadzone Kickstarter is finally closed.
What this means is that we no longer have any more packages to ship, and will no longer be monitoring the comments or messages on Deadzone.
Mantic are offering some fairly aggressive pricing on the remainder of their 1st edition stock over the next month to help promote the Kickstarter.
Retailers can pick up a bundle of the base game, Nexus PSI, Incursion and Contagion to sell at £64.99, the base price of the core set. Take off the usual third party discount and you're looking at a fair bargain, even if you're just wanting to bulk out scenery and the basic models.
It's obviously of no benefit or consolation to anyone who recently paid full price, but should help to keep some interest until the launch of second edition towards the end of the year.
Personally I have no issue with the newer/updated rules to Deadzone. Had I paid for the compendium as part of the KS, rather than those that got it free as a high level pledge bonus, I would be rather miffed. Even more so had I bought it at retail like many others have.
As others have mentioned hopefully retail purchasers will get the PDF free too or eventually Mantic just release a free to all download via their website.
That said a little over 5 hours until the Infestation KS kicks off.
What about us mugs that missed the KS, but bought it retail?! Direct from Mantic, no less!
I have to admit I was tempted, but the "F-U, non Kickstarting prole!" vibe puts me off.
This is Mantic. If you emailed them and said you bought your DZ retail I'd bet my granny they'd send you the rules also.
I was thinking that! Especially since I bought from them direct
edit - I'm genuinely interested in seeing what's on offer from this KS. That fact it's a smaller, new player friendly version really ticks some boxes for me.
GrimDork wrote: Yeah i dunno.... I mean buying at retail is more expensive but then that's nobody's fault is it? I dunno if I get the sense of entitlement for people who knew nothing of the project or adopted a wait-and-see policy and picked it up later. I mean, I backed DZ *heavily* and wouldn't expect to be sent a PDF from a separate project even if it is one that updates my rules, I consider a bonus. Kind of just the nature of the beast though, if someone gets something for free, everyone else will want it regardless of relative situation.
If GW doesn't get a free pass for flip flopping editions after only two years, why should mantic?
Whilst I'm not suggesting Mantic should get a free pass (what they should get is a better playtest process so they can spend more time hammering out the bad bits their designers stubbornly cling to), the net impact on the value of your collection and need for ancillary purchases when GW flips an edition is a whole other thing.
And I would hope that, as with KoW and WP, the rules committee will have the freedom to share significant parts of the changes ahead of time and explain what they are aiming to achieve with said changes (as opposed to "we introduced this whole bullgak psychic phase, a copy of the most criticised part of our other game, because everyone in the studio ran CCHQ choices", wait, you wanted designers' notes? ROFLMAO").
Lord knows *what* the one in the picture is made of, probably resin. But I could see those bits on a sprue, and since they're scouts, a kneeling model or two per unit isn't totally out of the norm.
GrimDork wrote: Lord knows *what* the one in the picture is made of, probably resin. But I could see those bits on a sprue, and since they're scouts, a kneeling model or two per unit isn't totally out of the norm.
Everyone makes masters out of 3D printed resin I believe, so that's what that particular one in the photo will be. Expecting the production model to be hard plastic though.
So a few weeks back, there was a discussion on the origins of veermyn (amongst other factions) as yet another WHFB in space army and it was mentioned (by scarletsquig?) that their background is significantly changing to not just be space skaven/rats. Has there been any news or update on that publicly?
warboss wrote: So a few weeks back, there was a discussion on the origins of veermyn (amongst other factions) as yet another WHFB in space army and it was mentioned (by scarletsquig?) that their background is significantly changing to not just be space skaven/rats. Has there been any news or update on that publicly?
Yes, veermyn is now a race of parasitic pretty yellow armour that attaches itself to a rat like species.
warboss wrote: If anything can predict the future, it'll be what mantic has done with their other main line (Kings of War). Looking at the wiki page, it was released in 2010 as a physical copy in a boxed set, significantly revised in 2013 as a hardback, and kickstarted a 2nd edition in 2014 to be delivered in mid 2015. To their credit, I believe at least the first two versions were also available for free legal downlaod as well but their established pattern is to put out a new rulebook every 2-3 years. That doesn't bode well if you expect more than just 2 years of utility from a mantic rules purchase and deadzone is following that same pattern.
2012 was the KoW hardback.
The rules and army lists have always been free PDF downloads.
And here are the fake stretch goals we all knew were coming. Its not a huge deal, its just hard to get excited about getting the box to the level we all knew it was going to be at anyways.
In an utterly incredible 13 minutes, Deadzone: Infestation has been made possible!
We've got plenty of fun update coming out exploring all the new bits and pieces (and we might even get our video out as well!)
If you’re new to a Mantic Kickstarter, you’re in for a whirlwind journey of awesome stretch goals, lots of free stuff getting unlocked in your pledge level and plenty of opportunity to get involved and help shape the direction of the game. It will also be loads of fun!
If you’ve got a question, please be sure to check out the FAQ at the bottom of the main page or ask about it in the comments. Please also remember that you are free to change your pledge as often as you like – no money is taken until the moment the campaign closes in 17-days time.
If you’re a veteran of Mantic Kickstarters – welcome back and it’s great to have you on board! We look forward to chatting in the comments and, who knows, maybe you’ll help answer people’s questions and comments for us well.
Right then, the exciting bit…
WHAT’S NEXT?!
New Stretch Goal $75,000 BONUS MINIATURES: Hard Plastic Enforcer Pathfinders
Even amongst the ranks of the Enforcers, the Pathfinders are an elite and highly specialised group. Their role demands that they avoid direct contact with the enemy wherever possible and their standard equipment and weaponry reflect this. Deployed ahead of the main force, the Pathfinders are tasked with gathering all the necessary Intel required to support a successful campaign, while eliminating any obstacles that may hinder the deployment of the main Enforcer vanguard.
This stretch goal adds 5 additional Hard Plastic Enforcer Pathfinders in the Quarantine Pledge.
warboss wrote: If anything can predict the future, it'll be what mantic has done with their other main line (Kings of War). Looking at the wiki page, it was released in 2010 as a physical copy in a boxed set, significantly revised in 2013 as a hardback, and kickstarted a 2nd edition in 2014 to be delivered in mid 2015. To their credit, I believe at least the first two versions were also available for free legal downlaod as well but their established pattern is to put out a new rulebook every 2-3 years. That doesn't bode well if you expect more than just 2 years of utility from a mantic rules purchase and deadzone is following that same pattern.
2012 was the KoW hardback.
The rules and army lists have always been free PDF downloads.
Ok, thanks. Looks like there is a typo in the wiki.
squall018 wrote: And here are the fake stretch goals we all knew were coming. Its not a huge deal, its just hard to get excited about getting the box to the level we all knew it was going to be at anyways.
Indeed!
I just wish they'd be a bit more creative and less transparent about it!
Damn, those new Pathfinders are epic! I'll wait for retail as ever, but will certainly pick up a few.
Not too fussed about the Veer-Myn as yet (the yellow colourscheme doesn't help matters), but if they end up in the new Starter then I won't object to a few.
Clarification: In the last update we said that no money will be charged until after the campaign closed in 27 days time. That should be 17 days.
Stretch Goal Smashed!
That’s five additional Enforcers Pathfinders now added to your pledge of Quarantine!
New Stretch Goal $100,000 BONUS SCENERY: Industrial Accessories
A big part of Deadzone is the scenery, and in additional to the Industrial tiles, we’re doing a range of cool accessories and connectors that improve the look of your buildings even further.
When we hit this stretch goal we will produce a range of Industrial themed connectors and accessories, and include a free sprue in a pledge of Quarantine.
squall018 wrote: And here are the fake stretch goals we all knew were coming. Its not a huge deal, its just hard to get excited about getting the box to the level we all knew it was going to be at anyways.
Indeed!
I just wish they'd be a bit more creative and less transparent about it!
The interview they did with the Escapist actually stated that their initial funding goal was $100 000! So these first two were always part of the base box. It does feel a little uninspired, I admit.
That’s a bonus sprue of Industrial Accessories added in the Quarantine Pledge!
Next up, the Veer-myn get reinforcements.
NEW STRETCH GOALS $125,000 Veer-myn Stalkers
As with all sections of Veer-myn society, within the Night-Crawlers there sit identifiable sub classes, one of the most numerous of which have been dubbed Stalkers. Stalkers are some of the few Veer-myn which human troops have seen close up as the rabid creatures are driven into close combat with their enemy. Whether this is due to a genetic disorder or disease which overrides the Veer-myn’s natural caution, or the result of drugs bringing on violent episodes is unknown, and usually at the back of a corporation trooper’s mind as the Veer-myn leap across the battlefield, gobs of froth foaming across their jaws.
If we hit this stretch goal, we will add new hard plastic options to the sprue to create hand weapon and pistol wielding Veer-myn Stalkers.
This means that the ten Veer-myn you already get in Quarantine can be built as either Night-Crawlers or Stalkers.
We are also giving you one bonus sprue of 5 Veer-myn Miniatures, taking the total number up to 15!
I tried calling them out on the SG "letting us make Stalkers from the sprue" when it's obvious that was always a choice from the initial images, they're trying to argue otherwise and change the subject, lol...
Errr... I am pretty sure that this is an added sprue - not stuff added to the same sprue.
Much easier this way.
Not according to Mantic.
Update 3 wrote:If we hit this stretch goal, we will add new hard plastic options to the sprue to create hand weapon and pistol wielding Veer-myn Stalkers.
This means that the ten Veer-myn you already get in Quarantine can be built as either Night-Crawlers or Stalkers.
We are also giving you one bonus sprue of 5 Veer-myn Miniatures, taking the total number up to 15!
I like that it's a small campaign. I think they figure it cuts down on the slow middle part of a campaign, and if folks can't back in time they can always pledge $1 and then be able to order what they want later in the pledge manager.
I played Deadzone last night - the first time in months.
My girlfriend not only kicked my arse, she kicked the arses of everyone playing. Orx suit her.
Don't feel bad. Orx, at least around here, are the anti-Rebs.
Not an auto-win button but they're looking at having one installed.
On topic, this does look nice.
Like others have said, hoping they give Jake/team the proper amount of time to playtest not only rules but the forces themselves and their interactions with the rules.
And enough time to do a good layout/editing.
My DZ books looks like Frankenstein's patchwork with physical stickies added all over to reflect edits missed with the original book.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Joyboozer wrote: Please Mantic, don't hamfist the piper miniature.
Or the rules/strike force interaction with the rules/book layout.
The Deadzone train keeps on rolling, that’s Veer-myn Stalkers funded and added to the Quarantine pledge!
Next up:
NEW STRETCH GOAL $150,000 Pathfinder D.O.G Drone
The Deployable Offensive Gun Platform, or DOG drone, was developed after the lack of Pathfinder heavy firepower was identified as a major contributing factor to failure of missions when facing heavy plague resistance at first contact. The DOG drone’s quadrupedal chassis and internal gyroscope allow it to traverse the roughest of terrain, and purpose-built recoil dampeners mean it can be equipped with the kind of heavy weaponry otherwise unavailable to a Pathfinder.
If we hit this stretch goal, we will upgrade the hard plastic Enforcer Pathfinder sprue to include a D.O.G Drone, which comes with weapon options for either a Burst Laser or Comms Dish.
You already get two Pathfinder sprues in the Quarantine pledge, meaning you will now get two Enforcer Pathfinder D.O.G Drones included as well!
And with these funded, we've got the first two add-ons up on the front page:
More will be added through stretch goals, or through Add-on Wednesday, including scenery deals and more.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alex C wrote: Comments section revealed that they're thinking of dropping the card decks and having all the info in the book instead.
WTF?
MAJOR step backwards if this happens.
I don't think they mean mission cards, but the stat cards. So they have the rules for the armies in the books. I don't mind that.
I think rules need to be both places. Presented nicely with cool art, bio and full rules in the book, plus a handy stat card for easy reference when you play.. Like Warmahordes. At the very least, if they don't want to print all those cards, they should do free PDFs you can download and print out yourself.
Alex C wrote: Comments section revealed that they're thinking of dropping the card decks and having all the info in the book instead.
WTF?
MAJOR step backwards if this happens.
Haven't read the comment in question, but I personally wouldn't mind the book having an appendix with all the Stats in, just for reference, but I hope stat cards remain, simply as they are a handy way to keep track of things.
That drone is awful. With so many real world designs being deployed and tested as examples of what really works, to go with legs like that is just bad.
CptJake wrote: That drone is awful. With so many real world designs being deployed and tested as examples of what really works, to go with legs like that is just bad.
Whoa? I love the dog design! very modern but not to the point of IP infringing, giveing the scale the actural leg detail won't be curcial. Check out Boston Dyanmics for real life examples.
Yeah, I want to back this just out of completionism, but I'm not at all big on rat-men, and I have yet to paint a single DZ model nor finish cutting out all of the terrain from the first one (in my defense, there was so much of it last time I developed a blister on my cutting hand and just haven't circled back around).
Not sure about backing right now, though the terrain does look fairly nice.
CptJake wrote: That drone is awful. With so many real world designs being deployed and tested as examples of what really works, to go with legs like that is just bad.
I love the drone! I want more. Flying drones, too, please!
(So tempted to make a double-entendre about hard plastic...)
Anyway, the Veermyn minis look a lot better now, but the only way to save their fluff at this point is to bring in C.L. Werner.
Dammit, now I'm in for a dollar. Something tells me I'm going to be in big trouble when the DS pledge manager, the KoW2 pledge manager and the DZ 2 pledge manager all go out in the same month. It's the Triple Conjunction!
Stupid pledge managers. I can check out any time I like, but I can never leave.
PS: I have waited so long for Mantic to open a KS on a monday so I can bust out the line "Just another Mantic Monday." Looks like it will never happen.
judgedoug wrote: Like the drone, don't like the joints on it. Might kitbash mine to look more like the Dog series from Boston Dynamics/DARPA.
As is, the legs are too short, especially for the body length, if it needs to traverse any rough terrain/be able to get over waist high obstacles (very common in an urban battlefield) and to keep up with the troops it is supposed to support.
judgedoug wrote: Like the drone, don't like the joints on it. Might kitbash mine to look more like the Dog series from Boston Dynamics/DARPA.
As is, the legs are too short, especially for the body length, if it needs to traverse any rough terrain/be able to get over waist high obstacles (very common in an urban battlefield) and to keep up with the troops it is supposed to support.
It might be easier to kitbash a gun onto the Dreamforge Mule than to kitbash new legs onto the Dog.
judgedoug wrote: Like the drone, don't like the joints on it. Might kitbash mine to look more like the Dog series from Boston Dynamics/DARPA.
As is, the legs are too short, especially for the body length, if it needs to traverse any rough terrain/be able to get over waist high obstacles (very common in an urban battlefield) and to keep up with the troops it is supposed to support.
It might be easier to kitbash a gun onto the Dreamforge Mule than to kitbash new legs onto the Dog.
On second look, it looks like the legs have two joints? Hard to tell. The main knee joint and then a rear ankle joint? If that's the case, it's conceivable it's just molded in "crouched" mode and can extend it's legs and add a lot more height.
I agree about the Dreamforge Mule, but that would require me to spend more money and this one I'm already getting with my pledge. So I'll make do
I backed the original Deadzone kickstarter but think I will currently hang fire on this one. I am not a fan of the Veer Myn miniatures at all and they are a big part of pledge as it stands. I am also rubbish at delayed gratification, January seems such a long way away.
Of course there is every chance that the miniature count for the cost will make pledging a no-brainer. I shall be watching the next 17 days with interest.
Terrainaholic interview with Ronnie not much new but he does say jetbikes when mentioning Pathfinder bikes and it sounds like the Giant rats are larger scale Veermyn. Also new mercenaries. Steel Warriors are possible if it gets high enough.
so maybe the Pathfinders are getting these jetbikes rather than monobikes?
Azazelx wrote: All about the Fake Stretch Goals, more to the point....
At least there's no restic, right?
Something to be happy about?
Are you capable of that emotion?
No restic is a good thing generally, yes. Really, though, the game being "funded" with 15+1 HIPS figures for $115 is so incredibly fake that it does bear pointing out. I know it should be decent value by the end, but at this point Mantic have gone so far down the rabbit hole of gaming KS, that it no longer bears much of a connection to reality in terms of the initial funding goal meaning anything at all.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Alex C wrote: I tried calling them out on the SG "letting us make Stalkers from the sprue" when it's obvious that was always a choice from the initial images, they're trying to argue otherwise and change the subject, lol...
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