GrimDork wrote: It sucks that you ended up disappointed, but you wanted your dwarfs to be the same size as space marines and are put out that they're short? That Dwarfs are short. The Iron Ancestors are a bit smaller than dreadnoughts but whoever said they were supposed to be the same size? Smaller dude inside, different set up. I like my trio. Kind of wish I got one from the KS for the different parts but meh oh well.
I actually was pretty happy with their size in the steel warriors sprue (not with the sculpt), and KoW dwarfs scale perfectly to me... Those new forge fathers are just to small: just compare sizes of the metal hibrids, and characters... They stand to the brokks as if they where wearing a Forge Guard armor, aven when they have all the look of "half armor" or even "brokk armor" in one case. They are not just "short" they are "small", i like them as short and stocky, but the brokks look to me like "hobbit bodybuilders", not as dwarfs...
Its a matter of taste in the end, and well, i was planning to use them in 40k, not the official use for them...
not 'melted' but hollowed out on the back of two of the arms where they go against the chest. It's I assume to get a closer fit for the peacekeepers who are aiming down their rifles. But you do get enough arms on the sprue not to have to use them if you wish.
not 'melted' but hollowed out on the back of two of the arms where they go against the chest. It's I assume to get a closer fit for the peacekeepers who are aiming down their rifles. But you do get enough arms on the sprue not to have to use them if you wish.
It basically means that there are a couple arms that can only be used in the default pose. One of the advantages of styrene plastic is how easy it is to convert things, but with those arms, if you do anything other than have the aiming down the gun pose, you'll expose that the inside of the arms and guns don't have detail at all. I'd be more okay with it if it was just the gun, so the arms could still be used for other conversions, but it's also the hand and forearms and even part of the upper arms.
The plastic peacekeepers were the thing I was waiting for from Mantic to see if I wanted to give them another try after being disappointed with some of their previous products and between the melted arms and the inconsistent hand sizes (which I get, are just in the tradition of GW terminators with one marshmellow fist and one normal sized hand) I'm going to pass on them and go for some historicals instead.
I think the best looking build of the peacekeepers will be the riot shield build. They look great.
in part it reflects the problem that if you stick a real human body in big chunky power armour you find that it can't take up the poses you want it to,
so you either have to redesign the whole thing, or fudge things which is what they've done here to get a 'combat ready' pose
I'd rather have a arms only useable for that pose (since you get extra) that have them all fudged with extra long upper arms or similar
I've set the board up to get a few rushes in before bed.
It might be an idea when you get the game to sit the mat out under a couple of boxes overnight to flatten it down.
I learned my first tactical lesson for Dreadball Xtreme.
We see here, the Grogan Thug attempting a first turn slam to take out the Pusk Rampager - the only Guard on the opposing team.
However, there is a Kalyshi Jack nearby. - Jacks are usually something I don't worry about much in normal Dreadball games. This Jack has some ability called backstab though... I wonder what that does.
Spoiler:
Ouch.
The Pusk then doubles a standup and automatically pushes the Grogan back when it slams.
Spoiler:
(Even when he's on the floor... I think?). The Grogan gets exactly 0 dodge dice.
The attack is not rolled well and only causes one injury. However, the Jack then plays a 'Jack Any Action' card.
Fun fact... Guards don't get +1 armour dice for being Guards in Dreadball Xtreme.
So, lesson is, just because you CAN go from one end of the board to the other on the first turn, even with a extremely scary guard that has knocked down the opposing players only guard. You're still not safe...
Third wave is finally starting - anyone who was expecting Enforcers, and only Enforcers, in the third wave has a package on the way already. Everyone else starts next week.
judgedoug wrote: Yes! Another update without pics of just what some assembled unpainted hard plastic Enforcers, Peacekeepers, and Forge Guard look like.
Yep. But I would rather hear that they are working on shipping them.
judgedoug wrote: Yes! Another update without pics of just what some assembled unpainted hard plastic Enforcers, Peacekeepers, and Forge Guard look like.
Yep. But I would rather hear that they are working on shipping them.
It is inconceivable and inexcusable that they'd be shipping final product without thinking no one would want to see what it looks like. And, no, they are not so busy that they cannot spend 30 minute assembling a handful of dudes and taking a pic. Hell, you know some of their employees already have their and have assembled them and have probably played a few games with them already.
I'm a Mantic fan but not a Mantic sycophant. Ugh.
pretre wrote: We've seen the models repeatedly in their updates. I don't get the complaint.
Assembled plastic Enforcers and Peacekeepers and Forge Guard? So far I've seen the one plastic Peacekeeper from a random blog, not Mantic itself. Everything else has been a painted resin master that's been around for ages.
I think he wants to see the new sprues maybe clipped or something, the assembled models in grey before painting, preferably with some variant blue-tacked poses. I get the desire but I've seen the sprues and I'm not fussed.
GrimDork wrote: I think he wants to see the new sprues maybe clipped or something, the assembled models in grey before painting, preferably with some variant blue-tacked poses. I get the desire but I've seen the sprues and I'm not fussed.
Precisely. In fact, we haven't even seen the proper Forge Guard sprues, unless I'm mistaken. The only pic we've seen of the actual sprues was a picture of a portion of the sprue months ago showing the sinkholes as the reason they were sent back for retooling (and the delay), plus a cad shot of the proposed sprue layout.
Regarding the Enforcers and Peacekeepers, there's a world of difference between nicely painted 3d-printed resin masters (what we've seen) and actual production plastics. (edit: unless there's no difference, which would be amazing, but I'd still like to see what some assembled plastics look like!)
I cleaned my whole DBX box today very few mold lines the only tricky ones were the Kalyshi jacks as there is more armour/skin transitions so they have more flash. The models scale well with DZ the Grogan Keeper head fits the DZ Grogan without any cutting or filling and I converted the Yndij Reaver into a DZ Sergeant with just a hand swap.
I was hoping to do my Enforcers this week but it looks like I'll be painting the Convict team instead.
GrimDork wrote: I think he wants to see the new sprues maybe clipped or something, the assembled models in grey before painting, preferably with some variant blue-tacked poses. I get the desire but I've seen the sprues and I'm not fussed.
Precisely. In fact, we haven't even seen the proper Forge Guard sprues, unless I'm mistaken. The only pic we've seen of the actual sprues was a picture of a portion of the sprue months ago showing the sinkholes as the reason they were sent back for retooling (and the delay), plus a cad shot of the proposed sprue layout.
Regarding the Enforcers and Peacekeepers, there's a world of difference between nicely painted 3d-printed resin masters (what we've seen) and actual production plastics. (edit: unless there's no difference, which would be amazing, but I'd still like to see what some assembled plastics look like!)
Maybe the feel that if they stuff is good you'll buy it at retail (rather than KS discount) if you decide not to add it to the pledge manager which is probably better for them financially, and for their sales partners,
GrimDork wrote: I think he wants to see the new sprues maybe clipped or something, the assembled models in grey before painting, preferably with some variant blue-tacked poses. I get the desire but I've seen the sprues and I'm not fussed.
Some of the biggest problems with the Men at Arms were not evident from sprue pics alone.
At this point, unless the new plastics are stellar, I am more excited with the prospect of board game plastic minis. At least Mantic got those right for Mars Attacks.
Got my DBX today too, thought it was my 2x christmas boxes. Not complaining! Looking really nice, damn I love my Dreadball. Will be waiting a while for the forge guard and stuff too I think but no rush.
I've played a bunch of MA games and even got my ~6 year old niece into it as I hoped (with some hand holding ofc), I love Mantics game design being simple enough for kids but deep enough for adults. I can see why not everyone would, but the quick action play really does it for me after the cumbersome 40k I started tabletop with.
Will need to take a closer look at your MA Grim, see what more ideas I can pinch ; p
If they can get them out to Australia by now... I can hold out hope for dreadball xmastreme myself
My new occasional tabletop opponent seemed pretty entertained by Mars Attacks as well. I love all of the random events, and sometimes it's nice to just roll three dice a piece and see models go splat instead of carefully stacking bonusi as you do with DZ.
Feel free to pinch away, though I'm mostly just painting through the main box game at the moment
GrimDork wrote: Me too! The tiger corps dudes came out especially well! The scenery and vehicles are also really solid for MA.
Are the Tiger Corps exceptionally good for this material? I only got them and the Martians, so I am basing a lot of my opinion of Board Game Plastic on how they turned out, an they're incredible.
This batch of DBX seems to be restic to me. The same hard, sharp restic used for the DZ Forge Fathers, which is the best restic yet, but, you know, still restic.
Tiger Corps being exceptionally good for board game plastic... I dunno. Maybe it's just that they're the most exciting sculpts, being all unique alien dudes in power armour. Well, the large, alien heads might conceal the usual... "slightness" of human faces, which is more a scale/proportion thing than a material thing, I think.
Well the board game plastic is just going to be yet another formulation of PVC but its not the same as the previous restic models. I do think these are a bit different again to MA although the colours might have something to do with that. I think the fact that they went with the same grey confuses things it would have been nice to get coloured plastic orange for convicts and red or light blue for Kalyshi. The mold lines are far better now and cut away easier. I did notice while I was cleaning them that the plastic has a slightly waxy smell when cut which I never got from the earlier restic.
iirc they decided that making each of the teams a different plastic colour would make the game too visually confusing, which is why they're all grey plastic and the bases are team coloured.
Due to the nature of team construction in DBX it actually makes a lot of sense.
You pick a sponsor and then choose players from a variety of "teams". There's no point to each team having their own color as you'll be mixing and matching anyway. That's the idea behind the colored bases, so even if you have the same models as your opponent you can identify which ones are yours by base color.
I will say the DBX cuts very easily with knife, you do need to be careful.
Automatically Appended Next Post: This is my idea for the Convicts...
I had thought of doing the grey vest as grey and white hoops like an old fashioned Prison Uniform but my initial try looked awful. I might do it on the bigger models.
I may have to do orange as well. I think most of my convicts are going to be getting plague zombie assault rifles though... They'll make too good of a DZ/modern/maybe even pulp gang if I give them firearms.
I may keep the night elf blue/purple colors they have for the other starter team... but I'm considering black armor, or something different, so they can be my little snowflakes
GrimDork wrote: Well... Dreamforge stuff is priced well, but until they significantly alter the aesthetic, the models do *nothing* for me. Seem like a good deal for people who like that not-ww2 vibe though.
I understand and respect the quality / value argument, but style is the primary reason why I currently prefer Mantic sci fi over Dreamforge as well. People critiquing Mantic sometimes say that GW produces some kits that could be better designed, but their quality is reliably high. Fair enough, and I'm all for Mantic becoming more reliable in the quality department. But to play devil's advocate, if I don't like a model's design in the first place, I don't care if it's the best kit Renedra ever produced.
Dreamforge is probably the company I most want to like, due to their celebrated quality, variety, and price point, and if they ever get around to putting out Shadokesh models, I'll happily become a customer. That sort of sci-fi aesthetic works for me, while alternate Star Wars WWII doesn't.
Mantic aren't perfect, but I prefer many of their sci-fi designs to those of equivalent models from other other lines. There are quite a few Mantic models that I'd rather have in hard plastic cast to a higher standard, but am willing to work on in restic. Because personal taste, because design. I find the Forge Fathers better than any other company's iteration of Squats; in fact, it was Mantic's FF designs that convinced me Space Dwarfs could be anything but a bad idea. Mantic's Enforcers are my favorite power armored trooper design on the market, period; even the restic ones, with all the work they require. I find most of GW's Skaven sculpts (the Night Runners are a design "Almost") excellent, but I still prefer Remy's Veer-myn, if not the material that they're cast in. I even prefer Mantic's Deadzone Marauders to space Orcs from other lines. Mantic's Deadzone Orx were hurriedly reposed after a flawed start, and while they're improved, it's hard to say they wouldn't be better if they had been scrapped and done over with more talent and care. But look at their competition. Most GW Orks hold their weapons without purpose, squatting with legs awkwardly akimbo as if they're struggling with constipation on an invisible toilet. I respect and prefer quality manufacturing, but whereas bad manufacturing can ruin good design, even the best manufacturing can't sell me a design I don't like. I've seen Mantic's Marauders unfavorably compared to Kromlech's Orks, to cite an even more extreme quality comparison, but for me this gets back to the same thing. Kromlech's material / casting is unquestionably better, but they basically follow (amplify?) GW's ramshackle / comedic / EXTREME! Ork design, and that aesthetic just doesn't appeal to me. So while I respect the craftsmanship of Kromlech's Ork sculpts and the quality of their manufacture, I don't buy them. If I want my Orx to wear functional sci-fi power armor that doesn't look like it was thrown together from junkyard salvage by an iron age blacksmith, I'm better off modifying arm poses on restic Marauder Ripper suits - annoying as that is - than trying to streamline a Kromlech Juggernaut into something it isn't.
Quality-wise, some companies rank higher than others. But design wise, every company produces models that make me slap my head and think "INSERT COMPANY NAME . . . Almost." Mantic has their share of designs that fall short - I find their fantasy line largely unimpressive - but by and large, I prefer the visual style of their sci fi line to anyone else's.
I agree with the majority of Vermonter's points. It's the reason I bought a ton of pvc/restic Enforcers even knowing the plastics were eventually coming out - I prefer their design over any other sci fi super soldier on the market. It's the reason I have a Forge Fathers army for Warpath and a pile of Corporation and Veer-Myn models. It's also the reason I have a ton of Urban War/Metropolis Viridians and a ton of Pig Iron troopers and a ton of Copplestone Assault Troopers, too, as well as a platoon of Khurasan's Federal infantry in 28mm and literally 15-20 Antenociti's Workshop sci fi military APC's and tanks and armored cars. It's also the reason I don't own (any longer) any Dreamforge stuff, because the style does not agree with me in the least. I buy the aesthetic I like. While I would prefer better material, what I have is a healthy mix of pvc and resin and metal and hard plastic. So far, I like Mantic's overall sci fi aesthetic more than any other company's.
I wish we could just convince them to make a weapon/accessory sprue for the warpath universe like dreamforge did for the eisenkern dudes. I can only use bits and pieces (mostly pouches as stick grenades are a bit outdated for most games...), but the pieces that do work are hard plastic, cheap, and nice to have around.
Maybe if we petition hard enough during the WP kickstarter...
Compel wrote: I suppose it'd be more viable to make a metal accessory set in that case, like what they did with the orx.
Maybe? It depends on how popular that kind of accessory kit would be. I don't really have a firm handle on that market data, but I'd like to think that a really useful, well done sci fi trooper accessory sprue would find a large enough audience to justify plastic.
Anyhow, I'll certainly join the campaign to request it from them during the next KS.
Metal marauder parts were cool, but I think a nice hard plastic sprue with several guns, maybe a few melee options, grenades, holstered pistols, knives, maybe sights for guns... etc. I guess corporation marines and enforcers post deadzone all tend to have a lot of pouches so they probably wouldn't need quite as many of those.
That would have utility across multiple gaming systems: a small sprue with a selection of rifles, carbines, bullpups, SAWs, LMGs, HMGs, rocket launchers, guided missile launchers, pistols, SMGs, grenades, pouches.
Before they do this they need to stop using the "puzzle piece" connections for arms and heads. Something generic (or even ball and socket?) would be great so we can swap between individual models as well.
No that's true the zombies are definitely a step in the right direction. I was specifically thinking of the Orx upgrade pack where the arms and heads only really fit on certain bodies, but if they had designed the original models a little differently it would have been a lot more customizable
Well the zombies are a little guilty of it. The two section heads only really go one way, the eating/barfing guts upper torso only really goes one way. Same with the two arms bashing with the rifle. Heads are maybe a tad like that but not as bad, and most torsos and arms are just right.
Kinda like the firing position arms with missing detail on the peacekeepers . Not 100% modular but fairly darn close and you can generally skip such parts for both kits by the look of it.
Lukez wrote: Before they do this they need to stop using the "puzzle piece" connections for arms and heads. Something generic (or even ball and socket?) would be great so we can swap between individual models as well.
Well, since they pretty much have dropped pvc/restic, I wouldn't worry about it. Everything coming in 2015 and later is hard plastic, metals, and Mars Attacks boardgame plastic. (and some limited Resin stuff)
The Boardgame plastics still have the puzzle piece connectors as can be seen on the Grogan Keeper but given most minis will be preassembled in future you won't really see it plus it must make assembly at the factory easier if the parts only fit one way.
Lukez wrote: Before they do this they need to stop using the "puzzle piece" connections for arms and heads. Something generic (or even ball and socket?) would be great so we can swap between individual models as well.
Well, since they pretty much have dropped pvc/restic, I wouldn't worry about it. Everything coming in 2015 and later is hard plastic, metals, and Mars Attacks boardgame plastic. (and some limited Resin stuff)
That's great! When did they decide that? Got my Dreadball Xtreme last week and thought their boardgame plastic was really nice. Hard plastic is always welcome too. Not too keen on metal and would prefer restic in those cases, but you can't win em all.
Lukez wrote: Before they do this they need to stop using the "puzzle piece" connections for arms and heads. Something generic (or even ball and socket?) would be great so we can swap between individual models as well.
Well, since they pretty much have dropped pvc/restic, I wouldn't worry about it. Everything coming in 2015 and later is hard plastic, metals, and Mars Attacks boardgame plastic. (and some limited Resin stuff)
That's great! When did they decide that? Got my Dreadball Xtreme last week and thought their boardgame plastic was really nice. Hard plastic is always welcome too. Not too keen on metal and would prefer restic in those cases, but you can't win em all.
It's inferred. No restic in Mars Attacks or Dreadball Xtreme or Dungeon Saga or Kings of War 2. The last restic releases are Deadzone related, from the KS, from over a year ago.
It's inferred. No restic in Mars Attacks or Dreadball Xtreme or Dungeon Saga or Kings of War 2. The last restic releases are Deadzone related, from the KS, from over a year ago.
And Warpath has been talked up several times as being an all hard plastic project, though again I'd expect a couple metal or resin guys for backer exclusives and characters like usual.
There was discussion in Kings of War 2 that some of the large sized units could transition to restic instead of metal if there was enough interest or quantities purchased .
I see that as a plus, since some of those kits might be a POTA putting them together in metal, and I'd rather not have to pin everything in place.
What do I know though, I've developed a mild addiction to restic these past few weeks.
The new plastic enforcers are now out in the wild, it seems. Or on facebook anyhow.
Considering all the doom and gloom about how mantic were hiding the plastics from us because they were going to be a Basilean level disaster from us, or whatever...
Compel wrote: The new plastic enforcers are now out in the wild, it seems. Or on facebook anyhow.
Considering all the doom and gloom about how mantic were hiding the plastics from us because they were going to be a Basilean level disaster from us, or whatever...
They look like, well, plastic enforcers. So...
Spoiler:
Yay!
I don't think there was any doom and gloom about that aspect (we've seen the sprues, we know they're great!), just people like me being loud about being annoyed that Mantic is shipping stuff without bothering to spend eight minutes taking pics of assembled models and sending it out as an update.
highlord tamburlaine wrote: There was discussion in Kings of War 2 that some of the large sized units could transition to restic instead of metal if there was enough interest or quantities purchased .
I see that as a plus, since some of those kits might be a POTA putting them together in metal, and I'd rather not have to pin everything in place.
What do I know though, I've developed a mild addiction to restic these past few weeks.
I think you've been breathing in a few too many restic shavings from those Sedition Wars minis you've been working on. I actually kind of like their metals a lot more.
Do we know if the new plastic Enforcers are going to completely replace the old restic ones, or will they be sold side by side?
Do we know if the new plastic Enforcers are going to completely replace the old restic ones, or will they be sold side by side?
From what I understand, completely replace, with the faction starter including one sprue (as the original intent was to NOT have the Warpath Enforcers in there) plus extra bits to make them medic/defender/etc.
Medic and defender in the starter? Surely not, they couldn't then sell the somewhat-less-of-a-deal boosters like for the other races. I suspect they'll do a 5-man plastic booster with the restic shields and medic parts though. Won't need a separate release for the burst laser as the HP come with those. Maybe another one for incinerator if its not on the HP sprue, possibly with the metal fusion gun guy but I'm not as sure on that point.
CptJake wrote: This may have already been answered, but how well do the plastic enforcers scale with the restic and metal ones?
From the look of it, they don't. But that's a good thing - deliberately sabotaging the new plastic kit to make the knees as awful as the old ones would be stupid.
Yay DBX arrived. Was it supposed to have free agents (like the ones on the box cover?), cause I don't see any. Oh well, filling out the form is pretty easy.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Do any of you guys have the missing parts survey bookmarked quick-draw style, by chance?
They do look good. Maybe just a bit soft compared to their other-company-equivalent, but I like the style more.
Thanks Compel
Automatically Appended Next Post: Huh yeah no free agent/sponsor pack. Maybe They can just send two in wave 2 instead of bothering with a little bag of just that... would be awful easy to miss on the porch.
Having had them in my hand Tuesday evening, they are a million times better than the Restic rubbish. I was impressed. They aren't quite space marines, but they are a very credible alternative.
I really can't wait to replace my enforcers and get deadzoning again on a regular basis!
At least I can take solace in the fact that I've got my Creeping Death from Neptune finally arriving after years and years of being stuck in production limbo.
Basil Wolverton drew a bunch of super awesome/ disturbing/ gross/ weird scifi & horror stories back in the 40s and 50s with a level of depth and intricacy that just didn't exist within the comics field at the time, especially in his genres of choice. His Spacehawk book is also a really cool read.
Plus his alien designs were completely outlandish and would totally fit in within a Dreadball crowd.
They weren't available to purchase individually until Survey 3.
Instead, everyone will be getting 1 sprue of them for the original box. They will then be getting at least 1 sprue for every other faction starter / booster set they're getting...
I think. All I know, is that I have a helluva lot incoming.
I should be getting 4 sprues, 1 for original enforcer starter, 1 for additional enforcer starter and 2 for 2 booster bundles. Also got 4 sets of peace keeper sprues.
Compel wrote: They weren't available to purchase individually until Survey 3.
Instead, everyone will be getting 1 sprue of them for the original box. They will then be getting at least 1 sprue for every other faction starter / booster set they're getting...
I think. All I know, is that I have a helluva lot incoming.
I believe it is actually 2 per starter and per booster bundle. Forge guard were one per each.
That's specifically why I want them, because they are not grimdark space marines (and not DFG space-wehrmacht).
Oh thank heaven!
I was referring to the quality of the detail and casting.
Ah, gotcha. I haven't had plastic marines since 3rd edition 40k, and they were very soft and had weird undercut failures (hoses on feet to hide them and stuff). Not familiar with current marine plastics.
I take back what I said - those heads are tiny! By definition, Armour needs to be bulkier than the person contained inside it, and there's no way in hell you'd fit someone into one of those.
AlexHolker wrote: I take back what I said - those heads are tiny! By definition, Armour needs to be bulkier than the person contained inside it, and there's no way in hell you'd fit someone into one of those.
Huh. I dunno *what* these DBX dudes are made of. They definitely aren't the same as my Mars Attacks stuff. But neither are they like my restic enforcers or deadzone stuff. They feel more like that last blend of restic they got for some of the deadzone stuff.
I don't think they'll be *quite* as easy to clean up as hard plastic, but they seem better than most or all of my other restic, and have some advantages over the MA stuff. Certain lines you should be able to scrape like hard plastic, while you'll be liable to cut other lines more like restic. For MA, you almost always have to cut. It's easy because the material is so soft, but scraping tends to get messy.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also, the DZ grogans have much better leg proportions than the DBX variety, step backwards there.
Automatically Appended Next Post: The crates and drums are very nice. I'll put these up against the AW resin DZ crates any day, the plastic lids snap in place.. it'll wear out eventually but they're more uniform of fit than the resin crates I have. Everything snapped together, just took a few minutes and no glue. A whole heck of a lot easier than fussing with the DZ accessory sprue. I may have to get more of these if there's any later-wave-survey action.
Nope that's it the lids just sit there not a great design unfortunately (but the rest of the crate is great and I'm glad I got a few extra packs which will have the lids permanently attached for other games ) they are likely to fall off in game, you might want to blu-tac them in game . I wonder if they will hold a bit better once painted?
Yes! I could do with some more. The resin crates from AW were a good idea but the DBX crates were better executed IMO. Whether you lightly set the lids on or rotate them till they sit snug, they're an improvement over the resin crates where some combinations just didn't fit. Also liable to come cheaper
I still want a nice scifi weapon/accessory sprue, but that could also wait for warpath.
This isn't entirely sci fi, but it does talk about what came in my Mantic Crazy boxes today.
A typical foldover box arrived.
However, what really did surprise me was Mantic had combined both the Sci and General boxes together into the one megabox. So, generally speaking, I'm not sure what would be in each box normally.
First off, I have some of the awesome new Deadzone ruined sprues, to go along with my already huge collection of terrain. Surprisingly, I received not one, not two but *4* of the Deadzone accessory sprues. Extra connectors don't go amiss too.
Next , I unpacked 10 Basilean Men-at-Arms. While, I do know they aren't exactly the greatest models in the world, I do find it quite entertaining that, between these and previous years crazy boxes I'm pretty sure I've got at least a starter armies worth of models now.
I'm guessing these guys would be found in the sci fi crazy box.
There's the metal Helfather special character. (My second)
Marauder Kommando Captain. - My second
Enforcer Peacekeeper Captain. - My um... 5th one
A bag of 2 Plague infantry, 1 Plague Machine Gunner. - Could always do with more infantry
A bag of 2 Mawbeasts - Doggies! With chainsaw mouths.
1 Marauder Trooper, 1 Goblin Sniper
1 Yindij Trooper, 1 Sorak Trooper
There were some Dreadball models in there as well.
A Z'zor Keeper - I've had loads of guards, so this is theoretically handy.
The Praetorian star player - I can use this guy in my Asterian deadzone force
Dozer, the Dreadball giant - I seem to keep on amassing these, I think she's my 5th
Next, I have some Forge Fathers.
Some Stormrage Veterans - I had some more of these last year, so probably my 3rd squad of these guys.
Jotunn Hailstorm Cannon - I have the urban combat variant for Deadzone, so this is pretty awesome.
Some Kings of War models now, some Basileans and Undead. It's odd I can't find either of the undead in the mantic store though.
A big bag of Basilean Sisters on panthers/cathorses. - I had a set of these from last year.
An Undead dog and its handler.
An undead standard bearer on horseback.
Mantic seems to have thrown in a few Mars Attacks minis too, which is pretty good, as it's a mantic game I haven't bought into and I was wanting to see them in the flesh. - I already know that dropping them in some hot water will help straighten them out though. Sad thing is, the martians have no helmets, they weren't included in the box..
Finally, there were the various additional bits and pieces, some posters, a couple of leaflets and a copy of the Kings of War rules. - Funnily enough, with my 2 bags of Panther riders and 30 basilean soldiers I own over the last few Crazy boxes, plus some Mantic elf models I've picked up over the years, I might have enough for a viable army to try out a game or two.
It's a decent haul, yeah. I'm not entirely sure if it's a decent £50 haul though to be honest. Especially since there was so much duplication from last years sets.
I really don't think I need *that many* Stormrage veterans. Sadly, most of the Deadzone models weren't ones where it's good to have duplicates for either.
On the other hand, I could field a full peacekeeper squad now, just of the captains I own :p
'Surprise Boxes' never made sense to me. I would rather buy what I want/need than spend money on Stuff! I may or may not ever find a use for (no matter how good a deal the Stuff! may be.
I know many folks seem to love them, and Mantic seems to do well with them, they are just not my thing.
Too bad the mail didn't come until after dinner, so we were stuck playing Arcadia Quest rather than DBX. Not that huge of a loss.
Figures look decent.
Those translucent bases though? Doesn't seem like any of the figures actually fit in them! The space in the base is either too large, or the base of the figures are too small.
Will have to try out some regular Mantic bases to see how they compare.
This seem like it could be problematic for some of the more oddly proportioned figures like the spider free agent and the armored 2 legged pig alien.
Am I the only one who has this issue, or is this pretty common across the board. Everything else seems pretty nice. Will start digesting the rulebook tomorrow.
Thanks for the unboxing Compel! I ordered one of each two, looking forward to them. Really glad there's more ruined terrain in it, could use some more of that. They look really good. Interested to see if the poster is worth putting up too. Like you I'm in the same boat with christmas boxes giving me enoguh to build small armies of various things now I think hehehe.
The lack of martian helmets is annoying. If that's the case for me, I might ask that they include a couple in another of the many shipments from kickstarters still to be sent.
The Dwarf Wolf wrote: So, they already have the Forge Guard in house, and dont botter to take pictures? Im trying, but Mantic is not behaving the way i would expect.
Based on what? How do you manage to be surprised by Mantic doing the same thing they usually do?
My DBX showed up today, which was a surprise because it's a Sunday, delivering on Sundays during Xmas is a new thing here.
I gor a combined regular + scifi crazy box as well, and I ended up with:
10 Panther Lancers
3 sprues of 5 Goblin Spitters
1 Marauder Grunt command sprue
1 Marauder Raptor
2 bags of Marauder Commando + Sniper
1 bag of 2 Mawbeast Bombers
1 Plague Stage 1A
1 bag of 2x Plague 3A and a Plague 3A w/ HMG 1 Hellfather
1 Chovar Psychic
The same set of terrain as above
1 Z'zor Keeper
1 Dozer
1 Praetorian
1 Refbot
1 bag of the 3 dead bodies from Mars Attacks
The same two posters as above
I think that was all, I took everything out of the box and put the in their respective queues
CptJake wrote: 'Surprise Boxes' never made sense to me. I would rather buy what I want/need than spend money on Stuff! I may or may not ever find a use for (no matter how good a deal the Stuff! may be.
I know many folks seem to love them, and Mantic seems to do well with them, they are just not my thing.
I've ordered them once before and was happy with what I got but wouldn't order them again. If you are unsure of what you want and want some samples want conversion parts or just a mix of models to paint then they are great. But if you want specific gaming stuff then you are better off just getting what you want or need.
NTRabbit wrote: My DBX showed up today, which was a surprise because it's a Sunday, delivering on Sundays during Xmas is a new thing here.
I gor a combined regular + scifi crazy box as well, and I ended up with:
10 Panther Lancers
3 sprues of 5 Goblin Spitters
1 Marauder Grunt command sprue
1 Marauder Raptor
2 bags of Marauder Commando + Sniper
1 bag of 2 Mawbeast Bombers
1 Plague Stage 1A
1 bag of 2x Plague 3A and a Plague 3A w/ HMG 1 Hellfather
1 Chovar Psychic
The same set of terrain as above
1 Z'zor Keeper
1 Dozer
1 Praetorian
1 Refbot
1 bag of the 3 dead bodies from Mars Attacks
The same two posters as above
I think that was all, I took everything out of the box and put the in their respective queues
Not that randomised then, because I ordered the same combo and got exactly the same! I think 2 sprues of spitters and 2 refbots though. Luckily the MA dead bodies don't need helmets, and can always use more of them.
I ordered some small square bases, and handy tip: Mantic bases aren't bevelled, so you can glue two of the square bases together to get a pretty substantial cavalry base. Certainly a lot nicer than the thin plastic card Mantic normally supplies.
The Dwarf Wolf wrote: So, they already have the Forge Guard in house, and dont botter to take pictures? Im trying, but Mantic is not behaving the way i would expect.
Based on what? How do you manage to be surprised by Mantic doing the same thing they usually do?
Don't know if you can make it out but the legs, torsos and a few other bits are marked a-e, as I mentioned before legs a will only "cleanly" fit torso a, and also shoulder pads a will only fit torso a cleanly as well.
Here's a pic of where the legs connect to the torso's so you can see what your dealing with.
There is some movement in the positioning of the legs but I'm talking about slight changes in the angle of the legs and even then your looking at a gap you'll need to fill.
The arms fit into a hole created when you add the shoulder pad piece as below.
So there is more arm movement options but again not a lot.
I've put 2 forge guard together so far and their fun minis, and a squad will look nice in my collection but given the limited ability to repose them (without a fair bit of work) I'll definitely be putting at least one squad on eBay.
As I said earlier, I still don't see why they didn't have the legs pre attached to the torsos given theres not only one set of legs that fit correctly surly non preattached accessories would have been a better use of the space.
Overall I'm a bit disappointed by the undelivered promise of full customisability which Ive come to expect from multipart HIPS infantry kits but I still like the models a lot.
They look ok, but man, those hammer handles have always bothered me for being way too thin, but maybe it's just subjective. Still looking forward to some plastic Squats in exo-armor for some games of 40k second edition.
Oh man, oh man, they look great. A little sad about the lack of leg posability without greenstuff (one of the reasons I dislike GW kits from the past 10 years), but I literally cannot WAIT to get my Warpath Forge Fathers army finished. Cmon Mantic please get me my Forge Guard and other crap asap!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Whoa whoa whoa what's up with the Wargames Factory style stackable sprues for the Forge Guard? Just noticed that.
(I mean, it's a good idea and everyone should use it)
I'll reserve final judgement till I have mine in hand but... I'm liking the look of the forgeguard. They'll fit right in with my 2-pose steel warriors
And they're fuggin massive too, definitely feel like terminator sized dwarfs.
@Joe that tallscale marine is awesome, I wish I could get myself to do that but it's just too much cutting or buying running legs and so on. Looks amazing though.
highlord tamburlaine wrote: So am I the only one who's Dreadball figures don't fit snug in those clear bases?
Seems strange.
They've never fit properly for me either. They were originally designed to clip in but they didn't take account of restic shrinkage on the integrated bases the only choice left is to permanently glue them or use something temporary to hold them like blu-tac which is what I do.
highlord tamburlaine wrote: So am I the only one who's Dreadball figures don't fit snug in those clear bases?
Seems strange.
No, it is more likely no-one replied to your post
Dave C has got it right. You either have to glue (and for the love of Odin, fill the gaps) or use something sticky to temporary keep them in place during a match.
Blue Tack seems like the smart choice here, though the crazy could go with magnets (and get to drill through unfriendly materials with barely enough room for the magnets in each side ).
You don't need to drill in magnets, I'm planning to get a sheet of the stuff they make fridge magnets out of, and a sheet of flexible steel, and then cutting circles and gluing them to the bases and mini circles.
Back2base-ix sells the steel as part of a rank and file magnetic basing system, I'm going to see if they'll just sell the sheets or even cut them for me. The magnet sheets are at craft stores.
If you can get them to cut you rounds, then you may be in business. I had the idea to get some sheet metal and cut it into disks for another thought process... well lets just say I didn't have the right tools and the material is gathering dust (maybe rust too =/) somewhere well away from my current projects.
I'll probably be cutting mine off their integrated bases and slapping them on clear acrylics to use for something else anyway
Just got my Christmas crazy box. I'm happy with my haul, as a useful combination of things I actually wanted and bit fodder. Still, this may be the last one I do. The more Mantic product I own, the more redundant and less attractive these boxes become, and I think it's time to stop pushing my luck.
I actually enjoy the randomized content somewhat. Partially because it's the only way I get hobby product as any kind of surprise (my family doesn't know what to buy me in that area, so they don't), and partially because it's a bit like gambling. I don't actually gamble outside of one crazy box a year, but in that limited form, it's been fun. (It helps that I've "won" every time.)
And they finally did a Sci-Fi only box. How could I resist?
In my subjective valuation, here's how I did this year:
What I really wanted:
1 Marauder Raptor
I never had one before, and my Deadzone Orx have grown on me, so it's time to treat them with a vehicle. It'll make great battlefield scenery even if Mantic never release Deadzone rules for it. I really lucked out on this one, as I don't need another Jotunn
2 Ruined scenery sprues.
I just wanted a smidgen more of just this scenery type, but didn't want to buy another full set. Perfect.
2 Accessory sprues.
I don't need more crates, but the railings are always useful.
1 connector sprue
Always useful.
Zz'or Keeper
In general I think the Zz'or compete very poorly with GW Tyranids, and I think they need a major design overhaul. But the Keeper is the one model I really like. Yes!
Sirens Dreadball keeper
I'd never seen this mini before, but now I love it. No cheesecake, just tough and cool. My favorite Void Siren model by far, and one I intend to convert for Deadzone use.
Marauder Command Sprue
A month ago I wouldn't have cared about this, but I recently came up with a modding project using some of the bits. Useful.
Marauder commando /
Goblin Sniper
A duplicate of my favorite goblin sniper figure is welcome (not dancing), and I'm very happy to have a duplicate of the twin-rifle commando, as I needed it for one of the metal conversion bits.
What I don't need but can use:
Dreadball Praetorian
My second. I'll probably send one to play Xtreme and mod the other for Deadzone. He doesn't scale wonderfully with Deadzone Asterians, but say he's a special unit and it's fine.
metal Helfather
I already have one on order, but this duplicate's probably still useful to mod as an alternate version, or to spruce up a Forge Guard with different weaponry. Great metal casting quality.
Dreadball Dozer
Why do Mantic end up dumping these? Are Dozer's Dreadball rules terrible? She's a great sculpt, in my opinion. Now I have two, so one will be modded for Deadzone, the other will play Xtreme.
5 restic enforcers.
I prefer these to Stormrage Veterans, as I don't need any more of those. I doubt I need more run of the mill enforcers, either, but I might mod these into Plague Enforcers.
3 restic 3A Plague
I don't much care for the 3A as they are, but with a little bit of modding (esp head swaps) I quite like them. Maybe I'll chop these up to help make my Plague Enforcer unit.
What I have no use for:
Umm . . . I guess I'll be throwing out the Kings of War poster and Mars Attacks pamphlets, but who cares? As far as the models go, I'm a very happy ratman.
Good to see more people happy with their crazy boxen.
I really like Anne Marie Helder, I got two last crazyboxmass. I abstained from the crazy box this year due to too many mantic bits (there are some things I still wouldn't mind, but not enough to try my luck), but I'm quite glad I have a couple of AMH's.
I did a little modification and now she goes by Helga:
Due to Dozer not coming in the Ultimate Dreadball box, the only people that would buy her are those that are specifically wanting to buy her individually.
Which, I imagine, people don't really bother doing, so there's loads of spares.
Another reason Dozer doesn't sell well by herself is she is packaged with 3 other MVPs in a pkg deal. She retails for $20 and at discount is $16. For $20, you can get the 4 MVPs (incl Dozer) at discount.
I identify the crazy box minis I don't know by comparing them against what I think they might be in the Mantic store.
I'm mostly pleased with what I got. Already had a Dozer, might convert this one to Deadzone, refbot is a little superfluous, and I already really have enough Raptors but can always trade it for something else. Otherwise all of the Deadzone and KoW things I got were useful to very useful for me, as was Praetorian, and the Z'zor will make a fine stand in for Deadzone if I never get a Z'zor dreadball team.
Got my boxen too, very happy with the contents. 1 sci-fi, 1 mixed. My loot which I see is a little different to the others mentioned: Ruined deadzone terrain + accessory sprues and connectors Marauder command sprue Panther riders x10? Marauder Raptor x1 Marauder chainsaw mouth dogs x2 Marauder and Gobbo sniper x1 each Rebel humans x2 Plague 1st gen (can never have too many of these) Plague 3rd Gen x3 Helfather (metal) Chovar (metal)
I'm travelling away on holiday tomorrow for Christmas, so I'll bet that Royal Mail (I'm assuming it's Royal Mail...) will try to deliver while I'm away. At least they keep the parcels for 18 days now.
Dreadball Mutants and possibly Ada Lorena in the clear blue (bagged) from the blog. They kept the over sized torso look from DZ but looks like lots of conversion potential in the bits.
Sorry if this question has been asked an answered before, but wave three: are the replacement HP Enforcer sprues being shipped seperately to any other Forcer, Peacekeeper or Forgeguard sprues?
A guy on another forum has received one Enforcer sprue, but he ordered a couple more and some PKs and we're not sure what the deal is.
supposed to all be shipped together, and only basic enforcer orders are supposed to ship this week, orders with peacekeepers and forge guard shipping in a week or two. May be another Mantic-messup, I'd send em a message
Kalamadea wrote: supposed to all be shipped together, and only basic enforcer orders are supposed to ship this week, orders with peacekeepers and forge guard shipping in a week or two. May be another Mantic-messup, I'd send em a message
Really? I must have missed the message about the Peacekeepers and Forgeguard being split. Thanks for the info.
On Friday we conducted the first test of the third wave Deadzone shipment where we shipped out Enforcer sprues to anyone who has no other outstanding items like Forge Guard, Peacekeepers or out of stocks.
With these packages underway the main shipment, including all third survey items, will begin next week.
Coupled with the Christmas rush and the postal service backlogs, we're expecting shipping to take us the next couple of weeks whilst we get everything out.
Yeah I think it said that right on the update, they were sending out orders of enforcers only before the other stuff. I'm sure there were a lot of orders that didn't include forge guard or peace keepers, and virtually every order that included the box game or enforcers at all would need a 3rd way shipment of the plastic enforcer sprues. Kinda makes sense.
Although I thought I saw some evidence of forge guard in the wild already?
Automatically Appended Next Post: Deadzone update 165: (my emphasis)
On Friday we conducted the first test of the third wave Deadzone shipment where we shipped out Enforcer sprues to anyone who has no other outstanding items like Forge Guard, Peacekeepers or out of stocks.
With these packages underway the main shipment, including all third survey items, will begin next week.
I see the old Dwarf carrying a lantern sculpt in the picture of the mutants above . . . did Mantic ever do anything with that one in the DKQ kickstarter? I thought they used other sculpts for the Dwarf characters.
On topic, I think it's tough to tell much about the mutants from that blurry photo, but to me, the blurs look very promising.
Lol not me! I'm only getting 4 enforcer sprues, and maybe 2 each of forgeguard and peacekeepers.
Definitely sounds like some kind of combo order, or hell maybe a shop.
Automatically Appended Next Post: So $3.33 per forge guard retail, or $2.66 from miniature market or similar. Pretty neat. I realize they aren't quite terminator sized but they're similar in terms of function, and still fairly bulky compared to 'skinny' infantry. If I like my bactch I could see ordering them again. Or maybe an army deal some time. I liked the renders of steel warriors we saw a ways back with the fantasy bits nixed.
They put out an update for all of their kickstarters. Maybe they mentioned it for the same reason maccas has a "supersize" thing. "Well if someone gets 50 of each, me getting 20 of each wouldn't be bad surely" ; p
I saw the KoW2 PM was coming out soon, which is why I asked. Is Mantic really trying to compete with themselves so badly? I could add a lot more items if they simply spaced their campaigns and pledge managers out a bit more.
As it is, I doubt I'll get anything from the DKQ PM other than the fighting fantasy books, instead of the boardgame plastic minis I've been curious about.. Plastic sprues win out every time.
Yeah they took way too long getting the pledge manager ready, and given that they talked about making their own system well before we got DBX on the kicktraq owned MyPledgemanager, this system has been very, very long in coming.
The only thing I can say is that the KoW manager is going to be open for months, so if you're able to manage your purchases across a longer period it's feasible to get both. Certainly if you ignore the resin legendaries and other extras in DS
Entered e-mail... unread "Project Update" from mantic. hoped for Forge Father sprues official "review" os something like that. Bland message about someone who got what i should have spent money into...
Has anybody got a reliable mail for mantic, I still wait for things I should have gotten more than a year ago and I do not see their recommended "contact us" form getting me any response.
I got in! I was thinking of buying a crazy box, but I got a Mhorgoth rising box instead. It was only €5 more and you don't risk getting any basileans. Now I am wondering, was this a good deal?
As long as you actually wanted the two armies in Mhorgoth rising then yeah its a good deal. If you bought the crazy box you were unlikely to get anything approaching a playable KOW army never mind two.
I wouldnt get it personally because I am not a fan of the Dwarves and I am still working on a KOW army that is far from finished but the undead are great in my opinion.
You are paying roughly 30p a model for 99 models and two warmachines. I would call that a good deal personally.
judgedoug wrote: The UK to US price conversion is pretty wonky on some of those items.
GBP4.99 Hellfire and Stone going to US$9.99 is the worst offender.
Yeah, that seems be a bit odd. Usually the stuff is slightly more expensive to order in € or $ instead of £. The free shipping for orders placed in € over €35 makes usually more than makes it up though. And everything has gotten to be noticeable more expensive with the SEK getting weaker against all of the mentioned currencies. A year ago it was around 10 SEK for £1, 8 SEK for €1 and 6.50 SEK for $1. Now it almost 12/10/8. It is probably good for our economy, but bad for my miniature shopping...
The wonky UK-US exchange rate is why I refuse to buy anything from Mantic direct - outside of KS. Well, that and the fact that they won't allow RoW people to purchase using anything besides US$. If I could use UK£ then I would have made quite a few purchases in the last two years.
Azazelx wrote: Well, that and the fact that they won't allow RoW people to purchase using anything besides US$. If I could use UK£ then I would have made quite a few purchases in the last two years.
Wut? Every single purchase I've made from the Mantic webstore, including the Xmas crazy boxes I just got, has been in UK£
So I got my forge guard in the mail today ( i got them from the starter set they had on the website back in August or so) and they did not come with bases. Anyone else have this problem? I assume they were supposed to come with bases, but I hate to assume anything.
GOOD JOB MANTIC.
I pointed out that the conversation rate was effed (double the price in some instances), so what Mantic did was "fix" the ones that were "correct" by making them also double priced.
Doug Craig - No. It is inconsistent within the sale. Both Starship Tile Pack and Hellfire & Stone are £4.99; Starship Tile Pack shows at $7.99 and Hellfire & Stone at $9.99.
December 26 at 11:02am
Mantic Games - Fixed that
Yesterday at 7:32am
Doug Craig - ... so you raised the price of the starship tilepack instead of fixing the Hellfire and Stone cost. okay...
Yesterday at 8:28am
Mantic has suggested the DZ final shipments have started going out, right? Has anyone received Peacekeeper goodness? I hear all this news about Forgefathers and plastic Enforcers arriving, but news on Peacekeepers has been strangely quiet. Where are they?! *Bale voice*
squall018 wrote: So I got my forge guard in the mail today ( i got them from the starter set they had on the website back in August or so) and they did not come with bases. Anyone else have this problem? I assume they were supposed to come with bases, but I hate to assume anything.
Mine were missing bases too. Fortunately I had enough spares, I'm not sure if they sent the bases with the August collection or not, but I had enough.
Azazelx wrote: Well, that and the fact that they won't allow RoW people to purchase using anything besides US$. If I could use UK£ then I would have made quite a few purchases in the last two years.
Wut? Every single purchase I've made from the Mantic webstore, including the Xmas crazy boxes I just got, has been in UK£
Are you sure you're clicking the right button?
Ah, you're right. I was misremembering. They just refuse to give RoW customers free shipping if paying in pounds. (To get it you must pay in US$). So for me, the point still stands - no point in buying anything from them directly.
http://www.manticgames.com/shipping-rates.html
Not sure. Was it January or "early 2015"? We know they're planning to push out 2 pledge managers any time now for DKQ and KoW, so it would be sadly typical for Mantic to push out a new KS at the same time they push out a pledge manager or two.
The blog post that announced the change just said early 2015. I'd be surprised if it is January with DBX wave 2 and 2 PMs to do (plus DZ wave 3 to finish) but they need to get it out early enough to deliver before the Warpath KS which could be year end as they will want any hard plastic troops finished before then.
Azazelx wrote: Well, that and the fact that they won't allow RoW people to purchase using anything besides US$. If I could use UK£ then I would have made quite a few purchases in the last two years.
Wut? Every single purchase I've made from the Mantic webstore, including the Xmas crazy boxes I just got, has been in UK£
Are you sure you're clicking the right button?
Ah, you're right. I was misremembering. They just refuse to give RoW customers free shipping if paying in pounds. (To get it you must pay in US$). So for me, the point still stands - no point in buying anything from them directly.
http://www.manticgames.com/shipping-rates.html
That's also wrong, I get free shipping (when I reach the 35 gbp threshold) every time
How have I gotten free shipping then if the Mantic faq says I can't?
Alex C wrote: See, I thought it was a generic "early 2015" too, but last time it came up a number of Dakka members were adamant it was January.
As far as I can recall KoW2 was originally planned to be January as it was to be a mini KS but swapped places with DZ Infestation at people's request as it was so close to Christmas so I guess the assumption is/was that DZ would be January instead but that changed to latter part of the planned KS window (for early 2015) in the blog post.
They could do another one of those 35 day ones, where it starts at the end of January, goes through February, and wraps up the first weekend or so in March, thereby giving everyone plenty of paydays to save up with.
If they send out those PMs for both Dungeon Saga and Kings of War early in January, that might work out.
I do agree that no matter what, it seems we'll have the usual situation of multiple Mantic campaigns all competing for the same money.
Got my shipment yesterday, so I suppose I was done with the DZ KS in 2014 since every sprue was accounted for. Are we still needing pictures of something?
Well this may not be Mantic, but since they ran the KS for LOKA
and hopefully river horse have got a better handle on the 'approvals' they'll need after the somewhat rocky road Alien v Predator from Prodos is taking at the moment
Looks intriguing! Also interesting to note that Alessio Cavatore is the designer, company is 'River Horse' which I think do design for a bunch of different companies.
If it's terminator, could be some useful modern/post-apoc humans in the mix as well right?
Riverhorse as an entity itself is still relatively small right? We're fairly sure this will be a kickstarter then? I wonder if it will be more like Loka (where Mantic basically ran it for/with him) or that Tarot of whatsit game (where they just plugged for riverhorse a lot but didn't have hands on).
Automatically Appended Next Post: So just watched the trailer, while there are future robot-human war elements, it seems a lot like a rehash of the first couple of movies with some stuff flopped around and changed. Doesn't mean that the miniatures game couldn't focus on the (seemingly) smaller portion of the film that would be more likely to involve mass-combat with lots of robots (and those sweet-action flyers). Seems more likely to me really... as you barely need the miniatures part if you're just going to have the t1000 chasing around 2-3 other minis
Yeah, mine appeared randomly at my door on New Year's Eve. It was a nice-ish surprise as things go. Still haven't built one yet as I'm knee-deep in other projects atm...
What I don't like is I can't remember if they've got the new address for the deadzone stuff or if they'll send it to my parents' house like they did the first wave or two. I *really* dislike leaving anything on my doorstep here in town for more than 30 seconds =/
I'm always baffled that in a country plagued (or I guess blessed if you look at it the other way) with civil litigation for the most trivial nonsense
how come the US postal service and various couriers get away with just dumping stuff on peoples doorsteps
(as opposed to here in the UK where you get a little card telling you the stuff has gone back to the depot, so either collect or arrange a re-delivery..)
I know for fedex at least, you can pick something when you ship that's deliver with signature only with the option for the target to log into their fedex account to digitally sign, but that's only if they actually choose the option. And stuff that comes royal mail just shows up like anything.
Still no wave 3 for me either, but that's Australia for you. However, only yesterday while I was trimming bushes in my front garden did I find the missing delivery from my wave 2 2 underneath one. God knows how long it had been there. Long enough that rain and snails had eate the paper packaging, but luckily the inside was stored in a zip locked bag.
.Mikes. wrote: Still no wave 3 for me either, but that's Australia for you. However, only yesterday while I was trimming bushes in my front garden did I find the missing delivery from my wave 2 2 underneath one. God knows how long it had been there. Long enough that rain and snails had eate the paper packaging, but luckily the inside was stored in a zip locked bag.
You are joking, right? How does one not notice a package in front of their house for months? Especially when you must have been expecting to see a package in front of your house at some point.
He said he found it while trimming bushes in his front garden. Under a bush. You know, those big plant things that tend to grow up and out. Perhaps the carrier was being cheeky or a strong wind dislodged it etc. I only have one bush in front of my house next to the porch, but I certainly don't check underneath it when expecting packages
.Mikes. wrote: Still no wave 3 for me either, but that's Australia for you. However, only yesterday while I was trimming bushes in my front garden did I find the missing delivery from my wave 2 2 underneath one. God knows how long it had been there. Long enough that rain and snails had eate the paper packaging, but luckily the inside was stored in a zip locked bag.
You are joking, right? How does one not notice a package in front of their house for months? Especially when you must have been expecting to see a package in front of your house at some point.
Seems one doesn't notice when the package is obscured by a bush.
.Mikes. wrote: Still no wave 3 for me either, but that's Australia for you. However, only yesterday while I was trimming bushes in my front garden did I find the missing delivery from my wave 2 2 underneath one. God knows how long it had been there. Long enough that rain and snails had eate the paper packaging, but luckily the inside was stored in a zip locked bag.
You are joking, right? How does one not notice a package in front of their house for months? Especially when you must have been expecting to see a package in front of your house at some point.
Allow me to put it in game terms. The bush has a larger base than the package, also the bushes come in a unit in B2B formation, completely blocking LOS to the package. Further more all other packages delivered here have been left in front of the door. The package in essence was mechanised deployed in stealth outside of its deployment zone, and was waiting to be triggered once a spotter entered its AOE.
Also Sarah told me the pieces I was waiting for were out of stock so they could take a while.
.Mikes. wrote: Still no wave 3 for me either, but that's Australia for you. However, only yesterday while I was trimming bushes in my front garden did I find the missing delivery from my wave 2 2 underneath one. God knows how long it had been there. Long enough that rain and snails had eate the paper packaging, but luckily the inside was stored in a zip locked bag.
You are joking, right? How does one not notice a package in front of their house for months? Especially when you must have been expecting to see a package in front of your house at some point.
Allow me to put it in game terms. The bush has a larger base than the package, also the bushes come in a unit in B2B formation, completely blocking LOS to the package. Further more all other packages delivered here have been left in front of the door. The package in essence was mechanised deployed in stealth outside of its deployment zone, and was waiting to be triggered once a spotter entered its AOE.
Tried building one of each and I'm pleased with the results. I may still get around to doing my restic ones just because.
If I remember correctly, my Forge Fathers will be shipping at a later date? Or do I need to contact Mantic about missing stuff again?
I got my Forge Father stuff - including the drill which was supposed to ship earlier.
I think you need to fill out the form...
Looks like I might be filling out a form as well, I didn't get my ff stuff either. So far generally like the minis, not as sharp as gw, but good for price. I have however swapped out the enforcer and peacekeeper heads, as I just don't like them - pinhead and very soft details...
I've always really liked the 40K "Squats" and if done right, I think they could have been awesome.
I'm keeping a toe in the Deadzone world via Enforcers and Forge Fathers - and the hard plastics do not disappoint.
I haven't received mine yet so that makes me really happy to hear your "mini-review", as I know you are pretty objective!
Does it make you "cautiously optimistic" for future sci fi (Warpath) plastics from Mantic?
It does - I think that this is what they need to do it order to 'take it to the next level' in terms of both growing their company AND giving us a game and miniatures that can seriously contend and compete with...You Know Who!
Speak of the Devil and your deadzone wave 3 will appear, apparently.
Got 10 more enforcers than I had calculated, sweet
Everything appears to be in order.
Do we need any photos of sprues or anything?
I may clip them out and blue-tack some together but I think I want to try ball-socket magnets in the shoulders, if feasible, so it may take me awhile to get my actual builds sorted.
Forge Guard.. whatever you do look closely at the sprues and match lettered bits together as you clip them if you want to save yourself a headache later.
The legs/torsos/shoulder-bits only match up properly one way. I'm sure you could probably cut and greenstuff them for more 'variety' but they're big chunky power-armored dwarf legs and torsos with limited theoretical articulation... I doubt they'd realistically have too many varied poses.
Quality looks good at any rate, and you get too many arms for sure. Ok well I guess you only get 14 arms for 6 models, so just two extra maybe. I guess you get the option to *not* use the fancy boss-hammer and heat gun bits. The guns appear to just slot onto the arms. One of the arms has a letter corresponding to one of the body sets, but it appears to fit anywhere, it's just a different angle.
Scale comparison shot with other Mantic minis, the space not-dwarf not-terminators are pretty chunky and threatening IMO. The corporation marine is very similar in height (if not proportion) to a GW guardsman (and therefore also a space marine ).
Spoiler:
Automatically Appended Next Post: Peacekeepers have the same 'matched' set torsos and legs. They are clearly lettered though. I may play around with them to see if you can sneak in a little variety w/o greenstuff, though it's not a huge concern for me having only 2 sets. Arms and heads are all interchangeable. The only thing I'm seeing with the arms right now is that I only count 4 free left arms that are 'complete' and don't have a matched hand on a rifle (there are two such arms).
Basically, when you put 5 dudes together you will either have to a.) use one of those 'melted details on the back side so it fits across the chest' rifles some people seem to hate, or b.) use at least one riot shield.
More as I figure it out. Looking pretty sharp.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Regular enforcer stuff:
Looks good, enough bits to run up to 5 stock rifles, 5 pistol/blade combos, an energy fist for the commander, the incinerator, and laser cannon.
Oh yeah, the blades and pistols are mixed in terms of left and right. If you're so inclined, you could have dual blade and desperado assault enforcers. Not terribly practical, but pretty awesome
Dunno, got mine. Could just be a couple of coincidental packing errors?
Automatically Appended Next Post: So I definitely like the new plastic enforcers. They may not be the be-all end-all kit of doom that will defeat and replace all other scifi power armored soldier kits EVAR... but I certainly like them
GrimDork wrote: Forge Guard.. whatever you do look closely at the sprues and match lettered bits together as you clip them if you want to save yourself a headache later.
The legs/torsos/shoulder-bits only match up properly one way. I'm sure you could probably cut and greenstuff them for more 'variety' but they're big chunky power-armored dwarf legs and torsos with limited theoretical articulation... I doubt they'd realistically have too many varied poses.
Challenge accepted! Dynamically posed Forge Guard Dreadball team is now on the to do list. Coming soon in 2020!
Scale comparison shot with other Mantic minis, the space not-dwarf not-terminators are pretty chunky and threatening IMO. The corporation marine is very similar in height (if not proportion) to a GW guardsman (and therefore also a space marine ).
The last two Deadzone shipments have been fine for me. The only real problems I had with mine were some casting issues and a couple missing bits in wave 1.
I assembled my Forgeguard as soon as I got them. They're very nice. I did notice that the heat cannon and the HMG both seem to have arms specific to them. The heat cannon is obviously the arm with the hoses on it, but the HMG's arm is a bit harder to identify. You'll have to do some dry fitting with it as it'll only fit properly on one of the arms due to the ammo drum on the back of it.
Looks like they're pre-assembled and cost $5 USD more per team.
My plan is to play using the original 12 teams using new S4, 5 and 6 rules for Counts As. Frex, my buddy showed me the rules for the new Hobgoblin team (who have a 'stench' ability). My Z'zor bugs will be alternately fielded as Stink Bugs using Hobgoblin rules.
If anyone plays Deadzone, the DZ rules committee is looking for players to fill in a survey about games you have played, just looking to get some data so that we can balance the game a lot better (and also to provide evidence to Mantic that the changes are required):
There are a few worries out there that the season 4 teams are just season 1 teams 'but better.'
I can sorta see the argument with the brokkrs compared to the Forge Fathers, to be honest.
The other argument though is that the Oceanics/Sharks are just the Tronteks, But Better. Sure the extra striker is awesome (I like strikers, especially ones that can pick up the ball, unlike my rats), and the extra speed and the tail distraciton ability is good.
But... I could see myself missing the coaching dice and extra card at the start in the game for the Tronteks.
Compel wrote: There are a few worries out there that the season 4 teams are just season 1 teams 'but better.'
I can sorta see the argument with the brokkrs compared to the Forge Fathers, to be honest.
The other argument though is that the Oceanics/Sharks are just the Tronteks, But Better. Sure the extra striker is awesome (I like strikers, especially ones that can pick up the ball, unlike my rats), and the extra speed and the tail distraciton ability is good.
But... I could see myself missing the coaching dice and extra card at the start in the game for the Tronteks.
My buddy has the S4 rulebook e-version and let me check through it.
I like some of the rules and team stuff but don't plan on buying any models from S4.
I might get the rock alien guys or one of the wilder looking aliens from a later season.
If I do, it would have to be offline since pretty much none of the local stores will touch Mantic.
They learned the local players all buy in big on KS and then swap/sell/give away their extras.
Same thing happened when I was in the DC area (basically KS backers were 80-90% of the player base).
My most pressing question right now is, how is Knockback supposed to work in close combat. My uncertainty with that one pretty much determines how asterians do in my games.
My most pressing question right now is, how is Knockback supposed to work in close combat. My uncertainty with that one pretty much determines how asterians do in my games.
It pushes people out of the cube. If you doubled their fight, you could now move into them again and drag them all over hell and creation.
Does it trigger when you do a fight as a response to an attack, as opposed to when you actually are the person initiating the attack and are performing a Fight Action. - In other words, if you're fighting back in response to a Fight Action, are you classed as the 'Attacker' and your opponent the 'Target' even though, well, he made the attack (Fight Action) in the first place...
Additionally, is the "When a weapon with this ability hits its target it may knock it back into a different cube." Just flavour text (it probably is), or part of the actual rule? In which case, you've got the issue of not being able to HIT an opponent, unless you beat them in the first place. Which contradicts the rest of that paragraph. That one's pretty obvious (it's flavour text) but, it's still err. messy.
I think the infinite fight/knockback chain was hashed out for days on the quirkworthy blog and he even made a post specifically about it. I had thought it was resolved.
GrimDork wrote: I think the infinite fight/knockback chain was hashed out for days on the quirkworthy blog and he even made a post specifically about it. I had thought it was resolved.
I assume it was "resolved" in the same way everything is on Jake's blog: "It works exactly as it reads, because I can't be wrong, nyah."
GrimDork wrote: I think the infinite fight/knockback chain was hashed out for days on the quirkworthy blog and he even made a post specifically about it. I had thought it was resolved.
I assume it was "resolved" in the same way everything is on Jake's blog: "It works exactly as it reads, because I can't be wrong, nyah."
I think the actual answer was it requires stupidity on the victim's part and luck on the other player's part so it's fine.
Don't be surprised if free/follow-on actions are reviewed by the Rules Committee.
Mantic Games about 7 hours ago
Morning everyone!
Regarding bases, we're very sorry, but we did have a mix up with this in packing. The 3rd waves orders going out now (and nearly all out) aren't being given extra bases for models added in survey 3, due to a fault on our end.
Anyone who is missing bases, please fill out a missing parts form, and we'll get on them right away. Bases are fairly quick to dispatch, so you shouldn't be waiting long. Again, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
http://bit.ly/1dyMkWa
GrimDork wrote: I think the infinite fight/knockback chain was hashed out for days on the quirkworthy blog and he even made a post specifically about it. I had thought it was resolved.
I assume it was "resolved" in the same way everything is on Jake's blog: "It works exactly as it reads, because I can't be wrong, nyah."
I think the actual answer was it requires stupidity on the victim's part and luck on the other player's part so it's fine.
Don't be surprised if free/follow-on actions are reviewed by the Rules Committee.
A request:
Answering something as quasi-complex as the checkerboard chain of free actions possibility would really benefit from a simple diagram example. If Rules Committee does address that, showing pics with accompanying text would be a blessing.
..... Mars Attacks gets the rules to turn it from a skirmish game into a tabletop wargame (available free online!) and we will have the free intro rules for Deadzone out in a few weeks, with a new race later in the year…
I have yet to play Deadzone, but I recently won the Plague Starter set (I think it comes with 11 figures) It is at the very rear of my queue to assemble and paint with X_Wing, 40K Space Hulk, Arkham Asylum, Imperial Assault, and thats just to name a few,lol.
Is it a decent game? If so, maybe, I'll put it together and give it a try, because no matter how much you dig a game...everyonce in awhile you need atleast a SMALL break from it!!!
Gorlock wrote: I have yet to play Deadzone, but I recently won the Plague Starter set (I think it comes with 11 figures) It is at the very rear of my queue to assemble and paint with X_Wing, 40K Space Hulk, Arkham Asylum, Imperial Assault, and thats just to name a few,lol.
Is it a decent game? If so, maybe, I'll put it together and give it a try, because no matter how much you dig a game...everyonce in awhile you need atleast a SMALL break from it!!!
Deadzone is an amazing game. On par with X-wing as far as the quality of the rules go (simplicity, elegance, efficiency...) and even higher in future potential. There are issues, but the core of the system is top tier. Like top-5-systems-published-ever tier.
I knew I liked the game, but that is a pretty nice recommendation there Blackfang
You've also got cool extras like a zombie survival solo mode, solo vs AI rules, and a reasonably expansible range of game size. I'm sure like anything (especially with counters and tokens all over the place) playing progressively larger games will take longer but still...
The campaign mode feels a little spare compared to all of the options you get in a game like Necromunda, but it seems functional at least.
Oh yeah? That's cool then. And I mean for a simple/basic campaign, I think the existing rules are just fine. The points cap stays in place so if you want to bring veterans to the fore you will necessarily be bringing less of them or less gear otherwise... but it keeps the games more fair, as opposed to some of the crazy matchups you might see between a veteran Necromunda gang and a group that had been brought/restarted late in the campaign.
Having said that though... and overhaul has me interested
-edit-
Yes, also what Lord Blackfang says, Mars attacks is basically DZ-lite. You hack out the vertical component and reduce the number of actions and various rules interactions, throw in a shared deck with a lot of zany/ridiculous events, and get a really fun game. Plus, if you have it all... Mars Attacks adds two really nicely fleshed out factions to use with the Deadzone ruleset, bringing the potential factions up to 8.
@LBF are you using the included MA zombie survival campaign (very similar to the DZ version, just fit into the MA conventions), or are you doing something more from scratch'?
I really can't get into Jake's AI rules, or really most others. It's going to be a more classic Descentey type thing with one hero per player plus one antagonist player for the zombies. Fairly involved inventory system and melee tweaks that will allow for a more precise simulation of wading through hordes.
I haven't actually gotten to try the AI out too much so I can't make a good comment on it's quality. Who wouldn't want to at least occasionally control a horde of undead and try to eat the other players though
I don't know who you'd talk to but you should send someone this stuff, especially with DS: Infestation coming
Your items are pretty neat too, the needle gernade could be pretty useful for killing 3D's in a square with a friendly high armour model. Chemical XYZ is pretty cool, I do something similar for some counts as mutant orx.
The motion sensor is really thematic. The extra orx additions like the shotgun commando and the changes to Commando Captain are awesome. Could maybe bump up the cost of the goblin surgeon and add fast.
BobtheInquisitor wrote: On the third survey, was the accessory spre bundle set supposed to come with 3 sprues or 5?
Whatever it's suppossed to be just prepare for it to be shipped the other way....or not at all. Mantic Kickstarter packing motto "Bigger bundles, bigger blunders"
Ronnie said in his latest blog he is making customer service and accuracy his top priority in 2015. Hopefully the problems people have been having with accurate orders, replacement parts and communication will be a thing of the past.
Alex C wrote: Ronnie said in his latest blog he is making customer service and accuracy his top priority in 2015. Hopefully the problems people have been having with accurate orders, replacement parts and communication will be a thing of the past.
I read that too, and I really hope that's the case.
I've had an issue with every single Deadzone delivery so far.
Funny enough, all the other Manitc KS campaigns I've been involved with have been totally fine.
Alex C wrote: Ronnie said in his latest blog he is making customer service and accuracy his top priority in 2015. Hopefully the problems people have been having with accurate orders, replacement parts and communication will be a thing of the past.
He seems to be on to a roaring start so far!
Mantic Games about 7 hours ago
Morning everyone!
Regarding bases, we're very sorry, but we did have a mix up with this in packing. The 3rd waves orders going out now (and nearly all out) aren't being given extra bases for models added in survey 3, due to a fault on our end.
Anyone who is missing bases, please fill out a missing parts form, and we'll get on them right away. Bases are fairly quick to dispatch, so you shouldn't be waiting long. Again, apologies for any inconvenience caused.
http://bit.ly/1dyMkWa
It's probably got to the point that they are paying so much in shipping to correct errors that it would be cheaper to hire a few extra bodies and get it right first time.
Even the bases problem with wave 3 will cost them a fair bit to correct if everyone claims them.
That said I have never had a single mispack in any Mantic delivery and my first Deadzone delivery was huge. They can get it right just not enough of the time it seems.
They've got issues all the way down the CS line so putting a bit more effort/money/time or whatever in is certainly something they've got to do
more spot checking at the factory to make sure their bags of restic bits have the right amount of bits in (and a move to sprues will help here too
some sort of customer query number they can hand out (across all possible platforms), preferably automated in response to an issue so people know they have got the message and can refer back to it if they have continuing issues
Complete invoices included in all packages (so people don't have to keep asking 'how many FF was I meant to get, etc)
More QC on the packaging line (probably meaning more dedicated staff rather than volunteers or office staff)
In fact, if anything, I've got more stuff than I ordered sometimes!
This. While it hasnt happened to be directly, I know a guy who got his wave 3 stuff last week. He ordered nothing extra and was sent 15 sprues of the new enforcers extra. Another person in the area got a double 150$ level ammount of stuff.
In fact, if anything, I've got more stuff than I ordered sometimes!
This. While it hasnt happened to be directly, I know a guy who got his wave 3 stuff last week. He ordered nothing extra and was sent 15 sprues of the new enforcers extra. Another person in the area got a double 150$ level ammount of stuff.
It's a bonus for you but it's a customer service issue for someone else down the road who will get an envelope with an invoice and "Sorry, out of Enforcers, you'll get them in 6 months." And it will probably be me, I am always dead last in the packing queue.
I'll be darned... The first set I tried fit fine so I didn't really notice but there's more than one pair isn't there. Makes me even gladder I'm doing magnets so I'll have more time to figure out the matching sets... Guess it's kind of inevitable if you want variety of pose but unfortunately I don't see any labeling for the arms so it looks like dry fitting and blue-tack are you friends there.
