The Mantic's "The Walking Dead Miniatures Game - All Out War" Kickstarter Thread

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**mattjgilbert**

I checked up on the ones you guys have passed me this morning and was told they were all created into tickets and are in the queue. I'll try and get another proper update on them next week.

**BrizzleRob**

Can't fault Matt one bit, and I'm sure the rest of the new blood (Zak) is working hard behind the scenes as well. It's a shame there efforts appear to be undermined by the absence of a similar work ethic (or communication skills) in the rest of the team. Was particularly interested to read in the closing KS update...

"I want to thank...our customer service team for providing entertainment in my office"

Right...

Flashback to a blog post dated 5 Jan 2016 where there are reportedly 160 missing pledges and 400 with missing items. 560 in total. Assuming 41 working days between then and now, at a 80% utility rate that's ~33 days of effort to correct the situation. Assume at least 2 warm bodies in the entertaining customer service team "working" 7.5hr days = 495 man hours to correct the situation. 560 customers divided by 495 man hours = 53 minutes (average) dedicated to each customer...and yet people continue to report a lack of communication with the core customer service team, leaving Matt to step in and offer assistance outside working hours.

Obviously very crude maths, and some customers/issues are more challenging than others, but those "managers" who've been at Mantic for a while need a reality check.

**BobtheInquisitor**

It's like the old CS system was some sort of supercomputer oracle programmed to protect Mantic from certain truths.

"Landru, I would like to see the last month's customer service tickets please."

"There are no tickets at this time. Further questions will not be tolerated."

**ced1106**

I figure if CS was Mantic's only problem, I'd be more optimistic, but, as mentioned in this and the DS thread, Mantic's had other problems with backer fulfillment that are outside of CS. Those problems I've yet to see fixed (or fixed enough to fork over $150 sight unseen). But retail's always an option, and I'm sure I'll pick up Dungeon Saga (but not the Adventurer's Companion!) if I find it on sale.

**Gerinako**

Don't get me started on there customer service.

Another reason I was so hesitant on pulling the trigger on TWD.

I couldn't close a Pledge Manager because I had a problem with what was shown.

2-3 years ago I got a response really quick.

This time I was waiting a few weeks.

Then they said they'd open the Pledge Manager again.

I go in - STILL got problems. Contact them, phone them.
Nothing - took months to resolve and in the end I just said forget it - money back please

**Azazelx**

Did they refund you?

**Gerinako**

Yeah - funnily enough got a near instant refund.

Easier than keeping a customer happy I suppose

Less 10% Kickstarter Fee but w/e
I'd had enough

**.Mikes.**

New picture from Mantic's facebook page.

**Psychopomp**

The game doesn't do much for me (never got into The Walking Dead, any version) but the terrain is fantastic!

I'm assuming the barricades are from the game itself. Are those stacks of bricks and cinder blocks terrain from the game, or third party?

Are those Sarissa buildings? They look familiar, but it can be hard to keep the different companies' townhouses separate in your mind. The bus shelter also looks familiar. <Edit: I went to the Facebook page and found out - Knights of Dice makes the buildings.>

Does anyone recognize the dumpsters and know who makes them? <Edit: Also Knights of Dice.>

**jmurph**

Most of it looks lasercut, hence the super thick railing and fences on the homes.

Neat diorama, but looks cramped for a game.

**Tamereth**

The crashed car looks nice, is that a mantic thing, and will I see a retail release?

**DaveC**

The crashed car (right) is from the Walking Dead KS and will be available as part of the terrain pack (along with the 3 barricades pictured). The SUV on it's side (left) is from the Mars Attacks KS, made by Antenocitis Workshop and is not available outside of that KS.

**Tamereth**

So the one thing I find interested isn't part of this line and isn't for sale anywhere. Well there's a reason I didn't go in for this kickstarter, despite being a massive walking dead fan.

**ArtIsGreat**

Just take a hammer to one side of a toy car, it's what Antenocitis did.

**Azazelx**

I just noticed in my emails a Mantic Blog post from a few days ago
https://manticblog.com/2017/03/31/the-walking-dead-all-out-war-special-offer/

We're so confident that you'll love The Walking Dead: All Out War once you've played it, that throughout April, if you order the game from our website and don't enjoy, you can return it for a refund! Check the blog for more details...

That's ...interesting. Is the game dead in the water already? I can't see an offer like this being a thing if the game were selling well. While I'm personally indifferent to the IP, I thought the miniatures looked nice enough, though pretty badly overpriced in an X-Wing manner but even worse and without the STAR WARS appeal, so I skipped it - but I obviously understand that TWD is a huge deal.

Oh yeah, I was looking for the appropriate N&R thread to discuss this, as it's obviously legitimate News to discuss - but TWD doesn't really fit into either of Mantic's Sci-Fi or Fantasy threads, so....

**Compel**

As far as I'm aware, the game is quite possibly mantics most well received game amongst general people.

Maybe it's something like, they're unable to get easy reprints due to manufacturing issues in China, therefore reselling the game into the hands of people that play it is a good idea.

Plus, how many people actually buy it from Mantics website anyway?

**Baragash**

TWD has been a huge success for Mantic.

**Aeneades**

I think the promotion is to try and attract gamers who may not be fans of the source material to give it a try as it plays really well. They have launched the promotion now as Wave 2 will be hitting retail in the next month so will be lots of new products on the shelves. The first organised play pack was also sent out this week so should be seeing some events in stores soon.

On top of the originally planned releases Mantic have recently released a limited edition resin diorama, MDF RV, expanded equipment card deck and two packs of plastic game aids / tokens. There is also a convention exclusive pack of miniatures based upon characters from the Walking Dead video game (also available from webstore during Mantic open days).

The Mantic team have been open on what future releases they are currently working on for release over the next couple of years and they definitely have solid future plans for the game.

**Shadow Captain Edithae**

Will Negan and the Saviours be coming soon? Thats what I'm looking forward to.

**Aeneades**

Negan and one minor saviour will be out in the next wave as a retail exclusive booster. There is also a King Ezekiel and Shiva pack out at the same time.

You can also pick up the Kickstarter exclusive Negan from the Mantic point store for 10 points.

The main bulk of the saviours wont be out for about 18 - 24 months but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a couple of retail exclusive versions of the key characters as we went along.

**Azazelx**

Compel wrote:
As far as I'm aware, the game is quite possibly mantics most well received game amongst general people.

Okay, fair enough.

Maybe it's something like, they're unable to get easy reprints due to manufacturing issues in China, therefore reselling the game into the hands of people that play it is a good idea.

That makes literally no sense at all.

Plus, how many people actually buy it from Mantics website anyway?

I assume that they do at least decently in terms of direct sales, just like Warlord or any other first party. Buying direct from Mantic is generally not my first choice, but I've certainly bought directly from them a few times.

Baragash wrote:
TWD has been a huge success for Mantic.

Well that's genuinely good for them at least. More successful products are always a good thing. It makes this promotion seem all that more odd, though - "you can return it for free" type promotions typically smack of TV ads for dodgy fitness equipment/slap chops/shake weights - or desperation, rather than confidence.

Aeneades wrote:
I think the promotion is to try and attract gamers who may not be fans of the source material to give it a try as it plays really well. They have launched the promotion now as Wave 2 will be hitting retail in the next month so will be lots of new products on the shelves. The first organised play pack was also sent out this week so should be seeing some events in stores soon.

On top of the originally planned releases Mantic have recently released a limited edition resin diorama, MDF RV, expanded equipment card deck and two packs of plastic game aids / tokens. There is also a convention exclusive pack of miniatures based upon characters from the Walking Dead video game (also available from webstore during Mantic open days).

That makes some sense, I guess. Though it still seems a little out. The whole thing still seems quite unusual to be honest. Though maybe it's accurate, as the pricing model puts me right off so I've never had any intention of trying it out. If I were in the UK (and so return shipping was an affordable option) and were looking for a new game, or was interested but hesitant, this would make me more likely to try it. Though the "refund" is Mantic Store credit, so you'd still need a backup option in case you didn't like the game.

**Pacific**

Tried a post down in the nether regions of the forum and had no luck with a reply, so will try here..

Has anyone played the expansions released so for (Woodbury and Days gone by) and can comment if they are worth picking up? And if so which would you recommend first?

**jmw23**

From the Walking Dead All Out War Fanatic's Facebook Page-

I just came across this info:

The Walking Dead: All Out War Collector`s Edition
MANTIC ENTERTAINMENT
How Will You Survive? All Out War is a game of fast-paced, head-to-head skirmishes in the world of the Walking Dead. Assemble a group of your favorite characters from best-selling comic series, kit them out with a variety of weapons, items and abilities, and battle to achieve dominance in the Walker-strewn Atlanta cityscape. Experience first-hand the desperate struggle for survival faced by Rick and his companions as you negotiate constant threats from both the living and the dead. This is gaming as it should be fast, furious and fun! This Collectors Edition box contains everything two players need to get right into the action, including fully-assembled, highly-detailed plastic miniatures, dice, tokens, quick-start rules and terrain including burnt-out cars and barricades. In addition to the All Out War Core Game, this set contains the Prelude to Woodbury solo campaign and card deck, a full set of 3D plastic scenery, a deluxe neoprene gaming mat, a booster pack of Equipment cards, a set of resin prone figures, and an exclusive Walker Rick Grimes Miniature! Contents: Collector`s Edition Box, Core Set, Prelude to Woodbury Miniatures and Cards, Scenery Booster, Roamer Booster, Equipment Booster, Deluxe Gaming Mat, Lee & Clementine Booster, Exclusive Walker Rick Miniature. Miniatures supplied assembled and unpainted. Requires The Walking Dead: All Out War Miniatures Game Core Set to play. Requires additional The Walking Dead: All Out War Game Boosters to play all scenarios with recommended participants.

It is up for pre-order via a distributor. Showing a retail of $149.99. I am wondering if the set of resin prone figures, and the exclusive Walker Rick Grimes Miniature are going to be available separately.

**Siygess**

Interesting, particularly the inclusion of the con exclusive booster. On that topic, I keep getting the feeling they missed a trick with Lee's points cost. You get a Fire Axe and Claw Hammer card in the booster so you can equip Lee and Clem WYSIWYG, but that brings them to 103pts. If Lee had just been 3 points less the booster would have made for a very solid 100pt duo.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Pacific wrote:
Tried a post down in the nether regions of the forum and had no luck with a reply, so will try here..

Has anyone played the expansions released so for (Woodbury and Days gone by) and can comment if they are worth picking up? And if so which would you recommend first?

I would suggest Days Gone Bye, although I have both. Prelude to Woodbury was appealing to me because of the solo content but IIRC, the only difference is the wording of the event cards which call out 'you' rather than each player etc. They both offer some campaign-like missions (One is solo only, the other adversarial but can be fudged to be co-operative) but DGB has more and I think once we get to the farm etc, those campaign missions will feel more like an ongoing narrative than what you get in the Woodbury box. That said, I don't regret owning both.

**jmw23**

Sources at the recent Mantic Open Day tell me the Collector's Edition is due out in August.

**Sqorgar**

Mantic announced a stand alone spin-off to All Out War called Here's Negan. Planned for November, it uses a modified version of All Out War's rules and is fully compatible with the game. Has a dozen scenarios.

Wave 5, the next wave, is based on Fear the Hunters. I've only read the first compendium, so I don't know how close these things are, story-wise.

**Aeneades**

They have been sticking very closely to the story so far and model quality continues to improve.

Timeline wise the Here’s Negan storyline in Sanctuary takes place at roughly the same time as the Fear the Hunters story so this spinoff game fleshes out a warband for Negan without having to jump ahead in the story. I believe we have seen one or two other models for his band already as the second character within booster packs so should have 7 dedicated Sanctuary faction models plus a number of no faction models to flash them out with.

Still waiting for my comic character to be adapted. As he is part of Negans crew from the “What comes after” storyline he will hopefully be coming next year.

**Sqorgar**

Mantic Blog on future of the series. Talks (briefly) about the Fear the Hunters expansion (sept) and wave 5, the Negan game, and about creating a full scale skirmish game with TWD going forward.