Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Not really sure of a title for this, I have always bought GW items, I have been a big believer in WYSIWYG and trying to keep my army 100% GW ( mostly ).

This is my first time in a LONG time going to play Fantasy again and I really like Vampire Count, problem is I was wanting to run about 150-250 zombies. ( something sounds like fun ). Thing is GW prices for zombies are insane, and I a huge on buying from my brick store so I am paying full retail.

They were saying that Mantic models for zombie are dollar for dollar. A lot cheaper.

Plus I was thinking about the mantic undead horses.

Here is the question.

Would you play a person who has in a 2500 game about 1200 points in Mantic models ( mostly zombies and 1 unit of undead horses ) Rest of the army would be GW.

I know at my local they are cool with it but I also like to go to other shops and play in monthly tournaments.

I would have no problem with it at all since I have done the same! My undead army is mostly Mantic plastics with some of the GW plastics for elite units and characters (GW's Black Knights are awesome, and a little greenstuff work can make the hexwraiths into Wraiths for cheap!).

I don't play much though so, YMMV.

GW wouldn't let you play, they require 100% of their products to be in your armies.
If I were you I'd scour the trading forums and eBay. I'm starting a VC army and have already gotten a couple of deals.
Anyway, for the time it takes to build them all you can afford to be patient!

EDIT: this is tournaments, I wouldn't know about friendly games in the store.

dalloskid wrote:
GW wouldn't let you play, they require 100% of their products to be in your armies.
If I were you I'd scour the trading forums and eBay. I'm starting a VC army and have already gotten a couple of deals.
Anyway, for the time it takes to build them all you can afford to be patient!

EDIT: this is tournaments, I wouldn't know about friendly games in the store.

GW does not host tournaments anymore ( far as I know ) and most tournaments are 75% GW models.

Well that's strange.. I guess I haven't been in a store for a few years.. I was probably 13 last time I went in one and I'm nearly 17 now

dalloskid wrote:
Well that's strange.. I guess I haven't been in a store for a few years.. I was probably 13 last time I went in one and I'm nearly 17 now

hehe

ya my local place was telling me some tournaments just comes down to TO, but I just want the general rule from most of the Dakka peeps. This will decide if I go VC or don't play fantasy Working with set amount of funds.

I think you'll find most people are totally fine with it.

A skeleton is a skeleton, a zombie is a zombie, it's pretty clear and the Mantic minis look objectively better than the GW ones in the case of the zombies.

Be sure to check out Kings of War while you're at it, the rules and army lists are all free to download on the mantic site.

Wraiths are probably the biggest cost saver for undead. £1.50 each from Mantic or £9 each from GW.

Grave Guard vs. Mantic revenants are another one that compares well.

 scarletsquig wrote:
I think you'll find most people are totally fine with it.

A skeleton is a skeleton, a zombie is a zombie, it's pretty clear and the Mantic minis look objectively better than the GW ones in the case of the zombies.

Be sure to check out Kings of War while you're at it, the rules and army lists are all free to download on the mantic site.

hehe if i went and played Kings of War fully than my wife would kill me.

A man can have as many armies -1 before death.

You've got to hand it to mantic; their zombie sculpts definitely put GW to shame. I'm reaaaally tempted by their low price and quality..

I am 100% fine with Mantic zombies. I am goint to use them myself if I ever get around to collecting that long planned VC army.

I use the mantic revenants but the problem with them is that they don't have great weapons. You could possibly convert them but they'd be a bit difficult to do properly, I think.

I think GW does have better quality Skeletons than Mantic.
For the moment at least.

GW has to realise though that they are no longer the only option in the market. Then they will either lower their prices to compete, or improve their whole range to solidify that "Best model soldiers in the world" statement.

I have no problems playing against other models provided of course it is a fairly close representation to what it is supposed to be.

Every VC player ever uses the mantic zombies. They are a better looking model and much easier to build/paint in the kind of numbers needed for zombies then GWs efforts.

Alright thank you for the info, I will only buy the mantic zombies and that is it, ill get the GW horses only cus I want a lot of options.

Alright 250 zombies coming.. Thanks guys!

I'm a little torn. I would like to keep everything GW, and I can get some zombies reasonably cheap off forums, but it seems like mantic is better.

Do you guys use just mantic, just GW or a mix?

 Sturm2k wrote:

GW does not host tournaments anymore ( far as I know ) and most tournaments are 75% GW models.

Is this even a thing anymore?

Last one I went to had a full mantic dwarf list and no one said a word. As far as I am aware, in Australia at least, it is open season. If you are not in a GW store then play with any suitable models you like.

 jonolikespie wrote:

 Sturm2k wrote:

GW does not host tournaments anymore ( far as I know ) and most tournaments are 75% GW models.

Is this even a thing anymore?

Last one I went to had a full mantic dwarf list and no one said a word. As far as I am aware, in Australia at least, it is open season. If you are not in a GW store then play with any suitable models you like.

This is interesting. GW has even less of a grip than I thought.

Sidenote: Has anyone tried mixing GW zombies with another kit, say Empire free company or something similar? I'm tempted to do this to give the zombies a more... I don't know, as if they have recently died an been raised. Like they actually were people.

dalloskid wrote:
I'm a little torn. I would like to keep everything GW, and I can get some zombies reasonably cheap off forums, but it seems like mantic is better.

Do you guys use just mantic, just GW or a mix?

The scale fits pretty well with Undead. It all mix and matches pretty well. If anything the mantic minis have better detail.. compare the feet on these two models, mantic one has all the bones detailed, GW one has some bone detail but it's a bit soft and mushy:



The only real difference is the weapon sizes. Mantic is truescale, GW is heroic scale, so a GW sword is generally as tall as, or taller than the mini itself even if held in one hand. Mantic ones are much smaller.

I use all-mantic just for the pricing.

Consider the current xmas deals from both companies.

GW - £75 for 32 minis.



Mantic - £100 for 179 minis.



Mantic one isn't just infantry either, it's a proper army with cavalry, elites, characters, war machines and large infantry.

Twice as many skeletons, grave guard and cavalry as the GW set, and then an additional 60 zombies, 20 Ghouls, 10 Wraiths, 10 Mummies (these are great for use as great weapon grave guard), 6 werewolves (count-as crypt horror works great), 2 balefire catapults, and a free rulebook. And 3 characters rather than one. And some mantic points which are basically the same as the skullz program GW used to run.

The price difference is so huge and the range of mantic undead has gotten so large it is just a massively competitive option to pick.

For reference, adding stuff up quickly, it would cost around £500 to buy the contents of the £100 mantic set from GW.

So, you're generally looking at an army which is 4-5x cheaper than GW if you're able to get most of what you want from Mantic... which leaves you with plenty of change left over to buy the big kits or characters you like from GW.

If you prefer to spend more for the GW models, that's fine too, but there's certainly a viable alternative out there for those that want to get a new army or get started with the game without paying too much.

I personally like the GW skeletons more, but I think a lot of mantic's stuff is definitely on par with GW's. and for a fraction of the cost?

It makes you wonder how they can still charge as much as they do, when smaller companies are doing the same quality for a lot less, and are still turning a profit/expanding their ranges.

Can I say anything other than YES?

Mantic skeletons look like crap

actually I prefer the GW zombies currently have 80 of em..
you cant even tell the difference between mantic zombies and mantic ghouls
though mantic is the way to go if you dont have much money to spend

dalloskid wrote:

 jonolikespie wrote:

 Sturm2k wrote:

GW does not host tournaments anymore ( far as I know ) and most tournaments are 75% GW models.

Is this even a thing anymore?

Last one I went to had a full mantic dwarf list and no one said a word. As far as I am aware, in Australia at least, it is open season. If you are not in a GW store then play with any suitable models you like.

This is interesting. GW has even less of a grip than I thought.

Sidenote: Has anyone tried mixing GW zombies with another kit, say Empire free company or something similar? I'm tempted to do this to give the zombies a more... I don't know, as if they have recently died an been raised. Like they actually were people.

I believe the zombies and the older empire kits are very easily interchangeable since they were both made around the same time, with that time being back when GW was good (or maybe just not bad?) and kits were built to be interchangeable.

If you play Vampire Counts and DON'T use Mantic zombies, you might be in a one-man club. Seriously, is there a single person who doesn't use Mantic (and who didn't already have GW models from before Mantic released theirs)? GW is ridiculous.

I have a VC army that is nearly entirely Mantic. I think the Mummies make great Grave Guard but don't care too much for the wraiths. Mantic cavalry is meh but the price beats the living heck out of GWs what $90 for 5 models or whatever asinine amount they're asking for.

I like the GW ghouls better than the mantic but that's just personal preference I suppose.

Never had a single issue with anyone I've played against; the entire army is painted which beats most people's VC armies that I've seen.

Anyone who needs movement trays for the huge blocks of infantry we have to field, I recommend this guy: http://shogunminiatures.com/

Numerous orders and nary a problem.

Ok, I'll have a go at that. Should be good