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So the Kickstarter has finished and backers (at least, those in the UK anyway) are starting to get their copies of the game and Wave 1. I didn't spot an existing thread so decided to go ahead and create one here in the Misc games section.

Those of you who backed, have you got your copy yet? What do you think?

My first impressions are very positive considering the amount of vitriol and anger that Mantic Kickstarters seem to generate (and whether that anger is valid or not, is of course, a matter of debate and opinion). The miniatures themselves look great; well cast and in the main, well sculpted. They look to have nailed the comic aesthetic spot on. Game components look good too and all in all, a well presented package. I haven't read the rules yet given my copy only arrived this morning (plus it will be competing with Prospero which also arrives today) but I am looking forward to having a flick through. The mechanics look interesting from what I have gathered thus far and I like that it can be played solo too.

Anyway, thoughts, opinions etc. Have at it, let's get some discussion going!


And of course, just as I post this, a Kickstarter update arrives including the following:

Some pledgers have already begun receiving their rewards, and youtube is now full of some great unboxing videos! We thought we'd share a few reviews that have popped up, right here!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE504S8QPW0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUqjmLGZLZQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKFW9V3XBtg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0cnC0t6Vs4

And this blog review from TGNUK.
https://tabletopgamersuk.wordpress.com/2016/10/28/the-walking-dead-are-here/

Finally, some people from the Kickstarter have started a dedicated forum for discussion. Plenty of links and advice there - looks to be a good resource:

http://twdgames.proboards.com/#category-1

Quick battle report here that I saw posted on the Kickstarter comments page - shows how the game plays.

http://nerdthingsblog.tumblr.com/post/152571621690/walking-dead-battle-report-gun-running

Also dug up a link to some scenery - looks really good and fantastic value too. I think the gas station and apartment/abandoned apartment would be good for a starter. Obviously, the RV too!

http://ttcombat.com/collections/city-scenics?page=1

I hadn't received mine yet in Texas, although I saw in the comments that a NY backer received theirs so I shouldn't be too far away from mine.

I've read the final proof of the rules they gave as well as watched most of the battle reports, it looks like a solid and tense game. One of the main reasons the game interested me is the AI system for walkers, it is very smooth and easy to apply while manipulative enough for you to control on the table, exactly what I'm looking for in a tabletop zombie recreation. Personally the only qualms I've had with it so far is the fact that you actually place walkers on their sides when they're down and not out. I can see why they did this as a token on the board representing knockdown is not necessarily the game's style - the game's bookkeeping is not done with tokens - it's just something that may affect placement accuracy. The other issue is when you separate models in a group melee. Overall though these aren't issues as long as you and your opponent are able to hastily place models in fair and agreeable places, I just like rules that avoid possible confrontations before they even take place on a table.

In terms of components I think they are top notch from the videos and pictures I've seen of received boxes. I really like how the terrain - especially the vehicles - came out, they're useful for so many different games.

Basically I'm chomping at the bit to receive mine and show it to the locals and family. I'm excited to use my Battle Systems terrain for it as it's perfect:

http://tabletopterror.blogspot.com/search/label/Battle%20Systems

The Battle Systems stuff does look nice, I have to admit. I haven't had much luck with cardstock terrain in the past but maybe this will be different?

Any close-up pics of the miniatures?

I was turned off by the hydroencephalic heads and how Mantic fulfilled Dungeon Saga, but would like to see some pictures.

Got mine now. The miniatures are some of the best board-game level models I've ever seen - a lot crisper and nicer than zombicide IMHO. They are not hobby-grade models when it comes to prep and painting compared to plastic/resin models as the detail is softer. Mould lines and flash are pretty minimal at least. The only model that stuck out as not that good was Sofia, whose face was a bit squished. The KS exclusive michonne could have used a different angle for the sword and been better, but it is not bad overall. Production values of the models are pretty high. They are fairly similar proportions and sizes to GW's LOTR models and would not look out of place alongside them.

I disagree. The model's proportions are off... very cartoony looking. Rick grimes has tiny short but fat legs, a massive head, a tiny fake looking g gun, etc. Details are good as I assume they were made cartoony as they are based on cartoon characters from the comics, but not at zombicide levels. Not... even... close. They dont even look better than some of the lighter plastic zombicide or conan minis, which appear to be less detailed as the lighter and glossy plastic conceals detail.

As someone who has owned minis from almost every gaming company and gaming system out there, they are good for boardgame pieces (like the tmnt and Ghostbusters kickstarters) but nowhere near zombicide, blood rage, conan, gw, wwx, kd, etc.

Zombicide minis are 100% proportionate. They look like the parody actors, are very detailed, etc. They, blood rage, and some conan minis can stand in with gw stuff, but not this game. I'm excited for the walking dead kickstarter game based on the show; those minis look accurate, detailed, and worthy of shelf display.

I cant disagree with your proportion comments - I should clarify my comments were based more on the quality of the models, detail and manufacturing as a whole - the proportions are definitely closer to comic/cartoon proportions, and are extremely noticeable on carl and sofia. The more cartoonish proportions were very much what I was expecting from the previews though, so not a surprise.
Zombicide I've not had as much success with, but I only have Rue Morgue for that. Most of the figures that I got for that have very soft detail and faces in comparison (which I should add, as board game pieces they are totally fit for purpose).

My KS version arrived in North Carolina today.


Not at all impressed with the KS box/packaging. Game box came inside a pathetically thin cardboard shipping box so has dinged corners. Not TOO big a deal.

Game box itself, along with the trays, are very poorly designed. There is no way to easily grab out the two plastic trays, especially the bottom one with the cards, terrain and zombies. And you'll need to grab them out because the printed material (rules/game mats/tokens) don't really fit anywhere but under that tray.

Printed material on top of trays:



Additionally, the printed material got dinged up a bit:





The trays themselves are a bit flimsy, not a huge issue except if you need to take them out of the box repeatedly, which unfortunately you will need to do. My bottom tray already has a split corner from pulling it out once.

The trays also do not have a place for the tokens, the spinner, or anything that did not ship in the tray. Pretty stupid oversight on Mantic's part, but unfortunately not a surprising one.

On the plus side, the figure detail is sharper than I expected.

I hope they can learn from mistakes don't screw up the wave 2 stuff, but frankly it is Mantic.

CptJake - eager to read your thoughts on the game, my buddy who backed it has been pretty impressed with it so far but hasn't gotten too deep into it yet.

 Manchu wrote:
CptJake - eager to read your thoughts on the game, my buddy who backed it has been pretty impressed with it so far but hasn't gotten too deep into it yet.

I'm not going to have a chance to even read the rules until next week most likely. Have guests coming over this weekend, will likely be doing some kayaking, smoking/grilling meat, and a bit of shooting Saturday and Sunday.

But I will post my thoughts when I get a chance!

Well I can't argue with your priorities, that's for sure!

Impressed with:

The figures - although "heroic", they have great detail. The plastic feels more like hard sprue plastic than the bendy out of shape cmon stuff.
The rules - played a couple of the training scenarios with my wife - seems fairly robust and straight forward.
Internal packaging was pretty decent and was a sure fire way that Mantic didn't have any missed figures etc.

As for the internal packaging, yes, the plastic figure holding sheets are thin, but in all seriousness, this isn't a board game, it's a tabletop game. How many people are going to continually keep putting their figures back in those trays? Especially when you get a load of extra boosters? I imagine the painters will be storing their figures in the way they usually prefer and boardgamers will end up piling them lose in a plastic tub and discarding the plastic packaging. Hardly something to complain about.


Less impressed with:

The spinny wheel thing (threat meter). It's so loose. If someone breathes in the room, then the dial moves. I was hoping it would snap fit tightly. It seems more like it was designed as a spinner for some type of random event.
The postal packaging. The box was an exact fit and was made of thinner card than the game box. Lovely to get a "KS exclusive" box - not so nice to have it all dinged up at the corners.
The expansion "Days gone bye" uses figures that are not available. So all the scenarios included can't be played without changing them. The original game has only one wargame type scenario (not counting the tutorial ones), so as it is, there's no story other than homebrew games and straight up versus games with allocated points.

For those wondering about a TWD vs Zombicide comparison:
(and yes, I spelt Rik wrong - I blame my brother for spelling his name that way)



I know the Mantic haters will find something to complain about, but I do think they've got something here that will give them a boost in sales - especially if marketed correctly in general toy stores - in a smaller scale way that GW had with the LotR license. I just hope they keep the boosters sensible and don't start adding in "must have" cards with boosters just for the sales in the way X-wing does.

Thanks for the review Gimgamgoo, appreciated.

Good to see close-ups of the miniatures as well, certainly look very nice - Rick looks like a very close approximation of his comic book character, going to be a big draw for the game I think.

I am still waiting for my copy even though was posted about 2 weeks ago now but looking forward to it based upon the comments I have seen here and on the facebook group.

A new Booster due for release next year was announced on the Mantic Instagram account earlier -



I am surprised they are jumping that far ahead in the time line already unless they have a very aggressive release schedule planned with multiple waves through out the year.

Wasn't Negan one of the minis available in the Kickstarter?

They included two promotional miniatures from further in the story (Negan and Abraham) but they are otherwise releasing the expansions in comic order. The Kickstarter went as far as the end of the Prison / Woodbury storyline.

Hopefully the release schedule won't be too fast. Nothing worse than new expansions coming out so fast you've barely played the stuff you have before the next lot co es out.

Is there an actual release date for the starter set, or is "end of November" as detailed as it gets?

Am thus far impressed with what I have seen of this game. The IP is not my kind of thing at all but want to paint a set up for the missus as a gift.

November 25th was the release date I saw listed everywhere. Products at release include the base game, as well as a strange £25 starter set that just has the Governor, some zombies and Quick Start rules (no full rulebook), and a collection of boosters (including 2 that Kickstarter backers cannot have already aquired).

From what I understand the Road to Woodbury starter set is intended to be a small solo play starter pack with a few story scenarios telling the story of how the Governor arrived at Woodsbury (I expect the story is taken in part from the 1st Walking Dead Novel: Road to Woodbury), Players can then expand with a couple of boosters into a competitive survivor group (gang? Not sure what term is being used).

Beasts of War held a Walking Dead event over the weekend and they revealed at least two new unannounced models that I can spot. Glen in Prison Armour (only Rick in Armour was in Kickstarter) and an upgraded version of Patrick who has shaved his head and gained some armour.

http://www.beastsofwar.com/liveblogentry/a-sneak-peek-at-whats-ahead-for-the-walking-dead-all-out-war/

Cheers Bioptic, that seems about right given what I have seen on various retailer websites.

Does anyone know if this item will be a standard retail release

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Free-Uk-Shipping-The-Walking-Dead-Kickstarter-Exclusive-Miniatures-Booster-/282256319323?hash=item41b7c9a35b:g:AAAAAOSwKOJYKmHP

Or was it an item exclusive to retailer Kick-starter backers?

Thraxas, the Kickstarter exclusive booster was officially Kickstarter only but they are selling off remaining copies at conventions.

The characters from the Kickstarter pack will be seeing release in alternate sculpts further down the line but I am not certain if the character cards are exclusive versions or not.

Aeneades wrote:
I am surprised they are jumping that far ahead in the time line already unless they have a very aggressive release schedule planned with multiple waves through out the year.

Could be another SG that wasn't revealed while the costs of the sculpt were paid. Makes sense to move any unrevealed or unlocked SG's to retail product, if your target audience would be interested.

Gim, thanks for the photo!

Aeneades wrote:
Thraxas, the Kickstarter exclusive booster was officially Kickstarter only but they are selling off remaining copies at conventions.

The characters from the Kickstarter pack will be seeing release in alternate sculpts further down the line but I am not certain if the character cards are exclusive versions or not.

Also, £20 delivered for that pack is a (comparatively) good deal - the standard "character packs" for the game are around £10-12 retail, and just come with 1 major character, 1 minor character, and a walker.

I do wonder if Mantic has overestimated the retail value - will people pay the price of a nicely pre-painted X-wing ship for 2-3 unpainted human models?

Seems odd to spend money creating packaging for the Kick-starter items but I guess it depends how many were spare and what moulds etc they were on.

Got my retail version of the boxed game today. The only minor issue was the repeat of a walker (the diner/nurse lady) which means I am short on one of the walker sculpts. I am impressed with the miniatures, nice sculpts and a good hard plastic esque material. Mould lines are easily removed too. The other components are good quality as well. I hope that Mantic can continue this with their other games and projects.

Not all components are great. The Threat Tracker is based on a spinner, and the plastic 'hub' of the spinning part is too long for the thickness of the cardboard tracker, meaning the arrow will spin freely,making it hard to keep it pointing to the correct threat level. A slight bump moves it. Would have been pretty easy to design correctly.

I shall have to look out for that as I have not put it together yet. Is there any reason why it is a spinner rather than a linear chart or some such?

How are people finding the gameplay?

When I mentioned that it would be good for Mantic to pick up the video game licence in the future so that we could see Lee, Clementine, etc I received a reply from Ronnie "Watch this space " so hopefully that means we will see them very soon.

I know they were going to look into the rights when requested during Kickstarter.

Ronnie also mentioned that each wave will have 2-3 retail exclusive boosters which will include some surprises including big characters brought forward like Ezekiel I posted earlier.

Some renders from the Mantic open day courtesy of @fistyglueman on twitter: