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They are highly hit and miss for me. I really like their plastic ghouls, their zombies are alright-ish, but most of their models i'm not really wild about, some are pretty horrible actually. Except for those goblin characters they showed once. Those looked great (wizard goblin and such). Never played any of their games I have to admit but I keep hearing very good things about Kings of War. Of Warpath I read the beta rules when they were released and wasn't overly impressed. Looks like your regular Alessio Cavatore rules set. Fast, kind of elegant, kind of basic but works very well as a game (not sure if it works as well as a wargame). The Jake Thornton stuff (that's his name, right?) at least looks a bit more interesting ruleswise. I would love for them to get away more and more from their "GW but not GW" image they banked on for the first few years of their existance. It always struck me as a sad sign of times if a company gets rampantly loyal "fanatic" fans because they do what GW do and aim for the GW audience but their main USP is "we're not GW". So it's always nice when they do something of their own. Which they kind of seem to do with Dreadball and Deadzone. Well, kind of. But you gotta appreciate any step away from the regular old "not-40k".

If anyone's interested, as part of my zombie minis review series I reviewed the Mantic Ghouls:



http://www.battlebrushstudios.com/2013/07/review-mantic-ghouls.html


... and the Mantic Zombies:



http://www.battlebrushstudios.com/2013/07/review-mantic-games-zombie-regiment.html

I like their minis well enough. They're not quite as crisply detailed as GW products, and looking at their enforcer squads here, they defiantely lack the variety of main body parts and extras you'd expect to find in a GW kit. That being said, they look well and they have a cohesive look. Might use them for the odd conversion, but as far as mainline model building, they're not quite where GW is at.

I am not a huge fan of their models, at least in their sci-fi range. The detail is kind of muddy and the molds are usually off center with some hideous mold lines. I personally use their "totally not a thudd-gun" model as a thunderfire cannon, and if I played orks, I'd probably use a few of their vehicles.

Models are not great bought a load of dwarves as they were cheap ages ago though

Terrible models, terrible quality, the worst customer service I've ever experienced (I might be lucky), and some of the tightest rulesets in gaming today.

Some of their stuff is good. For instance I really like their zombies. I'm not a fan of their Elves though.

Voted other: Im not massively interested in their game systems or their actual models but their scifi terrain is great!

Every Mantic game I've played (Kings of War, Deadzone, and Dreadball) has been loads of fun. I like their rules a lot.

Their models can be fairly hit or miss, even within the same range. For example, I like the paladins but not the Basilian men-at-arms. One thing I have learned about their models is that seeing them in person can make a difference. I disliked every pic of their plastic elves, but when I got my hands on some, it changed my opinion of them.

Someone was wondering about Mantic's Deadzone kickstarter delivery. I can't speak for others, but as for myself, I've gotten everything I ordered including the delayed hard plastic enforcers (which by the way look awesome - though I haven't had a chance to put them together yet).

In general, I'm pretty positive about most of Mantic's stuff. However, special mention has to be made for the Drakon riders; those things just look goofy, and not in a good way.

I plan to use their zombies/ghouls as plague zombies for Necromunda. Other than that I fimd the miniatures to be lackluster.

I've never played KoW but the rules seem to lack character from what I've read. (I'm not too fussed about stratergy and balance, I like fun stories to occur during games and WHFB is great at that).

Personally, I dislike their sci-fi range. The same reason why I won't start playing Infinity -- their models are too future-esh. On the other hand, I imagine if I were to play Warhammer Fantasy Battle (or whatever the 9th will be), I will be using many of Mantics' fantasy range to proxy WHFB models in friendly games. Right now I only have the drive to paint 40K models, however.

I haven't had a look at their rules sets (mostly I haven't been looking to get into new large scale games).

What distinguishes their rules from others out there?

I haven't played WHFB in about 15yrs...I bought undead mantic for a WHQ campaign...loved the mini's...before I knew it I was competing in a KoW tourney...I tried to get some friends into it with mainly success from people fed up with the complexity and constant rule law-ering...and thousands of books...

Kow uses a unit footprint and you never remove individual models...it works really well IMO and after my other gamer friends tried to get me involved in WHFB I was put off by their constant referencing of rules and falling out.
Hope that helps! Rules are free online try them with cardboard unit cut outs or stand ins and see what you think (just don't attend a mantic open day..pants)

Some of you are harsh.

I love their dwarves. Gw took out squats and their dwarves are too over the top. I'm glad I can still play squats and not till my eyes playing fantasy dwarves.

Also my friends use their cheap awesome zombies for vampire counts and plague zombies.

I bought some abyssal dwarves to use as chaos dwarfs. Awful, the metal components just didn't line up with the bodies.
I'd have more time for them if they weren't so derivative of gw. I know it is mainly ex gw staff, but it all just seems like a cheap imitation. I hold my hands up to having never played their games though, they could be phenomenal rules writers for all I know.

I enjoy their Mars Attacks stuff, right level of schlocky for me

Nice, cheap fantasy models.

I am aware of mantic but have not looked into them enough to be able to say anything else.

I like their Deadzone models and rules, although I haven't played a game yet.

I really like KoW. Their fantasy range is 50/50 for me.

I like their Undead, Goblin, Orcs, and Dwarves.

I don't like their most of their Humans, Elves, Abyssal Dwarves (the golems are great and the halfbreeds are good though), or Ogres.

To me, rulesets are more important than pretty models. I much more interested in Mantic news than GW at this point. I think their models are generally improving and I hope they have a bright future.

I hope GW sells their fantasy molds to Mantic or something, since it looks like GW is stopping or slowing down it's rectangle based miniatures.

Started a elven army now that the 2d edition rules came out. Love the rules and really enjoy the elves (the otherworldly look, not just humans with pointy ears).

 thegreatchimp wrote:
Might use them for the odd conversion, but as far as mainline model building, they're not quite where GW is at, and they're almost as expensive, if not just as expensive. There has to be more of a price incentive there, imho.

I take it back. I'm looking at their undead range at the moment and their zombies and ghouls are better than the GW ones, and a hell of a lot cheaper.

Forgefather models have great potential as a basis for a squat army

Those enforcer jetbikes look pretty sweet too.

They'll definately be getting some of my cash which was otherwise destined for GW.

And this stunner. Aesthetically it beats the hell out of most of the space marine flyer range.

I'm a mantic fan now but it was a shaky start to the relationship with some dodgy models: bought a corporation army set and was not keen (although I would now buy another). Read the kow rules and thought: too simple.

Then I bought the undead army box sets for a warhammer quest campaign. Ended up trying the kow rules. Entered a tournament. The most fun I've had with a ruleset in years.
The models of the undead range beat any rank and file by geedubz I've ever owned.

Like my marauder deadzone set. Backed kickstarter warpath for space rats. Hit or miss has become mostly very much hit over the last few years and with the attached price tag. Bonus.

Great scenery for 40K / Sci-Fi games. I've passed on the rest.

I lied - I do have a bunch of Mars Attacks! stuff. Its still in boxes, but looks pretty cool. In time, I'll paint it up.

Mez

If I ever wanted to play a Block-style tactical game (aka WH fantasy) I'd definitely pick up their fantasy line again. They have this great idea where you only need 60% of the unit's model represented and you don't need to remove models as the unit takes wounds/battleshock.

It seems goofy, but it lets players create these beautiful dioramas and units that really pop on the battlefield. The rules are also very streamlined and flexible.

I'm not as crazy about thier sci-fi line but I think that's more about the asethic of their units since I haven't actually played warpath.

Dreadball is a ton of fun, but we made of the mistake of doing their campaign and the whole thing collapsed due to the way casualties worked. Whcih is a pity - they make some beautiful robots in that line.

Like there minis rules are a little to light for me but I'll still play.

Their models aren't the best but aren't bad considering how new they are and I think price is a important factor. Rules wise I've only played KoW and it's great.

With Warhammer Fantasy dead KoW is where my goblins and orcs are seeing their action, and I've added some new mantic goblin war engines.

Their sci-fi rules are interesting but no local groups for Warpath so probably won't invest in it. I'm way past my trying to talk other people into trying new games period in life.

So for now it's pretty much all 40K, and KoW.

Kings of War is a great ruleset and re-ignited my passion for rank-and-flank fantasy. Generally, their model quality is a bit hit and miss, but most of their Undead range is quite nice. Their Orcs and Dwarfs are decent, especially if price is important to you.

I haven't played any of their other games, although I've heard good things about the Walking Dead game.

They've got some really awesome sculpts, but the model quality is pretty low. Aside from the Stryder Mechs (which are unique to the point that you have to get them), I stopped buying them due to the quality of the plastic.

How has this poll/discussion been open for 7 years? What is wrong with Dakka

 judgedoug wrote:
How has this poll/discussion been open for 7 years? What is wrong with Dakka

...on Dakka, complaining about a company, or comparing it to GW never dies.