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I don't know... if they don't actually have physical bodies and use robots to kill people or something, it's starting to sound like stretching to say they're Not-Eldar. At that point what similarities do they have?
Hell they'd be more like Therians in AT-43 (transhuman conscious living on the internet that use nanotechnology to build physical creations they control) than Eldar. Eldar are goofy space elves with organic technology that won't screw to save their species. (also the only 40k army I own)
Well, the original pics of them from somewhere showed the ones who weren't robots to pretty clearly be skinny Mantic-style bald space elves. Pointy ears and all.
scarletsquig wrote: Cyphers are AI, not the souls of the dead or anything.
If there's one thing in favour of the Warpath background, it is the lack of religion/mysticism.
I don't mind stuff like laser swords so much since a lot of fighting occurs in extremely dense urban areas (deadzone), starships (project pandora) and other confined spaces.
Sure, but lightsabers/laser swords and Wolverine Claws are the stuff of space opera/science-fantasy/comics.
For much harder sci-fi, you'd be looking at stuff more like this for close combat:
And actual CQB looks much more like this - stacking, kicking in doors and flashbangs.
Than this:
Which is all fine, and you can enjoy it as much as you like, and have a huge amount of fun with it - which is all good and cool - but let's not pretend for a moment that Mantic's sci-fi universe is in any way "hard" sci-fi.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/31 15:23:25
I do appreciate how the Corporation is effectively an evil twin version of the Federation or Culture, driven to consume and control with the concept of putting morality over profits seen as a sign of weakness. It is a more realistic future vision of humanity than other sci-fi, greed is more likely to be our motivation than anything else.
I always thought (and am probably right ) that the Corporation is meant to be a shot at GW.
I do appreciate how the Corporation is effectively an evil twin version of the Federation or Culture, driven to consume and control with the concept of putting morality over profits seen as a sign of weakness. It is a more realistic future vision of humanity than other sci-fi, greed is more likely to be our motivation than anything else.
I always thought (and am probably right ) that the Corporation is meant to be a shot at GW.
I assume it was Weyland-Yutani style.
"...and special thanks to Judgedoug!" - Alessio Cavatore "Now you've gone too far Doug! ... Too far... " - Rick Priestley "I've decided that I'd rather not have you as a member of TMP." - Editor, The Miniatures Page "I'd rather put my testicles through a mangle than spend any time gaming with you." - Richard, TooFatLardies "We need a Doug Craig in every store." - Warlord Games "Thank you for being here, Judge Doug!" - Adam Troke
No way they keep those ridiculous integrated bases when they go to 'true' 'hard' 'plastic', right?
God I hope not, but then they're on the existing plastics for Elves, Orcs, Orx, Dwarves, Forgefathers, Zombies, Ghouls, Skeletons and Revenants ...so who knows?
Actually, from that list, unfortunately, I think we already DO know!
The Warpath one player and army sets all have EXTRA figures added. Like, a lot.
The corporation one player set normally comes with 10 marines, 10 rangers, and 3 heavy weapons teams. The sale bonus adds 10 more rangers and 10 more marines. So 40 figures plus 3 heavy weapons teams for $49.99.
I'm seriously about to fold on the Forge Father one player set as it adds another 10 models an an artillery piece to the 20 infantry + iron ancesor normally in the box.
ALSO it ends February 2.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/31 15:33:49
"...and special thanks to Judgedoug!" - Alessio Cavatore "Now you've gone too far Doug! ... Too far... " - Rick Priestley "I've decided that I'd rather not have you as a member of TMP." - Editor, The Miniatures Page "I'd rather put my testicles through a mangle than spend any time gaming with you." - Richard, TooFatLardies "We need a Doug Craig in every store." - Warlord Games "Thank you for being here, Judge Doug!" - Adam Troke
If there's one thing in favour of the Warpath background, it is the lack of religion/mysticism.
I think this is the way Mantic are going now, and I like it too. But they waffled on it during the kickstarter. I got a direct response from them in the comments section where they said the Cyphers were partially reanimated Asterian corpses that bleed when injured. I'm not going to bother looking that one up, but if you care to call my bluff, It's there to be found. That response wasn't all that well received by backers (although I was ignorant of the Eldar parallel at the time and liked it myself), was never followed up on, and seems to have been replaced in favor of the remote controlled A.I. thing. (Which, to be fair if confusing, I'm pretty sure they had also put forward before making the reanimated dead comment.)
I don't know if that hiccup represented a sea change at Mantic, some internal confusion by whoever was at the keyboard, or reflected an ongoing debate among the staff on which way to take the Asterians. But it would seem to indicate they were considering it at one time.
scarletsquig wrote: If anything, their background is closer to these guys, loyal only to the highest bidder:
Ah, the Fifth Element. Only the French could make a movie where the sexual appeal of a young woman saves the universe.
(Not intended as a redneck American anti-French comment, by the way. I loves me some Lewis Trondheim / Joann Sfar / David B. bandes dessinées.)
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2014/01/31 16:17:22
Dakkadakka: Bringing wargamers together, one smile at a time.™
scarletsquig wrote: If there's one thing in favour of the Warpath background, it is the lack of religion/mysticism.
I can't really agree with that. Given the lack of finesse they showed with the Corporation and the Vermin it's probably for the best, but religious belief is just as much a valid motivation as greed or patriotism is.
Azazelx wrote: For much harder sci-fi, you'd be looking at stuff more like this for close combat:
Or my personal favourite weapon for power armoured infantry, the FUBAR.
"When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up."
-C.S. Lewis
If there's one thing in favour of the Warpath background, it is the lack of religion/mysticism.
I think this is the way Mantic are going now, and I like it too. But they waffled on it during the kickstarter. I got a direct response from them in the comments section where they said the Cyphers were partially reanimated Asterian corpses that bleed when injured.
In other news I got a reply vis-à-vis Dreadball KS issues within an hour or so (I messaged via Facebook as I think Orcy's mailbox is full cos it kept bouncing my e-mails) and I've just had an acknowledgment of my Deadzone KS issues, which I only filed some time in the last 7 days.
Ex-Mantic Rules Committees: Kings of War, Warpath
"The Emperor is obviously not a dictator, he's a couch." Starbuck: "Why can't we use the starboard launch bays?"
Engineer: "Because it's a gift shop!"
I won't mind the survey slipping into Feb if it means more and better pics of what we're getting.
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Getting the calculator ready then. Sadly I can see the hard plastic question not being answered tonight, but as many have said we have plenty of time to wait and see.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/01/31 16:49:20
Mantic's in full panic mode preparing for tomorrows challenge
A challenge has been laid down.
Tomorrow, Pathfinder Chris descents on the Mantic Bunker with an army of Abyssal Dwarfs to challenge Ronnie's Dwarfs. Both men are entering with beards intact... but only the winner's will survive! Yes, whoever loses has to shave their beard off. This is a serious matter, indeed.
Ronnie's waiting for you, Chris. You'd better be prepared. And remember... the only thing that stings more than aftershave is bitter defeat.A challenge has been laid down.
Tomorrow, Pathfinder Chris descents on the Mantic Bunker with an army of Abyssal Dwarfs to challenge Ronnie's Dwarfs. Both men are entering with beards intact... but only the winner's will survive! Yes, whoever loses has to shave their beard off. This is a serious matter, indeed.
Ronnie's waiting for you, Chris. You'd better be prepared. And remember... the only thing that stings more than aftershave is bitter defeat.
Wales: Where the Men are Men and the sheep are Scared.
Asterians were easily my favorite faction when I backed the kick-starter, followed closely by the rebs. I don't know what it is about these renders though they just don't capture me in the same way they concept drawings did.
Maybe its just my lack of enthusiasm after the quality of the models I have received so far rubbing off on them or maybe there is something that has been lost between the drawings and these renders. I dont know.
Thraxas Of Turai wrote: The challenge should be who can de-mould line the Deadzone mercs with the least amount of injuries.
The mercs weren't really that bad...
Looking for great deals on miniatures or have a large pile you are looking to sell off? Checkout Mindtaker Miniatures.
Live in the Pacific NW? Check out http://ordofanaticus.com
carlos13th wrote: Asterians were easily my favorite faction when I backed the kick-starter, followed closely by the rebs. I don't know what it is about these renders though they just don't capture me in the same way they concept drawings did.
Maybe its just my lack of enthusiasm after the quality of the models I have received so far rubbing off on them or maybe there is something that has been lost between the drawings and these renders. I dont know.
to my eye the limbs etc are thicker than the concept art, (could be illusion, or just that they've had to adjust things to make minis that won't break to easily)
carlos13th wrote: Asterians were easily my favorite faction when I backed the kick-starter, followed closely by the rebs. I don't know what it is about these renders though they just don't capture me in the same way they concept drawings did.
Maybe its just my lack of enthusiasm after the quality of the models I have received so far rubbing off on them or maybe there is something that has been lost between the drawings and these renders. I dont know.
to my eye the limbs etc are thicker than the concept art, (could be illusion, or just that they've had to adjust things to make minis that won't break to easily)
I Think I actually like that they turned out a bit sturdier looking. Though I'm unsure about the heads and the prime isn't quite what I had pictured. Though I do like them overall and I think the black talon looks pretty epic.
Tomorrow, Pathfinder Chris descents on the Mantic Bunker with an army of Abyssal Dwarfs to challenge Ronnie's Dwarfs. Both men are entering with beards intact... but only the winner's will survive! Yes, whoever loses has to shave their beard off. This is a serious matter, indeed.
I challenge them to use the time correcting mis-packed KS packages from all their KS projects.
Every time a terrorist dies a Paratrooper gets his wings.
Tomorrow, Pathfinder Chris descents on the Mantic Bunker with an army of Abyssal Dwarfs to challenge Ronnie's Dwarfs. Both men are entering with beards intact... but only the winner's will survive! Yes, whoever loses has to shave their beard off. This is a serious matter, indeed.
Ronnie's waiting for you, Chris. You'd better be prepared. And remember... the only thing that stings more than aftershave is bitter defeat.
I think this is a set-up. Ronnie has the look of a man who's decided to shave his beard anyway.
The sky is falling! You just can't trust Mantic anymore!
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Lukez wrote: I Think I actually like that they turned out a bit sturdier looking. Though I'm unsure about the heads and the prime isn't quite what I had pictured. Though I do like them overall and I think the black talon looks pretty epic.
To be honest, I'm starting to think my initial response to the Asterian Cyphers was too harsh, but they need to rethink the black talon figure.
It does look very good alone and / or as a diorama piece. But can you see fielding multiple units of black talons attached to their multiple identical piles of brick rubble? It's going to look ridiculous in both Deadzone and Warpath games. (And as I noted before, Deadzone games don't even feature buildings made of brick in the first place.) I know one of the 2nd gen Plague was attached to scenery, but it was one of three versions. This figure is presumably the only Asterian black talon they're going to make.
This message was edited 5 times. Last update was at 2014/01/31 18:31:15
Dakkadakka: Bringing wargamers together, one smile at a time.™
Vermonter wrote: It does look very good alone and / or as a diorama piece. But can you see fielding multiple units of black talons attached to their multiple identical piles of brick rubble? It's going to look ridiculous in both Deadzone and Warpath games. (And as I noted before, Deadzone games don't even feature buildings made of brick in the first place.) I know one of the 2nd gen Plague was attached to scenery, but it was one of three versions. This figure is presumably the only Asterian black talon they're going to make.
We'll have to see how they do it. If it is integral like the Marauder/Reb commanders, that will be lame. If it is like the S2 with the separate piece, that'll be cool.
Looking for great deals on miniatures or have a large pile you are looking to sell off? Checkout Mindtaker Miniatures.
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I don´t like the Asterians as much as i thought i would. Somehow they seem too blocky and toy-like now? It might be the 3-D images, we will see when they are produced. The concept is sound.
About restic: In my view the wibe here on Dakka towards the material has become a bit too negative. I prefer hard plastic but I don´t think that restic is worse then metal to clean up, at least not by much. Going on 35 + celaned and assembled Deadzone minis. (And the game is fun too)
And then I discovered the "hot-water trick". It is extremely easy and a stunningly effective method for conversions. I'm a bit sad that I didn´t discover it until I had glued both rebs, enforcers and most of the plauge. For any organic model one can easily twist and rotate not only arms, legs and heads but also entire torsos! A real boon for modelers and fun and fast to do. No 2 restic miniatures need ever look the same. Here are some examples of doublicates in one stock version and one water-bent. I am particualry pleased with the dogs:
That likely helps!
) that the Corporation is meant to be a shot at 
