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I'm thinking the figures will be great with some head swaps. Imagine removing the bubble and head and putting different sci-fi heads on there.

They kind of have that skinny martian look to them, but I'm sure some different heads could still change the feel.

Mantic would be even cooler if they made a Warpath list for the Martians. Then I'd probably pledge for some of them

 scarletsquig wrote:

winterdyne wrote:

Zond wrote:
I'm not a fan of Mars Attacks, however if the humans are nice I might get a squad or whatever they're offering. The Martian looks like it has a ginger afro instead of an exposed brain.

I agree. Mantic agreed. The revised sculpts are much more brainy and don't look so much like hair now. Teeth are still uber-fiddly but I think they're pretty damn good now.

Thanks for offering this level of sculpt critique, it's something that Mantic desperately needs.

I have a ton of men-at-arms that are almost 40mm models to eye level, a problem that could have easily been fixed if the person painting the resins all those months ago just said to Mantic.. "Hang on a bit, aren't these a bit big compared to the others? You sure you want to put these to tooling without downsizing them a bit?".

I don't know what their feedback culture is like there, whether there just isn't enough creative staff employed to form a good opinion about sculpt quality/ scale consistency or if the opinions aren't aired etc.

All I know is that this process is something they need to avoid major mistakes.

Their feedback culture seems to be very good actually. Certainly the comments I made both reading the sculpt and the domes as illustrated on those renders seem to have been taken on board and acted upon. The domes as shown on the renders would produce a visual line due to the lens effect of the dome material where it doesn't curve smoothly. I just pointed out that should be borne in mind as 'WIP' render modes in software do not calculate refractive indexes on translucent materials.

Mantic are growing well in my opinion. Sure they'll make a few mistakes here and there, but from all the stuff I've seen and handled over the past few months they're definitely trying to be on the right track for both painters and players.

 GrimDork wrote:
Deadzone may replicate Xcom fairly well. It doesn't all work exactly the same, but a good shot is usually fatal, the buildings help cover the variable heights... Blaze away is not dissimilar to supression, and overwatch is virtually the same. You don't move as many spaces, but moving spaces at all feels more like the computer game to me. One may have to make some modified teams to get all of the aliens properly represented though...

Infinity seems like it would be the game to play if you wanted something more advanced than Xcom, with even more special rules and types of fire (speculative shots, etc).

You just made me feel really good about my Deadzone pledge.

NP! I was excited about the similarities myself

Hmm maybe I wouldn't mind some martians to use as sectoids now that I think of it...

US army trooper render:



...and the martian grunts linked to on the last page:

That infantryman's finger should be at rest to the lateral of the trigger housing.

These were going to be prebuilt right?

Wonder how many we'll get in the box.

Not as awesome as the American rocket troops the Army sends to Mars in the original cards, but they look decent.

Still would have preferred 50's Korean War era GIs.

I'm actually liking the more modern look of the soldier. I may have a use for them pending the size and poses.

I'm still not crazy over this one, but ive taken a step to the positive.

That's interesting then.. a lot of the appeal for me about this was going to be the 50's B-movie vibe. Wonder if now there is going to be some discordance in concept between the very old fashioned (but quirky) martians, and the modern soldiers?

In my eyes the kitschy aliens clash a bit with the modern soldiers.


Hopefully the giant bugs, robots, and saucers will help counterbalance the Martians' overall goofy looks.

they are based on the modern look of the new invasion cards that are being released by topps in october

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1009930_551748794884345_382362749_n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/MarsAttacks

Interesting, though I too would have preferred a more dated look for the US soldiers, it would be more fitting with the setting and theme of the old cards.

 highlord tamburlaine wrote:
These were going to be prebuilt right?

Single-pose, integrated bases from what I've heard. With the domes being a snap-on extra piece.

Rules will be loosely based around the deadzone engine.

3"x3" gridded rubber mat will be included.

A 1950s GI look with some pulp uniform embellishments would have been great, but these do look like solid miniatures either way.

Yep I'm another who would have preferred 1950s US army

Hmm, this was not the direction I was expecting for the humans. Odd. It does seem like they're intending this to be an actual, proper boardgame though this time around unlike Deadzone which just turned out to be Warpath: Skirmish edition.

Darn, I really like those renders (shakes fist at sky). Guess il be going in on this one.

Black Nexus's links make the cards look pretty gritty/grimdark. Maybe I'll like this project more than I had guessed...

@ grimdork

ma is full of dark violence and over the top bloodshed. would seriously recommend the comics by IDw they give you a pretty good picture as to what you can expect. or just look at the MA fb page

@ Brookm

heard they were going with the new invasion card setting and which modernises the look.

So we're getting rubber mats with this too? Any word if they'll be the same design as Deadzone's? Any word on scenery?

What would be amusing is if Mantic chases up any of the comic book tie in licenses that MA! have had dealings with.

Haven't had a chance to check out the modern comics (had a bunch of the old image/ topps ones) but the new cards are definitely in theme with the original set.

I wouldn't have minded having a copy of the "Stan Strikes!" card they were giving away on the Facebook page.

 Black Nexus wrote:
they are based on the modern look of the new invasion cards that are being released by topps in october

https://scontent-b-lhr.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/1009930_551748794884345_382362749_n.jpg

https://www.facebook.com/MarsAttacks

OK, thanks! That explains it then.

Actually, I'm wondering if there might be a market for modern plastic infantry. Don't think there is too much of that about?

 Squat Kid wrote:
Mantic would be even cooler if they made a Warpath list for the Martians. Then I'd probably pledge for some of them

Well, even if they're prevented from doing so due to some kind of odd LotR-styel licencing, or IP issues, I'm sure an unofficial list will appear in Ironwatch, the Mantic Fanzine that a few people here contribute to.


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 Pacific wrote:

Actually, I'm wondering if there might be a market for modern plastic infantry. Don't think there is too much of that about?

I don't know of any in the Miniature Wargamers sense.

I can't think of any modern army mans either. Most are either sci-fi or some kind of ww2 (or earlier) mixed with sci-fi. Wonder if the MA army men would make any kind of guardsmen... Probably not scifi enough.

I'll say one thing, after looking at the FB page, I'm definitely interested in seeing some more concepts and renders. Giant bugs? More interesting human models helping out (?) the army too.

Looking forward to the launch of this one for more details to be sure.

Meh, moderns make just fine Guardsmen. Autoguns, autocannons, rocket launchers, even heavy bolters (Mk19) have direct analogues.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The soldier shown above looks a bit "green army men" to use as true moderns, though.

So just listened to the mantic podcast #10. More or less confirms MA will be on 8x8 3" grids just like deadzone. Maybe rules a tad simplified meant to be more accessible. Plastic terrain red brick buildings using the same system deadzone does suggesting they would be physically compatible, wonder about aesthetically.

Its the last 20 minutes or so of the podcast I think.

Mentions the KS is going to be very customizable in terms of rewards.

I'm getting more interested... especially if the terrain shows promise.

Damn... if it's compatible terrain.... even some basic modern terrain means I'll probably end up in for the game.

Looking forward to it!

That's what I'm thinking! Of course this is all stuff said in a podcast and not spelled out and promised in the kickstarter (which doesn't exactly exist yet, even). But the more I hear about this the more interesting it sounds. The human forces are to be more of a hodge podge of survivors like those two robbers, a prom queen, a couple of army guys... Then apparently you can get into crazy martian stuff like giant man-eating bugs and robots and such... I just hope it isn't *too* exciting, deadzone was too much for one year as it is.

My wallet says no, but I say YES. I remember the movie from when I was a kid, and if the terrain is compatible... Mantic, You guys got me again