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I really was concerned that USAriadna was going to be all about the Cowboy Hats - because that's what everyone in America wears!

Oh well...

Nonsense, everyone knows that's exactly accurate

 Alpharius wrote:
I really was concerned that USAriadna was going to be all about the Cowboy Hats - because that's what everyone in America wears!

Oh well...

Just like we always dress in flamenco dresses, obviously, and everyone in Japan goes around in a kimono, yes

Seriously now, I get much more of a "Crocodile Dundee" vibe from that mini than a "cowboy" one.

It's one guy. If there's a box of cowboy hatted cowboy hat specialists then I can see reason for concern. Even then you'd have fewer cowboy hatted Americans than kilted Scots.

Model looks great.

Poor mini for me, but then I don't play Ariadna or have any intention to start, so I guess it doesn't matter.

 plastictrees wrote:
It's one guy. If there's a box of cowboy hatted cowboy hat specialists then I can see reason for concern. Even then you'd have fewer cowboy hatted Americans than kilted Scots.

Model looks great.

It's "one guy", but it's also the first model in a range about to be launched. It's a range where they kept using "Chuck Norris-esque", "Coca Cola", and "Donuts" as an example of what they think USAriadna exemplifies.

Never mind that their own background material plays down those aspects in favor of "professionalism".

Not everyone in Scotland wears tartan and yet all the Caledonia models do. If we get all the USAriadna guys in cowboy hats then I can see the issue but one guy doesn't mean the whole range will have it. Wait and see I guess.

 ImAGeek wrote:
Not everyone in Scotland wears tartan and yet all the Caledonia models do. If we get all the USAriadna guys in cowboy hats then I can see the issue but one guy doesn't mean the whole range will have it. Wait and see I guess.

Significant difference in that Caledonia wasn't based upon a real nation and its history, but rather they opted to build a new nation entirely.

USAriadna's population is aping the traditions of their early settlers which were a mixed bag of African-American/Latino Rangers with Asian and Caucasian scientists attached from NASA.

And considering this is the 'opening model', in a line again where they kept talking about how they NEEDED to "fit Impetuous bikers[which they're calling Mavericks] in to reflect the US culture"?
Nope, they get no faith in doing anything that isn't going to be pop culture tripe.

ESPECIALLY in light of the fact that they chose to reprint that crap about the specific ethnic breakdown of the US detachment.

Well at least the French didn't turn out to be Baguette-wielding Mimes ...

I'd buy that, to be fair. Would be fun to paint.

 Kanluwen wrote:

 plastictrees wrote:
It's one guy. If there's a box of cowboy hatted cowboy hat specialists then I can see reason for concern. Even then you'd have fewer cowboy hatted Americans than kilted Scots.

Model looks great.

It's "one guy", but it's also the first model in a range about to be launched. It's a range where they kept using "Chuck Norris-esque", "Coca Cola", and "Donuts" as an example of what they think USAriadna exemplifies.

Never mind that their own background material plays down those aspects in favor of "professionalism".

Not to mention that we're no doubt going to be seeing a boatload of people playing this faction because 'Murica. I just know I'm gonna be seeing a lot of these, so it's in my interest for them to not be cartoons. Sure, it's just one dude, but he's enough to worry me.

I don't think you guys need to worry that much jyst yet. Didn't we see the cartoon concept art last year for very professional infantry for US ariadna? If those had been just as cheesey then I'd join you guys in getting our assless chaps in a twist but I don't think one redneck cowboy model will define the range.

 Alpharius wrote:
I really was concerned that USAriadna was going to be all about the Cowboy Hats - because that's what everyone in America wears!

Oh well...

Yes, because Grunts, Minutemen, Van Zant and Foxtrots are not from USAriadna. They are Merovingian now.

Forget the derpy hat, and the derpy bow (Who brings arrows to a gun fight anyway? ) and focus on what is important. The face, whose is it?

I was expecting a more futuristic looking bow to be honest. That said, the mini is very well executed.

Grunts, that unit we have no models for yet?

Minutemen, Van Zant, and Foxtrots are brand new designs in line with the aesthetic for this forthcoming range?

This is the first actual model we have for the design aesthetic we're going to see with USAriadna.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Red Harvest wrote:
Forget the derpy hat, and the derpy bow (Who brings arrows to a gun fight anyway? ) and focus on what is important. The face, whose is it?

Bows actually make a good deal of sense when we're talking about this particular style of unit; what amounts to a "frontier guide". He operates long ways from civilization and given that USAriadna is also at the forefront of the fighting with the Antipodes a silent weapon that can have its ammunition replenished in the field by recovering it from your kills goes a long way.

I was expecting a more futuristic looking bow to be honest. That said, the mini is very well executed.

You'll likely see a more futuristic looking bow when Yu-Jing gets their Ninja with Tactical Bow.

Yeah those guys are irregulars too, not proper army men.
Calm your chests, there might be some non-silly american minis one day...
Maybe ...

I think we're all fairly calm - just not really encouraged by the first actual miniature for the faction that's been shown.

Still, yes, ultimate judgement reserved until more is revealed - not writing anything off yet!

Hey, I like it. He looks fun to put on the table, peering around a corner. Very cinematic pose.

Not sure how 'donuts and coke' could function as a design aesthetic, though. Are USAriadna going to get hotdog cars?

What are those on his chest? Zip ties? I was kind of hoping we'd see something that looked more like Rambo for the Hardcase, myself. The hat is kind of annoying, but I remain cautiously optimistic that we'll eventually see another Hardcase that isn't wearing that hat. I think a bandana or boonie hat would look better.

Am I weird for hearing the Village People sing in the back of my head every time I look at him?


On a slightly more serious note: I also think the bow is strangely cumbersome in design - as if he used parts of a rocking chair to build it.

It would not be that hard to swap his head guys. I think it's funny that folks want a serious model holding a bow

A Bow... In infinity...

Say what you want about bows making sense, they don't, you can't actually reuse arrows fired from a compound bow btw. Against a bullseye target? Sure, but any bow hunter will tell you that the arrows get messed the feth up when hunting, or impossibly lost. I highly doubt an antipode couldn't hear the snap of a bow either. It's a light spirited poke at redneck American pop culture, I am honestly surprised and happy we didn't get Darrel from Walking Dead.

I'd wait for more firm identity. However I would say, that's it's best to treat the background as separate entity from the vibe you might get when inspecting miniatures or even profiles.

 Albertorius wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
I really was concerned that USAriadna was going to be all about the Cowboy Hats - because that's what everyone in America wears!

Oh well...

Just like we always dress in flamenco dresses, obviously, and everyone in Japan goes around in a kimono, yes

Seriously now, I get much more of a "Crocodile Dundee" vibe from that mini than a "cowboy" one.

I was thinking more Crocodile Dundee too.

Yeah, not a huge fan of the hardcase. If I get him, the head is definitely going. Also, is everyone in Ariadna now shopping at the same vitamin supplement store? There was a sale on anabolic steroids and whey powder? Their arms are becoming a little bit ridiculous.

Also, is the main arms of the bow wood? If so, why? Wouldn't the nature of it being a compound bow remove the need for wood in the construction?

 Charles Rampant wrote:
Not sure how 'donuts and coke' could function as a design aesthetic, though. Are USAriadna going to get hotdog cars?

Ok, this is the only thing I can think of now, and would love to see happen. If you're going to go cheesy on the 'Murica, go the whole hog. Or weiner, as it were.

 treslibras wrote:
Am I weird for hearing the Village People sing in the back of my head every time I look at him?


On a slightly more serious note: I also think the bow is strangely cumbersome in design - as if he used parts of a rocking chair to build it.

It's pretty weird, yes.
I didn't realise people had such strong feelings about cowboy hats. It's a hat. That people wear.
If we had an SAS trooper in a bowler hat I can see the complaints, but it's not as if a cowboy hat is some insanely outdated cultural relic.
If it makes people feel better just imagine he's from Alberta.

Infinity represents small enough engagements that the bow isn't completely ridiculous, he's a specialist. He's not going to be on the front lines sending waves of arrows into enemy positions, but sabotaging a research facility or kidnapping an executive? Sure.

I think the bow is camouflaged rather than being wood.

Not sure we should assume that one cowboy hat means they are going to be everywhere in USAriadna

 plastictrees wrote:

 treslibras wrote:
Am I weird for hearing the Village People sing in the back of my head every time I look at him?


On a slightly more serious note: I also think the bow is strangely cumbersome in design - as if he used parts of a rocking chair to build it.

It's pretty weird, yes.
I didn't realise people had such strong feelings about cowboy hats. It's a hat. That people wear.
If we had an SAS trooper in a bowler hat I can see the complaints, but it's not as if a cowboy hat is some insanely outdated cultural relic.
If it makes people feel better just imagine he's from Alberta.

Infinity represents small enough engagements that the bow isn't completely ridiculous, he's a specialist. He's not going to be on the front lines sending waves of arrows into enemy positions, but sabotaging a research facility or kidnapping an executive? Sure.

I agree. Think he looks absolutely awesome and a bad-ass !

Trying to imagine him with a head-swap, and went through imagining some alternatives.. SAS balaclava, beret, marine helmet, none of them seem to work as well as the hat!

Yeah, we've already said as much.

It just isn't off to the best start is all.

I think the hardcase is awesome. My buddy and I are probably going to get into an argument about who gets first claim on the faction.