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 Alex C wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:
I'd definitely prefer them (and really almost anything else) in metal vs. restic.

"Human" sized miniatures in restic just really don't work well for Mantic. At all.

But then you'd have the anti-metal brigade gaking all over them for being in metal.

Seems like these days everything has to be in HIPS or it's considered gak, for whatever reason.

That is how I feel.

There are finally almost enough HIPS miniatures out there for me to finally be able to avoid metal, resin and restic. Just need some more monsters and women.

Those new asterian drones look interesting and nice. Not mind-blowing fanboy-gush, but nice. Are they a bit of a departure in style from those previous asterians pictured beside them, though? And why did they need to be digitigrade when the knee joints butt right up against the heel joints?

The third lot of asterians: space elves... with bows? For the luvva Mike.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
There are finally almost enough HIPS miniatures out there for me to finally be able to avoid metal, resin and restic. Just need some more monsters and women.

Isn't California crawling with plastic women? Dohohoho.

Anyway, regarding vehicle prices, it looks like they'll retail in the same price range or even a bit above what GW vehicles used to cost before the last, insane price hike (3-4 years ago now, admittedly).

Then again, $30 is about the cost of a 15mm resin dropship.

If I liked them and needed them, I'd be okay with the KS cost.

 lord_blackfang wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
There are finally almost enough HIPS miniatures out there for me to finally be able to avoid metal, resin and restic. Just need some more monsters and women.

Isn't California crawling with plastic women? Dohohoho.
.

Yeah, but they're out of scale.

The vehicles just seem very basic, and in need of more design passes, for their prices. I don't know what a resin ship costs. I care what Mantic is charging for their faceships and bearded tanks.

I've been trying to follow along, and I think this is everything that is in HIPS thus far (corrections welcome):

Enforcers
Troopers
Peacekeepers
Pathfinders (w/robot dog)
Jetbikes
Dropship (interceptor/bomber)

Forge Fathers
Forge Guard
Steel Warriors
Tank (battle tank/APC)

Plague
Zombies
3rd Gen infantry (w/Plague dog)

Veer-myn
Night-crawlers (can be built as Stalkers)
Tunneler vehicle

Asterians
Infantry

Steel Warriors can also be built as Stormrage Veterans and Drakkarim

The Steel Warriors looks like a lot of fun.
Are those an existing kit?

 plastictrees wrote:
The Steel Warriors looks like a lot of fun.
Are those an existing kit?

They were funded during the recent Deadzone: Infestation KS, so not new to THIS project, but not available at retail yet either.

 agnosto wrote:

 timetowaste85 wrote:
So a Valkyrie sized ship (as someone who saw a physical render said) costing $25 is bad value when GW ones are $80? Even $30 if you only buy one vs $80.

Considering the MSRP of that $30 ship will be about $50 - $60, it's a fair comparison since the GW boat will likely be more detailed and have additional sprues of "extras". (note, I don't care about extras but they do cost and are worth something) Also, Valkyries are $53 on Ebay, NIB (plus shipping).

I'm not a GW fanbois by any stretch of the imagination but a good number of the new Mantic products are nudging up against GW level prices at MSRP; not a good or a bad thing, just an observation.

This. Except I do think it's a bad thing. If GW product is generally considered to be unreasonably overpriced, something that's almost the same price but is likely to be of lesser quality (there's that "gotta prove yourself" again) isn't a super attractive deal. And that highly visible seam line down the middle of the Enforcer ship really really hurts it. Makes it look so very toy-like.

 Alex C wrote:

 plastictrees wrote:
The Steel Warriors looks like a lot of fun.
Are those an existing kit?

They were funded during the recent Deadzone: Infestation KS, so not new to THIS project, but not available at retail yet either.

Thanks. Looks like I'll wait until retail to fiddle with those then.

 BrookM wrote:
That Corporation concept that was previewed earlier, is that also happening?

It seems that they wanted to do Asterians first and did a "what do you think?" to test the waters and make sure there wasn't a huge backlash against. With 2 weeks, there's a good chance they'll get to the Corporation yet. Stretch goals seem to be for adding new things, rather than sweetening the pot - which is taking the form of troops discounted more heavily than they were in their own DZ1&2 KS campaigns.

I wouldn't be surprised to see GCPS next, then a vehicle kit for Plague/GCPS, followed by the Asterian vehicle.

(some of) the commenters are certainly beginning to notice that the plastic troops (and jetbikes) are cheaper here than in their own KS,

so expect to see some push back about that gathering pace as the KS runs on

 OrlandotheTechnicoloured wrote:
(some of) the commenters are certainly beginning to notice that the plastic troops (and jetbikes) are cheaper here than in their own KS,
so expect to see some push back about that gathering pace as the KS runs on

I have to say that it bothers me a little bit. Not that much, and not enough to drop my pledge, etc, but there's definitely a bit of a sour taste in my mouth as a result so far. If it results in something else becoming a better deal (vehicles?), than so much the better and they might drop to the "worthwhile for me" price range. We can expect to see the terrain up soon (Wednesday), and do doubt that will also include the DZ2 terrain. I wonder how that will be priced? Probably at the same price rather than cheaper now due to this...

I passed on the DZ2 terrain at the time, though not intentionally so a good deal on that would be awesome.

It will most likely be $35 for a Battlezone and $100 for a Bundle like DZ:I, they stated during DZ:I that they under priced them originally at $25 and lost money on them so for that to hold true they need to hold the price at DZ:I levels

Having got 6 BZ in DZI I wouldn't be impressed if they are cheaper in the WP KS and yet the cheaper Enforcers and bikes don't bother me

There's precedent for Mantic to raise prices due to people complaining about prices being higher on the original KS campaign.

But I don't really think they can afford to change the prices this time. If 20 for $20 deals suddenly changed to 20 for $30, or $15 plastic metal hybrids became $20, even more people would flip out than the people who are upset now.

The difference is that this is the Warpath kickstarter, and even moreso than Deadzone, people are going to want to get tons of troops cheaply. If Mantic can't sell 20 for $20 troop deals, that's a pretty major blow to the entire campaign.

Anyway, I've been a part of all the Deadzone campaigns and I've invested in most of the minis to some degree at previous prices. I'll be pissed if they reverse course and increase the better discounted prices of this KS.

 BrookM wrote:
That Corporation concept that was previewed earlier, is that also happening?

Yeah, they said it was if they get far enough, and then they implyed other factions as well.
Anyway, gonna add my voice to this. I came in for advanced warfare, and no matter the size, adore that Interceptor. I do wonder if the troop compartment is swapable without disassembling the model though, because having both options would be great....

As a consumer who loves generic sci fi stuff, there's nothing on the market that can compare with the Mantic Dropship. The Valkyrie is very specifically a 40k aesthetic. Other alternatives are WAY too small (GZG,Old Crow) and non-existent (Antenociti's Workshop). The price is right around 1/48 model kits and don't have the side effect of looking like kitbashed Apaches or Hinds.

 timetowaste85 wrote:
So a Valkyrie sized ship (as someone who saw a physical render said) costing $25 is bad value when GW ones are $80? Even $30 if you only buy one vs $80. .

While I think the $25 for the dropship is reasonable (not sure I'd pay more than that for it, though) it should be noted that the fact that GW's models are insanely priced doesn't automatically make anything cheaper than GW 'good value'... It potentially just makes it 'cheaper than GW'...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I do like those Asterians, though... Aside from the occasional mis-step like the beard tank, Mantic do seem to be finally getting their act together, design-wise.

 judgedoug wrote:
As a consumer who loves generic sci fi stuff, there's nothing on the market that can compare with the Mantic Dropship. The Valkyrie is very specifically a 40k aesthetic. Other alternatives are WAY too small (GZG,Old Crow) and non-existent (Antenociti's Workshop). The price is right around 1/48 model kits and don't have the side effect of looking like kitbashed Apaches or Hinds.

Puppetswar and Titan-Forge are two examples of companies making nice dropships. I had a large hand in the initial design of the Titan-Forge dropship and I believe the retail on that will be around $60 and it is pretty close to the Valkyrie in size. The Puppetswar ships are nice too and range from about $30 to about $40 and are resin. I know there are one or two others out there but Mantics' dropship is definitely not the only game in town. A major difference is that the Mantic design is extremely basic, but if it appeals to you, hey more power to you. Nobody (as far as I can see) is telling you otherwise. The problem is that a fair enough number of us find it uninspiring that it's not compelling me to throw money at it. With it's poor design (my opinion of it) I am content with PW and TF and will probably buy up the AW and DF ones when they come out.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 insaniak wrote:

 timetowaste85 wrote:
So a Valkyrie sized ship (as someone who saw a physical render said) costing $25 is bad value when GW ones are $80? Even $30 if you only buy one vs $80. .

While I think the $25 for the dropship is reasonable (not sure I'd pay more than that for it, though) it should be noted that the fact that GW's models are insanely priced doesn't automatically make anything cheaper than GW 'good value'... It potentially just makes it 'cheaper than GW'...


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I do like those Asterians, though... Aside from the occasional mis-step like the beard tank, Mantic do seem to be finally getting their act together, design-wise.

I like the Asterians as well but they are posed a bit rigid :/ Also.. why do the robots have ears?

 MLaw wrote:
Also.. why do the robots have ears?

Because they're elf robots. Duh.





And yes, I realise that it's possibly somewhat hypocritical of me to criticise bearded tanks, but be perfectly happy with pointy-eared robots... But really, it comes down far more to the final look than to what it symbolises. I'd be ok with slightly anthopomorphic tanks if they at least looked cool... and those dwarf tanks just don't. They're just a box with a dwarf face on the front.

Has there been an updated render of the Beard Tank?

 Alpharius wrote:
Has there been an updated render of the Beard Tank?

Why would Brian Blessed need a mic? Is that an imposter?

Joyboozer wrote:
Why would Brian Blessed need a mic? Is that an imposter?

That's not a mike... It's a tapwire. They're running the lights off him.

I believe the answer so far is no. Would be nice, with a model for scale so I can rush out and compare it with my other tanks to know what I'd be getting into.

 Alpharius wrote:
Has there been an updated render of the Beard Tank?

Having thought it over and re-read this, I think I was being unfair to the sculptor. There probably is a good deal of conscious revision going on, and as Insaniak says, maybe that'll be to the good for this design, at least in terms of its anthropomorphism. I apologize if I caused any insult in (briefly before I redacted it) suggesting otherwise; it's fairer to say that I disagree with some of the aesthetic decisions made. I do hope that whatever revisions are made, the final product will have a level of detail and volumetric complexity equal to that of the drawing.

This WIP does illustrate that the old conventional wisdom about Mantic final sculpts deviating from original concept art is going to hold true for at least some of the vehicles, because there is no way you can take this WIP and build on it to arrive at a tank that looks like the original drawing. Too many deliberate changes have been made. Scrutinize the scale of the turret and the cylinder on its side, or the length of the gun barrel, or the way the face of the tank has been flattened, if you are inclined to disagree. These are not "roughing it out first" changes, they're deliberate changes. In the case of the FF tank, maybe these changes are a good thing. But I'll be waiting on final renders of all the vehicles before I pledge any money for them. If the Veer-myn tunneler design is reinterpreted like this, it may be excellent, it may even be better, but it will not be the product I thought I was buying based on the drawing.

I have to say, I like the look of the render considerably more than the sketch... The 'face' is more of a suggestion, rather than an actual head stuck on the front of the tank, and that works much better, IMO.

I don't mind the smaller gun, but I do like the big fuel tank on the sketch turret.

 insaniak wrote:
I have to say, I like the look of the render considerably more than the sketch... The 'face' is more of a suggestion, rather than an actual head stuck on the front of the tank, and that works much better, IMO.

I don't mind the smaller gun, but I do like the big fuel tank on the sketch turret.

Fair enough, Insaniak. You got me thinking, and I think I went over the top in my critique. The Dwarf face notwithstanding, there were aspects of the original FF tank drawing that I really liked, and I was disappointed to see that the digital sculptor was changing them in ways I found less interesting. I probably would have shrunk the canon too, but it looks like it lost a lot of the complex forms that made it interesting in the process. But since the sculptor is revising as well as translating, I'll wait and see what they finally come up with. It will be very different than the concept art - I'm certain of that, WIP or no - but maybe it will be better?