Massive Darkness (CMON) News and Rumors Thread

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**Theophony**

Vermonter wrote:
I'm just going to post this once, as I don't want to rain on everyone's parade.

But quite honestly, I think Cmon should ditch the cartoonish monster design and hire Jason Hendricks to do their sculpting, as well as executing their best monster sculpts (which he already does, for Black Plague and Blood Rage, among others.)

Zombicide Black Plague put out some really extraordinary monster sculpts. The Abominataur (which is the best large demon sculpt I've ever seen), the Abominarat, the Ablobination, the Abominatroll. Have a look at these if you get the chance, they're pretty amazing, and each one of them was not only sculpted but also designed by Hendricks himself. The Ablobination and Abominataur were actually sculpts he did on his own time and initiative, then showed to Cmon, who knew a good thing when they saw it and subsequently incorporated them into the Black Plague campaign (the BP concept artists did drawings / paintings of the sculpts after Hendricks submitted them, in fact, turning the usual flow of things completely around). Hendricks creatures are worlds more impressive and better designed than the Abominalpha, which Hendricks sculpted after someone else's cartoony concept drawing.

Having participated in Black Plague and been really wowed by the sculpts that came out of it (not just the monsters, either), I've found Massive Darkness really underwhelming so far. Hendricks is involved in Massive Darkness too (he sculpted the stone-chucking cyclops, not his design, but given his sculpting talent not surprisingly it's one of the best creature sculpts so far), so his creative input may find its way in sooner or later. I'm not disappointed, exactly, as I love Black Plague and don't need another game like Massive Darkness, but even from the peanut gallery, I'd like to see Cmon capitalize on their strengths more.

Anyhow, critique done. Enjoy the KS.

I second all that you said

. I just painted my abominarat this morning and the others have been primed and are awaiting their turn.

**highlord tamburlaine**

Someone ought to email him to just start sculpting whatever he feels like ASAP so he can convince CMON to stick it in the game.

...if they haven't done that already.

Keep in mind we were pretty deep in to Black Plague when those big Abominations started showing up!

**Moopy**

I wish there was an option to get some of the Black Plague items as optional purchases. I see a lot of synergy with this.

**-Loki-**

I wouldn't be shocked at all to see cards for Zombie Boss and Minions (BP Fatty and Walkers), Zombie Agent (Necromancer) and Zombie Roaming Monster (abomination). But miniatures, probably not.

Would be a nice incentive for people to also pick up Black Plague if they didn't already.

I don't mind the more cartoony aesthetics. Zombicide has it to some degree as well, and seems to be more on the interpretation of the sculptor. Looking at my Season 2 and Toxic City Mall stuff I can really see the influence.

**Moopy**

The box of skeleton archers would fit perfectly as minions along with a necromancer boss.

Stuff like that would fit seamlessly, and I'm sure it would make them a ton of extra money.

**Ian Sturrock**

I agree with Vermonter that, although I like these minis OK, overall this KS makes me think more of Bones in terms of quality (in that some of the sculpts are great but the variability is high; it's a real mixed bag) rather than Blood Rage, which had consistently amazing minis. I'm painting my Blood Rage big monsters now and they're a real joy to paint, as well as looking legitimately scary rather than cartoony.

**Undead_Love-Machine**

Vermonter wrote:
I'm just going to post this once, as I don't want to rain on everyone's parade.

But quite honestly, I think Cmon should ditch the cartoonish monster design and hire Jason Hendricks to do their sculpting, as well as executing their best monster sculpts (which he already does, for Black Plague and Blood Rage, among others.)

Zombicide Black Plague put out some really extraordinary monster sculpts. The Abominataur (which is the best large demon sculpt I've ever seen), the Abominarat, the Ablobination, the Abominatroll. Have a look at these if you get the chance, they're pretty amazing, and each one of them was not only sculpted but also designed by Hendricks himself. The Ablobination and Abominataur were actually sculpts he did on his own time and initiative, then showed to Cmon, who knew a good thing when they saw it and subsequently incorporated them into the Black Plague campaign (the BP concept artists did drawings / paintings of the sculpts after Hendricks submitted them, in fact, turning the usual flow of things completely around). Hendricks creatures are worlds more impressive and better designed than the Abominalpha, which Hendricks sculpted after someone else's cartoony concept drawing.

Having participated in Black Plague and been really wowed by the sculpts that came out of it (not just the monsters, either), I've found Massive Darkness really underwhelming so far. Hendricks is involved in Massive Darkness too (he sculpted the stone-chucking cyclops, not his design, but given his sculpting talent not surprisingly it's one of the best creature sculpts so far), so his creative input may find its way in sooner or later. I'm not disappointed, exactly, as I love Black Plague and don't need another game like Massive Darkness, but even from the peanut gallery, I'd like to see Cmon capitalize on their strengths more.

Anyhow, critique done. Enjoy the KS.

Yep, I agree with everything you said. The sculpts are technically good, but the style is really not to my taste, way too cartoonish.

I love a good dungeon crawl, I own all of the Zombicides including BP, generally speaking I like Edouard Guiton's artwork (but prefer his "darker" stuff), yet I have little interest in Massive Darkness.

It's not just the style or the perceived lack of cohesion with the miniatures, it just feels like it has all been thrown together at the last minute, which I know is not the case.

**-Loki-**

Finally got around to backing. Need to get used to Kickstarter, I was putting off backing because I always think the funds are taken out stright away.

**Azazelx**

That's Indiegogo.

**Alpharius**

I actually like all the monster sculpts here - and I'm happy that they have their own 'style' and fit well together thematically.

CMON needs to release a 'must have' add-on to really get the total moving though...

**Talking Banana**

My statement above makes a lot more sense this way, as I intended to write it:

"But quite honestly, I think Cmon should ditch the cartoonish monster design and hire Jason Hendricks to do their miniature designs, as well as executing their best monster sculpts (which he already does, for Black Plague and Blood Rage, among others."

A bit dopey to argue that Hendricks should do Cmon's miniature sculpting when he already does it. I meant to say the man's own original concepts have serious chops, that his work put Black Plague over the top in my opinion, and that they should hire him as a designer as well as a sculptor.

**Alpharius**

The 'Big Monsters' in this campaign look really good - as do the 'regular minions'.

I can certainly see why the 'cartoony' label can get applied here, but I don't think it detracts from the overall look of the line, or setting.

Well, at least not for me!

**usernamesareannoying**

Alpharius wrote:
The 'Big Monsters' in this campaign look really good - as do the 'regular minions'.

I can certainly see why the 'cartoony' label can get applied here, but I don't think it detracts from the overall look of the line, or setting.

Well, at least not for me!

agreed.
hope the pace picks up though.

**Prestor Jon**

Alpharius wrote:
The 'Big Monsters' in this campaign look really good - as do the 'regular minions'.

I can certainly see why the 'cartoony' label can get applied here, but I don't think it detracts from the overall look of the line, or setting.

Well, at least not for me!

I think some of the minis are more cartoonish than others. I can't look at the Iron Golem without seeing the Iron Giant.

On the other hand I kinda want to use the Living Consruct as a counts as Sauron for LotR.

**Alpharius**

Good call there - but then The Iron Giant is one of my favorite movies!

**ecurtz**

There are certainly a few of the wandering monsters I don't really like (the mummy and minotaur leap to mind) but I'd rather have a few bad monster sculpts than the wonky character sculpts that The Others had.

**Theophony**

It's just a different style of cartoony look. I prefer the Zombicide look much more than the MD look, but yo each their own.

Back to the elemental so for a moment. I know we were saying $40 was too much, but then I rebooked at m ZBP figs and you get 3 large guys for $30 retail, and the Ablobination isn't too large of a model, so if they are the size of the abominotaur then the prices are good in my opinion.

**DaveC**

Jason Hendricks did the Minotaur new blog post
http://monster-zer0.blogspot.ie/2016/06/massive-darkness-bloodseeker-minotaur.html

**RiTides**

I agree that Hendricks' original designs from ZBP are really ace! Not a fan of the monsters here so far, which is a bummer as I was really tempted to pledge just by the concept of this game.

**Alpharius**

The concept art which the miniatures pretty much match?

Or...something else?

**RiTides**

I was referring to the discussion above about the Black Plague sculpts he made on his own initiative, that concept art was then created to match (which is awesome in its own weird way

).

**Chopxsticks**

Id like to see the guest hero boxes from Zombicide, alot of those looked really good and I wish I had backed just to get those models. I cannot find any of the final sculpts online, are they not due to ship here soon?

**Theophony**

Chopxsticks wrote:
Id like to see the guest hero boxes from Zombicide, alot of those looked really good and I wish I had backed just to get those models. I cannot find any of the final sculpts online, are they not due to ship here soon?

Retailers just haven't received theirs yet, but soon....except the Jovem Nerd set which was an exclusive.

**-Loki-**

About $3000 off the next stretch goal. They also added an optional plastic token set, which is tempting.

$650 off. Looks like we'll see the next stretch goal today.

**NewTruthNeomaxim**

I would normally skip a paid plastic token set, but as they added my dream campaign... I kind of feel obligated. Plus, they'll hold up better during the million games of this I expect to play. :-p

**-Loki-**

Woo, Minotaur and Troglodyte Agent unlocked.

**Alpharius**

Indeed!

If we manage to unlock the Troglodyte Warriors, we will have unlocked all the content of the Enemy box "Troglodytes", which also includes the Bloodseeker Minotaur. Backers will get these figures in its own box, which will also be available later on in retail for an estimated MSRP of $35.

**-Loki-**

Awesome.

I was hoping the game wouldn't just be all Goblins and Orcs. Fully fleshing out the Troglodytes adds some nice enemy variety. Can't wait to see the next enemy type.

**Theophony**

And now building a troglodytes army becomes possible by buying multiple boxes @$35 (or $28 from miniature market)

20 humanoid figs and the Minotaur for 35.

**Prestor Jon**

Theophony wrote:
And now building a troglodytes army becomes possible by buying multiple boxes @$35 (or $28 from miniature market) 20 humanoid figs and the Minotaur for 35.

21 humanoids
12 warriors + 6 minions + agent + shaman + warrior boss
+ Minotaur to make it 22 total