Mantic Deadzone Infestation Kickstarter - Starts March 20th

[pretre]

Ugh, Ordo won't let me update the first post in any meaningful way, so I'm just going to give up on updating and put the dakka thread here.

 

Aaaanyways. The main pledge is $110 for about $300+ in retail. They opened up the entire original game and the three expansions for $100 as an add-on and all the faction starters as $25 each or $100 for 6. It's a crazy good time to get into Deadzone.

 

My Dakka Thread that covers the KS:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/639843.page

 

Kickstarter Link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1744629938/deadzone-infestation-sci-fi-skirmish-game?ref=dakka_pretre

[pretre]

New Industrial Terrain Renders from Beasts of War

http://www.beastsofwar.com/deadzone/exclusive-battlezone-industrial-terrain-mantic-podcast/

 

[pretre]

Since I'm managing the dakka thread for Deadzone, I might as well paste stuff here. Too bad Ordo doesn't allow the pics in the first post. :(

 

(And hates spoiler tags)

[pretre]

http://manticblog.com/2015/03/18/infestation-is-upon-us-2/ 

Infestation is upon us

The Deadzone: Infestation Kickstarter goes live at 1:30pm GMT on Friday 20th March.

 

A threat lurks deep within the darkest corners of Exham IV.

 

Violent and aggressive in nature, uncontrollable if left to expand.

 

The Council of Seven has dispatched the Enforcer Pathfinders to assess and neutralize the threat in its early stages.

 

They are too late.

 

Infestation is upon us…..

 

Veer-myn-Mine-Escape

 

This week sees a mini-kick for Deadzone begin. I thought it relevant to explain a little about why we are doing it, what you can expect and a short update on the other outstanding projects while we’re at it.

 

So let’s start there. Dungeon Saga is off the printers in a matter of weeks. There is a big update coming but quickly I’ll say we have run two play test days, all the scenarios have been play tested – many of them by backers – and they are playing really well. We have had time to go over every part of the game and polish it aiming to make this as close to perfect as we can.

 

We’ve got a fantastic getting started guide, the adventures get progressively harder as the heroes toughen up, we have new art, and a very big surprise coming. I will reveal all in a blog post (ahem), but what I can say is that we have come up with a special way to say thanks to everyone who backed this project – and encourage newbies to give it a try once it is on the shelves! Watch for a video next week ;)

 

Kings of War has been developed in parallel to Dungeon Saga by Alessio, with invaluable support from the rules committee. The new Abyssal and Nature army lists have been developed (and are both fantastic and calling to me, but I must resist!). As you know this was also a mini-kick and has given us a fantastic opportunity to polish the 1st edition KoW rules to play even quicker and more balanced. The point systems are just being worked through and it’s done too. There is a lot of people coming aboard KoW right now, and with a huge campaign coming up and new armies, units and heroes in the pipeline this will push the system to scale new heights. It goes off to translation in a few weeks (for simultaneous releases in German, Spanish and French!) and then to print! With you in summer and on time.

 

We have on the way the third wave shipment for Xtreme and seasons 5 and 6 too – they’ll be shipping May. Separate update on those – along with more play by plays for Xtreme.

 

Especially on KoW and DS we have taken on board the lessons from Deadzone, Mars Attacks and Xtreme. We are aiming to ship these in fewer waves, with much more pre-packed to minimize mispacks and errors. Thanks with your patience both on the old Kickstarters and the new pledge manager, all aimed at getting the product and its shipping right first time.

 

And Deadzone?

 

Well as we all know that was a massive project to serve up and delivering it certainly challenged us. We are coming back to it for a few reasons, and you can read about them in depth (and just how important your support is) in a great article here on the Escapist Magazine website.

 

In short, there are a few big reasons we needed to come back to Deadzone:

 

– We need another faction! Part of any minis game is giving us new enemies to fight against – or with! It poses new challenges and freshens up the system. When the Veer-myn hit the shelves the Forge Fathers and Asterians will have been out a year and it will be time for new blood ;)

 

new 2From the Veer-myn Night-Crawler Hard Plastic Sprue

 

heavychem 1From the Veer-myn Night-Crawler Hard Plastic Sprue

 

– We’ll also add more new scenery – this has been hugely popular and the main request has been for more detail pieces, causeways, shafts and pipes. You speak, we listen – they are all in phase 1.

 

– Improve and simplify the army selection process and add a great campaign system

 

– The rules need a polish. Ideally this wouldn’t be done for a while but we need to make access into the game a little gentler

 

– it is a fantastic system but it takes too much effort to get there and it puts new people off. If the game is to flourish then it needs to be easier in the early stages.

 

The next point is really important too – we need a starter set and a range that retailers feel they can sell in their stores. The current starter set is fantastic value – filled with building sprues, rules, dice, counters, deluxe rubber mats and 2 factions – and that makes it too expensive in store and too much for a beginner to get started with. We’ll create a new 2 player set with a simple, high-quality supporting range – with all the basic sets in hard plastic to allow our retailers to constantly recruit into the universe.

 

Which bring us on to Warpath. Well this mini-kick is for Warpath too! We’ll get the Veer-myn in hard plastic – in fact if this kicks on every starter faction in Warpath will have some hard plastic sets. The Enforcers already have 2 sprues – and a 3rd coming in this mini-kick; we hope to get the Asterians funded, and the plague. In fact, with us adding to the scenery range too this is a Resin Plastic free Kickstarter – it is centering around the fantastic hard plastic we can now produce as we gear up for war!

 

male 2From the Enforcer Pathfinder Hard Plastic Sprue

 

male 3From the Enforcer Pathfinder Hard Plastic Sprue

 

Finally, the great opportunity we have for the next few weeks is that again we will get hard focus back on Deadzone – lots of people are waiting for a chance to dive in, and that chance is now. We will be running some spectacular deals on our website AND through our retail partners – AND ANY STORE CAN HAVE ANY DEAL FROM OUR WEBSITE. We want to support the trade accounts – so just go to the local gaming store and ask them to order what you want – and they’ll have it in a few days! With the crazy deals running you’ll be able to grab a faction starter or two, some great scenery – and have it all ready for the updated rules!

 

And backers of the previous Kickstarter needn’t worry either, as we’ll be giving each of the first Deadzone Backers a free digital copy of the new rulebook when it’s ready.

 

With the last four Kickstarters Mantic has signaled its intent – we are going to create exciting and deep universes – one fantasy, one futuristic in space. Each has benefited from two kickstarters that focus on developing those universes albeit with different game styles – but always to the same end. Whether it is via books, or a tabletop wargame, a sports game or a Dungeon crawler we want everyone to have a chance to collect, paint and game with minis at affordable prices. That is our mission. The support we get on Kickstarter allows that to happen.

 

Thank you for supporting the mission, help build the universes – and getting very cool toys along the way.

 

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Very excited

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Got an early bird

 

Now to find out what I put in for :p

[pretre]

Deadzone Kickstarter is Live!



Live and Funded!

Quarantine pledge



Outbreak Pledge


Don't forget shipping

 

As a rough estimate, the Quarantine pledge level will cost about $10 to ship in the UK, USA, EU and Canada, and around $25 to Australia and the rest of the world. This may increase or decrease based on the quantity of stretch goals we might unlock and your carrier choices.

Pathfinders



VeerMyn



Terrain



 

[pretre]

I recommend getting a Quarantine EB if you are at all interested. You can always downgrade your pledge later.

[pretre]

Updated first post to be simpler.

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Good deal so far and knowing mantic will only get better. There quality has really improved. They are also one of the better companies who use kickstarter in regards to fulfillment and communication.

[Torg]

huh… after picking up infinity… and  the book for Dark-Age… (which I can't wait to start playing)… I have no interest in this one.  Looks interesting - just don't see the need for it for me.

 

-d

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

It's way cooler than those other two games mentioned :). Sell those off and go deep with this one ;$

[Torg]

have you seen Dark-Age? - art and themes straight out of Brom's artwork?  - it's beautiful… and many of the figures are very cool - and dead simple system lol.

Infinity - really smart skirmish game so far for me.  

 

Not sure why this one is "cooler"… I will look into it further  - but the mini's aren't that great - and space skaven? 

 

 

- d

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Lol, I agree models are mixed. Infinity wins there hands down. Fluff both infinity and dead zone are solid. Dark age model and look inconsistent and center piece models but lacking in uniformity.

 

Deadzone far simpler than infinity and dark ages. Awesome campaign system that is only growing.

 

Models are only thing dead zone I think loses on. They are generic, nothing spectacular.

 

The terrain and pricing makes the game far more accessible.

 

Catch me tuesday after a bb game and I will show you a bit of it if you want.

[Torg]

rules are less complex than Dark-Age?  I'll have to see that lol  I have yet to play Dark Age… beyond learning encounters - so hard to say I guess.

 

I agree - Darkage mini's are up and down.

 

- cool… I will be there on opening day for the BB league

[pretre]

Updated. ORdo hates my image links.

 

Maybe i'll just link to the dakka thread:

 

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/639843.page#7667558

[generalripphook]

I really like dark age. Super super simple. All the rules are on the cards. Incredibly fast playing and tons of combos.

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Dark age is simple way more simple than infinity but yeah dead zone has rules on cards too.

 

I would order this way:

Aesthics:

1. Infinity

2 deadzone

3. Dark age

 

Dark age is too broad and I loe hard science scifi. Infinity is least fantasy.

 

Models

1. Infinity

2. Deadzone

3. Dark age

 

Plastic gives deadzone edge over ark ages inconsistency, but damn infinity just beautiful

 

Rules:

1. Deadzone

2. Dark age

3. Infinity

 

Ranked on simplicity and how often I do not need to refer to rule book

 

Price

1. Deadzone

2. Infinity

3. Dark age

Infinity could be worse because of terrain need but models are easy to find at a deep discount.

 

I just couldn't get into infinity, but do like dark age. However the 3d rules for Deadzone are so simple but extremely cinematic.

[pretre]

Ordo hates images too. :(

 

Added the scenery pledge.

[pretre]

Exham IV - Part 3

 

6-12 worked her way closer to the spaceport, and at a convergence of four tunnels hollowed out into a vast cavern she found reason enough to order an immediate Containment Protocol; more Veer-myn than she had encountered in any operation, a seething mass of thousands. Enough so the tunnel’s floor and lower walls were lost beneath their writhing bodies.

 

The situation had become clear; Exham with its ultra-high population had bred a Veer-myn colony of prodigious size. A colony which could perhaps have gone unnoticed forever in the swathes of empty cities, until the unforeseen onset of an ice age. It was then a choice of freeze or escape, and the Veer-myn had recognised the potential of Priory Station and acted upon it. Viral outbreaks had long been documented as tools of the Veer-myn, and the bleeding sickness could only have been a first strike on the Mi-Gan troopers already struggling with a dying population in open revolt.

 

The chance of such a potently virulent disease reaching Prior Station and spreading through the core worlds was alone enough for 6-12 to order an immediate Containment Protocol, but the sheer size of the Veer-myn brood was a danger in itself. If the brood splintered, confirming the elimination of all Veer-myn on Exham may be impossible. To increase the chance of mission success she would have to tag the Brood Mother; the dominant female around which broods were centred. 6-12 knew that would mean she would never leave those tunnels.

 

Loading her rifle with tracer darts, she tagged the Brood Mother. The effect was instantaneous; the entire colony was roused at their Mother’s keening wail and, drawing on the brood’s group perception, focused on 6-12. In her last act she released a drone cloud to record the discovery and return to the vigilance control system.

 

She ran out of ammunition before she ran out of targets.

 

 

What's next?

 

As we reach the halfway point, what we’re going to tackle is fleshing out the Veer-myn faction with more choice and variety. With that in mind, we’re going to drop a quick little stretch in between now and the Jetbike.

 

Enter the Progenitor:

 

NEW! Stretch Goal $195,000 – Veer-myn Progenitor

 

Because of the lack of solid data there have been many far-reaching and eccentric theories surrounding the Veer-myn, their habits, abilities and social structure. Some of these theories have been supplanted as slowly more is learned of these creatures. One such theory which survived until only recently was that there was only a single male in the brood which bred with the Brood Mother.*

 

The reason why the hypothesis remained for so long was due to combat encounters. In almost all cases the Veer-myn were led by a single male, apparently of the Malignus caste but with obvious authority across the brood. It was, and is still, believed that there is no discernible rank below Brood Mother, and the conclusion that this male would hold a unique place among the nest and therefore on the battlefield was accepted as logical.

 

Even though this theory has been dismissed no other has been proposed as to how these males attain their authority, and the reasoning is marked down as another mystery surrounding the Veer-myn.

 

*The theory was replaced after evidence of exponential growth in some broods was proved to be impossible with a single breeding male. It is currently thought that an unto-now undiscovered caste of males are instead used as breeders, milked of their reproductive DNA until they die and are replaced by their own male offspring.

 

Description: The Progenitor looks like a regular Malignus, armed with the most valuable, and usually experimental, weaponry available as befits its station. This weaponry tends to come in two load outs; a Spitter Rifle, or a Chem-Pistol and Hand Drill.

 

The Spitter Rifle fires a nitrogen based liquid, literally ‘spitting’ out a small glob at tremendous pressure. The result is a highly accurate cryogenic fluid bullet which can eat through armour. Additionally there is potential splash-damage to any other models in the same cube from the impacting slug.

 

The Veer-myn Progenitor is a sub-leader character for the Veer-myn faction, and comes with an additional head and weapon so that you can build him in a variety of ways.

 

When we hit this stretch goal, we’ll be able to sculpt and produce him in metal, and make him available to add-on for $8.

 

MILESTONE STRETCH GOAL $200,000 - Enforcer Jetbike(s!)

 

Of course, the other thing we’re going to do with this Kickstarter is give you even greater value for your money…

 

$200,000 is a landmark goal, a milestone, so we’re going to double up on the rewards on offer when we get there.

 

When we hit this next goal, we won’t just give you one Jetbike in Quarantine, we’ll give you two.

 

We’ll also double up on the Jetbike Add-on. Two of these awesome bikes for a tenner? You betcha.

 

And then… Veer-myn Shredders?

 

Those who dismiss the Veer-myn as barely intelligent pests have obviously never encountered a Shredder. Huge, ravenous humanoids, these things show obvious signs of being made. Even Dr Chanson, the notable Veer-myn denier, was forced to recant when his arch-rival Investigator Gillian Li presented him with a corpse of a Shredder slain on Final Rest, although when he had recovered his wits he dismissed it as a hoax.

 

As tall as two men and far more bulky, Shredders have ratlike heads and enormous muscles. They are often found to have been bionically altered, the most common variant having two super-drills built into their arms. Shredders are insanely violent and barely sentient, that they exist solely for war is beyond doubt, and are a frightening indication of the Veer-myn’s ingenuity and intentions.

 

And finally…

 

Tomorrow marks the the one week point of a Kickstarter which over 1850 people have backed and supported. We have to do something special for that tomorrow, right?

[pretre]

Temptation to start a 40k bike army...

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

Those have more an eldar litheness but I was think guard rough riders or if as mech have a cav option they might fit better.

 

10 for a pair is crazy good, even scout bikes might make more sense

[pretre]

 

Overnight we laid waste to the Progenitor stretch goal, adding to the choice available to Veer-myn Commanders.

This miniature is now available to add-on for $8.

 

Over the course of the next few stretch goals we will be funding additional units choices for the Veer-myn, fleshing it out so there is lots on offer.

 

Today marks one week since the campaign started, so let’s celebrate that with a shiny new stretch goal shall we?

 

And this one is a doozy ;)

 

NEW! Stretch Goal BONUS $210,000 Veer-myn Shredders AND Free Faction Booster

 

Those who dismiss the Veer-myn as barely intelligent pests have obviously never encountered a Shredder. Huge, ravenous humanoids, these things show obvious signs of being made. Even Dr Chanson, the notable Veer-myn denier, was forced to recant when his arch-rival Investigator Gillian Li presented him with a corpse of a Shredder slain on Final Rest, although when he had recovered his wits he dismissed it as a hoax. As tall as two men and far more bulky, Shredders have ratlike heads and enormous muscles. They are often found to have been bionically altered, the most common variant having two super-drills built into their arms. Shredders are insanely violent and barely sentient, that they exist solely for war is beyond doubt, and are a frightening indication of the Veer-myn’s ingenuity and intentions.

Shredders are genetically manipulated Veer-myn and brutish warriors. They are large infantry miniatures, mounted on 40mm bases.

 

If we hit this stretch goal, we’ll be able to fund and produce the new Veer-myn Shredder in plastic and include one free in Quarantine!

 

And that’s not all…

 

Lots of you have asked for more in your pledge levels, and we want to give you more. So, having moved a few things around, when we hit this stretch goal, we will unlock Deadzone: Infestation spec Faction Boosters, and you will be able to pick one FREE in a pledge of Quarantine!

 

A Faction Booster is a great value bundle of miniatures designed to offer you more specialists, more choice and more variety for your faction, whether you want more figures for your Veer-myn or Enforcers:

 

Take the new Enforcer Faction Booster for example - this bundle includes five Elite Enforcers in Peacekeeper Armour. This hard plastic kit can be built in a number of different ways, and includes Combat Shields, Incinerator and Burst Laser. There’s also a Strider – a fearsome walker that has the added bonus of being able to be built in Corporation, Rebs or Plague load-outs.

 

And then, the Veer-myn, where the new Faction Booster will include a Shredder, Veer-myn Progenitor and the Nightmare pack, from our existing range.

 

Nightmares

 

Specialist tunnel fighting infantry, the creatures designated as 'Nightmares' are amongst the largest and most fearsome Veer-myn creatures encountered. Whether a separate breed of creature or a more mature version of the typical 'Packers' is not clear, but they are phenomenally strong and incredibly skilled fighters. Dressed in scavenged environment and space suits adapted into effective heavy armour, they carry a combat drill in one hand, lethal melee weapons that literally bore into their enemies’ armour, flesh and bones, resulting in a spectacular fountain of blood. An under-slung chem-thrower muzzle is strapped to the other arm, thick pipes leading to canisters on their backs. These chem-throwers can turn any enclosed space into a blazing inferno; any who survive are easily torn apart by the Nightmares’ charge. For these reasons, Nightmares are amongst the most feared heavy infantry in the galaxy.

There’s a Nightmare sergeant, Nightmare with Chem-Thrower and standard elite troopers as well, offering some extra choice and variety to the force you can field in Deadzone.

 

By hitting this stretch goal, you can include either of these Faction Boosters for free in your Quarantine pledge, considerably boosting the value and the miniatures included.

 

The boosters are also available to add-on to your pledge!

 

Activate Containment Protocol!

 

As part of our focus on Deadzone at the moment, we have a range of deals for our retailers and distributors so that they can benefit from the added interest the Kickstarter has given us.

 

This means we’ve been able to dip into our existing Deadzone range and make some of it available for you to add-on (and likewise, they’re able to get the same deals for their customers no problem!)

 

Containment Protocol

 

The Original Deadzone Starter Set plus the expansion, this set will come in the pledge manager with the option of early shipping, so you can get playing and painting whilst you wait for your Infestation pledge to arrive!

Deadzone Faction Starters

All of the existing miniatures are compatible with the new rulebook, and now you can get your collection started, or expand the troops and specialists you have in your force, with these original Deadzone faction starters.

 

Each one a deal in it’s own right, you can also get all 6 for $100, saving you $25 off pledging for them separately.

And finally... coming soon?!

 

Hmm, this really is starting to look like a decent deal now.

Looks like a case of Mantic learning their lesson with regard to value - this feels like damage control. Regardless, pretty effective damage control as far as this backer is concerned :)

[Guest Mr. Bigglesworth]

I'm not complaining but they have really stiff competition right now with soda, rage and dwarven forge all running right now. All of these have potential competing interests.

[pretre]

Yeah, I just dropped Raging Heroes so I could focus on this. :)