New Firefight Vehicles and Upgrades

[onlyonepinman 18062xp 0]

For those who are interested, Mantic recently teased some new vehicles for their upcoming firefight add-on and the internet, as it wont to do, immediately spotted that they weren’t in fact new vehicles. It seems that two of the images are upgrades to existing kits – notably the Mule(top right), turning it into a sci-fi technical (hell yeah!), and possibly the Hornet VTOL (bottom left), turning into a Gunship (also Hell yeah)

But the other two vehicles are far more interesting because they also aren’t new. Rather, they’re “new to Mantic”. The Enforcer looking turret in the top left corner is actually from one of the old Gates of Antares hover vehicle from warlord games (now Skytrex), which honestly seems perfect for the Enforcers

 

The tank in the bottom right is the Wolverine tank from Archon studios.

It’s an interesting decision from Mantic to repackage existing models from elsewhere or produce them under license and with Gates of Antares being almost dead in the water, it would be nice to see some of those models find a good home. The vehicles seem to be a good match, aesthetically, for Firefight with a very high tech look about them.

Now while the tank from Archon is a lovely model and I would absolutely consider buying one if I wanted to find a Leman Russ alternative, I can’t help but feel like it looks out of place in Firefight, especially in the GCPS faction which in all of the artwork has a super, hi-tech, “clean” sci-fi look. It’s very derivative of 40k (deliberately so on Archon’s part, I suspect) and just looks really low tech compared to things like the Hornet and Mule. I mean, to me our own modern day third generation MBTs look more capable than the Wolverine, and the 4th generation prototypes we’re seeing look as though they would kick the living shit out it. Compare the Wolverine to images of Abrams, Challenger 2 and it’s already looks dated. But then look at it compared to something like the T-14 Armata or even the Polish PL-01 prototype and they look like a better match for a GCPS army than the Wolverine.

I don’t know why they didn’t select one of the other vehicles from the Antares range over the Wolverine. A bit of similarity between the Enforcer and GCPS factions wouldn’t be so bad – they are both technically GCPS forces.  I reckon I might be looking to get myself a T-14 model to proxy. Or maybe I will 3D print one of the old Antenociti tanks.

It will be interesting to see whether they import any other models for factions like the Asterians and plague.

[slayerofworldsParticipant 3449xp 0]

 

I have to disagree with you, I think the wolverine tank is the perfect model choice.   The GCPS is very much a more modern army sure, but the idea of a hover tank (which is in the old lore) just doesn’t fit with their current vehicles/walkers.   The mule is not a very techno futuristic vehicle at all.   Yet it is the GCPS standard for vehicles.  It is a clean smooth looking vehicle though, which I agree is where the big problem with the wolverine is.

I think all you would have to do for a more modern look  to the wolverine is just hobbie knife the ribbits off the armor.   The ribbits are what give it that WW2 vibe.    Also remove the “gear” from the back and sides.    Add some sci fi gubbins, and boom I think most will be surprised how good it looks next to the rest of the army.

 

 

[onlyonepinman 18062xp 0]

It’s not just the rivets that make it look old, there is a list of features, none of which are really fixable. Overall it has the appearance of having quite a high profile. The shapes of the track housings would make reverse travel quite problematic and therefore likely quite slow. The tracks are also too open and unprotected, with only the top edge being protected. And yes, the rivets. Overall it looks like a cross between a Char-B1 and a MK-IV tank. That works for 40k, where things are generally supposed to look a bit backwards and archaic – leaning on old designs from recent history works to create that impression in the mind, even if that’s still not what an “archaic” design might look like 40000 years into the future. But in the Warpath Universe there’s nothing in the lore to suggest any sort of technological stagnation or regression, quite the opposite. The GCPS is full of corporations all doing crazy and often illegal scientific experiments, all in the name of generating a competitive edge – either on the battlefield or the market place.

When you look at the evolution of the tank post WWII, they lean towards the appearance of lower profiles (they’re not actually lower, the height of tanks has remained fairly consistent, but their shape certainly makes them look like they do, but the Wolverine certainly looks like it would buck that trend), smoother bodywork and plating with little visible riveting (and where it is visible, smaller rivets). Their tracks are the same shape front and back specifically to facilitate reverse travel at speed and are covered as much as possible. Looking at the T-14 Armata, you can also see rudimentary stealth features, something that is present to an even greater extent on the PL-01 (and also the Abrams X and Panther KF51 prototypes). Modern tanks look low, sleek and fast and the next generation of tanks is taking that to the next level. It’s not hard to imagine where a 5th generation tank might end up going, especially as AI and software takes more of the workload off the crew. Tanks will get smaller, more campact. Things like retractable or folding turrets might be possible as space is freed up through reduced crew, granting even lower profiles again. Stealth shapes will get more advanced, just as they did with aircraft, as the technology matures (although I still think that the F117 Nighthawk looks very sci-fi)

I understand why this model might be an attractive option – it’s readily available right now with no development costs and it’s not like there are many, if any, other plastic sci-fi tank kits without having to develop a new one. But it’s a poor fit, aesthetically, for the Mantic universe. Especially considering how well Mantic had done stepping out from under GW’s shadow in terms of their miniatures design; even the Marauders are starting to take on a look of their own, even if they will always be Orks. While I don’t think it’s a bad model in and of itself, the “I can’t believe it’s not a Leman Russ” feels like a step backwards to me, a step back towards 40k.

As for the mule, well, to me that just looks like it riffs off the Warthog from Halo. It’s a sci-fi ATV.  And on that note, something like the Scorpion tank from Halo would have been a much better design, although admittedly there isn’t currently one available in kit form.  I’d have definitely backed a Kickstarter to make one though…

[onlyonepinman 18062xp 0]

I reckon I might just proxy one of these

The only problem is, it’s 3D printed and not only is my 3D printer currently bust, but it also took bloody ages to print (each track link had to be printed separately and then connected using brass rods).  So obtaining a second might be a bit of a problem.  It’s also very big in terms of its footprint, much bigger than a Leman Russ, not sure how that might work from a rules perspective

[lloydKeymaster 17736xp 0]

I’ll probably buy a set but they will be for 40K Death Korps.

I will say the lights placement is STUPID, not like they will get covered in mud, remember they might reverse!!!

They will need coverd.

[sundancer 42978xp 0]

@lloyd the guard never reverses! Only forward! XD

[lloydKeymaster 17736xp 1]

Oh yeah forgot about that lol

[onlyonepinman 18062xp 0]

If I played 40k, I’d probably get one too.

[phaidknott 7023xp 0]

Gates of Antares isn’t quite dead ……yet.

 

In fact the Second Editions of the rules are available for FREE at the main Nexus site Rules Central – Antares Nexus

 

Now you can’t argue with free, the game is basically 40K mashed together with Bolt Action and D10s. Authored by Rick Priestly and Tim Bancroft they are actually superior to 40K and Bolt Action (in my humble opinion). And the miniatures Warlord did for them were a bit “marmite” to most gamers (plus Warlord managed to price themselves out of the market and was trying to sell them at GW prices, and lets be frank they weren’t up GW standards. In fact Warlord has gotten pretty pricey across the board these days).

 

So FREE rules (did I say free), plus the ability to proxy just about anything for use for miniatures for the game these days. You could even use GZG’s fantastic 15mm Stargrunt range for cheaper costs and making the game look better on the table (without changing the ground scale). If you look carefully you can see proxy options for just about any of the existing BtGoA factions there.

 

The Facebook group is fairly active also with Mr Bancroft popping in regularly to answer questions etc.

 

[onlyonepinman 18062xp 0]

I didn’t say it was dead, I said it was dead in the water.  As in, it’s not really going anywhere or doing anything anytime soon.

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