Jake has a look at the Orx Sprues from Mantic

September 22, 2011 by beerogre

Our good pal Jake Thornton (alias @quirkworthy) has smuggled out a couple of Orx sprues from Mantic HQ to have a look at.

Check out his blog entry on Quirkworthy and see what he has to say about them.

Also, stay tuned for TURN 8 tonight where we'll have some scale shots of the built plastic Orx Marauders

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quirkworthy

I’m actually sticking some of these together at the moment, so I should have some pics of the results later.

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rasmus

Very well made argument – or in short “Don’t knock them til you seen them”

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quirkworthy

Thanks rasmus. That’s the thrust of it.

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manpug

After looking at your point of veiw I can see that it can be a bonus for them and us to have the core orx made this way. But I still was in shock at what I seen when they posted the pics.

The way I see it it is like the old Simpsons episode that had everyone excited that Michael Jackson was coming to town. When he exits the car they are all let down that its not him. Grant it in the end we find out the faker did it to put smiles on peoples faces.
In the same way I can see the orx placeing smiles on many kids faces as they can buy them without needing to put mommy and daddy on a second mortgage.

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quirkworthy

One of the problems is that the concepts are so nice. It’s also tricky because when Mantic released those pictures I doubt they will have had the final models to hand to compare themselves.

As you mention money, the reuse of some parts will naturally keep their costs lower than they would have been otherwise. I think the increased use of resin-plastic over “normal” plastic has raised the average cost of the Warpath stuff compared to the KOW models, but it’s balanced by the increased variability across the whole range. Of course, people are complaining about the difference in cost too. They can’t win.

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poosh

Very patronising.

Many people were upset that instead of brand new unique sci-fi Orks we were getting models that were built upon the fantasy range of Orx. These orks can travel faster than light but can’t make boots and still wear chainmail? These models are the same aesthetics as GW sci-fi Orks who likewise made no effort to sci-fi their Orks, so it’s not just Mantic, but at least GW bothered to make new sculpts.

Especially given people have pre-ordered this stuff, reusing the fantasy bodies feels like a kick in the balls.

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quirkworthy

What’s patronising about asking people to have reasoned arguments rather than simply hurling abuse?

I’m sure that I would be annoyed if I’d ordered something blind and then didn’t like it, but they can always not take it. That’s what the distance selling regulations are about, isn’t it? I may be wrong here, but I’m pretty sure that internet traders have a cooling off period in which the items may be returned. If they haven’t yet been delivered they could be cancelled, one presumes. That is, if one were to feel strongly enough about being “kicked in the balls”.

You don’t like them, that’s plain. It’s not an army that I will be getting either as they don’t suit my style of play. I just thought I’d try and get a little bit of reasoned debate about some new models rather than yet more of the ill-informed whining that the internet is so full of.

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steamwarmachine

Im sorry Jake, I agree with poosh. I feel some of your comments are patronising and I also said so on your blog yesterday. Its clear that the majority of people do not like these sculpts and this is why we are seeing such a defensive posture being taken… otherwise there would be no need for posts such as the above. Months ago I read comments on blogs saying if mantic come out with conversion kits/hybrid kits, it would not go down well. So Mantic should have seen this coming (just because its all on one sprue doesnt make it better). It appears Mantic have all their friends defending them, but have yet to properly comment themselves. Ive supported mantic from day one, but using the fantasy torse is just not good enough. Im glad I didnt pre order. It seems perfectly alright to critizise GW and Wizkids (yes they are terrible but thats not the point) but not Mantic. BoW, you should not take sides. I will continue to support Mantic regardless, but I will not accept it when provide concept art that looks great and then take short cuts….its not on…. thankfully its Arthurs day….im from Dublin……and I will be having numerous free pints of Guiness!!!Slainte.

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beerogre

BoW are not taking sides. Jake had pictures of sprues – that to be honest was the story as far as we’re concerned.

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poosh

I just think it’s mean to say people are being ill-informed and whining about this issue etc. I appreciate everything you say and am grateful you put pics up. I just think that Beasts of War readers have a great deal of Mantic fans (I certainly have gone out of my way to buy their products because I believe in them) and clearly they are eager for Mantic to do well. But when the fans around here start to have strong worded issues about these models it’s not the same as say a bunch of GW-fanboys piling on the hate. I think just dismissing them as unreasonable is a bit mean. Since when has “you have to have the model in your hand” been a necessary demand for giving some opinions and views on a miniature?

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manpug

Thank you @quirkworthy for posting clean pics of the kit as it helped me see with my own eyes what they will look like. As for me, I most likely will never buy orx just because I don’t like the look of them. Mantic is some what new and I think it would be harsh of me to judge them on one sprue. With time they will get better. After all look back at GW’s beginnings and they had some simple casts that makes Mantic look like works of art.

In time, in time, thats what I’ll hold to.

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torgaming

I’ve only got three comments to make on this subject

1) Companies re-use models. Not just for new packs, but within packs. Our Grymann are actually one sculpt with two conversions. It’s cheaper to produce the models this way. It’s been done for years and will continue to be done.

2) The problem is it works when done within genre. Outside of genre, even for Or(c/k/x), it really doesn’t work.

3) If people shouldn’t comment on a mini until thy have it in their hands, companies shouldn’t release pics of the models.

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cazboab

One of the comments on Jake’s blog got me thinking, KoW orcs come in a box of 30 for 25 quid, Warpath orx come 20 for 20(still very reasonable next to the alternatives). In its self that doesn’t mean much of anything, but it does when you count how many are on the sprue, three does not go into twenty, so there must be a second sprue with either 2 more bodys, and that would leave a lot of space for extra gubbins like rifles, pistols, melee weapons(and maybe even them little “surprises” mantic like) etc which means you’re bound to have a few bits left over. Maybe your KoW list uses a unit of 20 axes, maybe you dont play KoW cos you prefer scifi but like your greenskins barbaric and feral. Maybe some of those bits left over find their way onto KoW models and you get a mass of 50 shooty stabby choppy hurty doods.

As for the aesthetics of the models, I actually like them, GW’s orks are, anatomically, quite broken, these guys look like there hips are actually functional for locomotion rather than waddling like GW orks give the impression of. The only thing that might be an issue is the lack of shoes, but sculpting steel toecaps over their toes and a sole onto their.. uhm… soles wont be beyond many people. Personally I’m gonna try to do some converse trainers on a couple…

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scarletsquig

There will be a second sprue with the fantasy greatax bodies, heavy weapons, more heads and a power claw.

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poosh

After seeing the CGI intro to Dawn of War, I never look down on GW Orks. I value my head! GW Orks/Orcs are more comedy relief for the game though which not everyone gels with. They are basically an alien race of English football hooligans.

It should be noted Mantic has done this one before. They reused most of the parts of the Skeleton Skull Thrower to make the ‘Evil’ Dwarf War Machine. The Abyssal Dwarfs were always an “add-on” conversation race, with metal bits put onto the original Dwarf models. The entire army is hybrid and it’s risky but Mantic did a great job of it. This is obviously very different though.

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broadside

Have to say that I actually like the GW Orks and the comedy cartoony look. It’s a chance to escape you normal painting and modelling and a chance to do something new and experiment.

I fell that when everyone saw the Forge Fathers sketches, then saw that Mantic actually carried them through to the sculpting stage people were amazed at how great they looked (colour scheme aside). I have to say that they looked amazing at open day!!!! a tad small, but awesome none-the-less!!!

Now take this thought to the Marauders and it seems completely opposite. Concept art was amazing, Marauder hero amazing, Orx troops just looked totally out of place within its own scifi range. Even the Raptor looks a little bit like a Lego creation imho. Ok we have to scale cost into it somewhere, but looking at the construction of the Raptor I couldn’t help noticing the huge lumps of plastic that were required (unless I missed a few of the angles and they are indeed hollow) Love the idea and everything you had planned but can’t help feeling that this has caused quite an embarrassment for Mantic as a whole, and believe me, I really want you to blow my socks off and make me into a Warpath killing machine. I somehow feel that I will be buying GW Orks though to supplement Warpath. Which is counter productive isn’t it? unless Ronnie is an secret undercover gaming agent that is really batting for GW, hehe

Anyway, please get in touch with your Warpath fans like you usually do and lets see if we can iron out these teething problems with some more great Ronnie videos with you explaining to Orcy why you’ve dressed him in his ancestors hand-me downs 🙂

This is by no means a rant, I just want this to work as much as you do and I feel like we can do that better with ours opinions in the open

Thanks in advance

SWALK, TLA, hugs and kisses

Broadside