Warpath Marines?

[Shibboleth]

Would Mantic have any intentions to make a model range equivalent to Space Marines?

They gave us 'Space Dwarves' because the demand was there among 40K players. Yet there is also a demand for Heresy era marines, even Primarchs etc. So, would they?

What about 'Chaos', or is the whole Gothic thing out in Warpath's galaxy?
I'd like to see Abyssal ForgeFathers myself...

[witteridderludo]

Check the forgefathers army list, they are the warpath space marines: their units match those of the SM.
So you could use the forgefathers as squats in 40K or your marines as forgefathers in warpath

[Darsc Zacal]

Well, Mantic have already released a brief outline of their first 8 Warpath armies. Since we're not sure of unit composition beyond those of the ForgeFathers and Marauders, it's a bit difficult yet to speculate on how closely any of the future releases beyond those two would represent a good proxie for Marines.

You can find a brief description of the upcoming armies in the First Post Roundup of the Mantic SciFi News and Rumour thread in the link below.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=304190

[Kalarn]

I'm sure some sort of elite unit along marine lines was hinted at as part of the corp....

[Shibboleth]

Okay thanks, so, in terms of models (not rules-proxies), they're not planning to challenge GW's biggest seller, yet.
Except for that possibility of 'The 8th Race'...

...and same for 'Chaos' or other gothic-ness.

[AlexHolker]

Okay thanks, so, in terms of models (not rules-proxies), they're not planning to challenge GW's biggest seller, yet.

They can't. Anything close enough to pass as a specific mark of Space Marine power armour is an open invitation to get sued to hell for trademark infringement.

And frankly, unless they were going to produce truescale Space Marines and actually pull it off (and I have my doubts that they're capable of it), all they'd be doing is making cheap knockoffs of the most obnoxiously heavily supported faction in GW's lineup. The world doesn't need more Space Marine kits.

[Max Jet]

They can't. Anything close enough to pass as a specific mark of Space Marine power armour is an open invitation to get sued to hell for trademark infringement.

And frankly, unless they were going to produce truescale Space Marines and actually pull it off (and I have my doubts that they're capable of it), all they'd be doing is making cheap knockoffs of the most obnoxiously heavily supported faction in GW's lineup. The world doesn't need more Space Marine kits.

Actually Blizzards go at this has proven more successfull than the original they derived from.
I don't know however if GW's Version has proven more successfull than the original they derived from.
I say go for it, nevertheless I am still more interested in the Zz'or concept (just who came up with that atrocious name?)

[AlexHolker]

Actually Blizzards go at this has proven more successfull than the original they derived from.

I've got no objections if Mantic wants to put out some humans in power armour (with emphasis on humans, not abhuman freaks) as long as their concepts are up to scratch, but the OP was talking about specific versions of Space Marine equipment, and specific GW characters.

[Max Jet]

I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[Shibboleth]

I'm not suggesting they should make SM's, but my understanding of Mantic's business so far is they make models that are usable in other games systems (mainly GW), their own rules being a token.
So it would seem obvious to make SM equivalents (given, of course they would have to be different enough to not be sued) and sell them cheaper as they've done with everything else so far, ie. tapping into the largest portion of the market...

[Darsc Zacal]

I think their rules are much more than a token, they're created by Alessio after all. Mantic, Alessio, and a lot of fans have put a lot of time and effort into creating and playtesting the rules and all the army lists.

It's become the ruleset of choice for many people looking for a fun unencumbered game.

[rodmillard]

I'm not suggesting they should make SM's, but my understanding of Mantic's business so far is they make models that are usable in other games systems (mainly GW), their own rules being a token.

I think you've got it the wrong way round - the pattern with KoW has been that they make models that are compatible with other games systems and throw free copies of their own (subjectively better) rule system into the box. Even when the 2011 edition comes out it will retail for a tiny fraction of the Warhammer rulebook, still be available for free in certain boxed sets, and still be free to download from the website.

Their business model is to recruit players to their own rule system through the minis, and the best way to sell the minis is to make them generic - hence true scale fantasy archetypes which are compatible with a wide range of games (my wife uses my Mantic ghouls and zombies for Call of Cthulu). Its exactly the same business model used by historical mini companies - take Gripping Beast as an example: over the last two years they have released plastic viking and saxon ranges that can be used in any Early Medieval period game (and a few fantasy ones), and in September they are launching their own Dark Ages skirmish system. Warlord will have had their ECW range on the market for over 3 years before the Pike & Shotte rules come out.

GW's model of "use the rules to sell miniatures, and force people to use our own product in official events" is the exception, rather than the rule in the industry. The only other company I can think of that uses a similar marketing strategy is Battlefront, and even they concede that 15mm historicals are going to be made by other companies. Most companies, whether they are producing historical or fantasy minis, either write generic rules that can be used with any miniatures range or produce generic miniatures that can be used with any rule set.

[Shibboleth]

Thanks for that explanation rodmillard.
I do tend to get focused on the GW perspective.

@Darsc Zacal: 'Token' was probably a bit harsh. I don't mean to dismiss people's efforts, or interests.
I like heavy armoured dudes, and robots, and I haven't seen much out there I like better than GW SM range, here's hoping.

[Kalidane]

Does anyone truly want a re-imagining of space marines?? I'm pretty sure that if you like them you can find suitable models. Personally I have several metric ****-tons of metal and plastic space marines and have no interest in someone else doing it.

I want to see a bunch of new stuff. I'll like some of it and buy it and the rest I wont. The increase in choice, with super prices, is winning. A re-hash isn't.

[darkPrince010]

I'm pretty sure that if you like them you can find suitable models. Personally I have several metric ****-tons of metal and plastic space marines and have no interest in someone else doing it.

Unfortunately, for a prospective beginning gamer to get into Warhammer and a Space Marine army, they may not know about the Ebay deals or massive discounts from some online sellers.

If they're in a store, and the only guys that look like the armored space warriors on his book are GW, he'll probably get GW. But if there's a GW box and a Mantic box, he may get the one with the lower price that looks about the same (Or looks better, who knows... ).

Plus, established gamers who are interested in getting SM but want something a bit unique (But not drastically different) will be able to get clean, fresh minis without having to go through Simple Green/brake fluid cleaning routines that usually occur when getting super-cheap minis from ebay.

I agree it's a bit of an ass-pain that there's nnot much new out there, but I'd rather see what they come out with and wait patiently, versus have them push a bunch of unique yet low-demand products that cause them to buckle like many other would-be model companies.

[scarletsquig]

I will probably use my forgefathers in games of 40k using the space marine rules. Salamanders specifically would be a really great fit since the forgefather weaponry is primarily heat-based with melta and flamer equivalents.

Their unit types are very similar, so really, mantic already have made their "not space marines" army.. it's just that they happen to be very, very "not space marines".

[rodmillard]

I will probably use my forgefathers in games of 40k using the space marine rules. Salamanders specifically would be a really great fit since the forgefather weaponry is primarily heat-based with melta and flamer equivalents.

A "space marine" army using the models from the Forgefathers range led by a counts-as Vulkan would be nasty...

All those hammers.
All those flamers.

Oh My...

[buffirn]

I certainly hope not! A game without "Space Marines" is a good game. Some up armored Humans/Dwarves/Elfs/Orcs in each army would be OK, but please, no "Space Marine " army!

[Sephiroth]

I wouldn't mind such an army, I just hope Mantic draws inspiration for their designs from more than just GW.

You've got "Spartans" from Halo, the "Gears" from Gears of War, "Commander Shepard" from Mass Effect, all of which can qualify for the term "Space Marine" but have only vague hints of GW's design.

Just to use Mass Effect as an example...

[The Devourer]

Heavy armoured humans would be nice but not space marines. Keep them as humans and dont go into the god of war feel that SMs have and it will be great.