Mantic Dreadball

[zoggin-eck]

You know nothing about the game. If someone announced a new Napoleonic rule-set would that also be lazy and weak because there already are some?

Just wait and see is my advice.

100% just wanting to see them do something that doesn't have a GW precedent. No, I wouldn't freak out over a new Napoleonic rule-set. I didn't for a new sci-fi game in Warpath, though I was bored to see they made Squats and GW looking ork vehicles. Sure, we haven't seen the game yet, but a sport based game using factions form their existing game certainly screams Blood Bowl.

GW, for all the "well, they just copied Tolkien and TSR!" the get, and often deserve, did do something original and fun with Blood Bowl in the 80's. They certainly took a gamble on what was an odd sounding choice at the time, and deserve some credit for it, and certainly deserved it to become as popular as it did back then. I'll be thrilled if Mantics game turns out to be something really original, so I'll wait and see. So far they have never done so.

Though he propably means "I wish they'd do something GW didn't do before" you have to keep in mind that every Forum has it's share of people who 100% express negativity against everything Mantic produces. After 3 threads it's mostly clear who these people are.

But of course. This sound derivative based on what we've heard so far. Perhaps people will make a distinction at it being grid-based, but that didn't mean Elfball wasn't a rip-off of Blood Bowl (I do like some of the models, though).

There's a difference between "100% express negativity against everything Mantic produces" and just being unimpressed with (100%? Maybe) what they make. I reckon Uncharted seas from Spartan Games owes a lot to Man 'o War, but there you go, I'm quite into it. The fact that I still check out every new Mantic release, along with some of the supposed haters I guess, shows even "these people" hold out hope.

That aside I am not that excited about it for fluff reasons. Alessio put a lot of work into a sinister serious looking Science Fiction fluff which got somewhat ruined by the Fantasy in Space Character and now by this Game, where somehow impossibly alien factions play by some rules in a galactic sports event.

Totally agree here. GW's Blood Bowl may seem odd in the modern day Warhammer, but it really does fit the 80's humour and vibe from when it was made, and was always a bit of a "what if" spin off anyway. It does seem a bit silly for Warpath, now.

[scarletsquig]

I can imagine the Corporation holding Dreadball games, kinda like the Roman Empire, where captive alien teams have to compete against each other and the Corps best in the Dreadball arena to win some prize. Their freedom for example.

Great idea!

This would be a very good way of "making it make sense" within the existing background, teams of prisoners (humans can be prisoners too, especially in the Corporation!) in a cage-fight kinda game. The winners get to live at the end of the season.. and possibly get told that they earn their "retirement" if they can win 10 seasons.

[Crube]

SciFi football.. anyone else think of the old computer game speedball (1&2). I used to love those games, so if there's some sembalnce I may actually be interested...

[mattjgilbert]

If you liked Speedball you are in for a treat

http://www.beastsofwar.com/mantic-ga...mes-dreadball/

[imm0rtal reaper]

I love that human concept. I'm certainly interested to see where this goes!

I must agree with the others and hope that the corporation capture aliens to take part in illegal games of Dreadball.

[Crube]

If you liked Speedball you are in for a treat

http://www.beastsofwar.com/mantic-ga...mes-dreadball/

Oooh... If this is as good as it could be, then my team will have to be called Brutal Deluxe

[Getifa Ubazza]

After looking up Speedball on youtube, I suddenly realised that I used to play this alot. Can't believe I forgot this awesome game.

[mattjgilbert]

Oooh... If this is as good as it could be, then my team will have to be called Brutal Deluxe

You and everyone else!

I might just go Super Nashwan or Fatal Justice

[buffirn]

I can imagine the Corporation holding Dreadball games, kinda like the Roman Empire, where captive alien teams have to compete against each other and the Corps best in the Dreadball arena to win some prize. Their freedom for example.

Injurious Games was like this. The New Roman Empire started what could be called space marines arena. Kind of cool, certainly different.

We will just have to wait and see. I hope it is awesome.

[Getifa Ubazza]

Injurious Games was like this. The New Roman Empire started what could be called space marines arena. Kind of cool, certainly different.

We will just have to wait and see. I hope it is awesome.

I had to look that up. Yeah! That did look quite cool.

I suspect it will be pretty awesome. It is Mantic after all.

[Crube]

I had to look that up. Yeah! That did look quite cool.

I suspect it will be pretty awesome. Even though Mantic after all.

Fixed that for you

[Getifa Ubazza]

Fixed that for you

Cheeky.

[strewart]

I have to admit a small degree of skepticism... Agree that it would be strange for these nations at galactiv war to play sports with each other, the slave arena is an elegant solution though. I would also be a bit unsure of how much bloodshed can be in the game. Given how advanced sports science and protecting players is even these days, it would be far far more advanced in the future and the human looked very well armoured meaning even less chance of serious injury/death. Typically in advanced societies, sports will not be overly bloodthirsty as well, so to my eyes at the moment it just feels a little out of place. Those points would also be covered if it was a slave arena kind of sport though. And really all we know is the name and a couple of pictures or two, so it would be silly to write this off as a bad idea until seeing more etails of what Mantic are actually doing with it. Its different enough to have me quite curious for more info!

Is there any kind of timeline on the release yet?

[imm0rtal reaper]

I have to admit a small degree of skepticism... Agree that it would be strange for these nations at galactiv war to play sports with each other, the slave arena is an elegant solution though. I would also be a bit unsure of how much bloodshed can be in the game. Given how advanced sports science and protecting players is even these days, it would be far far more advanced in the future and the human looked very well armoured meaning even less chance of serious injury/death. Typically in advanced societies, sports will not be overly bloodthirsty as well, so to my eyes at the moment it just feels a little out of place. Those points would also be covered if it was a slave arena kind of sport though. And really all we know is the name and a couple of pictures or two, so it would be silly to write this off as a bad idea until seeing more etails of what Mantic are actually doing with it. Its different enough to have me quite curious for more info!

Is there any kind of timeline on the release yet?

November 2012 apparently

[Llew]

...Typically in advanced societies, sports will not be overly bloodthirsty as well...

You mean sort of like how MMA is replacing Boxing as the combat sport of preference?

Personally, I think it's a great idea for a game, and I honestly don't care if it fits the fluff or not. I'm looking to enjoy it on it's own merits. I've never really cared about a justification for Bloodbowl and whether the fluff fit the world background. It's just another fun game with miniatures. I'm expecting this to fit that same bill. Now, if someone *does* make it fit the fluff, great!

Honestly, I think the idea of galactic war on it's face is actually the most far-fetched part of any sci-fi wargame setting. The notion that you could get people that locked down into one huge war is kind of out there. There will always be planets who have an interest in not being at war, despite what the government says. Limited conflicts over specific locations or resources are far, far more likely than any massive galactic conflict.

[scarletsquig]

November 2012 apparently

Specifically, the first demos being held at the new Tabletop Nation venue in Essex and possibly at other Mantic events around that time too.

[mattjgilbert]

I honestly don't care if it fits the fluff or not. I'm looking to enjoy it on it's own merits. I've never really cared about a justification for Bloodbowl and whether the fluff fit the world background. It's just another fun game with miniatures. I'm expecting this to fit that same bill. Now, if someone *does* make it fit the fluff, great!

Quoted for truth

[darkPrince010]

I'm hoping that if Mantic continues in this trend (Copying and enhancing old abandoned GW IP like Squats and Blood Bowl), that we might see an eventual Mantic Epic/Warmaster, Mordheim, Necromunda (Perhaps playing out as mercenary groups or something instead of gangs), BFG, and maybe even Dreadfleet/Man o' War.

Quick note here: This is not a "Boo hoo Mantic copies everything GW does!" Mantic does produce compatible components and rules with the current near-monopolizing company in this branch of the market (Sort of like how Google Chrome browser/system can run on a PC with Windows), but imo they have yet to produce a product that has failed to stand up to the quality of the original, and in many cases far exceed said original quality. Plus, given the cult following for Blood Bowl, Mordheim, and BFG, I think it's only logical that they tap into that playerbase just like they did for the Squats/Forgefathers.
/rant.

[Zond]

Every time Mantic branch out I'm torn between joy and despair. I'm happy that they have resources to branch out and provide different types of figures, I'm all for mixing and matching wherever possible and as gamers we've never had so much choice. However at the same time I wish they'd just finish one damn project.

Looking at Dreadball, I'm not overly enthusiastic. The board looks intriguing and has piqued my interest somewhat, although it does look like something I'd enjoy more in board game format. There's already a wealth of fantasy sports based miniature gaming out there so the rules need to provide something uniquely interesting. So far all we have are hexes and a sci fi skin, not exactly groundbreaking material.

[cornonthecob]

But deifinitely better then other companys who literally just take bloodbowl and change the name and miniatures.