Would you accept these models on the table?

[Dvil]

I was just browsing for a cheap method of boosting the ranks, and I found the Kings of War range of undead. The models are a lot cheaper than GW, but I'm worried about the style. The skeletons are near enough, but do you think the Revenants could work as grave guard? I just want to get some opinions before I buy models I can't use in most stores.


EDIT: Oops. I've been away for a while, so I only just noticed a full-on thread for Mantic. Oh well. I'll check that to see if the answer's there, but if not then the question still stands.

 

[chefsdad]

No way would you be able to use them in a GW (though i took some in and the manager really liked them lol!), but clubs and independant stores should be fine.

Just check first, as they might not sell them and get iffy about you advertising other products (though it could persuade them to distribute them).

 

[Dvil]

Right, ok. What about skeletons? I was planning on just distributing them among my gw ones to pad out units. Would that be okay? Obviously gw wouldn't be too chuffed, but would they be inconspicuous enough to get away with it?

 

[ChaosJedi666]

Mantic Skellies are a bit smaller than the GW ones. Mantic are more "lifelike" in their models. (Ie, they actually represent bone model, not bones that are the same size as model with flesh.) So, chances are they'll pick up on it.

 

[chefsdad]

could always give it a try

 

[Count Darvaleth]

My tactic is to say "a friend of mine who knows nothign about GW got it for my birthday" and really, in a horde army, I don't know why they'd give a frig.

 

[Disciple of Nagash]

Basically Mantic's products are excellent and cheaper replacments for GW stuff, however I would not even attempt to try and play with them in a GW store. In fact considering that Mantic will slowly becoming a bigger thorn in GW side as they become more and more well known, I would imagine that all stores will have to enforce the rule quite strictly.

 

[Zephyr]

Yeah I figure GW won't be too happy with them so a definite no-no for their stores and I believe tournaments already work with GW-models only rules for about five years now.
For playing in gaming clubs etc. people would have to be really uptight not to allow them.

 

[Pietr Von Carstein]

I allow any model thats on the right base size in my games . I honestly wouldn't care if you used empty bases so long as you said what they were .

 

[TheZombieSquig]

If you are planning to play in-store, you should stick to the GW models. If playing with friends, use any models you like. When I was testing the new Skaven, I used square pieces of cardboard to represent bases.

 

[Bishop]

I will echo the comments already made.

It largely depends on the environment that you currently (or wish to) play in. I play mostly at a non-GW store, though I do have almost all GW models currently, since playing in tourneys was something I did a lot of.

Given GWs price gouging trend, if I buy any more models for my VC army, I will be picking up some Mantic models!

 

[Sception]

GW tournament: strict, strict, strict. Even GW models from other games or ranges can be trouble. Mantic stuff will not fly.

GW store: varies from store to store. I've seen some run by managers with an 'everything goes' attitude, and at least one where a manager refused to let a guy play with a scratch-built model for a unit that didn't even have a GW model available. On average you could probably get away with using mantic skellies to fill out ranks with extra invocations used to pump a unit over starting strength, but non-GW models should be avoided in the models you deploy on the table.

Non-GW tourny, store, or home game: Whatever you want. Mantic models won't be a problem at all. Then again, in some of these places, you're lucky to get opponents who have actual models for everything in their army, and not just cut out rectangles of cardboard with the unit name written on it.


I personally play at a GW store, so it's GW stuff for me, but as their prices skyrocket (won't be long before grave guard are up to the goldsword price point) it's eventually going to push me out of the game entirely, and force me to find a non-GW store to play at.

 

[Chunky Von Waffles]

Indeed it does vary from store to store on what your GW manager will allow.
Our GW over here is basically like one big family . Manager is more of our friend than anything else :lol:

I can't even imagine if a man walked up to our table, pointed at my newly purchased, assembled, and painted models and telling me I had to take them out. :swear:

But I guess it happens? Be PROUD of your models my friend, take them in and if someone does have the guts to do so, then...<insert action that relates to you>
Would they really THROW you out of the store because of such a situation?

About prices...Just wait...GW will have to lower/stop the prices in time. Unless they want to go out of business, common sense says people won't buy a small tank for $90
Baneblade probably, but Leman Russ? I doubt.

I'm pretty sure GW will only benefit if they had a sale every now and then.

 

[Onikaigo]

About prices...Just wait...GW will have to lower/stop the prices in time.

But but but....that's Logical! And it would bring them more customers! WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT GW?!

sorry. I apologize for yelling. Just the thought of GW doing something smart for their 'Dedicated but dwindling' customer base sends all sorts of conflicting emotions through me that I don't know quite how to deal with. So I simply yell.


But, as to the OP. Play with whatever you want. In a GW store, respect the rules and play with GW. In friendly games, try to use models. If they allow you, use cardboard. I personally don't care, and 90% of my opponents don't either. The point of the game is to have fun, and if having fun means proxying all your troops for zombies and saying that shoebox that is no longer a shoebox is also zombies, then go for it. It'll be fun. (No, really. Zombie horde is great.)

 

[Dvil]

Hmm. So, is it better to just try to slip mantic models in my units as filler and avoid notice, or specifically ask the manager beforehand? In the context of a GW store, of course. With the revenants I would ask, because they're clearly not gg, but I guess it once again comes down to whether the skeletons are similar enough to get away with it or not.

 

[chefsdad]

I used a unit of revenants in with my army at the back of the store. The GW manager (normally relatively strict) came over, had a look at the game and didnt say anything. I think you should be ok if you dont take the biscuit. One guy there (VERY strict), saw some mantic ghouls and asked for them to be replaced with GW ones or proxied with GW models. You wont be manhandled out of the store lol.

 

[Count Darvaleth]

You wont be manhandled out of the store lol.

I wouldn't put it past some GW staff.

I heard that in a GW (the one I normally go to) the manager brought his dog, and put it in the back room. A little kid saw the door for the back-room, and asked what was in it. One of the guys said, "it's a spawning pool for hell-dogs and rabid canine-beasts." Just after that moment, the dog did a massive, deep, haggard bark. (It was a big dog). The kid dropped what he was holding, screamed like hell and ran out of the store. This is not a joke, it really happened. Ten people in a store with the manager wouldn't all lie at once.

 

[stevielash]

Ive got some mantic revanents coming my way that im planning to kitbash into graveguard. Ive yet to see if the new local GW will notice or mind.With enough converting I doubt theyl notice unless they really inspect them.

 

[waaanial00]

As the Chairperson of a wargaming group, and an avid collector of Mantic minis, I can confirm that the majoriy of the UK GCN (Gaming Club Network) groups will allow you to use non GW models in their groups. I cannot speak for all but the organisation as a whole is a very separate entity from GW and as such will likely adopt my stance.

As for in the GW store you will be lucky. They have a policy of GW models only because the stores are part of the company, the selling part of it, anything and everything they do should promote sales for the company because otherwise there is no organisational gain from the companies perspective of having them. As such I would be very surprised if, given the growing popularity of Mantic and the explosion of 8th Ed WFB, over the next quarter it is communicated down the chain that Mantic and all non GW models should not be tollerated within their stores. As much as we hate to admit it, GW are a company after all and the hobby centres are GW run mini businesses.

On the topic of tournaments, unless its a GW sponsored or run tournament your best bet is to contact the tournament organiser. Again my club operates a relaxed attitude to models, as long as its representative it is allowed regardless of what company produced it. If Mantic are successful enough and really start to errode the market share of fantasy models in WFB then I can see more tournaments being more and more open to them. Given enough success and enough time we may even see some of the higher level competition drifting away from the "official" tournaments due to the fact that top tier army swapping becomes cheaper and easier with non GW product.

Still that is a fair way off.

/waffle

 

[Lord Skrolk]

I use Mantic Skeletons in my GW units to beef two units from 20 to 45. Half the Mantic skeles are great, with excellent poses and half are pretty turgid with a really outdated stance akin to early GW plastics. The HW models are ok, but you cant convert them much as the weapon is attached the arm which is resting on the shoulders. But, the spears are much better, especially if you do slight conversion and use GW skele spears instead of Mantic ones which, look a bit like cocktail sticks are a way out of scale to GW ones. I reckon a combination of the two model types really breaks up the unit and gives it the appearance of movement + there £££cheap£££ £££cheap£££ £££cheap£££.

 

[Gneisenau]

And their ghouls are both better sculpted (apparently) and cheaper. A pity there's so little variation!

Still, I don't blame GW for not allowing them. They are a business first and foremost. In friendly play, however, I don't see any issue.

 

[Angel]

As long as the models resemble the things that they are supposed to represent I don't mind other using non-GW models. In fact, I have some character models from Reaper that I use and I've never met anyone who had any trouble with them. Just don't take them to an official GW store or event.

 

[HERO]

What about LotR Army of the Dead?

Anyone have any of those that work like Grave Guard? (looking at scale)