KoW Salamanders models are coming in 2017 ! (and other infos)

[Jack Trowell]

Summary from KOW seminary :

Tournament book coming early next year (Feb I think was mentioned). Contains new scenarios, new artefacts, new spells and puts the CoK changes down in writing. Playing with the changes is opponents consent only.

After that we have Trident Realms being launched with full army release in Feb, individual units in March.

Campaign book in April I think? Contains background for the summer campaign as well as some scenarios, some living legends etc.

Sourcebook towards the end of the year. 200+ pages of background fluff, including what's happening "now" and a chapter for each army.

Salamander army release towards the end of the year.

Mantic are bringing resin casting in-house from January and will be making some kits (particularly large infantry or larger) in resin. Once the molds wear out for some existing metal kits, such as Wyrm Riders, they'll convert them to resin.

Kings of War skirmish at some point next year. Will be used to develop hard plastic sprues for many armies, as well as some resin characters.

Siege rules will be done after skirmish. The RC wants to not just do the "Siege" scenario (that's actually an assault scenario) but also all the little scenarios around that, including sallies from the castle, small incursions, camp raids etc.

The RC wants to do a new unit for each of the core races (main rulebook + Trident Realms + Nightstalkers), but also bring them all up to the same number of units. This means some armies, such as Orcs and surprisingly Goblins, will get multiple new units. This hasn't been confirmed yet, but Ronnie did agree to flying gore riders for Orcs

 

[Bowser]

Exciting stuff! I should really work on multibasing some of my old models and get into this game. Oh what I wouldn't give for 4 more hours in the day!

 

[Crowsfoot]

Woaw, can't wait to see the new models!

 

[Jack Trowell]

I would like to also attract some attention to this other important point from my point o view :

Mantic are bringing resin casting in-house from January and will be making some kits (particularly large infantry or larger) in resin. Once the molds wear out for some existing metal kits, such as Wyrm Riders, they'll convert them to resin.

This is very important because it imply that they finally decided of a resin/restic process to replace their old restic, and we know of two things that they tested that gave great results :

1-in the last Deadzone Kickstarter, they used a new restic described as being the same used for some other games like Dust, and it gave really crisp results with little to no deformation (my blaine on jet bike model can almost be assembled without glue)

Only potential problem, someone mentionned that he had problem with a bent staff that the hot/cold water trick didn't fix (it worked at first, the but staff bend againt later byt itself), but it's possible that this material just require more heating or something to better fix the position, and it should not be a problem for many large models for which the new material is supposed to be used at first

2- the second material tested is Unicast by Prodoss, we know of at least one test : the limited edition Varangur chieftain (only available in Germany at first as a special hero for Dungeon Saga, and more recently in Mantic Open day if I remember correctly)

Unicast is supposed to allow for pre assembled models with no undercuts, and seems rather impressive, see Jake blog at https://quirkworthy.com/?s=UniCast for more information and pictures

It's also possible of course that they didn't chose to use eitheir system for some reason or another, and that they are simply bringing in house traditionnal resin casting, this could also be good, we will have to see.

As someone who don't like to work with metal, I must say that I welcome our future resin overlords. ^__^

 

[Itepixcauh]

really exciting news indeed. Specially looking forward to the new resin casting, IMO the only real solution to miniature production.

Unicast does indeed look impresive

 

[mattjgilbert]

Probably seen at the open day but I wonder who this is?

The flash on my phone buggered the colours a bit.

 

[Jack Trowell]

Thanks Matt, you're really back in force ! ^_^

 

[BAE]

I was at Mantic HQ Today and got showed the Firebrand model Matt posted an image of above. Thought I would share some pictures at all angles!

 

[Negator]

Dont mean to be a downer, but i think its hideous lol

 

[Lord-Marcus]

Exciting stuff! I should really work on multibasing some of my old models and get into this game. Oh what I wouldn't give for 4 more hours in the day!

you and me both. i have so much stuff to do

 

[Crowsfoot]

Dont mean to be a downer, but i think its hideous lol

I don't think the paint scheme helps it tbh, almost monotone, not that it's painted badly far from it.

 

[begizuri]

Salamanders have no scales

 

[Itepixcauh]

My main concern about her is that there is nothing really special in the design, that in my mind was the look that corsairs have. That seems to be a common problem with mantic miniatures in general, special characters and heroes don't really have anything to tell them apart from a units champion or even a normal soldier sometimes.

 

[Bracnos]

dont know about war gaming but that looks like a perfect lizardflok swashbuckler for pathfinder

 

[BAE]

Salamanders have no scales

A very similar debate has already taken place on the Mantic forums here. I'm guessing the whole 'scales vs no scales' thing also gets covered by @mattjgilbert 's fantastic official response!

My main concern about her is that there is nothing really special in the design, that in my mind was the look that corsairs have. That seems to be a common problem with mantic miniatures in general, special characters and heroes don't really have anything to tell them apart from a units champion or even a normal soldier sometimes.

I kind of see where you are coming from, but then I don't think this is a too dissimilar situation from how GW was up to 5th Ed. In my experience it was only when casting quality was dramatically increased during 6th Ed that 'hero' models suddenly got the immense amounts of detail and embellishment that we see today. Mantic's model quality is coming on in leaps and bounds (and the move to make resin in-house will only help!) so maybe we will see more intricate models with increased embellishments in future, but I can't see how they could do it effectively just yet without the models looking cluttered and bloated.

Another point is that keeping heroes toned down is far more realistic than heroes carrying fifteen times their body weight in elaborate armour, feathers, assorted bric-à-brac and (in classic GW style) skulls. In most armies throughout history generals have had a few embellishments to distinguish them from the common soldiers, but nothing too extensive. Maybe this is the vibe that Mantic are going for?

 

[Warden]

I was at Mantic HQ Today and got showed the Firebrand model Matt posted an image of above. Thought I would share some pictures at all angles!

View attachment 27401 View attachment 27402 View attachment 27403

Great pics. The dude looks extra crusty, like a corsair should.

dont know about war gaming but that looks like a perfect lizardflok swashbuckler for pathfinder

+1

A very similar debate has already taken place on the Mantic forums here. I'm guessing the whole 'scales vs no scales' thing also gets covered by @mattjgilbert 's fantastic official response!



I kind of see where you are coming from, but then I don't think this is a too dissimilar situation from how GW was up to 5th Ed. In my experience it was only when casting quality was dramatically increased during 6th Ed that 'hero' models suddenly got the immense amounts of detail and embellishment that we see today. Mantic's model quality is coming on in leaps and bounds (and the move to make resin in-house will only help!) so maybe we will see more intricate models with increased embellishments in future, but I can't see how they could do it effectively just yet without the models looking cluttered and bloated.

Another point is that keeping heroes toned down is far more realistic than heroes carrying fifteen times their body weight in elaborate armour, feathers, assorted bric-à-brac and (in classic GW style) skulls. In most armies throughout history generals have had a few embellishments to distinguish them from the common soldiers, but nothing too extensive. Maybe this is the vibe that Mantic are going for?

I see the point about heroes not being overdone. Granted you can be more imaginative about bases in KOW, but it always bothered me about some warhammer characters who had a hard time ranking up because of the crazy poses or the sheer bulk of the character and weapons.

 

[BAE]

Great pics. The dude looks extra crusty, like a corsair should.

I think you mean the lady looks extra crusty! That's Firebrand you're talking about!

 

[Warden]

I think you mean the lady looks extra crusty! That's Firebrand you're talking about!

What? Its a lady!? I didn't realize this... I need to catch up on the KOW fluff!

And yes, definitely very crusty!

 

[Dragonfire]

If I had that model I could use it as a Swashbuckler hired gun for my Mordheim list. Also? I'd love a KoW skirmish game!

 

[Dragonfire]

Summary from KOW seminary :

Right now I feel like they need more special characters for their armies. Each faction only has 1-3 characters, and it would be nice to see some variation for them. Though I am excited!