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| 40 models to a box? |
Lets look at basic box sets first. GW has 10 skeletons with command options and weapons options for $48 NZ (10? hell i can remember the days when GW put 20 basic troops in a box), now Mantic has multiple options for the basic skeleton box set, going off the Slave to Painting site (great guys, lost of game systems and great prices) you can buy a box set of 20 (!) skeletons for $30 NZ, which is great but it gets better. $48 NZ dollars buys you 40 (?!) Skeletons with command and weapon options, 40 skeletons for 48 dollars from Mantic, 10 skeletons for 48 dollars from GW. This is just embarrassing. But the pictures gets worse when you look at other comparisons.
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| Come on, these guys have to be at least $200 right? |
Until next time
Rex
rex, not to lampoon your research, but black knights are $59 a box...
ReplyDeleteIndeed they are, let me correct that paragraph
DeleteYou have looked at price but next you should compare the quality of the two, ive seen the mantic zombies and they are ok (i mean as in i have seen the actual models) but pretty meh. So maybe a comparrison between the equivilants would be helpful. But Mantic wins on price definately.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the Mantic range is on a equal level of quality to GW, some of the models are better and some are worse. The elven place guard (from mantic) are slightly disappointing but the skeleton models are better than GW's (in my view)
DeleteWhat i meant wasnt looks (although important) but how is the model assembly, is it a tonne of work to get them to look right, quality of the plastic etc because thats what mostly keeps me at games Workshop. Usually they have good quality and consistent detail.
DeleteI have a few of the plastic mantic models and assembly is very simple. Less opportunity for conversation but very easy to assemble
DeleteVery easy to pose as they have a very standard and limited sprue, and because of the sizing's it can be hard when clipping out and removing flash not to accidentally remove a hand or two (i know i did when i did my 100 zombies). i actually prefer the GW ones for having more detail in what would otherwise turn into a very colour blocked unit. Though their zombies are head and shoulders above GWs ones and the ghouls are quite passable (especially since they can be interchanged with the zombies and look more human than the GW variety)
ReplyDeleteThats exactly what i wanted to know, usually you get what you pay for, so cheaper can be good. Comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.
ReplyDeletehttp://victoriaminiatures.highwire.com/
A lot of you probably been here but i dont think people use it enough :P i have 30 ground troops from here and 10 cavalry dudes, they by far attract more attention from people than any other units in my army. i have around 20+ nationalities in my guard army and the guys from victoria miniatures always steal the show. Highly recommended models and the lady that does it is very friendly sends me samples when im unsure and provides help here and there) so anyone doing imperial guard should look that way.
I would not say that Mantic models really adhere to the "you get what you pay for" idea. The models are just as detailed as GW, can be easily used in GW armies and can probably be converted, i haven't tried yet but i cant see why it would be work.
DeleteThe main thing is that GW is charging stupidly high amounts of money for models that other companies charge less for. In fact i think that Mantic's skeletons are better then GWs. Having looked at both (and ignoring the cost) i think that Mantics are just better
After a fair bit of looking i prefer games workshop ones over the mantic (purely skeleton range though) havent looked at anything else. but if you want a big army quickly and cheaply Mantic is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThats my opninon based on the looks though.
I would say buy mantic regardless of preferences. If GW looses a lot of customers to mantic because mantic is cheaper it may show them that charging small mortgages for their models is not the way to go
DeleteThe price is a bit crazy, if they had 20 in a box at the current price that in my opinion would be reasonable. But not 10. But i read that the GW ones have heaps of spare bits and they are scaled better (i assume mean they look like thinner than people as skeletons should look). But it still comes down to personal preference.
DeleteI dont think GW is going that downhill though. Im no expert but what genius would charge more for less if people weren't going to buy it. They must be making a killing. Yes they may loose some sales but im sure if GW can afford to raise prices, update codices, release new models and keep actual retail stores all over the place that they are doing extremely well.
Simply put their models over all tend to be better in quality, asthetics and setting. Fantasy might be easier to find alternatives for but in my opinion most armies are better off with the real thing. guardsmen and orks being the exception to this. USUALLY anyways.
The mantic kits have a ton of extras, and the issue with extras is that extras dont give you another model at the end of day, they just make the ones you have look nicer. I think the reason why GW has gotten away with charging more for less is that people arent aware of the alternates like mantic, avatars of war and Victoria miniatures. If GW's customer base became aware of these sites then GW would loose a lot over night.
DeleteIn general there are alot of alternate models for both fantasy and 40k, you just need to know where to look.
The reason i have found these sites is by looking on forums and asking people. But like me many many GW buyers prefer games workshop models. There are a few who prefer other sites but general opinion online is that GW models are superior overall. You can search where to find alternate models on google and it will come up with forums such as dakka dakka and 40k forums etc etc and there are so many links to so many companies but most of them are far worse than GW.
DeleteI think that the reason is that GW models look like they belong in the GW setting, GW has a certain style where conversions can look good but they look far better when its made with alot of GW stuff etc. People like GW models and at this rate will keep liking it.
If you do a quick search you will see that the only reason people search elsewhere is because of cost and usually they would prefer GW but dont have the cash.
Of course there are the people who dont like GW sculpts but even telling people about it wont stop people getting GW and i can see why. GW just fits with the setting they have created.
A skeleton is a skeleton regardless of who made it, mantic skeletons fit into fantasy perfectly just like mantic space orks fit into 40k perfectly.
DeleteAlso there will come a point where GWs prices will drive a large part of their customer base away. A single space marine captain now costs 40 dollars NZ. I am not sure how many more price hikes people can stand
I have to disagree, the mantic orks are a bit substandard looking at their sprues and appearance. As i said earlier its easy to find fantasy alternatives because its fantasy and there is lots of it. 40K however is a different story, very hard to find GW themed and style models.
ReplyDeleteIll have a look for an alternate space marine captain but i am almost certain it will be hard to find a decent one.
Couldnt find one, there are some but they mostly look like chunky 80s dudes.... moreso than GW :P
DeleteOr visit Mighty Ape and they're even cheaper. Plus got the new Kings of War Basileans & Ogres.
ReplyDeleteMighty Ape also has very fast shipping!
ReplyDeleteI've seen the Mantic zombies and Dwarfs at a few tournaments and they are very good. There Dwarf range isnt bad either although slightly bigger (only slightly) than GW Dwarfs. The most consistent problem with Mantic is issues with assembly and getting models to rank up properly. Always best to dry fit them first, otherwise they are excellent miniatures.
ReplyDeleteIf your like me and prefer games workshop models check out this
ReplyDeletehttp://www.aliexpress.com/
They have forgeworld and normal GW products with free shipping. They have remakes from independent sellers on there but with a very money protective system to insure you don't get ripped off. my first purchase has not arrived but a friend of mine has purchased quite a bit of things from there and they are all amazing quality.
The one problem is it can take some time to get here. But when my Wasp Assault alkers arrive for under half price ill put them up on the blog with a review.
I prefer the Mantic plastics to GWs for the following reasons:
ReplyDelete1) Price (no explanation needed really)
2) The models tend to rank up a lot better. With GW models I always found it difficult when assembling them to make sure they fit together in nice neat row, Mantic ones are better designed in this respect, I've not had any such trouble.
3) Less parts, meaning it takes a lot less time to assemble them. Some people might prefer GW for the extra options, but I'm a gamer primarily, I want to get my models assembled and painted quickly so I can get playing, I don't want to spend hours assembling and customising individual troopers
4) Truescale. Again, a matter of taste, but I'm not too keen on 'heroic' scale, it looks a tad silly and cartoonish for my liking.