Games that currently intrigue me: Warpath

 

This was another game that went down on the old Christmas present list late last year, and good old Saint Nick obliged. I have the Fate of the Forge Fathers starter set and there is a review of that pending. But, for now lets pretend I'm looking at this with fresh eyes and a view to purchasing it. I have to accept the very real possibility that this game intrigues me for all the wrong reasons. Let me explain:

1. Mantic is run by an ex-Games Workshop staff member, who I happen to think was right about their business plan.
2. They're now taking Games Workshop on directly at their own game so to speak, but doing things 'Ronnies' way as opposed to 'Toms' way.
3. I really hope Mantic succeed, if for no other reason than it forces a very long overdue rethink in tactics at Lenton Lane.
4. Plus they're making a better job of their breakaway from Games Workshop than Ian Bailey and Gary Chalk did with the Folio Works published 'Fantasy Warlord'

I freely admit I'd take some personal glee in seeing Mantic become more successful than they currently are, because I've felt for years now this was the sort of direction Games Workshop should have been heading in. Still it's all about the games for me, and while Kings of War shows some early promise as a fantasy based battle game, I still have some grave reservation. So how does Warpath stack up? Lets find out...

This doesn't seem fair, 1 Forge Father against that horde...

Company: well I'm guessing all of you will have heard of Mantic Games, it's pretty hard not to have done considering how much promotion Ronnie Renton has done. They started out in 2009 I believe when Ronnie decided enough was enough at Games Workshop. There are some amusing tales that have flown around the hobby describing how he made his exit from the Lenton Lane Behemoth, but... I don't know if any of them are true! It's all part of the Ronnie legend I guess. Mantics first pitch as a company was to produce some insanely reasonably priced plastic miniatures for Fantasy settings. They weren't crappy looking either and I still really like their Undead range. They eventually released their Kings of War rules in 2010 to accompany the fantasy range of miniatures. They've also published the Dwarf Kings Hold games that I enjoy so much, and now they've set their sights on taking a slice out of the biggest hobby pie, 40k.

Website: Mantic Games Warpath

War(path) huh what is it good for...

...well I'm not really sure yet, would be the truthful answer. However unless you've been in a wargaming cave for a few weeks locked away from the world, you can't have failed to hear the news that Mantic games, the purveyors of reasonably priced miniatures are planning on expanding into futuristic sci-fi wargaming, I guess it was inevitable really. It is however a brave move for such a relatively young company and the news was officially announced on Beasts of War Turn 8 show, give the video a watch as Ronnie and Alessio give some good info on what to expect. Also if you're a newly subscribed member to the Beasts of War 'Backstage' service you can get access to the Alpha rules to Mantics Warpath. I've signed up for a few reasons:

1. I find some of their video's entertaining
2. They do a good job promoting the hobby in a fair and balanced way 
3. After the great job they did on promoting Infinity I feel duty bound to support them back... I think its worth it.

But for now lets get back to Warpath and Mantic, what are they playing at? Well you see until 8th Edition I wasn't really sure there was a need for another large scale fantasy battle game on the market either, or even room for one. I could, however see a market for cheaper alternatives to Games Workshops own Citadel range of miniatures, especially as they started to continually ramp up the size of the game. However what the Games Workshop did with 8th Edition has left some people cold, me included and before people start waiving their arms in the air and reaching for their nearest flaming torch and pitch fork, I also know that the reality is the game is also liked by a fair few, and more power to you if you're one of them. However for me if I want a large scale fantasy game then their isn't anything for me, well apart from Mantic Games Kings of War. So was it planned or perfect timing on Mantics part? Only Ronnie really knows.