Deadzone THE Article: Ransacking The Cult Of The New
June 27, 2014 by crew
As the Wave 2 release of Deadzone looms one question permeates the game-o-sphere; is Deadzone expanding too fast? Will Mantic just run out of ideas?
Of course we want more as gamers. We always demand new minis, new fluff, new everything but is this what would be best for the long term growth and prosperity of Deadzone? Could we be facing a burn out? In less than a year we could have 3 books, 6 factions with a booster for each, a whole range of terrain and lots of solo figures. What can we now hope for in the future? Will Mantic now just sit on their laurels and ignore Deadzone until after they cycle through all their other games? We will examine these questions in depth and see if Deadzone is here for the long run.
New VS. Reliable
Early this year, when Deadzone was released, it was the new kid on the block in wargames. As time goes by every game falls off and succumbs to the cult of the new. This is especially true in the age of the Kickstarter.
Kickstarter was not only responsible for the huge Wave 1 release of Deadzone but also the new, shiny models that are trying to come up and be the next hot thing. With the recent rash of failed Kickstarters in the same genre as Deadzone the bubble of “new new new” seems to have burst a little.
This is great news for Deadzone. If people don’t want new game systems to play maybe they are just looking for a solid, reliable system that they can constantly buy new minis for. This is GW’s bread and butter (or it was until the recent, early, new rules release which might be indicating a shift in their philosophy but this is neither here nor there). Deadzone has a solid chance to be the Sci-Fi Skirmish system of choice especially with Jake Thorton’s amazing rules.
The rules are what makes the game fun. With the upcoming Wave 2 addition of Solo play (which allows by default co-op play), zombie rules and multi-mat rules (which makes sense to sell more terrain) the Deadzone rules will only be getting stronger. Also Deadzone is a very flexible game. You can have strict tournament play as well as casual fun. Personally we don’t get bogged down with every little rule. We let the game breathe and play out for the most enjoyable experience, but to each their own.
Mantic, as a company, tends to expand their games fast and furious and yet seems to keep supporting them over time too. I doubt Deadzone will be any different and if their examples of DreadBall and Kings of War are any indication we can see a lot more coming even after Wave 2 hits.
No Lack Of Choice
Even with just two waves of Deadzone there is already a huge range of scope in the game. Six different factions with many different squad lists makes for a lot of choice. Of course the initial waves focused on the typical factions; Evil Human Empire, Space Elf, Space Dwarves, Rebels, Space Orcs and Mutants. Even within these stereotypes you do get a feel for a wider range of possibilities.
Wave 2 introduces a whole different type of unit called Striders, which are big combat mechs. How will this large machines effect the small scale, skirmish game? We don’t even know the point costs for them yet or their stats.
There are a few vehicles already in the game too. The Marauders have an artillery piece and the Forge Fathers and Asterians have some other vehicles but this seems to be just the beginning.
Was all this too much for just the game’s first year? Only time will tell but what this huge amount of choice offered for factions does allow a wide variety of opponents in the game and you can really never have too much choice.
Lack Of Fluff?
Another complaint hurled at Mantic concerning Deadzone is the lack of background for the setting. There is a bit of fluff in the Nexus Psi book and a short story compilation called the Containment Protocols. More is also promised in the Contagion and Incursion supplements in Wave 2, which introduces the Forge Father and Asterians, as well as Zombies into the system.
Once again a (probably unfair) comparison can be drawn to Warhammer 40K. That system is dripping with fluff (almost to its own detriment since it is so hard to follow it all). This is want a lot of people want from Deadzone. We at Deadzone the Podcast personally like to make our own stuff up but others like to have more flesh on the bones so to speak.
The Containment Protocols ebook was a nice first step but may have focused too much on the planet of Nexus Psi (where the Deadzone Campaign of the same name takes place) and not enough on the world at large. As Deadzone is a shared universe with Warpath and DreadBall maybe Mantic could come out with world guides detailing the universe but not affiliated to just one game. Now that would bring the games together and expand both the universe and the player base for each game. Would it not be cool to read about a world’s background and indigenous life, its corporations and DreadBall teams and also have chapters about what might happen if a Plague outbreak happened there?
What Could Be In The Future?
All in all Deadzone has a literal universe worth of growth in front of it. Mantic hasn’t been shy about expanding the races in their other games either and any could end up being a faction in Deadzone. There are groups such as the Veer-myn and Corporation from Warpath that haven’t even got a faction yet. Let alone the fact that every Corporation could be a different faction!
Then there are the races from DreadBall. The Z’zor and Nameless are begging for factions. Also the other races from DreadBall, who are currently grouped in with the Rebs, could be expanded out. That’s not even looking at the huge influx of races from DreadBall Xtreme!
The Dreadball Xtreme Kickstarter was just one new team after another, most of which consisted of whole new races. Mechanites are the faction we most want especially as a new type of enemy that could be played against in co-op play. Then there are the Crystallans, Sphyr, Koris, Tsudochan and Ada-Lorena races. Each looks so interesting and original. This is where Deadzone can break away from the stereotypical races and look at whole new, fresh ideas.
Also fans have already started making their own factions and stats up. Personally we are working on some ways to make a universal squad builder so you could do WYSIWYG weapon and ability combos for new troops. Listen for more information on upcoming Deadzone the Podcast shows. The best games are expanded upon even faster than the company making them can keep up. With Mantic this is a challenge but we’re already seeing it happen!
So in conclusion we love Deadzone not just for the cool miniatures and great terrain. We play Deadzone because it is fun! Every game allows for epic moments where some character survives against all odds or a character makes a sprint for the win. It doesn’t matter if you use Mantic’s models, Infinity’s or Sedition Wars’, get a hold of the rules and play. Mark off a 2’x2’ board with 3” squares and grab some terrain from anywhere and get some games in. You won’t be disappointed.
If you would like to write an article for Beasts of War on your favourite game then please contact me at [email protected]!
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
Supported by (Turn Off)
You’re spot on about the Zz’or and Nameless begging for factions. Mantic seems to be hesitant about the Nameless particularly, though, as if they’re worried that they might be too “fringe” to sell well. If so, I disagree. With their slightly Cthulhu look, and the high quality of the Nameless Dreadball designs, I think the Nameless would be a very popular Deadzone faction. Apparently the Dreadball Nameless team sells very well, too, so I’d hope that would allay any business concerns.
See the thing that people forget bout the Nameless is that they are relatively docile and friendly members of the GCPS -probably why they aren’t represented as a faction in their own right. There are exceptions, of course, but could you retcon the fluff to make a faction work?
Unlike 40K canon, it’s pretty early days still for Mantic fluff. If it gets in the way, I’d say rewrite it. You might offend 3 people at most.
I think you read between the lines, Mantic is intending on expanding Deadzone “fluff” before the introduction of more races. Many of us during the KS asked for more vehicles such as dropships etc…and the word from Ronnie seems to direct us to a vehicle expansion, probably combined with the update to Warpath, as the two systems combine so neatly. I hear rumour of an Antenocitis Workshop KS, mainly dealing with vehicles……It is interesting to note the Deadzone and Mars Attacks resin scenery was produced by them. I think the future is looking bright for Mantic players.
Just curious – where are these recent Deadzone vehicle rumors coming from? Can anyone direct me?
The recent video interview with Ronnie about Mantic’s future plans, I think it was filmed at Adepticon in the US.
I wholeheartedly agree. I’m really looking forward to Wave 2 hitting. (My left thumb may not be due to the amount of mould-line trimming to do, but blood is cheap, right?!)
It was really pleasing to hear a great review of Deadzone in the latest D6Generation podcast. These guys are veteran gamers and have high standards. While no system is perfect, and industry standards are higher than ever, I really do think Deadzone is doing well!
I posted an article on the Mantic forums about working with restic. I file away the mould line and use a soft brass bristle brush to remove the little nubbins that stick around from filing!
I am looking at some of the Dust walkers and thinking how they might fit into the Deadzone/Warpath/Dreadball/Project Sombrero universe.
Just waiting for Forgefathers , I have a load of Hasslefree grymns dying to get in on this.
I love mantic arent precious about the models , I think Ronnie actually thrives on seeing whats out there , not just for his games , but in general….
I need a bigger house…
It might be a bit unfair to compare the background info for 40k (around for decades, galaxy-spanning, has been worked on by dozens, nay, hundreds of writers!) with that for Deadzone (around for under a year, a game that focuses entirely on a single world, has been worked on by a handful of writers).
Hopefully, given time, the Warpath setting will expand and grow into a whole distinct universe – but Rome wasn’t built in a day!
I’m sorry who are you? I’m pretty sure you’re dead to us! LOL
Just kidding James! Hope everything is going well for you!
I started many years ago with rogue trader and a few eldar models. As GW expanded so did my collection I yearned for fluff and stories and they pleased my hunger. As the stories expanded across the galaxies some of the games were left behind, necromunda, mordheim, gorkamorka. I liked the stories, even collected the monthly comic, and the heroism of characters. Unfortunately As the years went on leaned towards small scale/skirmish gaming and mantic have come to my aid. I still buy the Gotrex, Ciaphus and other books but have not purchased or played 40k/fantasy in many years. So… Read more »
system failure, rebooted.
The fluff for mantics galaxy will come in time. With Ronnies output on ideas and thoughts it may not take as long or as many writers as GW. I believe the Mantic universe will be very big and I will keep on funding it as long as I can, games or books.
From my perspective as a fan of RPGs and skirmish games, I think that since their is so much room for fluff and the setting leaning toward being so expansive and full opportunities, the stage is set for an RPG. Doing an RPG now will provide a new game, a great reason to make more fluff, and another avenue to use mantic figs in their own game setting.
They should team up with Modiphius. Modiphius is already doing Mutant Chronicles (in the same universe are Warzone) and Dust Adventures in the same world as Dust Tactics/Battlefield. Might as well throw Warpath Universe in there too!
The Zz’or and Vermyn will appear in there own expansions and be the main focus like the Plague are in this season of Deadzone. Well this was said by Ronnie at a previous open day, if this comes about….. well thats another matter!
Having only purchased one of Mantic’s one-player battle sets for Warpath, I’m a little leery about investing in any of their newer ventures. Yeah, their deadzone range seems to be ridiculously successful at the moment, but how do we know they’re not going to just drop the game once another exciting kickstarter comes along? Given that deadzone is ostensibly set in the same universe, why are we worried about the lack of fluff for this game when its parent system is still missing key miniatures and any real support?
Warpath has been on the backburner because Mantic haven’t been in a position to launch it properly. Deadzone is in fact a stepping stone to that. It provides one of the three pillars of minis that Warpath needs. The others are vehicles and hard plastic sprues. The switch to WF for production of hard plastic was initially accompanied by a drop in quality from what they were getting from Renedra. As Mantic can only launch Warpath once, they won’t do it until the sprues are of sufficient quality. I believe this has been the case with the DZ zombies and… Read more »
Exactly what I was going to say. Really looking forward to see what Mantic do with the Warpath kickstarter. Already started putting money away for it
Slight correction there, Mantic don’t use Wargames Factory for the hard plastics.
Who do they use?
I’m looking forward to getting some Forge Fathers out on the field.
Although I have been aware of Deadzone since the kickstarter, it took listening to the review on the D6 Generation podcast for me to pull the trigger. Cant wait to get going with it now!