TWINCG - Finecast Will Become Fine

Welcome to yet another article on This Week In Non-Competitive Gaming, where I make some form of enraged rant about something or another on a weekly basis!

Fun, right? 

Once again I’d like to focus on one of the recent controversial issues of 40k, Citadel Finecast, which personally I like.

After I bought 6 Finecast models, all of which were in perfect condition, I began to like–gasp!-them, and after my recent purchases of two more Shadowseers, which are also perfect, I thought I might defend them a bit more.

This time, however I’m not going to force evidence and whatnot down your throat, rather encourage you too remember the launch of plastic models why back when.

Back in the day, when plastic models were released for the first time, they were the source of great controversy.  The moulds GW were using would mean they could only sculpt conservative, boring poses, unlike the dynamic metal models, the models were in one piece and there was great weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Nowadays, after GW put real effort into building upon these shaky foundations, we have truly remarkable plastic kits, with more components then you can shake a stick at, though why you would defeats me; perhaps someone could elaborate. 

Anyway, most players were /raging at these new kits initially, but soon, as the benefits outweighed the costs, they began too love them.

So how does this link to Finecast? Games Workshop have never actually made any resin models prior to this release, as with the plastic models, so if the models are truly terrible now, give them a chance to learn and build from their mistakes.  Remember, virtually all of the sculpts that are now Finecast were designed to be metal models, not resin, so if you hate them, that’s probably because GW is trying to sell a donkey as a racing horse. 
And with that note, I urge you to wait some time before condemning GW, who as you frequently point out, are far from infallible. 

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TWINCG - Mantic Games: Defender of Decency!

Yet another week has gone past, so it’s now time for yet another This Week In Non-Competitive Gaming!
Though it is more This Week In Competitive Capitalism, Or Lack There Of.
Recently, after my daily trolling over on BOLS, I have found myself infuriated by the comments on Mantic’s new game Warpath.

The main criticisms of the game are that Mantic are just ripping off GW’s ideas. The ignorance of this statement, while versed in some from of truth, is quite annoying to me. Firstly, GW are not the sole owners of the Fantasy in Space setting, which was built upon the Fantasy setting, which was built upon the Middle-Earth setting and so on so forth.
There are no entirely original ideas these days, ok? I wish people would accept that. Scriptwriters and authors claim that there is only 5 storyline themes, with each, so called, new idea being just a variation upon these initial ideals.

Lets have a look at some comparisons between Mantic’s Warpath concept art and GW’s actual models

Orx Marauder, from Mantic

GW’s Typical Ork

The similarities here, while somewhat obvious, only play a minimal role between the art, with radical differences being observable.
Firstly, the gun is more vicious and deadly than GW’s sluggas.
Secondly, the armour is far more minimalist in GW’s Orks than those from Mantic.
The proportions of head, body, arms, teeth and hands appear more balanced.
I could go on further, but honestly cannot be bothered to rant anymore…. Apparently some people don’t like reading my rages for 58 pages, who knew?

So for those who TL;DR
Yes, Mantic has done Fantasy in space
No, they have not done a blatant copy of GW’s range
Yes, there are similarities, being Mantic’s niche in the market. Most people I know bought the models as a far cheaper alternative to GW, with no real interest in the game. After a few months we played some KoW and loved it. Too put a long story short, people buy their products primarily as an alternative, so it makes sense to include this similarities.

So, as a final point, everyone hates GW’s business model. Just take a glance at any large, online 40k community and try not to find over 9000 examples of such rages. Mantic has a much better one in my opinion, with their game being open to changes based on criticism and being very in touch with their fan base.
If you want to have a discussion with the higher ups, help them out or rage at them, it is all easy to do, and they are open to external help. As proof of this currently I am drowning in code, creating a list builder for their armies in KoW, something I am happy to do for such a company and they seem happy to receive.
Everyone has rages at GW’s price hikes, and then rages at Mantic, who are providing a far cheaper alternative for said models, yet they rage none the less!
Hypocrisy of the internet never ceases to amaze me, and trust me, I have seen terrible, terrible things…. 4chan for example

And so ended yet another This Week In Non Competitive Gaming Article…
Thoughts, criticisms, unfathomable rage?

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TWINCG - Finecast is Fine?

For this instalment of This Week In Non-Competitive Gaming, I thought I would tackle the most controversial issue at this time, namely Citadel Finecast.
One simply has to cast their eyes upon any blog or forum to be bombarded by a deluge of nerd raging, coma inducing posts about Finecast, orientated towards the price and quality.
Well, I actually like love Finecast! At first I thought it may have been a single, decent sculpt that I had purchased, I mean, the internets cannot be wrong can they?
Well, in that mindset I purchased no less than six models, all of which were excellent.
Obviously you wont take my word for it so here are some pictures to prove it, taken prior to any cleaning or repair work (None of which was necessary, save chopping off flash)

Warlock

Farseer

Shadowseer

Death Jester

Warlocks x2

My iPhone takes bad pictures I know... My camera is being repaired though! 

Honestly, the detail is amazing on these guys, the Death Jester's base is a prime example of this.  A every single rivet is clearly visible, which when I look at the metal verison, I cannot even see!

I thought the damn thing was some ruin or something... Time to repaint it methinks.

To test the strength of the material by hurling dropping a fortunate (Pun!) Farseer, which just bounced around, without a single chip or breakage.

The models went together nicely, are light and not overtly toxic.  I did a very dodgy cutting job in my room, went to sleep, woke up perfectly healthily, unlike far less exposure from FW resin leading to sickness.  Also, the releasing agent is already cleaned off, so no baths needed!

Well, there we have it!

Thoughts, criticisms, unfathomable rage?

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TWINCG - Neckbeards: An Epidemic

Walk into your FLGS, look around at the people gathered there, take a deep breath, inhale the fumes and perspiration and try not to collapse.

Welcome to another instalment of This Week in Non-Competitive Gaming!  This week we're going to take a look at what separates us from the bane of gaming, the neckbeard and steps you can take to ensure you do not join their shambling legion of pestilence.  

Firstly, lets look at how to identify whether or not you are truly a neckbeard

IDENTIFYING

1. Look in the mirror.

If it breaks, then skip to the "Overcoming Symptoms" section.

Take a good, long look at yourself.  If you see the fat rolls, the facial hair and excessive perspiration, then tick the "I am a Neckbeard" column.

Stop and think about how others look at you.  Sure, you may be comfortable, but what is the general consensus of society? If you saw yourself walking down the road, what would your reaction be? Try to be as judgemental as possible here; the first step is admitting you have a problem

     2.  Look at your house

This is providing you have a house that is.

If you are living in your parents basement, trolling 4chan and whatnot, then you are most certainly a neckbeard.  Anything else is justified

     3.  Check your mailbox

If you receive the following letter, you know you are a neckbeard

Hello, This is Death! Famine and I were wondering if you were maybe interested in taking your horse out for a ride with us and War, you know, the four horsemen and all that harbinger of the apocalypse whatnot...  Whaddya think? 

 Believe me, if you are the Pestilence Horseman, then you most certainly are an unhygenic neckbeard.  


OVERCOMING SYMPTOMS 

1. Soap is your friend... Use it

Forget about your experience in prison, use the damn soap.... Hygiene is one of the greatest plagues on wargamers, a common symptom of a neckbeard.  Other options involve actually washing your clothes *gasp! * and not spilling yesterday's breakfast over it.

      2.    Please, use the stuff... 'Nuff said


      3. Get a job
Don't be the unemployed 40 something who reads his rulebook each night,  while his Mummy reminds him to visit the unemployment centre... please.


In conclusion, I think this comic is very appropriate in it's overall message.

What are your experiences with neckbeards?

Thoughts, criticisms, unfathomable rage?

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This Week in Non-Competive Gaming: Capitalist Workshop, Enough is enough

Ok so I'm sure many have heard a lot of whining from others about GW, complaints that I haven't been publicly debating on the forums.
As an Australian, I've grown used to being the red headed stepson of GW's pricing, which were definatly annoying, but I could deal with.
The embargo is also somewhat irksome, but I always can get friends in the UK to pick it up and ship it to me.
Finecast personally is a change I have welcomed, after one squad of metal Harlequins or Wraiths you quickly grow in resentment for metal... *grumble grumble*
But it's the latest, most recent change that has sent me over the edge. Living in WA, our capital is the second most isolated city in the entire world, severally limiting gameplay.
Often Perth gamers are left with a choice of either going down to their local GW (3 in the entire city and surrounding suburbia) or 1 decent independant retailer, as in, the only one that has tables, a decent range and good employees.

The choice is fairly obvious, as I'd rather not get drowned by the "Z0MG GR3Y K1GH75! 50 1337!!!" marketing approach of GW.
In their infinite wisdom, GW have now decided tk attack Independent Retailers, if the rumours are true, refusing to give them black boxes and now shutting down almost all rumours, even the Incoming! articles one week prior to launch, forcing people to buy White Dwarfs for some form of rumours.
Oh, about that, GW now has apparently decoded that subscribers shall recieve their WD late and will have to visit their local friendly, *cough* capitalist *cough* GW store to read them...


So for those whom TL;DR
1. GW is now attacking Independent Retailers
2. They are forcing White Dwarfs down our throats more than ever.

If these rumours are true, then methinks Mantic's new Sci-Fi game system may have a large boost...

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