ScipioAmericanus
Mongoose
My AT-43 Initiation Set arrived today. I opened it thinking "these are gonna be ok, probably good." Was I ever surprised!
The production figs are darned good! Not perfect, but a lot better than I expected! As advertised, the paint appears quite thin, so priming and repainting won't be an issue. But honestly, these are just fine as is. Maybe a wash here and there, and a touch-up or two (primarilly on the Therians) but other than that, I am VERY pleased with my purchase and will be buying more! My FLGS is even going to stock it (and he now refuses to stock any MGP whatsoever). The Fire Toad in particular stands out: it uses almost exactly the same splinter pattern that I'm using on my Tau, and the results are every bit as good as what I've gotten with my airbrush.
Here are my evals for what they're worth:
Packaging: 10/10. Well thought-out, very engaging cover art. The minis were well protected and didn't shift at all in all the shipping.
Rules: ?/10. Haven't been through them yet, but the rulebook appears well laid-out, lots of good art, it's full color, and printing is crisp. I like the staged approach where they introduce new rules with each scenario.
Figs: 9/10. Nice poses, and the painting is crisp, clean, and subtle. I like that they chose not to do eyes, just a wash for depth. All the figs look a lot closer to studio than they do to the photos of the prepaints! Personally, I'll probably dirty the humans up a bit more and maybe change a few accessory colors, but I'd be perfectly content to game with these figs as-is.
Accessories: 11/10. You get some barricades, dice, a tape measure and a VERY nice container that just cries out for some weathering. You also get a mat that the scenarios are keyed to. In short, you're ready to game with the contents.
How does this relate to MGP and SST? Read on.
I think everyone knows my stand on pre-paints. Will AT-43 ever become my primary game? Probably not. There's not nearly enough compelling bg yet, but hopefully that will change. The upcoming releases look good, and I will be buying them.
IF MGP were to take the same approach to SST v.2, and the product was of the same quality, then I think the game that I love would enjoy a resurgence. Some specific suggestions:
1) DO release a starter set with the pre-paints. If AT-43 can suck ME in, then the market should be wide open. Out of the box, ready to game is the way to go!!!! Not individual squads sold seperately. I think LAMI (or Caps) and Bugs would be the answer. Maybe two seperate starter sets?
2) QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY in EVERYTHING!!!! From packaging to rules to the sculpts to the pre-paints. I suggest you guys contact Rackham and find out what factory they're using for their pre-paints!
3) DO think very hard about not doing army books. I don't think I'm unique, but when I start a new army I research it, plan it, re-plan it before I even order a fig or pick up a modelling knife. Fluff is compelling: it allows "immersion" and attraction. I decided to do a new army for the upcoming world-wide campaign in July for WFB. The blurbs in the main rules pointed me in a general direction, but it was looking at the army books that nailed my choice. Now, I'm far more excited and involved than I ever could have been with what was included in the main rules. Without compelling background, we're just moving generic plastic or metal pieces around on a table...
4) QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY! Call me the quality "guru." That emphasis made my company prosper and guaranteed me a nice standard of living for the rest of my life. Satisfied customers usually means repeat business, ECSTATIC customers always means LOYALTY.
5) Don't hitch your wagon to the pre-paint star! Pre-paints should be limited to the starter sets ONLY or maybe also to certain larger models. If you supplement your initial starter sets with HIGH QUALITY un-painted figs, once you've got the hook set with the starter sets, people WILL buy. Another idea would be generic pre-paints supplemented with unique un-painted figs. For example, you could buy a squad of LAMI pre-paints, but then other figs would be available un-painted to give folks the opportunity to customize their forces.
6) Get new sculptors. If Hasslefree, for example, can turn out better product than you guys...then you guys are wrong. I first started using them for figs for my Skinnie Slaves when that release turned out to be such an abortion. Not only were they fast, courteous, and HIGH quality, but they even put candy in my orders and a nice little note!!!! That kind of personal touch makes a company memorable, and they have a customer for life now. I'm not saying put candy in every box of figs, but what I AM saying is start making your customers feel important and valued.
I'm not piling on the "BASH MGP Bandwagon" I'm trying to help.
Now, Taco and I are gonna try the 1st scenario for AT-43 on the dining room table...
Regards.
The production figs are darned good! Not perfect, but a lot better than I expected! As advertised, the paint appears quite thin, so priming and repainting won't be an issue. But honestly, these are just fine as is. Maybe a wash here and there, and a touch-up or two (primarilly on the Therians) but other than that, I am VERY pleased with my purchase and will be buying more! My FLGS is even going to stock it (and he now refuses to stock any MGP whatsoever). The Fire Toad in particular stands out: it uses almost exactly the same splinter pattern that I'm using on my Tau, and the results are every bit as good as what I've gotten with my airbrush.
Here are my evals for what they're worth:
Packaging: 10/10. Well thought-out, very engaging cover art. The minis were well protected and didn't shift at all in all the shipping.
Rules: ?/10. Haven't been through them yet, but the rulebook appears well laid-out, lots of good art, it's full color, and printing is crisp. I like the staged approach where they introduce new rules with each scenario.
Figs: 9/10. Nice poses, and the painting is crisp, clean, and subtle. I like that they chose not to do eyes, just a wash for depth. All the figs look a lot closer to studio than they do to the photos of the prepaints! Personally, I'll probably dirty the humans up a bit more and maybe change a few accessory colors, but I'd be perfectly content to game with these figs as-is.
Accessories: 11/10. You get some barricades, dice, a tape measure and a VERY nice container that just cries out for some weathering. You also get a mat that the scenarios are keyed to. In short, you're ready to game with the contents.
How does this relate to MGP and SST? Read on.
I think everyone knows my stand on pre-paints. Will AT-43 ever become my primary game? Probably not. There's not nearly enough compelling bg yet, but hopefully that will change. The upcoming releases look good, and I will be buying them.
IF MGP were to take the same approach to SST v.2, and the product was of the same quality, then I think the game that I love would enjoy a resurgence. Some specific suggestions:
1) DO release a starter set with the pre-paints. If AT-43 can suck ME in, then the market should be wide open. Out of the box, ready to game is the way to go!!!! Not individual squads sold seperately. I think LAMI (or Caps) and Bugs would be the answer. Maybe two seperate starter sets?
2) QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY in EVERYTHING!!!! From packaging to rules to the sculpts to the pre-paints. I suggest you guys contact Rackham and find out what factory they're using for their pre-paints!
3) DO think very hard about not doing army books. I don't think I'm unique, but when I start a new army I research it, plan it, re-plan it before I even order a fig or pick up a modelling knife. Fluff is compelling: it allows "immersion" and attraction. I decided to do a new army for the upcoming world-wide campaign in July for WFB. The blurbs in the main rules pointed me in a general direction, but it was looking at the army books that nailed my choice. Now, I'm far more excited and involved than I ever could have been with what was included in the main rules. Without compelling background, we're just moving generic plastic or metal pieces around on a table...
4) QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY! Call me the quality "guru." That emphasis made my company prosper and guaranteed me a nice standard of living for the rest of my life. Satisfied customers usually means repeat business, ECSTATIC customers always means LOYALTY.
5) Don't hitch your wagon to the pre-paint star! Pre-paints should be limited to the starter sets ONLY or maybe also to certain larger models. If you supplement your initial starter sets with HIGH QUALITY un-painted figs, once you've got the hook set with the starter sets, people WILL buy. Another idea would be generic pre-paints supplemented with unique un-painted figs. For example, you could buy a squad of LAMI pre-paints, but then other figs would be available un-painted to give folks the opportunity to customize their forces.
6) Get new sculptors. If Hasslefree, for example, can turn out better product than you guys...then you guys are wrong. I first started using them for figs for my Skinnie Slaves when that release turned out to be such an abortion. Not only were they fast, courteous, and HIGH quality, but they even put candy in my orders and a nice little note!!!! That kind of personal touch makes a company memorable, and they have a customer for life now. I'm not saying put candy in every box of figs, but what I AM saying is start making your customers feel important and valued.
I'm not piling on the "BASH MGP Bandwagon" I'm trying to help.
Now, Taco and I are gonna try the 1st scenario for AT-43 on the dining room table...
Regards.
