Teenage Mutant Nipponese Beastmen

[Zhu Bajie]

I know there are a few TMNT fans around these parts...

The unfortunately namesd Tartalar Wartart (think it's a ref. to the Pokemon Wartortle)

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hand- ... /x/1495316

I think these are really nice, while not quite classic Eastman / Laird, they tend towards the comic book rather than cartoon series.

They're going to come with multi-weapon options, so might be able to make up units...

 

[Captain Crooks]

And the winner of best thread title goes to...

 

[Blue in VT]

Those are pretty nice, but as discussed elsewhere the Kickstarter is a shambles.... It's just all over the place and why aren't there four turtles?

Cheers,

Blue

 

[Zhu Bajie]

No. I couldn't make sense out of it either, also no scale-reference, turtle might be a bit big. Project is funded, so they should end up in their shop at some point (?)

Mousers

Casey Jones

Their not-foot-clan isn't very good (well Casey isn't brilliant either), but I think someone out there does some nice bug-eyed ninja...

Edit: there we go, crossover miniatures.

http://crossoverminiatures.com/product/ninja-hoard-14/

 

[Count Von Bruno]

Too cool, I like the mousers and foot ninja especially!

I'm a sucker for TMNT (I have a small, red bandanna wearing turtle tattooed on an ankle) and have wanted the Dark Horse minis for donkey's years.

Seeing what the asking price for them are means I long ago gave up on the idea of owning them too

This could be a nice compromise

PS: if any of you wonderful people have the Terror Bears and don't want them anymore...

 

[cheetor]

Im definitely in for this, Im just waiting for pay day.

Not-TMNT have been thin on the ground and I like the styling of the four boys and the mousers, although the sculpting quality falls away a bit once it gets to Casey, April, Beebop and Rocksteady. Not awful, but not inspiring either.

No. I couldn't make sense out of it either, also no scale-reference, turtle might be a bit big.

No obvious info and no comparison shot, but there is a line in the middle of the front page of the project that states:

"do you remember the Tutatis' turtle team? Lots of people have been asking us to rework on them in 27 mm scale instead of 10 mm, and here they are!"

Im not really sure if that clears things up or makes it more confusing to be honest. I would rather that the TMNT were roughly the size of a below average height human male in scale than large models, so "27mm" is better than 30mm I guess. Although one mans 25mm is anothers heroic scale, so no way to tell really.

EDIT: the image below shows a Wartart ( ) on a slotted base. Unscientific as this is, he does look a little smaller there than most of the miniature humans in my collection. (pinch of salt not supplied).

Their not-foot-clan isn't very good (well Casey isn't brilliant either), but I think someone out there does some nice bug-eyed ninja...

My ten old Perry ninja are slated for this one. Not a perfect match for the Foot, but close enough and with retro appeal. Assuming that Leo and co dont tower over them, which I doubt.

Those are pretty nice, but as discussed elsewhere the Kickstarter is a shambles.... It's just all over the place and why aren't there four turtles?

Its definitely a bit confusing. I contacted the guy and asked him for a pledge level that just features the TMNT stuff (Casey, April, Foot, Beebop etc included). He put up a specific pledge level that corresponded to it a day or so later and sent me a message thanking me for the input. So that makes a decent one-click TMNT skirmish game for anyone who that appeals to (although unless I have somehow missed it, Shredder is absent, which is a drag)

A similar request for a one-click pledge for the four turtles is probably worth trying if you guys require it. Asking for a photo of one of the turtles (which appear to have been printed rather than merely rendered at least) alongside a space marine or something else generic wouldnt hurt either.

 

[Zhu Bajie]

I think I'll wait for the release, I'd like at least 4 poses for the turtles before committing. I have the Dark Horse ones (with power weapons) in a box somewhere.

These Copplestone Terminators could be nice TCRI suits with a bit of work:

Triceratons?

 

[phreedh]

Wartart ( )

That would be a Sister of Battle, yes?

My first impression of TMNT was their appearance in Munden's Bar. Based on that, I never really got on with any other Turtle stuff I was exposed to, as it was a bit more kids oriented. For me, it was all about Star Wars, all the time. GI Joe, He-Man, Turtles and so on... no match for a good blaster at your side.

 

[mbh]

how does this work?

Are they different enough to avoid copyright issues or does nobody really care?

 

[cheetor]

My first impression of TMNT was their appearance in Munden's Bar. Based on that, I never really got on with any other Turtle stuff I was exposed to, as it was a bit more kids oriented. For me, it was all about Star Wars, all the time. GI Joe, He-Man, Turtles and so on... no match for a good blaster at your side.

The opening pages of the first turtles comic that I read (a reprint of the original Turtles book I *think*. I am not an expert) featured the boys gutting some muggers in sprays of blood, so thats my TMNT touchstone.

Like most of these pop culture icons, you just choose the iteration that appeals the most: Adam West > Christian Bale for example. The 1987 TMNT cartoon didnt appeal to me for various reasons, but playing a miniatures game with some turtles that draw imaginary. miniature blood rather than knock clumsy assailants over with trash cans and tie them up with convenient bunting does. And idiotic as that TV show was, adding Beebop and Rocksteady to the equation is just too tempting to me

Phreedh, as a fan of the SOBH range of games have you read A Fistful of Kung Fu? I have yet to play AFOKF, but it reads like it deals with very many of the problems that I have with the rules sets. I think that you might like it. Plus it is perfect for TMNT games.

 

[phreedh]

Phreedh, as a fan of the SOBH range of games have you read A Fistful of Kung Fu? I have yet to play AFOKF, but it reads like it deals with very many of the problems that I have with the rules sets. I think that you might like it. Plus it is perfect for TMNT games.

No, havent checked it out but I gather it's rather successful. What are your problems and how are they addressed?

 

[Zhu Bajie]

The opening pages of the first turtles comic that I read (a reprint of the original Turtles book I *think*. I am not an expert) featured the boys gutting some muggers in sprays of blood, so thats my TMNT touchstone.

Also a red-bandanna fan. It is still fun, but tongue in cheek and very violent, quite suitable for skirmish-gaming.

how does this work?

Are they different enough to avoid copyright issues or does nobody really care?

Copyright exists in individual, specific works of art, not in the general idea of a shelled creature holding weapons with a bandanna on. Now Viacom (the current owners) might consider the visual representation of the TMNT to be a trademark, and that using these likenesses is passing off (i.e. trading on the goodwill they own in the brand), or they could pick some specific pieces of TMNT art they consider might have been copied and claim copyright infringement. Personally I don't think they've been copied, I think they're original designs based on the same basic idea.

 

[mbh]

bunny ears on darth vader

 

[cheetor]

No, havent checked it out but I gather it's rather successful.

I dont know if its selling well or not, but its definitely a fun read. The presentation is far higher than the sort of fanzine look that Ganesha generates, better proofreading and layout too (bearing in mind that I havent actually used it to play a game yet, just read it).

What are your problems and how are they addressed?

Its a while since I actually played a Ganesha game, so Im a bit fuzzy on details, but:

AFOKF forces feature a Protagonist, some Extras and maybe a henchman type called a Brusier on each side. Its all about the Protagonists.

SoBH can seem a bit generic and occasionally bland. The various different iterations/settings of the different rulesets can feel very similar, just with renamed powers etc. I think that a lot of that is due to how the combat works. Combat can generate quite a large swing of values that often result in not a whole lot.

AFOKF has a lot of smaller results incorporated into the combat roll that cause scenery items to activate (think of a Jackie Chan type using fish in a market as improvised weapons or throwing carving knives and cleavers in a kitchen, that sort of thing), cause opponents to lose face, turn opponents into Sitting Ducks, allows characters to be disarmed and in rare cases allow Reactions (only the force leaders ("Protagonists") can react. This can also generate shooting reactions and shoot-out/gun-fu stuff).

There is a big list of Stunts allowing wall walking and things like that. Some of those key of the big list of props, allowing for more Jackie Chan sort of behaviour.

Protagonists also begin with Chi points. They can be used to ignore a turnover, alter combat effects, motivate extras, perform Chi abilities (Spells, super kung-fu manoeuvres).

Having played other Ganesha Games, this one immediately looks like more fun to me, while still not being too complicated (they have pared down the number of modifiers and trimmed a lot of fat from numbers of stat lines and the like). I have to run now, so I cant quite finish writing this, but its worth a look.

Also a red-bandanna fan. It is still fun, but tongue in cheek and very violent, quite suitable for skirmish-gaming.

Definitely. Its a good fit for that sort of game, lots of potential.

 

[phreedh]

SoBH can seem a bit generic and occasionally bland.

Agree! However, my main gripe is how digital the game is. Either a model is fine, or it's out. The lowliest goblin can one-shot the biggest giant. Yeah, there's Tough, but it's flawed in its design. A tough troll (Q5+, for instance) is not as tough as a tough elf (Q2+, for instance). That's a wee bit odd.

The activation system also annoys me as it means it's hard to take tactical decisions. I enjoy the element of risk, but would prefer a system where risk and reward are weighed against each other. In SBH you have to risk it, every turn, with every model...

AFOKF sounds interesting from a mechanics perspective (protagonist, extras, bruiser, chi etc). Not too keen on the props thing. I enjoy Jackie Chan movies a lot, but don't care for gaming the genre or style of fight.

No idea how well it have been selling, but there have been a lot of talk about it both on the Ganesha group as well as on LAF and other fora so I'm assuming it's doing well in some respect.

Aaanyways. Cowabunga!