"All Quiet on the Martian Front, anyone playing?" Topic

So, as is always the way, when my interest is taken my a new project (Aeronef) I get side tracked my something similar (Land Ironclads) and when I start to plan how I might approach a new game I find a third one which is entirely a different scale and with it's own gorgeous range of miniatures. I'm talking, of course, of All Quiet on the Martian Front.

But it's hard to find a great deal about it. There are limited reviews, not many battle reports and the company website has a few bits and pieces but not a massive amount. It doesn't even crop up that frequently here (although I saw a fab looking report that is currently near the top of the VSF board).

So who's tried it? Did you like it? How many are actively playing or collecting?

For me it falls into the category of "seems visually amazing, but with all those vehicles I find myself wishing it was 6mm instead!"

Played it twice in an afternoon. Models were nice. Rules seemed serviceable but nothing particularly revolutionary.
I will play if offered but am not buying into anything new for the foreseeable.

One FLGS (possibly a second?) carries it but I don't hear much chatter on the local gaming forum. People I know who have it got it via KS.

There's a facebook group here with plenty going on.
link

Curteys Miniatures carry to shows in the UK.

I played my first game of this on Saturday, and tonight I will be finishing up my second unit of Mk II tanks. I personally am happy it is in 15mm (the infantry are more 1/72nd), I think you can make a very good looking game in this scale. The Tripods are big enough to give a good sense of scale.

The rules are not revolutionary, but there are some nice ideas. I like how the damage is handled on the Tripods. Some times they will blow up easily and other times they can take a beating.

I also think the game is very dependent on haveing good scenarios, otherwise the game can get stale, but that is true of all games.

Chris

There are two games scheduled for Pro or Con I think.

I was in the Kickstarter and I have played it several times. I love the models, the period and the 'fluff' behind the game. The game is interesting. As Privateer4hire has said, there is nothing 'revolutionary' in the rules, but it does play well. It takes a few games to figure out appropriate strategies for the forces in play, but once you do, the sides are pretty balanced. I recommend it.

I was surprised to read reports from several stores in different parts of the USA. It seems that there has been a significant dropoff in the number of games played at local hobby stores. They were already deep discounting the game.

The delay in the kickstarter especially the second wave did it for me. No interest in it at all now. Which is too bad since I like the machines. Most of it is still sitting in the boxes on a shelve in the corner of the game room.

Fantastic models. Had a great time building them.

Unfortunately, the rules in the starter set are so poorly done that you can't easily play a game using them. It just wasn't fun to immediately be expected to whip over to the forums and start looking for rules that should have been in the box(Rough Riders, gas, etc.). Only one half-baked scenario was included. So I never got around to actually playing the thing.

It really took the shine off of what was an impulse buy. I suspect that I'm not alone. Again, GREAT physical components. Not-so-great rules and support.

Hello Chris.

I have AQMF. Got it in the Kickstarter. I like the game a lot, and so do people who've play with me…but the delay in receiving my KS items has soured my enthusiasm. Not for the game itself. It plays well… kinda "Beer and Pretzel". Not enough to make it boring, but simple enough that there is time during the game for lots of smack-talk. I've run it at a local Gaming event; We got 2 games completed (including instructions) in the 3 hour window. And that included laughter, good natured insults and a pee break.

The miniatures are a dream to paint…I'm an OK painter but I think my stuff came out really well. The model kits are easy to assemble and look nice when done up.

But it was last May when I received about a third of my stuff (5 moths late) and I haven't heard from or received anything since then. So I've moved on to other projects…when the rest of my order arrives, maybe I'll paint some, maybe not.

If you can get a set from a store I say get it. The game is fun, and if you can actually pay for and walk out with merchandise I think you and your mates will have a good time. One bit of advice; get the hard back rulebook. The small version that comes in the starter set is actually missing some things that you'll want to know to play the game…….

And BTW: I'm the guy Scott mentioned above who is running the game at Pro or Con.

If you'd like to see some of my blog entries about the game click here;

pzgeneral08.blogspot.com

good luck,

Dave

Thanks everyone for your replies. Much food for thought.

Dave: Enjoyed your blog. Especially the post about the 24th Michigan! Hope you end up doing some more.

Oh I will. Lots more to paint. But like I said, the IMHO huge lag between shipments has allowed my "oh, shiney" syndrome to kick in…so right now it's the Warlord's Games Rorke's Drift set that has my attention….

Dave

I have played about 20 games so far and plan on running at least two games at Little Wars in April. Rather large games at about 10,000 pts for the Martians and about 8,000 for the Humans. As other have said the rules are simple, but thats something I really like about them. From the games I have thrown at my house it has started others in my group to build forces as well.
I didnt partake in the Kickstarter so have no complaints there. I have talked with Barb several times and find they are very nice people.
I have really enjoyed painting the figs, and building tge models. There are alot of modeling possibilities.

Great models and a very playable game. It is a labor of love for the Alien Dungeon people so there will be a steady stream of new models coming out. Highly recommended.

I bought one of the lighter kickstarters for this and have added a few more figures since. The SE Pennsylvania area has at least 5 people playing. The Ambler Gamers has a number of Battle reports posted. Their facebook page is link
I have a few battle reports my self posted on my blog at:
link
link
and link
The game plays fast and I love the models. My favorite is the Red Martian posted here. link

If someone can tell me how to post an image straight to this forum I would appreciate it.
P

PHGamer all you have to do is paste the link in your post. It couldn't be easier.

So:

I bought a large kickstarter and when the first wave arrived I eagerly painted what I had, played a few games, and could hardly wait for the rest of my stuff to come to add to my armies.

Then the second wave got delayed, stuff I had paid for in the kickstarter and hadn't received started showing up on shelves. I wasn't interested in buying it since I already had stuff "coming". Waited…..waited….and waited.

When my wave 2 stuff finally did arrived I opened the box, checked to make sure everything was there, and placed it on the shelf right beside my wave 1 stuff.

It's been sitting there ever since. The whole thing soured me on the game.

Was in on the Kickstarter at a modest level. The period has always held interest for me. Have played now many times. Simple rules. (you can always add extra to any rules set by yourself). Going to use the tripods with my colonials too. I game and paint just about everything from 6mm GNW to 28mm Vikings. This is fun. At the same level of seriousness as FOW. It is a game…and you get to paint interesting stuff. What more can I say.

Pictors, Thanks, that worked!

I have accidentally fallen into the game since someone gave me a set of Martians for Christmas. I am now slowly building up enough to play but have seen it played at a con. Seems simple enough to now play with our group as we have had an explosion of new and young gamers show up on game nights. Have been buying enough to paint in a month, then getting more. Don't feel any pressure to hurry up and grab stuff.

I went all in on the Kickstarter and have received the vast majority of what I was owed. We've played it on our regular game nights and every single player has enjoyed it. Once I am done with my WW II games for Cold Wars I will be getting all my Wave 2 stuff painted and we'll have even bigger games.

On a side note I have never understood why something being late would sour a person on playing with their toys.

For me, and it sounds like for a lot of KS backers above, it wasn't the lateness as much as the releasing of retail products we had funded before we received them! Seems that is a big kickstarter no-no, and directly contradicted the many promises that had been made.

My second wave box is sitting around, also. I will try to reengage my enthusiasm for the line.

I'm certainly tempted to buy the starter box, but it seems that the main rulebook and a couple of boxes of figures would be a better bet.

No, no! I must resist. :)

No, you mussent…..

Chris, would you do US or British forces?

I largely agree with doug redshirt. I bought in big but I really wanted the Brits. I opened the 1st Wave box but because it didn't contain what I really wanted to game with, I did nothing with it.

Now (in the last week) the 2nd Wave box has arrived massively late, it is sitting in my garage unopened.

I have no enthusiasm for the game, and am sworn off large KS for ever. Ebay is looking like a way out to recoup some of my investment.

I am also not a fan of AD for selling stuff to the public early. I will not buy from them ever again.

PzGeneral: I'd probably end up doing both. Haha.

Guthroth: I'll be keeping an eye out on eBay!

The starter box is well worth the money. You get a nice mix of both US Forces and 3 Martian Tripods. You also get the mini rulebook and some tokens/game aids as well. Will save you some cash over all. Thats how I started my collection. Which has considerably grown.

Ebay is looking like a way out to recoup some of my investment.

Do post the auction link on the marketplace here, as well.

I was well considering getting a starter, and selling the Brits ("I bought in big but I really wanted the Brits." was music to my ears.) as I wanted tripods to surprise the next fellow trying to wrangle me into FoW.

Still have to find a proper Martian army list, of course.

Doug

I did not get into the Kickstarter (good thing too I guess). I was not going to do this game at all.

But then I played a game, and love the figs. Now I have over 4000 pts combined. I just have to get them assembled and painted.

So anyone who wants to get rid of their stuff…..