I was torn between Skorne and Circle or Orboros when the game officially released, as Skorne played like a less-ranged version of my Cygnar and Circle was a different animal all together. I could never find a happy medium for the armies and sold off my Skorne. I still have my Circle stuff, but it has sat unused for a long time now.
Well, after a hiatus from Warmachine and Hordes I was pulled back for Mk. II. After talking with a few people I came to really appreciate the Trollbloods and took a new look at them. I really liked them and they gave me a complementary melee army to my Cygnar. So I started planning out the lists I would want to run and started focusing on those models.
Well, the Privateer Press shortage strikes again. My LGS could not even order a basic warpack nor a Dire Troll Mauler. I was surprised until our local Pressganger told me that Hordes was getting the plastic treatment in 2012. By the end of the year, there should be a plastic warpack and a mutli-part plastic kit for heavy warbeasts.
I thought about it and thought it might be worth waiting for. My Sabol Motorpool is laden with heavy pewter, so a lighter army might be worth the wait. THEN... I saw the new plastic Dire Trolls. I was taken back a bit as they were not what I expected.
Dire Troll Mauler: New on top, Old on bottom
So, I DO NOT like that new one. It just seems awkward in all aspects. I understand the limitations of the multi-part in the torso design and that there will much more freedom in overall conversion + basic builds. However, this looks awkward enough to make me pass it by.
Dire Troll Bomber: New on top, Old on bottom
If you didn't know better, that could be the same model. You can see where the torso is based on the plastic kit. The collar with broken chain, the armored loin cloth, and the overall position of the body. A few people on the Privateer Press froums are saying these are totally different... they're not.
Dire Troll Blitzer: New on top, Old on Bottom
Now this is a change. The old Blitzer looked more like a dancer than something coming at your Quarterback. While I like that the new one is more stout and bulky, I'm not a fan of the gnawed off reins hanging from the mouth. The old one's reins were pulled back and closer to the neck so it wouldn't buy up the face. A little green stuff could fix that no problem or cut them off and covert over chain as some reins.
Verdict:
While I know there is always going to be a sacrifice on individuality when it comes to basic assembly of a multi-part kit, I think this kit gives up too much. It is VERY obvious where the torso design came from and I will say that is the design mistake here. All the Warmachine multi-part Heavy jacks used the original basic model as a base. (Ironclad, Crusader, etc.) I think the kit would have been better over all if the Mauler had been the base.
Fortunately, Privateer Press is leaving their "Classic" models up for sale. The ever popular Dire Troll Mauler Extreme will also remain on the market.
Rok, the new character heavy from Domination, set to use this kit as it base (like all the Wrath character warjacks), so it will be interesting to see how the metal and plastic will work with the organic forms.
As for me, I think I'll be getting classic Maulers for my main lists. Though a $9 cheaper Bomber sells me on the kit. I hope to see some good conversions for the Mauler, as seeing what the public can do with the kit will be the real test of how this kit is received.
