Riot Quest models: Do they fit in with Warmachine & Hordes?

One of the biggest complaints I've seen about Riot Quest generally from people who don't play the game is that they don't fit in the the visual aesthetic of Warmachine and Hordes

So I figured I would have a look through the Riot Quest range see how many of them are actually out of place.

Obvious disclaimer is obvious - this is my opinion and its likely that it will vary from yours. Some people are also so blinkered in dislike for the game that they can't be objective about it. 
That's fine, its a game after all and no one is forcing anyone to get models they don't want. 
If they want to use the Warmachine and Hordes rules but not the models they can always convert something they think fits in better.

So what are the classifications I will use?
Well I'm going to break them down into these categorises 

Goofy - does look out of place in a Warmachine or Hordes army of the faction it belongs to.

Borderline - A bit goofy but within the boundaries of what already exists in Warmachine and Hordes

Fits in - pretty self explanatory really, this means I think they don't look out of place at all.

JAIMs looks like a steelsoul protector with different head and weapons. 
Fits in

Wendell is in a faction of literal nightmare monsters, pumpkin head troopers and thus

Fits in

Longchops and Wrong eye are both gators wearing clothes

Fits in

Within the Doomreaver theme he looks the part, but the butt flap on his trousers ruins it some.

Borderline 

Within minions hes just like longchops but a Skinwalker, but in Circle he sticks out a bit too much

Borderline 

The monowheel might be a bit much for some but CoC is a faction of all sorts of odd robots

Fits in

Almost there but the whimsical expression pushes it over the edge

Borderline

Looks almost exactly the same as Gorman but with a different pose and weapon

Fits in

Hand puppet and Elvis style storm raptor cape?
Goofy

If there were any other Zuu style dwarves this would be fine looking but as is he stands out too much

Borderline

Looks like a Nyss with a bow...

Fits in

While I could try to rationalise this one,,, its a necrotech with a buzz saw riding a bonejack...
Goofy

This one is tricky, because sure its a bit odd seeing a gobber hanging from a balloon... it is a gobber...
Borderline

Shes just a touch too big and so is her weapon
Borderline

His ankles look like they would snap instantly and is way too tall
Goofy

Looks like a pgy version of Gunny2 
Fits in

No helmet is a bit strange for Menoth casters, and the flamesaw is a bit out there but not overly
Borderline

A lot of players would be hard pressed to tell most Eiryss models apart...
Fits in

Its a gobber sooooo... 
Fits in

Boomhowler is wearing the same stuff as his last version, but now armed with a chain gun,,, which exist in the game already.
Fits in

A meckanikal Shredder in a blighted dragon faction which has a clockwork key on its back...
Goofy

Looks like a Farrow... certainly less goofy than Helga1
Fits in

All croaks look a bit crazy, this one is holding a chest... but that's nothing extreme.
Fits in

I can see a lot of people disagreeing with me on this one,,, but meat threshers (which have pigs running while being cooked in a giant treadmill) are a thing
Fits in

Looks like a bigger version of the other Cephalyx, and given that the casters in that theme are bigger I think its reasonable that the more powerful you are the bigger you are or something like that..
Fits in

He's a dwarf gunmage nothing to see here really
Fits in

An agoniser armed with a bunch of random weapons...
Goofy

Looks just like an unmounted version of the Cav solo's but with a sword
Fits in

Pirate duellist looking woman

Fits in

Ironhead armour is a long standing look in the IK. But the rocket fists and teddy strapped to her leg push it a bit (though the blockader does exist) 
Borderline

Honestly just see Wendell... literal nightmare faction.
Fits in

Mad scientist gobber riding a cobbled together Warjack
Goofy

Mini tank with Pygs in it. If it was scaled up a bit more it would be much better, but also this is a faction with a pgy in a snowman so....
Borderline

So again I will say that is is my opinion and other people will view some of these differently, but I tried to be as objective as possible when looking at this. With that being said what are the results?

graph curtisy of Richie the meme archon

Out of the 33 models in the first year of Riot Quest I found 18 of them fit in fine, 9 are borderline and 6 are goofy. 

I think that the majority of Riot Quest models don't stand out on the table, though all of their artwork in war room does, as its all been drawn in a more cartoonish style. But that's just war room.

But as a passing thought consider what already exists in the game. The Warmahordes aesthetic which has a trollkin with a pig under his arm, all the whelps, a pyg in a snowman... all of grymkin... the cheesecake alt sculpts... minicrate... its not like the Warmahordes aesthetic was that precious in the first place

What do you think? Do you disagree with my assessments on the Riot Quest minis? Let me know your thoughts!

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