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Sorry - I was asking that as it pertains to DUST figures!

 judgedoug wrote:
Alpharius, doesn't matter, as Rackham & Rackham Entertainment have ceased to exist and AT-43 is no longer available.

I am by no means saying DUST figures aren't high quality - they are VERY high quality and very cheap (especially when ordered online - miniaturemarket.com for instance is where I get my DUST figures, and usually at 30% off)

Where would one exactly find some similar deals this side of pond?

I know miniaturemarket.com does ship to the UK - you have to email them. they can remove items from the packages to save on shipping costs.

Shipping does kill some of the savings made when ordering from Miniature Market.

@Judgedoug

I am only confused since I have been working/am working on both games and would be quite surprised if the folks working on the game got different miniatures than the normal gamers .

 His Master's Voice wrote:
Very disappointed with the tanks. It's essentially a KV turret on a Panther like chassis. I want mechs, not boxes on tracks...

Actually its almost exactly a IS-3 hull.


Which apparently has already been pointed out...

KV-5 Turret on elongated IS3 hull and some T-34/T-43 thread-section included.

And if you read your background you will realize that no nation at the moment is capable of fielding pure walker armies, since they are still ramping up production. Tanks are still in use, since some weapons are just to heavy for walkers or take too much space.

So, players can now access Maine's Dust Warfare Force Builder via the Dust-War.com homepage! If you haven't used it yet, you should! Very helpful and updated with regularity.

Looks like I started at the right time , the Axis transport has made it onto my wishlist along with the anti tank squad . Good times ahead !

I'm liking the SSU tanks , think I may need to go right ahead and collect them too . Dammit ...

Swooping in for the Kill
Paolo Parente Talks About the Aircraft of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare

Back in May, Operation “Zverograd” and the SSU took the world of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare by storm. The introduction of this third faction allowed players to pursue wholly new army builds. The SSU’s gritty, hard worn, and resolute armies not only featured all new infantry and combat walkers, they included the game’s first aircraft.

Now the SSU Airborne Transport swoops across battlefields, carrying troops into the thick of action. Two more helicopters are on their way, and fans of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare who stopped by our booth at Gen Con Indy were excited to see the two Axis flyer prototypes that we showed off in our display case.

Today, we’re happy to share an interview with Paolo Parente, creator of the Dust universe, about these new Axis flyers and the future of aircraft in Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare!


Axis flyer prototypes on display at Gen Con Indy 2012

Interview with Paolo Parente, Creator of Dust

FFG: Aircraft have recently added another exciting dimension to Dust Tactics. What challenges did you face as you worked to incorporate them into the game?

PP: Luckily, Dust Tactics is a pretty straightforward game that allowed us to let air units follow most of the regular movement and shooting rules. The main challenge was to try to represent the fact that aircraft move so much faster than ground units, and this was finally solved by forcing all units targeting an aircraft to be at range of 6 or less.

FFG: What inspired you as you developed your concepts for the different aircraft?

PP: The main inspiration for all our vehicles are the late war and early post-war projects. Late war airplanes were mostly jet fighters since Germany was trying to counter the allied bombing raids over its territory, and they were looking for very fast and radar-equipped night interceptors. However, Dust Tactics does not need jet fighters; we needed to study ground-attack aircraft that could make sense on our type of battlefield.

l decided to develop VTOL aircrafts. These are totally ahead of their time, l know, but perfect for the task. VTOL are slower than jet fighters, and perfectly accomplish the role we need them to fulfill. Also, I could make their wing span shorter, making it possible to play them easily on our tables.

Their lines were inspired by two of my favorite WWII aircrafts – the Axis Horten and the Allied P38 Lightning. Their lines are so unique and different from each other that they’re perfect for the job.


Paolo Parente’s Raid Over Zverograd

FFG: I know it’s often difficult for a creator to choose from among his creations, but can you pick a favorite from among the aircraft? And what brings it closer to your heart?

PP: l really love them both, but my absolutely favorite aircraft will be released next year. It will be for the SSU.

FFG: What about Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare has surprised you the most so far?

PP: The Dust universe being appreciated by so many gamers…it’s just great.

FFG: Anything else you want to share with us today?

PP: l just want to thank the players and fans who keep enjoying our game and miniatures. Their enthusiasm and feedback are very encouraging.

Thanks, Paolo!

We’ve had a lot of fun with the beautiful miniatures from the alternate World War II of Dust Tactics, and we look forward to seeing the skies filled with SSU helicopters and these new flyers.

Meanwhile, until these prototype aircraft are finished and ready for your games of Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare, keep your eyes open for future announcements and previews.

That drawing is a fan piece, not official.

Time to resurrect the thread again. More news on the next Dust Tactics expansion, Operation Hades

Two squads of Red Guards stood behind “The Fonvizin” as he tested the weight of his PPSh-48 and strained to see through the darkness. Everyone was on edge. They had been hunting the Axis for hours, now, through the metro tunnels, but they hadn’t expected anything like this. Lights flickered. Shadows filled the distance. Dripping water made frayed wires snap. And then they heard the slaps of footfalls coming fast from all sides. There were so many of them. The first howl echoed through the tunnels as a giant ape raced forward, smashing through two soldiers with his gauntleted fists, and shrugging off a short volley of bullets…

Recently, we announced the upcoming release of Operation “Hades,” the next campaign expansion for Dust Tactics, which introduces the deadly subterranean struggles of the “Rats’ War.”



Setting the Stage

The term “RattenKrieg” was first used to describe the bitter fighting that took place beneath the city of Stalingrad, where invading Axis forces descended into the sewer system in order to move about the city unimpeded. When the Soviets realized this, they sent their own troops underground to stop the invaders. This marked the beginning of the RattenKrieg, or “Rats’ War.” Beneath the streets, the dark, confined metro lines and narrow sewer tunnels became a hellish battlefield, unlike any before seen in the history of warfare. The claustrophobic environment was perfect for traps and ambushes, and every squad knew that death could be waiting for them around the next corner.

The RattenKrieg may have been born in Stalingrad, but this terrible new form of warfare reached its apex beneath the city of Zverograd. The Axis realized the city’s sewers and metro system provided a route into the city, along which their soldiers could find protection from enemy sniper fire and the dreaded SSU artillery barrages. But the Soviets had not forgotten the lessons they had learned in Stalingrad… and this time they were prepared.

It wasn’t long before the Allies, too, realized the strategic importance of Zverograd’s subterranean warfare. Not only were the battles for the city’s subterranean corridors ultimately impacting the control of valuable lines of movement, but the Allies’ knew their arsenal of powerful close-range weaponry—shotguns, flamethrowers, grenades—would prove extremely effective in the cramped tunnels beneath Zverograd.

The players have arrived. The stage is set. The drama can now begin.

A New Kind of Hell in Operation “Hades”

Operation “Hades” introduces new rules for underground fighting, as well as two new kinds of tiles, each of which comes with their own, specialized terrain rules. When fighting underground, forces have to deal with rules for dim lighting, low ceilings, and limited deployment.

No matter what type of terrain your soldiers contest, there is very little light beneath the city of Zverograd. Units can hear enemies coming, but they are hard to make out in the darkness. Accordingly, units gain cover from each other, depending how many spaces there are between them. When the distance between an attacking and defending unit grows too great, the darkness swallows the defending unit completely, and it simply cannot be targeted.



Meanwhile, there’s not much headroom underground. In caves or in the sewers, the ceilings are very low. It’s only slightly better in the metro. Because of the low ceilings, only soldier units can enter the underground, and units cannot use the Jump skill. Without the support of their combat walkers, soldiers in the underground have to resort to new tactics, and combats in the underground are often won not by the the squad that looks best on paper but the one that responds best to the environment’s unique demands.

As stated above, only soldier units can enter the metro and the sewers. Additionally, these units must enter the battlefield by the end of the second round of the game or risk being left behind. It is akin to suicide to get stranded in the underground, and any unit in an underground scenario that has not been deployed by the end of the second round is considered to be eliminated.

Operation “Hades” also introduces rules for metro lines and sewer tunnels that provide even more terrain-specific flavor to your games. For example, troops marching through the dark, confining labyrinth of Zverograd’s sewers know they’re treading through a deathtrap. They tend to get jittery. Accordingly, the expansion’s new sewer tiles come with rules for “Tense Combat,” wherein all squads gain the advantages of unlimited reactive fire. Unfortunately, just as this is good for you, you’re not the only troops with your fingers constantly resting on their triggers. Your enemy is also nervous and jumpy…



Added Depth

The rules for underground fighting in Operation “Hades” lead to new challenges in several of the expansion’s custom scenarios. However, they can easily apply to other situations as well, breathing new life into old scenarios. For example, a base may have been attacked several times, leaving it in darkness with its power sources completely destroyed. In the darkness, the structure would follow the rules for underground combat, forcing players to modify their tactics accordingly.

Furthermore, Operation “Hades” introduces a wealth of material intended to help players design their own scenarios, including those that combine both underground and surface maps for dynamic, multi-level combats.

Look for Operation “Hades” to add a whole new dimension to your games of Dust Tactics when it arrives.

Fear the dark.

Those who had fun reading the first issue of Dust Chronicles will be happy to know that the new issue is now available from the website.

WWW.DUST-CHRONICLES.COM



WWW.DUST-CHRONICLES.COM

Some new stuff coming out - condensed here.

USMC! New aircraft! New terrain! So exciting.

The huts boxed set is the most interesting one in the bunch for me.

DUST is getting harder and harder to resist, especially as my previous favorite Weird War II game, Secrets of the Third Reich, seems to be on life support... or dead!

So , for all the guys who've been playing this longer than me , when can I expect to get my hands on that sexy , sexy Fledermaus ?

Please say this year , right now my plane options are A) The Hellturkey or B) Weird War 2 goodness .

 judgedoug wrote:
I know miniaturemarket.com does ship to the UK - you have to email them. they can remove items from the packages to save on shipping costs.

They don't (or no longer) do this. I asked them about it awhile back and they informed me that they can't do it.

Seize the Skies
Announcing the Upcoming Release of Operation Icarus for Dust Tactics



“Minos may control the land and sea,” said Daedalus, “but not the regions of the air. I will try that way.” So he set to work to fabricate wings for himself and his young son Icarus.
–Bullfinch’s Mythology, “Daedalus”

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Operation “Icarus” for Dust Tactics!

While the battle for Zverograd continues to rage, the Allies seek to gain a firmer foothold and strengthen their presence in the area by launching a daring series of raids upon Zverograd’s Axis-controlled airfield. A critical step in Allied efforts to control Zverograd – and one necessary to pave the way for vital Allied air support – Operation “Icarus” is the first thrust of a major assault.

The Allies possess the largest air fleet on the planet. In the skies, their power is currently unmatched, and they know they have to maintain this supremacy in order to achieve global victory. However, in Zverograd, SSU attack helicopters harass ground troops, and new Axis jets cruise the skies. Each bloc realizes the importance of seizing the skies, so as the Allies prepare for their raids against Zverograd’s airfield, they’re bringing their best soldiers, toughest walkers, and deadliest new aircraft.


http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=3635

Still, the airfield is a wide open space, and cover is limited. While Allied forces excel at close combat, their approach is destined to be deadly. Operation “Icarus” introduces new rules for minefields, the limited cover provided by the trees that line the airfield’s landing strips, and the quonset huts in which the Axis forces await the Allied assault. All these elements come together to create the dangerous new battleground that comes sharply into focus with the seven tense and ferocious scenarios of the Operation “Icarus” campaign.



New Heroes

Operation “Icarus” introduces new heroes for both the Axis and Allies.

Colonel Prince von Furstenwerth is the heir of an old Prussian family. For centuries, his ancestors have been soldiers. Today the “Panzerprinz” is one of the most famous armor commanders in the Axis army. His innovative walker tactics have become legendary, and for them, he has earned the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

As the Allies press their attack, Axis soldiers rally around their Ace Pilot. Capable of getting his walkers to perform at levels of which most pilots can only dream, the Panzerprinz and those fighting alongside him will offer stern resistance.

In turn, the Allies will hope the stories surrounding their superhuman hero are true. They say that Sergeant Percy Washington can run faster than a horse, tear apart a Luther with his bare hands, and survive direct hits from enemy bullets. With his telekinetic strength, remarkable speed, and uncanny resistance to kinetic weapons, “Sgt. Victory” may provide the Allies just the edge they need to turn the tide of their battle for Zverograd.

At least, Allied commanders know they can count on Sgt. Victory to lend his full support. As he heads to Zverograd, this superhuman soldier seeks not only to rout the Axis, but to look for his missing brother.



Delve Deeper into a War-Torn Zverograd

The action of Operation “Icarus” doesn’t stop with the final battle of the final scenario, however, as the airfield is a vital staging ground for other battles.

Operation “Icarus” builds upon the development of the city of Zverograd begun in Operation “Hades.” Players will find loads of information about the city and its tactically vital locations. Key objectives are scattered throughout the city, each with its own special properties and tactical advantages, and many are linked to each other by Zverograd’s metro tunnels and sewer lines, creating unique combat situations both above and below ground.

Like Operation “Hades,” Operation “Icarus” encourages players to create their own scenarios in the war-torn city of Zverograd, and it offers numerous Gaming Notes to help spur your imagination.

Dust Tactics Premium Edition

As with all our Dust Tactics products, players will have the opportunity to pick up Operation “Icarus” in either the unpainted Dust Tactics version or the masterfully pre-painted Dust Tactics Premium Edition version.

The Premium version of Operation “Icarus” brings you Panzerprinz and Sgt. Victory both professionally painted according to the art direction of Vincent Fontaine, the head of Dust Studio. From the highlights that call out the expressions on their faces to the polish of their boots, each of these Premium heroes is a stunning and stylish addition to any army.


Pre-painted Premium versions of Panzerprinz (left) and Sgt. Victory (right)

When There’s No Other Road

The SSU and Axis forces have closed off the other points of entry to Zverograd. Now, as the world’s greatest militaries battle for control of the crumbling city and the skies above it, the Allies risk everything to establish a greater foothold and a base of operations for their future air strikes.



It’s an all-out offensive fought in the open, and there’s no time to spare. Get ready for fast and furious combats as the Allies seek to seize Zverograd’s airfield in Operation “Icarus.”

The sixth campaign expansion for Dust Tactics, Operation “Icarus” is scheduled to arrive in the first quarter of 2013.

Airbase looks pretty neat

Looking great as usual .. but how come it's an expansion for dust tactics but all the pics are of dust warfare?

Because DUST WARFARE > DUST TACTICS!

 Necros wrote:
Looking great as usual .. but how come it's an expansion for dust tactics but all the pics are of dust warfare?

FFG and Dust Studio always have the pictures of models standing on terrain instead of Dust Tactics tiles. It makes them look even better.

me likey

axis air unit looks good as does the cool airbase terrain.

the new allied hero doesnt even need a supersuit to fly? Guess hes just a straight up comic book style super hero then. looks like a tuskeegee airman though. speaking of which i really hope to see the allied plane soon!

Can anyone shed some light for me on Dust Warefare/ Tactics?

What scale are the models in?
Are there available army deals?
What is the standard points size?
Can it be compared to any other tabletop game?

 combat engineer wrote:
What scale are the models in?

28mm-ish.

 combat engineer wrote:
Are there available army deals?

Nope, but the starter set has two complete armies in them, which is a great deal. If you want a really great deal, try and track down the first starter set, mega-deal there.

 combat engineer wrote:
Can anyone shed some light for me on Dust Warefare/ Tactics?

What scale are the models in?
Are there available army deals?
What is the standard points size?
Can it be compared to any other tabletop game?

Point 1
I'm hoping you're familiar with 40k models, since I'll be comparing the dust models to them

Infantry model bases are just a smidge larger than 40k infantry base sizes, while the infantry models stand about just a bit taller than a Space Marine. As for vehicles, here's a useful link to give you an idea: http://i931.photobucket.com/albums/ad155/AZNLazuli/Scale2.jpg


Point 2
Not really. Best buy is the core set, which comes with Axis and Allies. Everything else (not counting heroes) are bought individually.


Point 3
300 points, for both Tactics and Warfare.

The Revised Core Set comes with 160pts of units per side, to give you an idea. In my experience, a full game generally has about 9-11 unit choices (counting heroes as separate units in this case) per side. It can drop down to about 6-8 if you spend a third of those points on one of the Heavy Walkers though. The average game of such takes about 40min to an hour to play.


Point 4
I've heard quite a few compare Tactics to Tanhauser, which shares similar theming, but I've not played it so I can't say. I can compare the two to 40k / WFB to some degree.

Tactics
The biggest points here are the grid and card system, as well as the alternating play mechanic. The grid system serves for immediate clarity and simplicity. Being used for both movement and range, the game moves very quickly - considerably quicker than the GW wargames. Never any debates regarding LOS is a beautiful thing. The cards provide an immediate and "always out" reference to any and all rules regarding the units - what weapons they have, weapon damage, unit type, etc. They only lack explanations for special rules listed.

In regards to the alternating play mechanic, this helps provide the focused tactical play. You use one unit, have them shoot and/or move (which can't be used again until the next round), but then the enemy gets to use one of theirs to do the same before you activate one of your other units. You also roll to see who gets to choose to go first or second, at the start of each round - which when combined with the alternating system means that you can choose to take seize the advantage in one situation, while allowing another situation to fall into the advantage of the enemy. Choice is important!

Warfare
This naturally retains a lot of the mechanics of the other wargames you see - with a few notable exceptions. Importantly, there's no alternating mechanic here - a player uses their entire army, then the other player does so.

The biggest diversion, I think, would be the Reactions. Whenever one of your units moves within 12" of an enemy unit, that unit (if able) may immediately perform a reaction - either firing at your unit, or moving away. This restricts how many actions they perform come the opponents turn, and they can not react if they have reacted previously.

The other one would be the Order system. At the start of each round, you roll one dice per unit you have. The player who scores the least hits goes first. After that has been decided, the player going first issues an amount of orders equal to the amount of hits he rolled. Orders allow one units to perform a single acount outside of the main phase, though it limits them in other ways. Before the main phase starts, the other player then issues one order per hit they got (which will always be more than the first player).

In general, it means that Warfare is arguably much more fluid than other wargames, and has a lot of player interaction (ie, players both doing things in either turn).

Following the announcement of the german flyer for Dust Tactics, there's a book featuring the new units for Dust Warfare

While the war over Zverograd continues, the Allies hope to strengthen their position in the area by launching a daring series of raids upon the city’s Axis-controlled airfield. Such a move will pave the way for vital Allied air support, but can the Allies keep the pressure on against an entrenched Axis presence? And what of the SSU forces, who likewise seek to control the region? As the battle heats up, all three blocs must struggle to secure the ground, even as they look to the sky.

Not Final Cover Art

Fantasy Flight Games is proud to announce the upcoming release of Campaign Book: Icarus, a supplement for Dust Warfare! Campaign Book: Icarus introduces a host of new aerial rules, along with a focus on the airfields of Zverograd. New special abilities like Air Superiority give jets the edge in dogfighting, while new platoon upgrades and a variant battle-builder take the war to new heights!

By Ground or Air

With stats for recently announced Allied, Axis, and SSU miniatures, Campaign Book: Icarus’ 48 pages are jam-packed with useful content. The softcover supplement presents details on Zverograd’s crucial airfields, and it features rules for the fearsome new superzombies called Ubertoten, never-before-seen special abilities, and much more.

For players looking for an alternative to the core rulebook’s battle-builder, Campaign Book: Icarus features a variant system that incorporates the game’s new airfield themes. Add conditions like anti-aircraft emplacements that harry incoming enemy jets, or high winds that give helicopter pilots an extra challenge. This, along with new platoon upgrades and rules for Sgt. Victory and Panzerprinz, makes Campaign Book: Icarus a valuable addition to any Dust Warfare player’s library.

Get ready to fight for the skies above Zverograd! Campaign Book: Icarus is coming in early 2013.

Maybe someone on the thread can help me:

What's the difference between the Dust-48 and Dust-35 line? Some walkers are only available in Dust-35 but I am afraid of the scale differences if any.

Can someone give me a clear answer? Do the Dust-35 models fit in with the Dust-48 or are the 35 models meant for collections? For example, I noticed a few figures existed in the 35 collection but were listed as Resin and the exact same ones in the 48 were cheaper & resin/plastic or plastic.

Thanks!

 IdentifyZero wrote:
Maybe someone on the thread can help me:

What's the difference between the Dust-48 and Dust-35 line? Some walkers are only available in Dust-35 but I am afraid of the scale differences if any.

Can someone give me a clear answer? Do the Dust-35 models fit in with the Dust-48 or are the 35 models meant for collections? For example, I noticed a few figures existed in the 35 collection but were listed as Resin and the exact same ones in the 48 were cheaper & resin/plastic or plastic.

Thanks!

The 35's are like 1/35 scale. and the 48's are 1/48.

The comparisons are 1/35 is like 54mm. and the 1/48 is around 25mm, and the 35's and the 48's are straight up models. 1/48 isn't EXACTLY 25-28mm. they are around the same eye to foot, but the proportionals are slightly smaller. ( Cuffs, leg girths, chest sizes, etc.)

They also have 1/6th sized guys but for around 50 bucks, those are some expensive G.I.Joe/ Action Mans.