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So, I figured those of us going into Dust Warfare could use a place to discuss various lists. I am currently playing the Allies and was working on a crazy twin-Heavy list.

COMBAT PLATOON:
Ranger Command Squad
The Gunners
Punisher
Additional Resources
[152]

COMBAT PLATOON:
Ranger Command Squad
BBQ Squad
Fireball
13 Foxtrot
Additional Resources
[148]

[300AP]

Each Ranger squad can toss out the "Fire for Effect!" each turn, using the 13 Foxtrot for LoS. The Punisher lights up enemy Walkers, while the Fireball moves in to roast stuff. I figured two Vehicle7 would be a pain for anyone to deal with (except enemy Konigsluthers). The BBQ Squad thrives in close-up situations, where my Fireball wants to be. The Gunners can sit in the Punisher or just deploy out - either works. Additional Resources give me a re-roll to call in the Long Toms. Also, I get very few dice for the Command pool (7 starting), so I should go first with some regularity.

Thoughts?

Two heavies, very impressive. You will probably be outnumbered. Beware heavy laser squads that can wreck a heavy with a good shot.

Yea, they are worrisome. As is that damned KLuther within 24". Still, against the Lasers, I just need to throw as many Long Tom shots I can muster onto them for the Suppression. Going first might hurt me there, though, as they can Regroup them easily.

I suppose the only way to see if this works is to give it a whirl, which I will try to do this weekend. I will have a BatRep on my website sometime next week.

Just make sure you don't end up playing a mission with Unprepared Deployment in effect. 2/3 of your army won't show up until the 3rd turn.

So, I should avoid putting points into deployment.

em_en_oh_pee wrote:So, I should avoid putting points into deployment.

If you can avoid it. But the option right before that is close deployment. I could think of situations where that could be worse.

You will also have to worry about Reserve or Air Drop units entering play behind you.

Being close to me might not be a good idea for them - the Fireball and BBQ squads thrive in those situations. Though that is certainly something to look for.

So, we went to do up the BatRep and by the start of the 2nd turn, it was a moot point. By turn five, it was just an exercise in futility. I did well enough and almost got a win, but the dice absolutely despised me in all ways.

Usually, people exaggerate. Nope, not this time. So bad, it defied reality. Three times I had to roll armor saves with my heavy walkers and managed to get 8 blanks each time. Truly amazing and kind of made the BatRep not worth publishing, as it wasn't very indicative of the game as a whole.

The list works, but I am not sure it is worth the Additional Resources - but the Mechanics were pretty handy, so the Command Squads are worth it. However, the extra 10 points can net me some better squads over The Gunners.

Also, the Punisher didn't get to shoot. Horrible luck, but when the Fireball did go in against the enemy Konigsluther, I did kill it with one hit of Sustained napalm. 2/5 is nasty.

I will have a different BatRep up this week and hopefully on BoLS too. Keep an eye out for them.

Anyone have their copy of the book with the SSU platoons in it yet?

If yes Id love a breakdown or C&C/highlights of them...

CT GAMER wrote:Anyone have their copy of the book with the SSU platoons in it yet?

If yes Id love a breakdown or C&C/highlights of them...

Its not out yet, that I am aware.

em_en_oh_pee wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:Anyone have their copy of the book with the SSU platoons in it yet?

If yes Id love a breakdown or C&C/highlights of them...

Its not out yet, that I am aware.

It is listed as "in stock" at my on-line retailer of choice, and I got an email the other night saying mine has been shipped, but it hasnt arrived yet and with the holiday I wont see it until Tuesday at the earliest.

I figured someone must have a copy by now...

Been looking for the SSU book myself and I see it everywhere as preorder. Can't wait to get it though.

It should be out in like two weeks. Can't wait myself, as the M3 should be in it and hopefully we get a few new platoon options.

CT GAMER wrote:

em_en_oh_pee wrote:

CT GAMER wrote:Anyone have their copy of the book with the SSU platoons in it yet?

If yes Id love a breakdown or C&C/highlights of them...

Its not out yet, that I am aware.

It is listed as "in stock" at my on-line retailer of choice, and I got an email the other night saying mine has been shipped, but it hasnt arrived yet and with the holiday I wont see it until Tuesday at the earliest.

I figured someone must have a copy by now...

Are you talking about the boxed Zverograd set for Dust Tactics or the Zverograd Campaign Book for Dust Warfare? From what I've heard the book is about to be sent off to the printer now so will likely be one or two months off yet. Do you have different information? If so I'd love to know where you ordered yours.

I was told by Miniature Market that it wouldn't be long for the Campaign book for Dust Warfare, but I could have misunderstood.

Also, going to shoot for a Battle Report this weekend coming. Sorry about the bust, but it might give me enough time to get a handful of paratroopers so I can try out an Air Drop list, too.

em_en_oh_pee wrote:I was told by Miniature Market that it wouldn't be long for the Campaign book for Dust Warfare, but I could have misunderstood.

Well, that would certainly be welcome news. It's still listed as 'In Development' on FFG's upcoming page, but on the other hand the Zverograd campaign box is listed as 'At the Printer' but it's available at my local game store. I sent an email to FFG asking for clarification.

I am talking about The Warfare Campaign book: Zverograd.

According to the email with tracking info I got it is en route and scheduled to arrive on 5/29 (Tuesday).

Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 FFG DWF02 Dust Warfare: Campaign Book - Operation Zverograd ~ MAY $10.57

That is great news. My buddy wants to play and he chose SSU, so I sure hope that it is out next week.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
And on a platoon related note - going to try air dropping a pair of Fireballs soon!

So, here is the Air Drop list I was tinkering with:

Assault Platoon
Command - Johnny One-Eye 17AP
1st Section - BBQ Squad 21AP
3rd Section - Red Devils 32AP
Support - Fireball 85AP
Air Drop - 5AP
[160]

Combat Platoon
Command - Bazooka Joe 15AP
1st Section - BBQ Squad 21AP
Support - Fireball 85AP
Support - Crack Shots 12AP
Air Drop - 5AP
[138]

[298]

Joe + BBQ - Air Drop in Fireball
Johnny + BBQ - Air Drop in Fireball
Red Devils - Air Drop
Crack Shots - Deploy as Normal

So, almost null deployment. The Red Devils will hopefully put a massive hurting on enemy walkers that can hurt my Heavies or Hvy Laser Grenadiers, etc.

Thoughts?

CT GAMER wrote:I am talking about The Warfare Campaign book: Zverograd.

According to the email with tracking info I got it is en route and scheduled to arrive on 5/29 (Tuesday).

Ordered: 1 Shipped: 1 FFG DWF02 Dust Warfare: Campaign Book - Operation Zverograd ~ MAY $10.57

That is spectacular news! Please tell us all the goodies when you get it. Very eager to read it myself.

Sorry for the derailment... yes... platoon lists... *cough*

em_en_oh_pee wrote:So, here is the Air Drop list I was tinkering with:

Assault Platoon
Command - Johnny One-Eye 17AP
1st Section - BBQ Squad 21AP
3rd Section - Red Devils 32AP
Support - Fireball 85AP
Air Drop - 5AP
[160]

Combat Platoon
Command - Bazooka Joe 15AP
1st Section - BBQ Squad 21AP
Support - Fireball 85AP
Support - Crack Shots 12AP
Air Drop - 5AP
[138]

[298]

Joe + BBQ - Air Drop in Fireball
Johnny + BBQ - Air Drop in Fireball
Red Devils - Air Drop
Crack Shots - Deploy as Normal

So, almost null deployment. The Red Devils will hopefully put a massive hurting on enemy walkers that can hurt my Heavies or Hvy Laser Grenadiers, etc.

Thoughts?

I think the snipers technically have to go with the assault platoon. You only have the sections for one support squad, but the assault platoon lets you take one sniper in the 5th section.

I'm not sold on the double heavy walkers. I think you are going to have problems with taking objectives since you only have 4 squads capable of doing it. And those 4 squads are going to get a lot of fire directed their way, as most things can't even scratch the heavies. Those snipers aren't going to last long by themselves.

I think you'll have problems with assassination too. You'll have to hide both those command squads inside their transports. Because as soon as they get out, they'll get lit up. I'd be willing to sacrifice most of my army to kill those two squads as it will leave me with the victory, and you don't have much to screen them with.

I think melee lists will give you trouble. A zombi squad with an attached character should be reliably putting 1 or 2 damage past you're armor on those walkers. You can get an awful lot of zombis for the cost of two heavy walkers. You'll, also have to worry about blue on blue matches. Phasers and rocket punches turned around against you will put on some hurt. You won't have the shooting to stop at least some of this from getting to you. Something is going to manage to sneak around and poke you in the rear armor.

I think the real disadvantage of the army is that you can't afford to spend any battle builder points in deployment. If you do, your opponent is going to bid you up to delayed deployment. This gives you're opponent a real advantage in determining what type battle to play.

I will fix the Sniper issue. Air Drop means I can be on top if the enemy with very hard to kill Heavies that utterly trash whatever is in their way. The squads inside stay inside until needed - such as when Zombies near and you need them dead. Allies will be harder, depending on the Platoon composition. In that regard, I might not shy from Deployment, because my while army comes in on turn 3, giving them less time to maneuver to my for a kill.

The whole idea here is to see if dropping in with hard-to-kill heavy Walkers can work. I see a lot of drawbacks, but on the table this could work well enough. When I get some games in with this list, I will throw some Batreps up.

em_en_oh_pee wrote:I will fix the Sniper issue. Air Drop means I can be on top if the enemy with very hard to kill Heavies that utterly trash whatever is in their way. The squads inside stay inside until needed - such as when Zombies near and you need them dead. Allies will be harder, depending on the Platoon composition. In that regard, I might not shy from Deployment, because my while army comes in on turn 3, giving them less time to maneuver to my for a kill.

The whole idea here is to see if dropping in with hard-to-kill heavy Walkers can work. I see a lot of drawbacks, but on the table this could work well enough. When I get some games in with this list, I will throw some Batreps up.

The closer you are with those heavies, the easier it will be to maneuver around to hit rear armor.

Have you seen what a Napalm Thrower does to infantry? Not to mention, they maneuver towards me and I get to react as they move past me (barring Jump). Not to mention, putting them 1" apart and deploying my infantry to the back can help that - as anyone who moves to the back to fire will get reacted to with my BBQ Squads.

That is why I am hellbent on giving this a try, because excluding bad luck, I should be able to weather a good beating while delivering some sick punishment. I have had a Napalm Thrower do a Sustained Attack and one-shot a K-Luther, for instance.

Anyhow, I know its not perfect or balanced, but it seems pretty silly and probably a lot of fun. For those reasons, how can I not?

em_en_oh_pee wrote:Have you seen what a Napalm Thrower does to infantry? Not to mention, they maneuver towards me and I get to react as they move past me (barring Jump). Not to mention, putting them 1" apart and deploying my infantry to the back can help that - as anyone who moves to the back to fire will get reacted to with my BBQ Squads.

That is why I am hellbent on giving this a try, because excluding bad luck, I should be able to weather a good beating while delivering some sick punishment. I have had a Napalm Thrower do a Sustained Attack and one-shot a K-Luther, for instance.

Anyhow, I know its not perfect or balanced, but it seems pretty silly and probably a lot of fun. For those reasons, how can I not?

You're opponent shouldn't let you start a Fireball within 12" of anything that's not expendable. You're playing a rock army with all the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. As the game matures, and your opponents start to compensate for the build, you won't get as much mileage out of it.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I just thought of a nice practical defense to your list.

Airdrop requires that the unit be placed out side of 12 inches of an enemy unit. A unit has a 6" command radius bubble plus about and inch of base. That means that a single unit has a 19" radius airdrop denial zone. It would take 3 units to cover the deployment half of the table making sure that the back corners are denied. Add in three more fast or 12" moment units, and you can deny the opposite side as well with a march move. The fast units would need Close deployment, but the 12 inchers could do it as long as table corner deployment was not in effect.

For six units you could deny the whole board to Air Drop.

CaulynDarr wrote:

em_en_oh_pee wrote:Have you seen what a Napalm Thrower does to infantry? Not to mention, they maneuver towards me and I get to react as they move past me (barring Jump). Not to mention, putting them 1" apart and deploying my infantry to the back can help that - as anyone who moves to the back to fire will get reacted to with my BBQ Squads.

That is why I am hellbent on giving this a try, because excluding bad luck, I should be able to weather a good beating while delivering some sick punishment. I have had a Napalm Thrower do a Sustained Attack and one-shot a K-Luther, for instance.

Anyhow, I know its not perfect or balanced, but it seems pretty silly and probably a lot of fun. For those reasons, how can I not?

You're opponent shouldn't let you start a Fireball within 12" of anything that's not expendable. You're playing a rock army with all the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. As the game matures, and your opponents start to compensate for the build, you won't get as much mileage out of it.

That is a fundamental truth though for any game ever. From what I can see, as well, there is no "expendable" units typically available. Also, it isn't just the Fireballs, but a unit of Red Devils arriving too. I admit its a very, very specialized list - but if you aren't prepared for it, the shock value and mileage from Air Drop will do nicely.

As for a more "balanced" list - I am thinking of running a single Combat Platoon with some Jump options and maybe an Action Jackson led Paratrooper Platoon, like this:

Command Section - Action Jackson 24AP
1st Section - Red Devils 32AP
2nd Section - Red Devils 32AP
3rd Section - Red Devils 32AP
[120]

Combat Platoon
Command Section - Ranger Command Squad 25AP
1st Section - Grim Reapers 30AP
3rd Section - Tank Busters 35AP
4th Section - Red Devils 32AP
Support - Honey 25AP
Support - Honey 25AP
Air Drop 5AP
[177]

[297]

Or, something like that. That much Phaser Air Dropping in - just gross. Also, I can Air Drop a Honey, which can be outside of a lot of Reaction ranges with its Phasers, too. The Tank Busters and Grim Reapers are very mobile and the Boss is just a staple, usually (though I am not 100% sold on them for this list - though what could replace it?).


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just so you know, Air Drop is a "may", not a "must". I can very easily deploy parts of my forces if I think this is a strategy that will be employed.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

CaulynDarr wrote:Automatically Appended Next Post:
I just thought of a nice practical defense to your list.

Airdrop requires that the unit be placed out side of 12 inches of an enemy unit. A unit has a 6" command radius bubble plus about and inch of base. That means that a single unit has a 19" radius airdrop denial zone. It would take 3 units to cover the deployment half of the table making sure that the back corners are denied. Add in three more fast or 12" moment units, and you can deny the opposite side as well with a march move. The fast units would need Close deployment, but the 12 inchers could do it as long as table corner deployment was not in effect.

For six units you could deny the whole board to Air Drop.

Just so you know, Air Drop is a "may", not a "must". I can very easily deploy parts of my forces if I think this is a strategy that will be employed.

It's like using Kroot to shut down an outflanking bike army. Both players know what will happen, so you just deploy as normal. It's a net win for Tau player because he takea the air out the bike player's gimmick. Same here. I force you to deploy normally and give myself some breathing room.

I like the second list better. It's funny, because this new list would tear your first list apart without any problems. Personally, I'm trying to decide if I like Blackhawks or Honeys better for the price.

CaulynDarr wrote:It's like using Kroot to shut down an outflanking bike army. Both players know what will happen, so you just deploy as normal. It's a net win for Tau player because he takea the air out the bike player's gimmick. Same here. I force you to deploy normally and give myself some breathing room.

I like the second list better. It's funny, because this new list would tear your first list apart without any problems. Personally, I'm trying to decide if I like Blackhawks or Honeys better for the price.

The Heavy Walker list was really more of a gimmick list to give my gaming group headaches, while the latest list is something I am going to see for any local tournaments we do. Currently, I need to purchase a few more things to get that rolling, but I think it looks suitable well-rounded and able to handle just about anything. But tell me that parachuting Fireballs isn't a glorious idea!

The Honey has Phasers - which to me is the name of the game for Allies. While the Blackhawk has potential to hit hard, armor saves will make a lot of those hits moot. The Phasers ignoring armor means that a few well-placed troops will nuke most Support elements pretty quickly, as well as some of those nastier Axis Heavy Infantry.

Update:

The package I received on Tuesday was a bust.

Even the packing slip (like the shipping notice email) stated that Zverograd was inside, but they actually sent me a second copy of the core rulebook.

Hopes dashed...

Oh well I'll keep working on my Grand'ma and KV-152i models and planning my infantry conversions in the meantime...

I still think FFG dropped the ball big time with not having the book release at the same time as the SSU models. I'm sure they have the pdf of the book, so why not put it up for sale since the hard copy is still delayed?

OR at least post something up on your own forum letting people know the status, etc. They could take a cue from Privateer Press and it's open dialogue with fans on their forums, especially when problems arise...

CT GAMER wrote:Update:

The package I received on Tuesday was a bust.

Even the packing slip (like the shipping notice email) stated that Zverograd was inside, but they actually sent me a second copy of the core rulebook.

Hopes dashed...

Oh well I'll keep working on my Grand'ma and KV-152i models and planning my infantry conversions in the meantime...

I still think FFG dropped the ball big time with not having the book release at the same time as the SSU models. I'm sure they have the pdf of the book, so why not put it up for sale since the hard copy is still delayed?

OR at least post something up on your own forum letting people know the status, etc. They could take a cue from Privateer Press and it's open dialogue with fans on their forums, especially when problems arise...

They do have the status on the websites; the status is TBD

I think there's a significant lead time involved in the miniatures, and the miniatures are developed by Dust Studios. I think it's understandable if these things get out of sync especially since they were probably planned for DT way before the core rules for DW were completed.