Dropzone Commander News/Rumours

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**RiTides**

So free tips/guidelines/maybe even quickstart documents are going to happen, sweet!

At this point, I have ordered the following

2x Despoiler Heavy Dropships
6x Marauder Medium Dropships
10x Intruder Beta Light Dropships
2x Intruder Alpha Light Dropships
9x Hunter Main Grav-Tanks
9x Reaper AA Grav-Tanks
6x Invader APC's
8x Slayer Heavy Grav-Tanks
4x Tormentor heavy Grav-Tanks
16x Minder Air Defence Craft
24x Prowlers
24x Warriors stands
12x Razorworms stands
2x Desolator
8x Corsair Fighters

It's safe to say, I am all in! Will just use print-out building terrain for now, and save up for his incredible buildings when he puts them out later on, as it looks like they will really add a lot to the game.

Note also that I ordered so much because splitting the above in half is probably what I'll be doing at times, to get people at the store playing

. Also since everyone else at my store ordered Shaltari/PHR/UCM (mostly large army deals).

**reds8n**

Cover, from Facebook.

Nice engine/energy effects.

.. Not too sure about the almost retro style buildings, they're certainly fairly unique/standout, not sure they're quite sci-fi enough IMO.

Promising start though.

**Vaktathi**

IIRC the buildings are to represent old human cities that were conquered by the Scourge that Humanity has not inhabited in quite some time, I think the retro feel works in that light.

**Orlanth**

I think these sort of structures are here to stay, as a design concept as well as for continued use of extant structures. Materials might change but the overall style will be similar.

After all we are making houses today essentially the same as those made over two centuries ago.

**Charax**

eh, I prefer more minimalist covers. No biggie though

**Orlanth**

Charax wrote:eh, I prefer more minimalist covers. No biggie though

Highlighting dropship carriage was the best choice IMHO.

RiTides wrote:So free tips/guidelines/maybe even quickstart documents are going to happen, sweet!

At this point, I have ordered the following

2x Despoiler Heavy Dropships
6x Marauder Medium Dropships
10x Intruder Beta Light Dropships
2x Intruder Alpha Light Dropships
9x Hunter Main Grav-Tanks
9x Reaper AA Grav-Tanks
6x Invader APC's
8x Slayer Heavy Grav-Tanks
4x Tormentor heavy Grav-Tanks
16x Minder Air Defence Craft
24x Prowlers
24x Warriors stands
12x Razorworms stands
2x Desolator
8x Corsair Fighters

One mega, one starter plus bits? You might have had a better deal with a mega and a large.

RiTides wrote:
It's safe to say, I am all crazy .......Also since everyone else at my store ordered Shaltari/PHR/UCM (mostly large army deals).!

Fixed.

I join you in this madness, no large boxset for me. I got a starter UCM, to add to my mega. My only apparent nod to sanity is that I will wait to see the rulebook before buying the mega, though that is only because I cannot slap down £220 right this moment. I am also considering extra wolverines and transport (so I can have a full unit of both kinds) and probably some more Archangels, though those will definitely wait until later. I want to see what other unreleased units are on the list.

RiTides wrote:
Will just use print-out building terrain for now, and save up for his incredible buildings when he puts them out later on, as it looks like they will really add a lot to the game.

Hold on the crappy cardstock. I have done some more research on this and think I have found a fantastic bargain source of buildings, more later.

**Alpharius**

Orlanth wrote:
Hold on the crappy cardstock. I have done some more research on this and think I have found a fantastic bargain source of buildings, more later.

Eagerly anticipating this information!

**Death Gear**

One thing you could do to make the buildings more sci-fi. Is put sci-fi stuff on the buildings, like orbital relays on the roof, or you could try finding 10mm sci-fi cars to go on streets.

**Orlanth**

Alpharius wrote:
Orlanth wrote:
Hold on the crappy cardstock. I have done some more research on this and think I have found a fantastic bargain source of buildings, more later.

Eagerly anticipating this information!

Rather than have it lost in a 50 page thread (as with my older information), I am instead writing an article for Dakka on 10mm scale terrain.

For now I will link you to the earlier information, which you may have missed as its buried in this thread.:

Orlanth wrote:
Medium of Death wrote:
Orlanth wrote:I found some generic cheap N gauge buildings for use with Dropzone Commander.

Here:

Kestrel

There are other N gauge suppliers on the site however all but one of them is markedly more expensive. The last called Lifelike has nice cheap buildings, but they look too specific and lived in and the range is fairly poor.

All the others are considerably more expensive, and while the detail is improved I suspect most players will want to warzone up their models a bit, even if they arent goint to ruin them. I think thats easier with a basic kit.

Was just looking at N-Scale buildings for the purpose of this game, and you are quite right they can jump up in price quite substantially. There are some very cool modern Japanese themed N scale buildings that could work very well for the futuristic setting, but are sitting pretty at £20+ a piece. On the plus side they do have road sets and they all match aesthetically, but I don't think they warrant the price tags attached to them.

http://www.kato-unitrack.co.uk/kato-n-dio-town-high-rise-buildings-821-0.html

Hopefully Hawk's terrain is a lot more affordable, so we don't have to resort to having games of DZC look like they are being fought out over a 1960's Yorkshire!

The way I see it, high rises are all very well, but they dont usually exist in isolation. People build block structures because of premium land use or land scarcity. A tower block on a n open plain is better replaced with a number of lower buildings totally up to the same volume. yes residential tower blocks often are isolated, but that to include park space alongside high density housing amidst other developments.
You can get away with a lot if you claim that high rises were the only buildings to survive the desolation, however that fortells that you will want to produce an abandoned ruin look.

So some square high rise blocks, from Hawk or elsewhere. On this note I am not yet convinced Hawk will be a viable choice if their pricing trends continue, Hawks vehicles are small yet expensive, the blocks are big and are thus likely to be very expensive. I dont really want cardstock.

So it pays to have some high rise units surrounded by a 'suburb' of lower density structures. Kestels range looks good for this.

This unit for £12.50 for the set can make a fair amount of street. Individually priced at £4.15+ per unit, some more.

These two, priced £5.50 each look like a good trsnsition between Hawks high rises and the suburban buildings.

From other sites the idea for this piece is to paint some of the walls as concrete. its intended to be a 60's train station, But it can serve as any form of low city centre building, a former school perhaps. This costs £7.50

Two town centre buildings, the second one is intended as a fire station. £5.50 and £6.75

Large factory buuilding for under £20. I wouldnt have considered it a bargain until I saw the prices elsewhere.

I think there is certainly enough to work with. I think it needs a touch of grime, a few parking lots and a road system. Ruining them up would work well also, it might be better, a few blown roofs and exposed internal floor leave places to put stands of infantry.

I have much more to add, coming soon.

**Death Gear**

So I was just sitting here and I thought to my self. "So this game is going to be very objective based game." "What am I going to use as objectives for my UCM army

" Then it hit me

, the game is around N scale, so I could use civilians on bases as objectives for games. Now I just have to find some good looking miniatures to use.

Any one have other ideas for objectives?

**Orlanth**

Death Gear wrote:So I was just sitting here and I thought to my self. "So this game is going to be very objective based game." "What am I going to use as objectives for my UCM army " Then it hit me , the game is around N scale, so I could use civilians on bases as objectives for games. Now I just have to find some good looking miniatures to use.

Any one have other ideas for objectives?

Same idea.

You want civilians just type in n gauge figures into ebay, you will be able to buy them by the hundred, or even the thousand, for only a few pounds.
Go for an assortment, including people with luggage (refugees) people wearing suits (VIP's) everyone else (more refugees). Then rescue them (UCM or PHR) or harvest them (Scourge) or imprison them (Shaltari).

**Death Gear**

Well I was looking around online and found this site. http://www.pendraken.co.uk/SF20-p5275/#.UAitzqBUGSo They sell 10mm sci-fi civilian men and woman. But they don't have any pictures, so I have no idea if there good or not.

I just found some images.

Men

Woman

**RiTides**

@Orlanth- Yeah, a mega plus miscellaneous. I didn't even do the starter as it was one extra drop ship than I wanted, and then I'd have to fill it! Focused on extra heavy tanks to fill the dropships, and extra light dropships with prowlers/etc.

Regarding UCM, my friend also added a bunch of extra buggies (wolverines?) as he loves their look; hopefully they perform in-game.

**Pacific**

Just a couple of days to go now! Will be in touch with my local FLGS this weekend to see if they have any stuff out on display a couple of days early.. I hope so, or at least a sneak peak of the rulebook..

**Riquende**

Mere hours to go... I'm assuming the website will be updated wiith a ton of content at midnight - rules previews, battle reports, painting guides, so on*.

* Not really

**Orlanth**

Pacific wrote:Just a couple of days to go now! Will be in touch with my local FLGS this weekend to see if they have any stuff out on display a couple of days early.. I hope so, or at least a sneak peak of the rulebook..

23rd is shipping day from Hawk Wargames. Even fast of the mark games companies like Warstore are giving a minimal 2 days further delay. net providers will ber able to ship stock coming in through the doors on the 25th, I suspect that the first cross Altantic stock shipments actually left late this week so that it arrives as close to the 23rd as possible, maybe maybe not.

FLGSes worldwide should have copies on the shelves in about 7-10 days, those in the Uk should have stock on Wednesday (though in all likelyhood that will all be sold already) and you may not have a shop copy until the following week unless the store owner ordered his own.

Riquende wrote:Mere hours to go... I'm assuming the website will be updated wiith a ton of content at midnight - rules previews, battle reports, painting guides, so on*.

* Not really

Depends on the website. I am expecting northing from Hawk, though I understand its not from a lack of customer care. However on the 23rd 6 Inch Move and the Shellcase will be free to do their full reviews.

**Pacific**

OK cool thanks, I will give Total Wargamer a call either tomorrow or Tuesday and see if they have any in stock, and if they do will head over there to have a gander..

**RiTides**

Looking forward to the full reviews, particularly rules info! I expect I'll get the army deal I ordered from Hawk Wargames before the rulebook that I ordered with other items from Miniature Market... they said they expected to ship early August (which makes sense, of course, since there's only a week left in July and it still needs to ship to them).

**Nick Ellingworth**

Got a shipping confirmation from Hawk today so it seems they've hit their target for those of us who got our preorders in early. I'm really looking forward to reading the rules and building the army despite all the other projects I'm working on.

**mwnciboo**

I don't think a New game system has quite had a dedicated follow before we've even played it, usually it takes a while to build up a head of steam, but this has flown right off the bat.

**Pacific**

Wow that must be exciting, please post some info as soon as you are able to!

I noticed that Maelstrom have got everything down as being released on the 28th, while Total Wargamer have it for sale as of this moment (here in the UK at least). Strangely, it doesn't look like Wayland are stocking the game?

**Riquende**

Nick Ellingworth wrote:Got a shipping confirmation from Hawk today so it seems they've hit their target for those of us who got our preorders in early. I'm really looking forward to reading the rules and building the army despite all the other projects I'm working on.

I haven't had any notification yet

(ordered on the 9th June)

http://6inchmove.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/dropzone-commander-a-peek-inside-the-rule-book/

**jgemrich**

Riquende wrote:
Nick Ellingworth wrote:Got a shipping confirmation from Hawk today so it seems they've hit their target for those of us who got our preorders in early. I'm really looking forward to reading the rules and building the army despite all the other projects I'm working on.

I haven't had any notification yet (ordered on the 9th June)

http://6inchmove.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/dropzone-commander-a-peek-inside-the-rule-book/

Same status here. No shipping email. But I believe most notification is sent as they are scanned at the origin so I'm hoping I'm in line (Order place June 10).

**Orlanth**

Nick Ellingworth wrote:Got a shipping confirmation from Hawk today so it seems they've hit their target for those of us who got our preorders in early. I'm really looking forward to reading the rules and building the army despite all the other projects I'm working on.

With all else Hawk has to do, they (?he!) makes sure that all the customers who ordered before the deadline got their stuff on the release day. Impressive.

I didnt have the money for the buy in, so I have only a starter and a rulebook from Firestorm. I wonder if they will have it on Wednesday.

Riquende wrote:
http://6inchmove.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/dropzone-commander-a-peek-inside-the-rule-book/

He he, I was right. Thanks for the link, heading over there now.

**Pacific**

Yes great, thanks for the link!

Although I guess we will still be waiting a few days for someone to post a full section by section review of the book..

**RiTides**

Pics from that link:

Looks sweet! Can't wait for a more detailed look.

Riquende wrote:
Nick Ellingworth wrote:Got a shipping confirmation from Hawk today so it seems they've hit their target for those of us who got our preorders in early. I'm really looking forward to reading the rules and building the army despite all the other projects I'm working on.

I haven't had any notification yet (ordered on the 9th June)

http://6inchmove.wordpress.com/2012/07/23/dropzone-commander-a-peek-inside-the-rule-book/

No shipping confirmation here yet, either, but he's still got daylight left. Did it come from Hawk, or was it something from the carrier since you're in the UK?

**Charax**

production quality looks nice - I've definitely bought worse rulebooks for more.

No email from Hawk yet, but no point getting worried about it, it'll arrive when it arrives

**Riquende**

Charax wrote:No email from Hawk yet, but no point getting worried about it, it'll arrive when it arrives

But I've got a game on Thursday! (I hope)

Hawk's Downloads page seems to be offline. Update? (I know you don't have to take a page down to update it)

Automatically Appended Next Post:
Got my email now, I'm order 1086, must be a crazily busy day for them!

**Charax**

Order #1095 shipped

**carabus**

Charax wrote:Order #1095 shipped

When did you order yours?

I ordered mine on the 26th June, but don't have my order number to hand?

Carabus
6inchmove