The Dust Tactics (& Dust Warfare) News and Rumors Thread

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**Duncan_Idaho**

The game is in 1/48, so no worries about buying the models from Dust Studios, the only thing is they don`t come with cards for the game. The 1/48 Dust Studio sells are pre-release models, i.e. you can get the walker now (resin/plastic-kit) or you wait until it is released as a full-plastic model later by FFG. The FFG model will also be cheaper.

1/35 are display models, but some japanese guys use even those models for games....

**Mad4Minis**

Alpharius wrote:Good catch, I forgot about their 1/48 stuff - but as you mention, there isn't a lot of it available...

Its not cheap, but not nearly as bad as the 1/35 stuff. Think I may pick up the Soviet walker in 1/48 to hold me over until the separate boxes become available in a couple months. I doubt Ill buy the box game as Im not interested in the Allied stuff at all. German and Soviets are catching my eye.

Could always buy the box and ebay the Allied stuff though...

Who knows. Ill be broke for the next few weeks anyways so it gives me time to plan it out.

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Duncan_Idaho wrote:The game is in 1/48, so no worries about buying the models from Dust Studios,

Glad to have it confirmed, the way it looked thats what i was thinking. Either way 28mm is aprox 1/54 anyways, and thats so close to 1/48 only a true scale modeler would really notice. SO even if it was 28mm it would still be ok.

I think Ill pick up a 1/48 “Fury of Ivan” KV 152(i) as soon as I can spare the $55.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Actually I will get an Tamya 1/48 Tiger II for Dust Tactics as scenery piece. (The pic on the Dust Studio website showing a walker beside a Tiger II is just too tempting.)

What´s really funny, the model costs 17 € and the body is a cast metal piece but the rest is plastic.

**BrookM**

Tamiya always has been a manufacturer that supplies super affordable kits paired with supreme quality.

**Alpharius**

And that's why I'm really hoping for a "tabletop wargame rule set" - the sheer amount and quality of WWII kits in 1/48 is awesome.

It is part of what makes Secrets of the Third Reich so much fun!

**Mad4Minis**

Alpharius wrote:And that's why I'm really hoping for a "tabletop wargame rule set" - the sheer amount and quality of WWII kits in 1/48 is awesome.

It is part of what makes Secrets of the Third Reich so much fun!

Truth there. Another bonus for me would be combining my old hobby of scale armor modeling with my current one of gaming.

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BrookM wrote:Tamiya always has been a manufacturer that supplies super affordable kits paired with supreme quality.

Agreed. ive built many a Tamiya kit in my day.

**Kanluwen**

Alpharius wrote:And that's why I'm really hoping for a "tabletop wargame rule set" - the sheer amount and quality of WWII kits in 1/48 is awesome.

It is part of what makes Secrets of the Third Reich so much fun!

Yeah, but how many of those WWII kits are actually gonna have rules or a presence in Dust?

I've not read any of Paolo's stuff yet, so not too familiar with the universe aside from there's aliens(Vrill) and some occult-ish science, but for the most part it seems it's built more around an alternative timeline where tanks have been completely abandoned and warfare is quite different; rather than SOTR's "The WWII Flavor You Love, Now With Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements Inside!".

If that makes any sense.

Anyways: I still suggest you at least pick up the Core game. It plays more like Space Hulk than a "normal" board game.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Difference between normal and Deluxe version

Since its debut at Gen Con and subsequent worldwide release, Dust Tactics has received enthusiastic accolades for both its engaging mechanics and its professionally crafted miniatures... and with unpainted and premium painted editions available, players have plenty of options in how to battle for world supremacy.

Dust Tactics is available through retailers, and it features primed, unpainted miniatures with expansions packaged in flexible configurations. Meanwhile, Dust Tactics Premium Edition is part of the Fantasy Flight Collector line available through our webstore (and at select retailers). Aimed at high-end enthusiasts, Dust Tactics Premium Edition offers professionally painted figures, and its expansions are configured with an emphasis on unique visual detail.

What does this distinction mean for current expansions?

Last week, we announced the release of the first four expansions for Dust Tactics. The Gunners and Recon Boys for the Allies, along with Battle Grenadiers and Recon Grenadiers for the Axis, bring additional firepower and adaptability to your forces.

All four of these expansions are currently available in both unpainted and painted sets (at your local retailer or through Fantasy Flight Collector, respectively), but there is one important difference: In the unpainted versions, The Gunners and Battle Grenadiers each include a sixth figure and an additional Unit Card. The premium painted versions of these expansions do not.

Why are they different?

The Dust Tactics expansions were designed with an emphasis on playability and affordability, and the inclusion of an additional figure and Unit Card means more options for fielding your forces. For The Gunners, substituting the extra figure will convert the unit to the Bot Hunters. For the Battle Grenadiers, substituting the extra figure will convert the unit to the Tank Killers. In this way, each of these primed and unpainted expansions essentially offers two unit choices in one box.

Dust Studio has decided that the Dust Tactics Premium Edition expansions, on the other hand, will place an emphasis on the individual paint schemes and character of each unit. For example, The Gunners and the Bot Hunters are separate units in the world of Dust, and each unit has its own uniforms and color schemes. Therefore, offering these two units in a single box would limit the aesthetic distinctiveness that fans of the premium edition expect, and would diminish the overall thematic value of both units.

As a result, the premium painted versions of The Gunners and Battle Grenadiers expansions do not include the extra figure or Unit Card necessary to convert them to the Bot Hunters and Tank Killers, respectively. Instead, separate premium painted versions of both Bot Hunters and Tank Killers will be made available through Fantasy Flight Collector later this winter.

What about upcoming expansions?

In an effort to provide the best possible options for both players and collectors, we will continue to apply the above mentality to future Dust Tactics products. All unpainted expansions that include only one unit will release alongside their premium painted counterparts, as normal. For the rare cases in which an unpainted expansion contains multiple possible unit configurations, each configuration will get its own separate premium painted expansion.

As an example of another such case, two weeks ago we announced the upcoming release of two walker expansions, the Allied Medium Assault Walker and the Axis Medium Panzer Walker. As that announcement stated, each unpainted expansion includes one walker body and multiple weapon attachments, meaning players can configure several distinct walkers with just one purchase.

For Dust Tactics Premium Edition, each walker configuration will release as its own premium expansion, with these stunning miniatures painted according to their unique thematic elements. We’re confident that when you see the final result, you’ll agree that this approach contributes to the most immersive experience possible while providing plenty of options for collectors.

**Scott-S6**

Just received some dust tactics minis in the post (all the axis stuff).

The infantry is bigger than it looks - those are 30mm bases and the minis stand approx 40mm tall. Some of the posing (head positioning in particular) is poor but the glue used is soft goey stuff and you can remove them if you're gentle. There are some bent weapons but these should be easy enough to sort. ETA, they were easy to sort.

The walkers are excellent models. The design minimizes exposed mould lines and sprue cuts and those that are exposed have been reasonably well cleaned. There are some nice fine details (like the air filter vent) which are better than we're used to seeing on GW kits. I'm not hugely taken on the pose of the legs or that both are posed the same, especially since the kit seems to have some leeway for posing in it.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed. My biggest complaint is that I didn't get to build them myself.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Actually the minis are 30mm. There is up until now no mini with more than 30mm. The mm are as always measured toe to eye level of an erect standing miniature. There will be bigger minis (apes e.g.) but scale is still 1:48/30mm.

**Scott-S6**

The thing is - describing them as "30mm" to someone that is used to GW mini's isn't very helpful. GW minis are supposed to be 28mm so that's about the same right?

Except that the dust minis are significantly taller. Cadians are 26mm to the eyes while Dust troopers are 32-33mm

**Duncan_Idaho**

Nope, measured all today again and they are 30mm and lower depending on how they stand. And GW´s Hero scale is fluctuating all the time, so taking them as standard ist slightly problematic.

**Terminus**

This game seems like a great way to introduce people to miniature wargaming. It's not as convoluted as the usual GW or even PP fare, and games are super quick.

**AAN**

Just some more detailing on the pre-painted DUST minis:

US Recon Ranger - as the Axis squads, rebased and some details added.

More here: http://www.adpublishing.de/html/dust.html

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Scott-S6 wrote:The thing is - describing them as "30mm" to someone that is used to GW mini's isn't very helpful. GW minis are supposed to be 28mm so that's about the same right?

Except that the dust minis are significantly taller. Cadians are 26mm to the eyes while Dust troopers are 32-33mm

Re-Post of the above posted size comparisoan pic:

That should help...
:-)
More on ym website.

**Scott-S6**

Duncan_Idaho wrote:Nope, measured all today again and they are 30mm and lower depending on how they stand. And GW´s Hero scale is fluctuating all the time, so taking them as standard ist slightly problematic.

Well, you're incorrect. Take one of the mini's that's actually standing up and they are taller than that.

This guy is 32mm to the middle of his lenses and he'd be a couple of mm taller if he was standing up properly.

Marines are 28-29mm, cadians are 25-26mm. Dust minis are 32-33mm. That's a significant size difference. 10% taller than a marine.

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AAN wrote:Re-Post of the above posted size comparisoan pic:

Exactly, taller than a marine. (who's on a landscaped base)

**Shrapnelsmile**

Nice info here, and as a former Rackham Sentinel I can say DUST Tactics appears to be what I've always wanted.

A friend and I are jumping into DT, but here is the question:

Should I buy two starter boxes
OR
one starter box and one unit box of each of the currently releases expansions. A 2nd starter is practically the same price, but ...

Are the currently released expansions (two for axis, two for allies, their names are escaping me at the moment) the exact same figures as the starter? That is my one complaint -- actual unit names, or their differences, are not listed on the starter box.

Hope someone can help -- I'd like to buy Friday, but I won't do so going blind.

Thanks,

**AAN**

Shrapnelsmile wrote:Are the currently released expansions (two for axis, two for allies, their names are escaping me at the moment) the exact same figures as the starter? That is my one complaint -- actual unit names, or their differences, are not listed on the starter box.

The same as in the starter set.

**Alpharius**

Thanks for the scale comparison shot AAN - the Dust figs may be 'taller' than "GW 28mm" but they look to be the 'right' size nonetheless!

**BrookM**

That they are, nobody ever said that people should be the same length and whatnot. Unless they happen to be filthy goose steppers.

**Shrapnelsmile**

AAN wrote:
Shrapnelsmile wrote:Are the currently released expansions (two for axis, two for allies, their names are escaping me at the moment) the exact same figures as the starter? That is my one complaint -- actual unit names, or their differences, are not listed on the starter box.

The same as in the starter set.

Precisely the same? Wow, two core sets it is then...
Thanks.

**Scott-S6**

Shrapnelsmile wrote:
AAN wrote:
Shrapnelsmile wrote:Are the currently released expansions (two for axis, two for allies, their names are escaping me at the moment) the exact same figures as the starter? That is my one complaint -- actual unit names, or their differences, are not listed on the starter box.

The same as in the starter set.

Precisely the same? Wow, two core sets it is then...
Thanks.

They aren't quite the same. The battle grenadiers and gunners packs both include an extra figure and a second unit card (for an upgraded unit including the extra guy).

**BrookM**

I just found these on the Dust models site:

Check it here: http://www.dust-models.com/

**Shrapnelsmile**

Scott-S6 wrote:
Shrapnelsmile wrote:
AAN wrote:
Shrapnelsmile wrote:Are the currently released expansions (two for axis, two for allies, their names are escaping me at the moment) the exact same figures as the starter? That is my one complaint -- actual unit names, or their differences, are not listed on the starter box.

The same as in the starter set.

Precisely the same? Wow, two core sets it is then...
Thanks.

They aren't quite the same. The battle grenadiers and gunners packs both include an extra figure and a second unit card (for an upgraded unit including the extra guy).

ahhh, thank you. Which of my choices do you recommend?

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Just read about the extra tile supplement coming out. I like that the Wave 1 unit expansions have bonus figs and cards for variety. Going to get one set and support my FLGS w/ the unit box purchases.

Thanks.

**Duncan_Idaho**

Not to be too picky, but maybe you should recalibrate your digital meter, my analogue meter tells me that the upper rim of his goggles is excatly 31mm and eye level 30,5, and this meter is the same that architects use for scale drawings.

Besides, Marines and Imperials differ in size quite substantially depending from from which edition they hail. GW is always hero scale (ham fisted guys), but DT true scale. This alone makes it nearly impossible to compare both lines.

@boxes
The cheaper infanntry boxes are the ones with 5 minis and one card and the other ones the ones with 6 minis and an additional card that makes them a different unit. Definitely go for the latter if you want to test new units and for the first if you want to expand on your butter and bread units. Buying one of each is not that bad an idea.

**BrookM**

I'm eagerly awaiting the command squad and walker boxed sets myself, which are sadly still some time off. March wasn't it?

**Duncan_Idaho**

Yes, march. Which is still faster tham AEG could have managed to release them, hence FFG taking over.

**Duncan_Idaho**

3D-Terrain for Dust Tactics

On boardgamegeek you will find two files for papercraft scenery for DT.

http://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/61124/papercraft-bunker-walls

http://boardgamegeek.com/filepage/58460/dust-tactics-3d-terrain

**BrookM**

If it has Kilroy graffiti it's always good!

**Shrapnelsmile**

How is DUST Tactics playing out for people who own it? are you enjoying it?

**BrookM**

I'm really enjoying it. Simple rules, great background, lovely models to fool around with (discovered that the heads can be twisted off and reposed, excellent)