Want to start Dystopian Wars, advice needed from knowers of know.

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**Tower75**

Hi, all.

I'm really getting excited about Dystopian Wars, and I really want to play it. I've joined Spartan's forum and I've been flicking through the different Nations that are out there to see what I like the look of.

However, I find myself completely on my Jack when it comes to this situation.

To explain the place I'm in: I've only been 'gaming' since 2012, and then only Warhammer 40,000, and then only with a very small group of friends who all wanted to start Warhammer 40,000 at the same time.

I'm brand new to all tabletop/war gaming things, and in this I have no idea where to start.

Non of my friends want to play anything other than a game of Warhammer 40,000 once every other month with butchered house rules and unpainted, half unglued figures, so I haven't got anyone to nerd with other Dystopian Wars.

As pathetic as it sounds,

how do I start, should I just go down to a local game store and 'try to make friends?'

Should I buy the Dystopian Wars Rulebook first and read through it?

Should I try and find a game first and see what it's like to play?

Sorry, it's a bit of an odd post, but war gaming etiquette must be applied here, I just don't know it.

Cheers,
Tower

**Overread**

Tower75 wrote:
should I just go down to a local game store and 'try to make friends?'

Yes, ask around chat and make some friends and contacts. Find out what they are playing and who might be keen to join in. You might find there is already a Dystopian Wars community present or that several other people are looking to start up as well (so you can make a group all starting up). Finding local players before buying into a game is important if you want to play - because otherwise you'll just be painting models. (sometimes you can get people to start a new game by showing them models in the flesh - so sometimes starting up can work - other times it won't).

Should I buy the Dystopian Wars Rulebook first and read through it?

Should I try and find a game first and see what it's like to play?

Sorry, it's a bit of an odd post, but war gaming etiquette must be applied here, I just don't know it.

There's no real etiquette to apply here - and really it all hinges on what you can find locally. First step is find out what is around; from there you can decide how to approach things. If there's no local group see if others are interested - maybe get a few models and the rule book to help nudge things over the edge and get a few more interested and playing.
If there's a local group already playing then by all means ask for a demo or beginners game and play a few times to see if you really do like it.

**Balance**

BTW, there's a rumor that a new Dystopian Wars rulebook is incoming soon-ish. Not sure of the ETA.

It's a fun game, although somewhat buckets-of-dice. The rules for combining/linking weapons are very critical to understand.

**Overread**

They've already got the 2.0 rules released. Firestorm Armada has just had new rules released in the last few days as well as a slew of new starter ships for each faction (redone models).

Then there is the Firestorm ground combat game coming in the new year (think Dystopian Wars - in the future) along with rumour of a 28mm scale Firestorm game (mostly suspected because of terrain for such a game being released by Spartan; there is no other hint that this game is coming than that).

Dystopain Wars 3.0 might be on the cards but I'd not expect it until at least well into next year - likely half way through or even late into the last part of the year.

**Tower75**

Cheers, guys.

I rang my local gaming shop. And turns out they have a Dystopian Wars community, of sorts, so I'll start there.

**Overread**

Sounds like a good plan head along and see what its like and have a game or two before spending

**Balance**

Overread wrote:
They've already got the 2.0 rules released. Firestorm Armada has just had new rules released in the last few days as well as a slew of new starter ships for each faction (redone models).

All I can find is the 1.1 rules... I had heard that 2.0 was expected early in 2014, but I haven't been following it closely. They're hurting a bit as there's some 'patch rules' to bring factions in line with newer design ideas and such...The expansion boxes this year included a booklet that usually added a tweak to each faction... I.E. all the Blazing Sun ships get incendiary ammo on certain weapons.

**Overread**

Balance - you're right! I got mixed up there between the 1.1 rules and 2.0!

I think I mixed up the FA 2.0 rules and the 1.1 Dystopian ones! In that case correct my earlier post - 2.0 will be out some time and considering Dystopian is Spartans best seller likely earlier in the year than I estimated.

**Balance**

it'll be interesting to see how they pull things together. I feel like they've had a subtle 'shift' from even the 1.1 rules to now in what they feel certain faction's "schtick" is, and are trying to develop the fleets to have a more unified feel...

They do have good support. The Spartan Games forum has a neat thread where a play tester is allowed some 'authorized leaks' to get people interested in new stuff and provide a peak behind the scenes. They seem to be aware of the concerns with the game and want to fix issues without invalidating units.

**Luddite**

If you want to get into tournament DW with a winning army, choose the French and get a Vauban 'death star'. Its almost unbeatable.

Personally i have a Empire of the Blazing Sun fleet. It's a great game.

A rare battle where i manage to down the flying dreadnaught http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Dystopian%20Wars

**Tower75**

Luddite wrote:
If you want to get into tournament DW with a winning army, choose the French and get a Vauban 'death star'. Its almost unbeatable.

Personally i have a Empire of the Blazing Sun fleet. It's a great game.

A rare battle where i manage to down the flying dreadnaught http://luddite1811.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Dystopian%20Wars

An interesting battle report there. Good read. I haven't picked a Nation yet, I assume the best thing to do, is find this 'Dystopian Wars Community' at my local gaming shop and see what people play. No point picking Kingdom of Brittannia if five other players play 'em.

Maybe the Prussian Empire, their ships are very boring, in my opinion, but I think that's kinda cool, in a very odd fashion. In an alternate history, advanced technology based, diesel-punk world, the German-ness is still there.

**jonolikespie**

Wait... you're trying to pick only *1* faction?
My group must be doing it wrong then.

Seriously there is only like 7 of us but we friggen love Dyst wars so in the last 6 months or so we've gone from starter boxes to an average of 2-3 fleets each.

**Overread**

One bonus is that even with Dystopian Wars boosting its numbers a lot per faction the game is still very affordable.

Note one thing to keep in mind is that Spartan is doing away with most of their blister packs; they are shifting to a focus on boxed sets for stores combined with individual model order (through spartans bits service or through your local store). It's not fully in place yet but they are phasing it in. The idea is to make their line easier and more visible to carry for shops whilst making starting up simpler for players - combined with still providing models as people need them.

**Tower75**

jonolikespie wrote:
Wait... you're trying to pick only *1* faction?
My group must be doing it wrong then.

Seriously there is only like 7 of us but we friggen love Dyst wars so in the last 6 months or so we've gone from starter boxes to an average of 2-3 fleets each.

Got to start somewhere, I haven't even gotten the rules yet, lol. I assume eventually I'll 'ave more than one fleet. I'll have to get a Britannian fleet eventually. That's only proper.

**Luddite**

The Prussians are a decent choice. Their Tesla weapons can be nasty.

Spartan changing to boxed set + individuals model ordering as a good move i think. It's always been a pain that the contents of their blister packs didn't match the unit sizes.

**jonolikespie**

Oh definitely, they can't implement it fast enough imo.

Another good thing Spartan is doing that I feel should be pointed out in relation to that move; they are talking with their customers about it.
A little while back someone posted on their forums that they were concerned about all the new stuff coming out in boxes and actual Spartan Games employees answered those concerns.
It's almost like they are a company that cares about their fans

**Spellbound**

I've been playing Dystopian Wars a bit over two years now, and I love the game.

The models are very easy to paint, taking drybrushing and washes exceptionally well.

The game itself is great, as I've found most games that require some pre-planning to be. Try out the cards, though. I feel they help add a lot to the game.

**Tower75**

Spellbound wrote:
I've been playing Dystopian Wars a bit over two years now, and I love the game.

The models are very easy to paint, taking drybrushing and washes exceptionally well.

The game itself is great, as I've found most games that require some pre-planning to be. Try out the cards, though. I feel they help add a lot to the game.

What're the cards, good sir. I know not of this.

**Balance**

Tower75 wrote:

What're the cards, good sir. I know not of this.

There's an optional card mechanic described in the 1.1 rulebook. It's "optional" but a few core rules interact with the card rules (there's a Radio perk, as I remember, that increases hand size or something).

Cards are Spartan's STAR system, which means they're broken into four broad categories for Squads, Turn, A-word, R-something. Or something.

There's limits to how they can be played, but a common mechanic that many cards can be opposed by an opponent spending cards.

Card effects vary from boosts to Attack and Defense as well as some fun stuff like extra movement.

I've heard some feel they're too 'random' and don't like them, but others do like them. You can (and probably should) learn the base game without them,.

**jonolikespie**

Cards are both amazing and frustrating.

Activating your battleship, moving up alongside your opponents dreadnought and broadsideing it isn't a good plan, when you have a card that lets you activate your gunships before your opponent can react though its amazingly effective.

Your opponent then getting D3 hp back on it sucks though.

**Arbiter**

I have just started playing as the Prussian Empire and I am wondering how a black ink wash would look?

**doc1234**

Little late but in responce to the cards question, they're a nice fog of war addition but not hugely game breaking. You can play one of each card type per turn (so a maximum of 4 cards) and can't play cards on units that have already had cards used on them if i recall. Most cards can be cancelled out and by discarding cards to beat a "science" rating or some such from top of my head.

Like I said they just help vary up the math a little, normally a bombing run for instance on some russian ships is a safe no brainer. But with cards, there's a chance the Ruskie may just bring out another 3AA, or even have that AA with incendiary fire...