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OK Dakka - this thread is aimed at those who know and play DUST as well as those who, like me, want to start but don't know where to begin...

Got this month's Wargames Illustrated and they had a short blurb on DUST as well as more to come next month. I am fairly intrigued, having already played alternate WW2 stuff with Incursion. Anyone played DUST and can give me the low down on what it is like? What's the difference between DUST Tactics and DUST Warfare? Do you need all the expansion books? There seems to be quite a few.

I was looking at some of the intro player sets that come with the rules, a battle mat, dice etc etc - they are fairly reasonably priced on Wayland Games - are they representative of a general force or do you need to buy a bunch more stuff?

What about terrain - I guess the battle mats you get in the starter sets are much of a muchness but do you need heaps of terrain? One of the things that put me off Infinity was the mass of terrain you need. I didn't really want to start yet another miniatures game but if I can get into DUST for a low cost and give it a whirl, I may well do so.

Can you help me out?

First, the most important question. You have other players?

I do not.

But then again, that has never precluded me from starting other games. I collect the minis and then stare wistfully at them on the shelf. Or play a game against myself. Or rope the misses in as an unwilling opponent.

First thing to remember, DUST models cover 2 game systems, DUST Tactics and DUST Warfare.

DUST Tactics.
This was the initial games system for the DUST models. It is played on a 3" Gridded board, models move from square to square based upon their movement values. You can buy Game Mats to play on, but if you buy the Core Rule set for Tactics or any of the expansion packs, you get several 3x3 (Grid) boards to play on.

In my humble opinion, DUST Tactics is the best most interesting game on the market bar none, and I've played a lot of games. It reminds me of GW Spacehulk in that it is easy to learn, difficult to master. It plays quick and always leaves you with strategic choices during the game. Even when all seems lost, the game can turn sides on a single turn. Everyone I've introduced the game to, loves it. The campaigns are especially good to play (Operation Cerebrus, Sealowe, etc etc).

DUST Warfare.
Not played this myself, but by all acounts a very good set of rules written partly by Andy Chambers (Ex GW). The models are used in both Warfare and Tactics. Whilst Tactics is played on a board, Warfare is an open table with tape measures.

OK so if I buy some of the DUST Tactics starter boxes, I can then use them later for DUST Warfare? That's good to know.

What about the new starer boxes? Good value or just enough of a force to allow a teaser?

The new starter boxes are a good value. You get a discount over the single unit box prices, and some of the models like the Heavy Laser Grenadiers you just can't get outside of the Revised Core or Starters. You even get free dice!

They are a smallish army and you'll want to add to them for bigger games but I think they are a good core.

OK good to know, I might get a couple of starter boxes then.

What about the supplements/campaign books? There seem to be a lot of them - are they just basically 'extra missions'?

 filbert wrote:
OK good to know, I might get a couple of starter boxes then.

What about the supplements/campaign books? There seem to be a lot of them - are they just basically 'extra missions'?

To answer this lets go back to the difference between Dust Tactics and Dust Warfare.

Dust Tactics is the "base" game, and all the box sets come with the cards and rules for Tactics.

Dust Warfare is an "expansion" that lets you use the models from Dust Tactics in a 3D tabletop wargame. All the rules for Dust Warfare are contained in the core rules, which also has the Allies and Axis army models and stats (which are a bit different than Tactics). The campaign books have more missions, but also have more models and even the third army (SSU). Every campaign book has expansions for the Allies and Axis as well. You can play Warfare with just the core rulebook and some Tactics models if you wish and then expand out into the campaigns once you get the system down, just be aware that not every stat is in the core rule book.

Is one or the other played a lot more? Just curious.

Every dust model can be used in either Dust Tactics or Dust Warfare. A starter set may give you a better value but not necessary the best combo. It may be best to build a list. Then, post it in the official forum for some suggestions and make the purchase afterward.

If you are interested in SSU, for example, it will be better to construct a Steel Guard platoon w Silent Death/Air Transport than replying on a starter set.

 RiTides wrote:
Is one or the other played a lot more? Just curious.

It's kind of a local thing. Some places have more Tactics players (Portland, OR for example) and some have more Warfare (Raleigh, NC is a hotbed). What I can tell you is that at regional events like GenCon and Dust World Expo, we see pretty even turnouts for both.