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this game alot of fun if you are thinking about buying it I would. And its cheap to $50 gets you a navy.

Very cool stuff. The artwork of the plane/saucer thing is cool. And I love the waterline titan... great idea, and beautifully executed.

Love the watery Metzger!

Some info on upcoming releases from Spartan Neil on the Spartan Games forum:

Hi,

As the game has developed, so the schedule for models has been modified. The initial plan was to release four nations (which as you know are the Prussians, Britannia, Blazing Sun and FSA) and then another four nations (Antarcticans, Russians, Ottomans and Italians). But the driving forces behind the release schedule changed and the French were upgarded to a core boxed nation, with the Antarcticans assuming an independent release schedule.

So what this means is that we have the first four nations, the Antarcticans will arrive on their own, driving a series of game development plotlines, and then the next four nations will arrive. Before the next four nations arrive the key military models from the rule book will arrive. Scenery (including bunkers and so on) are being handled as an independent release, the first blisters of which will be detailed shortly.

This month we have rolled out the Dreadnoughts, Escorts and Destroyers for the four nations and next month we have the Specials coming out. Our mould room are working hard to manufacture DW releases, so while I am sure I cannot make all of your worries go away, you should know that the roll out schedule for models for the first four nations is far from standing still.

Cheers,
Spartan Neil

Scottywan82 wrote:Also, it is only fun if people actually PLAY IT. In my area at least it is the number one game that is purchased and then never seen again. I see at least one starter a week walk out the door and have seen only two games played ever.

This is one of the biggest reasons I cannot get into anything by Spartan Games. They started by making Uncharted Seas, then they created Firestorm ARmada, and now they have Distopian Wars. All these games appeal to very similar audiences and the games themselves are competing against each other.

I thought of picking up Uncharted Seas one time because I liked the look of the Steampunk Shroud Mages; then I realized people around me were starting up Firestorm Armada. They're producing too much too fast. Usually that would be a good thing, but they're fragmenting their fan base and somewhat neglecting their older games.

Uncharted Seas has eight factions now; some factions have less than eight models created for them!
Firestorm Armada is even worse. There are nine factions in the game and each faction has less than nine models.
Dystopian Wars currently has only four factions with a decent amount of models each... however another four factions are on their way?

Plus they have a scifi ground combat game in the works - Firestorm Invasion. If I start Dystopian Wars today, how long so I have until Spartan Games shifts their entire focus on that new game?

I'm really hesitant to start any of these games whatsoever because I'm afraid by the time I have a sizeable force, Spartan Games will have created another two entire games and nobody in my area would care. I wish their releases would focus more on specific games rather than creating new games and new factions all the time.

Games Workshop is the largest miniatures game company in the world and they do well with only two games (kinda three with LotR). Each of the factions across all games has move 30-ish models. GW may be slow in giving love to armies, but when they do it's in a huge lump chunk; then they come around and give extra tender love to Space Marines.
Privateer Press may have two main games, but they're intercompatible and they release periodic units for each faction. Warmahordes has 10-ish factions and each faction has well over 50+ models.
Other companies such as Corvus Belli, Wyrd, and DP9 focus on one game each. Each of these companies has well over 40 or so models per faction.

Focus on one game and maybe I'll care enough to invest my time in a game. Until then, people will continue to treat Spartan Games's games as a fleeting curiosity at worst or a short-lasting fad at best.

In the dystopian world the navy and land combat are the same game just different venues land sea can be fought at the same time with the same rules

@Absolutionis
Short-Attention-Span Syndrome?

I really would like to get into their games, but they always seem to go for the next big toy they see, which especially hurts their rulebooks.

Must... Resist...

I've been watching Uncharted Seas and Dystopian Wars for a while. Never been keen on the look of the Uncharted Seas stuff. However, the Dystropian Wars goodies just keep calling my name. I have a particular weakness for Naval Wargames.

No, I can't buy more models!

They're very reasonably priced! 13 ships + 2 planes + 10 fighter tokens + templates all in the starter sets!

Hmm interesting models, cannot wait to see more... I quite like Steampunk

@Absolutionis

Just wait. What better time to come into a game than at the beginning. Wait until it gets popular in your area to start playing the game. Wait until the company is big enough to support their games etc. etc. This game is cheap enough that when you do start to play you can drop $100 dollars on it or pounds and be up and running with the best of them.

Waiting will also allow you to learn from other's mistakes. You will not have to go through everyone else's trial and error tp find the army style you like to play.

If the game collapses then no skin off your nose.

Really by waiting the only thing you are missing out on is the fun, but spend that time in a game you already enjoy.

As to why the DW is getting all the attention I believe it is because it is pulling the bulk of the revenue, but that is only my guess. The other guess of mine is that is how they planned it. Release US and FA because the support for those games wouldn't be such a task. While DW wars requires a lot more support because of it's scope to be initially successful.

Meaning to play FA and US you only need the fleet of ships so pretty simple to get started. This could be the same for DW except for all of the other "promised" ways to play.

Will all factions be getting giant robot walker titan things?

Absolutionis wrote:

Scottywan82 wrote:Also, it is only fun if people actually PLAY IT. In my area at least it is the number one game that is purchased and then never seen again. I see at least one starter a week walk out the door and have seen only two games played ever.

This is one of the biggest reasons I cannot get into anything by Spartan Games. They started by making Uncharted Seas, then they created Firestorm ARmada, and now they have Distopian Wars. All these games appeal to very similar audiences and the games themselves are competing against each other.

Well, I don't know about your FLGS, but in mine this is not the problem. the issue is literally lots buy and no one plays. Not any of the games. FA is played a bit, but only by a group who have no interest in the other Spartan games. If I even SAW a group who played any of the other two I'd be interested to give it a try. But literally NO ONE plays UC or DW. They just buy DW starters and are never seen again.

It's freaking weird.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Alpharius wrote:Will all factions be getting giant robot walker titan things?

Yes, either that or a submarine. Or a submarine Squid.

Realistic paint jobs look sweet on these minis.

Too bad I went garish on mine.

A little more from Spartan Neil covering some of the concerns that have been brought up here and on their forums as well:

CybreAnS:
Don`t misunderstand me, the overall release schedule is faster than expected.For example the Dread/destroyer/escort wave is a big set of models just a month after the land boxes,that's tough work 

But I've seen some examples where new factions and features lead to delays of the  needed basics cause they pushed out of the schedule over and over again to introduce the new stuff. That`s what I meant.

And by the way, thx for pushing away my worries Neil     


Spartan Neil:
Not a problem. Dystopian Wars is bedding in very nicely and we've managed to get the groundswell under control, which is great from our end! The guys are slamming into the models they need to manufacture, and the schedule for the game, whilst having changed to accomodate the French/Antarctican roll out, is settled. But as excited as the guys are about the new fleets (my Stick of Pain enforces that!) they are eager to release the models for the current four.

I think this is more to do with fleshing out their own fleets than worrying about you guys of course!!! 

Spartan Neil

Let's hope that this is indeed the case.

I am not worried about the release schedule, for the amount they have put out for all of their games this year is pretty top notch in my opinion. There is still six months to go and they are pretty close to the original "unofficial" release schedule Neil had said.

I am excited for the new factions. Ottoman, Russian, and Convenant are all factions I know I am gonna start. Yet I do want the rest of the minitures detailed in the book released as well. All of the coastal defenses look like they will add a unique twist to the game.

Dreadnoughts and Specials on the Spartan Games blog.

Work blocked! Help us Help us!!! Can't go on much further....

I'm so torn between the Blazing Son and Empire. I like the Blazing Sun ships and Mechanical Ika, but Prussians have great Airships and the Metzger...

Could someone give me a rundown on the strengths and weaknesses of both?

Platuan4th wrote:I'm so torn between the Blazing Son and Empire. I like the Blazing Sun ships and Mechanical Ika, but Prussians have great Airships and the Metzger...

Could someone give me a rundown on the strengths and weaknesses of both?

It is tough decision but the Blazing Sun do have that awesome walker!!!

Scottywan82 wrote:

Absolutionis wrote:

Scottywan82 wrote:Also, it is only fun if people actually PLAY IT. In my area at least it is the number one game that is purchased and then never seen again. I see at least one starter a week walk out the door and have seen only two games played ever.

This is one of the biggest reasons I cannot get into anything by Spartan Games. They started by making Uncharted Seas, then they created Firestorm ARmada, and now they have Distopian Wars. All these games appeal to very similar audiences and the games themselves are competing against each other.

Well, I don't know about your FLGS, but in mine this is not the problem. the issue is literally lots buy and no one plays. Not any of the games. FA is played a bit, but only by a group who have no interest in the other Spartan games. If I even SAW a group who played any of the other two I'd be interested to give it a try. But literally NO ONE plays UC or DW. They just buy DW starters and are never seen again.

It's freaking weird.

I hear you guys about the issues with building and maintaining a player base for Spartan's games...maybe we should start a thread in the Spaceship/Naval forum to discuss it?

Pael wrote:Work blocked! Help us Help us!!! Can't go on much further....

Same here!

Pael wrote:

Platuan4th wrote:I'm so torn between the Blazing Son and Empire. I like the Blazing Sun ships and Mechanical Ika, but Prussians have great Airships and the Metzger...

Could someone give me a rundown on the strengths and weaknesses of both?

It is tough decision but the Blazing Sun do have that awesome walker!!!

What?!?

"Awesome walker"?

Help!

Yes Yes Yes I can't post a picture but the Blazing Suns have a Capital Class walker that can wade into shallow waters. It looks really cool.

Where's the Japanese Giant Walker - it isn't that... building looking thing, is it?

It is, it is, my son.

That's the HQ top on the walker. The other optional top if a sphere dome turret thing with a double barreled cannon.

As a Blazing Sun player, I can't wait. I really like this range/game.

Alpharius wrote:Where's the Japanese Giant Walker - it isn't that... building looking thing, is it?

That's the only Blazing Sun walker out at present.

I believe that they have a giant humanoid robot statted out in the rulebook. iirc, none of the four starting nations have "class gaps" in their lists of units. It's just that Spartan isn't releasing everything at the same time. For instance, the Prussians and FSA get humanoid robots released, while the Britannians and Blazing Sun get their subs out first (the Blazing Sun sub is a mechanical squid). The FSA and Britannia have their water-borne aircraft carriers released, while the Prussians and Blazing Sun have their flying carriers currently available. But each of the four starting nations has stats for a humanoid robot, a submarine, a floating carrier, and a flying carrier. Spartan Games just hasn't shown us the models for all of them yet.

Eumerin wrote:

Alpharius wrote:Where's the Japanese Giant Walker - it isn't that... building looking thing, is it?

That's the only Blazing Sun walker out at present.

I believe that they have a giant humanoid robot statted out in the rulebook. iirc, none of the four starting nations have "class gaps" in their lists of units. It's just that Spartan isn't releasing everything at the same time. For instance, the Prussians and FSA get humanoid robots released, while the Britannians and Blazing Sun get their subs out first (the Blazing Sun sub is a mechanical squid). The FSA and Britannia have their water-borne aircraft carriers released, while the Prussians and Blazing Sun have their flying carriers currently available. But each of the four starting nations has stats for a humanoid robot, a submarine, a floating carrier, and a flying carrier. Spartan Games just hasn't shown us the models for all of them yet.

A little bit incorrect here. Everything is spot on except for the robots and subs. Brittania gets a sub, everyone else gets a robot. That is it. They are called the specials. Now I am not saying that eventually the love will be shared but not in the current rules are any robots listed for Brittania and they are the only one with a sub unless of course you call the squid a sub.

I do suspect that Prussia will eventually get a sub because of the story of the attack on London.