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So I was wondering if there are many around here playing this game; the models for all the factions look outstanding and whilst its not focused on large battalions of models on the tabletop it does seem to be, from the videos I've seen, a great fun game with a strong focus on urban battle grounds and upon a strong objective focus with some neat mechanics (eg finding the objective not just moving to the marker on the map).
The whole dropping into and out of battle as well as the overall quality appears to be a great package in a single game.



So with some interest a while back I oft thought I might start a Shaltari army; very alien looking and their tripod walkers are very iconic. However the Scourge has grown on me (pun intended???) and the more I see of their army released the more I like. Things like the Dessolator based models and the fantastic Oppressor really stand out and appeal. However the Shaltari have some fantastic stuff too such as their Caiman Heavy Grav Tank and the fantastic looking Firedrake.


So for once I'm actually left in a spot where I'm more wondering how the armies play out on the table not just on their visual appeal; as visually I can't make a choice. From my observations at a rough glance it would seem that Shaltari deploy (on average) less models to the table; but that those models are very heavy hitters and often at range (although they've some good closer quarters options too); meanwhile Scourge appear to be more numerous but also more inclined to get up close and personal with the enemy.

So have any here any experiences and thoughts to share on these two factions an the game itself. Also if there are any hints as to anything coming in the future (I gather they just had a new release of formal rules which upgraded several character command models from an earlier release into general use variants - and released several varient/duel blisters for each faction and also have some npc models coming in the future but thus far nothing that I can see which hints at any more new models for a faction - understandable as apparently the (amazing looking) dropfleet is landing in September

Shaltari can do a bit of a swarm of their smaller stuff. It's only if you take their walkers and such that it gets expensive.

PHR is actually the faction where you have less stuff, but that's changing too.

Shaltari is fast, teleporty, shielded, and precision striking.

Scourge are fast, short ranged, and hard hitting.

I've played for a bout 6 months, I'd go thus

Ucm - slowest army now, but has some really good options to do Air-cav (everything flies) soon to get falcon-B (air based AA) also with new heavy tanks that might make a resurgence for a build.

PHR - small armies, getting pretty fast now, awesome aesthetic (hence my preferred faction) can take a beating, but with lots of E11+ these days less resilient.

Scourge - need help, fast and short ranged, but often easy to isolate and next to no armour. Do have some very cool new units coming (a flyer which fires razor worms into buildings!)

Shaltari - fast, mobile and with cool toys, probably the steepest learning curve, but can be built a variety of ways

Resistance - awesome units, no real play style, but can be tough, can be fast or can be a balance

To my mind walkers are key to Shaltari (at least in visual aesthetics) - so that certainly makes them fewer on the table.


Sourge appear to be playing how I thought they would and having seen the terrain typically used in Dropzone games I would hazard that its possibly one of the more friendly short range games - even if on the flipside it has infinite range weapons. If just because there is actually terrain to hide and quite a bit (even if it is neat military rows of buildings).