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I too am not a huge fan of TLOS. Overall though I like what I've been hearing. I think I will however write some kind of house rule for dropships returning to orbit to pick up more troops as has been suggested. That will enable you to play large battles much more cheaply, since as has been pointed out, dropships are close to half the cost of an army in most cases. It won't help the Shaltari, but they can already do the same thing it seems by skimping on gates.

This is a game where TLOS works, all of the models ore meant to be true scale and most models do not have bases.

lord_blackfang wrote:Hmmm, not a fan of alternating activations at this scale.

Well then no need for you to buy in.

Me, I'm not a fan of the hurry up-to wait and die system GW has. So this system looks like it could work and keep me from being bored on my opponents turn.

Noir wrote:

lord_blackfang wrote:Hmmm, not a fan of alternating activations at this scale.

Well then no need for you to buy in.

Me, I'm not a fan of the hurry up-to wait and die system GW has. So this system looks like it could work and keep me from being bored on my opponents turn.

That was a strange complaint, alternating activations becomes important in largescale games. This is where it's most beneficial. Unless he meant model scale in which case that's just confusing.

No, it is alternate activations of pre-assigned battlegroups that can be quite large or quite small depending on the game.

ChocolateGork wrote:No, it is alternate activations of pre-assigned battlegroups that can be quite large or quite small depending on the game.

Who are you responding to, becouse that dosen't seem to fit, with the 2 above.

More edited noters from todays Q&A:

Infantry stand a chance, and can hold their own when garrisoning a building (there's modifiers for shooting against them here for accuracy AND energy, since they are concealed behind solid walls)
about an hour ago

I'd say it's about the same as 40k (although the last time I played a lot was 3rd edition!) Most playtesters had picked it up after a few hours :-) - this obviously makes fast play rules a bit more challenging to write. having said that, every unit in the game uses the same stat line system :-)

The turrets can be glued in all sorts of positions, since they do feature proper positional joints. It would be possible to pin them with some skill, would be tricky though since they're so small!

Hopefully I'll be sending some models out to review soon when I get a gap. Will have a look at your show! Most of our stock is packed in massive boxes at the casters right now though, I don't actually have many unassembled models here, but will do my best.
PHR are a good choice if you like magnets - they'll be fairly straightforward to do in most cases, except for the occasional flying base mount conversion (in some cases there isn't quite enough room for the transported units and the flying base). Thinning it at the top or using a long pin is an easy fix :-), especially since the models are lightweight.

Directed energy generally cooks at one thing at a time (very precise weapons usually!) In the case of the Shaltari Ocelot's Particle Cannon, something gets REALLY crispy!

We've had a fantastic amount of demand! :-), we'd prepared for this first though just in case, so we should be able to deliver the volumes needed. I've got big ambitions for the future of Hawk, and would love to work on expanding and growing the range/s and the company for many years to come :-). The support is certainly there for us, which feels great :-D

We're still finalising the exact card size, but hopefully we'll get it the same as MTG cards, then they'll be compatible with standard sleeves. Failing that, they'll be the same size as regular playing cards.

We'll be announcing in-store availability dates very soon, but the two won't be far apart! We have a very tight schedule at the moment.

The rulebook focuses on the UCM's invasion to recapture humanity's lost worlds from the clutches of the Scourge. Future expansions will expand on this and develop the timeline, and obviously introduce new elements. We're getting ahead of ourselves a bit, but at least you'll know there's more planned in future, and that you aren't seeing the end of the story :-)

In many instances We've used/ modified tried and tested mechanics to achieve a fresh outcome (ie the dropship focus) and in others we've used new ones. the countermeasure mechanic I think is a new way of maintaining realism in sci-fi while still giving plenty of cause for fire and manoeuvre, and I'm particularly happy with the way infantry, vehicles and aircraft all share the same stat line system while being very different in play.

I'm planning on attending as many shows as possible, once the initial madness dies down! There's just too much going on now, but I'm very keen to physically go places and see people - no substitute I think!

We'll be looking at putting a club pack together once the game is out - we'd like to look after clubs as much as we can manage :-)

The models are VERY durable. To show people, I've been throwing Shaltari dropships against walls! (not that I'd recommend anyone try this obviously!) So far I've never had one break, and the resin accepts super glue really well... a little too well sometimes! Once they're glued, they don't come apart easily!

Saying that the game will release devoid of balance issues would be both unrealistic and arrogant of me - there's just so many things to consider with a game that involves this much (and a brand new game at that!) I think in the modern world the best way of resolving issues IS to use free pdf updates. That way it costs you nothing, and everyone gets access to the changes. We're obviously doing our best in playtesting though!

The expansion books will contain new units, updated rules, additional factions and will advance the storyline - sometime in the future though, we have enough to be getting on with atm!

The warstrider's heads are indeed movable; they come on a pivot style joint so they can be positioned as they are in the photos - great for adding a sense of movement and life

Hey guys, I did a recap of all the rules questions on our blog for anyone who wants the information without digging through all 450+ comments on the Facebook page!

http://www.frontlinegaming.org/2012/06/11/dropzone-commander-live-blogging-recap/

This is amazing!

Nice, Reecius! Orlanth, from reading your transcripts I didn't see most of this section that was on Reecius' blog, was there a post that I missed, or did you not stay till the end of the Q&A, or edit it out, etc?

Frontline Gaming wrote:The Shaltari are quite self serving, and thus fight for their own, often incomprehensible reasons. each tribe has very different motivations, and they often fight each other! They’re quite warlike, and believe in trials of strength. Also, they hate the Scourge just as much as everyone else! Scourge attacks on the Shaltari are unknown to humans (from whose perspective the background has been written from), but no doubt it’s happened at some stage!
You can always hold/play one command card per turn, even without a commander.
The starters are playable as small armies (although not exactly points balanced) – think of them as 40k battleforces if it helps! Having said that, DzC supports smaller games than 40k and does not demand massive armies, so you can have fun playing with just the starter armies. I’d consider the Large army deal to be a good sized army, and the mega being a big/very big army
Some common ranges (against countermeasures) – directed energy- infinite, railgun 24″, cannons 12-18″, missiles 6-12″, anti-infantry (generally) about 12″, although infantry don’t usually carry countermeasures, so the full range (normally 36-48″) can be used against them – try not to leave your infantry exposed: they won’t last long!
The reason there isn’t a painted full albatross is that I’d need to paint an extra 9 folded tanks, and simply ran out of time! Expect to see one in future though (at the very least unpainted), the tanks do fit properly!
Using the UCM as an example, you’d have one group with 2 infantry squads, in one Bear each, both in a condor. You’d have a second group with the Sabres (+Condor), and a third with the Rapiers (+ Condor). An obvious unit/s to add would be a command unit (which would go in a new Command battlegroup), fighters (Air battlegroup) and Scouts (these normally go in command also)
You don’t have to put your commander in a command vehicle, but the commander’s field of influence is halved if they’re in a unit not designed for the role (weaker communications suite etc). Lower ranking officers (sergeants etc) work well in standard units though, since they extend chain of command

Reecius wrote:Hey guys, I did a recap of all the rules questions on our blog for anyone who wants the information without digging through all 450+ comments on the Facebook page!

http://www.frontlinegaming.org/2012/06/11/dropzone-commander-live-blogging-recap/

Boom. That's it, right there. I believe that's about all that's required to get me into the game. The only thing holding me back now is a lack of opponents in the immediate area.

Yeah, the game looks pretty awesome. We have some rule books en route to the store, as soon as I get my grubby paws on one, I will do a review.

Reecius wrote:Yeah, the game looks pretty awesome. We have some rule books en route to the store, as soon as I get my grubby paws on one, I will do a review.

Sweet, thnkx. I was just about to sit down and do the same thing. =]

Reecius wrote:Yeah, the game looks pretty awesome. We have some rule books en route to the store, as soon as I get my grubby paws on one, I will do a review.

Reece, that would be amazing!

So, the rulebooks are done, then? I got the impression they were still finalizing things... not sure how they could be doing that if it's already printed?

Did you just call them / email them up and say you're a store owner and that you'd review it?

No matter what, I'm psyched, can't think of anyone else whose take I'd like to hear more on it. I love what I'm hearing so far about the rules and game.

obsidianaura wrote:I guess the clue is in the name of the game Dropzone Commander

That’s... an excellent point. I hadn’t thought of that.

I like a lot of what I'm reading from today. The destroy able terrain sounds neat, but I wonder how integral it will be to being successful in game.

Counter measures sound neat for sure.

Polonius wrote:2) GW models tie into a great IP that encourages emotional investment. People relate to Orks, Blood Angels, and Death Guard far more than they relate to Menoth and Trollbloods.

While you’re right that relative value is more than just the comparative cost ($) of the game, I take grave issue with this comment of yours. Why would people identify more with Orks than Trollbloods? Or Blood Angels more than Menoth? What basis do you have for such an assertion?

Now I don’t play a lot of games because I have no interest in their settings, so in my case I don’t identify with Menoth or Trollbloods because I have no real investment in the background for Warmachine/Hordes. 40K on the other hand I have a lot of investment in because I really like the setting. But what if I was the opposite of that? Would I be unable to have as much investment in Menoth as someone else has in their Grey Knight force?

I'd love to get more invested in the WM/H setting but it's hard when all the fiction is spread over rulebooks.

I'll be first in line when they finally publish a novel.

cincydooley wrote:I'd love to get more invested in the WM/H setting but it's hard when all the fiction is spread over rulebooks.

I'll be first in line when they finally publish a novel.

I doubt that. Yours is the sort of assertion people always like to make, but when you get down to brass tacks, show little interest or ability to follow up on.

How heavy is that brush Aggy? You sure can paint a lot of people with it, so it must be big...

Agamemnon2 wrote:

cincydooley wrote:I'd love to get more invested in the WM/H setting but it's hard when all the fiction is spread over rulebooks.

I'll be first in line when they finally publish a novel.

I doubt that. Yours is the sort of assertion people always like to make, but when you get down to brass tacks, show little interest or ability to follow up on.

I'm not sure what this even means. Are you trying to say I WOULDNT buy a novel if they released it? I've got 3 of the Fantasy Flight Games novels for chrissakes and a bookshelf full of black library stuff. I don't know where you're getting your assumptions, but simply put: you're wrong and your comment is pretty rude.

I think there are many others that would hop on board with a WM/H novel. As it stands, it's hard to get a ton of story as they're all either in rulebooks (and I'm not purchasing every army book) or in NQ.

I really don't understand the point of your comment unless it as simply to troll.

As for the fluff in DZC: looks okay so far. The Facebooo chat makes it sound like the books are going to be similar to Imperial Armour. If this is the case colour me excited.

cincydooley wrote:
As for the fluff in DZC: looks okay so far. The Facebook chat makes it sound like the books are going to be similar to Imperial Armour. If this is the case colour me excited.

I really like the idea of IA style campaign style books but I do fear it will become a little too focused on what ever the main story arc is. In this case UCM's fight to retake the cradle worlds. I guess it really depends on how many books he puts out before he advances the time line to the next phase.

I see it more as the way Privateer Press does things.

There's no campaign to stick to. Just with each new book the fluff progresses along.

cincydooley wrote:I'd love to get more invested in the WM/H setting but it's hard when all the fiction is spread over rulebooks.

I'll be first in line when they finally publish a novel.

I'd like them to publish an anthology that consolidates NQ and the old and new rulebook fluff into one place.

Wrath wrote:

cincydooley wrote:
As for the fluff in DZC: looks okay so far. The Facebook chat makes it sound like the books are going to be similar to Imperial Armour. If this is the case colour me excited.

I really like the idea of IA style campaign style books but I do fear it will become a little too focused on what ever the main story arc is. In this case UCM's fight to retake the cradle worlds. I guess it really depends on how many books he puts out before he advances the time line to the next phase.

He's already stated the fluff is told from the UCM point of view. I imagine it would be odd to speak from the Scourge perspective...

Last addition from yesterdays Q&A. I will be collating and adding all the info into a single post, might as well make a new thread for it. in the meantime. :

I'm planning on doing rules previews and perhaps a battle report or two in the near future, but my main focus has to be finalising the rulebook and getting it to print on time. I this will own me for the next few weeks, but I'll do my best to get some fresh content to you! Just don't expect a preview a day - you've got a site with 600+ images to browse!

It's been mainly metal if I'm honest - lots of Maiden! Hard to beat for wargaming, but ride of the Valkyries would work!

I'm a big fan of Red Alert (2 was always my favourite!) Spend too much of my school days playing that! I think a few people have picked up on the RTS feel of the models and images - this wouldn't be a bad observation!

You're right! The PHR mega army does contain 2x Taranis, will have that corrected tonight! Thanks for the heads up

Will do at some point in the near future, when I get a gap! (growing an ever lengthening list of jobs lately lol)

The Mechit is a specialist anti-infantry unit, and since the PHR have a few more units than the other races (in the form of variants) it was impossible to squeeze them all in while still giving you equivalent anti-tank firepower. The Menchit is great at clearing buildings though (it's got a flamethrower :-D!) so it's quite a useful add-on in some situations.
No worries about spending the time, I think it's been worth it too! Wish I could give you all more time at this stage, but shortly I need to return to the last push needed to get this thing out there! Setting aside and dedicating a day to this seemed more comprehensive than trying to answer questions piecemeal!

A distilled version will make it onto the site in the early hours of the morning with any luck, so getting it from here might be a bit faster if you need speed. I've just been informed of my email backlog by Bex *coughs*, so that'll be another job for tonight! Thanks for your help, and your questions :-)

We should be switching to an integrated checkout in the next couple of days, so hopefully that'll resolve any issues you're having! Seems to be working ok for most people, but the new system should be a lot better I'm told!

(my last answer of the day!) - There will indeed be! Special Generals, which will have various abilities, played with player consent only :-)

It's 9pm, so it's time for me to wrap up! Thanks for asking so many good questions, I hope you all got your answers! (or at least as good as I can manage at this stage!) Thanks also for your kind comments, as always it makes the workload easier to deal with :-)
I'm off now to clear my email backlog, get some food, and to distil the best of these 8200 words into a revised (and much longer!) FAQ section for the site. Thanks again guys! - Dave

Edit: Nevermind, I put my comment in the thread where you've compiled the Q&A (I thought there was a section missing but it is present there- nice to have it all in once place!)

My current thinking is that I will order the basic Shaltari army with rulebook from showcase, and scratch build a Scourge army. I really like the scourge fluff/units/army play style as its been described, but I'm kind of meh on the models themselves. The ones I'll make won't be as good, but won't be as relatively aweful as if I tried to sculpt Shaltari! There are some tyranid bitz that could be quite useful I have lying around. The Shaltari also have some potential to be used in other games - since they are so weird and distinctive, they could be used for lots of interesting things. Heck, even the infantry could be some kind of tiny battlesuited xenos in 28mmm.... Plus, I'm more interested in painting them than anything else. I might even paint them in the standard scheme - and that would be a first for me. Most the value of a model for me is in the time painting and assembling (and that part of the reason GW still gets some of my money - their kits are hugely fun to work with). I am a bit sad that there doesn't seem to be much scope for conversion in 10mm.

kestral wrote:My current thinking is that I will order the basic Shaltari army with rulebook from showcase, and scratch build a Scourge army. I really like the scourge fluff/units/army play style as its been described, but I'm kind of meh on the models themselves.

I'm going to be doing this as well! most Scourge units can be broken down into a small number of hulls and components, so once I've managed to sculpt those I'll get a friend to cast them up in bulk for me.

Massive prowler swarms ahoy!

H.B.M.C. wrote:

Polonius wrote:2) GW models tie into a great IP that encourages emotional investment. People relate to Orks, Blood Angels, and Death Guard far more than they relate to Menoth and Trollbloods.

While you’re right that relative value is more than just the comparative cost ($) of the game, I take grave issue with this comment of yours. Why would people identify more with Orks than Trollbloods? Or Blood Angels more than Menoth? What basis do you have for such an assertion?

Now I don’t play a lot of games because I have no interest in their settings, so in my case I don’t identify with Menoth or Trollbloods because I have no real investment in the background for Warmachine/Hordes. 40K on the other hand I have a lot of investment in because I really like the setting. But what if I was the opposite of that? Would I be unable to have as much investment in Menoth as someone else has in their Grey Knight force?

The basis is the fact that I've met people that speak of their GW armies with strong emotion. I haven't seen the PP crowd associate the same way. It's a cool world, but not as immersive as the GW world. Some of that is because we know the details so tightly in PP: you're not raising a new regiment or Warband, but you play a specific warcaster.

PP is a good example of how to grow that, by the way. They'be leaked out enough lore to hook people on it, instead of just the mechanics. I like the idea of building a lael liberation force, for example. The problem is that the GW background is a framework and a set of tools. the PP background is a mural. You can pick a part to be, but you can't really add your own.

So, I suppose you can take grave issue if you'd like, but until I see evidence of people diving in to the backgrounds for Warmachine, Infinity, Malifaux, etc. to that extent, I'm going to stand by my assertion.

I think I may have either miss read or missunderstood something.... was there a hint of even larger figures to come? Ie larger tanks and walkers? not a scale increase just HUGE vehicles like the despoiler?