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I have been thinking about getting into dropzone commander for a while now, but was put off by the price of the miniatures. However, when the new starter set was announced, the value seems quite good. I like the look of both the UCM and the scourge so the armies won't be a problem. One idea I had was to buy 2 starter sets which would get me all of the core units I would ever need. If I then bought a command vehicle (and cards) and a pack of fliers (for the scourge and the UCM) - that would enable me to have lots of variety in my games. Doing this would allow me to build my army over time with the 'fun' units when the miniature fund has grown back (£150 is a big investment!). I am happy with the rules and am looking forward to playing! Should I start off like this or would you recommend something else?

I definitely think the plastic starter set is a great place to begin! If you buy two, you'll get more buildings, along with a second rulebook so you can loan it to a friend to learn the rules

You do need a command vehicle for bigger games, so I agree with that being your next purchase afterwards, along with a few fliers to learn that mechanic.

So yes, that sounds like an excellent way to start

Honestly, wait until sept and get the 2P starter.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I kinda half assed that response. Let me go further.

After the 2P starter, you'll want to pick up the large drop ship as your next purchase. I honestly think you'll get a lot of game out of the 2P starter tho first.

Thanks! Looking forward to it's release!

I think he means, the large dropship for UCM. For Scourge, my friend (who just won the GenCon tournament) just drives his hover-tanks onto the board. So it's not nearly as necessary for Scourge, who I generally see field more smaller dropships (since they have quite a good gun on them! and thus, you want more). My friend runs a Marauder or two, and a lot of Intruders, but no heavy dropship.

The tank speed makes a big difference, I see driving on tanks being a common tactic for Shaltari (in particular, since their tanks are also longer-ranged) and Scourge, since they're also hover tanks. They're also harder to kill when moving because of that (i.e. they get a bonus effect).

But I still think you want command vehicles for both sides before anything else . The Scourge one is really fun, and a great model, to boot!

Edit: My friend has a blog up, too, and it talks about making a starter army for Scourge and UCM. Check it out
http://flightintheshade.blogspot.com/

I've got a question 'Tides. I was at a little gaming convention this past weekend and a guy set up a game between UCM and Scourge. It was completely unbalanced from my point of view. The Scourge had 1300 points worth of models and the UCM had like double that (2500 to 2600). The Scourge players felt terribly out gunned because they had like 6 inch range on their tanks, while the UCM had a lot longer range on their stuff. The Scourge prevented the other team from winning but could not win themselves. They were in an uphill battle from the get go that made the game unfun.

1) Are the scourge really that powerful that they need to be half the points of the opponent to make it, "fair"
2) I didn't see the sheets they were using, but are the scourge's tanks really that limited with their range? Or was the guy running a specialized scenario that made the game unbalanced purposefully?

Can I clarify what is used for a scourge command vehicle? Can't seem to find one listed apart from the Desolator.

That blog is helping me alot - thanks!

Alfndrate- That must have been a special scenario. The factions are evenly powered from what I've seen. Scourge has the most unique playstyle- extremely limited range, but fast moving and devastating power. Also weak armor so rather glass cannon - like. They're a lot of fun to see played well.

PHR and UCM have much harder armor and have some really nice tricks to make them incredibly hard to kill. Shaltari is sort of in between Scourge and the others in tactics, since they can be mobile or hard to kill.

Migs- Yes, it's just the Desolator. However, you can put a commander in any vehicle, rather than in your Desolator... but their command range becomes extremely limited. I think a command vehicle is required for larger games, and it almost always makes sense to put your commander in it (imo) although there's some debate on that . The limited command range is a big drawback to putting the commander in any other vehicle, though, and since you have to buy a command vehicle anyway...! Put him in there

So they have a range of 6 inches? What's their speed 8 inches? (double than what I saw with the UCM tanks?)

I just seemed so vastly in the favor of the UCM, if I was interested in Dropzone Commander, I would have been immediately turned off to it (as my friend who was playing was :-\)

 Alfndrate wrote:
So they have a range of 6 inches? What's their speed 8 inches? (double than what I saw with the UCM tanks?)

I just seemed so vastly in the favor of the UCM, if I was interested in Dropzone Commander, I would have been immediately turned off to it (as my friend who was playing was :-\)

According to FFoR hunters have a 9" move and a 12" gun with one point of E higher than the puny sabre(don't have my rulebook on me and 1.1 just came out). Don't knock scourge, they can do some mean things.

And for Scourge, you really want the Desolator as your command tank. Not because it will actually help you, but because it's a fun little death squid.

 xole wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
So they have a range of 6 inches? What's their speed 8 inches? (double than what I saw with the UCM tanks?)

I just seemed so vastly in the favor of the UCM, if I was interested in Dropzone Commander, I would have been immediately turned off to it (as my friend who was playing was :-\)

According to FFoR hunters have a 9" move and a 12" gun with one point of E higher than the puny sabre(don't have my rulebook on me and 1.1 just came out). Don't knock scourge, they can do some mean things.

And for Scourge, you really want the Desolator as your command tank. Not because it will actually help you, but because it's a fun little death squid.

I'm not knocking Scourge, everything just seemed... off... The UCM tanks had like a 36 inch range while the Scourge were left with 6 inch range. I liked the demo I had at GenCon, I'm just trying to figure out if this was whole scenario was fabricated to be completely in the UCM's favor or what.

Sounds like it, Alf.

Our local Scourge player routinely beats all of us, including the UCM player

Did you demo at the DZC booth or with us at the war store booth??

I demo'd at the DZC booth, it was closer to our booth

Lame ;-).

I barely made it to that area of the hall. :-(

I hope this thread isn't too old to resurrect, but I am curious if migs ever got the starter? I just put my order in for one a few days ago.

About the scourge's limited range: if the game wasn't so terrain-heavy, that would definitely be a severe drawback. I think they make up for it in this game with fast moving and hard-hitting weapons, though. I like the aesthetic of them the though, they are very pulp sci-fi looking.

I'm not really into the PHR because I am not too much into the walkers-for-tanks, but I love the infantry sculpts and the smoothness of the flier designs in that faction. I might build an army of them just because of the pretty dropships.

I wouldn't worry about possible thread necro. It's borderline at two months but DZC doesn't get much talk so probably better to keep the conversation rolling here in this thread (which bumps it back to the top for anyone subscribed to it) rather than starting another for the same topic.

I'm curious as well if he got it. I'm looking to trade/buy the posters that come with the starter (as well as possibly buildings) so PM me if anyone has the starter and doesn't need the posters/maps.

In terms of terrain it can be to little which hampers scourge a little or too much which gives a massive advantage to them so be carefull.

The game looks fun and quick to play(Miniatures being cheap is nice too) So im thinking of starting. Im mostly liking the shaltari and their gate shenanigans. But PHR with their scorpian and walkers look good.

Shaltari gate shenanigans is very fun. It is extremely useful to be able to dictate the terms of an engagement.

I just like the idea ov moving the units I want on a whim. Like I need the ocelot there now. So move fast.

I'll be splitting the starter with my brother. I've been after a replacement for Epic ever since GW decided they didn't want to support a fantastic game, and this looks like it scratches the same itches.

I'll be grabbing the Scourge. I wasn't a big fan of them initially, but the models really grew on me. Even the CD tower dropships. I've even got another friend who might want to get into the UCM, so I might even get away with splitting two boxes for a larger starter force.

I'll say this thought - Hawk Wargames next step should be doing Shaltari and PHR plastic sprues in the same manner - a set of 3 sprues that make the same sort of starter force. Then release all 4 individually to replace the expensive starter boxes on shelves right now in resin. That alone will get more people playing, as the price of entry is very high outside of the 2 player starter.

I know, I kinda want to tart UCM just because of how cheaper the start in is now

Hey brother,
So I have just started Dropzone Commander.
Here is my review on dropzone starter.

 Alfndrate wrote:

 xole wrote:

 Alfndrate wrote:
So they have a range of 6 inches? What's their speed 8 inches? (double than what I saw with the UCM tanks?)

I just seemed so vastly in the favor of the UCM, if I was interested in Dropzone Commander, I would have been immediately turned off to it (as my friend who was playing was :-\)

According to FFoR hunters have a 9" move and a 12" gun with one point of E higher than the puny sabre(don't have my rulebook on me and 1.1 just came out). Don't knock scourge, they can do some mean things.

And for Scourge, you really want the Desolator as your command tank. Not because it will actually help you, but because it's a fun little death squid.

I'm not knocking Scourge, everything just seemed... off... The UCM tanks had like a 36 inch range while the Scourge were left with 6 inch range. I liked the demo I had at GenCon, I'm just trying to figure out if this was whole scenario was fabricated to be completely in the UCM's favor or what.

UCM tanks have 24" range, and a 4" move. Scourge tanks have a 12" range and a 9" move. It evens out in dense terrain, and DZC is an urban warfare game. Scourge can easily get the first shot if they cover hop.
Even if you played without much cover (very rare this will happen) you can sometimes land your Scourge tanks when the UCM land theirs and choose to land at an optimal range due to the faster mobility of Scourge dropships.
While on Scourge dropships, they are not only faster but have decent guns, UCM have to pay extra for missile pods and even then are weaker.
Scourge infantry fight about the same as UCM infantry, however Scourge can deploy razorworms from heavy tanks who operate a bit like alien drones and can massacre UCM infantry.
UCM do have superior air power, but thats their actual chief advantage.

UCM tanks have the best armour, but lack shields or ther ability to dodge fire. Once Scourge tanks get up to combat speed they are as hard to kill as UCM tanks, easier to destroy if hit, but corespondingly harder to hit. You need a 2+/4+, the UCM needs a 4+/2+.

Scourge vs UCM is very balanced, but very different. Besides have you seen what the doom squid can do, it has a central firing AOE blast weapon that only fires directly below, a bit like a toned down and small scale version of the weapon from an ID4 flying saucer. This weapon has a 12" radius blast, yep not a typo, two foot across and strikes with the equivalent of S10. Its fair because it has range 0", so all ground units on both sides are likely to be toasted. Blast templates are rare in DZC but the Scourge have another one, an artillery piece in the form of a giant tripod, it launches high firepower large pie plates, which is a lot because unit sizes are small and scatter is limited.

Scourge are not an easy opponent.

Huh, this game appeals to me, both because of the truly massive scale, the pretty obvious inspiration from Supreme Commander the video game, and the spider legged robots.

Will be watching it for sure. Just not sure I can justify starting another game when I've just branched out to Warmachine and still haven't played much of that even.

TBH i wouldn't be surprised if this game is going to get Warmachine big

 hotsauceman1 wrote:
TBH i wouldn't be surprised if this game is going to get Warmachine big

Will see. The idea of a "small scale game" (Waramachine) and a "massive scale game" (dropzone commander?) would appeal to me. I just wish the Tau stuff didn't look so awesome...that's the only thing keeping me in 40k anymore.

Yeah, And I got the book, Looking at the factions and still having a hard time. I ike the PHR but they are slow. UCM has a bunch of models I love, the Howitzers, The Dropships and the firepower they can put out. Really the only model I hate are the APCs

Just ordered my starter set and swapping out the Scourge for a mates UCM so I should have a decent start!

Not even played it yet but I couldn't resist any longer!

No idea on play styles but I wanted the UCM cause I loved playing as GDI on Command and Conquer!