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 Vertrucio wrote:

I wonder if, unlike the DZC starters, they plan to create the sprue for DFC to be much more modular, individual ships and their options on a sprue, instead of a starter box specific sprue. This way they can use the same sprues on retail shelves.

The UCM cruiser sprue can apparently make 35 ship options (although a lot of them will probably be quite minor variations), from those 35 about "15-20" will be actual pointed ship classes. The weapon systems known about so far are railgun turrets of various sizes, burn through lasers (basically keep rolling damage until you fail to hit), orbital bombardment weapons and 'close action weapons' basically things like missile launchers which can do massive damage from short range but which can be intercepted by counter measures.

Frigates will be getting a plastic box as well although everything else is resin. By the sound of things each faction will be 2 boxes of plastics, a resin battleship and a resin mothership (a really big troopship), at least on release.

Kickstarter exclusive flagships will be just that, not available anywhere else. The UCM one is a battlecruiser (a cruiser hull with battleship sized railguns) which IIRC also has strikecraft capability.

When the the KS happening?

The penciled in date is October 30th.

What I really like (beside the modular nature of the kits and the hard scifi game-play elements) is that a lot of the model and rules work is already done. The UCM and Scourge fleets just need the capital investment for plastic tooling. Also extremely interested to see the PHR and Shaltari designs.

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 Vertrucio wrote:
I wonder if, unlike the DZC starters, they plan to create the sprue for DFC to be much more modular, individual ships and their options on a sprue, instead of a starter box specific sprue. This way they can use the same sprues on retail shelves.

Kickstarter exclusive flagships will be just that, not available anywhere else. The UCM one is a battlecruiser (a cruiser hull with battleship sized railguns) which IIRC also has strikecraft capability.

Just wanted to make sure we're giving the right information. Because they say pretty clearly that the KS exclusive Battlecruiser is just for a special sculpt, the ship type itself will be available for all as a different sculpt.

 Nightwolf829 wrote:
The penciled in date is October 30th.

What I really like (beside the modular nature of the kits and the hard scifi game-play elements) is that a lot of the model and rules work is already done. The UCM and Scourge fleets just need the capital investment for plastic tooling. Also extremely interested to see the PHR and Shaltari designs.

What are the 'hard scifi game-play elements'?

 Alpharius wrote:

 Nightwolf829 wrote:
The penciled in date is October 30th.

What I really like (beside the modular nature of the kits and the hard scifi game-play elements) is that a lot of the model and rules work is already done. The UCM and Scourge fleets just need the capital investment for plastic tooling. Also extremely interested to see the PHR and Shaltari designs.

What are the 'hard scifi game-play elements'?

I'm not sure what that term actually means but I think he's referring to the more SCI-fi parts as in the rules for space combat are rooted a bit more in science about how things may be done in space as opposed to the sailing ships in space of BFG. For example, there is no maximum range in space (projectiles keep going) but space is also vast and empty so finding the enemy is key. The targeting mechanic in the game is based on how hard it is to find that enemy ship in space rather than the limitations of the weapon. If you can see it, you can shoot it. Doing things like gunning your engines, firing your weapons, etc increase your energy signature and make you easier to spot.

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 Vertrucio wrote:

I wonder if, unlike the DZC starters, they plan to create the sprue for DFC to be much more modular, individual ships and their options on a sprue, instead of a starter box specific sprue. This way they can use the same sprues on retail shelves.

The UCM cruiser sprue can apparently make 35 ship options (although a lot of them will probably be quite minor variations), from those 35 about "15-20" will be actual pointed ship classes.

Im going to be throwing a lot of money at this kickstarter

 warboss wrote:

 Alpharius wrote:

 Nightwolf829 wrote:
The penciled in date is October 30th.

What I really like (beside the modular nature of the kits and the hard scifi game-play elements) is that a lot of the model and rules work is already done. The UCM and Scourge fleets just need the capital investment for plastic tooling. Also extremely interested to see the PHR and Shaltari designs.

What are the 'hard scifi game-play elements'?

I'm not sure what that term actually means but I think he's referring to the more SCI-fi parts as in the rules for space combat are rooted a bit more in science about how things may be done in space as opposed to the sailing ships in space of BFG. For example, there is no maximum range in space (projectiles keep going) but space is also vast and empty so finding the enemy is key. The targeting mechanic in the game is based on how hard it is to find that enemy ship in space rather than the limitations of the weapon. If you can see it, you can shoot it. Doing things like gunning your engines, firing your weapons, etc increase your energy signature and make you easier to spot.

I like the scanning range + energy signature mechanic. As well as things like orbital decay, countermeasures affecting close-action weaponry, atmosphere being like soup, and being able to do things like running silent to avoid detection. Hard Scifi is a general term used to denote elements that are based on our current body of scientific knowledge and what we think is plausible.

chaos0xomega wrote:

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 Vertrucio wrote:

I wonder if, unlike the DZC starters, they plan to create the sprue for DFC to be much more modular, individual ships and their options on a sprue, instead of a starter box specific sprue. This way they can use the same sprues on retail shelves.

The UCM cruiser sprue can apparently make 35 ship options (although a lot of them will probably be quite minor variations), from those 35 about "15-20" will be actual pointed ship classes.

Im going to be throwing a lot of money at this kickstarter

While I'm not trying to discourage you from buying in (it looks quite nice), I'm guessing from watching the BOW video that the 35 ship options while technically true is misleading a bit. From what I saw, you could add 3 turrets to to top of a cruiser, something underslung under the front, and possibly something on the back. Technically, that is 49! optional configurations but the reality is that it'll probably be 3-4 most likely.

 warboss wrote:
Technically, that is 49! optional configurations but the reality is that it'll probably be 3-4 most likely.

Yes but if Hawk are looking at creating points values for over a dozen classes its safe to say that they are sufficiently different to be worth the bother.

 warboss wrote:

chaos0xomega wrote:

 Silent Puffin? wrote:

 Vertrucio wrote:

I wonder if, unlike the DZC starters, they plan to create the sprue for DFC to be much more modular, individual ships and their options on a sprue, instead of a starter box specific sprue. This way they can use the same sprues on retail shelves.

The UCM cruiser sprue can apparently make 35 ship options (although a lot of them will probably be quite minor variations), from those 35 about "15-20" will be actual pointed ship classes.

Im going to be throwing a lot of money at this kickstarter

While I'm not trying to discourage you from buying in (it looks quite nice), I'm guessing from watching the BOW video that the 35 ship options while technically true is misleading a bit. From what I saw, you could add 3 turrets to to top of a cruiser, something underslung under the front, and possibly something on the back. Technically, that is 49! optional configurations but the reality is that it'll probably be 3-4 most likely.

They all share the same base fuselage. But if you watch closely you can see that there are many more modular bits than just turrets. Burn through laser, orbital bombardement, carrier capacity, turrets and also "leaving empty" can be seen in the video. Im sure there can be even more, like scanner arrays and so on. That indicates to me that there are way more options than just "change 1-3 turrets". 10+ may sound about right.

More new commanders!

Cavebreaker


Ramses, the Firstborn


Gunnar, the Ferryman

Has there been much coverage of Dropfleet outside of the BoW video? I haven't seen anything else and since the KS is supposed to launch in less than two weeks I would expect more hype...

 Mymearan wrote:
Has there been much coverage of Dropfleet outside of the BoW video? I haven't seen anything else and since the KS is supposed to launch in less than two weeks I would expect more hype...

My understanding is that the main guy behind it is on his honeymoon right now and the other employees are gunshy about releasing info he may not want released yet.

There's 3 Dropfleet Commander newsletters out now, they seem to have the most new content.

Presumably this is from the new newsletter, I got it from another news site.

The 2 Player Starter Set for Dropfleet Commander will again contain our two main protagonists, The UCM and the Scourge, and will again include all the scenery you need to play a starter set game with. Visuals for the content of this 2 Player Starter Set will be coming on the Kickstarter. Our plan is that the set will include:
The Full Dropfleet Commander Rulebook, and Fast Play Sheets,
UCM and Scourge Frigate and Cruiser Sprues, (with construction guides),
Innovative Dropfleet Commander flight stands,
Double sided fold out map,
City markers,
Token sheet,
Tapemeasure and Dice

We will also have the rulebook along our choice either a UCM or Scourge Starter Fleet box, available as a pledge level.

Here's hoping they can get the funding for their HIPS starter fleet boxes for the other factions as well otherwise I don't think the game will take of as good as it could have.

Whens the KS supposed to launch? Thought I remember reading end of Oct

str00dles1 wrote:
Whens the KS supposed to launch? Thought I remember reading end of Oct

30th.

That post is definitely the news letter. Also they stated that the more crowdfunding they get it will enable them to produce more plastic starter sets of the other factions on launch date. Once a certain milestone is reached it will open up a new faction,

overtyrant wrote:
Here's hoping they can get the funding for their HIPS starter fleet boxes for the other factions as well otherwise I don't think the game will take of as good as it could have.

Unless they put a crazy high goal, they're almost guaranteed to make their funding target!

Well, if the starters are priced right, of course.

And even if they have a crazy high goal AND their starters aren't priced right, they're still probably fund!

Looking forward to seeing what they come up with even if I in all likelihood won't buy in. I got some Halo stuff in the meantime to work on and even with the Halo name attached so far haven't convinced anyone to buy in as well locally.

Halo name's 'quality' is probably a lot less than Spartan Games' mixed reputation, as far as veteran gamers go. There's also only so much you can do with such a limited IP.

I for one, know a lot more Dropzone players than say, Terminator Genesis Players (zero), or Firestorm Players.

 Killionaire wrote:
Halo name's 'quality' is probably a lot less than Spartan Games' mixed reputation, as far as veteran gamers go. There's also only so much you can do with such a limited IP.

I for one, know a lot more Dropzone players than say, Terminator Genesis Players (zero), or Firestorm Players.

True but that is pretty varied and anecdotal. I know of zero DZC players and Terminator players in my store... but two brothers who (unsuccessfully) demo Firestorm every month or two to drum up interest.

Halo is more or less dead in quite some parts of Europe and the same goes fpr other Spartan games. Not that people did not want to get the game, but their current policies keep many gamers from getting in or expanding their armies.

A realistic goal for the KS would be 200K, i.e. that´s how much a starter box costs to produce.

There's another video of Andy Chambers on Beasts of War, but you have to pay to see it.....

overtyrant wrote:
There's another video of Andy Chambers on Beasts of War, but you have to pay to see it.....

Or you could take the months free trial and cancel it after you've watched the video.

I think it's a 7 day free trial although I may be confusing that with miniwargaming (which they said they based their backstage thing after in a video a while back).

I did that waaaayyyy back when sadly.

Ooh, Shaltari ship