Topics

16

Dystopian Wars / Official Spartan "year ahead"

« on: February 18, 2016, 12:20:37 pm »

http://www.spartangames.co.uk/the-dystopian-year-ahead

A blog post has been put up regarding the year ahead for Dystopian Wars. It's good to finally have a schedule for how they will be updating the ORBATS.
One big notable change is that they are going to update their packaging, hopefully we can get some appropriate squadron sized blisters/boxes back. I imagine they will go similar to Firestorm where they package squadrons together or in the case of smalls they will do a box with multiple squadrons of different ships.
Most importantly! Free campaigns!!! Enough said...
It also sounds like they will be creating a new system similar to Forestorm Taskforce for DW.
Finally, I'm happy to hear that they will be expanding the Ottoman range.

What does everyone think about this news?

17

FACO / FSA tournament 2016 after action

« on: February 13, 2016, 06:44:48 pm »

I wanted to post a little battle report of the three games I played at Genghis Con. I didn't take notes and I don't have a ton of pictures but it will still be a good little report. I won't go turn by turn but I will highlight the missions and some of the important events of each game.

Before anything I want to provide the list I used for the first two games. It was rather top heavy which could have hurt me, but it went well. The idea was to give my opponent fits in target priority which worked like I planned.
Tier 1
Tyrant Battleship - maneuverability upgrades and 3 interceptors (these were very important)
Apollo Battleship - defensive upgrades
Marshall Battlecruisers x2 - nuclear upgrades
Tier 2
Aegis Shield Cruisers x2
Tier 3
Missionary Frigates x4
Missionary Frigates x4

Game 1 - "control the battle satellites" Opponent - Aquans

This first game was with one of the guys that came down from Wyoming. The mission was to control the battle satellites that housed small gravity weapons. You could control a satellite by sitting within 6" and having no enemies within 6". Deployment was in opposite table quadrants diagonally and the satellites sat in the four other quadrants. Our table included two planetoids on one side of the table and a very large asteroid field dead center.
I deployed my battleship to slingshot towards one satellite and my battlecruisers to do the same towards another. I held the Apollo and frigates in reserve.

Turn one saw very little action due to range and cover from terrain.
Turn two we started to close the distance. My Apollo came on a flank near a third satellite. The Tyrant put the hurt on the Aquan battleship as it rounded the asteroids and my Marshalls leap frogged behind some terrain to rain nuclear torpedoes on the buckets of frigates I was facing.
Turn three my Frigates came in behind the Aquan battlegroup and put some damage on the battleship. By the end of turn three I was able to destroy the battleship and a pile of frigates.
I had some really hot defense dice this game (all three games really) which shut down a lot of attacks, and I also used terrain to my advantage. The battle satellites were neat and had just enough oomph to finish off a couple lone frigates.
Overall I completed the three objectives; primary-highest battle log, secondary-most satellites controlled, and tertiary- most squadrons in enemy deployment zone (by mistake really). Clinching a healthy win.

Next I'll post the second and third games.

18

The Showcase / Quickdraw's Ottoman Armada

« on: February 03, 2016, 11:36:28 pm »

I've been working on my Ottomans for Dystopian Wars. I started a test scheme on a gunship and have finished the Dreadnaught and its gunship support.
Here they are sailing in formation

Here is the Dreadnaught by itself

And here is a picture of the sweet Ottoman turrets (definitely my favorite Dystopian turrets), the planes docked in their hangers, and the whitewashed decks I mentioned in my test scheme thread.

19

Modeling Q&A / Dropper style paint bottles

« on: February 03, 2016, 10:15:16 pm »

Hey MBS community. I have a question about dropper paint bottles. I generally prefer citadel paints and I happen to like the paint pot style. But I recently bought a dropper of army painter to match the basecoat on my Ottomans. Every time I use the thing the top is covered in gunked up paint. I can't keep it clean, and it actually seems to gush out when I open it. Sort of like a bottle of soap when you travel up in altitude.
Anyone have any ideas why this is? Do all dropper bottles do this? Any thoughts on how to stop this problem?

20

The Shipyard / Ottoman Empire test scheme

« on: February 01, 2016, 11:30:54 am »

Here's my test scheme for my Ottoman fleet. It still needs a wash on just about...everything. I'll do a brown on the hull, a sepia on the superstructure, and a sepia on the tiny flyer.
It obviously needs some touch up with my wild brush work as well.
The most interesting thing for me is the deck. I wanted a neutral color but didn't want to add another layer of brown. So I went with a gray, washed in black, and then "white washed" (per Landlubber's suggestion). It really worked out well for an interesting decking color.

21

Dystopian Wars / FYI...ORBAT updates

« on: January 27, 2016, 02:34:22 pm »

Just so everyone is aware some of the ORBATS are starting to be updated. Some minor corrections in the major powers and some big changes in the minor powers.
Specifically they have added the dread-bots to the major powers.

22

Space Naval Games / X-Wing co-op campaign

« on: January 21, 2016, 01:01:54 pm »

I know a few of us have expressed some interest into the Heroes of the Aturi cluster.
Now that we are in the new year lets start planning a time to begin the campaign. If we want to do this democratically we will need some monetary contribution from anyone interested to create the additional gaming aids. Alternatively if someone wants to own all of that and let everyone borrow it that will be another option.
We could conceivably do one weekend day per month for as long as it takes to complete.

Does anybody interested have some thoughts on this?

23

Dystopian Wars / Alternative scenario -- Sector Control

« on: December 08, 2015, 11:16:25 am »

Often the best admiral is the one that understands the value of the lives and equipment under his command.
In the opening movements of a larger conflict two forces collide as they attempt to control the waters around strategic dry land assets. Without the full weight of their fleets immediately available the admirals will be required to make calculated risks when determining how to best utilize their valuable resources.
Table Set Up:
Forces deploy in opposite triangles measured from half the distance up each table edge and then directly across to connect the edge points. Flanking table edges extend from the deployment zones table edges to cover the entire table edge. The table should be split into equal 24x24 sectors. Terrain should be positioned as a series of islands or a single large island running diagonally between the two deployment zones.
Reserves:
Half of the total MFV must be kept in reserve including all large and massive squadrons. Either secretly or openly roll 1d3 for each squadron kept in reserve and note the result. This will determine the turn in which these squadrons will arrive. Upon arrival a squadron must be deployed with its aft touching the table edge. If deployed within the deployment zone they will stay where they are. If deployed along the table edge outside of the deployment zone the enemy commander can attempt to shift them, representing the fog of war and inaccuracy of battlefield communication. The squadron must take a command test needing two successes, if failed the squadron will be shifted by the enemy 2d6 in either direction.
Victory Point Totals:
Victory Points are not gained in the normal method. To represent the calculated risks made during war Victory Points are determined by the squadrons that survive at the end of battle. Each fleet will have a total Victory Points bank equal to their points total. As ships are destroyed or reduced to half HP these Victory Points will be subtracted from the bank; note: it is possible to have negative Victory Points due to Strategic Value MAR.
It is also possible to gain Victory Points back. By controlling a sector of the battlefield squadrons can add Victory Points to the bank at the end of the turn. At the end of the turn sector control should be determined. Sector control is determined by adding the total points within the sector, half points for half HP ships. Whoever’s total is larger controls the sector (in the case of a tie the sector is disputed and no points are gained). Each sector controlled will add 25 points to the total Victory Points bank; note: it is possible to have more Victory Points than the starting number due to sector control conditions.
Strategic Withdrawal:
Due to the nature of the scenario, and the desire to preserve the forces under their control an admiral may wish to withdraw a squadron during the course of the battle. A squadron can choose to withdraw by coming into contact with a board edge during it’s movement segment. Squadrons that leave in this way will not be subtracted from the Victory Points total; however, if they have already been reduced to half HP those deductions are still calculated from the bank.
Game Length:
The game will last 3 definitive turns. At the end of turn 3 role a d6, on anything but a 1 the game continues. At the end of turn 4 roll a d6 on a roll of 4,5, or 6 the game continues into turn 5. After turn 5 the game will end automatically.
Victory Conditions:
At the end of the game Victory Points bank totals should be compared. The side with a higher bank value will be the winner. If the difference is more than half the total MFV it is a decisive victory. If the total is 100 points or less the losses were inconclusive and the game ends in a draw. Any other result will be a close victory.

24

Firestorm Armada / Kediri an background

« on: November 18, 2015, 12:14:09 pm »

http://www.spartangames.co.uk/the-kedorians

Spartan posted a blog about the background of the Kedorian race. I love the story they made, it's REALLY compelling. Apparently they have a hatred of the Ryushi and viceversa.
Hopefully they will post more race background updates.

Stephan - it sounds like we'll have to get some grudge matches between our fleets! Create our own cool Ryushi/Kedorian plot line.

25

Dystopian Wars / 2vs1 Ottomans/French and FSA/Russian battle report

« on: November 15, 2015, 12:50:27 am »

Landlubber, Captainrockman and I had a 2 vs 1 game today at Collectormania.
I was terrible at taking pictures but I thought I would provide some highlights.
I took 900 points of Ottomans with 1100 points of French and tried a lot of brand new models. The opponents each fielded 1000 points of FSA and Russians respectively.

The Kunani Dreadnaught, 1 French battlecruiser, French cruisers, and interceptors along with a magenta battleship all deployed on the right flank. On the left flank went the heavy battleship, a second French battlecruiser, and Ottoman monitors. There were some smalls mixed in there.

Highlights would be a number of magazine explosions on the coalition mediums. The Ottoman Dreadnaught (definitely the MVP of the game) going toe to toe with, and sinking, the FSA Dreadnaught. The Ottoman monitors and minelayer planes soaked up WAY more shots then they should have. The Ottoman weather manipulation generators were a big pain in the butt pretty much making the Russian battleship ineffective for the entire game.
The French battlecruisers were fairly useless. I haven't got the hang of them yet. They are very squishy and should not be applied in the vanguard of a fleet. Unfortunately the FSA heavy bomber was taken down by combined SAW attacks before activating.

Overall a good game. The French/Ottoman forces were able to secure their objective well before the American and Russian alliance but the game could definitely have swung the other way easily.

I learned a lot about the Ottomans and will be sure to deploy much more carefully next time. Can't wait to get more practice with those beautiful ships.

26

Modeling Q&A / Magnetizing small pieces

« on: November 10, 2015, 11:37:18 am »

I posted this question on the Spartan forum as well but I thought I would comb this bright communities collective brain as well.

Specifically I'm interested in attaching Ottoman minarets to the ship. I have three possible solutions:
Glue them (breakage), magnets (incorrect depth and vertical angle), pin and glue (again, possible breakage and possible incorrect vertical angle).

Anytime I use magnets it's always a mess but they are internal so it doesn't matter. These are such small pieces (2mm at the base) that I don't know how to make it perfect.
I'm thinking about sinking a small flat head screw into the base of the minaret and then placing a magnet into the part where it attaches to the ship.....
Has anyone experimented with using a metal "connection" like a screw instead of two magnets?

Any other ideas would be super helpful.

27

The Showcase / Quickdraw's Russians

« on: September 30, 2015, 09:14:14 pm »

When I started playing Spartan's games I collected Russians. I have a decent collection but this is all that ever got painted. I got caught up with other projects and collected too much resin too quickly.
Hopefully I can come back to these soon.

Here's the painted fleet


This is a little closer look at the battleship

28

The Shipyard / Looking for feedback on Ryushi

« on: September 29, 2015, 11:18:53 pm »

These are my base colors. Right now it looks pretty flat. I'll be doing a heavy brown wash, then hard edge highlights followed by tiny weathering. I want them to look pretty well worn.
What I'm worried about is that I've gone overboard with the different blocks of color. The plan was to be primarily purple accents with grey to break it up. Have I blocked out too much?

29

Dystopian Wars / ORBAT changes 9/28

« on: September 28, 2015, 02:55:51 pm »

When looking at the new updates there seems to be quite a lot of changes happening. Most factions have seen increases in cost for many ships with only some minor changes to ship rules.
Many of the factions also gained many more Battle Group options which allow the addition of some specific TAC card.
Most striking is the additional lists of Specialist Groups. Allowing gunships with cruisers, frigates or corvettes with battleships, etc...
These additions could seriously change list building for the future.

30

The Showcase / Quickdraw's Kurak Alliance and Mercenary Thread

« on: September 26, 2015, 12:58:43 pm »

This will be a place that I will post pictures of my Kurak Alliance ships.
First post will be a completed Makalu squadron (finally getting to these, after they announce the new sculpts...) After this I'll work on my languishing Ryushi.