Dust Tactics

This is a very interesting game coming up, some might have seen some pics of the models for a while and it's kinda bounced around, but it's finally coming out. Dust Tactics is a unique game that was originally going to be a full miniature game, but has now turned into a kind of hybrid board game. This also might be of interest to those who play AT-43 for obvious reasons discussed below. Some pics:

BOX ART


BOX CONTENTS


Game is set in an alternate WWII setting, obvious difference you can see is that it involves mechs. Dust universe has lot of other wierd war aspects that will appear later such as zombies, super science weapons, genetic experiments, magic, etc.

Now one thing that is obviously going to stand out to some.... "HEY THATS FUCKING AT-43!". Well yes it does look like it, because this is what AT-43 was originally going to be. Dust Universe was created by the artist behind Rackham and during the creation of AT-43 they were originally going to use his created universe till they decided they wanted to create their own setting and make it more sci fi in nature. Most of the old designs for Dust were simply converted slightly to that of AT-43. Armor designs, weapons, and mech suits such as the Red Blok kolossus were directly ripped from Dust. Why lot of the art design of AT-43 has a very retro look to it as well. Even the Karmans were basically ripped from Dust and given a more sci fi look.

Anyways with Dust Tactics, it was going to come out by FFG and ironically FFG was going to use the AT-43 game system with this. Now that would have een really wierd to have two games of similar design using same exact rules. Anyways FFG said no to miniature games after the fiasco with Mutant Chronicles so the game is going to be published by AEG now, and it's being made by Dust studios who if you didn't know, is basically where much of the former employees of Rackham have gone. Rackham that is around now is hardly the same company as most of the staff left or was kicked out, and supposedly even the chief artist who created most of Rackhams stuff has left them as well.

Instead of being another miniature game, they went with a boxed set style of game more in line with a board game. Instead of packs of figures or tons of SKU's, you will get everything in box sets like this, with extra material like scenarios printed online or released in expansion packs. So instead of buying a bunch of figs and constantly building bigger armies, you get all you need in the sets. First set is US Vs Germans, and they already confirmed for future expansions the Russians and Brits. Game will also have optional rules to play off the grids for a more miniature game like feel. Figs are also not full prepaints, but base coated only. You get your figs base coated in their base faction color and you get a sheet of decals. You basically can choose to paint them but they are not prepainted to keep costs down.

For those who are willing to shell out for it, they will be selling deluxe editions of their figures on a limited edition basis. These will cost alot more but are also painted better than any prepaints apparently. Pics are supposed to be what the final product will look like. Prices yet to be determined.


Game will debut and be for sale at Gencon in a few months. I look forward to try this... course I'm a game whore.

Looks great! But I heard/read the game mechanics suck. Shame, I like everything about it. I love alternate universes, WWII, pre-built, pre-paint (even though it's just the base coat), all-in-one box set, and documents on line. If they have improved the rules then I am in (when I get a job). Depending on the setting I could use a lot my AT-43 terrain. This could cause a lot of cross over for both systems if it becomes popular.

Kyle, have they release the rule on the web yet? No any of the rules details?

JerryB

Don't see how anyone can say how the game plays as the final rules have yet to be shown. The official unveiling will be at Gencon. Their website also has not been put up yet hence I putting up this post. Info is kind of sparse at the moment.

The rules aren't going to be very complex though as they are going for a board game like simplicity instead of a miniature game. Also some rules are being left for expansions. Indirect fire and artillery for example is the first already previewed expansion.

Here is one review:

http://mainly28s.com/review/ZZZZZZ.parente_dust.html

And here is another:

http://www.iguk.co.uk/products/dust-6390.aspx (which gives it a high rating, and of course they are also selling it).

I was interested in this in the past, but because of all the bad reviews, I lost interest. They said it was beautiful, but the game play sucks. Now I can't find the reviews, there is nothing but gay fan boys gushing about the comic.

So if they have re-booted the rules set, and based on that outcome, I am again interested. I would need to see a demo. From what I have seen on the website it look fantastic, it is very encouraging.

For those interested, go here:

http://www.dustgame.com/

JerryB

Thats not Dust Tactics

Thats the Dust board game which was made by another company, and yes it is shit. It's basically Risk. I have it, played once and don't really care about trying it again. It's generic risk like game wih Dust artwork, but has zero dust universe actually in the game. They could have made it a game about anything and you couldn't tell the difference in setting or feel.

Kyle, I am quickly discovering there is a lot of dust this and dust that.

Go here to clear it up somewhat, read the intro. Apparently Mr. P is into everything:

http://www.dust-game.com/en/?p=83

Also there is no mention of Alfie, where is Alfie?

This is getting better by the minute, go here:

http://sdtaylor.wordpress.com/2010/04/06/the-inevitable-debate-about-dust-tactics/

Explains a lot.

JerryB

That's Mr. P's website. Not really the games site anymore. Dust has been around for a while, comic books, model kits/resin models in Japan, action figures, art, etc. Dust Tactics has been in development a while but tossed around because of Rackham and FFG's past shenanigans. Italian company Nexus made the old Dust board game years ago that FFG published in the US then.

That web site has pretty much been abandoned by Mr. P for a while now and is not up to date. He changed the name of the site to dust game when the game was originally announced but then that fell through, before that it was a different name and his personal page.

Dust Tactics official site will be up on AEG's site eventually, right now it just has some info on the Gencon events where they will be having a unveiling tourny

About the other found link:

Dust Games is now a new studio that has ties to Rakham due to the nature of the company being mostly former Rackham employees that jumped ship or got booted when the company restructured. A agreement was made with Rackham though as to continue producing games set in R's original universes. Rush N Crush board game for example as well as the Confrontation card games are all done by Dust Games basically with permission from R. They are also doing a Confrontation board game apparently, so there seems to still be some friendly terms between the two companies. Rackham just seems to not be in the best of positions to publish any games, they barely can get out AT-43 or Confrontation stuff themselves out anymore. Also Rackham was never the ones who made the Dust Tactics game, it was a collaboration between Mr. P and FFG at the time and was simply going to have FFG licensing the rule system from rackham to modify for their game. Mr. P still worked for Rackham back then.

Dust Games is basically a studio that designs games, but the games are being published by other companies like AEG now.

It's never been confirmed that Paolo has left Rackham anywhere official, but everyone keeps saying he has including the various long time sentinels. Everyone jumping from the sinking ship of Rackham?

As for miniature confusion, some of the pics are for different figs not in the box set, they have been releasing lot of random photos of figs for the game that aren't going to be in the initial set, for example the entire contents of the first expansion have already been shown before they finalized the contents of the main box. Lot of the figs and stuff was already done years ago for when FFG was going to publish the game.

So which one do you believe? Which website is accurate? Where do you go for updates and status on Dust-Tactics?

JerryB

Well the 2nd is a blog like site is just a guy giving his opinion really, lot of it is him just wondering and guessing, while the other one hasn't been updated in a long time, that was MR.P's site that he seems to have abandoned.

The official site for Dust Tactics will be www.dust-tactics.com , but AEG has not put up much info yet on the game. So far all updates have been going up on Table Top Gaming News, and some of the dust creators and AEG employees have been posting there so it's so far been most accurate place for information. More details should hopefully be forthcoming, things have been pretty quiet outside of preview pictures. Pricing is still not final, but since it's going to debut at Gencon and then be released around September to retail, stuff should be coming soon or around then.

I'm curious to see the rules. Figs look great. Especially the Germans.

I'm assuming we might see the rulebook closer to Gencon since they said they will be posting up rules to play without the game tiles around then as well.

I think the American Mech's look wonky (bad, silly).
But the German is very good (their stuff always looks cool no matter who makes the product, what gives).

JerryB

Germans had style.

The russian stuff will look very much like AT-43 redblock, the larger mechs they will have basically should look like larger versions of the Kollusus battle suits.

British stuff, I don't recall seeing the brits Dust designs anywhere. The Japanese are mentioned as well as many of the other smaller European powers forces in the fluff but don't think Mr. P ever put out any designs for them.

The US should have lot of pulp sci fi look to it.

Germans always look coolest in all Wierd War games.... AEWWII, Gear Krieg, Secrets of the Third Reich, Taanhauser, etc, etc.

Showed this to the wife, as she likes games based around mechs (How much Mechwarrior stuff do we still have? Don't ask....), and we may look at getting this when it comes out.

If thats so, you should check out AT43. We got a solid local group and its a great game that happens to be all pre-painted. The website has all the rules and books free to download www.at-43.com

Wow, this shit keeps on rolling around. Dust is now going to be published by Fantasy Flight again. Also official box contents and price is revealed to be $99 which was expected for the 2 player box set.

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=123&esem=2

All Dust studio games (they put out several board games and card games already) are also moving to FFG now.

Also some more details about the game can be found here now http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_minisite_sec.asp?eidm=123&esem=1

That's not a bad thing. FFG have a good rep these days, and tend to stick to release schedules

I'm with the Limey. FFG is a great company to produce games. Heck Kyle, you've waited this long, at least it should be done right. Right?

Don't think it's a bad thing at all, AEG and FFG are both excellent board game companies. FFG probably has much better bank to play with for the game and marketing purposes.

Heck and they already have a websites and good info on how the game is somewhat going to play out.

Rulebook is up for the base game: http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/ffg_content/dust-tactics/support/dust-tactics-rulebook.pdf , also already has info/preview of 5 already planned expansions coming for it which sound like will be adding in the British and the alien race vrill.

The rules for playing without the board tiles are not included, but FFG confirmed they will be putting those up before the games release for those wanting to play it more like a traditional table top mini game.

Haven't read over the rules so far but skimming over it, it seems to have decent amount of depth.

Don't know if anyone bothered to try this out, but finally got around to getting in some games of the main box set. It's a nice product, the game play is similar to AT-43 but it feels very streamlined and the game is very fast play. The whole box set up makes it very easy and quick to set up and play. The figs are great and the price is good, you can get it online for around $62.

The base game is simple though and that might put some folks off, but their is tons of stuff coming in expansions that will expand on the game and hopefully add more tactics and options. The main box set is kind of the same thing for both sides so the differences are not huge. The forces are mirrored kind of so that limits it, but artillery, command teams, snipers, flyers, etc are all coming in future stuff.

It's a nice game that works for 2 players that only one person needs to buy, but it needs more meat.