Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Future Wars => Topic started by: Hobby Services on December 03, 2016, 11:21:51 PM
-
Continuing the Dropfleet Commander painting, now working on Scourge.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ObYAAOSwEzxYQ0kA/s-l1000.jpg)
Eight of their frigate hulls, including four strike carriers and four planetary bombardment ships.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/NwEAAOSwiDFYQ0kP/s-l1000.jpg)
That makes for a pretty efficient Pathfinder Battlegroup capable of both landing troops and smashing enemy ones under a hail of plasma bombs.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/L2gAAOSwB09YQ0kV/s-l1000.jpg)
As you can hopefully see, the three-piece models are fairly flexible, with the "wings" on the side attaching at multiple angles for varying looks.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/6ZgAAOSw2xRYQ0lB/s-l1000.jpg)
Haven't glued them to their pegs and they don't sit on them unglued as well as the UCM ships did, but they do stand up well for photos.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XJ8AAOSwa~BYQ0ki/s-l1000.jpg)
I like the Scourge bio-mechanical aesthetic quite a bit, and it certainly lends itself to quick paint jobs.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/3n4AAOSwj85YQ0lH/s-l1000.jpg)
Not quite so sure about their game mechanics, as they seem a little too glass-hammer-styled for my tastes.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/0RUAAOSwImRYQ0kv/s-l1000.jpg)
Still, they do have some interesting tricks, especially among their frigate-sized hulls.
-
Very cool paint on those.
I like how they look both mechanical and biological, all at the same time.
-
Nice take on the official scheme. :)
The paint seems very smooth too - did you use an airbrush, or was it just several watered-down coats and some patience?
-
Nice take on the official scheme. :)
The paint seems very smooth too - did you use an airbrush, or was it just several watered-down coats and some patience?
Couple of washes over blended metallics, followed by a bit of highlighting. Say what you will about GW, they do make some darned handy washes.
Finishing the cruisers today, hopefully.
-
I like the paint jobs. My only beef with the Scourge designs are that they're increasingly tough to determine what is what. I don't care for the aesthetic at all, but I'd have found a way to differentiate between classes and types (maybe with paint schemes?).
-
Inevitable problem due to the number of shared parts on the different kits. The UCM fleet has the same difficulty, but at this point I've painted enough of them that the different (very similar) ship configurations are becoming second nature. Darned if I can keep the class names straight yet, but that'll come with experience. Haven't played BFG in a decade or so, but if I can still tell a Dictator from a Lunar from across the tabletop I'll eventually get the DfC ships memorized.
Going with more radical color coding for classes or even Groups could work, but I prefer a more unified look to my fleets. You could also label the bases, obviously. The Scourge frigates aren't quite as bad as some for that problem anyway due to their specialized weaponry. Weird tubes pointing up? That's the thing with the Escape Velocity guns that plays boomer sub games. Weird tubes pointing down? Bombardment ship. Looks like it has teeth? Close action plasma boat, kill it before it shoots or die in a fire.
-
I think the design of all the Scourge models (i.e., not just in DFC) is fairly divisive.
Personally, I do quite like them, although I find some of the DSC models like APCs and Dropships rather ugly and boxy/unimaginative.
The DFC ships I really like however - although I accept they do look rather similar. Maybe, taking a cue from their organic nature, you could give them patterns like stripes or spots across their backs to denote squadrons or classes/configurations. They don't need to be really obvious either - they could be done with a wash or something similarly translucent.
Anyway, just some observations/thinking out loud rather than suggestions for the ships shown here! 8)
-
I think the main issue would be more with the opponent than the player. As an opponent who may not own/play Scourge it'd be incredibly tough to remember/identify during the game (not that you couldn't simply ask). The other models are more identifiable (to an extent). The burn-through lasers are pretty easily identifiable, and you can see normal turrets and aircraft bays on most of the other fleets.
Not a game breaker, but I can see - if facing them - having no freakin' clue what the hell any of your ships do! lol
-
I don't think that's unique to Scourge, although they do have a slightly worse case of it than UCM. The PHR in particular relies on banks of broadside mass drivers which look rather same-y from across the table. It's easy to tell them apart when you see them from the side and pause to count the number of barrels pointed at you, but during the game you're often a) seeing them nose-on and b) rushed, neither of which aids accurate identification.
The Shaltari are probably the most distinctive simply because their weapons look more different from one another than most. Not likely to confuse the lightning-ball guns with the run-of-the-mill disintegrator banks or the particle guns, that's for sure.
Oh yeah, a few shots of the cruisers:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/C5sAAOSw44BYRfAK/s-l1000.jpg)
That's a pair of Sphinx cruisers, with lots of oculus beams:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/tbMAAOSw4GVYRfFO/s-l800.jpg)
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CIEAAOSwo4pYRe1J/s-l800.jpg)
Shen Long heavy cruiser, with even more oculus beams and stealth systems:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/TfQAAOSw4GVYRe49/s-l800.jpg)
Hydra carrier, lightly armed but hauling swarms of fighters and bombers:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/OrEAAOSwa~BYRelD/s-l800.jpg)
Ifrit cruiser, with narrow-arc spinal-mount "furnace cannon" beam weapons:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/ZIQAAOSwj85YRe~S/s-l800.jpg)
Chimera troopship, the bulk lander in the fleet:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/-jUAAOSwA3dYRed7/s-l800.jpg)
Oh, and if you were wondering what the engines look like, here's a belly shot:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Ta8AAOSwo4pYReeW/s-l800.jpg)
-
I have absolutely no interest what so ever in spaceship combat games, but those are beautiful looking alien vessels. Top job on the painting.
-
A really alien looking paint scheme - love them!
-
All right, here's the big boy - a Scourge Daemon-class battleship:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kUAAAOSwEzxYTCzq/s-l1000.jpg)
This thing's a monster, as you might expect.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SM4AAOSwOtdYTCzy/s-l1000.jpg)
About 5" long, comes in fifteen resin pieces.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/SNcAAOSwnHZYTCz5/s-l1000.jpg)
Assembly is surprisingly smooth, and the model is even more poseable than the smaller Scourge models, especially the ventral fins (each of which is two pieces, all with ball sockets).
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MlMAAOSw2xRYTCz-/s-l1000.jpg)
There's also some real potential for making custom models out of the parts, since you could add or subtract parts all over the place and still have a great looking model.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/lawAAOSw4GVYTC0G/s-l1000.jpg)
For a "light battleship" you could leave out one of the "fin attachment point" body sections, or use smaller or fewer fins, or both, or you leave out the middle body section (although that would require you to drill a new hole for the flight base, which normally goes in that piece).
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zvIAAOSwJ7RYTC0O/s-l1000.jpg)
You could make a bigger super-dreadnought design by adding more sections to the centipede, obviously.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dEgAAOSw5cNYTC0c/s-l1000.jpg)
You could even build an amphisbaena version with a second head replacing the tail section, although you'd probably want more of the smaller engine fins in that case (they will attach to one another or the main hull, although the fit's not perfect).
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mcwAAOSw4GVYTC0i/s-l1000.jpg)
The kit also comes with extra weapon fin bits to build the carrier version, which could be attached to a double-header design. Or you could do carrier fins on both ends and have an instant supercarrier.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/mvwAAOSw4GVYTC0q/s-l1000.jpg)
Of course, kitbashing this beast of a model would get stupidly expensive in short order, since they seem to retail around $45 at full price (at least judging by asking prices on ebay). Neat idea that would take full advantage of this thing's modularity, but maybe impractical.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/drUAAOSw44BYTC0w/s-l1000.jpg)
You can (and maybe should) magnetize the weapon fins with a bit of dremel work, allowing you to swap between Daemon and Dragon classes from game to game.
-
I might or might not be drooling. I can't tell, my mind has been blown.
-
I might or might not be drooling. I can't tell, my mind has been blown.
It's not you drooling, it's the razorworm looming over your shoulder. :)
-
I'm leaning more and more toward picking up the rulebook for the game to see if I can convince myself to start it.
-
Yep, look good enough to eat. I'll start the water boiling... :D
Doug
-
Lovely stuff.
-
Thanks, all. I've been really enjoying my excursion into Dropfleet, and I'm starting to look at conversion and kitbash projects for it. The game's not utterly flawless but it's solid and innovative, and I can see where most of my minor beefs could be easily addressed with expansions and a bit of errata.
Latest Scourge painted, a Pathfinder Battlegroup's worth of ships.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/bX4AAOSw44BYTZ0w/s-l1000.jpg)
That's a full strength Group of Strix light crusiers and either one or two Groups of Harpy frigates.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7noAAOSwEzxYTZ1G/s-l1000.jpg)
The Strix are fast, lightly-defended close-action specialists, capable of throwing a terrifying amount of plasma at point blank ranges. There isn't a ship in the game that can eat 6d6+12 dice of fire with Scald and a 3+ lock value without going crippled or dying outright. Real glass cannons, but a little more resistant to counterpunches than their close action frigate counterparts generally will be.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/fpoAAOSwnHZYTZ1T/s-l1000.jpg)
The Harpies are the "standard" combat frigate, with hard-hitting oculus beams that have excellent fields of fire. Like all Scourge frigates they're atmosphere-capable, and they rely on ducking in and out low orbit to help them stay alive until they have a good chance to jump a key target. They're also fairly versatile. Fielded as a full Group of four you can maximize their close action secondary weapons, giving them a punch that threatens even cruisers. Fielded in minimum Groups of two you can use them as backfielders, with one frigate using Active Scan each turn to illuminate targets for the rest of the fleet. Sort of a poor man's Lima.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/2jsAAOSw4GVYTZ1a/s-l1000.jpg)
-
Looks great - and I'm surprised that you got your hands on the battleship already (as I thought they weren't quote out yet?)! :-*
-
Looks great - and I'm surprised that you got your hands on the battleship already (as I thought they weren't quote out yet?)! :-*
All four have been on ebay for a couple of weeks now, which is where I got (and sold, after painting) mine from. Still have to do the UCM one, and I have a PHR BB on the way. Still not quite sure what MSRP on them is, but I'd guess somewhere between $35 and $50, which doesn't seem unreasonable given the size, quality, and number of parts. Then again, I didn't mind paying $35 for the Battlefleet Gothic BBs fifteen years ago either. :)
-
My usual supplier has the battleships on pre-order for 32,49 Euro.
That's usually a bit of discount from them
-
And the inevitable kitbashing begins. Three Nickar-class hunter killers, built out of spare Scourge parts and some putty:
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QF8AAOSw-0xYTuMg/s-l600.jpg)
Tiny little things, smaller than a frigate and built for hunting strike carriers down in the atmosphere.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vOwAAOSwux5YTuMd/s-l600.jpg)
They have rules in the core book but not even a concept art drawing, and they haven't appeared on any release schedule that I've seen as yet. Given how important a role they fulfill, lots of people are looking at bashing their own models rather than wait.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GHUAAOSw4GVYTuMb/s-l600.jpg)
These are a little rough, but adequate. They're certainly the right size, and the design aesthetic seems to fit the rest of the fleet.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/QssAAOSw-0xYTuM3/s-l1000.jpg)
I expect the official models won't look anything like these, but for the time being they're good enough to practice your "hunt the dropship" tactics with.
(http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gEEAAOSwcUBYTuMu/s-l1000.jpg)
-
My usual supplier has the battleships on pre-order for 32,49 Euro.
That's usually a bit of discount from them
That's what, about $31 US? Assuming a 20% discount or thereabouts, sounds right. Might be a little cheaper in Europe than the US, Hawk is a UK company.
-
I'm just waiting for my rulebook and two UCM Cruisers to arrive as my taster.
I hated all the ground combat stuff, but really like all the Dropfleet ships as the four fleets are so different from each other.
Sooo tempted to get some Shaltari, as the Battleship looks like a beast !
-
I'm just waiting for my rulebook and two UCM Cruisers to arrive as my taster.
I hated all the ground combat stuff, but really like all the Dropfleet ships as the four fleets are so different from each other.
Sooo tempted to get some Shaltari, as the Battleship looks like a beast !
Shaltari are the only fleet I haven't tried out yet, although my PHR stuff is still unfinished while I finish some more UCM for sale. They look like interesting models to build and paint, and they certainly have a very alien aesthetic. Mechanically they look a little worrisome, mostly because of the teleport mechanics.
-
Nuts !
Just heard my cruiser order is going to get refunded as the supplier doesn't know when he'll have any stock.
That probably puts my painting plans off until after Xmas, unless I can find somewhere near to Notts with stock.
-
Nuts !
Just heard my cruiser order is going to get refunded as the supplier doesn't know when he'll have any stock.
That probably puts my painting plans off until after Xmas, unless I can find somewhere near to Notts with stock.
UCM starter boxes are pretty common on ebay, but I don't know of anyone selling just the cruisers by themselves.
-
Yeah, I was just dipping my toe in the water, I didn't really want to splash out on a whole fleet yet.
I've done that three times with Firestorm Armada, and never got all the models finished before I lost interest (Hobby Butterfly) in the game, or a new edition hit.
I really like what I've seen about Dropfleet though and hopefully I can snag some stuff in the New Year.
-
To be honest, the starter fleet boxes are very manageable in scope - even for a hobby butterfly.
Three cruisers and four frigates, and that gives you about half a fleet in rules terms. For the cost, that's a typical (discounted) saving of £12 on the £44 to buy the equivalent contents separately - and a bigger saving at full RRP.
-
Yeah, as I mentioned in the Dropfleet Commander review thread, I'll almost certainly crack and buy ships, I was just hoping to get a couple of models to practice on before the hell that is Xmas engulfs us all.
Will probably get the UCM starter box , then I'm torn between the PHR and Shaltari as my second fleets.
-
Yeah, as I mentioned in the Dropfleet Commander review thread, I'll almost certainly crack and buy ships, I was just hoping to get a couple of models to practice on before the hell that is Xmas engulfs us all.
Will probably get the UCM starter box , then I'm torn between the PHR and Shaltari as my second fleets.
If you're basing 2nd fleet decisions on gameplay rather than aesthetics (which isn't how I generally shop, but to each their own) I think I'd recommend the PHR. They're much more forgiving than Shaltari, and if you enjoyed the way Battlefleet Gothic played the broadsides-in-space game you'll like PHR. Shaltari can be effective and have more cute gimmicks and odd weapons, but they've got a steep learning curve and I'm not 100% convinced they were adequately playtested.
-
Thanks for that, that's really useful to know as the guys I'm playing it with will probably only know BFG
-
Thanks for that, that's really useful to know as the guys I'm playing it with will probably only know BFG
That's arguably a good thing. They will definitely find some familiar elements in DfC, especially with the PHR play style. Can be a minor drawback too, for ex so many of the special orders are similar but just a little different there's a tendency to be betrayed by "muscle memory" on them. Of course that's been an issue in other games too, such as the Call To Arms series which also stole heavily from BFG in spots.
-
Rulebook arrived, and the quick skim through I've had seems to have sealed the deal in favour of the UCM and PHR fleets.
Roll on payday and I'll order starter fleets for both, it's good to have a plan ;)
-
Rulebook arrived, and the quick skim through I've had seems to have sealed the deal in favour of the UCM and PHR fleets.
Roll on payday and I'll order starter fleets for both, it's good to have a plan ;)
FWIW, I find the UCM fleets strengths to be:
1) Access to excellent firing arcs, making it easier to use "No Turn" special orders while still shooting effectively.
2) Many options for spiking enemy ships, from the obvious Lima support frigate and numerous Flash superlaser ships to the less-apparent Jakarta escort frigate (which are cheap, lose very little for Active Scanning, and can operate as single-ship groups, which is unusual for frigates).
3) Above average saves across the fleet.
4) Strong Burn-Through weapons on multiple platforms down to light cruisers, giving them a fairly reliable armor penetration capability when needed.
Weaknesses would be:
1) Below average speeds.
2) Battleships lack a truly strong single weapon for reliable ship-killing on orders other than Weapons Free.
The PHR strengths are:
1) Top-tier durability, with both strong armor saves and extra hull strength across the fleet.
2) Access to Burn-Through and Flash weapons all the way down to the frigate category. Supernova lasers are weaker than the UCM versions (unless paired) but they're available on even more numerous ship classes.
3) Above average Scan ratings, extending their ranges and making close actions safer for them.
4) Battleships have Crippling weapons (and see above for the point about Scan ratings helping with using those neutron missiles on the Minos).
5) Top-tier bombers and loads of carrier options. Toss-up as to whether the Scourge or PHR bombers are the best in the game, but it's certainly one of the two.
Weaknesses:
1) Slow, which is more problematic with them than the UCM since you want to get both those side arcs bearing on foes.
2) Broadside armament is harder to get mileage out of than forward guns are, although even a turn or two on Weapons Free with all guns firing can make up for a lot.
3) Troopships are expensive, as are all their frigate hulls. Probably worth the cost, but you will tend to be outnumbered or outweighed.
-
I'm pretty sold on both fleets, as I do like the aesthetic of both of them, as well as the broadsides vs forward arc play styles.
I've been looking at YouTube battle reports a lot this weekend, so am getting a feel for the kind of fleets to field and tactics to use.
It does strike me at first glance it might be possible to secure an easy win by simply concentrating of getting boots on the ground and controlling all the clusters, if you skewed your fleet composition far enough.
I'm assuming there are balancing mechanics in place to limit this though
-
It does strike me at first glance it might be possible to secure an easy win by simply concentrating of getting boots on the ground and controlling all the clusters, if you skewed your fleet composition far enough.
I'm assuming there are balancing mechanics in place to limit this though
That's my concern as well, particularly with the Shaltari, who have the unique ability to move troops from one cluster to another during the game. A troop-delivery skew with them looks degenerate to me, although it works best in scenarios with few or no space stations and critical locations. It's possible that you mam be able to earn enough points off contesting the ground and winning critical locations to win against a super-lany force, though. Still trying to get a feel for that.