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Dystopean Wars
AndréM:
The Fearsome Aggressors
Republique of France Alma Class Frigate
The most famous technological achievement of French industry and weapons design is undoubtedly the Gravity Nullification Engine or GNE for short. This amazing device, developed with the assistance of ‘liberated’ Antarctican technology, has seen France’s naval forces develop not only a line of strikingly unique ship designs, but also a wholly new battle doctrine.
The relatively small size of French fighting formations on the ground is easily offset by their access to the crushing power of naval gunfire support even when many miles from the nearest coastline. The sleek lines of the Magenta II battleships and Marseille Class Cruisers cast long shadows over the Republique’s enemies in every sense of the word.
Just recently, these mighty vessels have been joined by another ship class, one that represents a major step forward in the development of GNE technology. The swift and streamlined Alma Class Frigate mounts the sophisticated Mark VI, the first production GNE powerplant small enough to mount in a vessel of its size.
Republique of France Alma Class Frigate
The Alma is designed to provide fast-moving fire support and scouting capability to France’s flying navy. The frigate is swift and agile enough to take the fight to true aircraft, always a point of vulnerability for the larger GNE craft in service. When operating alone, squadrons of Almas also make superb commerce raiders, as well as mounting lightning strikes on enemy ports through their ability to bypass many conventional defences.
Republique of France Alma Class Frigate
The personnel of the French light naval forces refer to the Alma as the ‘flying barracuda’. It is finding favour with particularly aggressive captains, and roving packs of these ships will surely savage unwary enemy craft wherever they might be found. No corner of any battlefield is now beyond the reach of the navy of France.
Republique of France Alma Class Frigate
A Word From The Designer
The Republique of France made their big splash with the Magenta Battleship long before they became a fully developed faction and that one model set an impressive benchmark for the following ships. We’d made the decision not to focus the French too much on their surface skimming ships, giving them a plethora of tanks, fixed-wing aircraft and airships to keep the players amused, but in the end the sheer fun of skimming ships dragged us back; after all we only needed one more to have an entire basic battle group for players to utilise. When the time came to give the French a pair of upgrades the Alma Class Frigate was first on the list.
Republique of France Alma Class Frigate
Much like one of my personal favourites – the Geier Class Bomber – the Alma uses it’s supposed hydrodynamic form as an aerodynamic form, giving the model a lovely sense of contrast and appeal. The appeal here is the classic tumblehome hull so synonymous with our French ships, streamlining the rest of the superstructure and hull features to emphasize those lines. What’s left is almost a dart or more of a classic airship shape that stands out vividly on the table. The Alma also boasts a nifty 360 degree turret, unlike the restricted arcs of the naval Lyon Class Frigate.
Republique of France L’Arman ‘Char 1C’ Class Medium Tank
French industry has over the years become world-renowned for its engineering expertise, and the products of the great weapon shops of Belville and Clermont-Ferrand are rapidly gaining a fearsome fighting reputation in the hands of their highly-trained crews.
The Char 1C is a product of the latest wave of revolutionary new French war engine designs. It utilises technology ‘liberated’ from Markov’s private files during his enforced ‘holiday’ in the Republique, combined with highly refined precision engineering developed by the finest minds in French weapons design.
The 1C was designed from the outset to be what the French military calls a ‘char de rupture’, or breakthrough tank. It is larger and tougher than the standard R-6 Focault. The first units were issued to the Heavy Assault Command, and are often used in conjunction with the mighty Bastille Class Land Ships. They are well capable of blasting a hole in enemy lines, which the faster medium and light tanks can then exploit.
Republique of France L\'Arman \'Char 1C\' Class Medium Tank
Heavy Tank Squadrons also add more bite to the Republique’s Armoured Regiments when they operate without the support of the Heavy Assault Command’s Land Ships. The 1C mounts a large central turret which fits a pair of massive heavy guns similar in scale to the main armament of the Bastille.
However, like many French designs, versatility is a core requirement. The 1C has been designed to accept one of the fearsome ‘Eyes of the Sun’ – a Heat Lancette which provides ferocious firepower at close quarters, reducing enemy armour to glowing wreckage and exposed infantry to ashes. Lancette-armed 1Cs are highly prized by attacking units required to crack open strong enemy positions.
Republique of France L\'Arman \'Char 1C\' Class Medium Tank
These powerful new vehicles are going into production alongside the proven R-6, and those already issued are becoming very popular. The 1C is sure to become a key asset for the French ground forces, ensuring that the soldiers of Bonaparte’s Legions can back up their legendary élan with steel, fire and thunder!
A Word From The Designer
Model designers should always be on the lookout for size-creep – an unconscious desire to make each consecutive model bigger and better than the last till two factions just don’t look right next to each other on the table. We have avoided this, and aside from individual differences in aesthetics all our models are analogous to those of the same class.
Republique of France L\'Arman \'Char 1C\' Class Medium Tank
The workaround for that is new classes; intermediaries between those that already exist that provide new game niches, more opportunities for commanders and newer shinier toys for the hobbyist. The Char 1C is one of the first examples that fits this description. Though technically a medium model, it’s just about as big as a medium tank can be while still fitting on the base – it has to be to contain the vast array of machinery and power plants required to mount the deadly heat lancette onto such a small chassis.
Models like this are among the easiest to make: since such a large chunk of the space is already occupied by the massive weapon system, all the available space is geared towards fulfilling the same aesthetic promise (e.g. wider tracks for distributing more weight, chunkier smoke-stacks to imply a bigger engine). The eye is always drawn up to the menacing array of fantastic machinery that’s ready to blast the opposition with searing fury.
Republique of France L\'Arman \'Char 1C\' Class Medium Tank
AndréM:
Focus on Storm of Steel
Invasion and retaliation shake the great powers and their allies as the World War explodes across Northern Europe!
Kingdom of Britannia forces have launched a major offensives across Belgium, seeking to bring battle to the Prussian Empire itself – the time has come to avenge the London Raid of 1870, as the Britannian Army of Flanders marches into the Prussian Empire’s Netherlands provinces.
However, the Kingdom is not fighting alone. From faraway Archangel and Murmansk, a powerful Russian Coalition expeditionary force has sailed for the British Isles. The Tsar is determined to open a new front in his own war against the Prussians and its allies.
But the Anglo-Russian armies are not the only ones on the offensive. The Republique of France is pouring forces into the Low Countries to aid its Belgian and Prussian allies. Moreover President Bonaparte, eager to trump the Prussian Empire’s audacious raid on London, has authorised nothing less than an assault on Britannia itself!
The fighting is gruelling and ferocious. In Belgium and the southern Netherlands, the massed armies of the Anglo-Russian alliance rumble into action against the mighty defensive lines of the Prussian Empire’s western frontiers. More Britannian forces strike towards Brussels, where they are met by powerful French forces heading north in support of their Prussian and Belgian allies. Once again, the fate of nations will hang in the balance over the hallowed fields of Waterloo.
But neither the Republique of France nor the Prussian Empire is content to remain passive. As its northern forces battle to lock the Britannians and Russians in a gruelling stalemate, the French gather another mighty army on its Channel coast. When the time is ripe, these forces will launch themselves across the narrow strip of water between France and its old enemy, intent on devastating the tranquil southern shores of England. In doing so, they will teach the Britannians that they cannot expect to wage war at will without feeling its savage touch within their home borders.
Meanwhile, Prussia’s infamous Mathias Sturm, architect of the London Raid and now promoted to General, lies in wait with his forces near the Prussian-Belgian border. Hungry for more glory, he is intent on making sure that the enemy advance into Belgium and the Netherlands is met with deadly force and paid for in fire and blood.
Amidst the carnage lesser world powers flock to the banners of both sides. Danish warships scour the North Sea, Hussars of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth gallop across southern England, Canadian Dominion forces stand firm alongside their Britannian cousins, and the Belgian Protectorate army clashes bitterly with its Royalist rebel enemies.
All will play their part, and all will be engulfed by the Storm of Steel!
WHAT’S INSIDE THE BOOK?
The Second Campaign Guide for Dystopian Wars chronicles a most exciting chapter in the history of a world racked by war. We not only roll out our new Alliance Nations, detailing machines of war for each, but we introduce new and exciting rules for infantry ground combat. Enhanced command vehicles for the leading Generals are detailed, which coincide with new model variants, and scenarios are provided that allow you to play some of the major actions, including the Second Battle of Waterloo.
A series of Campaign Maps allow commanders to follow the core campaigns, and on top of the infantry rules we provide several pages of new additions to the 1.1 game engine that support such things as new military buildings, scenario objectives, new terrain, new weapons, new generators, enhanced game set-up and a page of tokens and templates that can be used to play the scenarios included within the book.
The book also includes statistics and rules for the Republique of France, known errata and clarifications for the 1.1 rulebook and nation Fleet Guides.
Add it all up and you have a Campaign Guide that all great commanders should own.
Pre-order Storm of Steel
If you pre-order the Storm of Steel Campaign Guide from the Spartan Games Online Store before October 17th you will automatically receive a free Infantry Token Set worth £10! Act quickly to ensure you do not miss out on this exciting special offer.
AndréM:
The ‘What If…?’ World War!
As gamers of Dystopian Wars you know that the nations and factions of the world are locked in a bitter and gruelling World War with one another, with two major power blocs striving for supremacy, and many lesser nations flocking to support one or other of these great alliances.
But what about this question: what would it take to pull all of these warring factions away from each other’s throats, and force them to stand together in common cause? Well we think the answer is a simple one. And it goes something like this:
An invasion by a power not of this world, using technology so far advanced that it makes even the greatest achievements of Man seem like child’s play. And to make it worse, these invaders don’t want to simply win the war, they are hell-bent on cleansing the planet of the inferior race they see as infecting the world!
Add 25 more Tiny Flyers and here\'s your Invader Bundle
And so we present the story of the Invasion of Earth by a hostile alien intelligence, known to humanity only as ‘The Invaders’. These mysterious beings command extraordinary powers, but are utterly inimical to all earthly life, seeking only to destroy it and alter the very world itself to suit their own needs.
The events of this campaign are speculative – it is not intended to be part of the plotline of the Dystopian Wars game, which we are rapidly developing and expanding in our campaign books and other publications. Instead, it provides an account of just how the human nations of the world might react when faced with such a mysterious, deadly and relentless enemy.
It is also a chance for you, the players, to pit your forces against the military might of a terrifying new foe from beyond both the stars and human understanding. Or perhaps you will choose to side with the Invaders in their attempt to purge this valuable jewel of a planet of its current unworthy residents.
Either way, you must marshal your forces, stand fast and load heavy ammunition – the Invaders are here!
So what next?
Right now you should download the Invaders rules that allow our new Studio Sparta models to work within the Dystopian Wars setting. We’ve made these models different to our other models, so these Invaders play differently to the existing nations of the world. Follow this link to download our Invaders PDF:http://www.spartangames.co.uk/wp/wp/wp-content/spartanimg/Invaders_Rules_DW_Compatible1.pdf
Now put November 5th in your diary (yes, we know it is already there….but this one will see a lot of alien fireworks kicking off!) and watch out for our Invasion of Earth blog which will detail how you can get yourself involved in our worldwide campaign as we invite you to either defend the world… or destroy it! Whatever takes your fancy.
So until this fateful day… get your Invaders ready, read the rules, find an opponent to obliterate and come sign up for duty. The date again is November 5th. We’ll see you then.
AndréM:
New Studio Sparta Release: Secret Military Bases!
It\'s not just brutal ground-pounding sci-fi military machines, mysterious Invaders from a distant world or monstrous Goliath giants that you will find in Studio Sparta. Our latest release introduces the fantastic Secret Military Island Base and Industrial Complex that can be used to enhance your Dystopian Wars battles! These sets are a new venture for Studio Sparta as we investigate the coming together of vac form components with highly detailed resin and pewter models. Watch out for more products after this initial limited run.
These models will be shipping from 15th October 2012. From today, you can place your advance orders in the Studio Sparta Online Store to ensure you do not miss out on these exciting new releases.
Secret Military Island Base
Hidden inside the remains of a destroyed volcano is a military installation that will make any Dystopian Wars commander proud. Three lightweight vac form islands allow you to create the volcanic shape, but you don\'t have to use the shape we have chosen. Sitting inside the islands are a resin and pewter military/scientific building that can house anything you want: new weapons, tesla science projects, top level commanders, scientists, Queen Victoria... or any other vital asset you want to hide away.
NOTE: The vac form islands you can see above have been dressed with additional \'sand\' and \'flock\' prior to being painted. The islands each average 16.5\" in length.
We have initially created 250 sets, so grab one while you can.
Above you see the array of resin and pewter drop-ons that you can use with the islands to create your secret military base. They range from the gun platforms (bottom right) to shield generators (top left) and an observation tower (top right). But let\'s not forget the large military building that dominates the centre of the islands - guns and cranes, what more can you ask for!
Industrial Complex Set
This terrain was created for use with a scenario in the Storm of Steel Campaign Guide that recently launched for Dystopian Wars. It is designed to represent a strategic industrial complex that opposing armies can either capture or destroy. The set can be used on land or as an island Industrial Complex in your Naval games.
AndréM:
From the Frozen South
Fresnel Class Support Cruiser
The Fresnel Class Support Cruiser is a new and terrible weapon that has only recently been encountered amongst the fleets of the Frozen South.
The warship is, in most respects of a conventional design, if you can ever call a ship of the Covenant Ghost Fleet in any way conventional. However, the rather considerable exception to this is the energy weapon mounted atop the its spine.
Fresnel Class Support Cruiser
From what can been gathered from photographic aeroplanes, this weapon is far more than a mere up-scaled energy weapon. Upon closer inspection one will see that the objects along the broadsides are not the unusual gun-spheres, but some kind of strange electrical apparatus. Likewise, the great turret atop the ship is not as it appears, whilst it has clearly been seen firing beams of radiant energy, it is not an energy turret, but a great, articulated assembly of lenses.
Fresnel Class Support Cruiser
The only rational conclusion that can be drawn with these facts is that the Fresnel is nothing less than a water-borne focusing array for Covenant Energy Weapons. The beams fired from other vessels entering the ship by its sides, before being focused, refined and amplified into a single attack, far more powerful than the sum of its parts.
Annonnax Class Submersible
Annonnax Class Submersible
The Annonnax is without any doubt one of the strangest, most inconceivable and technologically advanced machines yet seen to come out of the Covenant of Antarctica.
Annonnax Class Submersible
The fighting machine’s existence has only been confirmed in the past few weeks, with multiple sightings of its use in combat along the northern cost, however for several months now there has been reports of weapons shipments coming under fatal attack from supposed ‘sea monsters’.
Annonnax Class Submersible
From the information that has been gathered, and from ample speculation by the scientific community, the following has been established. The Annonnax is a submersible, yet able to come aground and move like a writhing snake – making it equally at home travelling overground or underwater.
Annonnax Class Submersible
Although details are still uncertain, it appears that the great machine strikes at its prey – be it a warship or a tank – by ramming it and attacking with its great mechanical maw.
Annonnax Class Submersible
It also appears to have some kind of powerful energy weapon, although any exact details of this are unknown at this time, as regrettably, no one who has yet encountered the weapon at close range has survived to report back.
Annonnax Class Submersible
Annonnax Class Submersible vs. Ika Class Mechanical Squid
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