DropZone Commander Upon Closer Inspection

DropZone Commander :: PHR Forces

I have to admit that I really, really like the look of this game. Likely it will be a while before I actually get to play a game, but I'm looking forward to it more now that I have digested the rulebook. The book itself is well bound and produced with lovely glossy pages, they don't unfortunately repel coffee stains half as well as I would like, but that was my own fault for getting over excited trying to read it during my lunch break.

The rules look straight forward and easy to learn, I think most people could be proficient enough after a couple of skirmish level games. I really like the rules for 'fast moving flyers', that allow them arrive on the board, make an attack run on their target of choice, while your opponent can try and bring it down with reactive AA fire, or declare an interception with his own fast moving airpower. I would guess that in large 'battles' this will lead to several layers of interceptions as one player tries to protect his bombers form interception, by having his own unit of intercepters perform an interception.

This type of airpower seems to be effectively limited to 'clash' and 'battle' level games. Skirmishes, according to the force organisation charts seem to be to small an engagement to obtain air support. Air power alone is not enough to win a game of DZC, much like modern warfare a combined arms approach needs to be adopted. You need Infantry, they are core of your army, but they are weak, very weak in a game that is calibrated for tanks and battle walkers. You need to ensure that they can get to where they need to go without being killed or taking all day (most Infantry move 2-3"), so transports are essential be this a ground transport like an APC / IFV or being mounted in an air transport the equivalent of a modern day Blackhawk. Of course there additional option not available to modern day army. Once your infantry are safely aboard an APC, you can airlift the whole bundle with a dropshop, offering both protection and speed of movement to get them where they need to go.

DropZone Commander :: PHR

I have been slowly assembling my army, and at the same time wishing that I could afford to invest in a few more choice selections to fill out my army list. Generally the models are very well made and quite resilient, but they are not perfect. With resin you expect that there will be a few little bubbles that need to be green stuffed into submission. I have however noticed on a few of my models that even small bubbles can give disastrous miscasts.

Both my Zeus Type 2 Battle Walkers for example, are missing a sizeable chunks out of their noses because of bubbles, and some other parts are incompletely formed. My Triton A1s also suffered some sizeable holes. It does have to be remembered that this models are very small, and even a small bubble can create a massive defect on this scale. I hope to get replacements from Hawk Wargames very soon.

I would also like to point out that the vast majority of the models I received were completely defect free. They assembled easily, and look absolutely lovely. My intention now, once I've completed assembly of my remaining 4 battle wakers, and 4 scout walkers, is to begin the process of magnetisation. I will post further up dates as I go.