"DUST TACTICS update?" Topic

So I played some of Dust Tactics before Battlefront got a hold of it and I saw that they had a new version of the rules out for it, and evidently they combined it with DUST WARFARE as well.

What's been changed with it and is it any good?

With the new starter boxes out for it I'm fairly interested in picking it up again if for now reason other than I really enjoyed the models, especially the Walkers.

Well… to be honest I wasn't looking to deep into it…

But the gist is they make a new game called Dust Battlefield which is much, much closer to Dust Tactics, but without the grid. That way both games can use the same stat cards.

Dust Warfare was very different from Dust Tactics.

Battlefield is Tactics without the grid. It adds Line of Sight issues and standard tabletop movement over open terrain but is otherwise just Tactics. That's not a bad thing but it is still as different as Warfare is to Tactics. Battlefield has added a limited suppression mechanic but it hardly has any impact and isn't as integral to the game mechanic as it is in Warfare.

What has been changed in Tactics v1 to v2 is that the game is now faster and involves much more dice; however infantry are tougher now and can take hits in the open without dying (while vehicles seem to brew up if they are sneezed at). The balance make the game very different to Tactics v1 even though most of the core rules are the same.

Warfare is currently supported by not actively supported. No-one knows what Battlefronts plans are for Warfare and everyone knows Dust Studio has no interest in the rules. I'm hoping one day a Warfare v2 comes out that adds a few more elements to make Warfare a deeper tactical game while Battlefield stays as the Beer 'n' Pretzels battle rules (though Warfare isn't broken at the moment and really just needs a few tweaks for balance to keep up with all the new models that have been released)

I am suddenly having AT-43 flashbacks.

Many units move faster than they did before so that adds to the maneuver element of the game. We found that single map fights are too close in because the units can sometimes engage from turn 1. Otherwise that's a well-appreciated change. The increase in the number of dice is not bad but can get out of hand with some special units, especially if they are re-rolling laser hits, etc. Overall, it's not a deal breaker.
We are enjoying the game anyway and it's still a simple rules set to teach to new players.

For what this is worth, I am a backer in the Dust: Operation Babylon Kickstarter and they are including unit cards for Both Tactics and Warfare with the new units.

I will probably order some stuff, at least the rulebook for BATTLEFIELD thanks for the info everyone!