"Dystopian Legion , what do you think ?" Topic

Hi All
I am interested in playing the skirmish game ( DL ) . I picked up the DW rulebook with a fleet and several extras but as yet haven't played it , then DL was released and SteamPunk skirmish gaming kind of hit all the buttons . I have a few questions if I could get any help please ?
1. Is the starter set "Iron Skorpion" worth the purchase ? for the rules , figures and a bit of scenery ? How much more stuff would I have to purchase to get the feel of a platoon level game out of it ?
2. Not too keen on one of the factions in the contents being Covenant of Antarctica , Will the included rulebook allow me to field any of the other factions instead ?
3. Im more looking for a game set in the same genre so it doesn't necessarily have to be Dystopian Legion , would I be better off looking at getting some other cheaper figures ( and getting more of them ) and using them as my Steampunk forces with any other set of WW1-WW2 rules i may already have

Any assistance would be appreciated , so far the starter set looks like good value I am just wondering if it is exactly what I am looking for .

cheers Tom

I do own the British Starter Box for Dl, but haven't had a chance to look at the included book which I think is now outdated? I know a few friends who played and liked it.

However if your looking for a steampunk/VSF skirmish game, I highly recommend In Her Majesty's Name by Craig Cartmell and Charles Murton. Very easy guildline(rules) set, very affordably priced(even buying all three books) and best of all it has a build your own force section which allows you to field ANY miniatures you own or want to own. Craig and Charles offen updates the blog with many extra rules(a Gothic and Martian invasion book) which can be downloaded for free. Both men are top chaps and are regulars on most forums and the Facebook group to help answer questions, cheer on the players and give advice.

Hope someone can comment on DL for you better then I can. Good luck!

Don't waste you time or money on Dystopian Legions.

ironicon,
can you elaborate a bit? Why is DL a waste?

I've only played DL with the starter set rules. I have two relatively large contingents of Prussians and Japanese. The individual collecting the Americans and Brits bailed. I only added to my Steampunk collections with these figures as I was supporting his convention game and I got the figures in trade. The figures are nice. Some poses are weedy

I have played DL, GASLIGHT, IHMN and Deadlands.

IHMN is a great game of small skirmishes. You have your contingent of small Adventuring Companies. Each is an individual…almost, as you have rank and file to flesh out the unit and support the characters (think cannon fodder). Battles are true skirmishes but can be linked into longer narrative campaigns. The rules are easy and quick to learn; but, the rules have sufficient depth to keep you involved and two expansion books adding a few rules and many contingents. It is a different animal than the other rules.

Deadlands: Great Rail Wars is a good game. Although the starting scenarios are similar to IHMN in size, the game system is really designed for heroes and posses. Posses tend to increase in size as the system is about large skimrishes or small battles. Campaigns are possible. The rules are getting rare. The official figures are rare but proxies are easily found.

GASLIGHT is similar to DL and Deadlands. The forces in each game are warbands led by Main Characters. Each unit of extras is ten figures. Main characters are tougher and have abilities. It has additional rules for true skirmishing (To Be Continued) and battles (Battles by GASLIGHT). This system is the most versatile for using figures and vehicles from any manufacturer.

DL is firmly situated in the game size of Deadlands and GASLIGHT. You have characters and units. I have no familiarity with the new starter set. Small skirmishes play OK; but, I much prefer IHMN. Small battles are also OK; but, I prefer the older Deadlands for the spooky Old West scenarios and GASLIGHT for the true Steampunk.

Hope that helps…

Mark

DL seems to have already died around here. If you really like the figs, then I'd say buy the ones you like (they might be on sale somewhere) and just be ok with the idea that you might end up using them in games like "In Her Majesty's Name" instead.

If you're not particularly attached to the DL figs, then I'd look elsewhere as unless you find DL figs on sale, the price for most Steampunk/victoriana figs from other companies will be much less expensive.

I'm currently waiting on the KS fulfillment for the RAFM Airship PIrates which I plan to use with IHMN. I've not played IHMN yet, but the rules read well and I've enjoyed playing the earlier version "In The Emperor's Name" that used similar rules in the 40k universe.

I really like IHMN.

That said, while I like the look of the Dystopian Legions figures, they are obviously out of scale for the 28mm figures that most people use for IHMN.

For me, that killed the whole game.

The scale is certainly an issue. If you're going to make an IHMN "Company" of DysLegion figs, then you might not be able to use alot of older 28mm ranges. DysLEgion are called 32mm, but look to be 33mm to the eye.

There are a number of options for similarly sized figs. The RAFM Airship pirates I'm basing my forces around are supposedly 30-32mm, but only half the line is available right now.


Reaper Chronoscope figs vary, but seem to usually be in the 30mm+ range.

Wild West Exodus and Malifaux may be possibilities, though. WWX is called 35mm, but some pics make it look smaller and I've yet to find a pic of a WWX figure next to a ruler. Their own company comparison pic is almost useless (perhaps purposefully so?), lacking a ruler or even a consistent lineup of the feet of the minis.