DUST Warfare: What You Need To Play
Howdy everyone, its OldHat from Dust-War.com again with an article meant to help players get what they need to start playing Dust Warfare.
A lot of questions I see cropping up are “What do I need to play?” and often, the emphasis is on ease of entry. So, depending on just what you are after – there are some basics to getting into Dust Warfare that all players can use, along with some more in-depth choices to take you to the next level.
For starters, you need a rulebook. Obvious, I know. However, Fantasy Flight has done us a favor and made both a hardcover, full-color print version and a .pdf version available. The former is a nice, sturdy and well-made book that I am more than satisfied with, especially since the emphasis is on the overview of the world with the core rules being the larger emphasis. Now, I don’t own the .pdf, as I am a hard-copy guy, but the option stands out because the cost is about half of the print version, making it a no-brainer for those looking to save money on entry.
Next is the second most obvious need – models. Here is where things get tricky, as there are many ways to get into this depending on your wants and needs. Personally, I found an ancient copy of the original Core boxed set, which I sold the Axis half to another entry-level player.
If you can find them, they are a great deal. If not, there is always the current Revised Core Set, which is available for a measly $51.97 from some e-tailers – meaning a playable force for two players for under $60 (rules not included). Also, it must be noted that these are all currently models only available from the Revised Core Set and nowhere else, meaning if you want that Blackhawk, that is your only option. In addition to that, it comes with the Dust Warfare proprietary dice – with “Hits” on the 1’s and 6’s.
Another way into the game is to simply buy what model boxes looks good after a browsing of the Core Rulebook. If it looks fun, or powerful, or what have you – buy it! Again, with the entire model range being offered at such reasonable prices, the entry to the game is very reasonable. This would be a good route for those not interested in the Revised Core Set models or has no one to sell one half of that box to.
Now, models and rules are great, but you will need a table to play on. For smaller games, the rules advise a 5’x4’ table, with 300AP and higher games going for 6’x4’. In the rules are plenty of terrain specifics, so a general World War Two feel should suffice (and I have outlined that in a prior article on Dust-War.com that should help). If you are playing at a local gaming shop, using standard 1:48 or 28-30mm terrain would probably suffice, while if you are building a table for home use, digging up tutorials on construction would be the way to go, as it has more than likely been covered in-depth by a plethora of people.
The next things you might want to look into getting are tokens and reference cards – both of which will really facilitate new players. For the former, you can download the .pdf from Fantasy Flight Games for a printable means of making tokens, but you could opt for Battle Markers (who make a Dust Warfare compatible set!) or some other company that specializes in your preferred style of token.
When it comes to reference cards, some folks on the internet have been crafting them and the ones that stand out most are here. Also, a quick reference sheet has been drawn up here. so players don’t need to constantly flip through their rulebook in the early stages of learning Dust. Between all these resources, players should find a smoother gaming experience.
If you feel like you want to go the extra mile and paint your Dust Warfare models, then cases are almost required, or else you chance damaging your work. Now, many companies exist currently – such as Battlefoam and KR Multicase, but for a cheaper alternative I will be using Plano Pistol Cases cut to fit. These are affordable from various online retailers – I got mine for $13 each for a quadruple pistol case. When I get them, I will have an article for converting them to hold Dust Warfare models.
On one last add-on for those maybe a bit more serious – dice. On Dust-Models.com, they sell the standard Dust Warfare dice, but as an alternative to those looking for emphasize a theme, Chessex does do custom dice, like these Iron Joe Galka purchased for his SSU forces. These type are available from Chessex for about $2 each, depending on what you are after. If you are not interested in deviating from a normal d6, using the 1 and 6 are recommended, meaning you can use existing dice if you don’t want to go that extra mile for the custom ones right out of the gate.
So, to round it all back out:
1) Rulebook
2) Miniatures
3) Table / Terrain
That is about all you need – most of it available easily and affordable via retailers, with the table and terrain being a bit more dependent on your needs. The rest is more for flair than for function, but something to mull over as you delve deeper into the Dust Warfare hobby. All in, you can be up and running for around $100 bucks!
