This last weekend, I had the pleasure of being at the best
four days in gaming: Gen Con.While there, I was able to chat some with David J Lewis, the game designer for Dropzone Commander.
He told me that they had been working for some time on the new Dropzone starter. He described it as their most ambitious project yet. The goal was to make the best starter ever. They did not disappoint.
To be blunt, this thing is a beast of a starter. This thing
comes with everything you need to play. To start with, there is the rulebook.
This is not some mini-book either. The pages are not smaller and fluff has not been
removed. It is the full 1.1 edition rulebook, all 156 full-color pages.
Like most starters, reference sheets, dice, and a measuring
device are included. Templates and a wide array of markers are thrown in for
good measure. Unlike other starter sets, the measuring device is a metal tape
measure and not a rod of red plastic which only serves to whip your unsuspecting
friends.
For playable units, the new Dropzone starter set includes
two factions, the UCM and the Scourge. You get the same in the 2-player starter
that you would get in each starter army (~550pts per faction). That includes
three basic tanks, three AA tanks, 2 APCs, six infantry bases, and three medium
dropships.
Now these figures are not resin like the originals, but they are made of a hard plastic. David was kind enough to let me inspect the sprues, and I must say that no detail was lost. In fact some detail was gained. The cockpits on the UCM transports now have a pilot. The canopy in now a separate part made of clear plastic. As some of you may be aware, the early kits tended to have issues with air bubbles. Upon inspection, I could not spot any air bubbles, mold lines, or flash on the new plastic. Impressive work.
Now these figures are not resin like the originals, but they are made of a hard plastic. David was kind enough to let me inspect the sprues, and I must say that no detail was lost. In fact some detail was gained. The cockpits on the UCM transports now have a pilot. The canopy in now a separate part made of clear plastic. As some of you may be aware, the early kits tended to have issues with air bubbles. Upon inspection, I could not spot any air bubbles, mold lines, or flash on the new plastic. Impressive work.
The new Dropzone starter even has a cherry on top. There is
enough terrain to easily play a starter game. As promised, everything needed to
play is there.
The starter set includes two foldout terrain mats. They can be combined to cover an area almost 3’ by 4’. The artwork on these mats is the same art featured on the Cityscape tiles. For terrain, the starter set includes ten fold-able card stock buildings, each with a unique pattern. The buildings are similar to the Cityscape buildings.
The starter set includes two foldout terrain mats. They can be combined to cover an area almost 3’ by 4’. The artwork on these mats is the same art featured on the Cityscape tiles. For terrain, the starter set includes ten fold-able card stock buildings, each with a unique pattern. The buildings are similar to the Cityscape buildings.
All in all there is a lot of stuff in this starter. So you
might be asking yourself how much does all of this cost. I mean, the normal
starter armies are $105 each.
Damn, that’s a good deal. David said he wanted to make the best starter ever. All I have to say is: mission accomplished.
-Meeker
There is the rulebook that goes for $23 and half
of a Cityscape set that normally goes for $45.
Well this little beauty has a
MSRP of $95. Yes, only $95.
Damn, that’s a good deal. David said he wanted to make the best starter ever. All I have to say is: mission accomplished.
-Meeker