So it will happen finally! We will see new medium walkers for both side!

They look bit to much like a spin off of old ones, but the look good, also the new SSu units are top noch in my opinion;)

Altrough i do not know how the hell this walker/hero works..

http://www.fantasyflightgames.com/edge_news.asp?eidn=3055

I assume Nikoli will have the same style of Walker rules that Koshka is supposed to get when she is released. She can start the game in a walker, and when it is destroyed she becomes a infantry model.

I assume that since Dust Models lists Nikoli as having the Order of Lenin that he will have that as a skill, which will be similar if not identical to the Medal of Honor skill. Meaning, he can reroll one attack die per round.

So awesome!

SSU is finally comming together. Can't wait to meet them on the battle field.

****, things are already piling up again. Very cool announcements. Let's see them one by one:

SSU Observer Team - Doesn't seem to be any different from Foxtrot or Beobachter.

SSU Sniper Team - Trades the spotter for an extra sniper, and it seems the sniper rifle is like Angela's which can target walkers. Humm, damaging walkers is a great advantage, but losing the spotter is quite a blow. It's great fun pairing different heroes with a spotter.

SSU Rifle Squad - My god the SSU has snipers! A normal squad with two snipers. If this Widowmaker rifle is also anti-tank, this is a dangerous foe.

Nikolai - A hero with a walker, and all this talk about him being a crack shot with a tank sounds like he confers it a Spotter ability. Deadly.

Yakov Pavlov - "Legendary Tactician", now that sounds intriguing. Sounds like a skill completely different from what we've seen so far. Probably messes up with activations or something. Acid Thrower is probably no different from a flamethrower. These russians just like to throw different stuff at their enemies, like the Sulfur Throwers on their walkers.

Red Yana - Carries a powerful Grenade Launcher and has some sort of assault skills. Assault, Berserk, Heroic Attack?

Cobra - A Mickey chassis with a 180W Phaser cannon and the usual MGs. A striding allied medium walker looks SO weird! And I don't know if I'm just so used to the classic models, but this looks like a fan modification more than an official unit. Just have to get used to it, I guess.

Rattler - An anti-aircraft medium walker with two 40mm guns and the usual MGs.

The kit also comes with pontoons for converting the walkers into amphibious units. I wonder if these can only be attached to this two models, or if they can be added to any medium walker. With the current scenarios, walking on water isn't such a great advantage, though...

All in all, cool new stuff. Though I would have preferred a different class of walkers for the allies (armor 5 or 6) instead of more variants for the Mickey chassis. Can't wait to see the new axis walkers. Will the Ryu be among them?

The new SSU stuff looks great, definetly going to be picking up more than one Rifle Squad. Its really Interresting that they have Observers but no Artillery shown yet. Here's hoping we see some kind of crazy "Katyusha walker" or perhaps its some kind of scary HEAVY flying Rocket Artillery piece.... The heroes are pretty cool sounding/looking as well.

As for the medium walkers they look interesting but the paint job on them looks a bit too light and clean compared to the rest making them a bit cartoon'ish but I don't buy prepaints so its not a factor really. Probably going to have to reposition the legs a bit if its stats make it worthy of a purchase as it literally walks into an adjacent square, Guess they both likely have Fast.

The small bit of SSU diversity from the Allies/Axis is great FFG, I wasn't sure about grabbing the SSU at first but at this rate I think my wallet is going to cry if these all release at the same time.

*EDIT* Almost missed reading this part slipped into the end of the article. "Check back next month to see the devastating new Axis walker!" Can't wait!

These walkers better have Fast to justify this striding pose. Man, this is going to be hell to store, they take up the space of two walkers...

Best looking Allied walkers yet. The new dynamic is quite cool (**** nice Phaser) though I would think maybe an SSU bot would have been a better release. Too many troops not enough mech so far for my liking. Seems a little weird also marketing the already available Nikolai mini without a Fury or something more substantial than the incoming KV's. Having a gunnery skill would perhaps be more suited to something other than a sulphur thrower or low cal. cannon.

Moneys on Wotan for next month.

If you dont like the new "Action" stance of these walkers, I would simply recommend a turret swap with the old styl walkers (buy both kits) and then sell of the action pose with different turret on ebay or to a friend or something. You might take a $5 to $10 loss perhaps, but hey, thats what happens when you want the mnis to match your preferences!

As for the skills and abilities of the snipers and other squads, well we dont know if the snipers have the spotter skill or not, perhaps they are just that good, though chances are they wont have it. However, the chance of getting two sniper hits on a target and getting to take out two models of your choice? Priceless (Yeah, Hell Boys, Both Flame Throwers!).

I still think Nikoli will be more the lines of one reroll per turn (Order of Lenin as Medal of Honor) instead of getting spotter in his walker. Though that would be bad ass.

As for extra-walkers for SSU, we are getting 4 variants (3 in the KV-47 set and one with Koshka) so that adds diversity. And you can always use The Fury of Ivan. With the price increases going on for these models the $45 ($55 with shipping) isnt so much a difference (ok, its about a $25 difference). Just wish we could get an official AP cost for it.

As for me, I am thinking one of each squad (1 Rifle Squad, 1 Close Combat Squad, 1 Command Squad, 1 Battle Squad), 2 to 3 sniper teams, one of each KV 47 variant, plus Koshka and Grand'ma and the hero pack (Nikoli). Not sold on the aircraft and Chinese Volunteers yet.

Plus, of course, the Fury of Ivan.

Stoked. I just picked up apes. Yet to win an original core to get the medium walkers.

SSU inf seems to lack AT capabilities.... Also, is it so hard to make some new medium models:D Transporting those to other battlefields will be hell..

Peacekeeper_b said:

DM kits are actually cheaper than retail DTs here, thats even including the extra $10 per item shipping. I prefer to purchase their kits anyways as most come still on the sprue (more QControl over the build).

A quick skim of all the SSU releases announced so far seems (to me at least) a little lacking in the AT department. Sure there are 4 variants of the KV but that chassis is a little light and the weapon load-outs somewhat low cal. It seems there's also no option, apart from the character bot, to tailor/intermix different types for more flexibility. Personally I think the DM Otto does a better job of being a KV which is unfortunate. Infantry wise there's an awful lot of grunts with guns, minimal armour and not much else (maybe abilities will help?). Suspect being top heavy with troops is probably what the fluff intention is but the Commies were also synonomis for fielding large amounts of armoured clunk with oversized main guns. The Axis-come-SSU Fury is perfect and thats the type of kit I think they should have thrown in to bring them up to spec quickly. As it stands I think they will be significantly out-gunned for some time (two months at least) and will struggle in DW if its slanted towards mech..

As a strict Axis only player/hoarder I can easily do without another bot if it means more red love.

Hekal Xul said:

I'm sure the Fury of Ivan will be announced anytime soon. It will probably still be part of the 2nd quarter lineup

And remember that those sniper rifles can also damage walkers, so the SSU infantry are not without anti-tank capability. Plus I bet we will see a bazooka unit soon as well.

Loophole Master said:

I agree with loophole. Two snipers in a team who can hurt walkers, two snipers in the Rifle Squad that can hurt walkers, I betcha the molotov cocktail guy can hurt walkers, as can the acid thrower. Probably Koshka's gun can as well.

And the gyrocopter! Besides, if I have learned anything these past few months, victory often is based on objectives, not pure walker strength.

Besides, I am sure we will see a light walker and a heavy walker (PLEASE COME ON BIG JOE!) soon. And I think its fine that for the first 2-3 months the Axis kick the snot out of the SSU, until the SSU have time to release their counter attack with new units.

I wish the Dust Model Kits were a wise choice price wise against the Dust Tactics one for me. $55 a shot for a KV47! Ouch! But I have one DM KV47 (Otto) and the Fury of Ivan, so both will find a home in my SSU force.

And I hope you are right Loophole. I hope the make the Fury of Ivan official.

I don't mind throwing out a C-note or two every week or so for this great quality stuff. I just hope they don't get greedy and start price jacking. At least the AT-43 minis were pre-painted so you could get an army on the table quickly. I would hate to see this game tank like that one did.

Great models!

I think I remember another KV type from a sourcebook, bigger than the '47. I think the design of the SSU walkers is nice and characteristic: Axis walkers have side weapon mounts and Allied ones have turrets-turret like mounted weapons; SSU machines have actual arms to mount weapons on (although it seems that weapons are actually mounted on clamp like structures that are bolted around the arms). Two big, mean guns (Axis style) hanging from side mounts, almost like the Fury of Ivan, but a little teaked, would like fine... I'm thrilled about how it will look...

Dogged said:

I just wish they didn't have actual hands. What is the point of that?

Loophole Master said:

I actually like that. The attemot to humanize war machines fueld by alien power sources. Plus, earlier versions of the KV series actually carried projectiles they "threw" like grenades! Also, I could imagine it makes it easier to switch weapons, when the interface is more or less a hand and trigger finger.

If you don't like the Rattlers running pose you can always get the Barking dog as that comes with the AA gun options, the floatation tanks are in the kit to.

Because it looks cool?

Are the KV's light or medium walkers for the SSU?

They look bigger then class 3 infantry yet seem smaller then medium walkers when you see it compaired the hero model.

The KV-47 is a medium walker.

They are shorter then other medium walkers, but are fairly thick, dont let their stunty legs fool you, they seem tough, The Ottto, which is a converted KV4 the Axis use has Armor 4 on its card and 4 health.

SSU units looks cheesy and I'm glad they are different than Axis/Allies which will bring some fresh air to the game.

As for 2x Snipers in specialist team it looks fine but remember they'll need a LOS to kill somebody and if they do that means they'll be hit back ASAP by the opponent to eliminate any further threat from them (that's only 2 models so easy to kill).

Wonder how Widowmakers gonna work but again swapping flamethrowers/HMG for 2x sniper rifles is excellent move from FFG.

P.S. BTW, hello everyone - a Dust Tactics fresh blood is calling

SSU walkers do need hands to clench into fists to raise them when singing The International.

Dogged said:

rofl....

...but seriousley: +1 to whoever fancied the Allied models. They finally look dynamic and action-packed in contrast to the look the allied medium walkers have had until know. For a while I was worried DS would keep producing standard-Mickeys-with-new-topping for all eternity in the medium front. Cobra is, with some of the light walkers, one of the best looking mech-models the allies have.