We are getting ready to run a campaign locally and I was interested in what other people are up or planning to from an organized play standpoint. Is there more interest in tournament style gaming or do you prefer a more campagn style games? Is anyone else planning on running campaigns?

www.zverograd.com is about to start a campaign for both Warfare and Tactics.

www.dust-league.com lets players submit the results of their games and has a worldwide leaderboard.

Would love to do a campaign game. I always thought tournament style games were very limiting.

I've been writing up campaign rules the last few days to really give players a map to fight over, with rules listing how armys capture locations on the world map and move forces. I have to stay, for organized play between strangers clearly tournament mode is the way to go, but if you are more interested in narative and entertainment value over balance and rules, a campaign is often the way to go.

It's unfortunate that the campaign that comes with the book doesn't really have any story behind it. Hopefully future books have a bit more narrative behind the campaign.

Planning to start up the Organized play support at FLGS in Denver once the store has the kit in.

felkor said:

Seeing that we don't know what the missions in Operation Zverograd are, that statement is a bit premature.

Up to Cerberus the expansion missions all followed a story and I will be surprised if Zverograd doesn't follow a story (taking into account the book already states the story will continue in the next expansion).

FlorisH said:

How is that premature? I have the Core Rulebook and it contains a campaign with 5 scenarios. There is very little story involved in that campaign. There's lots of background fluff/story in general, but no story to go along with the campaign scenarios. I said I was hopeful that future books (including Zverograd) have more narrative. I don't think that hopefulness is premature.

Hey, guys, I think you're making two separate points.

I believe Felkor, as he just explained, was talking about the missions in the Dust: Warfare rulebook, which have no dramatic-through-line or back story at all.

While FlorisH was refering to the Operation XX Dust: Tactics campaign packs, which apparently all continue a driving narrative from battle to battle and pack to pack.

I'd love to see something like THAT for Dust: Warfare, though . . .

I think we'll see it in Operation Zverograd. A campaign where missions link together both in story and in some sort of game mechanic sense would be awesome. If it has that, I might even pick it up (even though I don't plan on getting SSU forces) to play the campaign with the Axis and Allied forces.

If the only thing the new book contains is a couple pages of fluff at the beginning, rules for air units, and some stats for SSU forces, then it won't be of much interest to me. But since it's called a Campaign Book, I'm hoping there's a real campaign in there. :-)

The Warfare core rulebook contains campaign scenarios but it doesn't contain a campaign. On page 71 it is explained how to create a campaign and the five missions are included to get you started, they are not a narrative campaign.

And yes I used the Tactics expansions as an example of the missions having a storyline.

FlorisH said:

Yes, this is what I was saying was unfortunate. Sorry if I wasn't more clear.

felkor said:

Got you now. I'm confident that the Warfare: Zverograd book will have more than just the units and fluff. This is the first new army for Dust and not going all out with the release would put people of from investing.

FlorisH said:

Ive been watching the zverograd site and am interested in seeing how that turns out. Looks like it could be fun to participate in. I like the map concept and some of the in game advantages it grants but will be waiting to see how it works in Warfare. If I can drum up enough interest locally Im sure we will participate.

Personnally I am more into campaign/ scenario type games as is most of the local group that I play with. While balanced and equal is cool for pick up games and the occasional competitive event I nearly always have more fun when theres "more" to it. Competitive games are fun for me and all but eventually lose their "luster" for me when the metagame becomes more entrenched and players begin figuring out the optimal builds. With that being said it will more than likely be me who sets up the organized play at our FLGS..at least initially.

Ive started putting campaign ideas together for a larger series of fighting in Zverograd scenarios which I intend to leave open enough to tie into Operation Hades hopefully. So far planned scenarios include a meat grinder where the attacker recycles units until he takes a series of bunkers (as losses mount the attacker will begin to suffer additionnal penalties), ambush on supply column with softskin vehicles, a take and hold scenario with a large bridge, etc. Each scenario will have additionnal effects on follow on games. It will definantly be a more narrative style of game though and not all scenarios will be balanced (they wont be pointless turkey shoots either tho). If there is any interest Ill share the rules/ ideas we use as the game develops.