I'm looking to start some demos at my FLGS and looking for a good demo army for the Sino-Soviets. I was think of doing some fast pace games of about 150 points or so. I have both Allies and Axis armies but since the store hasn't been able to get get the new book in for the SSU so I don't know what units to get for them as a demo army.

I would appreciate any suggestions?

The SSU book isn't out yet actually. So no one can help you there sir.

This is gonna be a dumb question but: how do you play them if the rules for them aren't out yet?

Denied said:

This seems kind of backward! The models are out for Dust Tactics but no rules for Dust Warfare. I'm having trouble getting folks interested in the game, this doesn't help. Kind of strange that when I looked at the website, Fantasy Flight gives no indication the rules are not out though they say the Core rulebook will be available soon.

Well FFG doesn't make Tactics they just work with Dust Studios to distribute it. They are working with Dust Studios to try and release their product withing the same rough time frame though. Remember Warfare is a stand alone rules set to turn Tactics into a table top wargame. As it stands I think we will see the SSU rules in the near future at least that's my guestimation based on the fact the second wave of SSU tactics models just hit shelves.

ZombiEd said:

The core rulebook sold out of stock so that was just a matter of underestimating the demand. You can always get a general idea of what the SSU is going to be like from there tactics stats and its kinda nice to have the models out and rdy for when the book drops. You have to remember the game is still really new, despite it being based off of tactics. Just Demo with the allies and axis and explain they have the SSU rdy to go anytime and another army in the works.

The fact that we have no rules for the SSU and that FFG chooses to keep us in the dark about it is mind-numbing…

ZombiEd said:

This isn't anything new… All the Dust Tactics units in the Core rulebook were out before the Core rulebook came out too….

Kommissar Zeitsev said:

Or, the fact all the models will be out when the expansion book arrives in the next 30-60 days is pretty cool.

Unlike most companies where you have the book first, and the models will be released over the next year, and some even two. Not having my Destor Thanes and Destors for my Ret army in WM for 20 months? Now that's mind-numbing.

felkor said:

You mean the Warfare Core rulebook, right? Because I got the very first original DT core set the day it dropped in stores and it had a rulebook with it. It was quite awhile before they had a free PDF, and even longer until the revised rulebook, but I'm pretty sure you meant that the Dust models for Axis & Allies were out 2+ years before the DW rulebook. Compared to that, 2-3 months is small potatoes.

Yes, I'm not talking about the Dust Tactics rulebooks. The rules for the SSU units for Dust Tactics are also already released.

The Dust Warfare Core Rulebook's release got postponed, which is obviously going to push back the Zveroguard book too. I suppose they could have postponed all the Dust Tactics releases as well to match the Warfare postponement, but I don't see any reason why they should have.

Don't be worried that the Zverograd book is late… be happy that you can get the SSU minis early! :-) It's all a matter of perspective.

Yes, perspective is a wonderful thing. Is the glass half full? Half empty? Or just the wrong size for the amount of beverage it contains?

I think (if they are smart) they will release the PDF at the same time as the SSU book hits - that way players will be able to very quickly obtain it and start buying/playing SSU units asap!

MiniJunkie said:

Knowing what FFG has done in the past I expect the hard cover to be released like 2 months before a PDF version is available.

Oh. Bummer.

I love having the core rules PDF, I have it on my iPad, and have added highlites and bookmarks to key rules sections, all that jazz. Really increases my ability to refer to the rules quickly! (I use Goodreader).

I don't tend to buy a bunch of models for a game/ army BEFORE I can see their rules/stats/points, so the fact the models are out with no rules is NOT helpful IMHO.

Kommissar Zeitsev said:

You remind me of this, so impatient.

www.youtube.com/watch

The Dust Tactics stats for them are readily available, and generally speaking, there are only minor tweaks to them for Dust Warfare. The only thing that might be significantly different is some of the air unit rules, but there's enough information out there to at least play some house-ruled games with the Dust Tactics stats that I'm sure work pretty well.

I'm sure your link leads to a witty piece of cinema.

Kommissar Zeitsev said:

While I agree with not buying models before I know what they do, I disagree strongly with the usefulness of them being available when the rules drop.

I haven't bought a single SSU model yet. I'm pretty sure that'll change dramatically the day the book drops. Having the models out when the book arrives is awesome.

And you can't convince me that you would not be complaining (like SSU DT players are right now in the DT forums) about the SSU walkers and attack chopper, and commissars, Snipers, and other units not being out right now if the DW rules were out (like the DT ones are).

I can totally understand being impatient about it… I would be too if I was hoping to play SSU.

I'm just saying that it is difficult for FFG to time all their releases so everyone is happy, including all Dust Warfare and all Dust Tactics players.

felkor said:

Which I'm looking forward to playing them, so yeah, I'm anxious for the book too. However, I think it's unrealistic to expect the first rules expansion within a month of the core rules, but I can get behind the urgency of getting it out within 3 months.

However, I think it's silly to complain about the models being released before the book. Nobody is forcing people to buy them. I probably would have by now, but I'm buying the Premium versions and I'd rather get them all at once, and I'd like to know which units I'll want more than one of. The DT stats give me some idea, so if the book isn't out by the second week in July, I'll probably order some then. Until then, there's a few of the Allies I still want, and a few Axis I need to double up.

Shadow4ce said:

I'm not complaining about the models being out. I think that is fantastic. I just wish the box either had a DW compatible card or there was a PDF that would at least list the unit points and the army construction rules. That way I could put them on the table. I can wait for the book to see any SSU specific rules. The important thing for me is to let people see them on the table as another faction choice. I need to build a following at the store fast or the game will die as potential players will move to other games. We have very big 40K and Warmachine groups and new people are getting sucked into those games before they get a chance to try Dust. Most of us are going to hold off buying units until we see some form of rules. The problem now is stores are losing the impulse purchases and if it takes too long to get rules out many people will spend their money on other things. I've seen that happen before with other games.

Many American gamers complain to me, "Yuri, why do we wait so long for Soviet book?" Comrade, please. Soviet people wait in line for everything from bread to toilet paper to Michael Jackson 8-track barefoot in snow. You want to be in Red Army? Waiting for toy soldier book is no problem.

ZombiEd said:

Now that's a valid reason to want it now. I agree, and actually empathize. I'm hoping it won't be as big an issue here, as of the early adopters, I seem to be the only one drooling on the SSU boxes.

@ Crak - Well played. That was hysterical.