Friday, May 23, 2014

Dredd...The Game!

At the time of the Judge Dredd Kickstarter I didn't have any hobby funds set aside :(. But I recently treated myself to the Judge Dredd game rule book direct from Warlord and got a box of Judges as well. Not exactly cheap but perhaps that is what happens when owners of Dredd (and rightly so) get royalty payments perhaps.  I could have made it cheaper for myself by purchasing the PDF version of the rules. But I like a big fat hardback rule book. Fortunately postage from Warlord to me here in the Rad-Back is free when the order is 50 british pounds worth...on the downside that's just over 100 Oz dollars! I was very excited though to get the brown box delivered.

So what did I get for my creds and do I think I got value for money? Well I already said what I got. A hard cover rule book and 8 metal Judges. Value for money...I think that will come with the substance of the rulebook when it is put to the test with an opponent. However after a few days of flicking and reading I think that the rule book is excellent. Sure it has background that a Dredd fan like me will already be familiar with but the rules look really, really good.
A box..with a blister pack inside..full of Mega City One Judges....Nice!


A skirmish game on 4 feet by 4 feet tables for the most part. It's at the usual scale for these games of 28mm. The rule book suggests that using lots of terrain is ideal. Good. I like terrain. This is a really good game for hobbyists to get old school and make some terrain. Sure there are some really great products now for the Si-Fi gamer but making something unique is really satisfying. The scope with terrain and tables for this game is HUGE as well. My initial thoughts are to aim for Cursed Earth settings. The radioactive part of America that is not behind a Mega City Wall. Then perhaps a ruined part of Mega City One that has frequent Mutant or Zombie incursions. The imagination really can go crazy! Especially if you have read a few Dredd comics. An entire table or half the table that is the interior of a Mega Block floor could be great fun to play on.

Many of the missions in this book are suggestive of what terrain items are ideal to have in storage. Barriers, vehicles, buildings, even a nasty old rad-pool swamps. It's making me look at my terrain collection and thinking Yes! That's now a.... and that is an ideal.... and I could use that as ....! There are a lot of missions as well so a low chance of same game type fatigue. I counted around 10 base missions. If that isn't enough for you there are 6 encounters from Dredds history for using specific forces (Famous Firefights).
Scenarios...Lots of them!
Force types. A big variety. You could as you would expect play a group of Judges but the game also offers a decent selection of other forces. Robot Revolt, Cursed Earth Desperado's (Mutants), City Defence,  Zombie Horde (Drokk yeah ...Zombie HORDES!!), Demonic Cabal, Sky Surfer Gang, East Meg Invasion Force, Fattie Stampede, Mobsters, Ape Gang, Street Gang, Brit-Cit....wahoo! On top of all that forces can also hire mercenary characters. I like how a lot of the humorous aspects of the Dredd universe has carried over the writing style and background info.

A campaign system. I haven't dived into the core of that yet but initial glance looks like this will be ideal for a group or club setting. A good group of campaigners could possibly be the glue that will sustain groups wanting to explore this game. Looks like this game has great incentive for campaign play with Credit accrual and skills progression diagrams. However there is still a lot of scope in this if you just wanted one off games.
You want skill son...you got to earn it!
If you ever played Necromunda or Mordheim and enjoyed those games then I would say this one is worth a serious look. Unlike those games Dredd uses a D10 but, like those games you can tool up with a variety of weapons and equipment and specialists.

I am thinking of new uses for a bunch of old figures in my collection. I got a heap of Catachan Imperial Guardsmen who will become City Def, Mutants that will be....Mutants. Might inspire me to revisit them with some paint as well. As a last thought for now I remember years ago (in the 80s) articles and adverts for a Judge Dredd RPG in White Dwarf. A Dredd RPG didn't really appeal to me. It was the action that I wanted to play out, the combats. Looks like this is the game for just that.

Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

10 comments:

  1. I'm eyeing this one up too Brendon. My favourite Dredd storyline of all time is the Apocalypse War, and those East Meg judges just look so cool. I'm hoping to sell some stuff soon and may just reinvest in this direction!

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  2. That would be Drokking awesome! Did someone say Sentenoids?
    cheers

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  3. Eight figures- is that enough for 2 factions? Dredd is really popular amongst lads so you shouldn't have trouble finding enthusiastic gamers to play with.

    Hey, I'm doing my Leibster post tomorrow. I've been out working in the gardens all week and won't take a break till Saturday.

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    1. Some factions are cheaper to run than others. 300credit game for startes could get you two Judges at 150 each but it my buy you a few Zombies and a Zombie master.

      Garden work. Good to do when the weather is agreeable. Cheers Anne.

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  4. This is indeed an excellent game. I invested heavily in the kickstarter and actually won a tournament at mongoose offices with my east meggers. I did a few posts here http://hittingonadouble1.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/2000ad-judge-dredd-campaign-tournament.html

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    1. Great to hear its a good game Carl. Going to read your posts with interest.
      Cheers

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  5. I'm trying to stay away from this one, but I'll be interested in your future posts and thoughts on the game. Now if they produced the Doomsday Dogs, I would probably be very tempted to buy.

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  6. I wonder how long you will resist for Mark. :)
    Cheers

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  7. I look forward to your painting of the Dredd minis.

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    1. I should have some to show soon. Managed to get some based and primed in the last weekend of May.

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