DEADZONE Version 2 arrived

Got a delivery from Mantic with Deadzone version 2 rules. I have the version 1 box but never got around to playing it or painting any of it. The first page is very encouraging as it states this version is easier to learn, plays faster and has a higher body count while still being tactical. Who doesn't like a high body count?

D8, Special Dice, A4 poster, Hardback rulebook, Tokens and folded up playing surface (8x8 3 inch squares)

Genre
Skirmish 28mm wargame on a grid (cubes).

Period
Sc-Fi future with other planets, star systems etc. You know...Aliens and pew, pew, and so on.

The setting
Human Expansion via Corporations. Corporations are commercial entities that rule vast empires of space. Above them are the Council of Seven. The Council's military authority is the Enforcer Corps. Bad ass super police soldiers. Sound like fascist ass-hats to me...or maybe they are the good guys?
Good thing about this book it doesn't say these here are bad guys and them there are good guys. Depends on your factions point of view perhaps or your opponent is always the bad guy in your own narrative.
Anyway..... turns out some Planets turn to total shit because of new bio hazards or some such mystery. These Planets get quarantined. NO ENTRY!
So Scooby Doo can't get in and solve any mysteries.
Enforcers go in to cleanse these scummy shit holes. Theses planets are called DEADZONES.
Of course some Aliens/Rebels/Dwarf miners (insert faction here) sneak in to exploit them, make money and blow shit up or just try and survive the containment protocol. Yeeeehaw!

Contents page can tell you a lot about a game

Here are some aspects of the game from a quick read of the hard back rule book.

Uses 8 sided Dice. Modifiers add dice rather than modify target number to beat. Rolls of 8 = success + another dice (Exploding 8s).

The symbol Dice are Command Dice. Players roll 3 each at the start of each round and they gain bonus actions. 6 different bonuses so a D6 can be a substitute. No need to buy 'special' dice my fellow gaming friends. Symbols/Numbers, Potato/Pertatoe.

Rounds are players taking turns to move and shoot a model at a time. I go U go each figure until all done = end of turn.

Cubes. The concept of Cubes replaces rulers as these cover weapon range and movement and also maximum capacity of cube (to hold models of varying size). Line of Sight for shooting though still applies so position in a cube behind terrain does matter.

Players small forces are called 'Strike Teams' and while the model count might be small for this game the rules recommends using lots of Terrain. Models have point values and classes (Leader, Troop, Scum etc). 100 points is the basic starter Strike Team maximum that needs 12 Victory Points to win a game.

Seven factions plus Mercs to jazz up your Strike Team.

Victory points are gained by killing, getting items, objective control etc depending on the Mission of which the book has four.

But Brendon, I want good old fashioned XP! Quit your whining fool. If campaigns and going up ranks and, Experience Points is your thing then the rule book has these for you if you really, really need them.

Note to graphics.......I dislike grey behind text in these types of boxes. Just makes it harder to read.

My example 100 point Strike Teams.

The Plague (Zombie Horde)
Leader: 1 x Stage 3A "General" 16 pts + Pistol (Free)
Troops:
3 x Stage 3D "Hellhound" 6 pts each
11 x Stage 3Z "Zombie" 6 pts each

The Plague (Mutants of the Cursed Earth)
Leader: 1 x Stage 3A "General" 16 pts + Pistol (Free)
Troops:
2 x Stage 3D "Hellhound" 6 pts each
3 x Stage 3A (Mutant scum) 10 pts each + Pistols (Free)
Vehicle:
1 x Plague Strider with Assault Flamer 6 pts and Chainsaw 5 pts

Enforcers (Mega City One Judges)
Leader: Enforcer Sergeant 28 pts, AP Ammo 4 Pts
Troops:
3 x Enforcers 16 pts each
Specialist:
1 x Enforcer Medic

RATS IN SPAAAAAACE!

I wouldn't eat that if I were you! I said DON'T EAT IT!

Overall it's a great full color hardbound set of rules that has undergone a lot of improvements from the first version no doubt making it an even better game to play.

Cheers from Brendon

Easter Saga

Hope you all had a good Easter 2015. I didn't get up too much on the Hobby front at home over the long weekend. But I did manage to get down to the Darwin Tabletop Gamers and get some Saga on the table. Very rusty but it was fun. 1st game was a teaching game for a new player. It's great to get new players in our small club and hopefully after his victory in his first 4 point game as Vikings he is keen to collect and play. I didn't play in the first game but helped referee and teach the basic rules. The game was Warlord kill and it was over in a typically fast and brutal manner vs Jomsvikings..
In the second game I used the Norman faction with 6 points. 5 Hearthguard units on horses and 1 levy. 1 Hearthguard unit got split out to make 2 units of 6 hearthguads. We actually played short end to short end instead of long side to longside and that was probably the reason why I moved the Levy once and that was all they did in the whole game. We played the Mission with the Warlords glaring at each other in table center at the start of the game and the gods blessing them with 12 wounds each. I faced Norse-Gaels on foot with lots of javelins. Great learning game for us both and by a twist of fate the Normans won the day (only by a fraction though).

I purchased the Dead Zone box set on a special deal late last year and plan to use my small collection of Judge Dredd miniatures (once I have enough painted) to substitute as an Enforcers faction. I took the box down to the club and managed to get some interest. Good motivation for getting paint to the scenery and getting more miniatures completed. After looking at the Dead Zone Infestation kickstarter which will see the introduction of Ver-Myn (Sc-Fi Rat Men) I noticed the new terrain mat images and thought hmmmm. Easy enough to make your own if you have the know how...
Make a 2 feet square with 3 inch grid pattern and find suitable image from Google Earth.

Anyway enough rambling from me. Cheers from BrendonW (The Kiwi)

Mantic Strider (Slay-o-matic Triple 6)

For the Painting Challenge bonus theme round 'HOT' I went with this. A Mantic Strider made for 28mm scale Sci-Fi game Dead Zone. Took a bit of clean up but it was a lot of fun to paint. The miniature actually comes with three different cockpit options. Smashed and broken with a Zombie type mutant pilot. No glass with a Human pilot or as the way I did it. I actually purchased two of these and will build the other option of two hands holding a HUGE gun eventually. It won't be in these colours though.
I have more words over here. Go have a look at the other creative responses to 'HOT' and for a short time it's interactive with a vote for your favourites option. 
It was a great opportunity to have a lot of fun doing some freehand detail. Flames (it's the 'HOT' theme after all), and all sorts of other details for you to find. I will add gloss varnish to the two headlights I think.
Cheers from Brendon (The Kiwi)

I wasn't sure about blood on the 'Slice & Dice 4XL' but the folks at home insisted. It certainly looks used. 

Motorhead. Yeah. I like Motorhead.

Scott Ian Block City Defence letting loose on a Hell Trek with the 'Slay-o-matic Triple 6'.
Drokking Rambo wannabes.