Hawk Wargames, Dropzone Commander, 2 Player Set

Yesterday a package arrived from Hawk Wargames. Wrapped up all nice and neat was the new 10mm Dropzone Commander 2 player set.

Wow! Hawk Wargames really did a bang up job with this set. Rather than go the resin route, they now have plastic injected molded spruces and IMO this a huge improvement as far as mold lines and how things fit together. The plastic appears to be really clean and perfect for modeling.

The buildings, markers and blast templates are made from card stock and time will tell how well these hold up. 

The set comes with a beautiful colored rulebook, with lots of painted examples of the various vehicles.  There are also directions on how to assemble each vehicle and quick start fast play sheets and scenarios for game play.

The set contains 2 different Armies, the United Colonies of Mankind and the Scourge.  I prefer the look of the humans, but I am quite certain the Scourge has their fans.  These are basic starting forces and it makes the perfect entry point into the Dropzone Commander universe.

The United Colonies of Mankind Starter Force

•  3x Sabre Main Battle Tanks 
•  3x Rapier AA Tanks 
•  2x Bear APC’s (+1 bonus spare!) 
•  30x Colonial Legionnaires (on 6 bases) 
•  3x Condor Medium Dropships (now with clear canopy and pilot!)

The Scourge Starter Force

•  3x Hunter Main Grav-Tanks 
•  3x Reaper AA Grav-Tanks 
•  2x Invader APC’s (+1 bonus spare!)  
•  30x Scourge Warriors (on 6 bases)  
•  3x Marauder Medium Dropships

Also included as you can see from images below is a complete urban battlefield.  The battlefields are designed from poster layouts and pre-cut, pre-folded card stock buildings.

What you get

•  2x Urban Streets Posters, will join together in 4 different ways to create a 48”x33” road
•  layout10 x Pre-cut, pre-folded card buildings in 10 different designs

With this set you have everything you need to throw down and play Dropzone Commander. 

The game retails for £60.00 or about $95, which for what is included, seems like an excellent deal these days.

DropZone Commander

The folks at Hawk Wargames were nice enough to send out a sample set of their exciting Dropzone Commander for review.

The rulebook is absolutely beautiful.  The book consists of 154 pages chalk full of goodness, including game background, rules, scenarios, army lists (UCM, Scourge, PHR, SHALTARI), guest painter pictures and tokens & templates.

The images in the book are...well lets just say...mind blowing in detail.  The artists have blurred the line between reality and science fiction perfectly.  The landscapes and cityscapes used are what every gamer would dream of having on their tabletop.  Incredibly detailed buildings, city streets and outstanding paint jobs make each picture come alive.

The rules consists of 34 pages that are really easy to read, with plenty of examples and tables to follow.  Each Army is broken down into a background section, weapon details, unit specific stats, army lists and examples of armies and color schemes.  Guest painters strut their stuff showcasing some amazing painting skills that will be hard to follow.

The game has been designed around the concept of rapid deployment and redeployment of your forces by airborne dropships, thus the name of the game DropZone Commander.

The game is scaled in 10mm, a happy medium between 6mm and 15mm.  The figures I received came in an army box.  All the vehicles were resin and the infantry were metal.  The 3 dropships came with their own flying base.

Below are some of the parts that come in the box set.  The dropships are made up of 5 parts.  The walkers are composed of 5 parts.  The tanks are a 3 part set.  The starter army had 3 dropships, 2 tanks, 4 walkers and 4 stands of infantry.

Based on what I have seen, you will need a few tools including a good x-acto blade, a file and some cutters.  One thing I didn't like was the two piece mold for the Post-Human Republic tanks.  These have to be glued together with the seam line running down the middle of the tank.  A one piece version would have been much better, with the injection taking place in the underside.  This is something that is already done with countless resin vehicles and should be done here as well.  I also think, although it would increase cost, is to have metal bits for things like weapons.  Resin weapons always have a habit of breaking or warping, at least mine do, and metal bits just seem to last longer.

The metal troops are very nice and have plenty of detail.  Over all really like the look of the armies.

Hawk Wargames, Taranis MLRs, Post Human Republic

Here are some cool vehicles for the Post Human Republic called Taranis MLRs.  Love the look.  Great concept.

Hawk Wargames, Jaguar Warstrider

Here is a rather cool walker from Hawk Wargames called the Jaguar Warstrider.  The strider is for the Shaltari Tribes faction who use teleportation technology, instead of dropships.  They get what is referred to as gateships as a means of transport.

Hawk Wargames, PHR Juno A1 IFV

Here are the IFVs for the Post Human Republic from Hawk Wargames.

Hawk Wargames, UCM Bear APC

Here is the UCM Bear APC from Hawk Wargames.  I really like the look of these, no nonsense troop carriers.  I wonder how many troops can fit inside.  The APCs look rather large, so probably at least 20 troops.

Hawk Wargames, Infantry

Here more upcoming infantry from Hawk Wargames.  Absolutely love the look of the Immortals.

Hawk Wargames, UCM Archangel

Here is Hawk Wargames UCM Archangel.  Really love the look of this figure.

Hawk Wargames, the Colonial Legionnaires

Here is Hawk Wargames Colonial Legionnaires. They look very detailed for 10mm.  I like the rounded 5 man base.  The only critism I can see, are the legs.   The figure 2nd from the left appears to have some rather short legs compared to the upper torso.  Could be an optical illusion though.  The weapons look great.

Hawk Wargames, Shaltari 'Eden' Medium Gate

Here is Hawk Wargames Shaltari 'Eden' Medium Gate.  This race uses portal technology.  They are similar to Eldar, but a little tougher.

Hawk Wargames, UCM Condor Medium Dropship, Scimitar Tank Destroyers

Here is Hawk Wargames UCM Condor Medium Dropship, containing 2 Scimitar Tank Destroyers.  I am really liking the human armies in this game.  I am not as excited about the alien ones.  They are certainly different though.

Hawk Wargames, Scourge Marauder Medium Dropship

Here is the Scourge Marauder Medium Dropship from Hawk Wargames.  Notice the 3 Hunter MGT's.  It took me a few minutes to realize there were 3 tanks grave tanks.

Hawk Wargames, Shaltari Tribes Tomahawk MGT

Here is the Hawk Wargames Shaltari Tribes Tomahawk MGT.

Hawk Wargames Video

What I found interesting in the video is when Dave talks about the resin he is using. Some type of new bendable resin. Not sure what it is called though.

Hawk Wargames Neptune Medium Dropship

Here is the Hawk Wargames PHR Neptune Medium Dropship.  I totally like the look of the Enyo Seige Walkers.  At 99mm or almost 10cm this ship is pretty large.

One question I have.  How are the walkers attached to the undercarriage?  Are magnets going to be used or are there long rod inserts?

Hawk Wargames, Scourge Slayer Heavy Grav Tank

Here is the Scourge Slayer Heavy Grav Tank by Hawk Wargames. I am not as big a fan of these figures.  Nice designs, but just not my thing.