Dystopian Wars - The Great White Fleet arrives, and the Germans get reinforcements

Today, we have the American faction of Dystopian Wars to preview, as well as the next wave of German releases!
Dystopian Wars is a Jules Verne-style Steampunk/Sci-fi naval (and air) tabletop wargame originally produced by Spartan Games, the IP was purchased by Warcradle Studios several years ago when Spartan collapsed.
Any tips/tricks improvements for this kind of video are welcome, I have plenty more models and game systems to look over (including every model made for Victory at Sea) if you like this occasional format.

[@Drachinifel]

Pinned post for Q&A :)

[@cpt.cookie3097]

Did tanks ever engage ships. If not, how effective would they have been.

[@thehandoftheking3314]

Drach, would you consider (re)fighting historical battles using Dystopian wars stand ins? So battle of Tsushima Coronel Coral Sea Dogger bank Etc? Personally I think those would be, delicious.

[@mjbaricua7403]

Angled deck on WW2 aircraft carriers?

[@thehandoftheking3314]

@@mjbaricua7403 wouldn't they need catapults to be effective in that configuration?

[@connormclernon26]

Given the recent shenanigans with Games Workshop, I cringe hard when you mention them. As for an actual question, recommendations for good tabletop games for those of us who want to do a naval battle of WW1?

[@matchesburn]

[Drach looks left and right, makes sure no one is around to see him] [Takes miniatures] [Aligns them in battle formations] "BOOM BOOM BOOM" "fhewww" "PING" "SPSSSH" "SPSSH" "BOOM BOOM BOOM" "fhewwww" "BANG" "KPLOW"

[@a2rgaming863]

*Rolls dice* Near miss. Your turn.

[@jamesharding3459]

Pretty sure most of us would do that given the chance

[@barkhodor1228]

You forget the exciting one; "You sank my Battleship!"

[@richmcgee434]

"I didn't see you playing with your action figures, sir!"

[@rembrandt972ify]

Drach would never scream "KPLOW!"

[@jackmoik4894]

Thank you for another great review of Dystopian Wars. I had the pleasure to paint the box artworks. I had some artistic freedom on colors and overall look, so feel free to ask any questions regarding the look.

[@Drachinifel]

Oh superb!

[@EndsBeginning]

The obvious one brought on by this video. Why didn't you use the great white fleet? Or will that be a sub-faction of the Americans? Oh! Will there be a West Africa squadron for the Brits?

[@jackmoik4894]

@@EndsBeginning Sorry, but as an Illustrator I don't have any influences on the selction of the sqadrons. There model range currently expands, please check the Wayland site for more news.

[@jaredlucev2705]

Did you do the Ice Maiden one too?

[@jackmoik4894]

@@jaredlucev2705 Yes Jared, I did almost all of the ships and fleet boxtops plus a couple of new things comming up soon ;-)

[@boomsssboom9804]

Not american ships, decks are not coated in more AAA guns then decking.

[@unreal6895]

I agree, I need to see about twenty more 40mm Bofors

[@baddoopey]

Watching this something in me tells me that people that do this need to get a life, but reading a comment like this screams to me that this is from a person who really needs to get a life fast.

[@Yorkington]

@@baddoopey What is life really?

[@unreal6895]

@@baddoopey If that painting is something you made I would think about not waisting your time as well

[@XH1927]

@@baddoopey Ironically, reading your comment gave me the impression of someone who doesn't deserve to have a life at all.

[@OnboardG1]

I love these dystopian wars vids. If you want the nicest bronze colour you'll likely come across, paint those paddle wheels in a really reflective silver (Vallejo Metal Colour Duralumin is my preference) and then put Snakebite Leather contrast over them. It's genuinely lovely.

[@richmcgee434]

Works well over golds if you want a nice rich tone with lots of depth to the color, too. Still not as good as chestnut ink was, but since that formula went OOP sometime in the 90s that's not really a help. :)

[@aaronnagar]

Actually the old paint formulas are still available under the name “Coat d’Arms” - Chestnut Ink is #137 iirc

[@richmcgee434]

@@aaronnagar I've tried it and it's very close but not quite the same. Still useful but doesn't give as warm a shade - although some of that may simply be due to evaporation having gradually intensified the pigment concentration in my last bottle of GW chestnut.

[@thomaszinser8714]

Well, at least they didn't name it the Berlin-Brandenburg battle group, if they had, it would never get done.

[@fuuryuuSKK]

@asdrubale bisanzio and Tempelhof is the name of one of the two airports (the other being Tegel) that BER is supposed to replace

[@theatagamer90]

@asdrubale bisanzio That's an... Interesting construction time. Nothing like tacking on 9 or so years onto a project 😐

[@MrGrevanar]

@@theatagamer90 And of course opening the year that air travel basically stopped...

[@Shenaldrac]

I have to admit, aesthetics-wise, I actually prefer the old American designs. The much larger paddlewheels give them a greater sense of speed and power to me, I really like the very large, grand singular turrets at the front alongside the very tall, almost looming bridge and superstructure at the very back for the cruiser especially. Plus those crown-ended smokestacks are just fantastic. Also while riveted armor is of course far worse, I think it _looks_ really cool.

[@richmcgee434]

Agreed. Both generations of designs are pretty silly, but the first gen really embraced it and the overall look works better for me.

[@old_guard2431]

I enjoyed this presentation, while having no interest whatsoever in doing it myself. (I flunked coloring-within-the-lines in primary school and it has not gotten much better with age.) The "drone" looks to me like a manned combat quadcopter. (Or VERTOL aircraft - looks like the fans swivel, getting a bit more speed and control than you would get from only differential thrust from the fans) The wind screens seem configured for a manned aircraft, and more for fighting than observation.

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

It's a weaponized observation manned drone that is really only useful on Union battleships, carriers, and cruisers, but can be attached to destroyer and frigate groups if you want to (or, I suppose if Warcradle ever releases rocket-using small vessels.) From the ORBAT (order of battle) sheet on the Dystopian Wars Website: AKRON OBSERVER: This Unit is accompanied by an Akron Observation Rotor. The Akron is an Escort as described on Page 32 of the Rulebook with the following exceptions: The Akron is armed with a Rocket Pod and may Lead or Support with this weapon in one attack each Activation made by its Parent Unit. The Akron is not an Aerial Unit but the Model has the Aerial Trait and cannot be collided with. It cannot be targeted unless it is in Point Blank Range or the weapon has the Aerial Quality. The Akron gives +1 to the Defence Attributes of every Model in the Unit. The Akron gives the Extreme Range Quality to any Aerial Weapons in the Unit. An Akron counts as being equipped with any Generators present in the Unit.

[@old_guard2431]

@@5peciesunkn0wn Yeah, I'm being picky, but "manned" and "drone" is a contradiction in terms.

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

@@old_guard2431 fair nuff

[@johnbeauvais3159]

Just a tip for white, start with a light gray and then highlight with a filter of thinned white to allow some variance to keep things more visually interesting. Also to get a more intense yellow base coat in orange first and then build up the yellow over top

[@kentbarnes1955]

Looks like actual "model kits" at this point. I HAVE to learn this game. Waiting for the Drach play through...hint hint

[@ThumperE23]

Great video, how about this for a Fun Friday, play a Dystopian Wars battle but the scenario being based on a real battle. Say a cruiser fight like Savo island, or Battler of Coronel.

[@johnashley-smith4987]

Thanks for this video. Great looking models....I like your take on the " Great White Fleet" scheme...I don't play Dystopian Wars and haven't seen it in the shops for years. I am hoping to see a playthrough some time.... Inspiring stuff! I have a couple of BFG cruisers, languishing unpainted for longer than it takes to build a real ship, that might have a paint scheme out of this.... Thanks again !

[@redjackel6161]

Drach, love the Great White Fleet aesthetic with the American fleet, I will have to do that with a build at some point, another great vid, keep going strong.

[@jamesmaas7244]

Great, fun video. You even caused me to look up "The Great White Fleet", so kudos to you for teaching me history. Fun stuff. I do like these Dystopian Wars videos. In fact I went out and bought the starter set after seeing your video about it.

[@tominiowa2513]

There is a Drach video on The Great White Fleet, KZbin ID "nbV3qRIh-ro".

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

Lieutenant: "Sir the enemy have taken our idea for an Ice Carrier." Captian: "Well then Lieutenant what are you waiting for?" Lieutenant: "Sir?" Captain: "If the enemy has taken our idea its only proper we take it back." Lieutenant "Yes sir, marines prepare to board!" Captian: "Helmsman get me as close as you can i wish to hit them with my sword." Helmsman: "Aye Sir!"

[@Loweko1170]

Yeah, I really do hope we get a proper HMS Habbakuk to fight the Ice Maiden. Maybe launching 4-engine heavy bombers...

[@RGC-gn2nm]

With GW crushing creators currently this looks so cool

[@12jazion]

The ships look great and all that but when are they going to battle? It would be a shame for the fleets to go to the breakers or be put in ordinary without being involved in a major fleet engagement.

[@toothlesssal5598]

Don't do this to me Drac. I have enough models and games.

[@mathewkelly9968]

Yeh same wh40k (6 armies) , AoS (1 army) , blood bowl (4 teams) , necromunda (3 gangs) , konflikt47 (2 armies) , bolt action (3 armies) , flames of war (1 army) , team yankee (2 armies) , battletech (3 factions) ......... ive decided to stop typing now as I'll get RSI if I keep it up .

[@sadwingsraging3044]

Your better half is right, it looks gold and it looks better.

[@zacjhyor]

Drach, the Mrs is always right when it comes to decisions :P

[@richmcgee434]

Much as I enjoy the odd DW video the game still leaves me deeply conflicted. It's not so much that the designs and setting are deeply absurd in so many ways - 40K and AoS are much more ridiculous, after all. It's that every bit of effort Warcradle pumps into it delays the re-release of Firestorm Armada just a little bit more, and I'm more of a starship gamer than a steampunk-sci-fantasy naval guy.

[@Stormcrow180]

Ah memories, i had a sizable Dindrenzi Federation fleet once upon a time. Railguns with engines attached good times.

[@HGZ10]

I feel that the lighter undertone of the battleship means it has some sort of upper-class background, like its the admirals own personal ship so the officers ensure its constantly in that bright I am here brand new colouring. In contrast with the more of the front line cruisers and destroyers who are more in active roles. Just a thought there!

[@agesflow6815]

Thank you, Drachinifel.

[@jefferyindorf699]

Drach, as one married man to another, remember rule #1, the wife is ALWAYS right !

[@Slicpher]

These models are so cool. Thanks for posting!

[@cookingonthecheapcheap6921]

Sorry Drach. I agree with your better half. I just feel the brighter colours are more the "Here we come!" Attitude of the White Fleets world tour lol.

[@johntowner1893]

The paint job looks great drach well done

[@austin0351]

Love the Great white fleet paint scheme! There's a photo-shopped pic of an Iowa in gold and white running around on the interwebs that I absolutely adore.

[@dillonrinehart8319]

Love your dystopian wars videos, would love to see play.

[@jamesd3472]

Drach, I really enjoy these videos but would love slightly more of an explanation of how an actual battle would work. What's the system to restrict you to different sizes of ships and how does damage work. I'm sure I could look this up online, but I am equally sure you could make it seem far more engaging and interesting on here, particularly as I'm not sure I'll ever get into the game myself. Looking forward to seeing the rise of the British!

[@ifga16]

Rotary loaders were used on the 3" 50cal anti-aircraft guns developed at the end of WWII. So a 'revolver' isn't out of the question. These pop guns were used on 1179 class LSTs and on some PGs at least.

[@kylebroflovski5333]

Yay! These are always really enjoyable.

[@markrobinson9956]

Nice surprise for Friday! Thanks!

[@Matthew-jv1ee]

Absolutely awesome vid...love your choice of colour's...

[@scootergsp]

Those ships look really cool. So, when are we going to get a video where we actually get to see you playing with all your awesome toys? How about you vs. Dr. Clark? Winner then has to face Mrs. Drach... 😁

[@maxanderson2180]

Just as I wanted to get into this game you make a video, it must be a sign!

[@thegeneralissimo470]

I love the paint scheme. Probably better looking than stock even.

[@Gunninator]

Great review. Definitely like your great white fleet

[@jamesd3472]

This may be just me, but are the Germans not the ones with the AA options and yet also the only ones with aircraft options you've shown us so far. Seems like they're very prepared for when the others catch up with their aircraft!

[@TheKillerkille]

I like them both. Though I feel like the slightly more gold yellow makes the battleship really pop, and look distinct compared to the cruiser. Almost like the battleship captains did anything they could to get slightly different paint just to look different. Just my opinion however.

[@christophersmith8316]

If the captain was rich enough he might have sprung for true gilding out of pocket.

[@TheKillerkille]

@@christophersmith8316 I mean if you look at the Gilded bow ornaments that US cruisers did have it definitely stands to reason.

[@GeneralJackRipper]

I think it's okay. The Battleship, obviously being the flagship, would have it's crew taking greater care of their paint and bright-work so it makes sense that it looks a little more shiny than everything else. Give the crew a permanent +1 Morale modifier.

[@andreaspersson5639]

Suddenly, this got *very* hard to resist. Not sure that I agree that the GWF paint scheme is the greatest (and I mean that literally, I'm not sure), but it does look spiffing. And I assume I'm not the only one who immediately thought "two Lexington-class cruisers (Lexington and Saratoga), and two Yorktown-class (Yorktown and Enterprise)", with no knowledge if those other names have already been taken...

[@williamstall4420]

Wait, WW II planes flying over PADDLEWHEELERS? So, propellers are at least known about yet not used.... Hmm...

[@sovietdominion]

I would buy the game if I had somebody to play with :D

[@martynjones3978]

Think the great white fleet colour scheme works really well, id keep the BB’s with the brighter yellow and the smaller ships with the darker yellow!!

[@LukeBunyip]

11:50 What Mrs Drak said. One does not argue with the patron goddess of aquatic stationary independent ship targeting explosive devices.

[@level98bearhuntingarmor]

Still don't know if I like the look of the ships in this game yet

[@ragequitchan5981]

I am relieved this game isnt COMPLETELY dead, but I really wish the old spartan models were in production. I was completely broke at the time of their 'were going bankrupt' 50% off sales. IIRC the warehouse storing all the spartan kits locked the doors on them a few days early and ALL those kits went to waste.

[@christopherr.2137]

the German CVs in DW are still more authentic than the German CV line in WoWs lol

[@swaggaming2564]

hey drach, if you’re looking for a white paint that actually works properly then the white from Vallejo Model Colour is excellent, far better than the GW ones

[@mosheberkovits3586]

Can you do world of warships matches sometimes too?

[@johnlavery3433]

Great, something to listen too while I paint my beast snaggas

[@VladMcCain]

Well an in game explanation, for the color difference, could be something along the lines that she’s a newly built or rebuilt ship

[@Christopher-N]

While these Dystopian Wars videos are interesting, they feel like toast without butter or jam. What I mean is, would you consider adding _just a little_ flavour language to these Dystopian Wars videos? Not as over the top as your masterpiece dedicated to the Emperor class of 40,000, but do describe the model as if its place is to bestow their "blessings" upon friend and foe alike. :)

[@notsavingpvtbrian]

Not sure if it would be possible to have a ruler/meter stick in the background of some of the finished shots to give a better sense of scale.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

yes I was trying to guess how big they were until I saw a human hand;

[@nichtvorhanden5928]

Thanks for the video. I think this videos are a interesting variation on the normal content. A little thing I noticed was Tempelhof is pronounced with a longer o your pronounciation matches more with Tempelhoff. There is also a relativly well known former airport in berlin with the same name.

[@alanrogers7090]

I, for one, really liked the look of your "fleet" on the shiny black surface as it did give reflections of the ships just as you would see on a clear lake or sea. I don't think a matte finish would look as nice.

[@sedlacekmartin6630]

Nuln Oil, thats the magical dust you need.

[@karlmarx7333]

Well I may have found my replacement for Geedubs

[@sanguiniusonvacation1803]

Thank you for introducing me to this game . Its quite fun

[@Destroyer_V0]

main issue I had with the battleship? The gaps between the supporting spokes of the paddlewheels. Probably could have been painted black.

[@jakeverbakel204]

I'm with you on the yellows. However. I think it works well on the battle ship. Being the flag ship sort of thing It makes It stand out

[@stevenflebbe]

The old and new together could be akin to the USS Texas operating with the USS Iowa.

[@johnmiller8975]

OK this is cool i did not know about this at all In terms of paddlewheelers maybe look into the Chinese Song Dynasty ships and do a vid on those, very much ahead of their time (unless you already have & I missed it)

[@ELCADAROSA]

Oh, great ... Drach gets two boxes of Dystopian Wars models to assemble and paint. Standby for another lockdown session! 🤣

[@jefferynelson]

Refresh my memory- Drach's education background ?

[@neves5083]

Lovely If the kamechaka arrives the war is lost

[@lukerettie]

Though maybe its not the most consistant paint job i think your first cruiser does look to me very like its been at sea for a long time and its been weathered

[@123JWhyte]

for the german cruisers i found magnets very useful

[@Szopen715]

Tempelhof used to be a quite large airfield in Berlin, quite a suiting name for CV task force

[@isyldy09]

I've always wanted to get into this game. Didn't know they were still making it. Quick question, do the Americans have an aircraft carrier? Or, are they coming out with one for them?

[@theatagamer90]

Think so. American ORBAT seems to list at least 2 carriers either coming out or already out.

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

You should add some blue or copper to the tesla guns and tesla emitter pieces on the cruisers.

[@FiauraTheTankGirlGamer]

Why not just use a gold metallic as a trim/highlighter in addition to the yellow?

[@iamscoutstfu]

Is there lore for how the Americans are constantly losing paddle drives to enemy fire? The revolver cannon isn't a bad idea, though.

[@alanrogers7090]

I agree with your wife, (sorry), but the whiter base actually makes the colors "pop" for me, at least when viewed on my monitor. (Pun intended).

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

They should get the developers of the Battlefleet Gothic games to make a Dystopian Wars game. Edit: I'm talking about the Battlefleet Gothic: Armada games developed by Tindalos Interactive.

[@Based_Lord_Humongous]

Games Workshop has done a fine enough job of doing Games Workshop games.

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

@@Based_Lord_Humongous Funny. Games Workshop didn't develop Battlefleet Gothic: Armada in house. Tindalos Interactive did. GW just licensed out the IP.

[@Based_Lord_Humongous]

@@Ralph-yn3gr you should have specified that before you edited your comment. Namesté to you sir/ma'am.

[@Ralph-yn3gr]

@@Based_Lord_Humongous You are correct. Sorry about that. In my head it made perfect sense. Sometimes I forget that people can't read my mind. I edited the comment at the same time I replied to avoid confusion for others. Also sorry for the hostile tone. It's not an excuse, but my mood tends to be... bad for the first half of the day. I really need to remember to not say things prior to about noon or so.

[@Based_Lord_Humongous]

@@Ralph-yn3gr consume coffee. Lift heavy things and put them down repeatedly. Be mindful of your thoughts. No worries; Namesté.

[@barrylucas8679]

Just received my copy of Hunt for the Prometheus....you could say I'm hooked....when do you find time to paint?

[@robertmatch6550]

New to me. Coffee and a listen.

[@gmradio2436]

I want to see the Prussians in Great White Fleet colors.

[@garryeckert5929]

There was a sea going sidewheeler ships.

[@axelpatrickb.pingol3228]

Man, I remember reading the lore for this game. I wonder if the new owners put back the original lore pages from back the Spartan days...

[@Loweko1170]

They have completely rewritten the plot to link it with the Wild West Exodus setting. The old stuff is pretty much completely gone.

[@dougredshirt3991]

The wife is never wrong.

[@VD913]

I'll never love the new cowcatcher aesthetic, just glad this game is getting back into production.

[@Cheka__]

I wonder if Drach ever played Battlestations: Midway or Battlestations: Pacific

[@benwilson6145]

The picture at the start makes no sense, using a sextant just before sunset total nonsense.

[@TiberiusMaximus]

is that a cutting mat or your desk?

[@miklfog9675]

How can I collect these and are they expensive?????

[@rifleman2c997]

Is there any lore into this setting, I would like to see how the world works?

[@gilde915]

i would have used retributor armor gold for decorations and leadbelcher for the guns ...on the other hand in wh40k i even do semi writtings on my purity seals:)

[@Benepene]

The intro does remind me of a certain ds9 episode ...

[@scotthill8787]

Joy in the morning!

[@chooseyouhandle]

nice relaxing intro music

[@zacharygerken4387]

I like how the RN ones look.

[@florinivan6907]

Isn't the term dystopian war redundant? I never heard of utopian wars.🤔

[@stevenflebbe]

Paddlewheels aren't that strange. During WW2, the US Navy had two paddlewheel aircraft carriers. 😆

[@gwtpictgwtpict4214]

Yes, but they were training carriers on the Great Lakes. Nobody was considering taking them into combat.

[@Moredread25]

I appreciate all miniatures as a hobby but it's not something I've ever gotten into.

[@154Kilroy]

Is it just me, or do the Germans seem to have a bit of a technological advantage here?😂 aircraft carriers and jets vs. paddlesteamers and drones... that being said, I actually like the look of the paddle ships a but more, lol.

[@Nightdare]

2:20 "Complex" ......8 parts 🤣

[@johnmorris5965]

The wife has it.

[@tinglemccringleberry8899]

Mrs. drach is correct