Dystopian Wars - Ze Germans

Today, we have the German/Imperium faction of Dystopian Wars to preview!
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 :)

[@themightynanto3158]

Have you seen Battleship New Jersey's video on the top 10 warships that should have been preserved? If yes, what are your thoughts on it? Also will you do your own top 10 of warships that should have been preserved?

[@loneneotank.5687]

Speaking of rocket launchers did anyone ever think of putting them on real ships instead of cannons, perhaps an experimental ship? (Rockets (not missiles) Or maybe rocket propelled projectiles?

[@unicornep1818]

Any chance of a game demo, or a full game series? Pip pip

[@joshthomas-moore2656]

Do you give any of these model ships names?

[@areslictor4222]

Unrelated to the video, but its something that I was wondering about for a while. Why warships, especially capital ships, didn't have some specifically designed anti torpedo guns? Was it too hard to shoot a torpedo out of water? I was thinking that especially carriers could use some defense like that.

[@wesleyjohnson3786]

Tbh I’m surprised roll-on roll-off railroad guns are not used more in fiction. It seems like an awesome concept

[@viridisxiv766]

the superstructures damaged? swap it out for a new one! if iron man was into boats, he would have one of these.

[@wesleyjohnson3786]

@asdrubale bisanzio give me a panzerzug gosh darnit

[@scottygdaman]

How long is that ship? Lol

[@sawyerawr5783]

when railroad car ferries to go war.

[@tap9095]

RO-RO firepower, if you will.

[@danieltaylor5231]

How does Kaiserin Drach feel about you repeatedly calling her ships yours?

[@nathanrandall7003]

Probably about the same as Admiral von Reuter at Scapa Flow in 1919.

[@vHindenburg]

@@nathanrandall7003 More like the Sailors on november 9th 1918.

[@davidbrennan660]

She will likely scuttle the fleet before it is given up to an enemy Kommendier. You would be picking it put of the carpet for months and forever finding bits with the hoover.

[@Ealsante]

@@davidbrennan660 She would order the pieces scattered, just to increase the chance that Drach would accidentally step on one.

[@IsaiahAmos017]

good to see another Oklahoman go sooners

[@Ebolson1019]

I want to see a “how to play dystopian wars” where drach battles himself

[@gregorywright4918]

Drach vs Mrs. Drach?

[@Ebolson1019]

@@gregorywright4918 drach (Antarctica) vs drach (Russian) vs Mrs Drach?

[@mpersad]

I am delighted to learn that Mrs. Drach has her own fleet! Brilliant!

[@leafs9328]

So Dystopian Wars has a German faction & most of their ships have some sort of railroad attached to them? Alright that last part completely sold me on the concept and I now have plans for a fleet.

[@jeremyh3567]

You should see the 2nd edition Blazing Sun (Japanese) most of their ships are heavily styled to resemble trains

[@adamdubin1276]

Railroad based armament... I can just imagine how that would work in a heavy storm.... *In the Officer's Mess* Crewman: Captain! The conning tower and guns just went overboard! Captain: XO! Did I not tell you to tie them down! XO: They were tied down sir! Captain: Then what happened? XO: The chains broke! Captain: Suppo! Remind me to write a strongly worded letter to the Admiralty about the detriments of railway based armaments! *One Week Later* Suppo: ... their lordships thank you for your input on this important matter. However at this time they are unable to do anything toward remedying the issues as they are still drying out after falling overboard during last weeks storm-- *Sound of the captains head hitting his desk and sobbing*

[@MSNL123]

I'm surprized that neither the captain nor any of the admirals found themselves on a ship-less bridge after that storm.

[@adamdubin1276]

@@MSNL123 Good thought need to make some changes...

[@vHindenburg]

Well I see multiple ways of handling it either rollercoaster style ( google translate says ) or a rack railway.

[@MorningGI0ry]

Oh this reminds me...I need to pick up sausage on the way back from work

[@bigblue6917]

Your mind works weird. I love it.👍😊

[@loneneotank.5687]

That's weird. I just made brauts yesterday.

[@frankbarnwell____]

don't drive "that" way

[@bcluett1697]

I feel like this crosses the top heavy limits, thus the "sci fi" moniker comes into play. The deck of a ship that carries twin Dora with contemporary technology would be something to behold.

[@tominiowa2513]

For exceeding top heavy limits on ships, there are the cruisers and battleships in Azur Lane. 😉 (Cue Laffey trying out "pillows")

[@bcluett1697]

@@tominiowa2513 LOL true

[@leodesalis5915]

Drach I'm sure you've already had this idea but I'm sure I speak for many in this community when I say we would love a memorial video on prince Philips naval service, a true British royal hero.

[@tominiowa2513]

Wonder if he ever got to be a passenger on the Θ/Κ Γεώργιος Αβέρωφ (Georgios Averof) between VE Day and her decommissioning in 1952, since prior to his marriage he was "Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark".

[@jamesharding3459]

Dora rail guns on ships....because of course they did.

[@engelbert42]

"Larger naval guns are too heavy to be dismounted and used in land campaigns" Ze Germans: Hold my Bier!

[@richmcgee434]

I'm weirdly reminded of the Bolo scifi novels, the ones started by Keith Laumer and continued by a number of later authors. Insanely big supertech AI cybertanks, basically, with main guns that could reliably knock starships out of orbit from the ground. An interstellar transport ship for moving them from planet to planet shows up in one of the later books. It's not armed itself, but the Bolos are in sockets on the outside of the hull, so they can bring their guns to bear on anything that thinks it's going to attack the big, fat transport ship. And because there's no such thing as excess, when they're done clearing the way for a planetary invasion they can drop from orbit on their own grav-lift systems and ablative landing sleds, no need to mess about with shuttles or anything.

[@rooseveltbrentwood9654]

@@richmcgee434 Man I love Laumer, though I mostly read his one-offs and the Retif series.

[@johnbuchman4854]

Drach: Any truth to the rumor that the helmsman from SMS Seydlitz evaluated the handling of these ships and that he summed it up with the statement that they handled "like they were on rails"?

[@merlin4084]

Pity you didn't use the picture of the fully converted old Prussian Battleship, but I suppose you wanted to show as it was before I went all out with turning it into the Battlecruiser. Good video, though I was more surprised that you used the extra images of the new battleship too.

[@droppedpasta]

The Blücher Class Cruiser (Horses neigh in the distance)

[@toddwebb7521]

What Knockers

[@AtheistIII]

Any chance for video of a game between you and Mrs Drach?

[@Eisengeboren]

Wow posted right as I get my kit from the mail and start cutting the sprues

[@jackmoik4894]

I'm doing the Dystopian Wars artworks and I'm delighted to see discussion about it here on one of my favorite chanels. It gives me quite another view on the ships. Thank you for that and keep up the great work! Btw. I'm German :-)

[@balli7836]

Oh yes, i want a large H-class battleship armed with 4 x 80cm-Dora Gun-Twin Turrets.

[@ricklotter]

Wow, your paint job is awesome! That is a lovely look, especially the dark grey mottling on the steel parts... quite impressed.

[@__-jt4tv]

Whilst my faith in you had wavered a little on seeing the Space Marines in your model cupboards.. As a fellow LMS loyalist, this video fully restores my confidence. Kidding, mostly ;-) :p Thanks for another interesting video. I've been toying with playing Dystopian Wars for years, so your seal of approval only acts as more encouragement!

[@Werner4voss]

Doctor: You have 15 min till death Me: Make it 17min 36 sec

[@johnbuchman4854]

Your response: "So I don't have time enough to watch one last Drach 5 minute more or less, video?"

[@tominiowa2513]

Crank up the playback speed to 1.25.

[@jonathanfrank1189]

You know One Could argue that the German high command decided to completely change their design philosophy due to the whims of the kiser

[@kilianortmann9979]

Dieser Kommentarbereich ist nun Eigentum der Bundesrepublik Deutschland : ).

[@alishahellewaage6175]

Last time i was this quick, i found out wot happen when i taste exhoost foom of Warspite

[@ajshell2]

Huh. I just saw your Ice Maiden video a few days ago, then this shows up. Neat.

[@rictusmetallicus]

Last time i was zis early, we still were The Huns!

[@Skringly]

You say these are Imperium vessels and yet I can't see a Nova Cannon anywhere in sight. *concerned mechanicus noises*

[@Skringly]

Also. "LMS is the best" *angry GWR noises*

[@Sigil_Firebrand]

I will just say, I love ships, I love trains. I would love a friday video sometime about trains, or at the very least the best of the grouping era railways, the LMS.

[@TheRCScotsman]

_Ze Germans??_ I'll ask them if they want something to drink before the war... BEFORE THEIR LUNCH! Don't mention the war.

[@scrambledganglia6946]

Good to see the Age of Sail diet experiments have not caused any noticeable issues. That hardback/biscuit vs. tooth sound effect was reminiscent of boulders grinding under an advancing glacier. Do like the assembly analysis. Reminds me of building miniature balsa naval vessels.

[@kentlindal5422]

Love the potential modularity.

[@matthewfreeman4472]

It looks like the bridge crew would get cooked by back blast when the rockets are fired

[@aaronporebski9502]

Would love to see how a Dystopian Wars game works - also very excited to see the VaS models.

[@saoirseewing4877]

I hear that music, and I can't help but think it would go well with talking about painting "happy little boats."

[@robertserafini560]

can't wait for the FSA

[@DerekKnop]

To me, the disconnect between the mk1, mk2, and mk3/warcradle versions of "German" ships makes sense. The Germans could never bring themselves to retire old ships, just look at their fleet in WWI. So having all the different-looking ships sailing together feels right to me.

[@delticcrusader4002]

God dammit Drach, I don't have anymore dock space for more mini's why do you make me aware of another interesting table top game! On a more positive note I really like these different videos covering other, still relevant, topics. Though you could make anything ship related fun and informative. :)

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Lovely to watch and listen too while I varnish and glaze a 1:72 Hurricane... it's what Saturdays are for!

[@barrylucas8679]

I'm hoping that fun fridays will continue at least once a week

[@Talon3000]

Great to see Spartan Games stuff back on a table. I loved Firestorm Armada as a more streamlined Battlefleet Gothic but then it was... gone D:

[@vHindenburg]

Still have my Sorylian ( Was it spelled that way) Dreadnought in my vault....and of course the only ships that ever did anything the frigates ^^.

[@gmradio2436]

More Dystopia Wars please. It seems like it would be fun to learn more when you have time. The setting's history and lore. Thoughts on the designs, how viable they are in the setting vs real life pre-dreadnoughts. Also can we get the Dystopia Wars videos in a playlist?

[@jimbe01]

Doesn’t The Washington naval treaty limit the armament for this class to one Dora and two sleeper cars?🤦🏻‍♂️

[@assembly_language3948]

In plastic?!!! AWESOME! I loved the Spartan game, not seen any of the new stuff

[@geoffreyentwistle8176]

FUCK YEAH PRUSSIA!!! *remembers he played the Covenant of Antarctica* OH GOD PRUSSIA!!!

[@sawyerawr5783]

If that's standard gauge, how ungodly big would these ships have to be for that 4-8-2 steam engine to be that small in comparison?! Also, LMS IS the best. good on you for noticing. Stanier for life!

[@UndatedAbyss]

Well I can't speak for the game having never seen it in action, the ships are certainly worth watching a video over

[@Meanier100]

Warcradle now has the German carrier coming out.

[@kentbarnes1955]

I really have to dig out my old Dystopian War ships...and really learn to play the game

[@CTXSLPR]

Pedantry Corner Crowd: “Railway Gun”, not “Rail Gun” Thanks for the vicarious living

[@joeswift403]

Now let's bring on the zeppelins and flying robots

[@sanguiniusonvacation1803]

I bought the HoP box , gonna be playing a game in a week or 2

[@thehandoftheking3314]

I'd love to see how the train and rail weapons scale up next to Adeptus Titanicus

[@pioneer_1148]

Anyone else see this and think they'd missed an epril fools episode?

[@level98bearhuntingarmor]

I'm confused yet intrigued But the bridges look great

[@deckape714]

Nice paint jobs Drach

[@PeklyCZ]

Are you planning take a look on Black seas from warlord games? Age of sails is love!

[@inyobill]

Late 19th Century ships with clipper bows? Heresy!

[@thomilsvlog4544]

German ships with rail-mounted weapons? I hope those rails aren't managed by Deutsche Bahn...

[@EyeKracker83]

Must fight tempation to buy into dystopian wars. Must fight tempation! I'll make a decision when I see all the factions. And after I finish painting Victory at sea

[@tominiowa2513]

I always think Richard Rodgers when I hear or read "Victory at Sea". KZbin ID: x3dwsRSA6KE

[@bryant7201]

Looks so cool. I just hate the outlay for a fleet I know will be outdated by the time I finish painting & assembling.

[@5peciesunkn0wn]

I prefer the new superstructure to the "1.0" Prussian ships. Definitely looks like Warcradle is basing their new designs off of the Spartan 3.0 ships.

[@jakemillar649]

The new ships look more German (with the Atlantic bows)

[@candleman2123]

I love the Augustus Heavy Bombard Cruisers, they are extremely powerful, especially with Phosphorus shells. The aft Bombards on their ships seems really dumb. It's an extreme range weapon only pointing aft (so no P/S firing), which means you need to be reversing towards the enemy to fire them... The Holtzendorf I found a very good capital ship. Generally I find any capital ship to be functionally a waste of points, cruisers are where it's at, but you have to take one so the Holtzendorf is a good compromise. The frigates and Destroyers are devastating to be honest. Haven't tried anything else but the Kaiser might be semi-decent for it's cost with 4 guns... but I doubt it.

[@pbeccas]

Nice

[@maxbeane4944]

In general even on the battleship hull the rocket launchers look oversized. But that's about the biggest complaint I have on them love the rail modular design.

[@johnlavery3433]

I mean if this were a Japanese ship it’d make sense

[@viridisxiv766]

the missile turrets should be mounted vertically and sunk into the foredeck.

[@empath69]

More practical (and seaworthy) but then they wouldn't be modular and configurable like the Prussian/Imperial design ethos...

[@beaker126]

Cool stuff. Did you ever play Man-O-War from GW?

[@richmcgee434]

"The rocket launchers look a little bit silly..." And the Russian cyborg-zombie whale launcher ship didn't? :)

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Looks like a big spider (with cannon) and a beetle.

[@RupertFoulmouth]

Curious as to what game system you prefer for "real world" naval combat either WW I or WW II.

[@rkh7169]

If you don't or haven't you should play axis and allies war at sea. It's by far my favorite miniature game and uses real WWII ships and aircraft.

[@gilbat1]

The rail tracks are neat and all, but do they still have the option to mount giant spear cannons?

[@killroy255]

Do you know when these will be coming to store shelves? I'm getting more and more intrigued by the prussian ships, and possibly even the army too, especially if they're in a similar scale to AT!

[@123JWhyte]

i had italian and french fleets for the old one and hope they do better ones

[@adenkyramud5005]

Schaumburg class cruisers... That name made me chuckle a bit xD foam castle is a... Strange... Name for a cruiser isn't it?

[@michaeltruett817]

Man, these paint colors sound like there from a sci fi universe or something.

[@lamaze2295]

You need to do a bat rep with the misses my man

[@charleshite7707]

Been working on converting an Encore USS Olympia into a Steampunk? Dystopian warship though the scale will be a bit large.

[@Taeschno_Flo]

The drach Family appears to not have found out to modify models and their parts to ones likings without 3d printing. Just improvise like Mac Gyver

[@SgtDeath1942]

I think I prefer the older style as it looks like a good mix of sci-fi and WW2 style ships. These ones feel a bit too top heavy and busy on the deck. Hopefully it all looks better on table alongside the other redesigns.

[@teemu3370]

Ships in the white booth were upscaled custom pieces?

[@Drachinifel]

The old-school ships with a 3d printed hull 'body glove' to bulk them up :)

[@VintageCarHistory]

I feel ashamed for not having noticed this video until now. Slice my wrists.

[@Thurnmourer]

It'd be nice if Warcradle kept their Editory Notes out of the PDF's of their rule/lore books...

[@Ugly_German_Truths]

Wasn't one purpose of putting the "DORA" on rails to give it a few hundred meters of roll out after each shot so you did not need an elaborate recoil mechanism for the big BOOM that drove its projectiles? Having maybe 5 meters between guns and "bridge" seems like asking for a disaster to happen ;)

[@miamijules2149]

Dude Drach is starting to piss me off already - how THE F*** DOES HE FIND THE TIME!!? HOW!?! HES CONSTANT! HES A DAMN ALIEN!! HE HASSSSS TO HE PEOPLE!! No one.... NO ONE.... is this productive.

[@davidbrennan660]

“Ze Germans Tommy”?

[@thekiatty6953]

Its tip-top. I just dont fancy the colour

[@jtpenman]

Fun

[@limmythree]

So sad to hear from the death of HRH Prince Philip. Could you think in memory if the HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to make a guide of his ship and only one HMS MAGPIE. Besides my father served on Magpie but not in command of Prince Philipp. Yes ok, there is a personal interest in this ship.

[@EternalModerate]

I'm assuming this rail modularity would not be practical in real life?

[@penultimateh766]

Beware everybody! These are not real ships he is talking about! They are some kind of toy... Do no be deceived...

[@farmerdave7965]

On which ship does Darth Vader ride ?

[@johnbuchman4854]

How long does it take for these ships to train out their guns? 🤔

[@philvanderlaan5942]

It depends on how long the guns have to wait on the sideing ( lay by I think they are also called in other places) waiting for a passenger express to pass

[@tominiowa2513]

@@philvanderlaan5942 - In the USA, Amtrak passenger trains have to wait on the sidings for freight trains to pass by.

[@philvanderlaan5942]

@@tominiowa2513 from what Ive seen in my not inconciderable time on this miserable ' mostly harmless ' Rock amtrak plows full speed into frieght trains (bonus points if its hauling toxic cemicals ) falls off of bridges or just falls off of the rails in general.

[@RhodeIslandWildlife]

Will we ever get to see Drackette?

[@tominiowa2513]

It is about as likely to happen as Drach telling us whom his Azur Lane Waifu is (he refused to answer that on a live chat a few weeks ago).

[@RhodeIslandWildlife]

@@tominiowa2513 Yeah, thanks. If you don't mind I'll hang out and wait for his reply.

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

@Drachinifel do you think that if HMS Hood had a Bulbous bow then Bismarck’s lucky shot never could have happened because the trough at the middle of the Aft half of her would not have been there or been significantly smaller?

[@tbretten]

The set of circumstances that lead to Bismarck's Death was so specific, any small change at all might lead to the lucky shot not going through. Butterflies and all...

[@kyleheins]

@@tbretten you mean hood

[@tbretten]

@@kyleheins yes, I do Quite clear for everyone to see that I don't actually know what I am talking about :D

[@USS_Grey_Ghost]

@@tbretten You mean “The Butterfly Effect” and yes I know what that is it means “the smallest change in the timeline will have greater and greater deviation occurring the farther from the initial change you get”

[@kyleheins]

@@USS_Grey_Ghost I like the allusion to a turn of phrase without directly quoting it that tbretten used

[@Grimmtoof]

Thomas the Tank Engine joins the navy!

[@craigpalmer9196]

what no paris gun?

[@AGWittmann]

As a german viewer, i already favorite your wife in this matter.

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

A navy with a country

[@ichduoderer1498]

man hat nach mir gerufen?