MikeT wrote:
I actually own a fair amount of DZC stuff but, even though it has a lot of similarities to something like Epic Armageddon, I'm not actually a fan, mainly because of the things it doesn't have.
It has alternate activations (and in fact sets an upper limit on the number each player can have, meaning it doesn't have to account for "activation spam" that can cause problems in E:A) and is specifically objective based, but lacks things like a suppression mechanic or differing orders (every unit moves then fires, there's no option to have a don't-move-but-fire-with-more-effect order, or a move-more-with-lessened-shooting order for instance). Also, although there are assaults, this only happens for infantry fighting other infantry in buildings and so E:A style assault armies don't exist in DZC.
The eponymous Dropships as well seem like a good idea, but in practice never seem to be worthwhile as dropships, except to evacuate some infantry with an objective. A standard DZC match is 6 turns but, as everything starts deployed off board, most things won't be in a position to shoot for the first two turns. Re-deploying a unit via a dropship means it can't shoot for two turns, so it's almost never worth giving up 50% of your potential shooting to do so. Shaltari can get around some of this with their gates but you're still giving up a turn of shooting for anything redeploying this way, with the exception of one specialised unit which is otherwise immobile.
All in all, I love the DZC model range (and use a fair bit of it in my LatD army), but constantly find the game itself lacking. maybe that's just because it's just close enough to E:A for me to be constantly expecting it to play one way and being disappointed when it doesn't.
Yep, I've only played a couple of demo games of dzc, but have to say you nailed it : it lacks the interesting mechanics - it really felt like playing an early 90s GW game despite some of its nice thematic ideas.
Plus the ridiculously high buy in (at least until they got the plastics sorted) which is even more infuriating when half the cost is for drop ships which as you say are basically there for a smash and grab raid.
I've bought in to the Dropfleet game as that sounds interesting, but for ground combat I still think EA is head and shoulders above anything else I've played. Fingers crossed for AOT and/or Polyversal though...