Hello from Germany

I am in the hobby for over 15 years.

It started with Warhammer and Mordheim.

In between i found the love for Warmachine (Khador)

But my main game is Mordheim. ( i have currently 16 finished warbands, this is crazy if i think about it)

I always searched for an science fiction alternative for it, but i did not like the Necromunda rules.

Now i found Death Squads. I registered, downloaded the rules and i have to say: This is the game is missed until now.

It uses the strengths of Mordheim, but is tweaked in some important topics.

I like these changes, i love the wast armory section with the endless possibilities ( i do not like that i can not start with equipment with rare 6 and higher) Tactical retreat instead of root test is a variant i am looking forward to test.

My first warband will be an Imperial squad where i use my Khador minis.

I hope to see some rogue merchant rules soon. I would also be very interested in a Tyranid warband.

SerialMom

Welcome to the group.

Yes, Death Squads is similiar but not the same as Mordheim. Many subtle changes have been made. I personally like how we do charges.

Yes, there are rare six rolls but you still must use up a roll. YOu may roll a six or higher or you may not.

Welcome!
Please post pictures of your models, we love pictures!
Death Squads has some subtle, yet vital, changes compared to Mordheim and Necromunda, really making it its own game. (Some less subtle changes are in the works, changes we think will raise the game to a new level).
The main reason (I think) for not allowing rare 6+ weapons in the starting squad is to prevent the '3 man super kill team' kind of lists. That and weapon cost is also partly based on rarity. High rarity weapons are cheaper than they would have been without a rarity roll. For your first squad you don't have to roll for rarity. Allowing high-rarity weapons for a starting squad would screw up the economy (and balance) of the game.

Thanks for your kind wellcome.

The rules are fine as they are, i just have so many shotgun minis i now have to start as pistol guys.

But i also found out that my captain may purchase a better gun, so i am pleased that i can choose Irusk as captain.

Maybe i am able to post some pictures tomorrow.

Welcome SerialMoM!

Must say... weird nick! HA! It is ALWAYS great to see the veterans. You have LOTS to bring to the game. We definitely want to hear your opinions. If you find anything you feel it can improve, please let us know! As you start playing, you will start finding rules all over the place. Little things that seem insignificant, but change the gameplay. For example... gone is Hiding. At first, coming from Mordheim, you will freak out! DEEP BREATH. You will notice the 'alternative' is Laying Low.

Hiding is broken. We understand that you could 'hide' visually, but the 'invulnerability (in game mechanics... can't harm what you can't see) becomes too weird. Instead, Laying Low 'mimics' Hiding... but on a more realistic fashion. The mechanics on WHEN you can Lay Low match Hiding, and could make you equally invulnerable. The difference is that you could be still be shot at. If you Lay Low in a BUNKER, you have a Cover Save of 1+... technically you are invulnerable. But a Critical Hit or a weapon that negates Cover Save will still be effective... no Cover Save! So now, instead of ruling, it becomes a matter of PLAYER CHOICE. Do you shot or not? You could 'waste' the shot you could have used somewhere else OR risk it for the Epic Win with a lucky critical hit? Do you send the guy with the Flamer against the guy Laying Low or against the 3 guys close together on the other side?

Tactical Retreat is another example. It has the same principle as Routing (preserving the fun) without the 'forcing' a player to loose. If you decide to stay after loosing 25% of your Squad... well, it is YOUR decision. So win or loose, you are 'happy' with it.

Game Turn Sequence is another .... Declaring Charges first do affect the game dynamic of the game. It forces the player to THINK. Do I shot at the guy I already Declared a Charge? What if I kill him? Waste of a Charge or softening the enemy?

Rarity (as you mentioned it) has been deconstructed to basic components. Rarity works (under the hood) as money (credits)... so an Item that could cost 50 credits, may cost 35 credits because it is Rare 8 (I'm making the numbers up for this example... but that is the principle). This way players are forced to THINK... "Both guns cost the same, but this one is Rare 9... rats, I really wanted that other Rare 4 Item... which one should I go for?!?"

Gone are the automatics... replaced by mathematical (under the hood) equivalents (with a minimal chance to fail... even if VERY remote), so Players must make a tactical & strategical decision. When we design, we always think... "Is this thing so cool that is a 'must have' in the Squad?" If the answer is yes, then we know it must be either toned down or tweaked so decisions must be made. The Eldar revision (which Dysturbed is working on), the upcoming Tau (Colonel Prius designs) and the Adeptus Arbites (initial concept by Lord Greywolf) are excellent examples. All of them are full of cool stuff, but you don't know what to choose! End result? You could play 4 or 5 of the same Squad kind, but each one would feel different. Hell... just look at the IG and the Regional Platoons, Chaos Cultists and Kroot. Choices, choices, choices!!!

All in all, we are trying to make a 'thinking' game... one in which you can be creative as well as challenged, that yields great memories and even better stories.

Now... where are my pics?!?!?! The natives demand pics!!!


PS: We love pics! I though it was me, but everyone here is as photo crazy as I'm!

I can't believe no one has said this; show us some of your Mordheim warbands. But dole it out slowly. Tease us with pics of your 15 squads. I can't wait to see them and what you do for some DS squads. Welcome!

ahh, good old mommy is aboard as well, first seen it yet! Hope we can get even more mordheim players to play deathsquad!

Narcissus wrote:

I can't believe no one has said this; show us some of your Mordheim warbands.

AHEM...

Mordheimer wrote:

Now... where are my pics?!?!?! The natives demand pics!!!

I demand pictures! And all of them at the same time! I'm kindda like a gaming picture addict... so I don't mind a good overdose!

Yeah i promise some pictures, also from my Mordheim bands.

I start with my avatar. I have my Death Squad captain not available now ( but soon he will be be)

By the way i will prepare a Vostroyan Imperial Guard Squad and i will use the Cadian rules for them. I don' t want to much special rules like the othe regional squads have. I just want to find in the game, so the basic concept is fine for now.

I hope i can post the firstictures of the squad tomorrow.