INTRODUCTION
Welcome to 2.5!
H
ello fans of the Sturginium Age! Spartan Games
is proud to present you with the newest version
of our Victorian Super Science Fiction Game -
Dystopian Wars 2.5.
In essence, the Core Rules have remained largely the same
– as you would expect from a version 2.5 of our rulebook.
We didn’t want to tinker for tinkering’s sake – Dystopian
Wars 2.0 was a very solid ruleset and our goal was to
enhance the gameplay and book experience for you…
That said, we have made a number of BOLD changes
to the design and our focus for the rules. With over 600
models available Dystopian Wars is one of the largest, if
not THE largest, games of its type and making it an even
better experience for its fans was a key driver.
Major areas of change include the Critical Hit Table which
has been given a major overhaul to make it deadlier (and
more fun) and we have also added a mini-table within it
to provide a different way of apportioning focused attacks,
such as the resolution of Boarding Assaults or the results of
certain Generator effects.
We now have the notion of a Damaging Critical Hit to
give a push to the application of Damage to Medium sized
vessels, meaning that being one short of a double-crit is far
less of a kick in the teeth than it once was!
We have made changes to the Tactical Action Card system
to encourage their use by making it harder to cancel them.
The Generators Section has had a number of changes
too, to give players a few more to choose from, as well as
broadening out the use of the older ones.
We have also taken another look at Boarding to bring things
back to an older version of the rules – innovation is fine, but
sometimes the old way is the best way!
•3•
We now have Competitive Play Scenarios (basically the
ones we used in our own Spartan Tournaments) to give
those players who like competitive play a foundation for
their games.
An exciting innovation in Dystopian Wars 2.5 is the
inclusion of the Fleet Action Fast Play Rules Engine to the
core rulebook. What this means for gamers is that they can
use a common set of highly detailed Spartan miniatures
to play any size or complexity of game they want to!
The inclusion of the Flashpoint Campaign System in
this book is a most exciting addition – a fully integrated
narrative-based gaming system that, for the first time, will
allow Dystopian Wars players to bring their games together
to life in a story of their own creating.
Fleet Action and Flashpoint bring two new additional
dimensions to the Dystopian World, giving players a fast
play set of rules and a long-term campaign system that tells
a narrative that they can affect. We don’t think there are
many rules sets out there that have managed this!
Dystopian Wars is a full-on wargame written by
wargamers for wargamers. We are fanatical about
the exciting world that we have created and to see this
fanaticism embraced by a worldwide community means
the future is bright for a game with so many enthusiastic
people actively involved in building and playing it.
We hope that all of you enjoy our efforts and join with us
to continue building a strong and enthusiastic community!
Have Fun.
es Team
h e Sp a r t a n Gam
T
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Contents
INTRODUCTION … … … … … … … … … 3
THE DYSTOPIAN WORLD … … … … … … 6
Core Nation Backgrounds … … … … … … … 22
Alliance Nation Backgrounds … … … … … … 36
GAME BASICS … … … … … … … … … … 64
What You Will Need To Play … … … … … 64
General Principles of Dice … … … … … … 67
The Scrapyard … … … … … … … … … … 71
Range Bands … … … … … … … … … … 73
Measuring to Models … … … … … … … 73
Height Bands and Height Levels … … … … 73
ANATOMY OF A STAT CARD … … … … … 75
Fundamentals … … … … … … … … … … 75
Structural Stats … … … … … … … … … 76
Support Stats … … … … … … … … … … 76
General Stats … … … … … … … … … … 76
Game State … … … … … … … … … … … 77
FIELDING SQUADRONS … … … … … … 79
The Attachment MAR … … … … … … … 80
Squadron Activation Order… … … … … … 81
CALL TO BATTLE … … … … … … … … … 83
Levels of Engagement … … … … … … … 84
Muster for War … … … … … … … … … 87
Prepare to Engage… … … … … … … … … 87
TACTICAL ACTION CARDS… … … … … … 92
Building a TAC Deck… … … … … … … … 92
TAC Hand Size… … … … … … … … … … 93
Choosing a TAC Deck … … … … … … … 93
Playing your TACs … … … … … … … … 93
Cancelling TACs … … … … … … … … … 94
ORDER OF PLAY … … … … … … … … … 98
Pre-Turn Phase… … … … … … … … … … 98
Activation Phase … … … … … … … … … 99
The End Phase … … … … … … … … … 99
Dystopian Wars 2.5
•4•
TYPES OF ATTACK… … … … … … … … … 100
Indiscriminate Attack … … … … … … … 100
Targeted Attack … … … … … … … … … 100
Damage from Attacks … … … … … … … 100
Applying Damage… … … … … … … … … 100
Critical Hit Table … … … … … … … … … 103
DISORDER … … … … … … … … … … … 104
Disorder Test Resolution … … … … … … 104
Command Coherency … … … … … … … 104
Taking a Disorder Test … … … … … … … 104
Command Radius Bonus … … … … … … 105
Disordered Squadrons … … … … … … … 105
Rallying from Disorder … … … … … … … 105
THE COMMAND SEGMENT… … … … … … 106
THE MOVEMENT SEGMENT … … … … … 107
Movement Declarations… … … … … … … 107
Movement and Manoeuvres … … … … … 107
Movement Consolidation … … … … … … 110
Special Movement Actions … … … … … … 110
Collisions and Rams… … … … … … … … 111
LINE OF SIGHT … … … … … … … … … … 116
Obstructing Terrain … … … … … … … … 121
THE FIRING SEGMENT … … … … … … … 122
The Attack Sequence… … … … … … … … 126
Available Firing Options … … … … … … 129
Weapons and Munitions … … … … … … 131
Auxilliary Weapons: AA & CC … … … … 136
Special Munitions… … … … … … … … … 137
Mines… … … … … … … … … … … … 138
Node Projectors … … … … … … … … … 140
THE BOARDING SEGMENT… … … … … … 144
Prizing, Salvaging, Derelicts … … … … … 147
Robot Boarding … … … … … … … … … 150
Boarding against Robots… … … … … … … 152
Robot vs Robot Boarding … … … … … … 152
 
 CONTENTS

THE END PHASE … … … … … … … … … 156 USING ALLIES … … … … … … … … … … 199

MODEL ASSIGNED RULES (MARS) … … … 159
GENERATORS … … … … … … … … … … 165
BASIC TERRAIN… … … … … … … … … … 173
ADVANCED TERRAIN… … … … … … … … 179
SUPPORT AIRCRAFT, CARRIERS &
DRONE LAUNCHERS … … … … … … … … 182
Carrier Actions … … … … … … … … … 188
INFANTRY … … … … … … … … … … … 190
MODEL CLASSIFICATIONS… … … … … … 193
Model Function … … … … … … … … … 195
Operational Assets … … … … … … … … 200
COMPETITIVE PLAY … … … … … … … … 201
FLASHPOINT CAMPAIGN RULES… … … … 212
FLEET ACTION FAST PLAY RULES … … … 235
Anatomy of a Stat Card … … … … … … … 242
How to build your Force … … … … … … 244
How to use Terrain … … … … … … … … 246
Sequence of Play … … … … … … … … … 248
Movement … … … … … … … … … … … 250
Attacking … … … … … … … … … … … 252
Boarding… … … … … … … … … … … … 256
Support Aircraft Wings … … … … … … … 258
The End Phase… … … … … … … … … … 260
MARs and Generators … … … … … … … 262

Primary Writers: Derek Sinclair, Josh Le Cheminant

Additional Writing by: Neil Fawcett, Franco Sammarco, Mike Mandzark
Photography: Neil Fawcett • Model Design: Christopher Peacey
Book Layout: Neil Fawcett, Ryan Stokes • Supplemental Artwork: Sally Taylor
Special thanks go to Damien Quinn, John Fernie, Neil Parry and the team at 6s2Hit in Edinburgh.
The contents of this book are Copyright © Spartan Games 2017.
All rights reserved.
2017 – Kickstarter Backers Digital Copy.
www.spartangames.co.uk

This book has

been printed on an
alcohol free press
using vegetable
based inks

•5•  
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World

A WORLD WAR!
It is the 1870s, and war rages between the world’s great powers on a scale never before seen!

A t sea, mighty Battle Groups clash; lines of giant smoke-belching Dreadnoughts and Battleships
hammer one another in mortal combat, supported by flotillas of smaller craft. Between the thunderous
engagements of massed war fleets are dozens, if not hundreds, of lesser skirmishes. From the war-lashed
North Sea to the most remote of backwater trade routes, roving packs of Cruisers, Destroyers and Submarines
hunt down the merchant shipping of the enemy.

On ravaged battlefields across the globe, huge armies take to the field, spearheaded by mighty armoured
behemoths the size of fortresses. Bristling with cannon, rocket batteries. and even more devastating weapons,
packed with battalions of assault troops, these massive juggernauts loom over legions of lesser land ironclads;
clashing in massed battle amid raging maelstroms of steel and thunder that shake the very earth itself.
In the air, the most extraordinary conflicts of all split the skies over the warring fleets and armies below.
Whole wings of aeroplanes swirl and tear at one another like battling swarms of angry hornets, while Medium
and Heavy Bombers empty their deadly payloads onto their hapless earthbound targets. But dominating the
skies, as their armoured and naval counterparts, are the mightiest of flying engines; packed with cutting-
edge technology and awesome firepower, these sky-giants are the airborne equal of any naval Dreadnought
or Land Ship, and sport armaments to match.

This awesome new power is the product of advanced industrial technology and revolutionary new science
turned to belligerent ends. However, the causes for which the world’s great powers and their allies have sent
their armed forces to war are the same as they ever were: greed, pride, the hunger for power and resources,
and the unquenchable lust for dominance over all others.

These are the Dystopian Wars!

PART 1: A DYSTOPIAN HISTORY industrial and technological revolution he had

triggered proved to be unstoppable. Following the

T hese mighty conflicts would not be possible

without the tremendous power of mass
industrialisation. This technological revolution was
itself born in the fires of war in the 17th Century.
Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the then Republic
of Britain, created the first great manufactories
to mass-produce weapons and armour for his
ferociously efficient army and navy, using them to
crush the domestic and foreign forces arrayed against
his grim regime.
Cromwell’s harsh Republic was consigned to
the annals of history soon after his death, but the
example of the Protector’s heavily-armed and well-
trained New Model Army and war fleet of iron plated
ships, the other powers of Europe swiftly took
note. The restored monarchy of England, and then
Great Britain, proved no different, building upon
Cromwell’s achievements to preserve the lead their
old adversary had given them.
THE MAKING OF THE GREAT POWERS
This surge of industrialisation transformed the
fractious, warring states of Europe into major
powers. The British and the French in particular

Dystopian Wars 2.5

•6•  
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
used their new found strength to carve vast empires
out of other parts of the world, while the Prussians
and Russians built their own European dominions.
Yet European industrial dominance was not
to remain for long. As they explored and fought,
they spread the knowledge and power of the new
technology across the globe, transforming other
nations into significant powers in the process – some
of which would in time rise to be formidable rivals.
As the 18th Century drew to a close and the 19th
Century dawned, the world was rocked by a series
of major conflicts. Although the previous hundred
years were punctuated by struggles of all kinds, these
paled compared to the tumult at the turn of the new
century. The North American colonies threw off
British rule, assisted by the power of France. Only a
few years later, France itself was ravaged by a mass
revolution that eventually destroyed the old French
monarchy forever.
THE EUROPEAN WARS
The fall of the French crown started a chain of events
which led to a massive upheaval that would shape
a huge part of the world for the next fifty years. In
France, Napoleon Bonaparte seized control, and
restored the ravaged country to imperial power in
•7•
only a few years. However, Napoleon’s career, cut
short by his untimely death in 1804, was but the
preamble to an even greater conflict.
France’s fall into civil war once more was the
signal for Prussian Emperor Heinrich Otto to put in
motion his plans to make his empire the dominant
power in Europe. He forced unification between
his realms and those of the Habsburgs; the latter
weakened by protracted war with imperial France
and fearful of Russian power.
Civil war in France, between the Republicans and
the Royalists, damaged the great nation. The Duke of
Wellington’s armies fought to overthrow the last of
the Bonapartists in Spain, as France’s Mediterranean
empire was carved up between lesser powers in
the region. As the battles around them raged, the
Prussians extended their domains. Sending troops
into France in order to prop up the new French
République, then on into Spain, the Prussians fought
both Bonapartists and the forces of the recently
renamed Kingdom of Britannia. They then annexed
Sweden and the Danish territory of Norway, for what
they called ‘security reasons’.
Heinrich Otto’s imperial appetite grew with
each new conquest. As his ego swelled, he became
convinced of his own infallibility. In 1811, this
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
culminated in his great invasion of first Poland-
Lithuania and then the Russian Coalition. At first
his armoured legions swept all before them, but vast
distances and sheer Russian stubbornness eventually
turned the tide, and the Russians and their allies
rolled back the Prussian invaders.
Prussian power was smashed decisively in the west
in 1815, when Wellington’s Britannians humbled
the flower of the Prussian field armies at Waterloo,
routing the forces of Imperial Marshal Blucher. This
battle was notable for the technological wonders
the Britannians unleashed upon their enemies;
squadrons of armed aeroplanes, never before used in
such great numbers; and mighty clanking, smoke-
belching land-bound leviathans – the forerunners of
the infamous Land Ships that would later become a
part of every great nation’s arsenal.
Even before Wellington’s, cannon-bedecked,
rolling forts decimated whole Prussian regiments,
Admiral Nelson’s fleet, spearheaded by steam-
powered iron warships studded with turrets rather
than broadsides, had shattered the Bonapartist
French armada at Trafalgar in 1805.
Though the Prussians were eventually subdued
by the grand alliance arrayed against them, the
wars they had pursued had altered the face of the
globe. The modern age was born on the ravaged
soil of Waterloo and Borodino, and in the foaming
waters of Trafalgar and Copenhagen. These gruelling
clashes were forerunners, heralding the grim shape
of warfare to come.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
•8•
THE MODERN WORLD
For the next few decades, however, most of the world
tried to forget about the terrors of great conflicts
between modern ‘civilised’ states. War was ever
present in the background, but for a while it seemed
confined to more distant parts of the globe. The
Britannians fought to expand their rule to Burma,
and to retain it in faraway Australia. The Empire of
the Blazing Sun emerged onto the world stage in the
Far East, battling for and eventually winning the
Korean Peninsula. Deep in Central Asia, Russian and
Chinese armies clashed over Mongolia in a conflict
as hard-fought as it was pointless.
But these clashes were partially obscured by more
spectacular advances in technology. Electricity was
successfully harnessed, by Faraday, Edison and,
most famously, the mysterious visionary Tesla from
his home in the fastness of Prussian Scandinavia.
Many towns and cities grew into sprawling, smog-
shrouded metropolises. Others, especially in North
America, began to grow upwards: towering, ornate
metal-framed buildings sprouting like strange plants
from the great conurbations of the Atlantic seaboard.
Chemical and biological science underwent
a similar revolution. Medicine made quantum
leaps with the adoption of effective hygiene, new
treatments and mechanical prosthetics. New
chemical compounds revolutionised the production
of everything from fuels to foodstuffs. Ironically, the
wars of the recent past had provided a huge boost to
such advances, helping to forge the world that grew
up in peacetime.
Nonetheless, while the wealthy enjoyed the fruits
of this brave new age, life for the majority remained
hard, squalid and dangerous. Mechanisation helped
to abolish the institution of slavery in North America
in the 1820s, but the need for swarms of workers to
man the great factories and industries, or to toil in
the fields alongside mechanical farming engines, did
not diminish.
Beneath the ornate and glittering veneer of
great cities, gilded palaces, aristocratic pomp and
technological splendour, the societies of the great
powers and other nations seethed with volatility
and political fervour that at times bordered on
anarchy. In this fevered atmosphere were born social
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World

upheavals such as the Australian Mutiny of 1842, The expedition made landfall in Antarctica in
the 1848 revolutions that swept across Europe and the mid-1840s after a long journey fraught with
the explosion in popularity of Karl Marx’s radical difficulties. However, to the surprise of everyone,
doctrines, especially in South America. not least Sturgeon and his friends, they soon made
Alongside all of these advances, the great powers what seemed to be a finding of great import. A
and their empires constantly grated against each series of reconnaissance flights inland revealed an
other, as expansionary efforts continued across extraordinary sight – a vast glowing mass of blue-
the world. The United States gradually annexed green crystalline rock, spreading starfish-like out
Mexico and parts of the tottering Spanish empire across the ice, located deep inside the desolate
in the Americas. The Prussians solidified their hold Antarctican interior.
on Greenland alongside their Danish allies; while It was not until nearly four years later and after
the Italian States, Ottoman Empire and Egyptians much hardship that the expedition reached this
engaged in repeated skirmishes over Greece and the incredible site overland. But when they did, what
eastern Mediterranean. they found was more astonishing still. Buried within
the eerie crystalline agglomerations, sunken into
THE TREASURES OF ANTARCTICA the earth and rock and ice, was a strange doorway.
In the midst of this roiling, volatile age, an Beyond it lay what would truly become a discovery
extraordinary expedition set out from the Kingdom of earth-shaking proportions – the mysterious
of Britannia. Its destination was Antarctica, the Antarctican ‘Vault’: a treasure-house of technology
vast ice-bound wilderness at the foot of the world. and scientific knowledge without equal in the world.
Its leader was Lord Barnabas Draynes Sturgeon,
eccentric Britannian scientist and minor noble.
Theirs was to be a genuine voyage of discovery rather
than conquest.
The expedition was intended to prove a theory
shared only by Sturgeon and few other radical
scientific minds: that the wastes of Antarctica were
not empty and desolate, but instead concealed
treasures of incalculable value. Not surprisingly,
Sturgeon and his comrades were considered cranks
by mainstream science. Few expected them to find
anything on the chilly southern continent – or
indeed to come back at all!
The expedition was Sturgeon’s lifelong dream,
and he had spent years pulling together the resources
to organise it. Despite his adversity, he had managed
to secure valuable patronage from certain parties,
in particular Albert, Prince-Consort to Queen
Victoria herself. Other aid came from Tsar Nikolai
of the Russian Coalition at the behest of his son,
Crown Prince Vladimir. Significantly, the Russian
contribution introduced Sturgeon to a scientific
polymath of extraordinary talent: Markov Helsinki.
At first he was a priceless asset to Sturgeon’s cause,
but later he was to become a figure of infamy.

•9•  
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
Yet this extraordinary discovery was at first almost
entirely ignored. Sturgeon was ridiculed as a fake
and a fraud, laughed out of a special symposium
at the Britannian Royal Society. Incensed, he swore
to return to Antarctica – not to simply explore and
catalogue the Vault, but to build a whole new realm,
governed by reason and open-mindedness, free
from what he saw as the hidebound rules of dull
convention and scientific orthodoxy.
Despite the ridicule, his fame had grown and he
managed to attract more patronage from many other
nations. Furthermore, this time, when he departed
Britannia, a great flotilla of other adventurous souls
went with him. They would form the core of the
world’s newest nation – the Covenant of Antarctica.
THE STURGINIUM AGE
Despite the immense difficulties they found in
the way of their ambition, it did not take long for
the new ‘Antarcticans’ to make their mark on the
world. In these early days, Sturgeon and his closest
companions, driven by a mixture of exploratory
fervour and in part by the need to prove the value
of their discoveries, codified and released a huge
amount of the knowledge they found as they began
to explore the Vault.
The consequences of this were far-reaching.
The flow of ideas stimulated the greatest surge of
innovation and invention since the beginning of the
Industrial Age. At the centre of this was the strange
mineral surrounding the Vault, and which extended
in great veins outwards from it. Codified as ‘Element
270’, and later named Sturginium, in honour of
Sturgeon himself, this material was the driving force
for some awesome discoveries.
Sturginium proved to be the veritable
‘Philosopher’s Stone’ of legend. It could bestow
amazing properties on other materials; creating
revolutionary metal alloys of light weight and
incredible strength; fuels of tremendous efficiency,
and scores of other applications.
It also formed the core of a series of extraordinary
machines: the ‘Generators’ pioneered all over the
world, originating from Vault knowledge and adapted
to established technology. There were devices that
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 10 •
could project thrumming shielding screens of energy
to defeat projectiles, kinetic enhancers to augment
engine efficiency and machines that could influence
local weather patterns.
Most incredible of all were bizarre temporal
and distance distorters; engines of near-surreal
complexity that could cause localised warps in time,
or teleport men and material enormous distances in
mere moments.
In 1857, after years of toil, the Covenant of
Antarctica was officially declared as a new nation.
For a while, Sturgeon and those who thought as he
did rejoiced in their accomplishments. The wave of
new technology, for which they earned the plaudits
they had desired for so long, spread out across the
world.
Element 270 deposits, though mostly smaller
in scale than the vast treasure of Antarctica, were
uncovered and recognised for what they were. For
a while, the new High Lord of Antarctica and his
councillors dared to believe that the Sturginium Age
would herald a new era of peace for all.
Sadly, they were to be cruelly disappointed: their
discovery led quickly to greed and war revealing,
once again, the true nature of humankind.
PART 2: GLOBAL WAR
The eagerness with which other nations absorbed
Antarctican teachings and Vault treasures
was matched only by their drive to take these
incalculably precious gifts and turn them to warlike
ends. New metal alloys and chemicals went into the
construction of Battleships and hulking Land Ships,
cannons and bombs.
Amazing Sturginium-gel Repulsine plate
technology, which allowed a craft fitted with them
to defy gravity itself, became the heart of monstrous
flying war-craft, whose long shadows would bring
terror to those they fell upon. Even the powers of
the Generators were twisted: weather control devices
intended to green the world’s deserts were instead
used to invoke tempests that devastated towns and
villages. Terrifying force projectors were created with
the power to make metal and flesh run like wax.
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
Interminable minor conflicts continued to flare up
around the world, now enlivened by desire for a rival
power’s technological and scientific secrets as well
as territory and resources. For all the scintillating
knowledge bestowed by the Sturginium Age, basic
human nature, with its greed, pride, hubris, desire
for power and dominance – remained unchanged.
Within only a few years, Lord Sturgeon and the
masters of the Covenant began to realise that their
incautious actions had spawned a fearful chain
reaction, a ripple effect of unintended consequences
that threatened to shatter the world. From as early
as 1860, when the United States of America was torn
apart by a fierce Civil War, Sturgeon and his council
were scaling back the knowledge they permitted to
leave Antarctica’s shores.
But their efforts could not prevent human
ingenuity developing ever more dangerous devices
from the knowledge they had already unleashed.
Pandora’s Box was well and truly open and, for the
Covenant, even worse was soon to come.
 
BETRAYAL!
In 1866, the unthinkable happened. Markov
Helsinki, Covenant Master of Engineers, and trusted
member of the Inner Council was unmasked as a
traitor – an agent of Tsar Vladimir of the Russian
Coalition. Appalled, Sturgeon immediately ordered
his intelligence services to apprehend Helsinki and
his co-conspirators.
Even as he did so, a wave of factional conflict
swept through the Covenant. Markov had spent years
building a political powerbase as a cover for his true
activities. His followers, ignorant of the truth behind
their charismatic leader, believed the High Lord to
be acting out of fear and jealousy, in contravention
of the Covenant itself.
Fighting broke out between the most fervent
‘Markovites’ and loyal Antarcticans, resulting in
chaos that wracked many regions within Covenant
territory. Although the revolt quickly subsided when
its participants realised the truth, for the Traitor it
had served its purpose. Amid the anarchic situation
• 11 •
he had provoked, Markov himself and his closest
allies escaped the Covenant, hijacking a submarine
and embarking upon an epic journey back to the
Russian Coalition.
In their wake they left the Covenant and its
leaders shaken and shell-shocked. Lord Sturgeon
and his council had believed themselves and their
new domain above the petty concerns of nationalistic
fervour and factionalism. That conceit now lay in
ruins.
Although the Antarcticans managed to conceal
news of the internal crisis from the rest of the
world, Markov’s treachery played a major part in the
Covenant leadership’s decision to begin pulling back
from open relations with many other powers.
FLASHPOINT SINGAPORE
As Antarctica reeled, many far-sighted people around
the globe feared that the rest of the world was living
on borrowed time; that it was a matter of when,
rather than if, the great powers would make war
upon each other.
At first, the beginning of the crisis seemed minor.
The East India Merchant Company, jealous of the
growing influence of Blazing Sun mercantile efforts
in what they saw as their ‘home turf’, drummed
a prominent Imperial merchant out of their de
facto capital, Singapore, on trumped-up charges
of smuggling. Little did they know that their
high-handed arrogance would be the prelude to a
catastrophe.
Financially ruined, the slighted merchant took his
own life. Unfortunately for the EIMC, his nephew
was a senior leader in the Blazing Sun military, the
commanding general of the Wani, 3rd Division of
the Army of the Sword. This commander, whom
the world now knows only as Oni, had the ear of
High General of the Sword Uematsu who, in turn,
brought what would have been a minor matter to the
Empress’s Council of Seven.
Within weeks, thanks to Uematsu’s skilful
politicking, Oni’s Division had massed in full
battle array off of Singapore in an impressive show
of strength. The Divine Empress Shinzua almost
certainly intended for this to be the sole objective.
However, matters ran devastatingly out of control.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
Exactly who fired the first shot is still a mystery,
but the action culminated in the Wani Division
launching a full-scale assault on Singapore. The city
was almost totally razed: its garrison shattered and
its civil population sent fleeing as refugees.
From there, events escalated dramatically. Despite
its own distrust of the EIMC, the Kingdom of
Britannia could not afford to allow the challenge to
go unanswered. Within weeks a punitive force, the
45th Expeditionary under Lord Duxford, was pulled
together and dispatched post-haste to Singapore.
However, the resulting action was a bloody failure;
the 45th was almost completely destroyed by a
ferocious hit-and-run campaign masterminded by
Oni.
The 45th’s intervention only compelled the
Empress to mobilise her Empire’s full military
strength in support of her wayward, but now wildly
popular commander. As the fighting spread into the
Malayan Peninsula the Britannians mobilised their
own core forces and the conflict intensified.
Oni’s remaining Wani soldiers, now virtually
fugitives, disappeared from view into the vast Asian
interior, but the conflict they helped spark had
gained a savage life of its own. Singapore and Malaya
marked the crossing of a line. Two great powers were
now openly at war for the first time in decades. They
would not be the last.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 12 •
THE GREAT RUSSIAN MARCH
As a full-scale war in south-east Asia flared into life,
a second conflict boiled up in Europe. The Russian
Coalition, having made common cause with the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, began its great
march to the west. Although offensives also began
in the Black Sea and Caucasus regions against the
Ottoman Empire, the vast majority of Russian
western military strength was devoted to the assault
on the Prussian imperial dominions.
It was this great march that brought into
terrifying view the full effect that Markov and his
fugitive ‘Circle’ of scientists had had on the Russian
Coalition’s armed forces. The great White Army
formations, armed and equipped with extraordinary
new weapons of terrible power, struck along an
immense front from the Arctic to the Carpathians,
while the Black and White Sea fleets launched their
own offensives to force Russian naval power into the
great oceans.
The whole of old Royal Prussia was placed under
a state of virtual siege, while the Teutonic Order
called together its forces to defend their Scandinavian
fastness from the Russian assaults. Further south,
only the mighty Wolfgang Fortresses stretching
for miles along the Prussian frontier, held back the
massed Russian armies and their ferocious Polish-
Lithuanian Commonwealth allies.
The Russian focus on Europe was almost upset
by their own offensive spirit elsewhere, resulting in
a brief naval skirmish with American warships in the
Far East, dubbed the ‘Bering Incident’. Although full-
scale Russo-American conflict was avoided, relations
remained tense to say the least.
PART 3: WORLD AT WAR 1870-72
THE IMPERIAL BOND’S LONDON RAID
Beset by the Britannian onslaught, the Empire
of the Blazing Sun appealed to their long-time
Prussian associates for assistance. Loathe as he
was to risk a full-scale war on two fronts, Emperor
Frederick Grunder, confident of his empire’s ability
to contain the Russian threat, gave orders that a
blow should be struck to remind the Britannians of
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
their vulnerability. The result was an operation of
extraordinary audacity in 1870 – a raid on London!
Mere hours after the Prussian Empire’s official
declaration of war against Britannia, Prussian forces
under Colonel – later to be General – Matthias Sturm
carried out one of the most ingenious attacks yet
attempted. On that foggy night, a fearsome Prussian
submersible arose in the River Thames, barraging the
area around the Palace of Westminster with poison
gas, rockets and lightning strikes, while commandoes
broke into the Palace itself, the seat of the Britannian
Parliament.
The attack lasted for over two hours. News of it
spread like wildfire and caused mass panic, hindering
the defenders’ attempts to stop it. Although little real
damage was caused, Luftlancer troops were able to
leave huge Prussian flags draped from the clock-
faces of Big Ben. The submarine then escaped. The
message to the Britannian government was clear:
nowhere is safe, nowhere is beyond our reach.
The shock of the strike was immense. Lord
Westbury, Britannian minister of war, resigned. He
was replaced by Lord Strathgordon, who oversaw
a huge expansion of the Britannian military, as
thousands of outraged subjects flocked to enlist.
However, the attack did succeed in compelling the
Britannians to begin pulling together forces for
a counter offensive against their old adversaries
in Europe – an act which undoubtedly saved the
Blazing Sun from being overwhelmed.
THE GRAND COALITION
But the Kingdom of Britannia was not without plans
and allies of its own. Immediately, Her Britannic
Majesty’s government sought to call in old favours
– most importantly from the Federated States of
America (FSA).
Already seeing an opportunity to make its mark
on the world, as well as owing a considerable debt
to the Britannians for their influence on the outcome
of the Civil War, the American government agreed
to aid their one-time allies – in return for suitable
future rewards.
• 13 •
Flotillas of armoured paddle-steamers set forth
from California to contest the Blazing Sun in the
Pacific. From the great industrial cities of the east,
more armadas prepared to join the conflict, as the
FSA’s armies, once riven by internal conflict, came
together for the greater glory of their new nation.
The Britannians also reached out, although with
far less confidence, to the Russian Coalition. To the
relief of Queen Victoria’s ministers, the Tsar’s court
proved willing to work alongside the Kingdom,
notwithstanding their existing connection to the
FSA. As Prime Minister Palmerston put it at the time,
“as long as we can keep half the globe between them,
the blighters should at least focus on fighting their real
enemies rather than each other!”
Though loose and fragile compared to the solid
Imperial Bond pact, the so-called ‘Grand Coalition’
slowly began to pull together. But it was the great
battles that followed, as the World War grew truly
global, that would set each alliance in stone!
HURRICANE SEASON
The first expansion of the war around the world
came only scant months after the London Raid. The
Empire of the Blazing Sun’s 8th Division of the Army
of the Sword, ‘Hariken’, made an epic voyage across
the Pacific, to the Empire’s South American province
of Kanawa.
Overwhelming the Britannian garrison at the
Falkland Islands, the Division massed in Kanawa to
prepare for its true purpose – an audacious assault
on the Caribbean, regarded as ‘safe territory’ by the
Britannians and the Americans alike.
At the same time, a force from the Prussian
Empire ran the Britannian gauntlet north of Scotland
and sailed across the Atlantic, taking the island of
Bermuda and shelling the American mainland en
route, causing considerable panic.
The combined Imperial Bond assault, the first
joint operation between the two powers, unleashed
a tremendous maelstrom of destruction upon the
reeling American and Britannian forces.
Entire island chains were engulfed by Imperial
Bond invasion forces, and the islands of Cuba and
Puerto Rico became shattered battlegrounds, torn
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
by massive war engines, columns of tanks and fierce
aerial bombardments. By dint of heroic Anglo-
American resistance and over stretched supply lines,
the Bond forces were eventually expelled from Cuba
and forced back to the edges of the Caribbean.
The offensive also saw the first major intervention
by the Covenant of Antarctica. A fierce assault on
Blazing Sun forces occupying the Falklands was
barely beaten off, but by far the strangest offensive
of the war was the ‘Ghost Fleet’ – the projection
of an entire flotilla by translocation through the
mysterious ‘Otherspace’ to assault an American naval
battle group based at Cuba itself!
STORM OF STEEL
As the war in the Caribbean hardened into another
front line, the Britannians undertook a major counter-
offensive in Western Europe. Taking advantage of a
civil war in the Protectorate of Belgium, the ‘Army
of Flanders’ was heavily reinforced to take the fight
to both the Prussian Empire and their French allies.
A powerful offensive thrust into the Prussian
Netherlands along the River Scheldt, armies of tanks
and flotillas of Land Ships duelling over mud-washed
fields studded with fortresses. Another Britannian
offensive strike carried Brussels and almost won
the whole of Belgium after a stunning victory over a
French army at Waterloo.
As the battles on the continent seesawed, the
French launched a huge raid upon Britannia itself,
wreaking havoc across southern England before
being forced to withdraw. The Britannians were
aided by a Russian expeditionary force, whose great
guns and regiments of riflemen helped shield the
approaches to London.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 14 •
Despite this stunning development, the
Britannians managed to avenge the London Raid,
storming the port of Vlissingen and destroying both
the submarine used in the raid and the harbour from
which it sailed. Huge Russian tunnelling engines
burrowed beneath the Scheldt and burst forth,
allowing hordes of Russian tanks and infantry to
storm key areas behind the Prussian lines!
Ultimately, a Prussian counter-offensive,
masterminded by the famous General Matthias
Sturm, held the line for the Imperial Bond and saved
the Protectorate government, but the pressure of war
on two fronts, on their own territory was brought
home to the Prussian Empire for the first time.
PACIFIC CYCLONE
In 1872, the FSA, smarting from the enemy’s
Caribbean offensive, launched their long-planned
strike across the vast Pacific. A massive naval and
aerial armada amassed in California and set out
across the ocean, darkening the skies with their
funnel smoke and exhaust for many leagues.
Their target – the Kingdom of Hawai’i, long a
protectorate of the Empire of the Blazing Sun and
a crucial waypoint for the enemy’s Pacific crossings.
The ships and airships escorted flotillas of landing
barges transporting a whole army of invasion!
The attack on Hawai’i developed into the largest
air war yet seen. The great expanses of the ocean
skies became a huge arena for fleets of mighty flying
engines and swarms of aeroplanes. Landings were
forced onto the Big Island and Maui, in the face of
ferocious resistance from Blazing Sun Shield Army
6th Division.
Other FSA forces engaged enemies across the
Pacific. In the extreme south, a landing was forced
upon a mysterious ‘ghost island’, Hooke’s Reach.
The strange warping effects of the island itself took
a heavy toll on American attackers and Antarctican
defenders alike.
Meanwhile, A Blazing Sun offensive drove
from Manchuria and sliced into Russian Coalition
territory. Blazing Sun forces of the 4th Sword Army
assaulted the Russian defences of the Nikolai Line,
even striking at Vladivostok, the greatest Russian city
in the region.
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
The closing stages of the campaign that saw
the most dramatic turns of events. A long-range
Covenant translocation assault on Petropavlovsk
nearly ended in disaster, forcing an emergency recall
during a ferocious battle.
Finally, in the raging conflict in the former Dutch
Indies, Grand Coalition forces were stunned by the
reappearance of none other than General Oni and
the now-legendary Wani; announcing their return to
the Blazing Sun fold in dramatic style amid a storm
of shellfire and burning rocket salvos!
SIROCCO
The final new front to explode into violence
during the first phase of the World War was the
Mediterranean and North Africa. Here, also in 1872,
it was the Republique of France that led the offensive
action.
Having compelled a shift in Britannian objectives
with their great raid during the Storm of Steel,
the French mounted a full assault on western
New Carthage, the North African lands until then
claimed by Britannian occupation. By this means, the
Imperial Bond sought to expand their control of the
Mediterranean.
As a Prussian expeditionary force drove across
the desert from Italian New Carthage and into Grand
Coalition controlled territory from the south-east,
French Legions stood poised to launch themselves
across the sea.
Fierce armoured clashes shook the northern
deserts as mighty Land Ships battered each other
across a veritable ocean of dust, grit and stones. At
sea, the battle was no less intense as French and
Prussian raiders fought to prevent Britannian and
American reinforcements getting through.
The island of Malta, though heavily attacked,
remained staunchly in Grand Coalition hands, as
did the fortress of Gibraltar, though also subjected to
fierce bombardment.
The French assault hit the New Carthage
shoreline with terrific force, driving deep inroads
into Britannian and American-held regions. A
maelstrom of conflict raged on land, sea and air, with
the French Legions eventually managing to secure a
firm foothold on the North African shore.
• 15 •
Towards the end of the campaign, far to the east,
a Britannian and Indian expedition advanced north
from East Africa and the Indian Ocean and into the
Red Sea
Despite several assaults by Ottoman forces,
the land expedition managed to strike deep into
Ottoman Sudan, but were there confronted by a
wholly unexpected foe; huge, spiderlike Antarctican
war machines, rising from the desert amid storms of
energy beams, tearing yet another scar of war into
the world.
THE CHANGING WORLD
The year 1872 proved to be the climax of the
World War’s first stage. The new alliances had both
launched mighty attacks and counter attacks upon
one another, learning the brutal lessons of massed
warfare in the Sturginium Age as they did so.
But the World War has proven to be a ferocious
master for all concerned, with a voracious appetite
for resources and human lives. Whole regions were
devastated by conflict, and yet others became hives
of activity, with the massive expansion of industry
and technological development to feed this terrible
struggle.
Artefacts were discovered that defied explanation,
most notably the Covenant’s uncovering of a strange
structure in the Sudanese desert, the cause of their
presence and the reason for their fierce resistance to
the Britannian eastern expedition.
Worse yet, it appeared that the world itself was
changing, as if the roiling conflict was enveloping the
natural order as well as that of humankind. Bizarre
weather events erupted with increasing regularity,
mighty storms blew up then suddenly vanished. At
sea and in the air, ships and flying craft mysteriously
vanished; only to reappear miles off course, their
crews having no recollection of the missing time.
The flow of time and distance itself seemed to
become strangely distorted in some areas. Weird
anomalies, with no apparent explanation, began
emerging; especially in the vicinity of large quantities
of Sturginium which seemed to act as a catalyst for
such events.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World

But now the Great Powers and their war side effects than first thought. All combined to form
a growing global sense of unease.
machines, as well as a vast array of civil technologies
and processes, were simply too dependent upon Amid these fraught events, certain senior players
the material to swear off its use. Espionage and in both the Imperial Bond and Grand Coalition
propaganda added to the confusion, as the world nations began to send out tentative messages
became less and less sure of the apparently wondrous seeking dialogue. As the war ground on through the
element, even as military and civil development remainder of 1872, a series of clandestine meetings
became more reliant upon the use of the stuff in everbetween representatives of otherwise hostile powers
greater quantities took place.
Whether anyone involved genuinely sought to
PART 4: INTERBELLUM 1873-76 end the conflict, both alliances, with a few notable
exceptions, began to see the advantages that a
Even the most belligerent minds of the Great Powers ceasefire, even if only incomplete and temporary,
and their allies began to notice the changes in the could potentially bring them.
world. And as they took stock, the pace of the
conflict slowed. In early 1873, a period began which THE BOND STANDS STRONG
came to be known as ‘the Interbellum’ – a time of Throughout the initial stages of the war, the advantage
retrenchment, of consolidation, of apparent peace. had generally lain with the forces of the Imperial
But only the naïve and the foolish took this to mean Bond. While the Prussian Empire had managed to
the end of the war. The Interbellum did not mean hold the line against the Russian Coalition, both
peace, but only preparation for yet greater clashes The Empire of the Blazing Sun and the Republique
to come! of France had managed to score several successes
around the world.
“You talk of peace? My lord, this is not peace, and The most dramatic of these was undoubtedly the
only the naïve would think that it is. This is merely Pacification of Belgium at the end of 1872. Although
preparation.” it was the scene of a successful Britannian and
- Henri DuPont, French Ambassadorial aide, to Russian offensive the previous year, pressures of war
Lord Park Yee-Kim of the Covenant of Antarctica, elsewhere had seen the withdrawal of Russian and
The Gateway, South Georgia 1874 Polish-Lithuanian forces, and the recall of several
leading Britannian commanders.
STALEMATE This had serious consequences. A new Protector
By the end of 1872, the World War had stalled. It had of Belgium, the famous Major-General Florian
spread from its original flashpoints to almost every Miewes, took power, atop a groundswell of popular
major region of the globe. Front after front had burst support. Simultaneously, the Britannian Army of
into life as the combatants grappled for an edge over Flanders and allied forces backing the ostensible
their foes with increasing desperation. But in spite of ‘Queen of the Belgians’ were struck by a joint Franco-
everything, the Great Powers and their allies, though Prussian offensive that drove them back to the coast.
armed for war as never before, fought each other to Though much of the army was successfully
a standstill. evacuated, the sole Britannian foothold on the
Though the desire for dominance among all continent had been lost, with the newly united
the major players remained undiminished (except Belgium swearing its allegiance fully to its continental
perhaps for the Covenant of Antarctica), these aims neighbours.
were running up against reality. Mounting casualty
lists and strained resources; bizarre natural and
unnatural phenomena; the growing realisation that
Element 270 itself potentially had more unpleasant

Dystopian Wars 2.5

• 16 •  
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
FRACTURED ALLIANCES
However, while its core powers remained strong, the
Bond depended much more upon the support of its
junior allies than did the Grand Coalition. It was
events in two of these nations that created a dramatic
reversal in the Imperial Bond’s fortunes as the year
1873 dawned.
The first was the near-disintegration of the Italian
League. Always a fractious power, the League had
nonetheless long been broadly aligned with the
Bond. However, the total withdrawal of the Republic
of Venice and the empire-building escapades of the
Kingdom of the Two Sicilies finally proved too much
for the closest thing to unification Italy had yet seen
Even the legendary Garibaldi proved unable to
bring the Italians together, with the result that the
League had largely fallen to pieces as a Bond member
by 1873.
Though the Kingdom of Sardinia remained
a Bond ally, and the Two Sicilies at least an ally
of convenience, the wealthy Lombards aligned
themselves with the Grand Coalition, and the
Venetians, the League’s most numerous naval power,
all but reverted to the long established condottiere
mercenary tradition. Indeed, mercenary activities
increased among the forces of all the Italian states.
• 17 •
THE OTTOMAN ESTRANGEMENT
The splintering of the League created a major
weakness in the Imperial Bond’s Mediterranean flank.
A subdued panic rippled through the governments
in both Paris and Berlin, and the hand of the Grand
Coalition was suspected, especially the perfidious
Britannians.
But just as this news began to sink in, news
emerged of a serious fracture in the great Ottoman
Empire. Beset by Russian offensives, the Ottomans
had aligned themselves with the Imperial Bond out
of self-preservation, despite the Empire’s pre-existing
accord with the Covenant of Antarctica.
But dissent among the Sublime Orders of Learning
had begun to grow as the Empire found itself drawn
into more military operations in support of its new
allies. Most seriously, the advance of the Britannian
Army of the Nile had highlighted the vulnerability of
the Empire’s East African holdings.
As the Empire’s hold on Africa began to crumble,
accelerated by the burgeoning Egyptian Republic,
dissent among the Sublime Orders of Learning broke
out into the open.
The city of Tehran, capital of the Persian
Sovereignty, became a sanctuary for scientists
and other thinkers at odds with the Sultan’s Porte
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
government in Istanbul, and its militaristic focus;
obsessed as it was with the defence of Istanbul from
Russian encroachment.
By late 1872, the Empire had split completely.
The Persian Sovereignty declared autonomy, and
publically aligned itself with the Covenant of
Antarctica. Unlike the Italian League, the split was
a peaceful one, but it still left the Ottoman Empire
fractured and more vulnerable, and the Imperial
Bond’s situation more parlous still as 1873 began.
THE INTERBELLUM BEGINS
The war began to falter fully in many regions with
the onset of 1873. All combatant nations began to
feel the strain on human and material resources. The
massive offensive efforts of the first years of the war
had seen whole armies and fleets clash in massive
battles, but each time the result had been the same –
a grinding war of attrition.
In a position of relative strength, but with two of
their key allies crumbling, the leaders of the Imperial
Bond were the first to consider a ceasefire
President Bonaparte of France was in favour
of pressing the war further, keen to make a new
breakthrough in North Africa, but Prussian Emperor
Frederick and Blazing Sun Empress Shinzua, their
own realms pressed much harder, carried the vote
for a cessation – a temporary one, they assured their
mercurial ally in Paris.
On the other side of the battle lines, the leaders
of the Grand Coalition were similarly split. Prime
Minister Disraeli, though wearing a mask of bravado
in public, knew that perpetually overstrained
Britannia, its forces active worldwide, needed some
respite. FSA President Adams assented; though his
nation was much better resourced, the waging of war
over such vast distances needed a detailed strategic
remodelling that a period of ceasefire would serve
well.
Tsar Vladimir of Russia, though, had no such
thoughts of abandoning the fight, especially not
against the Prussians. Unlike Bonaparte and his
Bond partners, there was little that either Adams
or Disraeli could do to dissuade him, though the
pragmatic Russian ruler did see the advantage of
securing cessation terms, however temporary, with
the Blazing Sun.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 18 •
The Tsar’s position was reinforced later in 1873.
At a conference convened in Warsaw, the Polish-
Lithuanian Commonwealth established a formal
treaty with the Kingdom of Romania, a small state
abutting both the Prussian and Ottoman Empires.
Although the Romanians did not immediately
join the conflict, it was clear that the Eastern Front
would almost inevitably gain a new sector when open
hostilities resumed. No-one expected Romanian
opposition to Russian or Polish-Lithuanian forces
operating on its territory if an advantage could be
gained.
The period that became known as the Interbellum
by Covenant chroniclers, began gradually, almost
unnoticed. There was no formal ‘peace treaty’; instead
various powers began to adopt a policy of ‘live and let
live’ with certain opponents, in certain regions. Only
on the long Eastern Front between the Russian and
Prussian empires, did open warfare persist. But even
here, major offensive actions lessened considerably.
DIVIDING THE GLOBE
In this atmosphere of tension, territory nonetheless
began to change hands, albeit with the stroke of the
pen and the threat of violence rather than the crash
of full-scale war.
The most dramatic changes occurred in Africa
and the Middle East. The Britannian Army of the Nile
was a powerful bargaining chip for Disraeli against
the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman Mustafa, and he used
it to considerable effect.
The army was withdrawn from its positions
around Suakin and back to Britannian-governed East
Africa. But in return, the Britannian flag was raised
over Aden and Muscat, as her Britannic Majesty’s
rule was established over the southern coast of the
Arabian Peninsula in 1873. The wily Britannian
Prime Minister was also able to negotiate a
concession from the Persian Sovereignty, establishing
a new garrison at Kuwait which quickly became a
bustling trading port.
Across the English Channel, Louis-Napoleon
Bonaparte was also on the diplomatic offensive.
Though the smallest of the Bond powers, France
had emerged from the first stage of the war mostly
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
unscathed, its home territory intact and its losses
fairly minimal compared to its strength.
The Republique strengthened its hold on central
New Carthage as Britannian and American forces
consolidated in the west and reinforced Tangier and
Gibraltar.
But the French march also headed south. Aided
by its revolutionary flying navy and the skycraft
of l’Armee de l’Air, the Republic established a new
central African stronghold around the Chadian
Basin, where rich Sturginium reserves and other
resources had been discovered just prior to the
Sirocco offensives.
The most ambitious of the French overseas drive
was the establishment of bases in South-East Asia,
in a region conceded by the Empire of the Blazing
Sun. Sharing sovereignty and occupancy with the
Empress’s forces, they provided both an outpost
for the Republique, and a much-need boost to the
Blazing Sun’s own presence in the area.
PROXY WARS & TERRITORIAL TRADING
Of course, the lack of major conflict did not mean
that fighting did not occur. Mercenary activity saw
a sharp global increase, with many new players
entering the arena. Free Australian and Italian forces
were in substantial demand!
Private concerns, from the Black Companies
lurking around Greenland to the more genteel
Eclipse Company operating from the bright skies of
East Africa, found their order books barely thinned
from the height of the war. Commerce raiding
and privateering abounded, all such operations
conveniently ‘isolated’ from their paymasters by
mercenary discretion.
During the Interbellum, the Horn of Africa
became a veritable ‘mercenary state’, partly down
to Disraeli’s actions. Formerly Britannian-held, the
Britannian PM, to the surprise of his associates,
ceded the region to the Republic of Venice in 1873.
As well as arousing considerable suspicions
among the Imperial Bond leadership that the
fracturing of the League may indeed have been
encouraged by the Britannians, it also created a hive
of freelance military activity in a key location.
• 19 •
While publically governed by the Venetians,
sharp-eyed observers noted that the East India
Trading Company, a noted Britannian proxy,
maintained substantial forces based in the area, and
the neighbouring Somaliland Protectorate, which
remained in Britannian hands.
It was in South America that the largest and most
open of the ‘Proxy Wars’ took place. Between 1873
and 1874, the Free Chilean Republic invaded and
occupied the Republic of Bolivia to its north.
At the same time, Blazing Sun forces completed
their occupation of what remained of the Republic of
Argentina, almost doubling the size of their Kanawa
Province territory. FSA planners and strategists
took careful note – it seemed that the withdrawal of
Blazing Sun forces from the Caribbean in late 1872
had been about more than simple retrenchment.
The operations were claimed to be separate,
but few believed the reasoning. As the Chileans
completed their victory, the Blazing Sun province of
Dutch Guyana also underwent a period of expansion.
The territory also became home to a thriving Prussian
colony, aided by the not-inconsiderable weight of the
Imperial Caribbean Expeditionary forces, withdrawn
from Puerto Rico.
While the FSA was able to reoccupy the battle-
scarred Caribbean island chains as a result, the
General Staffs in both Washington and London
remained vigilant. The Imperial Bond threat in the
region had relocated, but hardly receded.
REDRAWING THE PACIFIC
The Blazing Sun’s Council of Seven was, however,
forced to come to terms with some limitations of
its own. In return for their aid during the winter
war against the Russians, the Chinese Federation
regained the governance of Manchuria, although
co-operation in the region between it and the Blazing
Sun remained strong.
Imperial Bond forces eventually withdrew from
Russian territory, but remained active around the
edges of the Tsar’s Far Eastern frontiers. ‘’Twisting
the Bear’s Tail’ became a common occurrence during
the Interbellum, and small expeditionary forces
continued to test the defences of these borderlands,
from the Nikolai Line to the approaches to Alaska.
 
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 Wargaming a Dystopian World
The partial ceding of Manchuria enabled the
Council to shift forces to reinforce its hold on Hawai’i
after the withdrawal of American invasion forces in
1874. The great harbour at Oahu would remain in
the Empress’s hands, at least for now.
RECONSTRUCTION
Amid the jockeying for position of the Great Powers
and other nations, one factor common to every land
touched by the war was the intense effort make good
the damage caused by the first stage of the conflict.
Across every battlefield and war-ravaged land, the
general populace mobilised en masse to rebuild their
battered nations. Elsewhere, colonial powers rushed
to reinforce their overseas territories, determined to
make real the elegant language of paper agreements
with the solidity of concrete and steel.
Scarred cities, ports and industrial regions
rose from the ashes of their forebears at a speed
never before thought possible, as the power of the
Sturginium Age was once again harnessed to create,
rather than destroy.
The Americans engaged in the most spectacular
construction. Thwarted in their efforts to conquer
Hawai’i, President Adams and Congress authorised
the construction of the so called ‘New Columbia’,
an artificial floating atoll several hundred miles due
west from California.
A coalition of brilliant minds, led by the esteemed
professors Benjamin Bell and Franz Oppenheimer,
with an engineering staff under none other than
the famed ‘Panama Matt’ Godwin, this ambitious
new stronghold, quickly began to take shape from
late 1873 onwards. In time, it would grow to be
a powerful outpost of unprecedented scale and
complexity.
Alarmingly, though, as much effort was poured
into the military as well as into civil construction.
Though many old warships, tanks and aerial craft
were withdrawn from service and scrapped, they
were quickly earmarked for replacement by new
designs, cast and refined by the conflict and now put
into production during this window of relative calm.
Observers in the Covenant found these efforts both
fascinating and disquieting.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 20 •
“In this effort to reconstruct, this vast explosion of
creation, the world does everything we hoped it would
do before this terrible war broke out,” remarked Lord
Oleg Tatamovich to Sturgeon, “But it will all be for
naught when the fires blaze again. They are building
only to destroy once more.”
A DARKER LEGACY
Political manoeuvrings and massive reconstruction
were not the only factors causing disquiet in
the Covenant and elsewhere. It was becoming
increasingly apparent that the exploitation and
refining of Element 270 itself was indeed creating
hitherto unforeseen consequences for the world.
Though the strange material was reckoned to be
harmless in its pure form, its use in the creation of
new minerals and materials generated by-products
and waste materials that began to have odd effects
on flora and fauna local to the sites of such works.
Side effects from strangely iridescent flowers
and oddly marked and varied animal life had been
reported for some time. Now, though, it appeared
that human beings were also susceptible to odd
phenomena, such as phosphorescent marks on skin
and hair. Doctors and surgeons shared new cases
continuously, anxiously wondering if such effects
could be themselves deleterious to health.
The world was also suffering increased amounts
of the strange weather and geological events that
had begun to manifest with the first coming of
Sturginium. Violent and savage maelstroms, dubbed
‘Sturginium Storms’ wracked both oceans and
continents alike.
 
 Wargaming a Dystopian World
Localised earth tremors abounded, even in
locations far from known fault lines. The volatile
East Indies volcano Krakatoa was reported to be
continuously belching black and bilious green
vapours, characteristic of Sturgene gas. Some strange
accounts from sailors traversing remote oceans
detailed huge whirlpools, or even weirdly coloured
torrents of water cascading from ‘holes in the sky’.
In light of their own recent discoveries, such as
the ‘ghost island’ of Hooke’s Reach and the bizarre
Otherspace portal found in southern Sudan, which
are now kept heavily monitored and guarded against
inquisitive Egyptian eyes, the leading minds of the
Covenant feared that the world was headed for a
much greater and more telling upheaval than that
cause by any human activity.
THE WORLD WAR REIGNITES!
But although these strange events occupied the
minds of scientific men and women, for politicians
• 21 •
and generals, the conflict with their rivals was still
paramount. Thus, by 1876, both the Britannians
and the Prussians began making moves that would
reignite the conflagration as surely as a blazing
firebrand hurled into a keg of oil.
Expeditionary forces set out from both nations
to stake claims in East and South-West Africa. Huge
Britannian drilling platforms arose off the Guinean
coastline, while the Prussians forged new bases in
what had been Portuguese territory, annexed from
that small Grand Coalition ally and its modest
overseas holdings.
Across the world, these moves were taken as a cue
that open war was once again to be waged. In the
year 1876, re-armed and re-equipped perhaps even
more strongly than before, and with their veteran
forces now hard-bitten and battle-toughened, the
Great Powers went on the march to war once again,
to glory or ignominy in a fast-changing world!
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 KINGDOM OF BRITANNIA
Capital: London
Head of State: Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria
of the House of Hanover (crowned 1837)
F ounder of the Industrial Age, the Kingdom of
Britannia governs one of the world’s greatest
empires and is still its mightiest sea power. The
modern Kingdom of Britannia was proclaimed
in 1801, when Great Britain and Ireland were
formally united. At the dawn of the 19th Century,
the Kingdom and its empire took on both France,
its long-time adversary which had been instrumental
in the loss of its North American Colonies, as well
as Heinrich Otto’s Prussian Empire in the gruelling
Napoleonic and Prussian Wars.
The Britannian expertise in engineering and
invention came to the fore. At sea, Nelson’s flotillas
of turreted ironclads crushed the French fleet at
Trafalgar in 1805, but the Britannians scored their
greatest victory at Waterloo over the Prussians, using
the first true ‘Land Ships’.
With their European rivals humbled, the
Britannians spent decades expanding their empire
ever further around the world. But even the strongest
power has its limits, and the Britannians reached
theirs in the late 1860s. The Blazing Sun’s razing of
Singapore came as a great trauma, followed by an
even greater one when the Prussians struck at the
heart of London with an audacious surprise attack
in 1870.
The Kingdom and its empire are truly vast. The
Britannians govern Canada, many Caribbean Islands,
large portions of the African coasts, India, Burma, the
Malay Peninsula, parts of the East Indies, more than
half of Australia, and New Zealand. Since this massive
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 22 •
dominion is so widely spread, the Britannians have
long sought to maintain an iron grip on the world’s
major oceans.
The coming of war has seen some Britannian
territories attacked, and even lost. The remote
Falkland Islands have fallen to the Blazing Sun,
the North African holdings are assailed by Franco-
Prussian forces, and even the British Isles themselves
have been scorched by conflict. But all over the
world, from the Caribbean to the Low Countries, and
the East Indies, the Kingdom’s armies and fleets are
fighting hard, challenging, and often pushing back
the myriad of forces arrayed against them.
The Kingdom’s head of state is the formidable
Queen Victoria, who has reigned as monarch since
1837. A dour and solemn presence since the death
of her beloved consort Prince Albert in 1849, she is
regarded as the Mother of the Empire, and generally
held in respect, if not actual affection, by her subjects.
However, the business of government is handled
by the Britannian Parliament. The Queen’s powers
are wielded on her behalf by her Prime Minister.
Although now formed into a coalition government
to prosecute the war, Parliament is split between
two powerful factions: the aggressive expansionist
Knights and the resolute but far more cautious
Rooks.
For many years, the redoubtable Lord Palmerston,
as Prime Minister, managed to balance the interests
of both these factions, steering the Kingdom on
a delicate course between their extremes. But
now leadership has passed to the flamboyant and
charismatic Benjamin Disraeli, leader of the Knights
faction.
Britannia’s Naval Armada – the ‘Senior Service’
– commands a large share of resources to protect
the vital connections binding the empire. The most
powerful Battle Squadrons, forming the mighty
Grand Fleet, are based in the British Isles, but large
deployments are also stationed in Canada, India,
Australia, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.
However, the coming of the World War triggered
a vast expansion of, the Land Armada and the
Britannian Army. The London Raid created a
groundswell of patriotic fervour, and the Kingdom’s
small professional army expanded by an influx of
 
 KINGDOM OF BRITANNIA
tens of thousands of volunteers, the so-called ‘Short-
Shrifters’. Moreover, many of Britannia’s imperial
dominions, especially Canada and India, formed
great armies of their own to defend their borders and
to go on the offensive against the Kingdom’s many
foes.
The Aerial Armada, the newest of the services,
is present all over the empire; its powerful flying
engines crucial for providing a degree of control over
remote areas that are almost impenetrable to more
conventional forces. Eager to prove themselves to
the more senior Admiralties, the officers and crews of
the Aerial Fleets are fiercely dedicated to their duty,
always ready to take the fight to the enemy with a
spirit that impresses even the Nelsonian-minded
naval command.
Her Britannic Majesty Queen Victoria has come
a long way from the nervous and apprehensive
young girl who ascended to the Britannian throne,
at the tender age of eighteen, in the year 1837. Now,
several decades into her reign, Victoria is regarded as
a treasure by the vast majority of Britannian subjects:
the image that the, now middle-aged, queen projects
in public is that of the wise and stern matriarch at
the head of her imperial ‘family’. The death of her
• 23 •
beloved husband Prince Albert has made her dour
and humourless however. She cuts a forbidding
figure, always clad in black and rarely smiling.
The Kingdom, under Victoria, has expanded its
holdings to nearly every continent, while its fleets
sail across every ocean. Military conquest brought
the ancient realm of Burma and swathes of Africa
into the Britannian fold. Nonetheless, the Queen
and her ministers also had to cope with significant
setbacks: the Australian Mutiny of 1842 which lost
half of the continent; the terrible Irish famine, right
on the Kingdom’s doorstep; and the revolutions that
wracked Europe in 1848. Nonetheless, the Kingdom
was able to absorb these trials and continue to grow.
For decades, the ‘Pax Britannia’ or ‘Britannian Peace’
held firm.
This was what made the Razing of Singapore and
the London Raid such a shock to the Kingdom. But
the Britannians are nothing if not tough and tenacious
fighters, their skill and experience at waging war on
a worldwide scale unmatched. Now the Kingdom’s
government and its Three Admiralties administer a
global war. With the end of the Interbellum, they are
rolling out new operations and offensives focused on
key theatres, intended to win back the initiative for
the Kingdom.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 PRUSSIAN EMPIRE
Capital: Berlin
Head of State: His Imperial Majesty Frederick
Grunder I Von Neu-Hohenstaufen (Crowned 1819)
T he mighty Prussian Empire has dominated
Central and Eastern Europe for over a hundred
years. The dominion was brought together with
a combination of shrewd diplomacy and outright
force by King Frederick the Great of Prussia, who
was later, posthumously, declared the First Prussian
Emperor.
The Empire reached its zenith under the Fifth
Emperor, Heinrich Otto, at the beginning of the
19th Century, after the death of Napoleon Bonaparte
in 1804, and the subsequent collapse of France.
Such grandeur could not last, however. Hubris and
paranoia drove Otto to adventures even his vast
realm could not pursue. His invasion of Poland-
Lithuania and then Russia in the early 19th Century
roused a great alliance of powers against him. The
decisive Prussian defeat at Waterloo in 1815 by the
Duke of Wellington, commanding the world’s first
‘Land Ships’, broke the back of Heinrich’s ambition.
Under the pragmatic Emperor Frederick Grunder,
the Prussian Empire patiently rebuilt its strength.
With diplomatic machination and military power,
the Empire became Europe’s foremost power again.
Grunder and his advisors built a complex web of
treaties that formed the foundations of the great
Imperial Bond when war came again to Europe.
The Prussian Empire governs a huge swathe of
Europe, from the Arctic to the Ottoman Empire’s
borders, and from the Low Countries to the
Carpathians. The Empire dominates most of the
Baltic Sea and has large colonies in Greenland. There
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 24 •
are also unofficial Prussian settlements elsewhere in
the world. South-east Africa, especially became a key
area for Prussian expansion during the Interbellum.
Emperor Frederick Grunder has been on the
throne since 1819. Behind his placid eyes and benign,
grandfatherly exterior lies a will of iron and a keen
intellect. This is just as well, for governing disputes
between the kings, archdukes, counts and councils
of the Empire’s states require both skilful mediation
and a firm hand. Imperial authority is maintained by
a capable civil service, and also, less visibly, by the
formidable Teutonic Order.
The elderly Emperor knows that he cannot
last forever, and now shares his powers with his
designated heir, Crown Prince Conrad. Although he
will one day face election for the throne, there is little
doubt that he would be successful. Conrad is a tough
and energetic leader. Well-versed in imperial politics
and a solid military leader in his own right, he
effectively took command of the continuing conflict
with the Russian Coalition.
Traditionally a land power, the core of the Prussian
Empire’s military strength it still its mighty armies.
The Imperial Land Fleets operate the Empire’s
vast array of Panzer and Heavy Panzer regiments,
containing all manner of machines from mighty
Mobile Airfields to swift battle tanks. Meanwhile,
the Reichswehr is composed of the massed Imperial
infantry regiments, who also man the static defences,
such as the mighty Wolfgang Fortress in the east.
The Iron Fleets of the High Seas Armadas have
been growing exponentially in strength throughout
the war, especially in battleships and aircraft carriers
as the Prussians seek to challenge Britannian and
American dominance of the North Sea and Atlantic,
and in order to exert a greater presence further from
their shores.
The Prussian Empire has also been a great
proponent of air power for many years. The Imperial
Air Fleet’s main strength is composed of mighty
electrically powered war Zeppelins, supported
by sturdy bombers and massed fighter wings. The
best Prussian aces often fly into battle in aeroplanes
brightly decorated with personal liveries.
The last and most mysterious of the Imperial
forces are the Teutonic Order. They operate alongside
other Prussian units, but under independent
 
 PRUSSIAN EMPIRE
command. The Order’s forces are few in number,
but control some of the deadliest weaponry in the
Imperial arsenals – elite armoured warriors, mighty
war-robots and specialised assault Zeppelins, as well
as even stranger experimental weaponry.
Emperor Frederick Grunder is one of the longest-
reigning heads of state in the world and there is very
little in politics and war that he hasn’t seen. The
Empire celebrated his Golden Jubilee in 1869, despite
the Russian invasion, Germans, Croats, Hungarians,
Czechs and others alike view him almost as the
grandfather of the Empire. In his youth, Frederick
saw action in the Imperial Navy, which drew recruits
from all over the Empire. Many observers say that
his naval background shaped much of Frederick’s
politics.
Although his attitude has made him very
popular, some of the Junker ‘Royal Prussian’ faction
believes Grunder isn’t ‘Prussian enough’. This
faction, masterminded by the Minister-President
of the Kingdom of Prussia, Otto Von Bismarck, has
a powerful voice in the Reichstag. The Emperor,
although not legally bound by this elective body, can
ill-afford to ignore them.
• 25 •
Frederick also faces intrigue from Vienna, where
the Habsburgs still hold the Austrian and Hungarian
thrones. Some at court in the Hofburg Palace want to
see the Habsburgs reclaim the imperial throne.
But the Emperor holds several trump cards. The
first is Crown Prince Conrad. The second is the
unswerving loyalty of the Teutonic Order to the
Imperial throne, since his restoration of the Order’s
Imperial Charter and Baltic lands. With the Order by
his side, the Emperor has a powerful weapon against
any kind of sedition or dissent, albeit one he prefers
to use sparingly. “Wield the sword but little”, he
often says to Prince Conrad, “for it means that when
you do strike, the effect is all the more telling.”
Frederick’s approach to such matters is well
illustrated by the Prussian raid on London in 1870.
He personally approved the then-Colonel Matthias
Sturm’s plan. His intention was to send a clear
psychological message to the Britannians – even
the heart of the Kingdom’s power is not safe from
Prussian attack. Many of the Empire’s offensive
operations since then have sought to send the same
powerful message to its other rivals and enemies.
The Empire’s reach is long, and can strike hard even
at a great distance from its European heart.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 EMPIRE OF THE BLAZING SUN
Capital: Edo
Head of State: Her Divine Majesty the Empress
Shinzua (Crowned 1862)
F ew nations ever exploded onto the world stage
like the Empire of the Blazing Sun. Only a
century ago Japan, the nation at the Empire’s heart,
was a closed society, socially and technologically
conservative, almost an unknown quantity outside
of eastern Asia. Now it is the heart of an imperial
realm. Barely half a century elapsed between the
acquisition of the Korean Peninsula, its first overseas
possession, and South American Kanawa Province,
it’s last to date.
The architect of this amazing development was
the Empress Maya, immediate predecessor and
great aunt of the current Empress. Commonly
known as the ‘Iron Butterfly’ by foreigners, it was
her cunning and skill that restored the power of the
Chrysanthemum Throne in the 1820s. The Empire’s
rise began the 1830s. The Russian invasion of 1774
which fatally weakened the old Shogunate had
convinced the Empress and her council the Empire
needed to become a power in its own right.
Their first expedition, the annexation of Korea,
almost proved to be the last. It took a series of
gruelling campaigns to win the war and secure the
peninsula. However, the territorial and scientific
rewards were worth the sacrifice. After Korea the
Empire expanded slowly and patiently. It was an
early recipient of Covenant learning, its scientific
and technological increased rapidly. For a few
precious years, it seemed that the ‘Little Giant’ would
blossom into a world power with little antagonism.
Unfortunately, this was not to be.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 26 •
The Blazing Sun governs the Japanese home
islands, the Philippines, the Korean Peninsula, the
bulk of the East Indies and Kanawa, a large province
in South America. It also rule several Pacific island
chains. The most important of these is Hawai’i, but
others also boast substantial naval and aerial bases,
giving the ‘Little Giant’s oceanic and air fleets a far
greater reach. In addition, Blazing Sun forces operate
freely in the Republic of Chile in South America and
many parts of the Chinese Federation.
The Empire of the Blazing Sun is an autocracy.
Final decision-making power lies with the Empress,
Her Divine Majesty Shinzua. The Empress is advised
by her Council of Seven. Such is the importance of
the military that all three of her High Generals have
seats upon it.
One seat is always left symbolically empty, since
it is assigned to the ‘Faceless Lord’ of the Shinobi
Clans, who serve as the Empress’s secret service. The
true identity of the ‘Faceless Lord’ remains a mystery.
The remaining three seats belong to the ministers
of the interior and foreign affairs, and the Imperial
Treasurer.
The once-mighty Shogun, by tradition still a
member of the Tokugawa clan, is not on the Council,
but serves as the public voice of the Empress and
liaison between the court and the famous Imperial
Alchemical Institute.
The Blazing Sun’s Three Armies – Sword, Shield
and Crucible – are split into self-contained Divisions.
Each Division incorporates its own army, naval and
aerial units, enabling them to act as a complete strike
force capable of operating in almost any theatre of
war.
Blazing Sun military doctrine and technology, like
the Empire itself as a whole, is a fascinating fusion
of the ancient and the ultra-modern. Its military
personnel are steeped in the warrior traditions of a
bygone age. Yet, in stark contrast, the Three Armies
operate some of the world’s most advance war
machines and weaponry.
The Empire boasts powerful modern naval units,
with each Divisional fleet having a strong core of
heavy capital units, emphasising the Blazing Sun
forces’ preference for constantly pressing the attack.
 
 EMPIRE OF THE BLAZING SUN
The aerial forces are built upon fleets of
revolutionary long-range gyros, constructed
of extraordinary metal alloys, lightweight but
immensely strong.
The Divisional ground forces use perhaps the
largest amount of unorthodox equipment. Much
of their armour is composed of huge, long-limbed
walking engines. These giant machines are capable of
traversing the harshest of terrain with earth-shaking
strides. Yet they still pack enough firepower to equal
any foreign rival.
A true child prodigy, the Empress Shinzua is, at
the age of twenty-two, already counted as a veteran
of court and international politics, tutored by the
old Empress Maya who still dwells in her private
apartments in her palace at Kyoto. The Council of
Seven advises, but ultimately, it is the young monarch
herself, sharp and confident, who makes the final
decisions. The young Empress’s tight control of
the nobility’s affairs is balanced by her strikingly
equitable rule of her dominions in the eyes of the
general population.
However, from 1868, the Empress found her
dominion running into trouble. The death of a single
merchant in Singapore and the expulsion of his
associates would not ordinarily have sparked such
• 27 •
a dramatic reaction, but the Empress Shinzua and
her Council of Seven saw the slight as a veiled attack
on the Blazing Sun. Thus, the dispatch of the 3rd
Division of the Blazing Sun Army of the Sword to
put on a show of strength was seen as a perfectly
reasonable response.
What was not foreseen was General Oni’s
destruction of the city. However, once begun, the
Empress decided she had no choice but to follow
Oni’s path, sanctioning a wider invasion even as she
privately censured the general himself. However,
there are many in the Empire, especially among the
Sword Army, who regarded war as inevitable, even
favourable.
Although she could have excused Oni’s attack, the
razing of Singapore was a huge step too far. Moreover,
Oni had interpreted his orders for his own ends:
a grave offence. His later return the Imperial fold,
though greeted with enthusiasm within the Sword
Army, met with a rather cooler reception in the
Imperial Court. Much has changed since his assault
lit the fires of the World War, and the Empire along
with it. Now, at the dawn of a new age of warfare, the
Blazing Sun still stands firm in its Pacific and South
American dominions.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 FEDERATED STATES OF AMERICA
Capital: Washington D.C
Head of State: President of the Federacy Nathaniel
Adams (elected 1868)
T he Federated States, FSA, or simply ‘Federacy’ is
a vigorous, new world power. Technically, it has
only existed in its current form since 1864, when the
American Civil War ended with the dissolution of
the old Union and its reconstitution as the Federacy.
In reality, however, it has had its own unique cultural
identity for nearly a hundred years.
The nation that eventually became the Federacy
originally grew out of thirteen British colonies on
the Atlantic coast of North America. In the late 18th
Century, these colonies rebelled against British rule.
With a degree of help from the now-defunct French
crown, they established themselves as a distinct
nation, the ‘United States of America’ under Presi-
dent George Washington; a man whose name is still
revered in the FSA.
The expansion of American territory began almost
immediately after their independence, as adventurers
and settlers struck west and southwards. However,
by the early 1860s disputes between Federal and
state governments, which eventually resulted in
multiple secessions and conflict. The initial spark
was the ownership of key resources, especially Texan
mineral oil and uranium in the soil of Mississippi. As
a result, the Civil War was also called the ‘Ore War’.
The gruelling conflict lasted for four fraught years,
In 1864, the last of the Union forces surrendered and
the nation was officially reconstituted as the Feder-
ated States of America.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 28 •
The FSA is one of the largest of the great powers.
Some regions, the coastlines and the Mexican States
are heavily populated and the powerhouse of the
FSA economy. However, there are still vast regions of
untamed wilderness and frontier territory; long dirt
roadways traversed by smoke-belching land trains
providing the only reliable communications.
The frontier lands are inhabited by many Native
American nations. The relationship between these
peoples and the rest of the FSA is still rather strained
at times. The Federacy government has tried to limit
settling efforts west of the Mississippi in return for
gaining access to the considerable natural resources
in the broad territories. While relations are for the
most part peaceful, tensions still remain high in some
areas, especially since the frontiers have become
home to many Unionist dissidents.
The FSA is a federal republic, with a President
at its head. However, especially since the end of the
Civil War, individual state governments have a lot of
say in how they conduct their own affairs, and the
office of President has significantly less clout now
than it did in the old United States.
The President’s role is therefore one of consum-
mate diplomat and leader by consensus: some-
thing at which the current President, Nathaniel
Adams, is very skilled. Adams is the first President
of the Federacy, and still retains the position, despite
growing opposition to his New Federalist Party
following the damage inflicted by the Imperial Bond’s
Caribbean offensive.
Much of the actual governance of the FSA is in
fact in the hands of individual state governments.
Congress now serves mostly as a talking-shop where
the states debate Federacy policy, chaired by the
President or his deputy. This arrangement, while
seen as very democratic, has inevitably resulted in a
great deal of plotting, manipulation and back-room
dealing.
Prior to the advent of the World War, the military
of the Federacy had seen very little combat outside
its own borders However, what most foreign generals
did not consider was the effect of the American Civil
War. The modern FSA military contains a hard core
of combat veterans, well-versed in Sturginium Age
warfare.
 
 FEDERATED STATES OF AMERICA
The Federacy armies, composed of both Federal
and State, or ‘Territorial’, contingents, are formidably
equipped and well-trained. Their soldiers and equip-
ment, from small arms to the vast Land Ships and
heavy armour at their heart, are reliable and combat-
proven weapons of war.
The same goes for the Federal Air Forces. Using
technologies ‘liberated’ from foreign powers, the
bounty spread by the Covenant of Antarctica in a
more hopeful era and a generous helping of solid,
high-quality American engineering, the aerial fleets
of the FSA have grown rapidly into powerful forces.
In particular, the Americans are world leaders in the
construction and use of aeroplanes of all sizes.
Finally, the FSN, the Federacy Navy, is the fast-
est-growing of all the branches of the military. The
need to project power far beyond the FSA’s shores has
resulted in the building of a formidable blue-water
navy in record time in the years since the Civil War.
The FSN has proved a powerful and effective force
in both defensive and offensive operations; especially
in rolling back the Blazing Sun’s Caribbean offensive
and striking back at both the FSA’s main Pacific rival
and the perfidious Covenant of Antarctica.
Although maintaining the image of a diffident and
reasonable man ever ready to help, especially when
dealing with foreign emissaries, ‘Nate’ Adams is just
• 29 •
as resolute, and at times ruthless as the sternest Prus-
sian Baron or Britannian Duke.
Officially, he and his advisors took the FSA into
the war to aid the Britannians, but they also had
much more pragmatic aims of expanding the FSA’s
power and reach. This almost led to war with the
Russian Coalition after the ‘Bering Incident’ of 1869.
Although now mostly reconciled with the Russians,
following joint operations against the Blazing Sun,
the FSA remains only ‘cordial’ at best towards its
second major ‘Grand Coalition’ partner.
Elsewhere, a desire to strike back at the Prussian
Empire has led to strong American deployments in
Britannia and North Africa, as well as continued
operations against the enemy’s expeditionary forces
in the Caribbean. FSA forces are also active on home
soil, guarding against any attempts at enemy surprise
attacks or sabotage.
A particular objective for them is safeguarding
strategic assets, especially the engineer H. Matthew
‘Panama Matt’ Godwin’s tremendous project – the
Panama Canal. This vast waterway allows FSA fleets
far swifter passage between the Pacific and Atlantic
Oceans, and must be protected at all costs.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 RUSSIAN COALITION
Capital: St Petersburg
Head of State: Tsar Vladimir I of the House of Rurik-
Novy (crowned 1848)
T he mighty Russian Coalition is the world’s
greatest land empire, commanding a population
and resources to match its massive size. Many of
its provinces alone are larger and more populous
than entire nations. Although much of the harsh
Siberian hinterlands are only sparsely populated, the
Coalition’s European and Far Eastern regions are the
sites of many great cities.
The unsuccessful invasion of Japan in 1774
sealed the fate of the ruler of what was then called
the Russian Empire: the ‘Usurper Tsar’ Alexander
Romanov I. In 1794 a great revolt erupted, led by
Grand Duke Nikolai of Irkutsk eventually driving
Alexander into exile.
Shrewdly, Nikolai’s campaign had been, at least
outwardly, for the restoration of the ‘true’ Romanov
heir, Prince Paul. But unschooled in governance and
apparently secretly undermined by Nikolai, his reign
was brief. In 1799, Grand Duke Nikolai was crowned
Tsar, of the House of Rurik-Novy. He renamed his
realm the Russian Coalition in 1800, his rule truly
an iron fist in a velvet glove.
Tsar Nikolai became a true power on the
world stage after his armies managed to defeat the
ironclad legions of Prussian Emperor Heinrich
Otto, eventually liberating the overrun territories
of Poland-Lithuania and hastening the end of the
Prussian Wars.
But his later years were marred by military failure
and family tragedy. The broken Nikolai took his
own life in the late 1840s, after defeat in the Sino-
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 30 •
Russian Wars, propelling Crown Prince Vladimir to
the throne. Tsar Vladimir’s rule has two overarching
goals: to make the Russian Coalition indisputably
the strongest power in the world, and to secure his
family’s rule for many decades to come.
The Russian Coalition is vast in size. Its western
borders neighbour the Prussian Empire and the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. To the north, the
chill Arctic Ocean forms a near-impassable frontier.
The southern frontiers border the Ottoman Empire
and the Chinese Federation. Furthest east is its only
overseas territory, the resource-rich Oblast of Alaska.
Great industrial cities dominate the European and
Far Eastern provinces, connected by the mighty
Trans-Siberian Railway.
Rather like the Prussian Empire, the Russian
Coalition is divided into numerous smaller states,
from kingdoms and principalities to the domains
of nomadic clans, the latter especially prevalent in
Siberia and the Central Asian provinces. Outwardly,
the Russian Coalition’s government seems
surprisingly open-minded. The Imperial Duma, the
advisory body of nobles that serves as the Coalition’s
equivalent of a Parliament, has a strong voice
regional rulers are recognised as Imperial Governors.
However, behind the scenes, Vladimir holds all the
real power. He is a pragmatic man, willing to listen
to act upon the counsel of trusted advisors. But if the
Tsar deems a dissenter badly overstepping acceptable
boundaries, or acting solely out of personal self-
interest, his reactions are swift and ruthless. He
maintains the Oprichnina, the old imperial secret
police, as a formidable enforcement agency.
The core of Russian military strength is the
massive White Army. Its premier formations
comprise the Shock Armies, containing the bulk of
the heaviest armour, artillery and armoured infantry.
Supporting them are the Rifle Armies; the conscript
soldiers of the Rifle Regiments vary in quality but
policed by grim Oprichnina detachments, they will
stand and fight in the face of the toughest opposition.
The White Air Armies provide almost all the
aerial support for Russian forces. Their main strength
is their heavily armoured skyships. However, the
Air Armies are most famous for their deadly attack
aeroplanes. Highly advanced, and flown by ferocious
 
 RUSSIAN COALITION
Cossack and Mongolian pilots, they are nicknamed
‘Steel Interceptors’.
Finally, the White Navy is subordinate to the
White Army in the Russian military hierarchy, but
has grown rapidly in importance, especially in
the White Sea and Far East. Like all their designs,
Russian naval craft are tough and heavily armed,
designed for aggressive battle-tactics.
Tsar Vladimir is a man on a mission, and that
mission is Russian domination of the whole Eurasian
continent. From the moment he took the throne,
Vladimir was determined to restore Russian pride
and power, and take it to even greater heights.
Outwardly, the charismatic monarch presented
himself as a ‘man of the people’, but in truth, he has
stamped his authority on his new realm.
Vladimir was also determined to modernise
his vast inheritance. As crown prince, he had
encouraged his father to offer generous support to
Lord Sturgeon’s Antarctican expeditions. But along
with the official Russian representative, Boyar Oleg
Tatamovich, went his brilliant protégé, the Russian-
Finnish polymath Markov Helsinki: the prince’s
former chief tutor and trusted agent, holding
loyalty to Vladimir alone. This extraordinary coup
paid immense dividends for the Russian Coalition.
• 31 •
Even before his exile, Markov exploited the trust in
which he was held to channel forbidden secrets to
Vladimir’s scientists. Now, in their Vorkuta kremlin,
Markov and his ‘Circle’ continue to work for the
cause of the Russian Coalition.
Their works fuelled Vladimir’s ambitions for
dominance. The initial Russian offensives were
intended to stun its major rivals, in preparation
for permanent expansion. Having been more or
less cordial – if rather untrusting – allies of the
Britannians, the Russian Coalition is part of the
Grand Coalition. Indeed, the Tsar cemented this
connection further by sending expeditionary forces
to the British Isles themselves. The Russians even
assisted American forces against the Blazing Sun in
the Pacific.
The Tsar sees the Grand Coalition as a tool rather
than any moral obligation. Perhaps the most obvious
example of this was during the Interbellum period
itself, where the long Eastern Front sectors of the
Russian war against the Prussian Empire were kept
open and active for offensive operations. As far as
the Tsar is concerned, his actions merely served to
demonstrate the true nature of his policies to his
allies as well as his rivals. Whatever Vladimir does,
he does for the Russian Coalition alone.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 RÉPUBLIQUE OF FRANCE
Capital: Paris
Head of State: President Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte
(Elected 1866)
A lthough once a byword for a spent and exhausted
power, the République of France has risen from
the ashes of war and devastation. But the path back
to glory has been long, harsh, and bloody.
For centuries, France, under its opulent
monarchy, was one of Europe’s premier powers, but
all of that came to a devastating end at the close of
the 18th Century. The royal government was cast
down in a violent mass revolution in 1789. For a
decade thereafter, France was wracked by conflict.
Eventually, in 1799 an obscure young Corsican army
officer called Napoleon Bonaparte successfully seized
overall power, first as ‘Consul for Life’ and then, in
1804, as Emperor of the French.
But then, disaster struck: the new Emperor
died in mysterious circumstances. His great empire
collapsed: reduced to a prize to be fought over by
1815. The following decades were hard. President
Chaumillat and the ruling Parti Gaulois, had to
draw upon the assistance of foreign allies. Most
controversially, Chaumillat reaffirmed the new
République’s alliance with the Prussian Empire.
While many were not enthused, the alternative –
reconciliation with the Britannians – was out of the
question.
With their resources secured, the French rebuilt
their nation and military from the ground up. By
avoiding overstretch and colonial attrition and
using reconciled Bonapartist troops as instructors,
the République was able to build a well-trained and
effective force. When technology began flowing out
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 32 •
of the Covenant, the République was a quick adopter.
In only a few decades, France was reborn from the
‘sick man of Europe’ into a vibrant modern nation.
France is a very democratic state. All French
citizens over twenty one can vote. Government
is exercised by the President, working with the
Chamber of Deputies. The French prize freedom of
expression, which often makes French society rather
volatile. But when united in common cause, the
French show fierce determination.
France itself is a large, populous nation. Its
original empire was lost after the War of the Eagles,
and the focus of every French government since has
been the security of the homeland. Although this
principle still holds true, France saw the greatest
territorial gains, with permanent footholds in
Africa and a presence in South-East Asia thanks to
its Imperial Bond connection with the Empire of
the Blazing Sun. In addition, over the years, a large
French diaspora grew worldwide.
France’s military forces are divided into land,
aerial and naval branches. However, for operational
actions, they are organised into combined-arms
Legions. They are organised according to campaign
or mission objectives by the Grand Quartier
Générale, the military high command. Some Legions
lack assigned sea-bound naval forces as their areas
of operation are far inland. Others, based on the
Atlantic coast, consist entirely of warships, acting
as raiding and interdiction forces. Most Legions are
home-based, or within nearby overseas territories.
When based further afield, they are kept highly
mobile, allowing further tactical flexibility.
Much French military equipment is highly
advanced. The République’s forces compensate for
fairly small numbers with high-quality troops and
machines, including their famed ‘flying battleships’,
which pioneered Gravity Nullification Engine (GNE)
propulsion. Rapid-firing cannons and massed rockets
provide the bulk of their fire-power, many provided
with formidable chemical warheads produced by
military researchers at the Sorbonne and other
scientific establishments. The most notorious French
arms are the mighty Heat Lances, developed from
‘liberated’ Covenant technology appropriated from
Markov Helsinki himself. At short range they can
 
 RÉPUBLIQUE OF FRANCE
reduce the mightiest war machines and fortifications
to glowing slag!
By the 1860s, France was once again a Great Power.
But a gale was blowing through French politics,
caused by the return in 1863 of Louis-Napoleon
Bonaparte, nephew of the legendary Emperor, and
formerly Covenant ambassador to France. He formed
a new political party, controversially naming it the
Imperial Eagles. Nonetheless, his message that the
nation had spent too long in the shadow of the
Prussian Empire struck a powerful chord.
To the dismay of the ruling Parti Gaulois,
Bonaparte quickly became a major political force.
In 1866, the Imperial Eagles were swept to power.
Bonaparte entered the Élysée Palace as President
and the Imperial Eagles gained a firm majority
in the Chamber of Deputies. He scored his first
major success as President in his first few months
in office. Word reached him of a curious event: a
strange heavily damaged submersible had arrived in
Marseilles. Among its complement was: none other
than Markov Helsinki, erstwhile Master of Engineers
of the Covenant of Antarctica.
Bonaparte travelled post-haste to meet the
fugitive. After several weeks of fraught negotiation,
Bonaparte agreed to allow Markov to leave the
République, but only after extracting a number
• 33 •
of valuable technological blueprints. This was in
addition to Markov’s submarine, dismantled down
to the keel by French engineers and scientists!
Bonaparte knew that letting Markov go would
likely cause further ructions with the Antarcticans.
But he believed the treasures that Markov had
been forced to surrender were more than worth the
political inconvenience, they would become key
tools for Louis-Napoleon and his government in
achieving their aims for the République – restoring
it as a world power of the first rank. With the advent
of war, these plans are now in motion, and have
arguably been partially achieved.
The spectacular raid in force on the Kingdom of
Britannia marked the first foreign land invasion of the
British Isles in centuries. This served as a prologue
for the French assault across the Mediterranean,
establishing a firm foothold in North Africa once
again. The Interbellum saw yet another substantial
gain, with the expulsion of Grand Coalition forces
from the Low Countries, and an effective union
between France and the Belgians for mutual benefit.
All of these gains are contested, as are the territories
gained during the Interbellum. As the new age of war
dawns, the Legions are under no illusions; they know
that they might continue to fight hard and frequently
to retain what they have won.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 COVENANT OF ANTARCTICA
Capital: Wells Chasm, Antarctica
Head of State: Barnabas D. Sturgeon, High Lord of
Antarctica (title granted 1857)
T he Covenant of Antarctica is unique among the
nations of the world in that it was founded from
scratch on an otherwise uninhabited continent. In
less than fifty years, the continent of Antarctica has
gone from a barren icy wasteland to the home of the
world’s most extraordinary nation.
The story of the Covenant began in 1845, when
Britannian aristocrat and scientist Lord Barnabas
Draynes Sturgeon and a small expedition set foot
upon the great Antarctican Peninsula, convinced
the continent was home to extraordinary treasures.
What they found would change the course of human
history; first, the world’s largest single deposit of the
amazing Element 270, later to be called Sturginium.
Secondly, the entrance to the Vault, a vast storehouse
of extraordinary, otherworldly technologies. The
source of the Covenant’s power, but also a Pandora’s
Box, whose opening the world never recover from.
The Covenant of Antarctica grew almost wholly
out of Lord Sturgeon’s second expedition to the
continent. The first Vault exploration treasures were
presented by Sturgeon at a Royal Society symposium
in 1850. To his horror, the Society rubbished him.
Disgusted, he forsook his Britannian citizenship,
vowing to build a new nation in the wilderness!
An armada of idealists sailed for Antarctica,
determined to build a new country, or die trying!
Many did die, for the continent was a vicious
mistress. But over the years many more proved
willing to challenge the savage frontier. Today, the
Covenant claims all of Antarctica. Despite heavy
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 34 •
settlement, only a few heavily reinforced buildings
project above the icecaps. Its two largest cities are
the capital Wells Chasm and Aristotle Harbour, its
greatest port. From these two cities, a vast network
of tunnels connects many other settlements
The Covenant’s only official overseas holding
is the heavily-fortified South Atlantic island-city
of the Gateway. But it also maintains a ‘shadow
empire’ of hidden bases worldwide. Frequently
fortified, subterranean or other concealed, they
link to the Covenant’s heartland by extraordinary
‘matter-translocation’ engines, otherwise known as
Teleportation Generators.
High Lord Sturgeon leads the Covenant, ruling
with a council composed of academic, scientific and
technological specialists. The most noteworthy is
Lord Leonidas Sapphopoulos, Sturgeon’s longest-
standing friend. Antarctican society is greatly
dependent upon the maintenance of the many
complex systems that make it habitable; therefore
advancement is determined by talent and expertise.
Antarctica is not a democracy, at least not yet. But
neither is it a dictatorship, thanks to the Antarctican
Covenant itself; crafted by Lord Sturgeon’s first
council during their earliest settlement. It lays down
the rules to which all swear to abide. All laws are
drafted in respect of its principles. Reading and
understanding the Covenant, as well as swearing to
obey it – ‘Taking the Covenant’ – is the first duty of
prospective citizens.
The Covenant’s military forces are numerically
small but highly trained and fiercely dedicated.
Many Antarctican military personnel are experienced
combat veterans. Many mercenaries have been
absorbed into the Covenant’s armed forces. Indeed,
the Covenant commander-in-chief War Master
Maximilian Schneider, is himself a former mercenary.
With the advent of the World War, however,
the Covenant military has adopted a new method
to increase its numbers of ‘boots on the ground’ –
mechanical soldiers. Although sophisticated ‘Iron
Men’ have been in combat service for years, the
Interbellum saw simple mass produced automata
accepted into full production.
Unsurprisingly, the War Fleets, the Covenant’s
main first-line military forces, utilise the most
 
 COVENANT OF ANTARCTICA
advanced weapons and equipment in the world.
Radiant-energy cannons use focused light-beams to
shear apart metal and vaporise flesh; Sturginium-
tipped shells make a mockery of crude enemy
shielding, and even stranger devices create weird
temporal and distance distortions.
The first few years of the Covenant were heady
and optimistic. A wave of technology flowed from
the Vault into the world Covenant scholars and
diplomats established official embassies and taking
up guest teaching posts in prestigious seats of
learning. Sturgeon was filled with pride.
Not everyone was willing to commit themselves
to the Covenant cause cause. Louis-Napoleon
Bonaparte, who had joined the second expedition
and participated in the building of Antarctica,
resigned his post in the Covenant’s French embassy,
exploiting his former allegiance to further his
ambitions in France.
However, this paled in comparison to the disaster
of 1866. Markov Helsinki, Covenant Master of
Engineers, was unmasked as a Russian spy, triggering
a near-insurrection. The Covenant was shaken by
internal warfare, during which the traitor and his
accomplices escaped.
Markov’s revolt had a grave effect on the Covenant
he left behind. One by one, the Covenant closed
• 35 •
down almost all its foreign embassies. Its visiting
teachers and scholars left their posts. In many cases,
they were replaced by teams of Wraith and Spectre
spies from the intelligence corps. Finally, in 1869
with the globe sliding into World War, the Covenant
closed its borders to outbound travel. For years it
became impossible to leave Antarctica without
special dispensation from the Council. Only during
the Interbellum was this policy somewhat relaxed,
although travel remained extremely difficult.
Since then, the Covenant, along with a select few
powers with which it retains cordial but secretive
relations, has sought three objectives: to hamstring
the conduct of the World War, to investigate and
secure any other sources of potentially valuable or
destructive technology, and to bring Markov’s Circle
to justice for their crimes against the Covenant.
However, more than any other power, the
Covenant and its leaders are aware that something
strange is happening to the wider world, compared
to which even the World War may pale. The
discovery by 12th War Fleet ‘Rationality’s Edge’
forces of a mysterious structure – believed to be a
strange ‘portal’ of some kind – in the deserts of Sudan
merely confirms what many in Antarctica are already
thinking; that the burgeoning Sturginium Age has far
more secrets still to be revealed.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 CHINESE FEDERATION
O ne of the largest land powers in the world, the
Chinese Federation has all the requirements of
a true superpower. Prior to the World War, it’s most
recent military venture had been the Sino-Russian
War of the 1830s and 40s.
The Guangxu Emperor, although in theory
absolute overlord in fact has to rule with a
combination of shrewd diplomacy and political
ingenuity. The Federation has often been plagued
by destructive internal politics, especially in the
northern and western provinces, where the Imperial
Will is harder to exert.
Nonetheless, the Chinese defeat of the Russians
caused the rest of the world to take note of the
Chinese Federation as a growing force in the world.
Now, with the Federation’s industrialisation, aided
by the Empire of the Blazing Sun, and the rapid
growing pains forced by global war, its true power is
beginning to be revealed.
The Chinese Federation encompasses a large
swathe of Asia, as varied as the towering Himalayas,
the arid Gobi Desert to the north, the fertile plains of
its long coastline and steaming subtropical rainfor-
ests in its southern regions.
The heart of the Federation lies in the teeming
cities of the eastern provinces. Unlike the compact
Blazing Sun, however, the Federation’s technological
growth has been much more uneven. The wealthiest
provinces are those on the coastlines, and of course
the hinterland of the Federation’s great capital
Peking.
By contrast however, many regions are dominated
by heavy industry and agriculture, where vast
workforces of humbler citizens toil to produce the
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 36 •
materials that feed the Federation’s power. Further
afield still, many remote communities still exist
where ways of life have remained unchanged for
centuries, and even the Sturginium Age has as yet
had but little impact.
The Chinese Federation is not one of the world’s
aggressively expansionist powers. Already a large
empire in its own right, the main objective of
successive Emperors has been holding their realm
together, especially in the face of foreign interlopers.
As well as defending their borders, the Chinese
Emperors have also had to contend with keeping
order among their own subordinates. The current
Guangxu Emperor is no exception, and before the
outbreak of war had his hands full with keeping his
own regional governors in line, especially in the
remote western provinces.
Until recently, The Federation’s only official
foreign ally was the Empire of the Blazing Sun.
This connection has greatly aided the Federation’s
industrial and technological development. The
World War has also drawn the Federation closer to
the other major Imperial Bond powers.
The Ottoman fracturing has also raised the
unpleasant possibility of a potentially hostile
territory to the west. The Federation is distrustful
of the Persian Sovereignty and its connections to the
Covenant of Antarctica.
The Emperor has long suspected the existence
of concealed Antarctican installations within the
more remote regions of his realm. Nor is he pleased
at potential dissent among Chinese potentates who
may feel that they have much to gain from covert
cooperation with Covenant agents.
As well as the spectre of Covenant interference,
the Federation’s alignment with the Bond has also
been influenced by the Kingdom of Britannia
and the Russian Coalition. Both of these powers,
the Britannians from India in the South, and the
Russians from the north, have nurtured designs on
the Federation’s territories.
Another effect of the Bond partnership has been
the vast influx of high technology. The Emperor’s
Alchemists have made developed many new
wonders; the most spectacular gracing the Chinese
 
 CHINESE FEDERATION
military. The Combined Armadas and Armoured
Brigades now boast a whole slew of revolutionary
weapons and war machines.
The Chinese Federation entered the World War
fully during Operation Copper Rain. Permitting
the Blazing Sun Sword Army 4th Division Yamato
to operate from Manchuria, the Emperor ordered
Federation forces to support the Blazing Sun
offensive.
While the fast moving Sword Division forces
drove deep into Russian territory, the slower-moving
but far more numerous Chinese brigades assaulted
the Nikolai Line fortifications, protecting the flanks
of the Blazing Sun advances.
Although the campaign would ultimately end
with the onset of the Interbellum, the Guangxu
Emperor and his realm emerged with a hugely
increased military reputation. The Federation also
regained full sovereignty over Manchuria from its
island allies.
The Chinese Federation’s military forces are
extensive. Although most Chinese troops are still
conscripts, bearing little more than their scale-
armour jackets and single shot rifles, they have
earned a reputation for toughness and combat
effectiveness.
But the Guangxu Emperor also maintains a crack
force of elite regiments, the Imperial Life Guards.
These regiments are the hard core of the Combined
Brigades. Many of them are well-trained engineers, a
specialisation that holds a great deal of respect.
Imperial Life Guard formations often serve as
senior crews of large war machines in the Terrestrial
and Oceanic Armies and the Aerial Brigades. Ranking
officers and engineers –often being one and the same
– command large complements of conscript soldiers.
The most widely used Chinese weapons and
war machines are simple to operate and solidly
constructed. Weapons consist of batteries of large
calibre cannons and racks of bombardment rockets,
whose effectiveness still depends greatly upon the
crew discipline. Flamethrowers are also popular;
simple to operate, with great destructive power.
But the Federation also operates some very
sophisticated war machines. Their use has
• 37 •
increased since the World War began, coupled
with the expansion of the Imperial Life Guards and
Federation’s military Alchemical Corps. The most
famous are the mighty flying bastions, floating atop
revolutionary Gravity-Nullification Engines adapted
from French designs; the mobile successors of the
fabled Great Wall.
Other wonders include stylised war robots built
around Blazing Sun IAI operating engines. Used
almost exclusively by the Imperial Life Guard
regiments, these machines range from lumbering,
cannon-armed automata-warriors designed as
a tribute to Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s terracotta
soldiers, to fire belching behemoths echoing the
legendary Imperial Guardian Lions.
The Alchemical Corps has developed great
skill at automata construction, and their crowning
achievement is undoubtedly the mighty Tian Lóng,
the great Imperial Dragon rendered in mechanical
form! Soaring over the most favoured formations
of the Emperor’s armies, these awesome machines
trail fire and bear metal talons sufficient to tear apart
entire fortresses.
Chinese military doctrine relies on aggressive
defence. Chinese Lord High Generals and Admirals
command their armies and fleets with the guile and
patience of master chess players. Chinese battle
training emphasises the power of combination and
mutual support; the aim being to make the whole
formation operate at a level much greater than the
sum of its parts.
The effect of this military doctrine is to make
fighting Chinese forces an exercise in holding back
a tidal wave or the advance of a vast glacier. Rather
than sudden massive strikes, Chinese generals prefer
to use methodical assaults grind their opponents
down through sheer attrition.
That said, although both war machines and
soldiers’ lives are a plentiful currency in the
Chinese Federation, the Emperor’s commanders are
nonetheless encouraged to spend them prudently,
and not waste them for the sake of vanity or mere
‘victories of honour’.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 CHILE
C hile was one of the earliest of Spain’s foreign
possessions to declare independence, in 1819.
Ever since then, the Chileans have stood aloof from
all of the ‘unionised’ powers of the South Amer-
ican continent. The Chilean government rebuffed
the Spanish Republican Confederation, never truly
trusted the DUSA, and certainly doesn’t trust its
successor, the SUSA.
Despite this isolationism, Chile is a vibrant and
very egalitarian democracy, one of the few with
universal suffrage. More ironically, Chile’s main
foreign ally is the highly autocratic Empire of the
Blazing Sun. In practice however, this makes perfect
sense to the Free Chilean Republic; the Blazing
Sun has a reputation for not interfering in its allies’
internal affairs.
Immediately prior to the World War, Chile fought
the controversial Patagonian War, clashing with
Argentina over the resource-rich Patagonian prov-
inces and their rich mineral resources, including
Sturginium deposits. During the conflict, Chile
was also attacked by Bolivia, the northern republic
seeking a route to the Pacific coast.
Chile’s then-president Rodrigo Marcos y Suarez
called upon the Blazing Sun for aid, offering to
lease Chilean bases to their military and favour-
able trading terms for precious minerals. The new
Empress Shinzua’s government responded favour-
ably, and by 1866, Chile’s war was won.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 38 •
The Blazing Sun, however, took matters a stage
further and induced Argentina to cede virtually
all of Patagonia to them; this became the province
of Kanawa. The Empress, honoured the original
Chilean claims, receiving free access for Blazing Sun
civil and military traffic from Chile to Kanawa in
return.
The bond between the two powers is firm to this
day. For President Cleto Martinez, the alliance is an
important one. Aware that his nation is regarded with
suspicion by all the other American powers, Martinez
is more than willing to lend Chilean support in oper-
ations against all these potential enemies.
This was underlined during the opening stages of
the World War. Chile was the mustering point for the
Blazing Sun offensive that took the Falkland Islands
and attacked Grand Coalition territory in the Carib-
bean. Chilean agents subsequently worked alongside
the Shinobi as spies, informants and saboteurs, espe-
cially during operations on Cuba, assisting Cuban
dissidents in disrupting FSA operations.
Chile’s reward for its assistance came during the
Interbellum. Although President Martinez originally
had no plans to expand the Republic’s borders, insta-
bility in neighbouring Bolivia presented an oppor-
tunity to great to pass. Chilean forces, their arsenal
expanded by generous support from the Blazing Sun,
annexed their northern neighbour, providing a buffer
against any expansionist efforts by the FSA or the
SUSA.
With the Blazing Sun simultaneously annexing
the rump of Argentina, the Patagonian War had
come full circle. Chile’s military, standing with their
long- time allies, await the inevitable reprisals that
the resumption of the World War will bring.
 
 REPUBLIC OF EGYPT
C onquered by Napoleon Bonaparte at the turn of
the 19th Century, Egypt wrested its indepen-
dence from France following the onset of the French
Civil War. The leaders of the liberation movement set
up a national republican government – ironically on
the French model – in 1806.
However, this sense of unity did not last long.
Factional infighting between the conservative
Pyramid, mercantile Water and fiercely national-
istic Khopesh factions led to two decades of anarchy,
during which time the so-called national government
could barely exert its influence beyond Alexandria.
During this time Egypt devolved into little more
than a backwater. Regarded as a useful buffer state
by the Italian League and the Ottoman Dominions,
it became a haven for pirates, mercenaries and other
malcontents of southern Europe and North Africa.
It was this last fact that eventually led to Egypt’s
invasion by the Ottomans in 1828. The Sultan had no
aspirations of conquest, but merely hoped to stabilise
the anarchic state in order to safeguard the Domin-
ion’s trading network and end the problem of piracy.
The Ottomans succeeded in bringing a degree
of stability to the Republic, and for several decades
all remained relatively calm. The high point of this
period was the construction of the Suez Canal, a
joint Ottoman-Egyptian project completed by the
mid-1850s
• 39 •
But this period of co-operation ended abruptly in
1871. When the Ottoman Empire signed the Treaty
of Zagreb, ending the Ottoman-Italian conflict in the
Mediterranean, the Egyptian parliament, the House
of Voices, exploded in anger. Egypt had weathered
the depredations of Italian raiders and had not been
compensated for the losses they had suffered in
defence of the Canal. They had not been invited to
attend the Treaty negotiations at all, and the resulting
fait accompli shattered the credibility of President
Al-Rachid’s coalition government
A wave of popular nationalism resulted in the
newly resurgent Khopesh Party, under a new Pres-
ident, Aziz, assuming power, and an abrupt change
of course for Egypt. Following a swift alliance with
the Kingdom of Britannia, the Egyptian Republic
promptly changed sides, and Egyptian forces battled
the hard-pressed Ottomans for several months,
aiding the advance of the Britannian Army of the
Nile.
The Interbellum continued the upswing of
Egyptian assertion and expansion. Aziz forced the
Ottomans to cede their Sudanese territories to the
‘Greater Republic’, almost doubling Egypt’s size, and
secured the Republic’s hold on Port Said at the head
of the Suez Canal.
With the Ottomans beset by internal strife and
external pressure, the Egyptians consolidated their
position as Grand Coalition allies, and embarked on
a substantial military build-up. As the Interbellum
ended and war returned, the Republic of Egypt
formed a powerful bulwark of Grand Coalition
strength in the Eastern Mediterranean, and a major
thorn in the side of the beleaguered Ottomans.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE INDIAN RAJ
T he Kingdom of Britannia’s vast empire girdles
the globe from Canada to Australia. However,
there is little doubt that one imperial possession is
the jewel in the crown. This is the mighty Indian Raj,
the richest and most populous of Britannia’s imperial
dominions and the source of much of its immense
wealth.
The Raj is a keystone of Britannian military
strength. The Indian divisions of the Three Armadas
enable Britannia to match its Grand Coalition
partners, and successfully wage war on so many
fronts.
The Raj’s territories have long been divided
between many princely domains. They were
incorporated into the Britannian empire gradually
through trade and finance, for the Britannians could
never have conquered India with force alone!
The East India Merchant Company, present
since the late 16th Century, drove this assumption
of power. From a mere handful of outposts and
factories granted by the ruling Mughal Emperors, the
Company methodically expanded until it effectively
controlled the mercantile and monetary interests of
India’s most prosperous regions.
But the EIMC were not above using force; the
most infamous occasion being the ferocious clash at
Plassey in 1757, by which the Company effectively
annexed Bengal. The Company’s Directors invested
heavily in building formidable armed forces to
protect their interests. These burgeoning militias
sported steamships and heavy artillery.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 40 •
The EIMC waged several more conflicts, notably
against the formidable Marathas and the Kingdom
of Mysore. Events in Europe also spilled over into
India. Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore were
aided by French troops. The Marathas counted on
moral and military support from Emperor Heinrich
Otto, by way of the Ottoman Empire. But by 1820,
the Company stood triumphant, dominating almost
the whole sub-continent.
But then a strong wind of change blew through
Indian governance. The Britannian Prime Minister
Lord Gosford’s government suborned non-naval
EIMC military forces and its rule of the Indian realms
directly to Britannia, persuading the aging Emperor
Akbar to cede his crown to Britannia upon his death
Lord Gosford renamed the old Company lands
the Indian Raj, or ‘kingdom’. The committed
Knight faction leader also made ready to use
former Company forces to annex Burma. In 1820,
Britannian forces invaded the Raj’s neighbour but
quickly bogged down into a quagmire. It would not
be until 1823, that Burma was annexed, and even
then by treaty, not conquest.
Following the Burmese Wars, Lord Robert
Charles, was appointed Viceroy of the Indian Raj.
He, and his son Algernon who succeeded him
1854, realised that the Raj should be governed as
an ‘empire within an empire’. States and kingdoms
were criss-crossed with railways and telegraph lines.
With its wealth no longer being siphoned off by the
Company, the Raj became a political and economic
powerhouse.
The Charles Viceroys took their jobs seriously,
increasingly governing in Indian interests, even
when these caused friction with London. Algernon
took the title Lord Charles of Delhi, and was a driving
force behind the expansion of the Raj’s armed forces;
a decision that proved to be of great wisdom with the
outbreak of the World War.
That war itself precipitated a new era for the Raj.
As with the Canada, the importance of Indian support
has transformed its relations with Britannia. With the
Interbellum came the realisation in Britannia that
 
 THE INDIAN RAJ
the Raj was now a partner, not a subordinate, to the
Kingdom which had claimed it.
The Indian Raj has its own branches of the Three
Admiralties. Although still subordinate to London,
Indian Land, Naval and Air Armada commanders
have considerable autonomy. New Delhi houses
numerous factories, laboratories and workshops,
including the Raj’s primary branch of the Brunel
Academy.
Although many Raj officer corps originate
from Britannia, the vast majority, including senior
commanders, hail from the Raj itself. This has
increased with the performance of Indian forces
in the first part of the war, and the recall home of
many Britannian-born officers. As of the resumption
of conflict in 1876, the majority of Raj forces are
Indian-commanded.
The Raj was formally dependent on war machines
supplied from Britannia. However, Indian engineers
were initially far more enthusiastic adopting
Covenant technology than their Britannian peers.
Indian designers initially focused on land war
machines. Following old Mughal military tradition,
emphasising the visual display of might, military
architects such as Professor B.P. Gupta, often known
as the ‘Brunel of the Raj’ produced armoured vehicle
designs far larger than anything then contemplated
in Britannia. Raj war engines are renowned for their
artistry. The most bizarre units are the ‘War-Spirit
Brigades’, fielding colossal fighting elephants; potent
symbols of Indian heritage and military might.
Like their Mughal antecedents, many of the
Raj’s finest soldiers are skilled artillerists. Huge,
long-barrelled bombards are prevalent. Britannian-
designed Armstrong rifled cannon with armoured-
piercing shells provide deadly anti-tank firepower,
while massed gun batteries deliver box barrages at
high rates of fire to smother almost any opposition.
The Raj’s naval forces have expanded rapidly in
recent years. These warships are also noted for their
decorous appearance and major firepower. Heavy
bombardment weaponry is again favoured, and
Raj naval units proved crucial in evacuating Lord
Duxford’s 45th Expeditionary Force after it’s savaging
by the Blazing Sun Wani Division.
• 41 •
The Indian Raj has been right in the front line
since the advent of the World War. The initial
Blazing Sun assault on Singapore and then the Malay
Peninsula were opposed mainly by Raj forces. Indian
troops met the offensives with stubbornness and
courage, buying valuable time for full Britannian
mobilisation.
As the war has expanded, so has the Raj’s
involvement. Indian forces were active on fronts
worldwide. Everywhere they have fought, the Raj’s
soldiers have earned a reputation as formidable
opponents, willing to accept any challenge they face.
However, it is not only on the offense that the Raj’s
forces have been engaged. The Indian sub-continent
is a vital lynchpin of the entire Britannian empire,
but also faces potential threats from many directions.
As of the resumption of full-scale war in 1876,
these challenges have not diminished. In the east, the
battlefronts of Burma and Malaya still smoulder, held
at bay only by a masterful defence conducted from
the Raj’s Calcutta command and the forces based
in Bengal. Here, though, is also the Raj’s primary
offensive front, where Indian and Blazing Sun forces
clash on active battlefronts.
In the west, the volatile frontier and the Arabian
Sea provide potential routes of attack for Prussian
and French forces through Ottoman territory. Once
more, the ancient invasion routes from central Asia
into the Northwest Frontier must be watched and
garrisoned again.
But it is in the far north that the strangest activity
has occurred. Several remote outposts bordering
the lofty Himalayas have been struck by mysterious
attackers on several occasions, possibly Antarctican
in origin.
Aerial duels have been increasing in scale and
ferocity since the end of the Interbellum, in one
of the World War’s most inhospitable front lines.
Through it all, however, the Indian Raj will stand
firm, an eastern colossus whose strength will only
grow along with the challenges it faces!
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK
T he Kingdom of Denmark is one of Europe’s
oldest nations. Emerging as a unified and settled
medieval fief as early as the 10th Century, the nation
was marked by its naval power, especially in the
Baltic.
The Danish Kings ruled the pan-Scandinavian
‘Kalmar Union’ from the 14th Century. Sweden broke
away in 1523, ending the Kalmar Union but leaving
Norway and Denmark united. Denmark emerged as
an important player in Europe thanks to its control
of the Danish Straits, the only Baltic-North Sea route.
Inconclusive Danish conflict with Russia, Sweden,
the Netherlands and Britannia ensured that Baltic
control never rested with a single power. In the end,
however, it was events beyond the Denmark’s control
that spelt the end of this glorious history.
The inexorable rise of the Prussian Empire put
the Kingdom of Denmark in an awkward position.
Denmark also had very little to gain from a strong
Prussian Baltic prsence. As Napoleon rose in France
Denmark looked to him for aid. Denmark’s powerful,
battle-tested ironclad navy made it a tempting ally
for the French.
In 1801, the Britannian Admiral Parker attempted
to attack the Danish-Norwegian Navy in harbour,
to force Danish compliance. Though inconclusive,
the Britannians lost twelve battleships wrecked or
damaged to the Danish nine.
When Napoleon was crowned Emperor in 1804,
a military alliance thought likely. But Napoleon’s
sudden death ended this prospect. France fell into
brutal civil war, and in 1807 disaster befell the
Danes. The ‘Second Battle of Copenhagen’ saw the
first naval use of aerial power and the deployment of
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 42 •
an experimental Britannian ‘dreadnought’ vessel. The
Danes fought ferociously, but at the cost of almost
their entire navy.
This shocking assault, during preliminary peace
negotiations, was controversial in Britannia, let
alone Denmark. However in 1810 the Kingdom
successfully repelled a Britannian amphibious
assault. This bought the kingdom small respite, but
the next incursion onto Danish soil could not be
resisted.
In 1811 Prussian troops seized the Germanic
territories of Schleswig-Holstein. Unable to withstand
Heinrich Otto’s military juggernaut, the Danish
government bowed to the inevitable, allying with the
Prussian Empire to preserve its independence.
The Prussian defeat in 1815 was independent
Denmark’s salvation but costly nonetheless. In 1816,
the Empire formally annexed Denmark’s Germanic
territories, Norway and its claim on east Greenland,
which became part of Prussian Scandinavia.
Surrounded by Prussian domains, Denmark
remained sovereign thanks to its strategic location.
Any aggressive moves on the Straits by one Great
Power, would be instantly opposed by at least two
others.
Denmark embarked on rapid industrialisation,
driven and financed by the construction of ships to
supply state-funded Baltic mercantile concerns. The
return on these investments was invested in some
of the most powerful fortifications outside of the
Wolfgangs. These bastions mount an array of guns
and generators under which Baltic trade must pass.
Further innovations included the largest sea gates
ever constructed. These ‘booms’ of can be levered
across the straits at Nyborg-Korsor, Kastrup-Malmo
and Helsingor-Helsingborg. The mighty Kalundborg-
Kerteminde sea-gate, finished in 1875, completed
this huge array.
Denmark began to exact tolls from all foreign
ships passing the Straits. This provoked several
unsuccessful attempts to force the Straits. Following
Britannian and Russian military failures, the canny
Emperor Frederick Grunder offered to pay an
annual shipping subscription fee, greatly enriching
Denmark’s treasury.
 
 THE KINGDOM OF DENMARK
As international tensions rose again, the Danish
King Christian IX began to rebuild the Søværnet,
the Royal Danish Navy. Since 1807 the Kingdom
had relied on foreign-built ships, mostly Prussian.
The first domestic-built vessels were of frigate
class, but under the new policy, export designs were
re-engineered to new specifications.
The results were a unique series of Danish
warships. Modified Prussian hull forms were
mated with powerful turbines, producing very
manoeuvrable craft carrying heavy armament at
speed. Guns, assault boats and heavy minelaying
capacity, created a deadly fighting force in confined
waters. These capabilities alarmed foreign observers,
and privately the government had already begun
referring to the fleet as the ‘Kalmar Navy’.
Whilst not capable of contesting the Great
Powers for Baltic dominance outright, the Danes
sought further influence as arbiters. In 1868, Danish
military designers began creating an integrated aerial
force. Naval Air Service aeroplanes and airships soon
became a familiar sight over the Danish Straits.
The World War caught the Kingdom of Denmark
by surprise. With the Baltic and North Seas now
open warzones, Baltic trade dwindled. Soon, only
Prussian shipping passed the Straits, carrying war
materiel or troops.
Denmark had a momentous choice. Either it
closed the sea-gates to the Prussians, earning the
favour of the Grand Coalition, or it remained the
steward of the Baltic for the Prussian Empire.
Deputations from both the Grand Coalition and
the Imperial Bond sought Denmark’s alliance. After
nearly a century, the Kingdom’s fate had come full
circle.
In the end, two factors drove Denmark’s decision:
who would pay most in mercantile reparations,
and who was least capable of mounting reprisals.
While the Grand Coalition could offer abundant
recompense, this paled against the Prussian ability
to invade Denmark and counter-blockade the Straits.
The presence of France in the Imperial Bond and the
success of the Imperial Caribbean Expedition in
1871 sealed the deal.
• 43 •
The Kingdom of Denmark signed the Imperial
Bond for an undisclosed sum from the Prussian
Empire, and preferential trade deals. In one stroke,
the Bond acquired a secure Baltic and the powerful
new Danish navy.
The first test for the new navy came in late 1871
when Russian Coalition vessels attacked Prussian
North Sea oil platforms. This assault, part of the
supporting naval operations for the Storm of Steel,
saw the Danes engaging a Great Power for the
first time since 1807. The Kalmar ships acquitted
themselves well, helping beat off the Russians and
mining several key enemy vessels.
Danish operations continued throughout the
first period of the war, focussed mainly on raiding
enemy shipping, and disruptive nocturnal mining
operations against hostile ports. The Naval Air
Service also mounted controversial ‘Wild Cat’
voyages, seeding parts of the North Sea with free-
floating rogue mines.
By late 1872, Danish naval power had reached its
zenith. Nonetheless, there had been few opportunities
for the new Søværnet to sail in force. The only full
fleet operation was during the Britannian evacuation
of the Low Countries. Fast Danish vessels exacted a
painful toll on Britannian Grand Fleet units covering
the sailings from Zeebrugge and Oostende; suitable
revenge for the Battles of Copenhagen.
By 1875, with the threat of renewed war rising
again, the ‘Kalmar Navy’ reached the limits of its
expansion, seemingly stymieing Danish aims for
control of the Baltic. However, subtle feelers from
the Prussian Empire indicated that major operations
were soon to be afoot in the Baltic, and that the
Prussians were willing to offer a ‘significant gift’ in
return for Danish aid.
Danish officials quickly arranged a meeting
between the Prussian Ambassador and Christian IX.
During those closeted discussions, the king learned
that the Prussian Emperor was willing to allow his
Norwegian and Swedish subjects to immigrate to
Denmark; and in return, desperately needed Danish
help in the great battles to come.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE SPANISH REPUBLICAN CONFEDERACY
S pain was once a mighty imperial power, holding
sway over a huge swath of the New World from
Mexico to the Tierra del Fuego. However, over
the centuries, this great empire was completely
dismembered by foreign aggression abroad and
ineffectual kings at home. The nadir came when Spain
became just another battleground of the Napoleonic
and Prussian Wars, torn apart by factional infighting.
Spain’s monarchy was eventually restored by
the Britannians in 1815, under the controversial
Ferdinand VII. By then, however, it was too late for
the Spanish Empire. One by one, its old colonies
established themselves as independent republics.
Spain’s monarchy staggered on until 1848, when
it fell victim to the wave of European revolutions,
forcing the abdication of Queen Isabella II. General
Simon Valdez, seized power at the head of a military
junta supported by the Italian League. The self-styled
‘Captain-General of Spain’ ruled as a military dictator
until his fall in 1853 at the hands of resurgent
democratic revolutionaries.
With Valdez’s fall, a democratic republic emerged,
opposed to militarism and Marxism. Under its first
President Fernando Cuaron, Republican Spain
steered a line of careful even-handedness. It also tried
to strengthen its ties with the Spanish republics in
South America, in what Cuaron called a ‘confederacy
of equals’.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 44 •
Over the years, however, the grand vision of
confederacy faded. Mexico was annexed by the
United States in the 1830s. Peru and Ecuador were
eventually enveloped by further expansion from the
north, opposing the burgeoning ambitions of the
Socialist Union of South America. Ambitious Chile
aligned with the Empire of the Blazing Sun carved its
own path at the expense first of Argentina and then,
more recently of Bolivia.
In light of these developments, by the time of
World War’s outbreak, Cuaron’s confederacy dream
was well and truly buried. The Spanish Republican
Confederacy now consists only of Spain itself and
its West African ‘sister Republic’ of the Rio de l’Oro.
President Jose Ortiz kept the SRC neutral during
the first part of the World War, while strengthening
the SRC’s military by whatever means he could. Ortiz
knew that Spain’s strategic position at the head of
Mediterranean would eventually force the SRC to
choose a side.
The tipping point for the SRC came in 1872,
after successful French campaign in North Africa
greatly strengthened the Imperial Bond in the
Western Mediterranean. The following year, Ortiz’s
government concluded a treaty of alliance with the
Republique of France.
This decision was not taken lightly. But ultimately,
the pragmatic Ortiz determined that his nation was
at far greater risk from naval and aerial attack, or
even outright invasion by the Imperial Bond than
the Grand Coalition.
With the end of the Interbellum, the SRC
mobilised its newly reinforced military, with the
intention of repelling any Grand Coalition reprisals.
The Ortiz government does not seek conquest
or expansion, but is ready to fight tenaciously to
preserve its territory in the strategic flashpoint the
SRC occupies.
 
 THE WANI
T he Wani – the most infamous military force in
the world. Under their notorious commander,
General of the Sword Oni, the Wani were the
harbingers of World War. By bringing down Blazing
Sun’s wrath upon Singapore, they ignited the powder
keg that exploded into the world’s most devastating
conflict.
The Sword Army 3rd Division had been groomed
by High General Uematsu as his Army’s premier
first strike force. When the Singapore mission was
authorised, Uematsu inevitably chose his most
fearsome Division to fulfil the task.
Whether or not the High General intended for the
mission to explode into such apocalyptic violence is
something he has, understandably, never spoken of.
Neither has Oni; except to insist that the Wani were
indeed fired upon first by the East India Merchant
Company.
Publically, Singapore cemented the Wani as
heroes, striking against perceived Britannian
arrogance. The Empress’s government outwardly
endorsed Oni as a powerful propaganda tool even as
Shinobi agents pursued him!
Singapore was only the beginning of the Wani’s
meteoric offensive. Oni proved to be an excellent
fighting general, establishing an almost cult-like
following. But even military genius and fighting spirit
could not counter military overstretch. The offensive
faltered on the Burmese border. It was here that the
old Sword 3rd Division ended, and the Wani’s story
truly began.
The Division was sundered. Half of its forces
refused to follow their commander’s lead further.
• 45 •
Oni himself, however, believed that for him there
was then no going back to the imperial fold. With
his core followers, he travelled northwards, through
Siam and into the Chinese Federation.
The Wani found a discreet but warm reception.
In return for sanctuary, Oni and his soldiers assisted
in modernising the Chinese fighting forces. Indeed,
the Federation military owed much of its combat
effectiveness during ‘Operation Copper Rain’ to the
efforts of the Wani.
Ironically, closer Sino-Japanese relations also
compelled the Wani to leave the Federation. They
sailed in 1872 aboard a powerful new flotilla
commissioned by the Guangxu Emperor.
The Wani announced their return in spectacular
fashion, blazing a trail through Grand Coalition
forces fighting around the Solomon Islands. However,
despite attempts at contact, they did not announce
themselves to the Empress’s forces.
Instead they vanished for several more months.
Exactly where they went is still a mystery. Even after
their eventual return to Japan, Oni would only speak
enigmatically about ‘travelling further than one
could ever image’.
Nonetheless, the Wani did return to Japan,
bearing strange technologies beyond even the IAI.
The Divine Empress in her mercy saw fit to take the
rogues back into her service. Their first new mission
took them far from home shores again. Operating
from a secret South Atlantic base, the ‘ghost ships’ of
the rogues engaged in a fearsome raiding campaign.
As the years passed, it dawned on the Wani that
return to imperial service was in fact part of their
punishment. To this day, they are not formally
recognised - the Sword Army long ago replaced its
3rd Division – and have been purposely based far
away from the home islands, in distant Kanawa
Province in South America.
For General Oni, the truth became clear during
the Interbellum; the Wani must prove their loyalty
to the throne fully and unequivocally once more.
Only then will their exile end, and their shame be
wholly forgiven. As the war which he himself helped
to trigger erupts anew, the General has made his part
in its prosecution a personal quest for redemption.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE BLACK WOLF
C aptain Vladimir Nikonov was already a daring
and unconventional officer when he joined the
Russian White Navy’s submarine programme in 1861.
He had honed his skills as a Destroyer Commander
in the Black Sea against the Ottoman Navy.
However, such skills inflated Nikonov’s ego.
Wiry of build, dark-haired and charismatic, his
subordinates nicknamed him ‘Black Wolf’. He
became more a corsair than a naval officer; styling
himself upon piratical legends like Blackbeard Teach
and Sir Francis Drake.
He found regular naval service suffocating, and
was aggrieved by the navy’s perpetually subordinate
position. Nikonov was transferred to the submarine
programme with the promise of additional status.
His superiors also believed that submarine duty
would keep his subversive views away from other
‘conventional’ officers.
Nikonov was given command of the powerful
Death Bringer, end product of Proyeckt Pobeda –
‘Victory Project’. At first, all seemed well. However,
only a year later, Nikonov had been compromised.
Prussian and Ottoman agents had offered him
massive bribes to undermine the Russian submarine
project. It did not take much to corrupt the
disgruntled egomaniac. He quickly turned his crew,
aided by his personal charisma and the close-knit
bond between all submariners.
Disaster erupted in 1864: during Death Bringer’s
final sea-trials, Nikonov led a mass mutiny, ejecting
the ship’s Oprichnina overseers bodily through the
torpedo tubes. They sailed back to Kerch, eluding
all patrols. In a night raid, Nikonov stole the master
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 46 •
copies of Death Bringer’s blueprints, then fired the
magazines and fuel reserves, destroying the dock and
crippling Proyeckt Pobeda.
Amid the carnage Black Wolf escaped. The White
Navy command sought him frantically, following his
trail of destruction across the Black Sea. He pillaged
and sank six Russian freighters before vanishing
through the Bosphorus.
But Nikonov did not surrender his vessel to
any benefactor. Instead, he followed his dream of
becoming a pirate, a scourge of the seas - hunted by
many, but never captured.
Desiring to inflict yet more humiliation on the
White Navy, the Black Wolf made a contract with
the Prussians in 1871 as the Storm of Steel gathered.
Blazing another path of devastation; his most daring
exploit was sinking the Russian battleship Irkutsk at
anchor after infiltrating the heavily-guarded Thames
Estuary in Britannia.
His reign of terror was finally cut short during a
bloody night action in the southern North Sea, close
to the Southern Bight. The Grand Coalition forces
organised a decoy convoy packed with Q-ships.
Nikonov scored several kills before the battered
Death Bringer was forced to crash dive.
When the action subsided Nikonov made for
the Arctic and a secret safe harbour. Despite his
reputation as an aggressive maverick, Black Wolf had
survived far too long as a corsair to be caught, even
in the jaws of such a fearsome trap.
Nikonov nursed the battered Death Bringer
through waters rendered calmer by the maelstrom in
the southern North Sea. Although the submarine had
taken a vicious pounding, Black Wolf and his crew
kept the craft operational. They even managed a few
reprisals, torpedoing two Russian transport craft off
the Faroe Islands.
Nikonov continued his larcenous activities
when dealing with his erstwhile ‘allies’. Only four
days after his escape, he stopped a lone Prussian
merchant cruiser, forcibly ‘appropriating’ her stores.
In this way, Death Bringer crept towards its ultimate
destination where Nikonov would find salvation;
the island of Ammassalik, just off Greenland’s wild
south-eastern coast.
 
 THE BLACK WOLF
Considered remote even by Greenland’s standards,
Ammasalik and the surrounding cluster of islets and
fjords housed an Antarctican base, Clavius Point,
long known as a prime ‘rogues anchorage’. It was
run by a strong contingent of Wraith and Spectre
agents under Covenant intelligence chief Lady Eliza
Drakenburg.
Nikonov had frequented Clavius before; the
Covenant agents frequently issued lucrative contracts
to mercenary forces. The Arctic was a key market as
the Antarctican reach lengthened after the Storm of
Steel. But Black Wolf needed far more assistance to
set matters right with his ship and crew, and was
bracing himself for a high price. However, the rogue
captain was in for another stroke of good fortune.
After the dramatic events of the Storm of Steel,
Lady Drakenburg had been authorised to create
‘supplementary forces’ to strengthen the Covenant
presence in the far north, until core Antarctican
military strength in the region could be expanded.
To this end, Covenant agents had been co-opting
various mercenary commanders into a loose coalition
with the promise of supply and support. These new
units, dubbed ‘Black Companies’ retained their
independence; working as conveniently ‘deniable
assets’ for the Covenant secret service, in return for a
blind eye being turned to their other ‘activities’.
This was a controversial policy as many of the
mercenaries involved, not least Nikonov himself, had
shady reputations. Drakenburg and other hardliners
in the Covenant’s upper echelons maintained that to
achieve the Covenant’s long-term war aims, the ends
justified the means.
Lord Sturgeon, despite his misgivings, gave his
intelligence chief and her new ‘Black Companies’ his
tacit support; after all, though they were powerful,
the Covenant’s own forces were not limitless.
Into this scene sailed Black Wolf, who immediately
found himself and his crew to be a valuable asset
to the masters of Clavius Point. Never one to turn
down an opportunity for wealth and glory, the rogue
captain entered negotiations in earnest.
• 47 •
Nikonov bargained hard but in truth, both sides
gained a great deal. Lady Drakenburg scored a coup
when she was able to deliver a copy of the Death
Bringer’s blueprints to Wells Chasm, stifling several
of her critics including the influential Lord Leonidas.
The priceless Markovite technology was not
just valuable for research – several facsimiles of
the deadly vessel soon took shape on the hidden
slipways of Clavius, alongside many other powerful
mercenary-commissioned vessels.
In return, the ambitious Nikonov achieved
another of his dreams. He would be raised to a full
fleet commander, a commodore. Other captains in
Clavius flocked to serve alongside the legendary
Black Wolf. In mid-1872, Nikonov was once again
unleashed upon the world; wherever his new forces
struck, chaos and disruption followed, more than
satisfying his secret backers. His services have
remained in high demand ever since, even as the
Black Companies have grown in size, power, and
sophistication.
Thanks to the backing of their Covenant
sponsors, the Black Companies make use of several
sophisticated technologies. Not only are clones
of the deadly Death Bringer coming into service,
the reavers’ forces also benefit from lethal drone-
controlled Talon attack craft and the formidable
Manticore type Gravity Null Engine warships that
serve as their tenders and control vessels.
However, outside of Lady Drakenburg’s
supporters, misgivings about the volatile Black
Companies and their ruthless methods remaining
strong within the Covenant’s governing council,
although the hard-line faction that supports their use
has remained resolute, even growing in strength with
the end of the Interbellum.
Whatever misgivings some within the Covenant
may have, the Black Companies are undeniably
useful. As long as the Antarctican intelligence service
supports them, the Black Wolf and his mercenary
cohorts will continue to thrive on their diet of battle
and plunder!
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE LEAGUE OF ITALIAN STATES
T he League of Italian States coalesced in 1848 in
response to the rising tide of agitation that swept
across Europe. This springtime of nations failed to
dramatically alter the landscape in most of countries
it affected, but the Italian peninsula was the excep-
tion. The shockwaves caused by the Doge’s flight
from Venice with a mob at his heels, the short lived
but violent Florentine Commune and Garibaldi’s
abortive march on Rome had profound effects.
At Fiumicino, the various heads of the Italian
States agreed that they must hang together or hang
separately. The Italian League, created by the rulers
of Sardinia, Lombardy, Venice and Sicily, should have
been an enduring solution, politically disarming
both the unity movement and the political radicals.
In the face of the new League Gendarmerie
and the less public, but more fearful threat of the
old ‘Grey Houses’ of professional assassins, many
such people sought different climes. Such men and
women found new homes from Britannia to South
America and, later, the burgeoning Antarctica
The most famous Italian dissident, Giuseppe
Garibaldi, was sent off to fight for Greek
Independence, taking many troublesome nationalists
with him. With Garibaldi and his redshirts gone,
those same leaders could breathe easier. In time they
would come to know that this safety was illusory.
Soon the Tetrarchy began to realise that their
League had other benefits and not only at home.
Being much greater in power together than apart, the
Tetrarchs again sought the long held fantasy of ‘mare
nostrum’, an Italian-ruled Mediterranean.
In practice, however, the Tetrarchs still could
not sublimate their individual desires for overall
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 48 •
dominance. As Lord Marco Santini remarked to the
Papal Nuncio in Turin: ‘The Mediterranean will be
ours again, Cardinal. We will have a new empire,
even if we cannot yet divine who will be Caesar…’
It was the latter prize that the Italian leaders were
eyeing.
Within a decade of the League’s first appearance,
the political infighting within it had become
legendary. Bribery, the manipulation of emerging
mass media, corruption and even assassination
became shockingly commonplace. Even visiting
Covenant scholars found themselves engulfed in
regional strife within the supposedly ‘unified’ League.
In 1863 the supposedly unified League military
was dramatically rent asunder in a process of reform
initiated by the then King Luciano of Sicily. Helped
by a campaign of fearmongering and propaganda,
Luciano pressed the case for restoring the division
of military forces between the Tetrarchy states.
Seeing only the chance for further aggrandisement,
the other Tetrarchs agreed, but the division would
prove to be the beginning of the end for the League
of Italian States.
The outbreak of the World War hardly impacted
the thoroughly corrupt League structure. The various
Hunter Fleets, of the League spread out across the
globe. One of the most notorious, the Sardinian
Admiral DeLuca’s ‘Trajan Fleet’ would even sail as far
as the Pacific by 1872.
Initially aligned to the Imperial Bond, at least
nominally, Italian forces proved to be potent military
assets, but utterly exasperating political ones. The
League came before the Bond, but more importantly,
the home state came before the League.
To the rest of the Bond, the operations of the
League seemed near anarchic. Misappropriation
of resources was rampant. Interstate rivalries,
even vendettas between individual commanders,
frequently overruled consideration of anything even
approaching a strategic plan.
However, in late 1871, it seemed the League’s
unity would be preserved by outside tensions. The
Tetrarchy signed the Treaty of Zagreb, under heavy
Prussian pressure. Outwardly promising, it ended
Italian-Ottoman hostility, and promised Prussian aid
 
 THE LEAGUE OF ITALIAN STATES
in Italian Mediterranean expansion. Unfortunately,
the outcome fell far short of the promises.
Even after Zagreb, bickering and infighting within
the League continued. Latent rivalry between Sicily
and Venice grew bitter, even as both states’ forces
fought with distinction during Operation Sirocco.
Only general war on Italy’s very doorstep was holding
the Tetrarchy together.
Ironically, it was the cessation of hostilities
during the Interbellum that struck the deathblow
to the League, in a final, fatal campaign of political
infighting. In late 1872, a Venetian Hunter Fleet
was effectively destroyed by an Indian Raj flotilla
sortieing from Malta. Explosively, news then emerged
that a nearby Sicilian flotilla had been in radiograph
distance, but made no move to assist.
Predictably, Doge Antonio of Venice exploded
at his fellow Tetrarchs in Rome, especially Sicilian
Queen Lucrezia, but was met only with indifference.
Antonio stormed home, only to find himself deposed
by his own people in favour of the radical Councillor
Alessandro Fragomeni; the Venetian Republic
repudiating him along with the League itself and
their role in the World War.
With Venice gone and the remaining triumvirate
of rulers at each other’s throats as a result, the fate
of the League hung by a thread. Into this maelstrom
stepped a man who believed his time, and the time
for true Italian unity had come; Giuseppe Garibaldi.
Cut loose by the League after Zagreb, Garibaldi’s
Legion had been effectively exiled in the Free
Hellenic Kingdom. Now the Redshirts rallied to their
leader, and sailed for Taranto scant months after the
Venetian withdrawal.
Initially all went well. The Redshirts landed in
Taranto to a hero’s welcome, and their numbers
swelled with local volunteers. Emboldened, Garibaldi
marched rapidly on Naples, but the Neapolitans
barred their gates, refusing to be swayed.
Marching instead to Rome, Garibaldi demanded
a meeting with the Tetrarchs, but his efforts were for
naught. Only King Victor Emmanuel of Sardinia and
Duke Umberto the Lombard Regent were present,
and neither would heed Garibaldi’s calls for unity.
• 49 •
Sardinia’s priority was defence against Britannia;
Lombardy, preserving its position against French
influence. Neither truly trusted him or his followers,
and Victor, in whom Garibaldi had placed so much
hope, flatly refused to wear ‘half a crown’, ruling over
a still-shattered Italy. Garibaldi withdrew to Taranto,
despondent, and the League gasped its last as Victor
and Umberto agreed to an indefinite adjournment.
By the end of the Interbellum, the League existed
only as a name known to foreigners. All of the
former Tetrarchy states now seek to follow their
own agendas, from Lombardy’s intense focus on self-
preservation, to Queen Lucrezia’s imperial ambitions
in the Mediterranean.
As the World War begins again in earnest, the
Italian States have reverted to what they were for so
long before the League; mercenaries and opportunists
without equal; feared and sought after by warring
powers the world over.
Despite the stormy politics forming a backdrop
to their operations, the Italian Hunter Fleets
remain a powerful force in the World War. All the
major Italian States are heavily militarised, and the
widespread Italian diaspora is adept at sourcing men
and materiel for repairs and resupply worldwide.
Italian war machines tend to be lightly armoured,
but are well-protected with highly efficient Shield
Generators. Rapid firing cannon and fast-loading
torpedo tubes, manned by experienced weapon
crews and guided by sophisticated radiograph
targeting, stitch ragged lines of devastation across
the toughest targets.
Italian battle doctrine dictates the weakest point
of any vessel is its crew, and the use of deadly Entropy
(Calcification) Generators is widespread. The morale
effects of these horrifying weapons is almost as
devastating as the physical havoc they wreak.
The Italians are notoriously deadly in the air. The
fate of many enemy patrols and convoys has been
sealed by a looming Italian Sky Fortress and its
consorts. Lethal interceptors drive away enemy aerial
defenders, before torpedoes and bombs are delivered
with vicious accuracy, leaving their victims drifting
helplessly dead in the water – easy and valuable prey
for the predatory warships of the Hunter Fleets.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE LEAGUE OF CRIMSON
T he League of Crimson was founded in 1813 in
London by Lord Henry Dashwood. Against the
grim backdrop of the Prussian Wars and the ‘Year
Without a Summer’, Dashwood’s club was a carefree
refuge for the ultra-wealthy. They took inspiration,
ironically, from the Prussian tradition of dueling
with swords. The name ‘League of Crimson’ was
originally coined by a new member after seeing
several particularly bloody bouts.
Lord Henry himself was the club’s deadliest
blade. His ferocious lashing style earned him the
epithet ‘Scorpion’. Soon, the club officially became
the League of Crimson and adopted a scorpion as
its emblem.
The advent of the Sturginium Age transformed
the League of Crimson permanently. In 1855, Master
George Dashwood, Henry’s grandson, sailed for chill
Antarctica. Accompanying him was his new wife,
Helena, the famed ‘Aviatrix of Charleston’.
In a drinking-house in Aristotle Harbour, they met
a disaffected young scientist, Yuri Strakhovski. Plied
with a steady supply of strong spirits, the dejected
scholar spoke freely: he was an Interlocutor, or
‘Banksman’; a specialist responsible for interrogating
the mysterious Covenant ‘Knowledge Banks’! The
indolent Yuri’s motivation was simply a comfortable
life, and it was a simple matter for the Leaguesmen
couple to corrupt him.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 50 •
Three days and one act of theft was all it took. Yuri
did not abscond with a mass of secrets, as Markow
Helsinki would later do. Instead, he stole a small
portable ‘Knowledge Bank’, an innocent-seeming
machine, but one with vast import for the League.
Ensconced in the Scorpion’s Nest, the League’s
fortified West African heaquarters, the rogue scientist
found that he could use the Knowledge Bank to
deconstruct and re-engineer existing machines. He
produced advanced weapons, which the League
later put to use during the American Civil War.
Leaguesmen took employment with both factions in
the conflict; often deliberately sought each other out
to engage in Sturginium Age duelling. It is a practice
they continue to this day.
Thrill-seeking industrialists, scions of noble
families, former athletes and sportsmen, drawn from
across the world, all rub shoulders in the gilded halls
of the Scorpion’s Nest.
Its members pool their vast resources to sustain
their fearsome weaponry and training regimes.
Leaguesmen will fight one another as enthusiastically
as any enemy. No grudges are kept, even if fatalities
ensue. The thrill of battle trumps any other
considerations.
For the League, the World War is a grand
adventure, offering experiences and adventures the
like of which were simply not possible in the dog
days of peace.
As befits their style of combat, League warships are
crammed with cutting edge technology. Designed to
operate with very small crews, they are almost always
ornately decorated. In battle, they prefer to strike
from ambush. Incredibly swift, they run rings around
most opponents, all the while slicing and tearing at
them .Doing battle with the League of Crimson has
been likened by more than one commander as being
akin to dueling with mist or smoke.
As the World War rages on, so the League endures.
Owing final allegiance only to themselves, too potent,
and too useful to be targeted for destruction by the
nations of the world, they continue to cut a bloody
swathe through battle fronts around the globe!
 
 EAST INDIA MERCHANT COMPANY
T he East India Merchant Company (EIMC) is one
of the world’s largest, oldest and most ruthless
trading companies. Its opulent main headquarters
is located in London, but it also maintains equally
lavish Presidency Offices in Calcutta, Bombay and
Madras, and lately a new office in Lisbon following a
merger with its one-time Portuguese rivals.
In the early 1820s, Britannian Prime Minster Lord
Gosford suborned the Company’s Indian territories
and armies into the greater Britannian Empire, but
the Directors in Calcutta were hardly fazed. They
were richly remunerated.
The EIMC’s behaviour became distinctly more
rapacious after their losses in the Anglo-Burmese
Wars. Its activities in opening up new markets, and
challenging rivals, became more aggressive. The
more the Company grew, the more it had to lose, and
the more resources it expended to protect its gains.
This relentless cycle of expansion climaxed cata-
strophically
By 1868, the heart of the EIMC’s power was the
island fortress of Singapore. Although technically
Britannian territory, the Company retained the right
to run Singapore more or less on its own terms, as
part of the settlement with Gosford’s government.
The Company had long been apprehensive about
the growing influence of the Empire of the Blazing
Sun. The inevitable catalyst came in mid-1868. The
Company’s Governor of Singapore, Sir Reginald
Horncastle, unilaterally expelled all Blazing Sun
• 51 •
traders. Within a fortnight, the Blazing Sun’s Sword
Army Third Division, the Wani, under the vengeful
General Oni, had mobilised to conduct ‘exercises’ in
the area. What happened next is hotly debated.
The Company contends that Oni ordered a puni-
tive strike on Singapore. Others, however, insist that
Horncastle commanded Singapore’s defences to fire
for effect.Whatever the cause, the consequences were
extreme. Within 48 hours, Singapore had been razed,
with Horncastle himself among the many casual-
ties. From this bloody beginning, the World War
exploded.
With Horncastle dead and Oni returned the
Blazing Sun, but unsurprisingly blaming the EIMC
for the disaster, it is unlikely that the truth of who
provoked whom will be confirmed anytime soon.
Some even whisper that it was the Company’s inten-
tion to precipitate war. They are not above selling
their services to some powers their Britannian
masters deem ‘untrustworthy’.
Naturally, the Directors were never in any doubt
that war would return. By 1876, the Company stood
ready to assist renewed Britannian offensives, espe-
cially in South-East Asia – the island of Singapore
remains just a strong a lure for the EIMC as it did
when they first claimed it decades ago.
The most momentous development for the
Company came during the Interbellum in 1874,
when it bought out the entire Portuguese East India
Company, which had fallen on hard times ever since
its banning from the East Indies by the Empire of
the Blazing Sun. The Company effectively controls
the diminutive Portuguese Empire’s military strength
and security.
The Company owns private shipyards in India,
Burma and now Portugal, and its wealth means that
it can afford to commission and maintain powerful
forces. Equipped with some of the best ships and
flying engines money can buy, and with crews whose
loyalty is solidified by the rich rewards they can reap
on contractual campaigns, the EIMC’s naval and
aerial strength are formidable.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE AUSTRALIANS
F ormerly wholly governed by Britannia, Australia
began to experience cracks in its unity in the
early 1840s. Queensland and New South Wales were
approached by agents of the Blazing Sun who wanted
to employ mercenary troops to cover military short-
falls caused by their Korean war.
The rumbling Britannina-Australian rift blew
apart at this development. Civil war broke out
in 1842; Queensland, New South Wales and the
Northern Territory, declared independence. Under
Roger McConnell, formerly a senior administrator in
the Queensland state government, the three dissident
states formed a union they called ‘Free Australia’.
Western and South Australia remained loyal, but
unenthusiastic about the idea of fighting their own
countrymen. Lord Nigel Dinsley, the Britannian
Governor-General, requested aid from Britannian
forces stationed in New Zealand. Support arrived
quickly, via Tasmania, and halting the rebels before
they had a chance to force the issue by military
means.
What limited conflict did occur took place mostly
in contested, Victoria. Its government had declared
for Free Australia in mid-1842, but the people
thought otherwise, and a general rising failed to
occur. Free Australian forces promptly moved into
the state from New South Wales, intending to seize
Melbourne and its large harbour.
However, the loyalists, supported by Britannian
troops and ships, managed to hold out. The Free
Australians were forced back into New South Wales.
Knight faction hardliners in the loyalist Australian
camp urged Dinsley to mount a full counter-offensive.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 52 •
But Dinsley believed a united Australia could not
be won with blood and feared a total loss if the war
was prolonged. Instead, he eventually obtained
permission to negotiate a ‘peaceful division’.
Even as Victoria joined the loyalists, Dinsley
went to the negotiating table to hammer out a peace
settlement. The three loyal states, plus Tasmania,
became known as Royal Australia, and merged with
New Zealand as a single Dominion. The ‘dissident’
states became the Free Australian Commonwealth.
Free Australia’s independence was guaranteed on
two conditions. First, there would be no coercion
of Royal Australian states to secede. Second, there
was to be no prosecutions within Australia or New
Zealand. In turn, Britannia would not forcibly attempt
to reunite Australia nor interfere in Free Australian
affairs. By 1844, the separation was complete.
Royal Australia is a Britannian possession
and shares the same allies and foes as Britannia.
Royal Australia and New Zealand are governed
as one Dominion, with two Prime Ministers and
local governments. Lord Dinsley was succeeded
as Governor in 1873 by Lady Rowena Hawtin,
an appointee recommended by Britannian Prime
Minister Disraeli himself.
In addition to material resources, the Dominion
provides fighting formations for the Britannian
Empire. Its main contribution to the Grand
Coalition war effort are its potent naval flotillas.
Royal Australian forces served in the Solomon
Islands campaigns, while other fleet units provided
naval support for the Britannian Army if the Nile.
The Australian units in the latter campaign fought
with particular distinction, impressing both their
Britannian and Indian comrades and the Ottoman
forces alike.
With new hostilities, Royal Australia once again
stands ready to commit to battle for the Grand
Coalition, impressing allies and enemies once again
with their tenacity and the destructiveness of their
heavy ordnance!
The Free Commonwealth has developed into
a nascent republic, with a First Minister as head
of state and a Commonwealth Assembly. Under
 
 THE AUSTRALIANS
the leadership of First Minister Anna Hargreaves,
the Commonwealth conducts its own affairs in all
matters.
Although possessing a modest agricultural and
industrial base, mercenary soldiering remains a
speciality among many of the Commonwealth’s
inhabitants. Many Commonwealth units are fighting
for the Empire of the Blazing Sun in its battles against
the Britannians in South East Asia.
This had led to some considerable friction in
the region. The Britannians are aware of Australian
mercenaries fighting against their forces, but
do not wish to widen the war by attacking the
Commonwealth. The Free Australians in turn do not
wish to provoke this outcome either.
Consequently, a curious ‘gentleman’s agreement’
has come to exist in South East Asia. Free Australians
operating under Blazing Sun contracts fight mainly
against East India Company and Portuguese forces
fighting with the Britannians.
As the World War intensified, Commonwealth
Contractual Flotillas were sighted frequently,
operating alongside the forces of many powers.
American observers noted their presence in the
South Pacific in 1872, while a world away to the
north, the Russian garrison of Petropavlovsk-
Kamchatsky exchanged fire with Free Australians
operating in support of an abortive Covenant assault
on that remote region.
The Interbellum had a profound effect upon the
Commonwealth. With the easing of travel restrictions
to the Covenant, many migrants passed through the
established Antarctican embassy at Canberra on their
journey south. Not all made the final leg, however,
deciding that life in Free Australia was preferable to
chancing the hostile conditions of the Covenant.
As a result, the Commonwealth saw its population
increase significantly, with a great proportion of the
settlers being at least partially combat trained. This
welcome boost in manpower has meant that the
Commonwealth has been able to increase its number
of operating Contractual Flotillas just in time for the
renewal of hostilities. For the nation now widely
known as ‘The Mercenary’s Haven’, the future looks
promising indeed.
• 53 •
Despite their profound political differences, the
Royal and Free Australian military forces share a
great deal of technology and weaponry. Both sides
depended upon Britannian-sourced materials for
everything from small arms to heavy ordnance and
war machines during their brief civil war.
Relatively isolated from the rest of the world,
but with a good resource base of raw materials, the
Australians of both sides were compelled to continue
developing their military capacity from this same
basis.
Consequently, Australian weapons and war
machines lack some of the sophistication of their
Britannian forebears, but they are tough, hardwearing
and rarely malfunction. Moreover, Australian and
New Zealand engineers are noted for some surprising
innovations, especially in naval architecture.
These include ‘sheathed’ Generator housings
designed to protect their valuable contents from
both enemy action and rough weather. Ingenious
booster systems allow such Generators to have their
outputs adjusted when exposed. The Australians
also pioneered the use of specialist tender vessels for
midget submarines, which act as launch vessels for
shoals of deadly underwater strike craft.
Australians of all stripes are not shy about outright
commandeering captured enemy craft, weapons and
other systems even in the heat of battle. Far better,
their doctrine asserts, to put something straight to
use when it is needed, and to save more detailed
analysis for the ‘eggheads’ back at home base!
Some of the crack Contractual Flotillas of the
Free Australians also harbour even stranger devices
– weapons and ancillary systems ‘acquired’ from
the Covenant of Antarctica. Numerous eyewitness
reports of Free Australian warships engaging enemies
with glittering beams of ‘killing light’ and glowing,
shield-breaching cannon shells cannot be dismissed
as fantasy
Many of these devices are also thought to be
operated by Covenant personnel rather than Free
Australian troops. However, the Free Australians
remain as close-mouthed about this as they are with
any of their mercenary dealings, and the Covenant
likewise.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE DOMINION OF CANADA
T he Dominion of Canada began as small clusters
of settlements amidst a vast wilderness; the
preserve of great natural wonders and flourishing
native cultures. In many ways, little has changed,
except those settlements now ring to the clangour
of industry as Canada’s industrial might grows, and
its wilderness is bridged by railways and roads.
But the frontier spirit still flows in the hearts of all
Canadians.
Canada has been shaped by English and French
influence; the latter strongest in Quebec, the ‘Belle
Province’ of ‘New France.’ The Quebecois created the
heart of pre-Dominion Canada’s industrial heritage.
Nonetheless, the then-British government built a
coalition of Anglo-Saxon settlers and native tribes
strong enough to annex Canada during the Seven
Years’ War.
This patriotic legacy and subsequent Britannian
investment, maintained Canada’s allegiance. When
the American Revolution broke out, Canada refused
to be swayed, even welcoming loyalist American
exiles.
Canada’s suspicion of the United States was to
swell into animosity through later years. During the
War of 1812, the USA even backed an unsuccessful
invasion. Canadian troops returned the gesture by
burning the US capital during their subsequent
counter-offensive!
Following the war, the US government covertly
sponsored several Quebecois uprisings. Although
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police quelled these
disturbances, the last coinciding with the European
uprisings of 1848, Britannia afterwards allowed
Canada greater domestic autonomy.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 54 •
In late 1840, the Dominion formally became a
federal nation within the Britannian empire. Soon
after, a covert US-Canadian arms race began. As well
as defensive works, both nations built formidable
freshwater navies.
When the US ‘Ore War’ exploded into civil war
in 1861, the Dominion military mobilised and was
reinforced from Britannia. Repeated appeals came
from both warring American factions, but remained
unanswered until 1863, when then Prime Minister
Palmerston brought Britannia into the war against
the Union.
The ‘Intervention War’ proved a massive learning
curve. After early victories, an assault on Chicago
was bloodily repulsed and a Great Lakes naval
offensive proved inconclusive. Eventually, war on
three fronts brought down the United States. The
Union Army began to collapse under the strain. A
crushing Canadian victory during the Battle of Lake
Superior presaged a Canadian and Britannian land
offensive into New York State.
Canada’s actions earned it the gratitude of the new
Federated States of America and placed a friendly
government in Washington DC. It also made Canada
at the time unique among Britannia’s Dominions, in
having battle experience of the first major Sturginium
Age war.
Despite the Intervention War, Canada continued
its development. Although its Prime Minister Sir
James Regis immediately declared war upon the
Empire of the Blazing Sun after the Singapore
disaster, London initially asked Canada to only act
as an imperial armoury and breadbasket.
However, the London Raid changed matters
completely. Regis ordered full first-line mobilisation,
though initial deployments were limited. Land Fleet
detachments relocated to the Caribbean in 1871,
and to Belgium where they fought with the Army of
Flanders.
Still sensitive to memories of the Intervention
War, the Britannia and Canadian commands
initially avoid large deployments on FSA territory.
Likewise, logistical challenges at first prevented large
deployments to Europe.
 
 THE DOMINION OF CANADA
Instead, the Canadian government embarked on
an impressive military build-up, creating distinctive
new war engines. Sturdily built to maximise
protection, and mounting high calibre guns with an
excellent field of fire, these quickly became the envy
of Britannian soldiers in the field.
The Canadians were the first Britannian Dominion
to employ war robots. With FSA President Adams’
personal blessing, Canadian scientists were allowed
limited access to the ‘Project Thunderclap’ blueprints.
Robot units saw action for the first time in Flanders.
The Canadian Armed Forces also entered their
biggest period of manpower growth. Conscription
was ordered, creating the massed armies deemed
necessary for Sturginium Age warfare. Cities
reverberated with drill sergeants bellowing, war
songs and the tramp of marching feet, as Canada
transformed itself into an armed camp.
This growth accelerated further after the French
raid-in-force on Britannia in 1871, demonstrating
the need for full Canadian military autonomy. The
World War was to be Canada’s coming-of-age. Long
under Britannian tutelage, Canada now shouldered
her responsibility as an equal. With the World War
becoming deadlier, consuming even more nations as
the years rolled on, this same realisation occurred in
Britannian halls of power as well.
Indeed, at the height of the French assault
on southern England, some pragmatic minds in
the Kingdom’s government had begun quietly
considering the possibility of Canada becoming the
Britannia’s primary base of operations for governance
in exile, should the British Isles prove indefensible.
In the end, the French were repulsed and the threat
receded, but the significance of this development was
not lost on the governments in London or Ottawa.
During a state visit to Britannia in late 1872,
for the first time, Canadian Prime Minister Regis
was afforded all of the privileges of a visiting head
of state, not merely those of a senior governor of a
Britannian Dominion. It was a dramatic admission of
the realities of the day; even as the first stage of the
World War wound down into the Interbellum; the
Dominion of Canada was to be Britannia’s peer, not
merely its protégé, in the months and years to come.
• 55 •
As the fragile truces of the Interbellum gave way
once more to major warfare in 1876, the Dominion
of Canada stood ready once again to fight side by side
with the Kingdom of Britannia. This time, however,
the Canadians would go to war in full force.
From major bases at Halifax in the east and
Vancouver in the west, the Dominion provides a
strong base for Britannian naval operations. An
increasing number of warships are now also flying
the Canadian flag alongside the Britannian ensign,
and the Dominion continues its development of
an independent naval strength to supplement its
impressive land forces.
Nonetheless, Regis’s government knows that they
cannot afford to be complacent about the Dominion’s
own security. Though fortunate enough to have seen
a relatively ‘quiet’ war so far on the home front, there
is every chance that this may not last.
Canada itself may be more vulnerable than its
geographic position would suggest. Prussian and
Danish raiders operating out of Greenland are a
constant threat to transatlantic shipping and the
Newfoundland and Labrador coasts; while on the
other side of the Dominion, the garrison at Vancouver
keeps vigilant watch for long-range interdictors from
the Blazing Sun.
On top of this, the Dominion also has a potentially
major internal security issue – the province of
Quebec. It was ruled for some years under virtual
military occupation after 1812, and while civil
government has long been restored, sympathy for the
Republique of France among its populace remains
strong.
Regis developed a strategy during the Interbellum
that he hoped would keep the province placated.
The Quebecois are exempt from the military draft.
Instead, their war service requirements are fulfilled
by manning the factories and shipyards of Montreal
and other industrial cities.
Parliament also appointed a charismatic but loyal
French-Canadian civil servant, Jules LaFrenais,
as provincial governor in 1874. Nonetheless, the
Mounties are heavily deployed in Quebec and kept
on constant watch for any signs of subversion or
sedition.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 HONOURABLE ECLIPSE COMPANY
T he Honourable Eclipse Company is one of the
largest and most successful mercenary outfits
in the world. It was originally established as a
subsidiary organisation by the East India Merchant
Company in 1799, with the role of overseeing and
maintaining the Company’s military forces in India
and elsewhere.
When the EIMC’s land forces were suborned by
the Britannian government in the early 1820s, the
Board of Directors wound up the Eclipse Company.
Its offices in Calcutta were closed down, and it
seemed destined to be consigned to history.
A New Beginning
However, this was not the end. Aided and abetted
by sympathetic EIMC Directors, Colonel William
Sands, the Eclipse Company’s last commander,
re-established the organisation in Freetown, West
Africa. The new ‘Honourable’ Eclipse Company soon
built a strong body of fighting troops. It recruited
worldwide, and also became known for looking after
its staff well, offering generous pay and side benefits
for veteran soldiers.
As the years passed, the Honourable Eclipse
Company developed a distinctive operational
doctrine. Eschewing heavy ground armour and naval
forces, the HEC instead invested in a powerful fleet
of aeroplanes and long range airships to form its
primary fighting strength.
The Honourable Eclipse Company has offices
located in large cities all over the world. Free
Australia is home to several Eclipse Company
contingents. It also has bases across Africa and South
America, Portugal and the Free Hellenic Kingdom.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 56 •
Much of the HEC’s technological and heavy
equipment resources are sourced through East
India Merchant Company contacts from industrial
concerns all over the world. The excellent supply
network between the HEC and EIMC ensures that
quality supplies and recruits are always readily
available. The redoubtable Commander-General
David Hodge leads the HEC, but his company runs
itself. Its Board of Deputies administers the various
Flying Columns from its Freetown headquarters.
A Flying Column is commanded by a Captain-
General, and operates out of a home base. Sometimes
this is a city or free port, but during the Interbellum,
the HEC invested a great deal in the construction
of more of their ‘Tartarus’ forward bases. These
cunningly engineered structures, based on modified
deigns of oil platforms, can be transported and
deployed by air in almost any body of water.
The World War has seen the HEC’s business
boom. Since its inception, the company has followed
a policy of service without prejudice, being willing
to hire out to virtually any power who can afford
their rates. Active on operations throughout the
Interbellum, the Honourable Eclipse Company
has kept its skills well-honed, and stands in keen
anticipation for the conflicts to come.
The backbone of any Eclipse Company Flying
Column is its airship flotilla. These powerful,
flamboyantly ornate vessels are built to order by
private contractors in Britannia, Canada and the
Federated States of America.
The regular HEC line airships are stoutly built.
They have much in common with those used by the
FSA aerial forces. Flying Columns also operate both
bomber and heavy interceptor squadrons. Lastly, the
HEC’s versatile Sky Fortresses offer a potent mix of
qualities, carrying heavy guns and complements of
attack aeroplanes. Their most notorious weapons,
however, are their massive Armstrong-designed
central bombards, massive scattergun weapons
nicknamed ‘Trombones’ among HEC troops.
 
 SOCIALIST UNION OF SOUTH AMERICA (SUSA)
T he Socialist Union of South America (SUSA),
grew out a of melting pot of fears, ambitions and
hopes that swept across the continent between the
fall of the Spanish and Portuguese empires and the
rise of the United, and then the Federated States of
America to the north.
The then Democratic Union of South America,
or DUSA, was formed in 1837, in response to
the US annexation of Mexico. It was initially a
shaky organisation wracked with difficulties and
disagreements between its Portuguese, Spanish and
native inhabitants.
It also failed to attract the support of the
governing powers in the neighbouring independent
Spanish-speaking states. Having freed themselves
from Spanish rule, they were ill-disposed to the idea
of being railroaded into another union. The Chileans
especially were hostile to the idea.
However the Union acquired a new sense of
purpose when the great Italian patriot Giuseppe
Garibaldi arrived in Brazil with a company of
followers during the 1840s. Garibaldi fought for the
DUSA’s government against the autocratic regimes
holding power in Uruguay and Paraguay.
Although the governments of these small
republics rejected the Union, their peoples thought
otherwise. By 1845, both nations had become states
within the DUSA. Garibaldi returned to Italy in 1848,
as liberal revolutions broke out across Europe.
The DUSA, however, did not take long to decay.
Corruption became endemic. However, it was the
effective annexation of old Gran Colombia by the FSA
in the 1860s that eventually spurred the dissidents
• 57 •
of the DUSA to action, their anti-imperialist cause
powerfully given voice by the charismatic Elizabeth
Rives, who later took the moniker ‘De Rossa’. A
student in Milan during the heady days of 1848,
Rives had subsequently adopted Marx’s ideas after
reading ‘Das Kapital’ in 1850.
Returning to Sao Paolo, she had gathered a group
of loyal followers and set to work spreading the
Marxist message. Despite heavy handed attempts
by the government to silence her, her support grew
until, during Carnival season in 1866, the Marxists
swept to power in a national revolution, with De
Rossa at its head.
The SUSA government have so far adhered to the
doctrine of ‘socialism in one country’. With that in
mind, the shrewd De Rossa kept her country strictly
out of the opening stages of the World War. Even as
Britannian, American and Blazing Sun forces clashed
all around its territory, the SUSA itself was courted
by all sides – even the Federated States, with its
lingering antipathy towards socialist doctrine.
The SUSA eventually entered a ‘covert’ accord
with the Covenant of Antarctica, seen as the least
overtly threatening of the Great Powers to SUSA
eyes, during the apparent ‘peace’ of the Interbellum.
Once again, military action outside the Union’s
borders proved the final catalyst.
The annexation of Bolivia by the Chileans, the
expansion of Blazing Sun territories north and south
and an increased FSA military presence south of the
Panamanian Isthmus gave rise to a growing fear of
encirclement.
With Covenant aid, the SUSA spent the
Interbellum quietly modernising its military forces,
the security of the nation aided by a number of
secret Covenant bases established in the wilderness
regions of the nation. As the World War resumed in
earnest, De Rossa convened the SUSA’s Revolutionary
Command Council to plan a push-back against all
hostile forces looming at the SUSA’s borders
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH
E stablished in 1569, the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth consists of the combined terri-
tories of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand
Duchy of Lithuania. It all but vanished during the
Prussian Wars, but its people are tenacious, and they
wrestled their freedom back as they had done so
many times before.
The Commonwealth’s borders stretch from the
eastern Baltic coast to the Black Sea, and from the
North German Plain of Silesia to the Carpathians and
the Russian Coalition. Its easternmost boundaries lie
a few miles shy of Minsk, Kiev and Nikolaev.
The Commonwealth has a unique elective
monarchy. Its parliament, the Sejm appoints the King
or Queen and can also dismiss them. The nobility, or
Szlachta, hold great authority, in marked contrast to
the autocratic Prussian and Russian dominions.
After the Prussian Wars, the Commonwealth
underwent rapid industrialisation, assisted by
Britannian support. Many larger cities expanded,
especially Warsaw, Kaunas, Krakow and Odessa.
In 1810, the Fifth Prussian Emperor Heinrich Otto
was almost assassinated in Marienburg. In thrall to
his growing megalomania, he ordered a full invasion
in retaliation, overwhelming King Romuald’s valiant
Hussar Legions
Ultimately, Heinrich’s armies were thwarted by the
Russians, and the revitalised Commonwealth Legions
spearheaded later counterattacks. Unfortunately, the
Prussian defeat led to an event that, while hallowed
in Commonwealth legend, almost destroyed Russo-
Polish accord.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 58 •
Tsar Nikolai blocked Commonwealth claims
to the southern Baltic coastal regions. Resentment
boiled over in 1830, when disputes over Russian
rights to use Polish-Lithuanian ports led to open
conflict. A Russian army invaded to force the issue,
only to be crushed by Commonwealth forces on
the Bialystok-Kaunas road in the battle dubbed the
‘Charge of the Angels’. The shock of the defeat led
Nikolai to sue for peace and drop the issue – an
unprecedented achievement.
Luckily, the dispute with the Russians did not last.
The alliance was further solidified with the election
of the ‘Lancer King’ Karol in 1860. Previously
commander of the 7th Hussar Legion, he harboured
much anti-Prussian animosity, having lost several
relatives during the Prussian Wars.
Karol reinforced the Commonweath’s traditional
alliances. He allowed Russian forces to move through
Polish-Lithuanian territory to attack the Prussian
Empire. Once again, the Hussar Legions spearheaded
the Russian assaults.
The King’s aim was the annexation of the Royal
Prussian Baltic coastline, a task he felt had gained
significance after the Teutonic Order’s return to the
region in the early 1860s. Alliance with the Russians
also served as a bulwark against any attempt by the
Ottoman Empire to reassert its power north of the
Bosphorus.
However, not all of the Sejm were convinced
that letting the Russians turn large areas of Polish-
Lithuanian territory into an armed camp was a good
idea. Several nobles, notably the retired Voivode
General and Angels veteran Rsyzard Rydz feared
permanent Russian occupation. However, their fears
appear to have proven mostly groundless. Although
the Prussian front remained largely stalemated,
the enemy proved equally unable to launch major
counterattacks.
It was a measure of Polish-Lithuanian security
that the General Staff allowed a Hussar Legion to
accompany the Russian Britannian Expedition
in 1871. Their exploits, especially in rescuing
the governor of Britannia’s central bank, and
later actions in Belgium, greatly strengthened the
Commonwealth’s ties with Britannia.
 
 POLISH-LITHUANIAN COMMONWEALTH
Furthermore, the Russians proved more reliant
on Commonwealth assistance than the Stavka
anticipated. Polish-Lithuanian Banners proved
adept at countering French forces deployed to assist
the Prussians, especially when their own Gravity-
Nullification ships became available in numbers.
As the Interbellum ended the war in the east was
still largely going well for Russo-Polish forces. The
Commonwealth’s aim for greater freedom within
the Baltic remained feasible, and Karol’s position as
king remained secure; secure enough that as the war
reignited in earnest, and with a new treaty in place
with Romania, he began to cast his eyes southwards,
looking to settle accounts with the Ottoman Empire.
Traditionally, the armiers of the Polish-Lithuanian
Commonwealth’s have relied on cavalry formations.
Since the bulk of the nation’s territory, apart from the
regions near the Carpathian and Tatra Mountains in
the south, consists of open plans, this philosophy of
hard striking power holds true even today.
The Commonwealth’s fighting forces are its
famed Hussar Legions. Each is split into a number
of Divisions called ‘Banners’. The Winged Hussar
cavalry squadrons, atop their armoured steam-bikes,
heirs of military heroes such as the warrior-kings
Stephan Bathory and Jan Sobieski, have a fearsome
reputation, but are only one part of a fearsome
military machine.
The Commonwealth started its war in 1869 with
a relatively small, but highly elite army. The Hussar
Legions, with their integrated aerial support, relied
mostly on raids and hit-and-run blitzes, acting in
support of the forces of the Russian White Army.
However, the Commonwealth’s experience
of combat during those first few years began to
fundamentally alter their combat doctrine. The
elite Legions found their way of war rather wanting
when faced with heavy enemy armour or extensive
fortifications, as they had on the Prussian borders
and in Belgium in 1871.
The Commonwealth also began to receive
military aid on a large scale from its Grand Coalition
allies, and by the time of the Interbellum, its military
strength had changed almost beyond all recognition.
Although still integrated formations, the Legions
now commanded vastly greater combat power.
• 59 •
The famed Winged Hussars now operate in
support of Battle Brigades formed on the Russian
model, the new steel heart of the Legions. New
Mobile Airfields brought aerial support right up to
the front lines, while Land Dreadnoughts made for
deadly spearheads
In the air, the famed Zamiecs were accompanied
by arcane assault airships, a product of traded Russian
and captured Prussian technologies, as well as waves
of modernised fighting aeroplanes, including heavy
interceptors adopted after the experience of the
fighting in Britannia.
Most significantly, the Commonwealth by 1873
had become a sea power. In late 1871 Polish-
Lithuanian scientists were granted access to the
GNE technology aboard several written-off Belgian
vessels in Britannia. Before long, a number of designs
of ‘skimming’ warships were in production, forming
the first naval Banners of the Hussar Legions.
With the defeat of the Belgian Royalists, a mission
under the famed Admiral Courloin travelled to the
Commonwealth to help train new Commonwealth
naval crews. During the Interbellum, many former
Belgian Royalists joined their comrades. Granted
honorary citizenship, Voivode Admiral Courloin
now leads the Commonwealth Belgian Legion,
an all-Belgian naval formation under the Polish-
Lithuanian flag.
No more would Poland-Lithuania be forced to
rely on her allies for naval support. Now, the Hussar
Legions have access to much greater fire support,
even when operating far inland, and no longer
would Ottoman Djinn-Drive raiders strike at the
Commonwealth’s Black Sea coast with impunity.
Regardless of where they are from, or which
branch of the military they serve, all Commonwealth
soldiers are noted for their indomitable valour.
They are accustomed to fighting when heavily
outnumbered by enemy forces, against near-
impossible odds and yet still emerging victorious.
This extraordinary fighting spirit, allied to a
consummate skill and professionalism has ensured
the continued survival of their realm. ‘Think what
you will of the Commonwealth soldier, but never,
ever write him off’ is a common maxim amongst
both Prussian and Russian commanders.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
T he sprawling and venerable Ottoman Empire
was brought together over the centuries through
warfare and peaceful assimilation. Known as the
‘crossroads of the world’, Ottoman territories once
extended across three continents. Ottoman Deys,
Beys and Pashas, hold in trust provinces stretching
from south-eastern Europe to central Persia, and
from the rugged southern edges of the Caucasus
Mountains to the southern shores of Arabia.
These broad lands encompass a huge and diverse
population. The Turks form the largest single group,
and for many foreigners ‘Ottoman’ and ‘Turkish’
are synonymous. But the Empire is also home to
Albanians, Bosnians and Bulgars in south-eastern
Europe, nomadic Bedouin in the arid Arabian
deserts, black Africans and many others. The great
cities of the Empire, especially Constantinople, but
also Baghdad, Acre, Trabzon, Tehran and Isfahan, are
very cosmopolitan places.
Although much of his realm was formed
amid war, Sultan Suleiman Mustafa I was more
interested in preserving the integrity of his
domains. Unfortunately, the World War has proven
catastrophic to this aim.
Even before the war, the Sultan had endured many
trials. The escape of the Markov Helsinki, the Traitor
of Antarctica, was a major embarrassment, given how
prized Ottoman ties to the Covenant then were.
The advent of conflict only exacerbated the
Empire’s strife. Despite his misgivings about entering
a compact it might regret, Suleiman saw the Imperial
Bond as his only option. Finally, he signed the Treaty
of Zagreb in November 1871, binding the Ottoman
Empire to the Bond.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 60 •
This was very controversial. While offering
security against Russian aggression and relief from
the the Italian League and the Greeks, the treaty
created its own uproar, causing outrage in Egypt and
triggering an opportunistic Britannian offensive.
Forced to fight on two new fronts against the
Britannian Army of the Nile and the now-hostile
Egyptians, only the intervention of Covenant forces,
covertly based in Ottoman Sudan, managed to redress
the balance by halting the Britannians. But as the
Interbellum dawned, the Empire, beset by internal
dissent and external pressure, began to fracture fully.
At the heart of this schism were the Sublime
Orders of Learning, established by the Sultan
and his Vizier, Mehmed Pasha, during 1863. Like
the Empire’s wider government, the Orders were
decentralised and largely autonomous. . At any one
time, the Sublime Orders supported at least fifty
different scholarly groups.
These subsidiary organisations became hotbeds of
radical scientific inquiry, allowing Ottoman expertise
to advance at a staggering pace, if in rather eclectic
style. Before the war, this free thought was even
endorsed by High Lord Sturgeon of Antarctica itself.
Unfortunately, this very freedom sowed the seeds
of schism. Conscious of many external threats, Sultan
Suleiman endorsed a policy of ‘gentle persuasion’
towards weapons development, which was met with
mixed feelings by the various Orders.
No-one could deny that Suleiman’s reign had
been one of beneficent enlightenment for the once
conservative Empire; but in the same breath, one
good Emperor could not overturn decades of apathy.
The abrupt volte-face of Egypt in 1871, and the loss
of the Sublime Order in Cairo, sent a shockwave
through all the remaining Orders.
Following the Treaty of Zagreb, the Sultan and his
Vizier published the Sublime Manifesto; a document
announcing the Emperor’s commitment to the
defence of his realm and all the peoples within it. The
subsequent upsurge of patriotism coincided with
Ottoman military victories against the Egyptians
and the Britannians, further boosting morale in the
Empire’s military and among its peoples. Alas, this
same fervour would also have darker repercussions.
 
 THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Military success brought one Sublime Order,
the military-focused New Istanbul College, to
prominence, causing widespread resentment. As one
delegate at the annual meeting of the Orders in 1872
remarked “How can we claim to be Sublime Orders
of Learning anymore? We are becoming Sublime
Orders of Killing!”
The 1872 conference proved the catalyst for the
great Ottoman Schism. The Sublime Orders split
and two factions emerged. One side was dominated
by the New Istanbul College. On the other were the
so-called ‘Dissident Academies’, rallying around
Satrap Ardashir Darius of the Ottoman Persian
Territories.
Darius, long a believer in an accord with the
Covenant, offered the Dissidents free usage and
a home in the Tehran College in his own capital.
Amid high tension, the Satrap declared what became
known as the ‘Internal Secession’.
When he returned to Tehran after the Order
conference, Satrap Ardashir Darius announced that
the Persian Territories and several border vassals,
would no longer hold unquestioned fealty to
Istanbul. Instead, Tehran became the de facto capital
for roughly a third of the Ottoman Empire, one
which now sought alignment with Antarctica.
At the end of 1872 the Ottoman Empire was
divided nation. The new Persian Sovereignty formally
aligned itself with the Covenant, taking with it a
third of all the Imperial Armies and a like portion
of industry and resources. Even the Antarctican
Embassy relocated to Tehran. While the Ottoman
Empire remained beneath one flag, it was now very
much two nations.
The only crumb of comfort for the Sultan’s
government was that the schism was largely
amicable. Nonetheless, Egyptian hostility and the
concessions forced by the Britannians dented the
rump of the Empire’s territories.
If Sultan Suleiman can take heart in anything,
it is the knowledge that, whatever happens in the
wider world, he has Ardashir’s assurance that the
Sovereignty will still act in defence of the realm as a
whole should a hostile power invade. Despite some
• 61 •
opposition, he quickly extended the same assurance.
“Our two realms are now brothers, rather than parent
and child”, he wrote to his dissident Satrap. “Perhaps
estranged, but not divided in anger”.
The military forces of the Ottoman Empire are
numerous, and well-equipped. They are split into
large operational units called ‘Imperial Corps’, which
include infantry, armoured and artillery regiments.
Both the Empire and the Persian Sovereignty employ
the same organisational structures, weaponry and
war machines.
The Ottoman Navy has become the premier
fighting force of both factions. Many large Ottoman
naval units can sail the skies thanks to the Sublime
Orders’ revolutionary power plants, known wryly as
Djinn-Drives.
Powered by Sturginium-enriched oil fuels, they
project invisible beams of electromagnetic energy,
which allow vessels to act in defiance of gravity by
‘repelling’ them from the earth’s natural magnetic
field. Manoeuvring is accomplished by powerful
airjets, some of which flow across the curved hulls to
provide additional lift.
However, the most awesome Ottoman war
machines are the massive mobile citadels employed
by the senior commanders of the Imperial Corps.
They can traverse land and sea, and are frequently
used to provide ready-made garrisons and fortresses
in remote regions.
The Ottoman militaries favour large broadsides
of repeating cannons. Many of these weapons fire
chemical-filled ordnance, which eat through wood,
metal and organic substances at a ferocious rate.
Some Ottoman weaponry is derived from resurrecting
ancient designs; most notably their great volley guns.
Nicknamed aslanazı or ‘snapdragons’, they can be set
to high elevations for firing upon flying targets.
The most remarkable weaponry developed by the
Ottoman military are advanced Generators, many
of which they pioneered. Storm Generators, known
to the Ottomans as ‘Firtina’ have been repurposed
to create fierce localised tempests. The remarkable
Çekirge flying mines are unmanned drone craft,
delivering explosive charges of terrifying potency.
 
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 FREE HELLENIC KINGDOM
F or many years a province of the Ottoman
Dominion in Europe, the Free Hellenic Kingdom
(FHK) managed to establish itself shortly before
the outbreak of the World War. The Kingdom was
established only in 1867, when the Italian League,
driven especially by the Venetian Republic, declared
support for the Greek independence movement and
sent substantial military aid.
Giorgios Ioannis Zeno, the leader of the Greek
resistance managed to secure Italian support by
promising that the League could use Greek ports and
islands as bases to aid their own conflict against the
Ottomans.
The League was only too happy to comply, eager
for the opportunity to open another front in their
war against the Ottomans. The Tetrarchy dispatched
two aerial and naval battlegroups and an over
strength Legion of ground forces, commanded by
none other than Giuseppe Garibaldi himself. With
these reinforcements, the Greek rebels managed to
retake Athens, and Ioannis was crowned King of the
Free Hellenic Kingdom in June of 1867.
Since then, however, the Free Greeks have found
themselves hostages to fortune. Italian support
melted away, particularly after the Treaty of Zagreb
temporarily neutralised Italian-Ottoman enmity.
Only the pressure exerted on the Ottoman Empire by
the Kingdom of Britannia and the Russian Coalition
prevented the Ottomans launching a war of Greek
re-conquest.
Dystopian Wars 2.5
• 62 •
The Greeks remained on the defensive early in the
war. However, when the Interbellum period began,
King Giorgios, concerned that growing French
influence in North Africa, reached out to, among
others, the Russian Coalition and the Republic of
Egypt.
In this way, the Greeks aligned with the Grand
Coalition, a welcome development since, along with
Egypt, it gave the alliance an Eastern Mediterranean
stronghold. Military resources and technological
aid flowed into the FHK during the Interbellum.
King Giorgios and Egyptian President Al-Rachid
concluded a pact of alliance in 1874, and since then,
Greek and Egyptian forces have operated in close
concert.
The FHK’s territory covers mainland Greece as
far east as Salonika, Macedonia to the north, the
Peloponnese and many Aegean islands. Much of this
terrain is difficult and mountainous, unsuitable for
the deployment of heavy ground units. However,
while this has protected the Kingdom from Ottoman
reprisals overland, the Greeks fought numerous
skirmishes with Ottoman Djinn-Drive warships
throughout the early war.
In response, the Greeks used the Interbellum
period to construct a small but powerful new
military. Known as the Olympian Armada, it consist
largely of aerial units, ranging from small, swift
autogyros to huge Sky Fortress command ships.
They can be rapidly deployed almost anywhere over
Greek territory and beyond, and is King Giorgios’s
hope that they will help preserve the FHK’s hard-won
independence even as the World War blazes into life
again.
 
THE PRUSSIAN EMPIRE INVADES!

• 63 •  
Dystopian Wars 2.5
 A1 - Game Basics

Playing The Game

D YSTOPIAN WARS 2.5 is an exciting tabletop
wargame set in a world of Victorian Super
Science Fiction (VSSF) and recreated for you using
• A Force List that shows the Squadrons and
formations you are taking into battle. You can
download all the game Model statistics for free
a vast array of stunning 1/1200th scale miniatures from our websitre as PDFs!
designed by Spartan Games. These models are • A deck of Tactical Action Cards that allow
available from a wide array of retail outlets around players to represent the important choices and
the world and from the Spartan Online Store. risks that many commanders face during their
One of the most exciting aspects of the game is its campaigns.
ability to draw together three distinct theatres of war • . . . and a sense of Imagination and Wonder!
– Naval, Armoured and Aerial - under the control
of one intuitive and fun to play game engine. The
scalability of the rules allows gamers to play anything
from small-scale sorties into enemy territory to
border skirmishes involving thirty or so vessels a
side, or even huge, history-defining battles that have
the potential to warp the fabric of the known world.
Mighty alliances have formed to battle the world
war: The Grand Coalition and the Imperial Bond.
Are you ready to take command of one of the great
nations of the Dystopian World? Choose from such
nations as the Kingdom of Britannia, Empire of the
Blazing Sun, Russian Coalition, Prussian Empire
Chinese Federation, Ottoman Empire, Republic of
Egypt to name just a few!
“Welcome, my name
Barnabus Draynes is Lord
Sturgeon and I have
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY the honour to be yo
ur guide throughou
the pages of this ex t
citing rulebook.
When playing Dystopian Wars you will require: For those who do no
t know me, I am
custodian of a new
nation that I have
named the Covenant
• 1/1200th scale Models to represent the forces of of Antarctica.
the Dystopian World! My scientists and so
embroiled in a world ldiers are
• A Tape Measure. conflict that is
• A Battlefield or other suitable gaming area no ripping the world’s
nations apart, but
I am ever confident
smaller than 3 feet by 3 feet.. that science will
prevail over the we
• Game Markers to identify the various effects and aknesses of man.
As you traverse the
conditions that can apply in the game. pages of this book
various characters
from my world will
• Activation Markers to show players which help reinforce key inf
ormation for you.
Squadrons have activated and which have not. Enjoy your journey
...and welcome to
• Templates such as the Large Explosion Template, my Dystopian World
!”
Random Determination Template etc.
• A good number of 6-sided Dice.

• 64 •  
 A1 - Game Basics

Pre-Measuring is allowed at any time, and for any

reason you like. This is a game of tactical skill, not a
game of who can estimate distances by eye the best!

The Battlefield
Dystopian Wars is played on a Battlefield and the
easiest way to make a battlefield is to place a blue
or green cloth on the table, for sea or land battles
respectively. A stiff board painted blue on one side
and green on the other is perfect for both.
You can use Terrain to make your Battlefield look
more realistic. See Page 173 for descriptions of the
different Terrain types used in the game.

“A Covenant Callimachus Battle Orb”
Game Markers
In the turmoil of combat anything is liable to happen
to your models: from crippling engine damage and
shredded defences to wild-fires or even simply losing
crew. To keep track of this damage, Game Markers
and Tokens are supplied within certain force boxes,
and are also available as PDF downloads from our
website.

Models
Dystopian Wars uses a massive range of high quality
1/1200 scale Models, produced by Spartan Games.
The Models are available from www.spartangames.
co.uk and many other retailers around the world.
Some Models, mainly Flying and Armoured, come
with bases. These are either separate or sometimes
an integral part of the Model.

Important Note: Models that are supplied with a

base MUST be mounted upon it. This is important Objective Tokens may
for consistency regarding movement and ranges also be used in scenarios.
during game play.

Measuring and Pre-Measuring

All measurement in Dystopian Wars is done in
Inches, and distances are often shown as X” where X
is the number of inches being measured.
A tape measure is the easiest way to measure
distances. If you don’t have access to a tape measure
marked in inches, use the simple conversion of:

1 Inch = 2.5 centimetres (1” = 2.5cm)

• 65 •  
 A1 - Game Basics

Players who really want to improve their gaming

experience can also choose to buy the deluxe
Dystopian Wars Acrylic Tokens set!

Game Templates
Templates allow players to execute in-game effects
that affect multiple Models within an area, or allow
complex gaming mechanics to be visually explained
for ease of play. The following Templates are used in
the game:

Large Effect Template

This 4” diameter Template is most commonly used
when Mines detonate, or when certain Generators
affect parts of the Battlefield.

Energy Template
This 3” diameter Template is most commonly used
when Energy Blast Weapons fire, or when a Portal
is created.

Small Effect Template

This 1.5” diameter Template is most commonly used
with Area Bombardment attacks.

Random Determination Template

This strange Template is used to allow players to
randomly determine in-game effects. Its use is
explained in the diagram opposite.

The use of Templates is fully explained in the specific

sections of the Rulebook that concern their use. A
sheet of Templates is available from the Spartan
Games Website at www.spartangames.co.uk.
Pen and Paper
Players will need a pen and some paper so that they
may record their Victory Points scored during the
Activations of the game. This is important as it will
allow them to track how close they are to winning a
game. See Page 156 for more details.
RANDOM DETERMINATION TEMPLATE
There are times during a game of Dystopian Wars when
you need to move a Model completely randomly. Using
the Random Determination Template and a trusty D6 you
can randomly determine where it lands on a gaming table!
Simply place the Template over the centre of the model
you want to randomise, with the 1 pointing forwards, and
roll a D6. The number rolled will indicate the randomised
direction. It really is that simple. You may then also be
asked to use one or more D6 to determine a distance to
move the model.

• 66 •  
 A1 - Game Basics
GENERAL DICE PRINCIPLES
In Dystopian Wars we refer to two types of dice: D6
and D3. A D6 is a standard six-sided die, as seen in
many board-games or games of chance. To roll a D3,
roll a D6, as normal, but read the result of a 1 OR 2
on the die as if it had come up as a 1, a result of 3
OR 4 as a 2, and a result of 5 OR 6 as a 3. See below:
Dice Roll Result
1 or 2 1 on the same shot, resulting in a final modifier of -1,
3 or 4 2
5 or 6 3
Rolling a Natural 1
Regardless of any modifiers, a roll of a 1 never hits.
Rolling a Natural 6
Regardless of any modifiers, a roll of a natural 6
always results in a Hit being registered, however the
power of the Hit may be mitigated by other factors.
Important Note: A Natural 6 is when the die’s face
shows a 6 - rolling a 5 when you have a +1 modifier
does not make it into a Natural 6.
Initial Dice
There are numerous effects during a game that
determine the number of dice that are to be rolled.
Whenever we mention Initial Dice in this book, we
are referring to your total number of dice before
adding any extra dice from other sources or effects,
such as the Exploding Dice mechanic.
‘To Hit’ Numbers and Dice Modifiers
Often in the rules a situation will occur where
the player needs a certain number ‘To Hit’. This
will commonly be described as X+, where X is the
minimum Hit Number required on the dice roll.
Unless otherwise stated, ‘To Hit’ Numbers begin
by needing a 4+ rolled on a die ‘To Hit’ using the
Exploding Dice Mechanic. ‘To Hit’ Numbers can also
be referred to as a ‘target number’, especially when it
is referring to a roll not related directly to combat.
• 67 •
So, for example if a player is firing at a target
without modifiers, any dice roll would be commonly
classed to as causing a successful Hit on a 4, 5, or 6.
Modifiers
There are effects in Dystopian Wars that modify the
‘To Hit’ numbers of a dice roll. These will be listed as
a positive or negative modifier, such as +1 or -1.
All modifiers are cumulative and are applied to
the ‘To Hit’ Number required on each die in the roll.
For example, you may have a +1 and -2 modifier
ensuring that a situation whereby a Model required
a ‘To Hit’ Number of 4+ would instead require a ‘To
Hit’ Number of 5+.
It is possible in some situations to have a single
roll using multiple dice that include different target
‘To Hit’ Numbers for different dice. These should
be rolled separately so that each target number can
be easily tracked, although the eventual number of
successful Hits generated will be the combination of
results that are created by the separate rolls.
Important Note: The physical number on the
face of a die (1, 4, 6 etc.) NEVER changes through
modification, only the ‘To Hit’ Number required.
Needing 7s or More to Hit
If modifiers take the required ‘To Hit’ Number to 7 or
more, a result of a 6 is still considered a Hit but all
dice used in the roll change from using the Exploding
Dice mechanic to the Heavy Dice mechanic. See the
following important text for more details on the
difference between these two types of key dice.
 
 A1 - Game Basics
Exploding Dice (RED D6)
The majority of dice rolls in Dystopian Wars will use
a mechanic that Spartan Games created for its games
and we call the Exploding Dice. This is an exciting
way of generating Hits in that it allows us to skew
the probability curves of the game, making D6 rolls
far more exciting!
If the target number listed for a successful roll is
listed anywhere in the rules as (RED) 6, you know
the Exploding Dice mechanic comes into play.
This means that a roll of a 6 from any Exploding
Dice results in TWO successful Hits being registered
AND it allows a player the additional roll of another
dice!
Additional rolls will also use the same Exploding
Dice mechanic, so they may result in even more
additional rolls, and so on. The Exploding Dice
mechanic works as follows:
“The deathly shadow of... Metzger!”
• 68 •
1. Roll your Initial Dice.
2. Set aside all dice that resulted in a Hit and count
the total number of (RED) 6’s that were rolled.
3. The Exploding Step: Roll an additional die for
each (RED) 6 that was rolled above. Repeat the
process in Steps 2 and 3 until there are no more
additional rolls to be made.
4. Count up the total number of Hits from all dice
rolled. Remember that each (RED) 6 counts as TWO
Hits instead of one.
5. In some circumstances, a rule may modify how
many Exploding Dice you are allowed.
Roll 1 Roll 2 Roll 3
Example 1: Above you can see that a Player has rolled
5 Initial Dice and is looking for a ‘To Hit’ number of 4,
5 or (RED) 6.
The results of the roll are 1, 3, 4, 6, 6. Player A sets the
4, 6 and 6 aside, and then picks up and rolls TWO addi-
tional dice – one for each of the Exploding Dice (RED)
6 results.
The result of this second roll is 2, 6. Setting this 6 aside
again, Player A rolls another dice, scoring a 5 - so no
more additional rolls. The final number of successes are
counted on all of the dice that Player A set aside: 6,
6, 6, 4, 5. This results in 2 successes for each of the
Exploding (RED) 6s, and one success each for the 4
and the 5; for a final grand total of 8 successful Hits.
 
A short guide to a Dystopian Wars History...Part 2

•1•  
 A1 - Game Basics

Heavy Dice (BLUE D6) Opposed Dice Tests

There will be occasions in-game where the rules
will note that a dice roll must use the Heavy Dice
mechanic. If the target number listed for a successful
roll is listed as a (BLUE) 6, anywhere in the rules,
you know the Heavy Dice mechanic is in use.
If the target number is listed as a (BLUE) 6, a
roll of SIX still results in TWO successes but NO
additional roll is permitted.
These are most often used when determining
important matters, such as the Game Turn Initiative.
The number of dice required to be rolled in an
Opposed Dice Test is normally two per player, but
this may vary depending on circumstance. Both
players roll using the XD6 method and compare the
results. If two players roll the same result, they both
re-roll all their dice, and, unless otherwise specified,
will apply the same modifiers to the roll: a tie is not
a possible outcome.

Argu ments
Whilst we
players in w o u ld never ex
Dy pect
Basic Dice (BLACK D6) arguments stopian Wars to hav
over rules e
that occur or situatio
There will be occasions during a game when the in the gam ns
may arise e, am
rules will note that a dice roll must use the Basic Dice that simply biguities
rectified w
ithout brin cannot be
(BLACK D6) mechanic. The use of this mechanic is ging the g
to a halt. ame
kept for simple dice rolls that do not use the Heavy
or Exploding Dice mechanics. If the target number If this does
ha
players ta ppen, we suggest bo
is listed as a (BLACK D6) a roll of a six only ever ke an Opp th
Test with th osed
results in ONE success and NO additional roll. e winner d 2D6 Dice
the course ec id
of action to ing upon
The rules be taken.
can then b
thoroughly e checked
after the g more
ame!

XD6 Rolls
In some parts of the rules you may be asked to roll
a number of dice in one go to give you a combined
result, normally when rolling on tables like the
Critical Hit Table. The term XD6 means rolling the
number of dice listed in the X using Basic Dice, and
adding the scores, or in some cases the number of
Hits, on these dice together, to give a result.

• 70 •  
 A1 - Game Basics

Re-Rolls and ‘Initial Dice’ Rounding Up

In some circumstances, a player may be permitted
(or even forced) to re-roll a certain number of dice
from their Initial Dice. This simply means you pick
them up and roll them again, discounting what had
previously been rolled. Multiple re-rolls are resolved
in the order they are declared.
The particular rule granting the re-roll will make
it clear when it can be used. If a rule simply says
‘re-roll the Initial Dice’ that means re-roll all the dice
before rolling any extra dice from sources such as the
Exploding Dice mechanic. Other rules may specify
how many dice may be re-rolled.
A Re-rolled die may never be re-rolled again
under any circumstances.
If, for any reason, the rules state that a value is to
be reduced by half, the original number is always
Rounded Up to the nearest whole number.
THE SCRAPYARD
Throughout the rules there will be many references
to something called the Scrapyard. Put simply, this is
an area next to a battlefield where Models that have
been removed from play are placed. Also kept inside
the Scrapyard are any Tactical Action Cards that may
have been used by a player.
The Scrapyard should be kept reasonably tidy
to assist both players in keeping a running score of
their Victory Points scored. It’s also a good idea to
keep paper and pens in this area to assist in recording
scored Victory Points.

“A Russian Coalition Fleet is having a hard time of things! You can see that the Scrapyard to the
left is starting to fill up with models, TACs that have been played and several SAW Tokens”

• 71 •  
A1 - Game Basics

• 72 •  
 A1 - Game Basics
RANGE BANDS
Range is the distance, in inches, along which Line
of Sight is measured between the Firing weapon and
the target. There are FOUR Range Bands, each of
which is 8” in length and follows on directly from the
Range Band before it. Range Bands used in a game of
Dystopian Ware are therefore:
0-8” (referred to as Range Band 1 or RB1)
8.1” to 16” (referred to as Range Band 2 or RB2)
16.1” to 24” (referred to as Range Band 3 or RB3)
24.1” to 32” (referred to as Range Band 4 or RB4)
This means that Range Band 4 (or 32”) is the
theoretical maximum range, unless a Model Assigned
Rule or other caveat applies.
If the distance between the Firing weapon and its
target is 8” or less, then the target is in Range Band
1. If the distance is greater than 8”, but not further
than 16”, the target is in Range Band 2. The same
then follows suit for Range Band 3 and Range Band 4.
MEASURING TO MODELS
You will often have to measure to Models, such as
when determining what Range Band a weapon is at.
When measuring to a Model, you always measure
to the nearest point of a Model, unless otherwise
specified. If a Model is on a base, the area of the base
represents the Model, so you measure to the base.
HEIGHT BANDS &
HEIGHT LEVELS
In Dystopian Wars, Models can navigate across the
turbulent seas, take to the smog-filled skies, or lurch
over the broken land. Some Models can even dive
into the murky depths or burrow deep beneath the
ground. Others can skim the surface of the land or
sea, and even disappear into the dense cloud layers
that coalesce above this industrial world.
To allow all this to happen, the game divides the
levels at which Models can exist into different Height
Bands and these are Aerial, Surface and Diving.
• 73 •
Aerial Height Band
This Height Band refers to the part of the game where
Models exist in the air. The Models that inhabit this
band will most commonly be referred to as Flyers
by players.
The Aerial Height Band is further sub-divided
into three different Height Levels that stack on top
of each other:
Stratospheric Height Level – This Height Level is as
close to the edge of the Earth’s upper atmosphere as
it is possible to get! Models may never deploy at this
Height Level unless otherwise stated in their Profile.
In addition, no Small Aircraft Squadrons (SAS), Small
Models or Tiny Models may ever occupy this Height
Level as it requires specially adapted propulsion
systems to operate this high up.
Obscured Height Level – This Height Level represents
an altitude that encompasses clouds, where Models
can exist in relative safety from surface-level gunnery
attacks.
Flying Height Level – This Height Level should be
considered the ‘Ground Attack’ Level where Flyers
engage Surface Models with their weapons, firing at
optimum efficiency. It is also the only Height Level
available to Support Aircraft Squadrons (SAS) see
Page 182.
Surface Height Band
This Height Band refers to the area of the game where
most Models exist. Be it Battleships, Tanks, Surface
Skimmers or Infantry, they all move and operate at
this eight Band. The Surface Height Band is further
sub-divided into two different Height Levels that
operate parallel to each other:
Water Height Level – This Height Level allows ships
to move, shoot and execute Boarding Actions against
their targets. Models with Naval designation are most
likely to be found operating at this Height Level.
 
 A1 - Game Basics

Land Height Level – This Height Level allows tanks

and land-based walkers to move, shoot, and execute
Boarding Actions against their targets. Models with
AIR
Armoured designation are most likely to be found
operating at this Height Level. Stratospheric
(Aerial Models)

Diving Height Band

This Height Band refers to the part of the game where
Models exist either beneath the waves of the ocean Obscured
or burrowing under the ground. The Models that (Aerial Models)
inhabit this band will most commonly be referred to
as or Drilling Models by many players. The Diving
Height Band is subdivided into two different Height
Levels that stack on top of each other: Flying
(Aerial Models and Support
Aircraft Squadron (SAS))
Submerged – This Height Level is reserved for

surface
Models capable of lurking just beneath the waves or
by burrowing beneath the ground.

Deep Diving – This Height Level is as deep in the

ocean as it is possible to get! Models may never
deploy at this Height Level unless otherwise stated land
(Armoured models)
in their Profile. In addition, no Small or Tiny Models
may ever occupy this Height Level as they would
be crushed under the extreme pressures that such
depths create!

The Height Band/Level diagram on the right Water

illustrates the Height Levels that exist within the (Naval models)

game. As a rule of thumb, Aerial Models inhabit

the Aerial Height Band, and all Naval or Armoured

submerged
Models inhabit the Surface Height Band. Diving or
Drilling Models can inhabit the Surface Height Band
or the Diving Height Bands as desired; see Changing
Height Levels on Page 107 for more details.
The Height Band and Height Levels a Model
occupies are especially relevant to other Models,
submerged
can be very important when determining ‘To Hit’ (Diving And burrowing models)
numbers and any modifiers.

Important Note: All ranges in Dystopian Wars

are measured horizontally between each Model’s
base (or footprint), regardless of any Height Band
or Height Level differences between the Models. Deep diving
(Diving models)

• 74 •  
 A2 - The Statistic Card

Anatomy Of A
Model Profile
In this section, we look at a Model’s ‘Profile’: a term used to signify a Model’s statistics and values which
allow it to manifest itself on the battlefield. The following is a more detailed explanation of the elements
that make up a Model’s Statistic Profile.

Russian Coalition Moskva Points 290

Dreadnought Crew Type: Elite
Massive Naval Capital Model
Minimum Move: 2”
Turning Template: Large
Turn Limit: 0”
Squadron Size: 1

RB 1 2 3 4 DR CR MV HP
Main Turret (P) 15 13 6 - 7 12 5” 12
Raised Turret (P) 15 13 6 - AP AA CC IR
Beam Turret (S) 10 8 4 - 10 5 4 9
P/S Broadsides (S) 10 10 8 -
MAR: Ablative Armour (+2), Security Posts (3) Strategic Value (100), Sturginium Boost
Model has an Internal Mimic (12”) Generator for no additional cost.
Options: Model has the Concussive (All Turret) Munitions Type
Model may be fitted with ONE additional Internal Generator chosen from the following
list:
A Target Jammer (Rockets & Torpedoes, 5) Generator for an additional +30 points
An Ice (16”, 3) Generator for an additional +20 points
ONE Main Turret (P) has a 270-degree Fore Fire Arc
TWO Raised Turrets (P) have an Off-Set 180-degree Fire Arc
Weaponry Arcs: ONE Port Beam Turret (S) has a 180-degree Port Fire Arc
ONE Starboard Beam Turret (S) has a 180-degree Starboard Fire Arc
The P/S Broadsides (S) have a Broadside Fire Arc

MODEL FUNDAMENTALS Model Title

The type of Model, in this case a the Model is a
mighty Russian Coalition Dreadnought.
Flag
These tell you which nation a Model belongs to.
Some nations may also be able to ‘lend’ some of their
Points
The initial points cost of the Model, before you
Squadrons to particularly close Allies.
add any upgrades to it.
Model Name
The name of the Model, in this example a Russian
Crew Type
The quality of the crew on board the vessel. These
Coalition Moskva Class Dreadnought.
have a major impact when the ship is involved in
such things as a Boarding Action.

• 75 •  
 A2 - The Statistic Card

Weapon Name Ack Ack (AA)

The name is important, as certain weapons have
special rules attached to them. In the case of
Gunnery weapons, the name will be followed by a
(P), (S) or (T), denoting a Primary, Secondary or
Tertiary weapons respectively.
The AA value of a Model represents its weapon
systems used to attack or defend against Aerial
Models and clear Airburst Mines, shoot down
incoming Rockets, and to defend against enemy
Boarding Actions.

Profile Attack Dice (AD) Concussion Charges (CC)

These numbers are the Attack Dice a weapon can
roll in a given Range Band. If a weapon has a dash The CC value of a Model is used to attack Diving and
(-) it cannot attack at in this Range Band. Burrowing Models, defend against Torpedoes, clear
Surface Mines and defend against enemy Boarding
MAJOR STRUCTURAL STATS Actions by Models from below the Surface.

Damage Rating (DR) Impact Rating (IR)

A Model’s DR represents its ability to ignore The IR of a Model is used when a Model is involved
light damage. An attack that equals or exceeds a in a Collision or when a Model executes a Ram.
Model’s DR, but not its CR, will remove a single
Hull Point from the Model.
GENERAL STATS
Critical Rating (CR)
A Model’s CR represents its ability to ignore Model Classification/Designation
heavier, more debilitating damage. An attack that The Classification of the Model (in our example
equals or exceeds a Model’s CR causes Critical Hit Massive Naval Capital) tells you about what size the
to a Model. This normally results in the Model Model is, which Height Levels and Surface it exists
losing two Hull Points and the enemy rolling on in, and therefore how the Model acts in the game.
the Critical Hit Table. Some very small Models See Page 193 for more on Model Classifications.
have no CR, only a DR. Such Models are most
often obliterated when they take Damage! Minimum Move
This is the Minimum distance a Model must move
Movement (Mv) in a straight line before the Model may execute any
The Mv value of the Model in inches. This is the Turns.
maximum distance the Model can normally move
in its Activation. Turning Template
This is the type of Turning Template used by the
Hull Points (HP)
The number of HP a Model has indicates its build Model. A Model with ‘360-degree’ in this entry can
quality and ability to soak up damage. If a Model Turn freely to face in any direction at any point
loses all of its HP, it is Scrapped. The number of during its movement. Models that cannot move in
HP on a vessel can range from as little as 1 for any way, such as Bunkers or Towers, will not have a
some Tiny Models to a staggering 12 or more on Turning Template listed.
some truly Massive Models.
Turn Limit
SUPPORT STATS A Model may also have a Turn Limit. This is the
distance it must move in a straight line before making
Assault Points (AP) a Turn. If a Model has no Turn Limit listed, or the
The number of AP a Model has represents the limit is 0”, it does not need to move in a straight line
quantity of the Marines on board a ship, and is used before making a Turn.
both to defend the Model from boarding, and to
launch its own Boarding Actions.

• 76 •  
 A2 - The Statistic Card

Squadron Size Activated

The number of these Models that you may have in a
single Squadron. Some Models, such as Escorts, may Models that have Activated must have an Activation
have a Squadron size of ‘Attachment Only’. They can Marker allocated to them at the end of their
only be bought as an Attachment in the numbers Activation. Models existing in an Activated State
noted in the bracket for another Squadron, and may not execute an Activation/Action in the current
may not be bought on their own, unless a specific Game Turn unless a specific condition of Model
condition or Model Assigned Rule applies. See Page
Assigned Rule applies.
80 for more details on Attachments. Some Models
may state ‘Squadron Support Only’. They are deployed
by a Squadron using the Squadron Support Model Lost
Assigned Rule, and may not be deployed otherwise Models that enter this State may never leave it: they
unless a specific condition applies. are effectively wrecked hulks. Models that are Lost
can exist in 2 sub-sets of Gaming State: Scrapped or
Model Assigned Rules (MAR) Drifting.
This section lists the MARs that apply to a Model. See
Page 159 for more details on available MARs. SCRAPPED
Models that have been destroyed during a battle
Options and removed from the battlefield or have left it
This lists any Options the Model has, such as in the involuntarily. Scrapped Models are placed in the
case of the Moskva Dreadnought (see the stat card on Scrapyard for easy Victory Points totalling in the
Page 75) which can have one additional Generator End Phase (see Page 156). Scrapped Models may not
added for an additional points cost, selected from a return to the battlefield unless a specific condition or
choice of Target Jammer or Ice Generator. Model Assigned Rule applies.

Weaponry Arcs DRIFTING

These are the Fire Arcs of the various weapons on the
Model. In some cases, it will also list how many of
a given weapon a Model has. If no number is given,
it is always one weapon irrespective of how many
weapon systems appear to be on the Model.
GAME STATE
Models that have been effectively destroyed
but have not entered the Scrapyard. These include
Derelict, Prized and Salvaged Models. Drifting
Models do not have an Activation and so can never
take an Activation Marker. Drifting Models will often
be required to perform certain Actions in the End
Phase - see Page 156 for more details.

A Model can exist in three States: Ready to Activate, SUMMARY

Activated or Lost.
In Game Basics we have covered the core mechanics
Ready of the game. Although it might seem a lot to take in
Models that are Ready to activate are identified by initially, to fully understand the rest of the game, it is
their lack of an Activation Marker. These Models important that you be be familiar with the principles
are yet to activate in a Game Turn. All Models explained in this Chapter.
start a Game Turn in the Ready State unless a We would recommend that you read this Chapter
specific condition or Model Assigned Rule applies. several times to get to grips with the core mechanics,
Throughout the process of a Game Turn, however, especially if you are new to playing Dystopian Wars!
they may change their State as they Activate, become
Prized, Lost, etc.

• 77 •  
A2 - The Statistic Card

• 78 •  
 A3 - Squadron Rules

Fielding Squadrons

SQUADRONS OF MODELS Where possible, any upgrade taken for a Model

must be clearly identified on the Model. This will

E very Force in Dystopian Wars will be composed be most commonly achieved by replacing a Turret
of several Squadrons which come together under or drop-on Generator for the chosen upgrade. From
the overall command of a Commodore. this information, the number of points required to
A standard Squadron normally contains only one field a Squadron of Models can be calculated.
type of Model as designated by its Model Name.
Additionally, Models will sometimes be referred to MIXED SQUADRONS
by a ‘Mark’ (often denoted as Mk I, or Mk II, or by a
letter such as A or B, etc...) in its Model Name. A Mixed Squadron is a Squadron containing Models
It is often possible for players to build Squadrons with different Model Names, such as Escorts that
with Models that are identified as having different have been atatched to a bigger Model to protect
‘Marks’ provided the Squadron contents are of the it. These can often be specialised support models
same overall Model Name. Any Squadron with that directly enhance the combat effectiveness of
mixed ‘Marks’ must be clearly identified in their the parent Models. There is more than one way of
Force List and on the Models themselves. building a Mixed Squadron, but all of them follow
The minimum and maximum number of Models the same rules.
per Squadron and the Points Cost of the Model,
including any upgrades will be detailed on a Model’s A Mixed Squadron can be created via:
Profile. • Through the use of the Attachment MAR.
• The creation of a Specialised Group Squadrons.
• A Scenario that dictates the creation of custom
Squadrons in your Force List.

• 79 •  
 A3 - Squadron Rules
The common rules which cover Mixed Squadron are
as follows:
1. The basic Squadron, before any Attachments are
added, is known as the Parent Squadron, and
the Attached Model or Models are called the
Attachment Group.
2. An Attachment Group may not have an
Attachment Group itself.
3. A Parent Squadron may only ever have one
Attachment Group.
4. A Parent Squadron may not have an Attachment
Group with the same Model Name as itself,
regardless of ‘Mark’.
5. The points cost of every Model in a Mixed
Squadron comes from the normal allowance for
their individual Size.
6. The Mixed Squadron is a standard Squadron for
the purposes of Command, and performing all
relevant actions during any Squadron Activation.
7. Unless specified otherwise, a Mixed Squadron
may only contain Models from the same Force.
• 80 •
THE ATTACHMENT MAR
Attachments are the most flexible way of building a
Mixed Squadron. When a Model has the Attachment
MAR it specifies which Models it can be Attached
to, as well as the maximum size of the Attachment
Group. For more information on the Attachment
MAR see Page 160.
Escorts
Escorts are smaller craft tasked to protect their
parent vessel with additional Ack-Ack (AA) and
Concussion Charges (CC), and their guns often have
far less difficulty in engaging small, fast threats than
those of their parent vessels.
An Escort, as designated in the Model
Classification section of its Profile, can be attached to
a Parent Squadron via the Attachment MAR. Escort
Groups function as a standard Attachment Group in
most ways, except that the Mixed Squadron does not
take a Disorder Test if an Escort is Lost.
Combat Patrols
Combat Patrols consist of a Support Aircraft
Squadron of Fighter Planes, and are also referred to
as a Combat Air Patrol (or CAP).
A CAP can be attached to any Large or Massive
Squadron in the Force provided it does not already
have an Attachment.
Any CAP must be taken from the Local Air
Support Allowance, which is determined by the size
of game being played.
CAPs function as a standard Attachment Group in
most ways, except that a Mixed Squadron does NOT
take a Disorder Test if the CAP is Lost.
Propaganda posters for the Covenant of
Antarctica have sprung up all over the
world.This nation may be small, but it is
intent on having its technological might felt
around the entire globe!
 
 A3 - Squadrons Rules

SQUADRON ACTIVATION ORDER
Players use the order of Initiative for the current
Game Turn to performing a single Squadron
Activation each, alternating until all players have
Activated ALL of their Squadrons once during the
Game Turn, at which point the current Game Turn
enters what is known as the End Phase.
During a Squadron Activation, a player must
perform all actions with all of the relevant Models
in the Squadron in the correct Order of Activation
before the next Squadron is Activated.
Possible actions include those related to
movement, combat and boarding. Players may use
specific Tactical Action Cards and resolve specific
Disorder or Collision actions as required.
It is likely that one player will have more
Activations than their opponent as the game
progresses, because of a higher number of Squadrons
that they control in their Force in each Game Turn.
Once a player has finished Activating all of
their Squadrons for that Game Turn, the opposing
player will finish all of their remaining Activations
consecutively without the need for the Squadron
Activation Order returning to the opponent.
Embarked Models
Models Embarked upon a Parent Model do not
activate until they have Disembarked onto the
Tabletop via the use of a MAR or, in the case of
Landing Craft, their Model Function.
Until this occurs they are not yet Disembarked,
and so may not make use of any Generators,
MARs, weapons, etc., unless a specific MAR or
condition applies. An Embarked Model is Lost if its
Parent Model is Lost.An Embarked Model may not
Disembark if its Parent Model is Disordered.

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• 81 •  
A3 - Squadron Rules

• 82 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

Call To Battle

In this Chapter players will be expected to agree upon their preferred Engagement Level of their game
and to then design their Forces. It is often best if the Force creation aspect is done in isolation to ensure
players can spring traps on their opponents with unusual compositions. The key thing is that all players
understand the upcoming battle and prepare their Forces accordingly!

The complexity of this section for players will be determined by their choice of Engagement Level.
Choosing this will ensure that players turn up to a game with the right models that will ensure a balanced
game. It will also mean that the players turn up with Forces which can sensibly fight against each other -
namely a Naval Force versus a Naval Force, Armoured against Armoured. The rules are designed to cater
for combined arms combat, this is one of the most compelling and powerful aspects of the rules, but being
able to fight on Battlefield which accommodates such warfare is essential...

• 83 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT 1. The Maximum Force Value (MFV)

A Force must be chosen with its individual Models
Not all players who come to Dystopian Wars will organised into appropriate Squadrons, so that the
be expert commanders with an entire grasp of the total amount of points spent in the creation of the
strategy and tactics needed to battle against their Force does not exceed the pre-agreed Maximum
foes across the multitude of theatres and warzones Force Value (MFV). Players may not spend more
of the world at war. To ensure players develop their than their MFV unless their opponent agrees.
skills together, we suggest three levels of engagement
that players might wish to participate in – Ensign, Important Note: Players do not always need to agree
Captain and Commodore. upon the same MFV for both sides. Scenarios will
often have one side outnumbering the other!
• Ensign Level games have few force building rules
and allow players to get to the action quickly. If 2. Theatre of Engagement
this is your first time playing Dystopian Wars, or Both players must agree on the dominant Theatre
you want to simply bash each other, choose this Type, either Land or Water, over which the battle
method of Force Building! will be fought. See Page 173 for further details. This
should prevent a player turning up with a Naval fleet
• Captain Level games add a few additional rules to face an opponent with just Armoured Models!
to Ensign Level games and have a small number
of limitations in force building but are good for 3. All Forces need a Commodore
players who have a little more experience. They The Commodore must be placed on a Large or
set limits on the number of Large, Medium and Massive Capital Class Model in your Force. The
Small Models you can have. They also require Model used as the Commodore’s base of operations
players to state if they are using Allies. must be clearly noted in a player’s Force List.

• Commodore Level games are where the ‘gloves
really come off’, with all rules for force building
and Common Agreements in play. Players will
also be expected to make use of Tactical Action
Cards (which in turn can be played in several
Rule Styles: Tactical or Fog of War).
CAPTAIN LEVEL GAME
When setting up a Captain Level Game it is
important to agree with your opponent the following
parameters in addition to the rules stated above in
Ensign Level:

Below you will see the rules for Engagement 4. The Core Force Type
laid out in numerical order. Each rule combines A Force MUST be Armoured, Naval or Aerial in Core
with its predecessors as you move down the levels Force Type (often referred to as simply Core Force
of complexity from a lowly Ensign to a high and or Core Type). This refers to the main body of the
mighty Commodore. Players might also choose to use Force and its likely constituents. This Core Force
selected force building parameters, such as using rules
must make up at least 60% of the overall MFV agreed
1-4, ignoring 5-7 and then using rules 8-10. upon by the players.
For example, a Naval Core Force with an MFV
ENSIGN LEVEL GAME of 2000 points may not have more than 800 points
of Non-Naval Models included. Certain Models are
When setting up an Ensign Level Game it is always treated as Non-Core: Infantry (of any type),
important to agree with your opponent the following Fortifications and Allied Squadrons (see later).
parameters:

• 84 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

5. Minimum Force Requirements 8. Main Forces and Strategic Forces

ALL Forces must purchase at least one Large or The term Main Force refers to the bulk of the troops
Massive Squadron, one Medium Squadron and one arrayed against the enemy. These will include the
Small Squadron of the Core Force Type. Although critical assets in the Force and MUST always contain
Models taken as Attachments are paid for from the Commodore’s Model. This force MUST contain
their own Size Class, they do not count towards the at least 60% of the Maximum Force Value (MFV)
ONE Minimum Squadron Requirement if they are available to the Force. The term Strategic Force refers
Attached to a Squadron of a different Size (see Page to the creation of strike elements within the Force
80 for more information on Attachments). that are tasked with specific engagement orders:
This agreement allows players to predict, with a Advance, Flank, and Reserve.
certain amount of surety, the kind of Force they are This will affect their Deployment and arrival on
expecting to play against. Although it is possible to the Battlefield and are governed by the following
play an Aerial Force against an Armoured or Naval rules for composition:
Force, it is unlikely to be as good a game as if two
Forces of the same Core Force Type were playing • No more than 40% of the total MFV may be
against each other. allocated to Models that are part of the Strategic
Forces.
6. Maximum Percentages for Size • Local Support may only ever be allocated to the
within the Force Main Force, never to the Strategic Forces.
To represent the Force as a whole and to encourage • Unless otherwise stated, Strategic Forces may
overall Game Balance, Forces must be organised into never contain Large or Massive Models as they
percentages to allow players to play with Forces that are far too cumbersome to react to specialised
are both balanced and fun. These percentages pertain orders.
to the Maximum Force Value (MFV) of the Force.
So, an Armoured Core Force totalling 1000 points 9. Local Air Support
may not spend more than 600 points on Large or Few battles are isolated events with no local air
Massive Models, or 600 points on Medium Models, elements present to assist in the assault or defence
or 400 points on Small or Tiny Models. All points of vital assets located within it. The concept of Local
paid for a Model, including, any optional upgrades, Air Support is intended to represent the availability
come from the percentages for Model Size. of these small aerial elements and their presence in
engagements.
MODEL TYPE % MAXIMUM The number of Local Air Support Elements
Large and Massive Models 60% Maximum present at a battle is determined by the size of game
Medium Models 60% Maximum being played. These are free Models but may not
Small and Tiny Models 40% Maximum receive any costed upgrades of any type (such as
Aces).
7. The Use of Allies All Forces gain free Wings of Support Aircraft
A Force may contain Allies using the rules found on which are organised into Squadrons of 5 Wings each
Page 199. as per the Local Air Support rules (see Page 86). To
represent their defensive role in most Forces only
COMMODORE LEVEL GAME Fighters may be taken as Local Air Support.

When setting up a Commodore Level Game it is

important to agree with your opponent the following
parameters in addition to the rules stated above in
Ensign Level and Captain Level.

• 85 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

10. Building your Tactical

GAME MFV LOCAL AIR SUPPORT
Action Card Deck
0-750 1x Fighter Wing At this point players should select their 16 Tactical
751-1250 2x Fighter Wings Actions Cards they intend to have available to
1251-1500 3x Fighter Wings their Force in the upcoming game. In addition,
players should decide now if they intend to play
1501+ 4x Fighter Wings
their Tactical Action Cards in the Tactical or Fog
of War format. For more information on Tactical
Action Cards see Page 92.

Commo
When pla dore Level Games
yin
game play g a Commodore L
ers might evel D6 RESULT AMOUNT OF TERRAIN
placement dec
of Terrain ide to put the
the gods into the la 1-2 No Terrain
by ps
the amoun randomly determin of 3-4 One Terrain Piece
t of Terrain ing
table. To d
o this divid present on the 5 Two Terrain Pieces
into 24” x e the Battle
2 fi
for each of 4” squares and roll eld 6 Three Terrain Pieces
these squa a D6
the table re
opposite to s, referring to
terrain to b determine the
e placed.

• 86 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

MUSTER FOR WAR! 3. Board Edges

• Pick Edges and organise Deployment Zones
Muster For War! Section is intended for games where 4. Deployment of Models
players simply want to get started quickly. Later • Advance Deployment
on in the rulebook we have a section designed for • Main Deployment
competitive play what will test experienced gamers • Flanking Forces
with various tournament ready scenarios. For the • Reserve Forces
moment however we will focus on getting a game • Order of Deployment
started. 5. Draw Field Orders
The Muster for War part of a game is divided into 6. Choose your Tactical Action Card Hand
two distinct Segments: Compare Forces and Rolling
for Advantage. 1. Board Size
To create a good game, the Battlefield size should
1. Compare Forces match the Maximum Force Values (MFV) being
This Step allows player to gain an insight into the played. If Models are too crowded there will not be
composition of the enemy forces arrayed against enough space to manoeuvre; equally, if there is too
them and ensures that all players have legal much space, the game will drag on.
Forces. All players present their Force Lists to their We would recommend that most small to medium
opponent. In some cases, where Models have hidden sized games will play best on a 6’ x 4’ Battlefield, but
rules or upgrades, players should refer to the specific as players move to play larger games they should
scenario condition or relevant Model Function. increase the size of the table as they see fit.
Force Lists should be as neat as possible to allow for .
easy reading. 2. Terrain Placement
The placement of Terrain should be done according
2. Rolling for Advantage to the players’ choice. If both players choose to play
Both players roll 2D6 and add the number of a Naval game on the open sea, then perhaps add
Squadrons in their Force with the Spotter MAR only a few fog bank terrain pieces, but for those who
to the result. The player with the highest result is want a greater tactical challenge perhaps add a large
considered to have gained the Strategic Advantage. number of islands, reefs and sandbars. Equally for
The player who rolled the lowest is considered to those playing an Armoured battle players might want
have the Operational Advantage. This will become to play on the open steppes of Mongolia, or in the
important later. sprawling urban jungle of a Dystopian city… really
the choice is up to you!
PREPARE TO ENGAGE For more information in the Types of Terrain and
how they affect the Battlefield, see Page 173.
We are now ready to bring players to the Battlefield
and this is done so by following the folowing process Players can decide between themselves how the
of events: Terrain should be placed, but we would encourage
players to identify a narrative and place terrain
1. Board Size accordingly… give the Commodores a good reason
• Decide the size of the Battlefield to fight!
2. Terrain Placement
• Determine Terrain Areas
• Determine the amount of Terrain
• The placement of Terrain

• 87 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

3. Board Edges should be a 16” No Mans’ Land Area, two 8” Advance

Firstly, the player with the Strategic Advantage picks
a Main Deployment Zone (green-shaded in our
diagram below) and their opponent must take the
opposite Main Deployment Zone.
Secondly, the player with Operational Advantage
chooses a Flanking Zone (red-shaded), and their
opponent must take the opposite Flanking Edge.
The Centre Line of the table (denoted in the
diagram as the dotted line) is the starting point from
which the other Areas and Zones are measured.
The No Man’s Land is an area of the table 8” from
the Centre Line in both directions.
The Advance Deployment Zone is an area of the
table that is between 8” and 16” from the Centre Line
in both directions.
The Main Deployment Zone is the remainder
of the Battlefield: in some cases, where players are
playing on oddly shaped boards or even lengthways,
this area may be larger or smaller.
This means that on a standard gaming space
with 48” between each player’s Board Edges, there
Deployment Zone Areas and two 8” Deployment
Zone Areas.
4. Deployment of Models
The Deployment of Models in Dystopian wars is
executed by imagining the different elements in each
Force that would be most likely to be spotted first by
the enemy reconnaissance units – probably because
they are so large and intimidating that they would be
impossible to miss!
Deployment is divided in order into 4 Key Steps,
with each Step being completed according to the
Order of Deployment before moving on:
4.1: ADVANCE DEPLOYMENT
The player with Strategic Advantage dictates who
deploys a Squadron from their Advance Force first.
Players then alternate the deployment of Squadrons
until all Squadrons are deployed from their Advance
Forces. Models allocated to the Advance Force may
choose to deploy in their Advance Deployment Zone
or in the Main Deployment Zone.

Reserve Edge

Main Deployment Zone

Advance Deployment Zone 8”

Flanking Edge

Flanking Edge

No Man’s Land 8”
Centre Line

No Man’s Land 8”

Advance Deployment Zone 8”

Main Deployment Zone

Reserve Edge

• 88 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

4.2: MAIN DEPLOYMENT A good

ru
The player with Operational Advantage dictates rememberi le of thumb w
ng the o hen
players sh rd
who deploys a Squadron from their Main Force first. ould deplo er in which
Players then alternate the deployment of Squadrons to think fro y their forc
m es is
until all Squadrons are deployed from their Main opponent’s the point of view of
re c onnaissa th eir
would hav
Forces. Models allocated to the Main Force must e scouted nce, which
before the the battle
fi
first Mode battle was joined. eld
deploy in their Main Deployment Zone. The
ls they wo
Commodore MUST deploy as part of the Main Force, would ha uld have sp The
ve been o
with the Commodore Game Marker clearly visible. structures the perm tted
su c h as Fortifi nent a
next would cations,
4.3: FLANKING FORCES Models as h a v e b een
they take the Massive
These Flanking Forces are not deployed at the start to manoeu th
vre into po e most time
of the game and are instead nominated to come on Large Mod sition, the
els n
to the table from turn 2 onwards. Use a dice or some reasonable and so on....So it’s the
in the abst only
of alterna
other marker to show each squadron’s preferred entry ting deplo racted nature
would be ym
Turn number. All Squadrons deploying onto the radioing b ent that they
of such ass a ck the loca
Battlefield in this way do so following the rules for ets in that tion
‘Moving Onto the Battlefield’ found in the Movement
order!
Section on Page 107.
Deployment is done in an alternating fashion
4.4: RESERVE FORCES using the order above. In the case of Flanking and
These Reserve Forces are not deployed at the start of Reserve Forces, the entire Force is Deployed during
the game and instead become available from turn 2 the Late Arrivals Step of the Game Turn they enter,
onwards. Use a dice or some other marker to show using the rules for ‘Moving Onto the Battlefield’
each squadron’s preferred entry Turn number. All found in the Movement Section on Page 109. Any
Squadrons deploying onto the Battlefield in this attached Models or Support Aircraft Squadrons
way do so following the rules for ‘Moving Onto the deployed with a Parent Squadron as part of a Model
Battlefield’ found in the Movement Section on Page Assigned Rule (MAR) deploy at the same time as the
109. Parent Squadron.
Fortifications must always be allocated to the
4.5: ORDER OF DEPLOYMENT Advance Force, and may choose if they deploy in the
Each player must deploy Squadrons within a Force in Advanced or Main Deployment Zones as normal.
the following order: Aerial Models may elect to deploy in either
the Flying or Obscured Height Levels. Diving and
• Any Fortifications (including any Attached Burrowing Models may elect to deploy in the Surface
Mines or Infantry) or Submerged Height Levels. No Models may choose
• Any Massive Models to deploy in either the Stratospheric or Deep Diving
• Any Large Models Height Levels.
• Any Medium Models
• Any Small Models
• Any Tiny Models
• Any Local Support

• 89 •  
 A4 - Call To Battle

5. Draw a random Field Order * Should your opponent’s Commodore escape

Field Orders are a quick way for players (through the use of a TAC) you cannot be considered
determine the winner of their game. They represent to complete this Field Order until any new enemy
the orders from high command, as filtered through Model with the Commodire is also Lost.
creative misunderstanding and the necessity of
circumstances! A Field Order is determined in secret All players must keep a running tally of their
by drawing a card from a player’s TAC Deck and scored Victory Points at all times. This is critical if
should not be revealed to other players. players are to determine who is winning, and how
A player may choose to reject their drawn Field close they are to achieving their Victory Conditions.
Order, and instead choose the Free to Engage Order, The game will finish at the End of Game Step of the
however should the player choose to do this, they current Game Turn’s End Phase provided the Victory
must reveal their intention to their opponent(s) Conditions are still met - see Page 158.
immediately, the drawn Field Order is discarded and
the player looks through their Field Order cards for 6. Choose YOUR TACs
the Free to Engage order, placing it face up at the side Tactical Action Cards (TACs) form an important
of the table. part of Dystopian Wars, giving players a chance to
For example, to complete Field Order 1, a player respond to the forces presented before them with a
must score 70% of the agreed MFV in Victory Points. series of tactical ploys and stratagems that will help
This is achieved most commonly by Scrapped enemy steer a wily commander to eventual victory.
Models, capturing enemy Models as Prizes or forcing The Cards a player wishes to choose should be
an opponent to fight to Salvage their own Models. selected from their prepared TAC Deck and held in
To complete Field Orders 2, 3, and 4, a player must secret and kept face down at the side of the table.
Scrap or Prize or force the Salvage of ALL enemy This is called their TAC Hand. The number of TACs
Models of the relevant Size, and score 50% of the a player can choose from to build their TAC Hand is
agreed MFV in Victory Points. determined by the MFV of a game.
To complete Field Order 5, a player must Scrap For more information on TAC Deck composition
or Prize or force the Salvage of your opponent’s and their in-game use, see Page 92.
Commodore Model and score 50% of the agreed
MFV in Victory Points. ENGAGE THE ENEMY!
Players are now free to unleash their guns and rush
FIELD ORDER VICTORY CONDITIONS
into the maelstrom of fire and steel that is Dystopian
1. Free to Score at least 70% of the enemy MFV Wars! Move on to the next Chapter.
Engage in Victory Points.
Score at least 50% of the enemy MFV
2. Vital Asset
including ALL Large and Massive
Destruction
Models.
3. Break their Score at least 50% of the enemy MFV
Backs including ALL Medium Models.
4. Thin Their Score at least 50% of the enemy MFV
Ranks including ALL Small Models.
5. Go for their Score at least 50% of the enemy MFV
Leader * including the Commodore’s Model.
Show this card to your opponent
6.Commodore's then secretly choose a new order,
Discretion placing it face up at the side of the
table.

• 90 •  
A4 - Call To Battle

• 91 •  
 A5 - Tactical Action Cards (TACs)

Tactical Action Cards

These cards introduce the themed elements of force tactics and weird science to a game of Dystopian
Wars. A Tactical Action Card Deck (TAC Deck) is chosen by a player during Force List creation and the
player then uses this Deck to choose several TACs to form their TAC Hand. The cards in a player’s Hand
are designed to represent the various schemes, stratagems, tactics and ploys available to Dystopian Wars
Commanders as they battle for victory!

A Tactical Action Card Deck (TAC Deck) is

divided into four key types of card:
Generic Cards
These cards are usable by all factions and provide a
wide range of abilities and benefits. As you would
expect they do not favour any one Nation’s game-
play or tactics, but instead are more diverse.
All Squadrons may make use of these cards as their
ubiquitous nature allows for general play. Players
can substitute Generic Cards for preferred Factional,
National Focus or Heroic Force Commodore TACs
using the rules in this section of the book.
Factional Cards
These Tactical Action Cards are heavily restricted and
represent the overall allegiance of the Force to one
of the three key factions in Dystopian Wars: Grand
Coalition, Imperial Bond or Free Nations. Allies
(except Mercenaries) may always make use of these
cards as they also belong to the relevant Faction.
National Focus Cards
These Tactical Action Cards are only available
to players who are playing a specific Nation. For
example, the National Focus Cards designated as
being belonging to the Prussian Empire can only
be played on Squadrons that belong to the Prussian
Empire. These cards are designed to allow players to
tailor their tactics to better suit the expected play-
style of their chosen Nation. Allies (of any type) may
not make use of these cards in any way.
Heroic Commodore Cards
Some Commodores will allow players to take Tactical
Action Cards as part of their rules. These heroic
individuals can normally direct special operations
on the Battlefield which are made available by use
of the card. Allies may not make use of these cards
unless otherwise stated on the card itself. Details
of these cards are available in the relevant National
Force Guides.
BUILDING A TAC DECK
A TAC Deck must number 16 Cards, taken initially
from the Generic Card Type.
Cards that are Generic can be replaced for
Non-Generic cards such as Factional, National Focus
or Heroic Commodore cards as desired. However, the
Non-Generic card replacing the Generic Card within
the deck MUST have the same VP Points Cost as
the Generic card it is replacing, and no Card may be
repeated in the TAC Deck.
This ensures that players tailor their TAC Deck
rather than overpower it, and encourages more
consideration of the cards they are likely to need
based upon their Force Composition and strategy.

• 92 •  
 A5 - Tactical Action Cards (TACs)
TAC HAND SIZE
Unless otherwise stated by a scenario, the number of
TACs available to players from which to form their
TAC Hand is dictated by the size of MFV that was
agreed upon during the Call to Arms Segment of the
Pre-Game Set Up.
The TAC Hand Size is determined by dividing the
MFV being played by 250 (rounding Down).
So, for example, in an 1250pts Game, each player
would choose 5 TACs to form their TAC Hand, with
the other cards in the Deck unusable and so are then
discarded.
The maximum number of TACs that any one
player may hold as part of their TAC Hand is 10
(up to the 2500pt MFV level). Should players play
Games with larger MFVs the limit is still 10, unless
otherwise decided upon by both sides.
CHOOSING A TAC DECK
The use of TACs is NOT random. Players are free
to choose which TACs they would like in their TAC
Hand for use in a game, taking their preferred Cards
from their master TAC Deck, created during the List
Building Segment of the Pre-Game Set-up.
There are no limitations to the amount of Victory
Points (VPs) a player may hold in their TAC-Hand,
beyond the substitution requirement of initial Deck
Building and the required Hand size based upon the
MFV being played. The amount of VP in the TAC
Hand only becomes important when cards are used.
The TACs in a player’s TAC Hand should always
be kept secret to their opponent and are chosen
from the TAC Decks once players have reached the
Tabletop, their Force Lists are exchanged, Models
have been deployed and after Field Orders have been
drawn.
An opponent should never know the TACs a
player has taken. Equally neither player knows their
opponent’s Field Order at the point of choosing
TACs either, so players should be mindful of taking
the TACs that complement their Force and preferred
strategies based upon the situations they might find
themselves confronted with on the Battlefield.
• 93 •
Players should also be aware that once they choose
their preferred TACs for the upcoming engagement,
they may NOT re-draw cards from the remainder of
their TAC Deck unless a specific scenario or gaming
condition applies. Essentially, the Cards that make
up the TAC Hand are a final set of tactical options
available to a commander, designed to assist in the
prosecution of their Field Orders.
PLAYING YOUR TACS
The conditions surrounding a TAC’s use is always
noted on the Card itself; there are, however, a number
of persistent rules always in effect when using TACs:
• A Force that has Lost its Commodore may
not play TACs, but may use them to cancel
opponent’s TACs as normal.
• A TAC that has been played cannot be retracted
unless it was played incorrectly.
• A TAC may not be played on a Squadron that
began its Activation ‘Out of Coherency’.
• A player may not play more than one TAC
card during any single Squadron Activation or
Pre-Turn TAC Segment. Once a TAC has been
played, it should remain face up nearby until
the end of the Activation/Pre-Turn Segment as a
visual reminder.
• If a situation specifies you must ‘Discard’ a
TAC Card, the card is removed from the game
without being played and is placed face-down in
the Scrapyard without amending Victory Points
totals.
• The playing of TACs on Allied Squadrons
is limited and may only be done if certain
conditions apply - see Allies Rules on Page 199.
• A Played TAC is always placed in the player’s
Scrapyard face-up, as are cards used to Cancel
cards played by your opponent. Only cards that
are face up can ever amend Victory Points totals.
 
 A5 - Tactical Action Cards (TACs)

Victory Points To Cancel a TAC played by an opponent, a player

Using the tactical power of a Nation’s best and must sacrifice a Card or a combination of Cards of
brightest isn’t free, and Commodores must be careful HIGHER Victory Points cost than the TAC that is
not to fritter away their resources too cheaply. In being played.
game terms, this is represented by a cost that is If a player manages to Cancel the Card played by
always found at the bottom of the Card. This cost an opponent, the Cancelled card is Discarded and
is added to your opponent’s running Victory Points the Cancelling player must place the card(s) used
Total when the Card is resolved and the used TAC is face-up in their own Scrapyard, adding their total
placed in your Scrapyard face-up for ease of totalling cost to the opponent’s running VP total.
during the End Phase. For example, if a player uses a 40 VP TAC card
and their opponent wants the TAC to be Cancelled,
CANCELLING TACS the opponent must forsake TACs of their own which
combine to create a VP total greater than 40.
The effects of TACs can often be catastrophic if
played at just the right time. So much so that it is
essential that players have a means at their disposal
whereby they can Cancel particularly devastating
Cards played against them.
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t’s Sc
rapya ing
rd.

• 94 •  
 A5 - Tactical Action Cards (TACs)

TITLE – All Cards

have a Title that
should be read aloud
when it is played.

FLAVOUR TEXT –
Each Card will have
a small amount of
flavour text in Italics
that sets the scene for
its use.

RULES – The
Card will show
its rules of play
and tell you
when it can be
utilised.
TYPE – Each Card has an
identifying label showing
which Type of Card it is.

VALUE – Each Card has an associated

Victory Points (VPs) cost attached to it.
This cost does not come into play until
a player chooses to use the card.

• 95 •  
A5 - Tactical Action Cards Example

In the first part of this example we have Mike attempting

to play a Tactical Action Card called Devastating
Barrage – a pretty scary 40 Point Card!

He announces he intends to play the card and places it

on the Battlefield next to the Squadron that will gain the
most benefit from it.

After this is done John has the option to cancel it if he

wishes (or is able to!).

In this example he allows the card to activate and gains

+40 Victory Points for the card - which is added to his
VP total

Mike’s VP John’s VP
+0 +40

However, if we imagine a different situation

where John feels he simply cannot allow such
a powerful card to activate, he can attempt to
cancel it!

In his TAC Hand he has a Tally Ho! card

worth 60pts, a Storm Troopers card with
40pts and a Break Neck Manoeuvre card
worth 20pts.

To cancel the card he must play a number

of cards that have a greater combined VP
total than the card being activated. In this
case, he decides to keep his powerful Tally
Ho! Card and instead gives up the Break
Neck Manoeuvre and Storm Troopers cards
because they combine to 60VPs – 20 more
than the Devastating Barrage card.

The card is cancelled, with Mike’s VP total

being increased by the value of the cards used
to cancel his Devastating Barrage – in this
instance 60VPs!

Mike’s VP John’s VP
+60 +0

• 96 •  
A5 - Tactical Action Cards Example

• 97 •  
 B1 - Order Of Play

Order Of Play
As you might expect, in a game as rich and as granular as Dystopian Wars, there must be a structure in
place through which a game should be played. This allows for the game to flow, and provides suitable sign-
posts for players to understand when relevant Actions or Steps must take place. Therefore, a Game Turn
breaks down as follows.

T o create a game flow where there is an interesting

arc of action and decision making, Dystopian Wars is
broken down into what are known as Game Turns.
A game will last multiple Game Turns, and if you are
playing a Scenario it will often dictate the number of
Game Turns to be played before a game is classed as
‘over’ and someone has won or lost.
Game Turns are broken down into multiple parts,
not all of which are used every Turn, but only when
the parts or action on the Battlefield require them.
The game-granularity of Dystopian Wars is:
GAME TURN =

Pre-Turn Phase
 face down on the table in front of them. The player
Activation Phase

End Phase
A Phase is then broken down as follows if it needs to
be by the granularity/complexity of the rule in play:
PHASE =

Segment (if needed by the rules)
 Deployment.
Step

Action
THE PRE-TURN PHASE
During the Pre-Turn Phase, players execute the
playing of Tactical Action Cards that affect the
upcoming Game Turn, bring on Reserves and
Flanking Forces, and determine who has the Initiative
for the remainder of the Game Turn. The Pre-Turn
Phase is divided into the following Segments, which
must be resolved in order:
1. Tactical Action Cards (TAC)
Segment
Any players wishing to play TACs in this Segment
announce their intention by placing a single Card
with Strategic Advantage must play their card first.
2. Late Arrivals Segment
Models that are scheduled to arrive this turn do so in
the following way:
• The player with Operational Advantage may
decide which player must deploy a Squadron
from their Strategic Forces first. Squadrons are
placed alternately, using the Standard Order of
• During the Late Arrivals Segment, all Models
entering the battle must be placed so their Aft
90-degree arc is touching the relevant edge of the
Tabletop. No Model may be deployed in Terrain
that is Impassable to it.
• Any Squadrons which do not have a facing, such
as Support Aircraft Squadrons, must be placed so
any part of the Squadron is touching the relevant
Tabletop edge

• 98 •  
 B1 - Order Of Play

3. Determine Initiative Segment

Using an Opposed 2D6 test, players determine the ACTIVATION PHASE TABLE
Initiative Order. The Player who rolls highest is first
Segment Step
in the Initiative Order, the second highest is second
Command Coherency
in the Initiative Order, and so on.
Command Command and Control
Command Consolidation
4. First Activation Segment
The player who is first in the Initiative Order Movement Declarations
Activates their first Squadron. Other players activate Movement Movement and Manoeuvre
Squadrons in Initiative Order. Once all players have Movement Consolidation
activated one Squadron, refer back to the Initiative
Order to activate other Squadrons in the players’ Declaring Attacks
respective Force Lists. Declaring Counter Attacks
Firing Resolve Auxiliary Fire
ACTIVATION PHASE Resolve Ordnance Fire
Firing Consolidation
During the Activation Phase, players execute the
Command and Control, Movement, Firing, Boarding, Nominate Targets and Assault Groups
and Disorder Segments. The Activation Phase breaks Anti-Boarding Declarations
down into: Anti-Boarding Fire
Boarding
PHASE = Close Quarters Battle

Determine the Victor!
Segment
 Boarding Consolidation
Step
 Disorder Disorder Test Resolution
Action

Each Segment in this Phase concludes with a

Consolidation Step to allow players to check they
have completed their Actions successfully and THE END PHASE TABLE
recorded all necessary events on the Tabletop and on Segment Step
their Victory Points totals. See the table on the top Compulsory Actions
Derelict HP Loss
Drifting Models
right for more details:

Critical Repair Tests

THE END PHASE Damage Repair
Persistent Effects Repair Tests

The End Phase is divided into the Segments and Resolve Persistent Effects on
Steps you can see the sequence in the table to the Persistent Effects
Models
Remove In-Game Generator
bottom right: Effects

Bring and Disordered Squadrons

Restore Order
under control

Compare Victory Points to Force

Check for End of Game
Orders

Move on to the Next Turn Return to Pre-Turn Phase

• 99 •  
 B2 - Types Of Attack

Types Of Attack
All Damage inflicted during a game of Dystopian Wars originates from one of TWO sources:
Indiscriminate Attacks or Targeted Attacks.

INDISCRIMINATE ATTACKS DAMAGE FROM ATTACKS

I ndiscriminate Attacks are quite simply and just as

the name implies - indiscriminate!
Shield Generators protect Models from gunfire,
but NOT from a Battleship at ramming speed, equally
being hard to hit does NOT protect a Model against
artillery fire that is blanketing a whole area.
Attack Dice originating from ANY of the following
sources are classed as Indiscriminate Attacks:
• Collisions or Rams
• Magazine Explosion Critical Effects
• Ordnance Attacks resolved using a Template
• Mine Explosions
• Any other Attacks identified as being a form of
Indiscriminate Attack
Indiscriminate Attacks ignore the following:
• All Defensive Generator effects
• ALl Defensive MARs
The ‘To Hit’ Number for
Indiscriminate Attacks
Most sources of Indiscriminate Attacks will specify
the ‘To Hit’ Number they use. If they do not, they
use the Basic ‘To-Hit’ Number as determined by the
Height Level - see the table on Page 127.
TARGETED ATTACKS
All other forms of Attacks not listed above are
deemed to be Targeted Attacks, and are therefore
potentially impacted by any Defensive MARs or
Defensive Generators as applicable.
Loss of Hull Points (HP) in Dystopian Wars manifests
itself in two forms: Damage and Critical Hits.
If a Model suffers multiple Attacks in the same
Step (most often as being the target of multiple
ordnance attacks from the same Squadron), it may
sustain several points of Damage or even several
Critical Hits. All Attacks in a single Step are
effectively simultaneous. However, for ease of play,
we resolve the Attacks in the order in which they
were declared.
APPLYING DAMAGE
Damage is applied using the following process:
1. Determine Volume of Damage by checking to see
if the Attack Dice have generated:
1.1. Damaging Hit
1.2. Critical Hit
1.3. Damaging Critical Hit
1.4. Multiple Critical Hits
2. Apply Damage and resolve HP Loss and any
Critical Effects in the following order:
2.1. Damaging Hits first
2.2. Then Critical Hits
2.3. Then Damaging Critical Hits
2.4. Then Multiple Critical Hits

• 100 •  
 B2 - Types Of Attack

1. Determine Volume Of Damage 1.4. Multiple Critical Hits

Damage is applied to a Model when the number If the total number of hits equals, or exceeds,
of successful Hits from a single Attack is equal to TWICE the Critical Rating, the Model has
or greater than a Model’s Damage Rating (DR) or suffered TWO Critical Hits, and so on. The Model
Critical Rating (CR). loses a number of Hull Points (HP) indicated by
The type and amount of damage applied depends the Critical Hit that is rolled (see the Table on
on the total number of successful Hits from the Page 103).
Attack, after all Defensive Counter Attacks, Defensive With the exception of the loss of Hull Points
Generators, Tactical Action Cards, Defensive MARs (HP), Assault Points (AP), gaining additional
and any other applicable effects have been taken Persistent Damage Markers the effects of multiple
into account. A Model can suffer either Damage or instances of the same Critical Hit DO NOT stack.
Critical Hit(s), or in some cases Damaging Critical However, each instance of the effect will need to
Hits. be individually repaired by a successful Damage
Repair Test in the Game Turn’s End Phase, before
1.1. Damage the effect is removed from the Model.
If the total number of Hits against a Model in
a single Attack equals, or exceeds, its Damage Important Note: Should a Model suffer enough
Rating, but not its Critical Rating, the Model has Hits in an Attack to exceed its Critical Rating
suffered Damage, and loses 1 Hull Point (HP). multiple times, the Damaging Critical Hits are
ignored! Things are bad enough already for those
1.2. Critical Hits on board!
If the total number of Hits against a Model in
a single Attack equals, or exceeds, its Critical
Rating, the Model has not suffered Damage,
instead it has suffered a Critical Hit. The Model
loses a number of Hull Points (HP) indicated by
the Critical Hit that is rolled (see the Table on
Page 103).
With the exception of the loss of Hull Points
(HP), Assault Points (AP), and gaining additional
Persistent Damage Markers, the effects of
multiple instances of the same Critical Hit do
not stack. Each instance of the effect will need to
be individually repaired by a successful Damage
Repair Test in the Game Turn’s End Phase, before
the effect is removed from the Model.

1.3. Damaging Critical Hit

If the total number of Hits against a Model in
a single Attack equals, or exceeds, its Critical
Rating and Damage Rating added together, the
Model has instead suffered a Damaging Critical
Hit. The Model loses a number of Hull Points
(HP) indicated by the Critical Hit that is rolled
(see the Table on Page 103) and a further loss of
1 HP.

• 101 •  
 B2 - Types Of Attack
2. Apply Damage
Now you know how much chaos and destruction
you have sown against a target it is time to apply
your Damage in the following order:
2a. Apply Damage HP Loss
For each Damage result inflicted upon a Model,
place ONE Hull Point (HP) Loss Game Marker
next to it to represent the point of Damage. If
Damage reduces the Model to ZERO remaining
Hull Points (HP) it is IMMEDIATELY Scrapped
and removed from the Tabletop.
If the Attack inflicting the Damage has the
Piercing MAR and the Model survives, make the
roll on the Critical Hit Table now; see Critical
Effects without Suffering a Critical Hits (see
below).
2b. Apply Critical Hits
If a Model has suffered a single Critical Hit, make
a roll on the Critical Hit Table and apply the
corresponding Hull Point loss and the Critical
Hit Effect in full. If the Model is reduced to ZERO
Hull Points as a result of the Critical Hit, it is
Scrapped and is removed from the Tabletop
If a Model suffered multiple Critical Hits, the
next is applied in the same way. This is continued
until there are no further Critical Hits to apply, or
the Model is Scrapped – in which case no further
Critical Hit Table rolls are made.
CRITICAL EFFECTS WITHOUT
SUFFERING A CRITICAL HIT
This may sound odd, but often through the rules
there will be mention of situations whereby a gaming
effect causes a Model to suffer a specific Critical
Effect without actually having suffered a Critical Hit.
Examples of this might be Tesla Generators causing
Shredded Defences Effects, Ice Generators causing
Navigational Lock/Engine Failure Effects, or Models
Colliding with Terrain suffering Engine Failures etc.
• 102 •
In these cases, the Result column, the Effect
column and the Repairable column of the Critical
Hit Table are used, but the HP Loss column is
ignored. In other cases, a Model Assigned Rule or
Munitions might allow for a roll to be made on the
Critical Hit Table with various conditions applying.
In these cases, as above, the Result column, the
Effect column and the Repairable column of the
Critical Hit Table is used, but the HP Loss column
is ignored.
Important Note: This means that the Model
suffering the Critical Effect(s) in these ways WILL
NOT lose any HP, no matter the Critical Effect(s)
inflicted.
SUPPORT AIRCRAFT DAMAGE
See the Carriers, Drone Launchers and Support
Aircraft section on Page 185.
HULL POINTS & ATTACK DICE
The Hull Point (HP) value of a Model is a measure
of how much punishment it can take before it is
Scrapped. Hull Points are reduced during the game
as a result of Damage and Critical Hits. If a Model has
suffered a loss of Hull Points equal to, or exceeding,
its Initial Hull Point value, then the Model is
Scrapped and should be immediately removed from
the Tabletop and placed in the Scrapyard.
The current Hull Point (HP) value of a Model is
not only a measure of how much Damage it can take
before being Scrapped, it is also a measure of the
health of a Model’s own weapon systems.
If a Model’s current HP value is less than its
Initial HP value, the Model subtracts 1 Attack Die
(AD) from every Gunnery Ordnance and Auxiliary
weapon for each lost Hull Point, unless a specific
condition applies, such as the Redoubtable MAR.
Attack Dice from any weapon system can never
fall below 1. Repaired Hull Points also repair lost AD
in this way - see Repair on Page 197.
 
 B2 - Types Of Attack

CRITICAL HIT TABLE

2D6 D6
HP Critical
Standard Focused Result Repair ?
Loss Effect
Dice Roll Roll

The Model suffers catastrophic damage. Should

the Model be Scrapped as a result of this Critical
Effect, any Models within 2” of any point of
Magazine the Lost Model, regardless of Height Level, are
2 * 2D6 NO
Explosion subjected to an Indiscriminate Attack, with a ‘To
Hit’ roll of 4, 5, or (RED) 6. The number of Attack
Dice (AD) is equal to DOUBLE the initial Hull
Points (HP) value of the Lost Model.
Raging
3 * 2 This Model gains D3+1 Raging Fire Effect Markers. YES
Fire
This Model has its Ack-Ack (AA) and Concussive
Shredded
4 1 2 Charges (CC) reduced to 0. Place the Shredded YES
Defences
Defences Effect Marker on the Model.

Generators This Model cannot use any of its Generators. Place

5 2 2 YES
Offline the Generators Offline Effect Marker on the Model.

The Attack Dice (AD) Value of all Primary and

Weapons Secondary Weapons on this Model are reduced by
6 3 2 YES
Damage HALF. Place the Weapons Damage Effect Marker
on the Model.

7 * Hard Pounding 3 This Model loses D3 Assault Points (AP) NO

The Movement (Mv) of the Model is reduced by

Engine
8 4 2 HALF. Place the Engine Failure Effect Marker on YES
Failure
the Model.

Navigational This Model can only move DIRECTLY ahead. Place

9 5 2 YES
Lock the Navigational Lock Effect Marker on the Model.

This Model cannot use Tertiary Weaponry, deploy

Chaos & Mines, Initiate any Boarding Actions, or perform
10 6 2 YES
Disarray Carrier Actions. Place the Chaos and Disarray
Effect Marker on the Model.

* Fusion
11 2 This Model gains D3 Corrosion Effect Markers. YES
Leak
If the Model is not Scrapped the Model Teleports
in a random direction using the Random
Displacement Template, moving the Model 3D6”
in the direction indicated. The Model is then
placed facing in a random direction using the
Sturginium Random Displacement Template once more.
12+ * D6 NO
Flare A Model automatically Collides if, as part of a
Teleportation, it is placed touching a Model,
or touching Terrain that is considered to be
Treacherous to it and is automatically Scrapped if
it is placed touching Terrain that is considered to
be Impassable to it.

• 103 •  
 B3 - Disorder

Disorder
The men and women that crew the Sturginium-powered vessels that take to the oceans, cover the
landmasses and fill the skies of the Dystopian World are hardy souls, often too heroic, zealous or world-
weary to be fazed by the nearby destruction of one of their own. But there will be times when their morale
will break, and the brave few that remain find themselves sorely tested.

DISORDER TEST RESOLUTION COMMAND COHERENCY

A ny number of events may occur that cause a

Squadron to take a Disorder Test if events take
a turn for the worse! Squadrons that are already
Disordered are not required to take any further
Disorder Tests, and any Disorder Tokens will
automatically be removed during the appropriate
Segment of the End Phase of every Game Turn, as
the officers present move to restore order.
A Disorder Test is required for the Squadron
during the Disorder Segment of any Activation where
the following events occurred. These events do not
trigger a Disorder Test if the Squadron is already
Disordered.
• A Model in the Squadron has been Lost. This
does NOT apply to Attached Escorts or Combat
Air Patrols that are Lost.
• A player’s Commodore is Lost. Every Squadron
in a Force must perform an immediate Disorder
Test.
• A Squadron is out of Out of Command
Coherency during the Disorder Segment of its
own Activation.
• A specific scenario condition has been met.
• An applicable MAR is in play.
A Squadron is only required to make a maximum
of one Disorder Test per Squadron Activation.
All Models in the same Squadron should must
remain within Command Coherency of at least ONE
other Model in their Squadron to perform at their
effective best.
During a game Command Coherency is 8”, and is
measured from any point on one Model to any point
on another. If any Model is not within 8” of another
Model in its Squadron, during the Disorder Segment
of its Activation, the entire Squadron is considered to
be Out of Command Coherency.
TAKING A DISORDER TEST
When performing a Disorder Test, the Squadron must
roll 3D6 requiring a 4, 5 or (RED) 6 for a success,
unless a specific MAR applies. The test requires ONE
success to pass, and the result effects all Models in
the Squadron. The following additional situations
require the survivors of the Squadron to dig deeper
into their reserves of courage!
• If the Squadron has Lost half or more of its initial
Squadron Size, the test requires an additional
success to pass.
• If the Squadron is Out of Command Coherency,
the test requires an additional success to pass.
• If the Commodore has been Lost, the test requires
an additional success to pass.

Important Note: A Model is considered to be Lost if Important Note: Any additional successes required
it’s been Scrapped, made a Derelict, a Prize, a Salvage, to pass a Disorder Test are cumulative. This
or has been moved off the Tabletop, unless a specific represents a Squadron falling apart as it takes losses!
Scenario Condition applies.

• 104 •  
 B3 - Disorder

COMMAND RADIUS BONUS RALLYING FROM DISORDER

If the Squadron has a Model within 8” of a
Commodore, an extra (RED) 6 can be rolled for the
Disorder Test.
DISORDERED SQUADRONS
All Squadrons that are Disordered will automatically
Recover from their Disorder Token during the
Restore Order Segment of a Game Turn’s End Phase
(see Page 157), losing either Assault Points (AP) or
Hull Points (HP) in the process (see Page 157).

If a Disorder Test is Failed, the Squadron is

Disordered. Models that are Disordered cannot:
• Perform ANY Firing Options other than Standard
Fire.
• Have Tactical Action Cards played upon them by
their controlling player.
• Initiate a Boarding Action.
• Perform Carrier Actions or Launch Drones.
• Have a Combat Patrol attach to them.
• Disembark any units Embarked upon them.

• 105 •  
 C1 - The Command Segment

The Command Segment

T he Command Segment is divided into 3 simple
Steps:

1. Command Coherency
2. Command and Control
3. Command Consolidation

Let’s drill into each Step in a little more detail:

1. Command Coherency
During this Step, a player must announce whether
the Squadron they are Activating has started its
Activation within Command Coherency.
All Models in the same Squadron should begin and
end their Game Turn within Command Coherency
of at least ONE other Model in their Squadron to
perform at their effective best. In Dystopian Wars
Command Coherency is 8”, and is measured from
any point on one Model to any point on another.
Models that are out of Command Coherency
should make every effort to end their activation
within 8” of another model in their Squadron... or 2. Command and Control
suffer the consequences of a possible Disorder Effect During this Step, players have an opportunity to
at the end of the Activation! initiate certain Actions / Game Effects which can take
place before a Squadron’s Activation continues into
the Movement Segment.
This includes playing any applicable Tactical
Action Cards, performing various dice rolls related to
MARs, activating certain Generator effects, or other
Actions that are part of specific scenario conditions.

3. Command Consolidation
During this Step, players will ensure that Game
Tokens are clearly attached to the correct Squadrons.
Certain Generators may also Activate in this Step -
see the Generators chapter on Page 165.
.

• 106 •  
 C2 - The Movement Segment

The Movement Segment

The strategic movement of your models is critical to any good military plan! The Movement Segment is therefore
divided into three Steps in order to keep things organised and simple:

1. Movement Declarations
2. Movement and Manoeuvre
3. Movement Consolidation

1. MOVEMENT DECLARATIONS 2. MOVEMENT & MANOEUVRES

I n this Step, a Squadron must declare if any Models

are intending to change Height Levels or make
any Special Movement Actions during its Movement
Segment (see later). It is possible for some Models to
make more than one Special Movement Action in an
Activation, although it is not that common.
Changing Height Levels
If a Model is capable of changing Height Levels,
it must first declare which Height Level it will be
occupying during the Movement Declarations Step.
Unless other conditions apply, this Model may
only ascend or descend ONE Height Level from its
original position. This Model is now considered to
be occupying the new Height Level, and executes
the rest of its Movement Segment (including any
Minimum Move) on its newly declared Height Level.
Different Models in a Squadron can occupy
different Height Levels at the same time. Appropriate
Game Markers, such as ‘Obscured’ or ‘Submerged’,
should be placed on each Model’s base to indicate its
current Height Level.
Unless otherwise noted, Models that are classified
as Diving or Burrowing Models may occupy either
the Surface or Submerged Height Levels and Models
that are classified as Aerial Models may occupy either
the Flying or Obscured Height Levels.
During the Movement and Manoeuvre Step, all
Models in the Squadron move. Each Model is
moved individually and must complete its entire
Movement before continuing with other members of
its Squadron.
Important Note: All Movement made on the
Battlefield is FINAL and may not be taken back
because Models got themselves in a muddle! A Model
that moves an inch has MOVED that inch. Period.
Minimum Movement
Each Model has a Minimum Movement listed in its
Profile. Unless a special condition applies, the Model
MUST move this many inches straight forward before
it can make a Turn or stop moving. Any Model with a
Minimum Movement of 0” does NOT have to move
straight forward, or even move at all.
Players are advised to be careful to position
their Models where this Minimum Movement will
not cause unwanted collisions, carry them into a
minefield, or otherwise ruin their plans.
Once a Model has completed its Minimum
Movement, it is free to stop at any time, at which
point it moves no further in the Movement Segment.
Turning a Model
Most Models capable of Movement use a Turning
Template when they Turn. Generally, this is the
Small, Medium or Large Turning Template for Naval
Models and the 45-degree Template for Armoured or
Aerial Models.

• 107 •  
 C2 - The Movement Segment
A Model with 360-degree Movement does NOT
use a Turning Template, but instead is able to rotate
about the centre of the Model to change its facing.
This does not use any Movement to do so.
Using a Turning Template
The small ‘pips’ around the edge of a Turning
Template are called Navigation Points, and are spaced
1” apart. To use a Turning Template, the Template is
placed next to the side of the Model, with a feature of
the Model, called the Turning Point, lined up with a
Navigation Point. The Model is advanced 1” around
the Turning Template so the Turning Point is lined
up with the next Navigation Point. Each advance
reduces the remaining Movement of a Model by 1”.
Important Note: A Model can always Turn LESS
than the angle between two Navigation Points.
Turning Limits
Some Models, mainly those using the 45-degree
Turning Template, have a Turning Limit.
A Turning Limit means the Model must move the
specified number of inches in a straight line before
making another Turn. It must then move in a straight
line again before it can make another Turn, and so
on.
A Model with no Turning Limit specified is free to
make Turns one after the other.
The key thing to remember when using
Turning Templates is consistency. The ‘pips’
should always be aligned to the same point of
a Model when it is moved, and this remains
consistent no matter whether they are Aerial,
Naval or Armoured.
• 108 •
Snaking
If a Model using the 45-degree Turning Template
changes the side from which it makes a Turn,
without moving at least 1” directly ahead between
each of those turns, it is Snaking and is considered
to be putting its hull under extreme pressure. The
Model must take a Treacherous Terrain Test EACH
time it Turns. If it fails the Treacherous Terrain Test,
it is considered to have suffered the same effects
as a Collision with a Terrain Classification that is
Hazardous to it and resolves this effect immediately
- see Page 175.
Minor Turning Corrections
There will be times when a Model might wish to make
a small correction during its Movement to avoid
contact with other Models or Terrain. It is perfectly
acceptable, so long as both players agree. This can
help speed up a potentially complex situation, but
remember fair play and never use it to increase a
Model’s Turn capability or Movement distance.
Minor Turning Corrections are often used in
friendly games where players are making use of
Fixed Channel Fire Arcs. These Arcs can be very
tricky to line up and so we would encourage players
to be generous in those instances where opponents
are contending with them!
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
360 Degree Movement
A Model with 360-degree Movement can normally
move in ANY direction and change facing as
required. It is important to note which way a Model
with 360-degree movement is facing, as there are
several circumstances in which they may only move
straight forward without turning.
0” Movement
A Model with 0” Movement in its Profile cannot ever
move, be moved, or be rotated. If this Model is forced
to Teleport, it does NOT move but instead remains
in place.
Maximum Movement
This is the maximum distance a Model can move
in an Activation. Once a Model has completed its
Minimum Movement, it can make Turns or carry
on Movement in a straight line, until it has reached
its Maximum Movement. A Model can make any
combination of straight moves and Turns it wishes,
and does NOT have to use its full Movement Value.
Models in a Squadron are free to move
independently of each other, and can move different
distances and in different directions.
Moving Support Aircraft Squadrons
and Infantry Formations
Support Aircraft Squadrons (SAS) and Infantry
Formations have 360-degree movement, but must
always maintain a Valid Formation (See Support
Aircraft Squadrons Formations on Page 184 or
Infantry Formations on Page 191).
During the Movement Segment, both SAS and
Infantry Formations move as a single entity with the
other members of their Squadron/Formation. Players
should therefore treat these Squadrons/Formations
as single Models.
‘The Path of Least Disturbance’
In physical terms, it might be argued it could be
possible to have various Models occupy the same
footprint on the Battlefield, but at different Height
Levels. However, for ease of play a Model cannot
end its move occupying the same footprint space as
another Model or Model base.
• 109 •
If a Model has no option but to end its Movement
on top of another Model or Model base, the Models
involved must be re-adjusted until they are clear
of each other. The non-active Model should be
adjusted in whichever way causes the least possible
disturbance. No Model should gain any immediate
advantage from this re-adjustment. Both players
must agree to the new placement.
The Path of Least Disturbance should also be used
to move Small Aircraft Squadron (SAS) Trays that
would lie under a moving Model after it completes
its Movement. In these cases, the caveat regarding
the players having no options of moving elsewhere
is ignored, and the SAS Tray is simply placed in a
location that is acceptable to both players.
Moving Backwards
Other than those Models with a 360-degree
Movement, Models may only move backwards by
making a Low Speed Manoeuvre.
Moving Off the Battlefield
Unless a specific Victory Condition allows it, if any
part of a Model or Base leaves the Battlefield, it is
counted as Lost and is removed from the game and
added to a player’s Scrapyard.
Moving Onto the Battlefield
When Squadrons move onto a Battlefield from
Reserve, as part of a Flanking Force, or as specified
by a scenario, they do so in the following way:
During the Late Arrivals Segment of the Pre-Turn
Phase, the Squadron(s) are placed in the specified
area of the board. All Models must be placed so their
aft 90-degree arc is touching the relevant edge of the
Battlefield board. Any Squadrons which do not have
a facing, such as SAS Trays, must be placed so any
part of the Tray is touching the relevant Board Edge.
Important Note: Any Models deployed using
Squadron Support or Launched through the Carrier
MAR are deployed using the rules listed in their
respective entry.
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
3. MOVEMENT CONSOLODATION
During this Step, players review the results of the
Movement and Manoeuvres Phase, verifying that all
Collisions and/or Disengagements (see below) have
been resolved, and appropriate Height Level Markers
have been attached or removed from each Model.
Models that currently have a Low Speed
Manoeuvre Marker may choose to remove, or to
keep it, and Models that wish to make a Low Speed
Manoeuvre in their next Game Turn must add this
Marker now.
SPECIAL MOVEMENT ACTIONS
These are special Actions that a player may wish to
perform during the Movement Segment. They must
always be declared during the Movement Declaration
Step.
Disembarking
There are many instances where Models may wish
to Disembark from transports, be it Tanks storming
ashore during an amphibious landing, Robots
descending from above to rip apart a defence line,
or Infantry pouring out of their APCs to secure
an objective. All of these Actions use the same
fundamental rules.
During the Movement Declarations Step of its
Activation, a Parent Model that is not Disordered
declares that it is disembarking ALL of the Models it
currently has aboard. For an explanation regarding
embarked Models, see the Squadron Section on Page
160 for details.
A Squadron may never finish its Activation
partially Embarked, it must always be disembarked
fully.
Models disembarking must be placed entirely
within 4” of the Parent Model (or Models), on
Terrain that is not Impassable to them.
Any Squadron disembarked MUST form a
single Squadron or Infantry Formation within their
Squadron Size limitations when disembarked.
• 110 •
Any Squadron or Infantry Formation that
is disembarked may perform its own Squadron
Activation on the Game Turn they are disembarked as
normal, unless a specific MAR or condition applies.
Low Speed Manoeuvres
If a Model wishes to cut engines and perform various
tasks that require a slower than normal speed, they
may execute Low Speed Manoeuvres. The decision
to cut the engines during the heat of battle is not one
to take lightly and must be planned in advance lest
the crew find their vehicle with its engine cold when
the enemy attacks!
During the Movement Consolidation Step of
its Activation, a Model may choose to gain a Low
Speed Manoeuvre Marker. The Model may then
ONLY perform Low Speed Manoeuvres during the
Movement and Manoeuvre Step of subsequent Game
Turn, and for as long as the player wishes to keep
the Marker.
Any Model may elect to remove its Low
Speed Manoeuvre Marker during the Movement
Consolidation Step of a Game Turn, in which case
it moves at normal speed during the Movement and
Manoeuvre Step of any subsequent Game Turns.
Any Model can make a Low Speed Manoeuvre
unless a specific MAR or condition applies. It is
possible for some Models in a Squadron to have Low
Speed Manoeuvre Markers while others do not.
A Model making a Low Speed Manoeuvre may
ignore any Minimum Move requirements it normally
has, and is considered to be moving at Half Speed if
moving through Treacherous Terrain - see Page 174.
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
A Model making a Low Speed Manoeuvre
may execute ONE of the following actions in its
Movement and Manoeuvre Step:
• Dead Slow: Move forward or backwards up to 2”,
making any Turns it would normally be allowed to
make
• Static Turn: Rotate about its centre point, up to
90 degrees.
• Burrow beneath the Ground.
Unless specifically stated otherwise, a Model cannot
begin a game with a Low Speed Manoeuvre Game
Marker. All Weapons targeting a Model with a Low
Speed Manoeuvre Game Marker receive a +1 ‘To Hit’
modifier.
COLLISIONS AND RAMS
The commander of a vessel in Dystopian Wars is
sometimes prepared to risk their ship to sink another
vessel in a deliberate Ramming Action! Alternatively,
battle damage or tight manoeuvring may make a
collision with another Model inevitable.
Definitions
On the Surface Height Level, a player can collide/ram
with a Model, although this is not always desirable!
On all other Height Levels, a Model can never
collide with another Model, but may instead ram it
(see later). The Model that is currently moving will
always be referred to as the Moving Model. Should
the Moving Model contact another Model, the other
Model is referred to as the Static Model.
If a Model or Base makes contact with another
Model, piece of terrain or Base, the four possible
Actions are:
• Ramming – The Moving Model deliberately
contacts the enemy Model or Terrain piece
• Collision – The Moving Model accidentally
contacts the enemy Model or Terrain piece.
• Evasion – The Static Model manages to Evade the
Collision.
• 111 •
• Controlled Contact – In some instances certain
Moving Models may wish to make a safe contact
with another Model or Terrain piece. A good
example for this is Amphibious Landing Craft, or
Robots in a Boarding Action.
Ramming
A Ram only occurs if all of the following conditions
are met by the Models:
• A Ramming Action has been declared by the
Player controlling the Moving Model.
• The Moving Model has an Impact Rating (IR)
greater than 0.
• Both the Moving Model and the Static Model
occupy the same Height Level.
• The Moving Model (or its Base) makes contact
with the Static Model in its Fore 90 degree Arc.
• The Moving Model has moved at least it’s
Minimum Move.
Important Note: A ram is a special type of collision,
and is the same in all respects, except for how
Damage is applied – rams are much scarier for the
targeted Static Model!
Collision Damage
All Models involved in a Collision use their respective
Impact Ratings (IR) to generate the amount of Attack
Dice used to roll against the other Model.
Any Collision uses the Exploding Dice mechanic
and requires a 4, 5 or (RED) 6 ‘To Hit’, unless a
specific condition or MAR applies. Collisions are
Indiscriminate Attacks. A Model involved in a
Collision suffers Damage as normal. See the Damage
Section on Page 111 for more information.
Colliding With Terrain
If any Model or Base makes contact with Terrain
that is Impassable to it, it will result in a Collision -
see Page 175 in the Terrain Section to calculate the
Attack Dice it will now have rolled against it!
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
Resolving Ram Damage
Ramming is significantly more powerful causing
much more Damage than a simple collision might. A
Moving Model uses its Impact Rating (IR) to generate
the amount of Attack Dice used in the Ram. Any Ram
uses the Exploding Dice mechanic and requires a 4,
5 or (RED) 6 ‘To Hit’, unless a specific condition or
MAR applies. Rams are Indiscriminate Attacks.
All Attack Dice are resolved with the Crushing
Impact MAR - see Page 160. The Static Model also
resolves a Collision against the Ramming Model, but
does so AFTER the ram has been resolved.
Model Collisions via Teleports
In any circumstance where a Model is Teleported
into contact with another Model on the same
Height Level, this will result in a Ram, regardless of
Declaration, Minimum Move or 90-degree Fore Arc
requirements. The devastating Collision is resolved
with BOTH Models considered to be the Moving
Model and BOTH have the Crushing Impact (Ram
Action) MAR!
Following a Collision or Ram
After a Collision (or Ram), any Models that survive
should attempt to disengage so that they can move
off without further collisions occurring between
them: this is called Disengaging (see below)
If the moving Model moves off and causes
further Collisions, these are resolved as they occur.
Remember, however, that a Model cannot execute
multiple Ram Actions, so any further contact with
the enemy is treated as a Collision instead.
A Model Suffers No Damage
Any Model involved in a Collision or Ram that
suffered no Damage is not seriously hampered by the
contact, but after Disengaging, may only move in a
straight line (see below) for the rest of the current
Activation. This is designed to represent the Model’s
commander struggling to clear the danger area.
• 112 •
A Model Suffers Damage
Any Model involved in a Collision or Ram that
suffered Damage may have its ability to function
severely impaired, with assault marines scattering
to safety, gunnery crews thrown into disarray and
command elements struggling to restore order.
For each Model that suffered Damage of any type
in a Collision (or Ram), roll a D6 and consult the
Table below:
Result Effect on Model
Rolled
1, 2, or 3 No Effect
Model rolls once on the
Focused Critical Hit Table and
4, 5 or 6 applies the Effect. This is in
addition to any other effects
applied through Critical Hits.
Evading a Collision or Ram
If a Moving or Ramming Model makes contact with
a Static Model on the same Height Level during its
Movement, this should automatically result in a
Collision (or Ram). However, if the Static Model is
capable of changing Height Levels, the Static Model
may to try and evade the Collision (or Ram) by
making a Swift Manoeuvre Test (see below), unless
a specific condition or MAR applies. No Model may
try to evade a Ram caused by Teleportation: there
simply isn’t time as the Model literally appears out
of thin air!
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
Disengaging
Following a Collision or Ram, unless both Models
can move off without a further Collision between
them, the Models involved must Disengage.
• If a Model Collides with Terrain, or a Model with
a Movement Value of 0”, then the Moving Model
must Disengage.
• If TWO Models Collide, then the smaller Model
must Disengage. If both Models of the same Size
collide, then the Static Model must Disengage.
To Disengage, the Model that is disengaging must
make one immediate Low Speed Manoeuvre. This
may be done out of sequence if required, and the
Model does not take a Low Speed Manoeuvre Game
Marker as a result of this compulsory action.
When Disengaging, a Model is always allowed
to Rotate or Turn, as the force of the Collision
may change it’s heading without any help from the
steering system as the Models literally ‘bounce off’
each other! A Model may ignore a Navigational Lock
Critical Effect whilst Disengaging.
After Disengaging, Models involved should be in
a position where a further Collision between Models
is NOT inevitable. This may require both players
to reach a mutual agreement on the placement of
Models. If a Disengaging Model is unable to avoid
contact with another Model whilst Disengaging,
resolve a further Collision.
It is possible for a Model to deliberately Collide
with several other Models during a single Activation,
if it remains able to keep moving.
Controlled Contact
Certain Models may perform functions that require
Base-to-Base contact with another Model or Major
Surface. Such vessels are able to perform what is
called Controlled Contact; manoeuvring into close
contact without resulting in a Collision or Ram.
To perform a Controlled Contact, a Model
must have already moved its Minimum Movement
requirement. Small Adjustments to angles and
distances are permitted so that the Model ends up
in Base-to-Base contact with another Model or Major
Surface.
• 113 •
Controlled Contact is not considered a Collision,
and therefore no Collision Damage or need for
Disengaging will occur.
Models capable of making a Controlled Contact
are identified by having the Controlled Contact MAR.
Taking a Swift Manoeuvre Test... to
avoid a Ram/Collision or Attack
Sometimes a flying craft may wish to swoop down to
make an attack run, and then retreat to the relative
safety of the clouds, or a Submarine may have to
crash dive to avoid a Battleship about to run it down.
A Non-Burrowing Model capable of changing
Height Level in normal game-play that is about to
suffer a Collision (or Ram) may try and Evade the
Collision (or Ram) by changing Height Levels (see
above).
Alternatively, during a Model’s Shooting
Consolidation Segment, it may attempt to make a
Swift Manoeuvre after attacking.
In either case, if the Model passes the Swift
Manoeuvre Test, it may immediately change Height
Levels up or down one level where permitted.
For each Model wishing to make a Swift
Manoeuvre, roll a single D6 and consult the Table
below:
Roll needed to
Model Size pass a Swift
Manoeuvre Test.
Large and Massive 6
Medium 5 or 6
Small and Tiny 4, 5, or 6
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment
Collisions
1.
A A
B Hits!
A pair of Britannian Tribal Class Cruisers have got
themselves in a terrible tangle. During Cruiser A’s
Minimum Move it made contact with one of its sister
ships! Clearly this was not intended and no Ram
Action was declared, so a Collision occurs instead.
Both models roll an Indiscriminate Attack against the
other vessel using their individual Impact Rating (IR).
3.
A
B
Rolling on the Full Critical Hit Table, the Britannian
player scores the Fusion Leak Result, making the
vessel suffer 2 Hull Points of Damage and applying
D3 Corrosion Markers - in this case 2. In addition,
the player must roll on the Collisions Table, rolling a
5. This makes things worse as it forces the Cruiser to
suffer a Focused Critical Effect (but not the Damage).
Rolling a 3 the Cruiser ALSO gains a Weapons
Damage Marker.
• 114 •
2.
Cruiser A Rolls 4AD,
Scoring 6 Hits!
Cruiser B Rolls
4AD, Scoring 3
B
Since both have an Impact Rating of 4, each one rolls
4 AD against each other, requiring a 4, 5 or (RED) 6
to generate a success. With both Cruisers having a
DR/CR of 4 and 6 respectively, meaning that Cruiser
A (the perpetrator of this fiasco) escapes unscathed,
but Cruiser B suffers a Standard Critical Hit!
4.
A
After the dust settles, the Static Model (Cruiser B)
must Disengage, electing to make a Dead Slow Low
Speed Manoeuvre, moving to a point where there will
be no further collisions with the moving vessel
in later activations. With no less than 2 points of
Damage, 2 Corrosion Markers and a Weapons
Damage Marker too, it is clear one Captain will be
having choice words with another after this!
 
 C2 - The Movement Segment

ramming
1. 2. The Dreadnought Rolls
8AD. Scoring 8 Hits!

A A
Cruiser A Rolls 4AD,
B B
Scoring 3 Hits!

A mighty Britannian Majesty Class Dreadnought
elects to Ram a damaged Prussian Uhlan Class
Cruiser that dares to block its path! Moving into
contact with the fore of the vessel a Action Ram
occurs.
As this is a Ram Action the Dreadnought treats the
target Cruiser’s DR as its CR. With an Impact Rating
of 8, the Majesty rolls 8 Hits. This counts as TWO
Critical Hits - the damaged Cruiser suffers a Hard
Pounding and a Raging Fire result. The Cruiser uses
the normal Collision rules as it DID NOT initiate a
Ram Action, trying in vain to damage the huge ship,
but fail to do more than 3 Hits!

3. 4. The Dreadnought 5.
rolls 8AD, scoring
4 Hits!

Cruiser B
Rolls 4AD,
Scoring 2
B Hits! B B
The two Critical Hits are enough This time the Majesty only The Models must now disengage.
to sink the Uhlan and the Majesty manages 4 Hits, but this is enough Being the smaller model (and the
decides to slam into the remaining to Damage the Cruiser which Static one too) the Uhlan makes a
Prussian Cruiser (B). This is after the collision roll results in Low Speed Manoeuvre, electing to
classed as a Collision between the Critical Effect Navigational make a Dead Slow move 2”
both vessels now, as a model can Lock. In return, the Uhlan scores straight forwards, out of reach of
only ever announce ONE Ram a paltry 2 Hits. the Majesty - for now!
Action in a turn.

• 115 •  
 C3 - Line Of Sight

Line Of Sight
You need to be able to see an enemy in order to kill it! Line of Sight is an imaginary straight line between a
Weapon or Generator that is engaging a target Model. Follow the simple guidelines within this chapter in
order to ascertain a Model’s ability to target an enemy!

W hen drawing Line of Sight to a Model, you

need to consider:

1. The Fire Arc of a weapon.

2. How the weapon is mounted.
3. Any obstructing Terrain or Models.

From this, you can determine if a Target is in the

Open, Partially Blocked or Blocked. These outcomes
will have a significant impact on the total number of
Attack Dice you will roll.

Important Note: In addition to Line of Sight and

Arc of Fire, other conditions may apply to a specific
weapon that could prevent it from firing at certain
Targets. See the Declaring Attack Step on Page 124
for a list of exceptions.
1. FIRE ARCS
90, 180 and 270 Degree Fire Arc
A 90, 180 or 270-degree Fire Arc is centred on the
appropriate point on the Model or Base for Range
and Line of Sight, and with the correct orientation
(Fore, Aft, Port or Starboard).

A weapon’s Fire Arc is the area into which it can fire
its shots.
A Fire Arc can be 90, 180, 270 or 360 degrees,
Broadside or Fixed Channel.
A 90, 180 or 270-degree Fire Arcs have Fore,
Aft, Port, Starboard or Offset orientations. Fore is
the front facing, Aft the rear, Port the left, and the
Starboard the right facing of the Model or Base.
Off-set is slightly more complicated, but is relatively
rare in its use on Models.
Offset Fire Arc
An Offset Fire Arc is a Fire Arc of 90, 180 or 270
degrees, skewed 45-degrees outwards and centred on
the appropriate point on the Model or Base for Range
and Line of Sight, and with the correct orientation
(Fore Port, Aft Port, Fore Starboard or Aft Starboard).

• 116 •  
C3 - Line Of Sight

• 117 •  
 C3 - Line Of Sight
360 Degree Fire Arc
A 360-degree Fire Arc is centred on the appropriate
point on the Model or Base for Range and Line of
Sight extends in a circle around the entire Model.
Broadside Fire Arc
A Broadside extends out 45-degrees from both ends
of the Model or Base, and is aligned along the entire
length of its relevant side. All Ranges are measured
from the centre point of a Model.
Fixed Channel Fire Arc
A Fixed Channel is the entire width or length of the
Model or Base, and extends directly out from the
Model or Base, with the correct orientation (Fore,
Aft, Port or Starboard).
2. WEAPON MOUNTING
Different weapons determine Range and Line of Sight
from different points on a Model as described below:
Guns
Guns are mainly cannon or artillery and are often
mounted in an armoured barbette. This provides
a degree of protection to the weapon and crew,
but at the cost of limited traverse compared to a
turret-mounted weapon. Range and Line of Sight is
determined from the centre of the relevant side of the
Model where the Gun is mouted.
Turrets
Turrets provide fully enclosed armoured protection
for any cannon or artillery and, because they rotate
they provide a wide field of fire. Often Models will
have multiple turrets. Turrets will always have a
listed facing and Fire Arc on a Model’s statistic block.
Range and Line of Sight is determined from the
centre of the Turret itself.
Broadsides
Broadsides are generally deployed along the entire
length of a Model, and fire through embrasures into
• 118 •
a wide firing area. Broadside weapons are usually
mounted along the Port and Starboard sides of a
Model. Broadsides use the Broadside Fire Arc. Range
and Line of Sight is determined from the centre point
of a Broadside on a Model.
Batteries
Batteries can be one large or several smaller
mountings of the same weapon firing together as
one weapons system. Range and Line of Sight is
determined from the centre point of the firing Model.
Mortars and Bombards
Mortars and Bombards are powerful weapons with a
high trajectory that lets them effectively lob explosive
shells over almost any Obstruction, provided they
have a designated Spotter with Line of Sight to the
Target. Range and Line of Sight is determined from
the centre of the weapon itself.
A weapon with Bombard or Mortar in its name is
capable of Indirect Fire - see Page 130.
Fixed Channel Weapons
Any weapon may be a Fixed Channel Weapon,
but they are most commonly used by Rockets and
Torpedoes, or when a Model is outfitted with a
weapon simply too large to mount in a turret.
The Range and Line of Sight for a Fixed Channel
Weapon is determined from the centre of the
appropriate side of a Model or Base.
Bombs
Bomb Ordnance from Models has a 360-degree Fire
Arc. It has a 2” range, measured from any point of a
Model’s Base.
Bomb Ordnance from a Support Air Squadron
(SAS) requires its Tray to be in contact with a target
Model or Base.
Other Ordnance Weapons
There are some weapons that do not fall into easy
categories. For any other ordnance weapon that does
not fall into one of the above categories, Range and
Line of Sight is always determined from the weapon.
 
 C3 - Line Of Sight
Auxiliary Weapons
Auxiliary weapons always have a 360-degree Any Ranges and Fire Arcs are always noted in the
Fire Arc. You may measure from any point of the relevant Generator entry - see Generators on Page
Model, Base or Flight Stand, in any direction, for all 165 for more details.
Auxiliary weapons.
In The Open, Partially
Blocked, and Blocked
A Target has three Key Points for determining
Line of Sight: Fore Point, Middle Point, and Aft
Point.
Targets ‘In the Open’
A weapon firing at a Target in the Open can fire
at full effect, rolling the FULL amount of Attack
Dice unless a condition or Model Assigned Rule
applies. For a Target to be in the Open:
• The firing weapon can draw Line of Sight
to the Middle Key Point and either End
Key Points on the proposed Target within
its Fire Arc.
OR
• The Firing of a weapon with a Fixed
Channel Fire Arc must have both edges of
the Fire Arc passing through the Target, and
no Obstructions to the proposed Target.
Targets ‘Partially Blocked’
If the firing weapon is Partially Blocked, it may
only fire at the Target with the Attack Dice gener-
ated by the weapon being halved (rounding up).
For a Target to be Partially Blocked:
• 119 •
Generators
Spotting
Line of Sight for Spotting purposes is measured from
the centre of the Spotting Model to any point on the
Target Model.
• The Firing weapon can draw Line of Sight
to only the Middle Key Point, or only both
End Key Points on the proposed Target
within its Fire Arc.
OR
• The Firing of a weapon with a Fixed Channel
Fire Arc must have one unobstructed edge
of the Fire Arc passing through the proposed
Target.
Any Model occupying the Surface or Aerial
Height Bands is always counted as being Partially
Blocked when firing an Ordnance Weapon at
a Model occupying the Diving Height Band in
Water, unless a specific Model Assigned Rule
applies.
‘Blocked Targets’
If a Target is Blocked the weapon may not fire at
it. For a Target to be Blocked:
• The firing weapon can draw Line of Sight to
no Key Points or only one End Key Point,
on the proposed Target within its fire arc.
OR
• The Firing weapon has no edges of the
Fire Arc passing through the Target.
 
 C3 - Line Of Sight

3. OBSTRUCTIONS TO MODELS Primary Gunnery and Spotting

Ordnance weapons generally need Line of Sight
(LOS) to their intended Target to be able to fire
directly at it:
• Terrain and Models with a Surface Height may
block Line of Sight between Models on the Surface
Height Level: this is termed Obstructing.
• Other Height Levels are not affected by intervening
Models, but certain types of Terrain may block Line
of Sight at certain Height Levels - see Terrain on Page
176 for more details.
• Auxiliary weapons ignore Models when drawing
Line of Sight, but not Obstructing Terrain.
Primary Gunnery and Spotters can draw Line of
Sight over intervening Models and Terrain two sizes
or more smaller than the Firing, Spotting OR Target
Models.
Primary Gunnery can also draw Line of Sight over
intervening Models and Terrain one size smaller than
the Firing or Target Models, but if it does so, it is
Partially Blocked.
Secondary Gunnery, Tertiary
Ordnance and Auxiliary Weapons
Secondary Gunnery, Tertiary weapons, and
Generators can draw Line of Sight over intervening
Models and Terrain two sizes or more smaller than
the Firing or Target Models. Auxiliary weapons can
draw Line of Sight over intervening Terrain two sizes
or more smaller than the Firing or Target Models,
and ignore intervening Models.

Aft Point

Middle Point

Important Note: One part of a Target Model does NOT block Line of
Sight to another part of it. This means a Model facing directly towards the
Fore Point
weapon firing at it cannot claim to be blocking Line of Sight to it!

Line of Sight is worked out in a simple Top Down fashion:

• If either of the ‘In the Open’ conditions apply, the Target is in the Open.
• If either of the ‘In the Open’ conditions apply, but either of the ‘Partially Blocked’ conditions
apply, the Target is Partially Blocked.
• If neither the ‘In the Open’ nor ‘Partially Blocked’ conditions apply, then the Target is Blocked.

Line Of Sight, Key Points Needed and Edges of Fire Arcs Summary Table
Key Points Needed Edges of Fire Arc Needed
Open Centre and One End OR 2
Partially Blocked Centre Only or Both Ends OR 1
Blocked One End or less! OR 0

Any Model occupying the Surface or Aerial Height Bands is always counted as being
Partially Blocked when firing an Ordnance Weapon at a Model occupying the Diving
Height Band in Water; unless a specified Model Assigned Rule applies.

• 120 •  
 C3 - Line Of Sight
OBSTRUCTING TERRAIN
Terrain that occupies an entire Height Level, (i.e. a
Mountain occupies the entire Surface Height Level)
is always Obstructing Terrain at that Height Level.
Terrain with a Surface Height that occupy the Surface
Height Level use the above rules to determine if it
is obstructing terrain for Models that occupy the
Surface Height Level.
Important Note: Line of Sight in Dystopian Wars
is automatically reciprocal between units with the
SAME weapon type (Primary, Secondary, or Tertiary).
Line of Sight between units with different weapon
types is NOT automatically reciprocal.
• 121 •
The Red Battleship below has a selection of Enemy
(Blue) Models to fire at:
• Against Frigate B, it may fire any Weapons as
there are no Obstructions of any kind.
• Against Cruiser C, as the Red Battleship is two
Sizes larger than any Obstruction, it may fire
any Weapon (except Torpedoes, as they regard
all intervening Models, regardless of Size, as an
Obstruction, see Page 132).
• Against Cruiser D, as the Red Battleship is only
one Size larger than the Obstruction, it may not
fire any Secondary or Tertiary Weapons at it. It
may Fire Primary Weapons at Cruiser D, but
will be considered to be Partially Blocked.
• Against the Carrier E, as the Target Model is
two Sizes large than any Obstruction, the
Red Battleship may fire any weapons (except
Torpedoes) at it.
 
 C3 - Line Of Sight

The Gunship (Red) is firing Fixed Channel weapons at Enemy Corvettes (Blue) in both its Fore Channel and
Starboard Channel.
1. Both edges of the Fore Fixed Channel pass though Corvette A, so it is considered to be In The Open.
2. One edge of the Starboard Fixed Channel passes through Corvette B, so it is Partially Blocked.
3. Corvette C is fully within the Starboard Fixed Channel, so is In The Open.
4. Corvette D is not in either channel, so is Blocked.

A Kingdom of Britannia Medium Tank A (Red) has a number of enemy Prussian Empire Medium Tanks (Blue)
in front of it. Its Fore Guns have a 90 degree Fire Arc, and the player is deciding which Enemy tank to fire at:

1. Tank 1 has all three Key points visible and in it’s Fire Arc, so it is In The Open for Tank A.
2. Tank 2 has only it’s centre Key point visible, so will be Partially Blocked from Tank A.
3. Tank 3 has all three Key points visible, but one end is not within the fire Arc. However, being able to hit the
Centre and an End
4. Key points means it is considered to be In The Open for Tank A.
5. Tank 4 has No Key Points in it’s Fire Arc so is Blocked for Tank A.

• 122 •  
C3 - Line Of Sight

• 123 •  
 C4 - The Firing Segment
The Firing Segment
T he Firing Segment is composed of the following
five Steps which must be executed in order:
1. Declaring Attacks Step
2. Declaring Counter Attacks Step
3. Resolve Auxiliary Fire Step
4. Resolve Ordnance Fire Step
5. Firing Consolidation Step
1. DECLARING ATTACKS
In this Step, the Activating Squadron declares all the
Attacks it wishes to make during its Activation. The
following rules govern Attacks:
• Each Ordnance and Auxiliary weapon on a Model
can only declare a maximum of one Attack during
its Activation.
• All declared Attacks must specify their Target and
any Firing Options they are using.
• A player should make their opponent aware
of anything that may affect their choices in
declaring an Attack or Counter Attacks, such as
any Generators, MARs or other effects in use.
• Players should agree if a Target has an Open,
Blocked, or Partially Blocked Line of Sight from
any firing Models - see Page 119 for more on Line
of Sight.
Squadrons declaring an Attack are governed by
the following rules restrictions, unless a specific
condition or MAR applies:
• 124 •
• A Squadron cannot deliberately Target a Derelict,
Prized or Salvaged Model.
• A Model on the Surface Height Level cannot
Target a Model occupying the Aerial Height Band
with a Gunnery Ordnance Attack in Range Band
1.
• A Model on the Surface Height Level can only
Target a Model occupying the Diving Height
Band in Water at Range Band 1 with Torpedoes or
Concussion Charges(CC).
• Support Aircraft Squadrons (SAS) may only be
targeted by Ack-Ack (AA).
• A Model occupying the Diving Height Band can
only use its Concussion Charges (CC), Torpedoes
or a Particle Accelerator.
• A Model occupying the Deep Diving Height Level
can only be targeted by Concussion Charges
(CC), Torpedoes or a Particle Accelerator.
• Any Model occupying the Submerged Height Level
on Land may only be targeted with Concussion
Charges (CC) or Concentrated Bombing.
Weapons declaring an Attack are governed by the
following restrictions, unless a specific condition or
MAR applies:
• Torpedoes can only Target Models occupying the
Water Surface.
• Bombs can only Target Models on the Surface or
Submerged Height Levels.
• Flamethrower Weaponry may not Target Models
occupying the Diving Height Band.
• Ack-Ack (AA) can ONLY Target Models occupying
the Aerial Height Band or Airburst Mines.
• Concussion Charges (CC) can only Target Models
occupying the Diving Height Band or Surface
Mines.
• All Weapons, unless firing Indirectly, can only
Target Models within its Line of Sight.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment

2. COUNTER ATTACKS 3. AUXILLARY ATTACKS

Counter Attacks are divided into two Types:
Aggressive or Defensive. Both are covered by several
common rules:
• A Model may only make a Counter Attack if it
is Targeted itself, or if it is Linking/Combining
Fire with a Model in its Squadron that has been
Targeted.
• Any Targeted Model must lead a Counter Attack
to defend itself.
• Each Model may only make one Counter Attack
with Ack Ack (AA) and one Counter Attack with
Concussion Charges (CC) during the Firing
Segment of an Activation. No other weapon may
make a Counter Attack.
• The Range for all Counter Attacks is 4” unless
otherwise specified or affected by a MAR.
• A Model occupying the Diving Height Band may
not make any Counter Attack using AA.
• A Counter Attack cannot provoke a Counter-
Counter Attack!
Aggressive Counter Attack
These are a Counter Attacks using Ack-Ack (AA)
or Concussion Charges (CC) against an Attacking
Model. Any Linking/Combined Fire measures its
range from the Linking Models to the Model they
are attacking.
Aggressive Counter Attacks with AA can only
be targeted against Attacking Models in the Aerial
Height Band. Aggressive Counter Attacks with CC
can only be targeted against attacking Submerged
Models.
Squadrons resolve Ack-Ack (AA) and Concussion
Charge (CC) Attacks or Counter Attacks between
each other first, and apply any Damage, before any
Ordnance Attacks are resolved.
This sequence means that Models or Squadrons
may be Scrapped or Damaged before they can resolve
any of their Ordnance Attacks. All attacks at this
stage are considered to be SIMULTANEOUS, so it
is entirely possible for two Models to destroy one
another!
Auxiliary Attacks and Counter Attacks are
resolved using the Attack Sequence for Ordnance
Attacks which is detailed on the next page.
4. RESOLVE ORDNANCE FIRE
Any Ordnance Attacks from the Active Squadrons
are now resolved. Damage is applied only once all
attacks have been resolved. Attacks are resolved
using the Attack Sequence in the next section.
5. FIRING CONSOLIDATION
This Step is used as a ‘tidying step’ where certain
Manoeuvres, MARs and Generators may activate or
are performed.

Defensive Counter Attacks

These are Counter Attacks using Ack-Ack (AA)
or Concussion Charges (CC) against incoming
Ordnance. Any Linking/Combined Fire measures its
range from the Linking Models to the Model they are
defending.
Defensive Counter Attacks with AA are always
targeted against incoming Rocket Ordnance.
Defensive Counter Attacks with CC are always
targeted against incoming Torpedo Ordnance.

• 125 •  
 C4 - The Firing Segment
THE ATTACK SEQUENCE
Each Attack or Counter Attack against a Model
contains the following Actions:
1. Determine the Initial Attack Dice.
2. Roll Attack Dice and determine Hits.
3. Compare the total number of Hits to the
Damage Rating (DR) and Critical Rating (CR)
of the Target Model.
This is the same for ALL Attacks or Counter
Attacks, regardless of their source. It is explained in
this section as Firing, as this is the most common
source of Damage.
1. DETERMINE INITIAL AD
Many Attacks specify the number and type of Attack
Dice used, however there are instances whereby the
number of Attack Dice will be generated using two
‘Pools’ - the Leading Pool and the Linking Pool.
To calculate the Initial AD of a Firing Attack, you
should use the following procedure.
1a: Profile Attack Dice (AD)
All Ordnance weapons will have an Attack Dice
value listed in a Model’s Profile for each Range Band.
Gunnery, Torpedo and Rocket Ordnance will have
a specific Attack Dice value listed in a Model’s Profile
in each Range Band that they can fire into.
If any Ordnance weapon does not have an AD
value listed in a particular Range Band, then it may
NOT fire at that Range Band.
The AD value for Bomb Ordnance and Mines is
listed in Range Band 1, but this is purely for ease
of reference in the statistics. These Weapon systems
will have their own Ranges - see Pages 132 and 138
for more on Bombs and Mines respectively.
Ack-Ack (AA) and Concussion Charges (CC) do
not use Range Bands. Instead their Profile Attack
Dice is the value listed in the AA and CC sections of
a Model’s Profile.
• 126 •
1b: Effective Attack Dice (AD)
The Effective Attack Dice available to a weapon takes
into account all Attack Dice modifiers, including
Line of Sight penalties and MARs.
Effective Attack Dice is the term for the number
of Attack Dice a weapon can direct against a given
Target, after taking into account any modifiers that
alter its Profile Attack Dice.
Damage reduction due to Lost HP
The amount of Hull Points (HP) a Model has lost will
impact the effectiveness of some of its weapons. This
simulates crew being killed, wreckage on the decks,
and any physical damage done to the weapon itself.
Use the following rules:
• Damage Reduction from lost Hull Points
reduces the Profile Attack Dice for all individual
instances of Gunnery Ordnance and Auxiliary
weapons by 1 for each Hull Point lost.
• Damage Reduction from lost Hull Points has no
effect on Tertiary Ordnance.
• Damage Reduction from lost Hull Points has no
effect on Mines.
• Damage Reduction from lost Hull Points cannot
reduce the Effective Attack Dice of any Gunnery
Ordnance or Auxiliary weapons to less than 1.
Important Note: Hull Points regained through the
use of MARs, Models with the Repair Function,
TACs, or other conditions will negate the reduction
to Attack Dice previously suffered.
Half Attack Dice Effects
A weapon can be subject to a half AD penalty for
TWO reasons:
By being adversely affected by a Weapon Damage
Critical Effect Game Marker(s).
OR
By having its Line of Sight considered to be Partially
Blocked by a Model or Terrain.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment

If both these conditions are met, a weapons’ Attack For the rules on how each of these are calculated see
Dice is halved twice, rounding up each time. Unless the Firing Options Section of this chapter. Do not
specifically stated otherwise, this is the only situation forget to take into account MARs like Pack Tactics or
where AD is halved more than once. to play appropriate TACs at this point!

Important Note: If a weapon has both Damage 2. ROLL AD TO DETERMINE HITS

Reduction and Half AD effects, apply the Damage
reduction first. This step uses the following procedure:

1c: Initial AD of Firing Attack a. Determine the Basic ‘To Hit’ Value
The result Steps 1a and 1b will have generated a b. Apply ‘To Hit’ Modifiers
Weapon’s Effective Attack Dice. It is important to c. Roll the Attack Dice
remember that the Effective Attack Dice must be d. Perform Defensive Actions
calculated individually for each weapon involved in e. Determine the numberof successful Hits
a single Attack, as it is possible that modifiers will
apply to one weapon and not to others. 2a: Determine the Basic ‘To Hit’
Value
1d: Firing Options, MARs, TACs etc. The Basic ‘To Hit’ value depends on the Height Level
The Initial Attack Dice in an attack is determined the Target or Firer is occupying. If they are not at the
by the Effective Attack Dice of any weapons same Height Level, use whichever ‘To Hit’ value is
contributing to the Attack, any Firing Options used, most beneficial for the Target.
and other modifications, such as through the use of
a MAR or TAC. BASIC ‘TO HIT’ VALUES
Firing Options may allow a Model to make better
Stratospheric RED (6)
use of the resources they have available, allowing
units of smaller vessels to act together to destroy Obscured 5 or RED (6)
larger ones, or allowing multiple weapons on a ship Surface or Flying 4, 5 or RED (6)
to act together in a single, more powerful Attack. Submerged 5 or RED (6)
The two most common Firing Options available to
a Model are Standard and Linked Fire. All Ordnance Deep Diving RED (6)
and Auxiliary weapons are capable of using these
Firing Options unless otherwise noted.

Other Firing Options include:

• Combined Fire: only available when using
specific weapons or a MAR applies.
• Indirect Fire: available to Models equipped with
Primary Gunnery, Bombards and/or Mortars.
• Concentrated Bombing: available to Models
with Bomb Bays
• Area Bombardment: only available to Models
with the Area Bombardment MAR.

• 127 •  
 C4 - The Firing Segment

2b: To Hit Modifiers Defensive Counter Attacks

The ‘To Hit’ Modifiers are explained in the Table
below:
‘TO HIT’ MODIFIERS TABLE
Negative
Elusive Target (From Non-Capital
Models)
Difficult Target (From Capital Models)
Small Target (From Capital Models)
Primary Weapon at Range Band 1
Primary Weapon Firing Indirectly
Bombard or Mortar Firing Indirectly
Target covered by Cloud Generator
Firing through a Storm Template
Target is 'Wave Lurking'
Positive
Target Painter Hit on Target Model
Firer has Hunter (Target Model)
Firing at a Fortification
Target has Low Speed Manoeuvre Game
Marker
If a Targeted Squadron declared it was using
Defensive Counter Attack AA against a Rocket
Attack, this Defensive Action is now resolved. Roll
the Initial Attack Dice of AA, worked out as normal,
using any relevant Firing Options.
Defending AA Hits on a 5 or (RED) 6. Each Hit
-1 cancels a Hit from the Rocket attack.
-2 If a targeted Squadron declared it was using
-1 Defensive Counter Attack CC against a Torpedo
Attack, this is now rolled. Roll the Initial Attack Dice
-1
of CC, worked out as normal, using any relevant
-2
Firing Options.
-1 Defending CC Hits on a 5 or (RED) 6. Each Hit
-1 cancels a Hit from the Torpedo attack.
-1
-1 Defensive Generators
Defensive Generators that exist in the game can
lower or even remove remaining Hits. These forms
+1
of Defensive Generator will note in their entry that
+N
they activate during this Step. For a full explanation
+1 of how Defensive Generators work, see Page 171.
+1

2c: Roll Attack Dice 3. COMPARE HITS TO DR AND CR

Once it has been determined what To-Hit value is
needed, the player making the Attack rolls their The number of Hits remaining are measured against
Initial Attack Dice. the Target Model’s Damage Rating (DR) and Critical
As most Attacks are made using Exploding Dice, Rating (CR) to determine the level of Hull Point
it is important to keep rolling until the attacking (HP) loss inflicted, if any! See the Damage Section
player has rolled all their Attack Dice. on Page 101 for more information.
Note there are a number of conditions and
MARs that may increase or decrease the number of
Exploding Dice rolled, or even change them to Heavy
Dice or even Basic Dice!

2d: Defensive Actions

Once all the Attack Dice in a Targeted Attack have
been rolled, the player controlling the Target Model
may have a chance to cancel some of them out, if
needed. This is accomplished using Defensive
Counter Attacks and Defensive Generators.

• 128 •  
 C4 - The Firing Segment
AVAILABLE FIRING OPTIONS
Firing Options may allow a Model to make better use
of the resources they have available, allowing units of
smaller vessels to act together to Scrap larger ones, or
allowing multiple weapons on a ship to act together
in a single, more powerful attack.
1. Standard Fire
Standard Fire is when a single weapon on a Model
fires without any assistance from others weapons or
other Models:
Building Initial AD for Standard Fire
Take the effective AD Value from one weapon in
the attack by the Model. This is called the the Lead
Weapon Pool. Add any further dice from conditions
such as MARs and TACs, etc. This generates the
Initial Attack Dice.
2. Linked Fire
Linked Fire allows Ordnance and Auxiliary weapons
to Pool their available AD into a single, more
powerful Attack, or Counter Attack, against the same
Target.
The weapons involved in a Linked Fire may come
from multiple weapons of the same type on a single
Model (such as multiple Gunnery Turrets) or from
the weapons of multiple Models from the same
Squadron.
In addition, Linked Fire may be used to bring
Mines deployed in the current Activation together
into a potentially devastating Mine Effect - see Page
140 for more details on Mines.
Key Rules for Linked Fire
Only Models in the SAME Squadron can perform
Linked Fire with their weapons.
For a weapon to perform Linked Fire it must
be the same Type: Gunnery with Gunnery, Rockets
with Rockets, Torpedoes with Torpedoes, Bombs
with Bombs, Ack Ack with Ack Ack and Concussion
Charges with Concussion Charges.
Additionally, for Gunnery weapons, Primary
weapons can only perform Linked Fire with other
• 129 •
Primary weapons and Secondary weapons can only
perform Linked Fire with other Secondary weapons.
ANY Model participating in a Linked Fire Attack is
deemed an Attacking Model.
Building the Initial AD for Linked Fire
The number of AD available to a Linked Fire Attack
is calculated in the following way:
• Take the effective AD Value from one weapon in
the attack. This is the Lead Weapon Pool. Place
these dice to the side for now.
• Total the effective AD of all other weapons in the
attack: this is referred to as the Linking Pool.
• Half (rounding up) the Linking Pool AD and
then add these dice to the Lead Weapon Pool.
• Add any further dice from conditions such as
MARs and TACs, etc.
• This generates the Initial Attack Dice.
Important Note: Sometimes the dice in a Linked
AD Pool comes from weaponry with differing ‘To
Hit’ numbers. When halving the Link Pool, the firing
player must remove as close to as possible, the same
number of dice from each group of dice with the
same ‘To Hit’ value. Where an odd number exists, the
firing player may choose which odd dice is discarded.
3. Combined Fire
Combined Fire allows Ordnance weapons to Pool
their available AD into a single, incredibly powerful
Attack or Counter Attack against the same Target,
and for Auxiliary weapons to Pool their available AD
against Rocket or Torpedo Attacks when making a
Defensive Counter Attack.
Combined Fire follows the same process as
Linked Fire but differs in that the dice are added
together and not halved.
Building Initial AD for Combined Fire
• Take the Effective Attack Dice Value from ALL
weapons in the Attack. This is designated as the
Lead Weapon Pool.
• Add any dice generated by MARs, TACs, etc.
• This generates the Initial Attack Dice.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Important Note: This Firing Option is not available
normally and, as such, can only be used with specific
Models, weapon systems, or MARs that explicitly
state it is an available option.
4. Indirect Fire (IDF)
Certain Ordnance may be eligible to fire at a Target,
even if it doesn’t have Line of Sight from the weapon.
This is achieved by using Indirect Fire and Spotting
Models from the same Force.
The following conditions apply:
• A Model may only be the Target of Indirect Fire
if an un-Blocked Line of Sight to the target can
be drawn by a Model in the Firer’s Force with the
Spotter MAR.
• The Target MUST be in the firing weapon’s Fire
Arc AND in Range, but any Obstructing Models
or Obstructing Terrain is ignored.
• Indirect Fire may never have a better ‘To Hit’ roll
than 4+... there is a limit to how accurate firing
can be when a Model cannot see its Target.
• Squadrons may use the Indirect Fire option
with Standard, Linked, Combined and Area
Bombardment Firing Options, assuming that
these Firing Options were already available to
the weaponry used.
The weapons in the IDF table below are the only
weapons that may fire indirectly and are subject to
the Range stipulations and modifiers listed.
5. Concentrated Bombing
This is an Attack made by Models with Bomb Bays,
and may use the Standard, Linked or Combined
Firing Options where permitted:
IDF TABLE
Weapon Range Bands Available for IDF
Primary Gunnery (Not Bombard or Mortar)
Bombard
Mortar
IMPORTANT NOTE: This Table is only ever used for IDF firing options.
• 130 •
• This Attack may only Target Models on Surface
and Submerged Height levels
• Shield Dice may not be used to defend against
Concentrated Bombing.
• All Dive Bomber Support Aircraft Wings are
always considered to execute Concentrated
Bombing Attacks.
• Any Concentrated Bombing Attack is considered
to have the Sub-Killer MAR.
6. Area Bombardment
This special Firing Option is only available to a
Weapon with the Area Bombardment (Value) MAR.
• When making an Area Bombardment Attack,
the Linked and Combined Firing Options are
unavailable, but Indirect Fire may be available.
• Area Bombardment is considered to be an
Indiscriminate Attack, with a ‘To Hit’ Number
of 5 or (RED) 6, and may only ever Target the
Surface Height Level.
• When performing an Area Bombardment, an
Initial Aiming Point is chosen within Range, Fire
Arc and Line of Sight of all weapons making the
Attack. A Squadron may only have one Initial
Aiming Point, so any weapons unable to reach
the Initial Aiming Point cannot make an Area
Bombardment Attack that Activation.
• All Attacks from Area Bombardment are resolved
simultaneously.
• A Squadron may not execute more than one Area
Bombardment Attack during its Activation.
To resolve an Area Bombardment Attack, total up the
Values for each weapon with the Area Bombardment
To Hit Modifier
Range Bands 3 & 4 -2
Range Bands 2 & 3 & 4 -1
Range Bands 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 -1
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
MAR that is taking part in the attack - this is the
number of Small Templates that will be used.
The first of these templates should be placed at
the Initial Aiming Point (as specified above) with the
remaining additional Small Templates being placed
using the Random Direction Template so that they
are touching, but not overlapping, the first Template.
Any Model on the Surface Height Level that is
fully or partially within the area of a Small Effect
Template is hit. If a Model is hit by multiple Small
Effect Templates resolve each attack separately. All
Attacks of this type are resolved simultaneously
against the target Model.
.WEAPONS AND MUNITIONS
Dystopian Wars features a wide variety of different
weapons, the speed of their development greatly
accelerated as a result of the increase in scientific
research since the discovery of Element 270.
The most powerful Weapons in a Force are
designed to destroy any enemy by direct action,
while several simpler Weapon systems are available
to provide protection from particular types of threat.
The relevant Profile will specify all of the weapons
available to a particular Model.
The classes of weapon found in Dystopian
Wars are: Primary Gunnery Ordnance, Secondary
Gunnery Ordnance, Tertiary Ordnance and Auxiliary
Weapons. Most Primary and Secondary Weapons are
guns of various sizes and assorted exotic Weapons.
Tertiary Weapons are most often Rockets, Bombs and
Torpedoes.
Mines are not used for direct Attacks in the same
way as other Weapons, but do have many of the same
attributes as the other weapons. See Page 139 for
more on Mines.
Primary Gunnery Ordnance (P)
Primary Gunnery Ordnance is normally the most
powerful in the Fleet and generally includes any
Gunnery weapons greater than 10” in calibre. Because
• 131 •
of their sheer size, Primary qeapons are normally
found on larger vessels. These weapons typically
have a slow rate of fire, allowing each Salvo to be
carefully directed by fire control from the bridge, or
when the Model mounts a particularly large weapon,
requires the orientation the whole vessel!
This allows Primary weapons to fire over
obstruction better than other weapons, both when
firing directly, or choosing to fire indirectly. However,
such weaponry often struggles to effectively engage
targets close in.
All Primary Gunnery Ordnance are governed by
the following rules:
• All Primary Gunnery suffers a -1 ‘To Hit’ modifier
if targeting a Model in Range Band 1 unless a MAR
applies.
• Primary Gunnery gains benefits in Line of Sight -
see Page 120.
• Primary Gunnery can fire using the Indirect Fire
Firing Option at Range Bands 3 and 4, but will
suffer a -2 ‘To Hit’ modifier when it does so - see
Page 130.
Secondary Gunnery Ordnance (S)
Secondary Gunnery Ordnance is typically, but not
always, smaller than Primary Ordnance, and are
often found as batteries of many smaller weapons
firing together.
This high rate of fire makes up for the smaller
guns, and means they do not have the same
difficulties tracking nearby targets, but also makes
it impossible for most Secondary weapons to fire
indirectly.
Many of the more exotic weapons tend to be
Secondary Weapons, as their nature either makes
them travel in straight lines, so be unable to fire
indirectly, or simply be impossible to aim accurately
enough to do so effectively. Secondary Gunnery, such
as Broadsides, Fore/Aft Guns and Port/Starboard
Guns have no particular rules or exceptions as
standard, but may be affected by MARs or Special
Munitions - see Page 137.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Tertiary Ordnance (T)
All Tertiary Ordnance are unaffected by Hull Points
(HP) lost by the Model. Below we have the types
of Weapons that are most commonly found in the
Tertiary Weapons bracket:
Rocket Ordnance
Rockets are steel tubes tipped with an explosive
warhead that are propelled through the air at great
speed. Some Models carry a bank of Rockets that
have a limited field of fire, others use Rocket Turrets,
but most mount rockets as either a single large
Battery or as or several smaller Batteries.
• Models can use Ack Ack to try and defend
themselves against Rockets Attacks.
• If an Attack with Rockets hits a Target Model,
any Shield Generators (including Guardian
Generators) no longer use Exploding Dice and
instead are treated as using Heavy Dice, requiring
a 5 or (BLUE) 6 to generate a success.
Torpedo Ordnance
Torpedoes are self-propelled missiles that can only be
used against Models in the water. Although normally
fired in a limited channel, a few ships mount flexible
Torpedo Turrets. Support Aircraft Wing Torpedo
Bombers are also capable of launching these deadly
weapons.
Torpedoes are one of the few weapons capable of
targeting a Submerged Model effectively:
• Torpedoes can only Target Models occupying the
Water Major Surface (or other Water as identified
in the Advanced Terrain Section).
• Torpedoes can only travel from Firer to Target
through the Water Major Surface. Any Terrain
between the Firer and Target Model will Obstruct
Torpedoes.
• When Torpedo Ordnance from any Height Level
targets a Model occupying the Surface Height
Level, any intervening Models on the Surface
Height Level are always Obstructing Models for
• 132 •
determining Line of Sight, regardless of their Size.
• Torpedo Ordnance from any Height Level targeted
Models occupying the Diving Height Band draw
Line of Sight as normal.
• Torpedoes always have the Sub Killer MAR and
always have the Barrage Munitions Type.
• Models can use Concussion Charges in a
Defensive Counter Attack to try and defend
themselves against Torpedoes.
Bomb Ordnance
Bombs are canisters filled with explosive materials
and fitted with a detonator. Incendiary, Corrosive or
other more exotic contents are occasionally used, but
the ruthless economics of war means the cheap and
always useful explosive filling is the most common.
The descent of Bombs is controlled by gravity,
aerodynamics, the skill of the Bomb aimer, and
sometimes a rudimentary drone system. Just like
other weapons, they are harder to aim if used from
high altitude, so accuracy increases as bombers
descend, but so does the accuracy of any return fire.
Bombs can be set to impact fuses, where their
blasts spread damage across a wide area, ideal for
destroying a number of smaller targets, or use
delayed fuses in a concentrated attack, allowing
them to punch through armour and shields for a
devastating attack against a single larger target.
• Bomb Ordnance is only used by Aerial Models
with Bomb Bays, and by Support Aircraft Wing
Dive Bombers.
• Bomb Ordnance is always considered to have the
Barrage Munitions Type.
• Bombs always use the Concentrated Bombing
Firing Option, except when Models with also
have the Area Bombardment MAR choose the
Area Bombardment Firing Option instead.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
OTHER WEAPONS
Bombards
Bombards are weapons capable of firing both
Indirectly and Directly. Bombards are governed by
the following universal rules:
• Weapons are identified as being a Bombard by
having the word Bombard in the name.
• Bombards may be Primary, Secondary or Tertiary
weapons.
• Bombards may choose to fire Indirectly at Range
Bands 2, 3 and 4.
• When Firing Indirectly, Bombards may use any
viable Firing Options and suffer a -1 ‘To Hit’
modifier.
Mortars
Mortar Weapons are generally short ranged weapons
designed solely to fire Indirectly, and may range
from those carried by Infantry, all the way up to
huge Demolition Mortars designed to smash apart
the toughest Fortifications and Models. They are
governed by the following special rules.
• Weapons are identified as being a Mortar by
having the word Mortar in the name.
• Mortars may fire Indirectly at all Range Bands,
and have a -1 ‘To Hit’ modifier when doing so.
SPECIALISED WEAPONS
Specialised Weaponry is a category of weapon where
the creative innovation of inventors and scientist
across the globe have been turned to create esoteric
instruments of death and destruction!
Specialised Weaponry is governed by the
following universal rules:
• Specialised Weaponry may only use Firing
Options with other Specialised Weapons of the
same Type.
• Unlike other weapons, Specialised Weaponry
is permitted to use viable Firing Options with
other Specialised Weaponry of the same type,
• 133 •
enabling them to perform Firing Options with
a combination of Primary, Secondary or Tertiary
Weapons, unless otherwise stated.
Energy Weaponry
The discovery of Sturginium and its amazing
properties has led to a plethora of scientific
invention, all of which require enormous amounts of
power to manifest them. One of the most dangerous
and volatile discoveries of the Dystopian World is
Plasma and the weaponisation of this energy has
revolutionised the Battlefields of the World War.
Energy Weaponry is governed by the following
rules:
• Energy Weaponry is identified as having Energy
or Particle Accelerator in the name.
• All Energy Weaponry, irrespective of type, has the
Redoubtable MAR and the Piercing Munitions
Type.
• Energy Weapons can sometimes replace
conventional Gunnery mounted on a Model.
If they do so, the Energy Weapons retain the
same Fire Arc as the conventional weapon they
replaced.
Energy Blast
The creation and deployment of the Energy Blast
weapon was hotly debated by the leading Covenant
scientists.
Many argued its indiscriminate killing potential
could be misused and were at odds with the overall
philosophy of the Covenant itself. This faction
within the Covenant were eventually overruled by
an edict from Lord Sturgeon himself, who dictated
that weapons of this nature should be deployed, but
only as a ‘weapon of last resort’.
Energy Blasts are governed by the following rules:
• Energy Blasts use either the Standard or Indirect
Fire Options. In some cases Energy Blasts may
also use the Area Bombardment Firing Option
too... but these are rare occurrences!
• Energy Blasts use a ‘To Hit’ Number of 3, 4, 5 or
(RED) 6 regardless of modifiers and are always
considered to be Indiscriminate Attacks.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
• All Energy Blasts irrespective of type have the
Barrage Munitions Type in addition to any other
Energy Weapon special rules.
• Energy Blasts may only target Models on the
Surface Height Level.
• An Energy Blast Weapon places the Large Blast
Template centred on an enemy Model within
Range and Line of Sight. Any Model touched by
the Template is hit at full AD effect.
• Due to the incredible drain on power that comes
from firing an Energy Blast, the firing Model gains
an immediate Generator Offline Effect Marker
after completing an Energy Blast Attack.
Particle Accelerators
The magnetically charged Particle Accelerator was
supposed to be a purely theoretical idea, postulated
around the scientific community prior to 1870. It was
not until the forces of the Covenant began to appear
with these devastating weapons of destruction on
their vessels that the terrifying reality of these hi-tech
weapons became clear.
As such, machines that house these weapons
are often highly prized by the other power, eager to
harvest the technology for their own ends.
Particle Accelerators are governed by the
following rules:
• Particle Accelerators always use the Standard Fire
Option.
• Particle Accelerators use a ‘To Hit’ Number of 3, 4,
5 or (RED) 6 regardless of the Height Level and
are treated as Indiscriminate Attacks.
• Particle Accelerators can only affect Models on
the same Height Level.
• A Particle Accelerator Weapon places the Large
Blast Template centred on an enemy Model within
Range and Line of Sight. Any Model touched by
the Template is hit at full AD effect.
• 134 •
Flamethrower Weaponry
The use of fire as a weapon of war dates back to
antiquity. While providing mankind with light and
heat, all humans are naturally attuned to feel a sense
of dread when confronted by searing flames. Be it
on board a naval vessel, an airship or a mechanised
tank, a fire raging unchecked often spells disaster for
a vehicle’s inhabitants.
Flamethrower Weaponry is governed by the
following special rules:
• Flamethrower Weaponry is identified by having
the word Flamethrower in its name.
• Critical Hits caused by Flamethrowers do
not roll on the Critical Hit Table, and instead
automatically cause a Raging Fire Critical Result
if they equal or exceed a target’s Critical Rating
(CR).
• If a Model’s CR is matched multiple times then
multiple Raging Fire effects are applied.
• Flamethrower Weaponry has Incendiary, Barrage
and Lethal Munitions.
• Flamethrower Weaponry may use either the
Standard Fire, or Combined Fire Firing Options
with other Flamethrower Weaponry when
performing an Attack.
• Flamethrower Weaponry may only target Models
occupying the Surface Height Band.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Heat Weaponry
The French are pioneers in the field of microwave
research, developing powerful Generators, such as
the Fury Generators and the justly feared Heat Lance.
These medium ranged weapons have harnessed the
destructive power of microwaves to blast apart the
enemy with superheated energy, cutting through all
but the heaviest armour with ease.
Heat Weaponry is governed by the following
special rules:
• Heat Weaponry is identified as having the word
Heat in its title.
• Heat Weaponry is considered to have the
Incendiary and Piercing Munitions Types.
• Heat Weaponry always has the Redoubtable and
Pinpoint Attack MARs.
• 135 •
Tesla Weaponry
The Prussian Empire was the first faction to fully
grasp the technological understanding to harness
the power of electricity, both as a form of power
generation and ordnance type.
As a result, most Prussian Capital Class Models
are equipped with Tesla Generators and an array of
Tesla-based gun platforms ranging from banks of
broadsides, torpedo launchers and even powerful
Tesla Lances which can be used at exceptional
distances.
Tesla Weaponry is governed by the following
special rules:
• Tesla Weaponry is identified by having the word
Tesla or Speerschleuder in its name.
• All Tesla Weaponry has the Lethal Strike
Munitions Type.
• All Tesla Weaponry has the Redoubtable MAR.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Speerschleuders
Prussian scientist developed the Speerschleuder in
an attempt to increase the effectiveness of their Tesla
munitions. The weapon is of simple, yet elegant
design, intended to quite literally spear the target
with a long conductive barb, down which further
Tesla attacks can be channelled to devastating effects.
Speerscheluder Weaponry is governed by the
following rules in addition to any rules already
pertaining to Tesla Weaponry:
• If the number of Hits from ANY attack that
includes a Speerschleuder weapon equals or
exceeds the Damage Rating (DR) of a Target
Model, the Target gains a Lightning Rod Persistent
Effect Game Marker.
• Models which have a Lightning Rod Persistent
Effect Game Marker can attempt a repair at the
end of the game turn as normal.
• Any Attacks, in subsequent Activations, made by
Tesla Weapons against a Target with one or more
Lightning Rod Persistent Effect Game Markers
are resolved as if the Tesla Weaponry had the
Devastating Munitions Type.
Volley Guns
Volley Guns are robust, rapid firing, high-angle
weapons used by various nations to defend against
both smaller surface targets and, more importantly,
flyers. These tend to be far stronger than standard
auxiliary Ack-Ack and can be relied upon to dent all
bar the largest of enemy aerial threats.
Volley Guns are governed by the following special
rules:
• Volley Guns are identified as having the words
Volley Gun in the name.
• Volley Guns have both the High Angle and
Redoubtable MARs.
AUXILLARY WEAPONS: AA & CC
Almost all Models in the Dystopian World have
active defences which can be directed towards the
enemy if the situation requires it. Such things as
• 136 •
banks of machine guns trained upon the heavens or
emplaced depth charges which can be used to seek
out and destroy vessels lurking beneath the waves.
For all Models in the game we have divided these
into those capable of attacking Aerial targets (AA
Weapons) and those capable of attacking Diving
targets (CC Weapons). These can be found detailed
on a Model’s statistic card.
Ack-Ack (AA)
Normally low-calibre, rapid firing and deployed in
great numbers, Ack Ack (AA) can put a curtain of fire
into the sky that is capable of damaging or driving off
any Aerial Model or Small Aircraft Squadron threat.
When used in the ways noted below, AA has a
range of 8” unless otherwise specified:
• AA Attacks Models in the Aerial Height Band.
• AA can be used to mount an Interception Attack
against Support Aircraft Squadrons - see Page 185
for more details.
• AA can be used to attack Air-Burst Mines to
remove the Mine in a Controlled Detonation - see
Page 139 for more details.
However, when used in the ways noted below, AA
has a range of only 4” unless otherwise specified:
• Defensive Counter Attack: AA used to defend
against Rockets - see Page 128.
• Aggressive Counter Attack: AA used to Counter
Attack Models in the Aerial Height Band that have
targeted the Model.
• Anti-Boarding: AA used to defend against an
Aggressive Boarding Action from Models on
the Surface or above Height Levels during the
Boarding Segment - see Page 145.
• AA Attacks can be made by Support Aircraft
Squadrons both when executing Attack Runs or
when they are involved in Dogfights.
Concussion Charges (CC)
Packed with explosives these devices can be set to
explode on, or just below, the surface. The shock
wave they produce is often deadly to any Submerged
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Model or threat. All Concussion Charge (CC)
Attacks directed towards Models are considered to
have the Crushing Impact and Sub Killer MARs.
When used in the ways noted below, CC has a
range of 8” unless otherwise specified below:
• CC Attacks Models in the Diving Height Band.
• Attacks against Surface Mines to remove the Mine
in a Controlled Detonation - see Page 139.
However, when used in any of the below ways, CC
has a range of 4” unless otherwise specified:
• Defensive Counter Attacks: CC used to defend
against Torpedoes - see Page 128.
• Aggressive Counter Attack: CC used to Counter
Attack Models in the Diving Height Band that
have targeted the Model.
• Anti-Boarding: CC can be used to defend against
an Aggressive Boarding Action from Models in
Diving Height Band during the Boarding Segment
- see Page 145.
SPECIAL MUNITIONS
Most weapons in the game use high explosive
munitions, and this is often highly effective.
However, certain factions and commanders make
great use of munitions with special effects. If a Model
or weapon can be equipped with Special Munitions
this will be listed in a Model’s Profile, or in a Faction’s
Force Guide.
If an Auxiliary weapon (AA or CC) has one of
these Special Munition types, the effect also apply
to any Counter Attack made with the Auxiliary
weapon, where applicable.
In order to benefit from a Special Munition rule,
all Weapons used in an Attack needs to have the
relevant Special Munition.
• 137 •
Barrage
All Attacks made by weapons with the Barrage
Munitions type ignore Shield Saves.
Concussive
If the number of Hits from an Attack with Concussive
Munitions equals or exceeds the Critical Rating (CR)
of the Target Model, the target loses two additional
Assault Points (AP).
Corrosive
If the number of Hits from an Attack with Corrosive
Munitions equals or exceeds the Critical Rating (CR)
of the Target Model, place one Corrosive Marker on
the target.
Devastating
Provided ALL weapons in the Attack have
Devastating Munitions, ANY (RED) 6 on the initial
roll from the Attack results in two D6 being rolled in
the Exploding Dice Step rather than just ONE. Any
subsequent (RED) 6s will result in the usual ONE
extra D6 as normal.
High Payload
ALL initial Hits from a High Payload Munitions will
result in two successes. In cases where the Exploding
Dice mechanic is permitted a (RED) 6 will STILL
result in two successes and a chance to roll the dice
again.
Incendiary
If the total number of Hits from an Attack with
Incendiary Munitions equals or exceeds the Damage
Rating (DR) of the Target Model, place one Raging
Fire Marker on the target.
Lethal Strike
If the number of Hits from an Attack with Lethal
Strike Munitions equals or exceeds the Damage
Rating (DR) of the Target Model, the target loses one
additional Assault Point (AP).
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Piercing
If the number of Hits from an Attack with Piercing
Munitions equals or exceeds the Damage Rating
(DR), but not the Critical Rating (CR), of the Target
Model it will lose 1 Hull Point (HP), and then roll on
the Focused Critical Hit Table, applying the Critical
Hit Effect only. Weapons with the Piercing Munition
Type cannot use the Firing Option of Indirect Fire.
Sturginium
If an Attack with Sturginium Munitions hits a Target
Model, any Shield Generators (including Guardian
Generators) do not use Exploding Dice and instead
use Heavy Dice.
Limited Use Munitions
Most Weapons have sufficient ammunition for the
whole battle, but some Models, normally those
carrying very large weapon loads for their size, have
Limited Use Weapons. As the name implies, these
weapons may only be used in a finite or limited
fashion.
Limited Use Munitions are denoted by ‘Limited,
X Number’ in brackets after the weapon name.
Each time a Model with Limited Use Munitions has
used the munition, place an Ordnance Away Game
Marker on the Model. When the Model has as many
Ordnance Away Markers as the ‘Number’ in the
bracket, it may no longer use the Weapon.
• 138 •
MINES
Sentient Mines
A Sentient Mine Marker may be moved up to 2” in
any direction chosen by the controlling player during
the Drifting Step of the End Phase. Note that this
may allow the Mine to meet its Detonation Criteria
immediately, see Mines on Page 139 for more details.
.
Mines
Mines are explosive devices often placed onto the
Surface of the Water or Land, or, in more unusual
circumstances, even at a different Height Levels.
They are triggered by the approach of a Model and
can inflict great damage. Mines are unsophisticated
devices, normally unable to differentiate between
friend and foe. As a result of this, their placement
has to be carefully considered.
Mines are represented on the Battlefield as Mine
Markers - or as resin castings with some Models.
Once placed, Mine Markers will remain in play until
they are Detonated or Cleared.
Any Model capable of laying Mines will have
‘Mines’ listed in its Profile. The AD of the Mines are
listed in the Range Band 1 section of a Model’s Profile.
A Model’s Profile will also list how many Mines it can
place during an Activation.
Most Mines will use fairly standard munitions
for their payload, but certain types of Mine may be
unusual and have additional effects. These will be
listed as a Munitions Type in the Options Section of
a Model’s Profile.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Placing Mines
A Model with Mines can place the listed number
of Mines, in the Aft 90-degree Fire Arc, and within
2” of the rear of the Model during any point of the
Movement Segment of a Squadron Activation.
• A Mine may not be placed within 1” of any other
Model.
• A Mine may not be placed within 1” of any other
Mine Marker, unless a Squadron is Linking
Mines (see Linking Mines).
• When a Mine is deployed, place a Mine Marker
to show its position. Mines become Armed only
at the end of the Activation of the Squadron that
deployed them.
• A Model may not place Mines and drop Bombs
in the same Activation.
Detonating a Mine
An Armed Mine will explode when its Detonation
Criteria are met. The Detonation Criteria will differ
depending on the type of Mine deployed:
• Surface Mine Detonation Criteria - An Armed
Surface Mine will Detonate if a Model occupying
the Surface or Submerged Height Levels moves,
or is moved, to within 1” of the centre of a Mine
Marker. If an Armed Surface Mine is moved to
within 1” of a Model occupying the Surface
or Submerged Height Levels, it immediately
Detonates. Tiny Models do not Detonate Surface
Mines.
• Air Burst Mine Detonation Criteria - An Armed
Air Burst Mine will detonate if a Model occupying
the Surface or Flying Height Levels moves, or
is moved, to within 1” of the centre of a Mine
Marker. If an Armed Air Burst Mine is moved to
within 1” of a Model occupying the Surface or
Flying Height Levels, it immediately Detonates.
Tiny Models do not Detonate Air Burst Mines.
• 139 •
Surface Mine Detonation
When a Surface Mine Detonates, place the Large
Effect Template over the centre of the Detonating
Mine: all Models on the Surface or Submerged Height
Levels under the Template are Hit by the explosion.
Air Burst Mine Detonation
When an Air Burst Mine Detonates, place the Large
Effect Template over the centre of the Detonating
Mine: all Models on the Surface or Flying Height
Levels under the Template are Hit by the explosion.
The Effect of a Mine Detonation
Mines use the Exploding Dice mechanic, and require
a 4, 5, or (RED) 6.
• Roll ONCE for each Mine and apply the Hits to
ALL affected Models within the explosion.
• All Mine Explosions are resolved separately.
• All Mine Explosions are Indiscriminate Attacks!
• If a Mine explodes, remove the Mine Marker that
was representing it.
If another Armed Mine Marker is ‘touched’ by a Large
Effect Template placed during a Mine Explosion, roll
a D6 for each Mine: on a result of a 5 or (BLACK
6), the Mine Marker Detonates, regardless of which
Force deployed it. This can result in a cascade of
Detonating Mines, so you should be careful how you
place Mines on a Battlefield!
Important Note: The AD Value given to a Model,
listed in the Range Band 1 column of its statistic
profile is what defines the strength of a Mine.
Clearing Mines
If a Model is within 8” of the centre of a Mine Marker,
it can attempt to remove the Mine. Surface Mines
may only be attacked by CC and Air Burst Mines may
only be attacked by AA. This Attack is declared and
resolved using any applicable Firing Options, in the
Firing Segment as normal and a 4, 5 or (RED) 6 is
required for a Hit.
If the number of Hits equals, or exceeds, a Mine’s
AD Value, the Mine Marker is removed from play
without Detonating. If the Mine Marker is not
removed it does not take any Damage.
 
 C4 - The Firing Segment
Linking Mines
To create a Linked Mine, a Squadron places several
Mine Markers in the same location during the same
Activation. The Mine Markers are stacked on top of
each other, and become a Linked Mine. This is the
ONLY way a Linked Mine can be created.
When a Linked Mine Detonates, calculate the AD
using the Linked Fire mechanic with all the Mines
in the stack.
Unless a specific condition applies, a Linked Mine
may not be moved for any reason.
Important Note: When attempting to clear a Linked
Mine, total the amount of hits rolled during an
Attack and compare these hits to the AD Value of
the Mine Markers that make up a Linked Mine. For
every multiple of the Mine Markers AD Value scored,
remove ONE Mine Marker from the Linked Mine.
Node Projectors
In the different theatres of war, some Factions use
a technology called ‘Node Projection’ to extened
the capability of certain Generators. These Node
Projectors can be used to launch debilitating (or
even beneficial) effects much further into the heart
of a fight.
Nodes which allow Generators to project their
effects to much great ranges than normal by placing
a Node at some distance from the Model using the
Generator, and then channelling the effect of the
Generator through the Node. They do so as follows:
• 140 •
• During the Command Consolidation Step of a
Squadron’s Activation, a Model places a Node
Marker within Line of Sight and in the Range
Bands indicated by an X in a Model’s Profile. The
Node Marker must occupy the same Surface or
Flying Height Level as the Model it originated
from.
• The Marker may not be placed in contact with a
Model or Mine Marker. Once the Node Marker
has been placed, the Generator listed in the
brackets of the Node Projector controlled by the
Parent Model activates (even if this would mean
it does so out of sequence), channelling the power
of the Generator though the Node.
• All Models touched by a Large Effect Template,
placed over the centre of the Marker, are
considered to have been Attacked by the Generator
Type listed in the brackets.
• The Generator Type must roll separately for each
affected Model to ascertain if it has been affected,
using the rules listed in the stated Generator
entry. Unless otherwise stated in the individual
Generator entry, the Generator can affect Models
occupying all Height Levels.
• A Model may only use their Node Projector if the
on-board Generator of the same type is functional.
The use of the Node counts as the Offensive
Generator’s Activation for the Game Turn.
• Once all Generator Attacks have been resolved,
the Node Marker is removed from play.
 
C4 - The Firing Segment

• 141 •  
C4 - The Firing Segment

In this example, we see a Squadron

of Prussian Empire Arminius Frigates
attacking a Covenant Pericles Fleet
Carrier.

The Frigate A decides to lead the

Attack with Frigates B + C linking
their weapons. At this Range Band
each Frigate generates 5 AD from
their Fore Turret.

Frigate B has a point of Damage on it

however so would generate one less.

The Linking Pool is totalled up (5+5-

1) for a total of 9 AD.

This then halved and rounded up for a

new total of 5 AD.

Important Note: You should always try

to use a weapon/ship with no Damage
present to form your Lead Pool as this
maximises your killing potential!

The Lead Pool and the Linking Pool

are then added together to form the
AD Pool.

After this is done add or deduct any

applicable AD depending on any
MARs that might be in play.

In this case, there are no applicable

MARs to worry about and
so the final AD Pool is 10.

• 142 •  
 C4 - The Firing Segment

Standard Fire example

A Model engaging in what is known as
a Standard Fire Firing Solution is the
simplest form of engagement.

An FSA Annapolis Class Battle

Cruiser engages a Blazing Sun Honshu
Class Cruiser. The FSA player trains
the Fore Turret of the Annapolis to
the enemy vessel and opens fire. The
AD used will simply be the number
of dice stated in the Model’s profile at
the measured Range Band - plus any
extra AD that may come from a TAC
or MAR.

Area bombardment example

B
A Britannian MK II Magnate Siege
Battleship targets a Squadron of
A C Prussian Uhlan Cruisers at Range
Band 2. The MK II Magnate has the
Area Bombardment (2) MAR and so
TWO Small Effect Templates will be
used in the Attack.

The first is placed at the Initial Aiming

Point so that it partially covers two of
the Uhlans (A+B).

B The Britannian Player randomises

the second Small Template, scattering
A it in direction 3 using the Random
C Determination Template and places it
on the table touching the first Small
Template. A perfect result. The second
Template catches Cruiser B again,
along with the remaining Cruiser C.
This means that Cruiser A suffers a 9
AD Attack, as does Cruiser C. Cruiser
B is, however, hit twice and so suffers
two 9 AD Attacks!

• 143 •  
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines
The Boarding Segment
D uring boarding, the Models involved are named
the Target Model and the Initiating Model
(or Models in the case of grouped boarding actions)
and we will refer to them throughout this chapter.
Boarding Actions use the following general rules:
• A Model may only ever nominate one Target
Model to be the subject of a Boarding Action
during the Boarding Segment of its Activation.
• A Boarding Action can be made against a valid
Target Model within 4”. Measurement for any
Boarding Action is taken from the closest point
on the Initiating Model or its Base to the closest
point on the Target Model or its Base.
• Line of Sight is not required to make a Boarding
Action. Obstructing elements (either Models or
Terrain) have no effect.
A Boarding Action cannot be performed under the
following circumstances:
• An Initiating Non-Robot Model fired any Primary,
Secondary, Tertiary or Auxiliary weapons at the
Target Model during its current Activation.
• The Models are out of range.
• The Initiating Model is Disordered.
• The Initiating Model suffered Damage as a result
of a Collision or Ram during the current Turn.
• The Target Model is a Support Aircraft Squadron.
• An Initiating Model is two or more height levels
away from the Target Model.
Types Of Boarding Action
There are two types of Boarding Action that can be
performed by an active player during the Boarding
Segment of a Squadron’s Activation. These are classed
as being either Friendly or Aggressive - there are two
types of Friendly Boarding Action:
• 144 •
• Repair Boarding Action: - see the Repair
Function on Page 197 for more details.
• Re-Crew Boarding Action: Models within a
Squadron may elect to initiate a Boarding Action
against another member of the Squadron, using
their Attack Group to Re-Crew the Target Model.
The Initiating Model loses the AP from their
Attack Group and the Target Model gains the AP.
No Model may exceed its starting AP value and
the Target Model retains its initial Crew Type.
Important Note: A Squadron that initiates a
Re-Crewing Boarding Action may not attempt any
other form of Boarding Action during its Activation.
Aggressive Boarding Actions are by far and away the
most common types of Boarding Action and represent
an attempt to Sabotage, Derelict, Salvage or Prize an
enemy Model. If a Target Model is targeted by more
than one enemy Assault Group during the current
Squadron Activation, the upcoming Boarding Action
is resolved as a Joint Assault with the defenders
battling against a large group of attackers!
Important Note: Remember that a Model may only
ever announce ONE Boarding Action during its
Activation. This can be either Friendly or Aggressive,
but not both!
The Boarding Procedure
The Boarding Action Segment has six Steps, which
are resolved in the following order:
1. Nominate Target and Assault Groups
2. Make Anti-Boarding Declarations
3. Perform Anti-Boarding Fire
4. Dice for Close Quarters Battle
5. Determine the Victor!
6. Boarding Consolidation
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines
1. NOMINATE TARGET AND ASSAULT
GROUPS
During this Step, a Model must announce the
intention to execute a Boarding Action during the
Boarding Segment of a Squadron’s Activation. all
Models initiating a Boarding Action in the current
Squadron’s Activation must nominate the Target
Model they are planning to board before any Boarding
Action can be resolved across the affected Squadrons.
Each Initiating Model must then state how many
AP they are planning to commit from their Model’s
current AP to the assault: this is called the Model’s
Assault Group.
A Model may only ever create one Assault Group
in the Phase and it must comprise of at least 1 AP.
If a Squadron has a number of Assault Groups from
different Models targeting the same enemy Model,
combine these together into one single Assault
Group at this point.
Important Note: An Initiating Model is not
compelled to allocate its entire Assault Personnel to
an Attack.
In instances where the final Assault Group that is
targeting a Model is made up of a number of different
Crew Types (due to Attachments or Escort Models
assisting in the assault) separate the different Crew
Types (using different coloured dice or rolling
different pools of dice) in the Assault Group to
clearly show the spread of Crew Types.
If at any point in the upcoming Boarding Assault,
the Attacker is required to reduce their Assault
Group, the Attacker may choose which members of
the Assault Group are removed.
Once all this has been completed, the troops are
considered to be unleashed and are currently on their
way towards their targets. Once Assault Groups have
been unleashed they cannot be recalled until the
boarding assault has been resolved.
2. ANTI-BOARDING DECLARATIONS AND
COLLATE DEFENSIVE DICE
With the enemy troops unleashed and in the air, the
Target Model now organises its hasty defences, filling
• 145 •
the air with small calibre ordnance, debilitating
concussive blasts and all manner of esoteric and
inventive forms of defensive counter-measures in a
frantic attempt to deny the enemy a foothold.
If targeted by an Aggressive Boarding Action a
Model must attempt to defend itself and may only
allocate Anti-Boarding Fire against the Assault
Group targeting it…. its every man for themselves
when the enemy attacks!
If one or more Initiating Models in the Boarding
Action are in the Diving Height Band, the Target
Model must allocate their CC to defend themselves
rather than their AA. In all other instances, AA is
used.
Important Note: A Salvaged or Prized Model uses
the Ack Ack (AA) or Concussive Charges (CC)
statistic of the Model modified by the damage
sustained on the Model when defending against any
incoming Boarding Action.
Members of the Model’s Squadron or Combat Air
Patrols (see Page 80) measure their Range to the
Target Model to ascertain whether they can perform
Linked/Combined Anti-Boarding Fire.
Models from the same squadron within 4” of
the Target Model may attempt to assist in the Anti-
Boarding Fire action. Unless otherwise stated, the
other members of the Squadron must use the Firing
Option Linked Fire and the Target Model must Lead
the Anti-Boarding Fire action.
Important Note: Players should remember that a
Model may NOT provide Supporting Fire to defend
another Model if they are themselves are the Target
of a Boarding Action.
3. ANTI-BOARDING FIRE
At this point the Target Model will open fire on the
incoming Assault Group hoping to reduce their
number and repulse the attack.
• Roll the allocated Anti-Boarding Fire against the
incoming Assault Group.
• Defensive Fire requires a 5 or (RED) 6 ‘To Hit’.
• For each success scored, reduce the size of the
Assault Group’s AP by 1.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines
If no members of the Assault Group remain, the
boarding assault has failed and play moves to the
Determine Victor Step.
4. CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE (CQB)
The remaining Assault Groups from the Initiating
Models which have survived the Anti-Boarding
Fire are now considered to have reached the enemy
Model and proceed to engage the Target Model’s crew
in Close Quarters Battle.
It now falls to the Target Model to create its own
Defensive Group to repel the enemy by allocating
from its own current AP Value.
All of the AP on the Target Model must be
allocated to defend the vessel - nobody can be held
back from the fight!
Once allocation is done, simultaneously resolve
each Boarding Action between the Target Model’s
Defending Assault Group and the Initiating Model’s
Assault Group.
The number of AP in each Group (both Attacking
and Defending) is then converted into pools of AD
which in turn may be modified by any MARs that
may apply.
The pools are rolled and each Hit will cause a
non-Robot Assault Group to lose 1 AP. This reflects
casualties to any troops during the fight.
The total number AP lost from each Assault
Group is noted to provide a total for each side in the
engagement - this is an important number!
The ‘To Hit’ Numbers required to Hit in an
Aggressive Boarding Action are determined by the
Crew Types involved.
• 146 •
CREW TYPES
The AP across the different Factions vary greatly.
Some favour small elite forces that excel in quality
but often suffer from lack of numbers, others are
more cavalier with their soldiery, using conscripted
troop to blunt enemy attacks.
Each Model Profile includes a Crew Type entry:
• Elite: This Crew Type represents the very best
each faction can offer as regards close combat
troopers.
• Aggressive: Some factions are predisposed to
aggressive and hard hitting boarding assaults.
These troopers epitomise this ethos in their
attitude.
• Stoic: These troops are dogged defenders, capable
of fighting on against all odds under relentless
enemy assaults.
• Regular: This Crew Type represents the standard
Assault Personnel tasked with combat actions in
the world of Dystopian Wars.
• Reckless: Every faction has its share of headstrong
and gung-ho individuals keen to cause havoc
amongst their foes. Such troops are difficult to
control however, and are often simply unleashed
upon the enemy!
• Defensive: Not all Assault Crews are capable of
launching cohesive assaults and this Crew Type
is designed to represent those who favour a more
passive engagement style.
• Conscripts: These Assault Personnel represent
the poorly trained elements of assault cadres.
Whilst not as gifted in their ability to inflict
damage, they often make up for this shortfall with
pure weight of numbers!
• Non-Combatant: The general Merchant Seaman
is not equipped or trained to engage the enemy
in the terrifying and often fatal Dystopian World.
This Crew Type is most commonly given to Crew
who would prefer never to get involved in a
Boarding Assault if they can help it!
On Page 147 is a summary table of the Crew Types
and their relevant rolls to hit required then Initiating
and Defending against a boarding action.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines

A Model’s Assault Group value is reduced by

5. DETERMINE THE VICTOR!
Determine whether the Target Model has Routed the
Attack, Repelled the Attack, has suffered a Sabotage
result or if the boarders were Victorious!
Once all Boarding Action Attack Dice have been
rolled, compare the number of AP Hits inflicted by
both sides (not including excess Hits that were lost)
and consult the table on Page 149.
Sabotage - A Sabotaged Model suffers a Focused
Critical Hit and the Attacker must roll on the Crit-
ical Hit Table. This roll occurs after the Attackers
have left the Sabotaged Model during the Boarding
Consolidation Step.
Important Note: Remember to use the Boarding Part
of the Critical Hits Table to ensure the likely target
points on an enemy vessel are the ones under threat.
PRIZING, SALVAGING, DERELICTS
Prizing Models
Any Model that initiated an Aggressive Boarding
Action that resulted in the Target Model being able
to be taken as a Prize, can allocate an amount of their
current Assault Group to form a Prize Crew before
returning to their Parent Squadron and re-joining
their AP-contingent.
1 for each 1 point of Prize Crew they supply to
the Model being taken as a Prize. The size of any
Prize Crew on a Model must be clearly shown. A
Model must contribute any Prize Crew during the
Boarding Consolidation Step and cannot do so in any
subsequent Squadron Activation.
A Prize Model is effectively Lost and (unless
otherwise stated) cannot perform any Actions in
the Activation Segment of the game, other than
compulsory Drift movement, unless a specific
condition or Model Assigned Rule applies.
However, a Prize Model can be the subject of
a later Aggressive Boarding Action in an attempt
to re-capture the Model by the opposing force in
an attempt to Salvage the Model instead. Should a
Prize Model be subject to an Aggressive Boarding
Action, the Prize Crew may use the captured Model’s
Auxiliary Weapons as part of an Anti-Boarding Fire
Action.
If a Prize Crew is reduced to 0, without the
original owner placing a Salvage Crew on-board, the
Prize Model automatically becomes a Derelict Model.
Important Note: The size of any Prize/Salvage Crew
may never exceed the Prized Model’s Initial Assault
Points (there just isn’t the space to hold more!) and is
used as the current Assault Point value of the Model
during any attempt to re-capture the Model.

CLOSE QUARTERS BATTLE ‘TO HIT’ TABLE

Initiates a Boarding Assault Defends Against a Boarding
Crew Type
To Hit Number Assault To Hit Number

Elite 3, 4, 5, (RED) 6 3, 4, 5, (RED) 6

Aggressive 3, 4, 5, (RED) 6 4, 5, (RED) 6

3, 4, 5, (RED) 6 3, 4, 5, (RED) 6
Reckless Opposing Model gains a +1 Hit Opposing Model gains a +1 Hit
Modifier Modifier
Regular 4, 5, (RED) 6 4, 5, (RED) 6
Stoic 4, 5, (RED) 6 3, 4, 5, (RED) 6
Defensive 5, (RED) 6 4, 5, (RED) 6
Conscripted 5, (RED) 6 5, (RED) 6
Non-Combatant (RED) 6 (RED) 6

• 147 •  
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines
Salvaged Models
A Model that had been taken as a Prize by the enemy
may be taken later in the game as part of a Boarding
Action by the previous owner’s force. A successful
boarding action that wipes out the Prize Crew will
allow the boarding Models to deploy a Salvage Crew
on-board, or may force the boarders to leave the
Model as a Derelict.
The Aggressive Boarding Action resolves normally
with the Attacker and Defender functioning as above,
except the Attacker does not Prize their own Model,
rather they Salvage it instead. A Model’s Assault
Group value is reduced by 1 for each 1 Salvage Crew
they supply to the Model being taken as a Salvaged
Model. The size of any Salvage Crew on a Model
must be clearly shown.
A Model must contribute any Salvage Crew
immediately after the Aggressive Boarding Action
has been won and cannot do so in any subsequent
Squadron Activation. Should a Salvaged Model be
subject to an Aggressive Boarding Action, the Salvage
Crew may use the re-captured Model’s Auxiliary
Weapons as part of an Anti-Boarding Fire Action.
• 148 •
A Salvaged Model is effectively Lost and cannot
perform any Actions in the game, other than
compulsory Drift movement, unless a specific
condition or Model Assigned Rule applies. However,
a Salvaged Model can be the subject of an Aggressive
Boarding Action in an attempt to re-capture the
Model by the opposing fleet in an attempt to Prize
the Model again!
If, for any reason, a Salvage Crew is reduced to 0,
without the previous Prizing player placing a Prize
Crew on-board, the Salvage Model automatically
becomes a Derelict Model.
Prize/Salvage Crews and Crew Type – Given their
unfamiliarity with their new berth, all Prize and
Salvage Crews are considered to be the Regular Crew
Type, irrespective of their previous Type.
Derelict Models
A Derelict Model is effectively Lost and cannot
perform ANY Actions in the game, other than the
compulsory Drift movement. It cannot be the subject
of any further Boarding Actions and cannot be taken
as a Prize or as a Salvage Model later in the game. In
the End Phase, a Derelict Model will automatically
lose one point of HP and cannot execute any Repair
Actions.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Marines
6. Boarding Consolidation
Derelicts, Salvaged Models and Prize Models affect
players’ Victory Points Totals and so need to be
recorded in this Step. Models that have been taken
as a Prize or as Salvage should be clearly marked
with the appropriate Game Marker and their Crew
Numbers must be clearly shown.
RESULT
Defender rolls more hits
Both Attacker and Defender roll the same
number of Hits but and Defender’s AP is not
wiped out.
Attacker rolls more hits, but does not wipe
out the Defender's AP.
OR
Both sides have been wiped out.
Defender AP is wiped out and Attacker AP
remains.
• 149 •
At this point during a Boarding Action any
members of the surviving Assault Group may return
to their launch squadron, ready to be unleashed once
more. The number of survivors in the Assault group
can be distributed as the Attacker sees fit, allocating
them to any Models within range… The Model may
not carry more Assault Points than were part of its
initial complement however!
EFFECT DESCRIPTION
The Target Model may make an out-of-
sequence Ack Ack/Concussive Charge
Anti-Boarding Fire Attack (depending on
the nature of the boarding action) against
the Attacker’s Assault Personnel remnants
Attack Routed
as they attempt to escape the Model.
Important Note: ONLY the Target Model
may engage in this attack. Other Squadron
Members or Combat Patrols may NOT.
The remnants of Initiating Model's AP
Attack
return to their Models without further
Repelled penalty, using the confusion to escape.
The Attacker’s AP places explosive charges
on-board the Model and return to their
Model in the chaos of the resulting
explosion, if any survived!
Sabotage * The Target Model suffers a Focused
Critical Hit and where relevant, the
Attacker must roll on the Critical Hit
Table applying any damage and effects
immediately.
The Attacker AP on-board may Prize the
Model if able. The Model takes a Prized
Game Marker.
Only Capital Non-Robot Models may be
taken as a Prize/Salvage.
OR
The Attacker may choose to downgrade
Victorious!
this result to a Sabotage Effect* see above.
OR
The Attacker may leave the Model as a
Derelict is they wish to. The Model takes
a Derelict Game Marker. Derelict Models
with an Initial HP of 2 or less are removed
from play.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots
ROBOT BOARDING
Robots do not have a complement of marines with
which to mount Boarding Actions, instead they rely
on their own physical form to inflict damage on an
enemy Model.
When performing a Robot Boarding Action, the
Robot attacks as a physical entity, using its mass and
stature to carve through its target. Equally when
engaging a Robot with assault marines a metallic
beast must be brought low by attacking its critical
systems, requiring herculean efforts from assaulting
marines to bring the target down.
In turn, when a Robot is boarded, enemy Assault
Marines must attack the Robot’s superstructure in
the hope of inflicting damage against the Robot itself
instead of reducing the Robot’s melee potential by
reducing its Assault Points.
Robot Boarding Action Limitations
A Robot cannot initiate a Boarding Action under the
following circumstances:
• During its Activation, the Initiating Robot Model
was involved in any Collision or Ram, or failed a
Treacherous Terrain Test for Snaking.
• An Initiating Robot Model fired any weapons at
any Model except the Target Model during its
current Activation.
• The Initiating Robot Model is more than one
Height Level away from the Target Model. For
example, a Metzger on the Surface Height Level
CANNOT attempt to board a Savannah Sky Fortress
on the Obscured Height Level.
• Robots may never initiate a Friendly Boarding
Action.
• A Robot Model’s Assault Points have been reduced
to 0 (through Damage being applied).
Important Note: Unlike with a normal Boarding
Action, a Robot Model’s Assault Point value is
NEVER reduced as the result of an enemy Boarding
Action.
• 150 •
ROBOT BOARDING ACTIONS
Robots use the same six Steps during Boarding
Actions, modified to suit their bulk and playstyle.
These are resolved in the following order:
1. Nominate Targets and Assault Groups
2. Anti-Boarding Declarations
3. Anti-Boarding Fire
4. Close Quarters Battle (CQB)
5. Determine the Victor!
6. Boarding Consolidation
1. Nominate Targets and Assault
Groups
A Robot Boarding Action can be made against a valid
Target Model within 2”.
A Robot may still perform Attacks in the Firing
Segment, provided any Attack it makes is directed
towards the Target of its upcoming Boarding Action.
No other Attacks may be nominated. If the Robot’s
Attack results in their Target being destroyed, then
no Boarding Action can be executed, even if another
Model is in base-contact.
Important Note: This is contrary to normal Firing
and Boarding procedure which prohibits a Model
from Firing at and Boarding the same target in the
same Activation.
A Robot initiating a Boarding Action must commit
ALL of its Assault Points (AP). The Assault Group
total is always the current AP of the Model.
2. Anti-Boarding Declarations
All Anti-Boarding Fire Declarations made against
Robots follow the same rules as those in the Anti-
Boarding Fire Boarding Step of the Boarding Rules
(see Page 145).
However, during this Step, the Target Model
resolves the declared Anti-Boarding Fire against the
Robot, applying any Hits against the Robot’s Damage
Rating (DR) and Critical Rating (CR). Damage from
Anti-Boarding Fire against Robots is resolved as
normal, in any order required by the Target Model -
see Page 100 for more details.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots
3. Anti-Boarding Fire
Anti-Boarding Fire has uses the following ‘To Hit’
Numbers against any a Robot initiating a Boarding
Action, modified by any MARs that may apply.
A 4, 5 or Exploding (RED) 6 is required ‘To Hit’ a
Robot Model.
Compare the number of Hits generated against
the Robot’s Damage Rating (DR) and Critical Rating
(CR), with Gunnery Damage applied as normal. If
the number of Hits equals or exceeds its Critical
Rating, the Robot suffers a Standard Critical Hit and
a roll must be made on the Critical Hit Table with
any effects applied immediately.
Important Note: Should the Anti-Boarding Fire
destroy the Robot it was directed against, the excess
is lost and does not carry on to other other Robots
taking part in the same action.
4. Close Quarters Battle
Unlike combat against other foes, Robots do NOT
target the enemy marines on-board a Model directly,
instead they tear into the target Model itself.
Robots use their Assault Points (AP) value to
generate Attack Dice which are rolled against the
Target Model, measuring the number of Hits scored
against the Damage Rating and Critical Rating of the
Target. Squadrons of Robots combine their Attack
Dice when Initiating a Boarding Action.
The Target Model does not build a Defensive
Group to participate in the Close Quarters Battle
Step.
The Attack Dice for Robots have the following
‘To Hit’ Numbers, modified by their Crew Type as
normal and Robot Assaults ignore any Armour MARs
or Defensive Generators.
In most cases Robots require 4, 5 or (RED) 6 ‘To
Hit’.
• 151 •
Important Note: Robots that initiate a Boarding
Action are not themselves targeted in the Close
Quarters Battle Step by non-Robot Models.
5. Determine Victor!
In this Step the amount of Damage inflicted against
the Target Model’s Hull Points (HP) is determined.
Compare the number of Hits generated by the
Robot with the Target Model’s Damage Rating (DR)
and Critical Rating (CR) with Gunnery Damage.
Robots do not roll on the Critical Hit table
however. Rather any Critical Hit they cause in
Boarding is always considered to be the Hard
Pounding Result instead.....their physical literally
mass smashes the enemy apart!
Important Note: In many cases Robots have Model
Assigned Rules that will greatly affect the Damage
caused during this Step.
Robots may not Prize, Derelict, or Salvage Target
Models.
6. Boarding Consolidation
After all other Actions in the Initiating Robot’s
Boarding Segment have been resolved, the Robot
is moved 2” directly backwards from the target…
think of this as the Robot stepping/swimming/hovering
backwards to get ready for another swing!
In gaming terms, it simply allows players to mitigate
any messy collisions that might occur and keeps the
game flowing.
Important Note: If this move would result in a
Collision, move the Robot in such a way as to ensure
no Collision takes place.
 
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots

BOARDING AGAINST ROBOTS ROBOT VS ROBOT BOARDING

Aggressive Boarding Actions directed against Robots
by Non-Robot Models follow the same proce-
dure as standard Boarding except that, during the
Close Quarters Battle Step, all Hits by the Initi-
ating Model(s) against the Robot are combined and
counted against the Robot’s Damage Rating (DR) and
Critical Rating (CR).
The Target Robot does not generate a Defensive
Group that may participate in the Close Quarters
Battle Step. Assaults made against Robots ignore any
Defensive MARs and Defensive Generators.
All Assault Points directed against a Robot require
4, 5 or (RED) 6 ‘to Hit’. This may be modified by
Crew Types and Model Assigned Rules.
Also, in the Determine Victor! Step, Initiating
Models do not consult the Boarding Results Table.
Assaulters may only inflict Damage on the Target
Robot Models: Robots may never be Sabotaged,
Prized, Derelict, or Salvaged.
On some occasions, Robot Models may find them-
selves engaged in an Aggressive Boarding Action
with another enemy Robot!
The Boarding Action is resolved in the same
manner as any other Robot Boarding Actions except
that during the Close Quarters Battles Step… ALL
Robots fight!
All Robots involved in a Robot vs Robot Boarding
Action roll their AP against the Damage Rating
(DR) and Critical Rating (CR) of their enemy
simultaneously, as they literally try to hammer their
foes into submission.

• 152 •  
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots

Boarding Example 1
1. 2. 3.
1 1 1
2

1 7
1

A Squadron of Prussian Empire
Arminius Frigates has announced a
Boarding Action against a Britannian
Lord Hood Battle Cruiser. The Lord
Hood has suffered a single point of
Damage and has also lost an Assault
Point.
2
Each Arminius Frigate chooses to
allocate all of its remaining AP to
the Attack Group (although it doesn’t
not have to). An Arminius has 2 AP
as standard, but one of their number
has lost a point of AP previously. This
means the Attack Group is 7 AD in
total.
The Lord Hood musters its Defensive
Fire. The Ack-Ack value of the vessel
is 5, but this is reduced to 4 due to the
single point of Damage. Rolling the
Defensive Fire dice generates a 2, 3, 5,
6 and then 1 due to the Exploding 6,
for a total of 3 Hits.

4. 5. 6.

4 4 2
5 0

Three Assault Points are then removed
from the Attack Group, leaving just
4AP who braved the wall of flak and
reached the enemy vessel.
Close Quarters Battle now takes place.
The Lord Hood has Regular Crew and so
rolls its AP (in this case its 6-1=5) and
the Attacking Prussians roll just 4AP, but
have Aggressive Crew (which give them
a +1 to hit bonus when they initiate a
Boarding Action. The Lord Hood rolls 1,
2, 2, 4, 5 ... ONLY 2 Hits. The Prussians
roll 1, 3, 5, 6... and then 3 giving them a
total of 5 Hits!
0
The Prussians have wiped out the
Defenders and have Assault Troops on
board. The Prussian player can choose
to either: Prize the vessel leaving a
Prize Crew of just 2 OR Derelict the
Hood making it a floating hulk. The
Prussian player chooses to Prize the
ship and hopes to keep it until the end
of the game!

• 153 •  
 C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots

Robot boarding example

1. 2. 3.

2”

2 2 2

In this example, a Squadron of
Prussian Shildtrager Battle Robots
seizes on the opportunity to pounce on
an unsupported Kingdom of Britannia
Brunel Mobile Airfield. The Robots
move into a 2” Robot Boarding Range
and announce they intend to perform a
Robot Assault against the Brunel. Once
this is announced the Shildtragers are
committed to the action and the pilots
of the robots may not change their
minds!
Firing with the blistering energy
of their powerful Tesla Lances the
Shildtragers manage to inflict a single
point of Damage (along with the
obligatory point of AP loss that comes
with their Lethal weapons!) against
the Brunel.
In the Boarding Segment the Robots
continue with their Robot Assault.
At this point the Brunel attempt to
drive back any of the Robots with
Defensive Fire, and in this instance the
Britannians elect to direct their efforts
against the damaged Robot (with the
reduced AP).

4. 5. 6.
1 1 3

2” 2”

In the Defensive Fire Segment, the
Brunel gathers its remaining Ack-Ack
Dice after Damage is considered and
rolls them needing a 4, 5 or (RED) 6
to hit...scoring a total of 6 Hits – a
Critical Hit!
The Britannian player rolls a 7 - Hard
Pounding... causing enough damage to
destroy the advancing robot!
The Shildtrager is removed from play
as a casualty and takes no further part
in the Robot Assault.
In the CQB Step, the remaining Robots
attempt to pound the enemy model
apart with their shields and fist!
The Robots gather their remaining
AP as normal and roll against the
targets DR/CR statistics in exactly the
same manner as if they were making
a Ranged Attack. Remember that to
take into account the Crew Types of
the Robots to determine their initial
‘To Hit’ number and bear in mind
that all Robot Boarding Assaults
are considered to be Indiscriminate!
The Shieldtragers roll a mighty 12
Hits between them and so inflict a
Damaging Critical Hit.
Robots do NOT roll on the Critical
Hit Table in Robot Assaults however,
instead they always count as having
the rolled a Hard Pounding Result...
for obvious reasons!
In this case the Brunel suffers an
additional 4 Damage and a further 2
points of AP loss! Once the Boarding
Assault has been completed, all robots
involved must move to be at least 2”
away from the target model, so the
two robots that fought the CQB action
retire the 2” to ready themselves to
attack again next turn!

• 154 •  
C5 - The Boarding Segment - Robots

• 155 •  
 C6 - The End Phase
The End Phase
T his Phase allows players to represent the time
where Commodores can issue repair orders,
bring their forces back into order and also provides
a good time to check if a player has been victorious!
The End Phase of the Game Turn is also used to tidy
up and prepare for the next Turn.
The End Phase has eight Steps, which are
performed in the following order:
1. Perform Any Compulsory Actions
2. Execute Any Damage Repairs
3. Persistent Damage
4. Turn Effects
5. Restore Order which are not a Derelict by making a Damage Repair
6. Total Victory Points
7. Check For End Of Game
8. End Phase Consolidation
1. Compulsory Actions
Compulsory Actions are executed in the following
order: Derelict Drifts, then Derelict Degradation
Derelict Drift
ALL Derelict, Prize, and Salvaged Models Drift:
moving directly forward a number of inches equal
to their listed Minimum Move value. All Drifting
Models are resolved in the current Order of Initiative.
Without a crew to keep them in the air, all Derelict
Aerial Models Crash once they have made their Drift
Move. The Crashing Model falls out of the sky, and
resolves a Ram Action against any Model on the
Surface Height Level in base contact with it when it
Crashes. After crashing, the Model is Scrapped.
Important Note: Derelict, Salvaged and Prize
Models are still moved by their original owners.
• 156 •
Derelict Degradation
Models with no crew to tend them will inevitably
start to fall apart under the rigours of Battlefield
conditions. Once all Derelict models have drifted
they will automatically lose 1 Hull Point (HP).
Important Note: Salvaged and Prize Models do not
lose HP as it is assumed they those on-board are
making emergency repairs to keep the craft together!
2. Damage Repairs
Players must attempt to repair any Damage Effect
Game Markers that have been inflicted upon Models
Test.
Important Note: Salvaged and Prized Models
may also attempt Repair Attempts. This becomes
especially important should the Model be affected by
Persistent Effects such as Corrosion or Raging Fires.
This Step is divided into two parts that must be
resolved in the following order, starting with Critical
Repairs and then Persistent Effects Repairs.
2.1: CRITICAL REPAIR TESTS
Players MUST roll separately for each Critical Effect
Game Marker that they are attempting to repair, and
can only attempt to repair each Critical Effect Game
Marker once per turn. Unless otherwise stated by
a Model Assigned Rule, roll a D6 for each Critical
Repair attempt and consult the table below:
D6 RESULT EFFECT
1, 2, 3 Critical Hit Effect Marker Remains
4, 5, 6 Critical Hit Effect Marker Removed
 
 C6 - The End Phase

Important Note: It is not possible to repair Hull 4. Single Turn Effects

Point (HP) damage with a Damage Repair roll, just
the Critical Hit effect.
2.2: PERSISTENT EFFECTS REPAIR TESTS
Following any Critical Repair Tests, players must
roll separately for each Persistent Effect Game
Marker that they are attempting to repair, and can
only attempt to repair each Persistent Effect Marker
once per turn. Unless otherwise stated by a Model
Assigned Rule, roll a D6 for each Persistent Effect
repair attempt and consult the table below:
D6 RESULT EFFECT
1, 2, 3 Persistent Effect Marker Remains
4, 5, 6 Persistent Effect Marker Removed
3. Persistent Damage
Game Markers are used to indicate both Damage
and key information. Some are time-bound, some
repairable and others are more permanent in nature
such as loss of Hull Points, Assault Points, etc.
During the Persistent Damage Step, Players should
ensure that every Model has the correct Game
Markers placed next to them on the Battlefield. Any
Game Markers that are no longer relevant should be
removed.
If a model has a Marker on in that is only described
as lasting for a single game turn, or if the battlefield
is affected by an effect that is limited to one turn in
duration, they should both be removed at this point.
5. Restore Order
At the start of this Step, if a Squadron is Disordered,
it MUST roll a D3 with the resulting number being
removed, in any combination, from the Squadron’s
Assault Points (AP) or Hull Points (HP). The owning
player may choose how this is divided across the
Squadron as desired and must ensure all losses
are correctly recorded. After which, Disordered
Squadrons remove their Disordered Game Marker.
Important Note: A Disordered Squadron that suffers
casualties as a result of Disorder Damage does not
need to take a further Disorder Test, as they are
already Disordered at the time Damage is assigned.

Raging Fires
If a Model has a Raging Fire Marker on it at this
point, the Model immediately loses 1 Assault Point
(AP) for each Raging Fire Marker. Should a Model
(including Derelicts) with 0 AP suffer the effects of
further AP loss due to a Raging Fire, it loses 1 Hull
Point (HP) as the fire spreads to affect hull integrity.

Corrosion
If a Model has a Corrosion Marker on it at this point,
the Model immediately loses 1 Hull Point (HP) for
each Corrosion Marker on the Model.

Fear of the Teutonic Order’s deadly robots led to a raft of

defence posters springing up across Britannia – this was
the most popular (and most feared) of them all...

• 157 •  
 C6 - The End Phase

6. Total Victory Points 7. Check For The End Of The Game

Players should keep a running total of their
accumulated Victory Points (VPs) as and when they
are scored. Players who do not keep running totals
are very likely to slow the game down considerably at
this point as one or more players have failed to keep
adequate records whereas others have. It is much
easier to simply add VPs onto a total you had the
turn before than be forced to keep calculating from
scratch! In the interests of faster gameplay and good
manners, we would encourage players to always
keep a running total of their own VPs!
Remember that VPs can fluctuate since Prized or
Salvaged models can often change hands.
At this point in the End Phase, both players must
check these totals against their Victory Conditions
detailed in their Force Orders. If either player has
achieved the required parameters and percentage of
the Game’s Maximum Force Value (MFV) in Victory
Points, the Game ENDS at this point and the players
refer to the chart at the bottom of this page:
8. End Phase Consolidation
Assuming no player has achieved Victory, players
should remove the Activation Markers from their
Squadrons and prepare themselves for another
Game Turn! In very rare situations, usually as part of
a Commodore Rule or Scenario Effect, players may
be required to execute actions in this phase – refer to
the Scenario being played or the Commodore being
used if that is the case!

CRUSHING VICTORY NARROW VICTORY DRAW

If one side has achieved their Field
Orders, and the other has not.
If both sides have achieved their
Field Orders, and one side has a
Any other outcome!
Victory Points margin of 10% or
greater of the MFV.

• 158 •  
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
Model Assigned
Rule (MAR)
A Model Assigned Rule is often abbreviated to
MAR in the game rules. It is most commonly
attached to Models to give them additional rules or
abilities beyond the set of statistics presented on their
Profile. (MARs) do not need to be specific to Models
however, as they can also be attached to Support Air
Squadrons, Weapons mounted on Models and even
specific to actions executed in-game. MARs are a
‘catch-all’ method of giving all these diverse Models
and actions a framework of common rules to allow
players to follow their use on the Battlefield.
In any case where a MAR would change or conflict
with a standard rule, the MAR always takes priority
and overrides the standard rule.
There are two sub-types of MAR that exist which
function in the same manner as other MARs except
as follows:
• Coherency MARs: These MARs are only
applicable if ALL Models involved in the action
have the MAR.
• Defensive MARs: These MARs only provide
defence against Targeted Attacks - see Page 100
for more details.
1. Ablative Armour (+Value)
Defensive MAR: If this Model has HALF or more
of its Initial Hull Points (HP) remaining its Damage
Rating (DR) AND Critical Rating (CR) are increased
by the Value listed in the bracket. If this Model is
reduced to LESS than HALF of its Initial Hull Points
(HP) its Damage Rating (DR) and Critical Rating
(CR) return to the Value listed in its Profile and the
Model is now considered to have the Vulnerable
MAR. Should a Model with this MAR return to half
• 159 •
or more of its Initial Hull Points (HP) the Model
regains the bonus to its Damage Rating (DR) and
Critical Rating (CR) AND is no longer considered to
have the Vulnerable MAR.
2. Acrobatic Pilots
During a Dogfight Engagement, the Support Aircraft
Wings within the Support Aircraft Squadron have a
Damage Rating (DR) of 3 rather than (DR) 2.
3. Advanced Engines (+Value”)
If this Model does not make any turns at any point
during its Squadron Activation, its Movement (Mv)
allowance is increased by the Value in inches listed
in the bracket.
4. All-Terrain
This Model may re-roll ONE Treacherous Terrain Test
per Game Turn but the new result must be accepted.
5. Aquatic Assault
Assuming all other Boarding conditions are met, this
Model MAY initiate an Aggressive Boarding Action
against a Model occupying the Submerged Height
Level. Equally a Model with this MAR occupying the
Submerged Height Level may initiate an Aggressive
Boarding Action against a Model occupying the
Surface Height Band.
6. Area Bombardment (Weapon,
Value)
The Weapon listed in the brackets may utalise a
number of Small Effect Templates equal to the
Value listed in the bracket when performing an Area
Bombardment Firing Option.
 
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
7. Attachment Group (Nation, Type/
Name, Value)
During Force Organisation, this Model may be added
to a Parent Squadron of the Nation listed in the
parenthesis with the Type/Name of Model’s making
up the Parent Squadron is listed in the bracket. Any
number of Models up to the listed maximum Value
in parenthesis can be added to a Parent Squadron
in this way. No Parent Squadron may never contain
more than one Attachment Group.
8. Big Fuel Tanks
During an Interception Attack, the Support Aircraft
Wings within the Support Aircraft Squadron have a
Damage Rating (DR) of 3 rather than Damage Rating
(DR) 2.
9. Carrier (Value)
This Model is a Carrier Model and has a designated
complement of Support Aircraft Wings (SAWs) equal
to the Value listed in the parenthesis. A Model with
the Carrier Model Assigned Rule follows the rules in
the Support Aircraft Squadrons and Carriers Section
on Page 182.
10. Close Quarters Gunnery
A Model with the Close Quarters Gunnery MAR
ignores the -1 To Hit modifier for firing Primary
Gunnery (P) when targeting a Model located in
Range Band 1.
Important Note: While this particular modifier is
ignored, other negative modifiers, such as from Small
Target or Difficult Target, still apply.
11. Combat Coordinator (Model,
Range”, MAR)
This Model allows all specified friendly Models
within the stated Range to temporarily gain the
Model Assigned Rule listed in the bracket. If either
this Model or an affected Model moves out of Range,
the MAR is lost.
• 160 •
12. Combat Deployment (Model,
Value)
This Parent Model has a number of Models, equal to
the bracketed Value, embarked on-board the Parent
Model during Force Selection. At any point during the
Movement Segment of the Parent Model’s Squadron
Activation, any embarked Models can disembark and
may be deployed on the Battlefield anywhere within
4” of the Parent Model. Any Squadron with models
embarked MUST deploy all their embarked Models
at the same time, and these Models must form a
single Squadron on the Battlefield.
Any Squadron that is disembarked may perform
a Squadron Activation on the Game Turn they are
deployed.
Important Note: The points cost of the Models
gained through Combat Deployment are included in
the overall cost of the Parent Model, however their
points cost ARE used for Victory Points calculations
in the End Phase.
13. Combat Patrol
This Model may have a Combat Air Patrol attached.
See Page 80.
14. Combustible Cargo
When a Model with the Combustible Cargo Model
Assigned Rule suffers a Critical Hit, roll TWICE on
the Critical Hit Table with the Attacker choosing
ONE of the Results rolled.
15. Controlled Contact
This Model may perform a Controlled Contact
Special Movement Actions (see Page 113).
16. Crushing Impact (Weapon/
Action)
Coherency MAR: Weapons or Actions with this
MAR only use the Target Model’s Damage Rating
(DR) when determining Damage. If the number of
hits taken by a Model equals or exceeds its Damage
Rating, the Model is considered to have suffered
a Critical Hit. If the number of hits is double the
Damage Rating the Model is considered to have
suffered two Critical Hits, and so on.
 
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
17. Diehard Attitude
Coherency MAR: This Model rolls an additional 1D6
when resolving a Disorder Test.
18. Difficult Target
Capital Models suffer a -2 ‘To Hit’ modifier when
targeting this Model with Targeted Attacks.
19. Directed Fire (Weapon)
One Attack or Counter Attack during each of this
Model’s Squadron Activations that includes any
Weapon type listed in the bracket, may use the
Combined Fire Firing Option.
20. Elusive Target
Non-Capital Models suffer a -1 To Hit modifier when
firing upon this Model with Targeted Attacks.
21. Experienced Engineers
Models with Experienced Engineers successfully
perform a Damage Repair attempts on a 3, 4, 5 or
(RED) 6.
22. Evasive Manoeuvres (Modifier)
If this Model makes a Swift Manoeuvre test, apply
the modifier listed in parenthesis to any roll it makes
for the test.
23. Fearless
This Model automatically passes all Disorder Tests
and cannot be affected by Disorder in any way.
24. Faster Torpedoes
Coherency MAR: A Model targeted by Faster
Torpedoes may only use its own Concussive Charges
when defending against the Torpedo Attack.
No Supportive Defensive Counter Attack using
Concussion Charges may be allocated to defend the
Model.
25. Fuel Reserves
If this Model suffers a Critical Hit roll 1D6. On a 5 or
(RED) 6 place a Raging Fire Marker on the Model.
26. Heavy Ack-Ack
Coherency MAR: This Model attacks Support
Aircraft Squadrons using Exploding (RED) Dice.
• 161 •
27. High Angle (Weapon)
The Weapon listed in the bracket can target Aerial
Models in Range Band 1. If no weapon is listed, the
High Angle Model Assigned Rule is applied to all
Ordnance weapons on the Model.
28. Hit and Run
Coherency MAR: During the Movement Declarations
Step, the Model must declare it is using this Model
Assigned Rule. This Model may move up to half of
its Movement (Mv) during the Firing Consolidation
Segment of its Squadron Activation, but only if it
has moved no more than half of its Movement (Mv)
during the Movement Segment. A Model that used
the Hit and Run MAR during their Activation may
not make a Boarding Action later in that Activation.
29. Hull Breaker (Weapon/Action,
Value)
If this Model performs the Action or an Attack using
the Weapon listed in parenthesis and causes a Critical
Hit on its target, the target loses additional Hull
Points (HP) equal to the Value listed in parenthesis
as well as suffering the full effect of the Critical Hit.
30. Hunter (Height Levels, Weapon
System, + Modifier)
Coherency MAR: This Model gains a positive To
Hit Modifier to its Attack Dice (AD) when using the
Weapon against a Target Model that occupies the
Height Level or Band listed in parenthesis.
31. Inert
A Model with this Model Assigned Rule cannot
have rolls on the Critical Hit Table made against it.
Instead, should a Critical Hit be suffered, the Model
suffers D3+1 HP loss. This includes Focused Attacks
such as Boarding Assaults.
32. Inventive Scientists
If this Model uses a Generator, you can re-roll one
of the initial D6 rolled, but must accept the new
result. If a 1 is rolled as a result of using the Inventive
Scientists Model Assigned Rule, this Model suffers an
immediate Corrosion Effect Marker.
 
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
33. Isolated Systems (Value)
Some Models are equipped to insulate themselves
from debilitating critical damage. When a Model
with the Isolated Systems MAR suffers any Critical
Hit that would cause the application of a Critical
Effect Marker, roll 1D6. The Effect Marker s ignored
if the roll equals or exceeds the value in parenthesis.
The Model takes the HP loss indicated in the relevant
Critical Hit Result entry as normal.
34. Long Range Assault
This Model can initiate a Boarding Action against a
target within 8”. In addition, this Model may initiate
a Boarding Action at a target that is two Height Levels
away, rather than just one.
35. Minefields (Number, AD)
A player with this Model in their Force can also place
a number of Mines with the AD listed in parenthesis.
Each Mine must be Deployed within 8” of the centre
line of the battlefield during the Model’s Deployment.
The Mine Markers cannot be placed within 4” of
a Model or another Mine Marker and may not be
Linked.
36. Momentum
This Model cannot gain a Low Speed Manoeuvre
Game Marker. Any Model with the Momentum MAR
that collides with Terrain is automatically Scrapped.
37. Pack Tactics (Weapon)
Coherency MAR: Any Attack or Counter Attack
that includes at least TWO Models using the weapon
system listed in parenthesis receives +1 Attack Dice
(AD) for each additional Model after the first. These
extra AD are added to the Lead Weapon Pool.
38. Pinpoint Attack (Weapon)
Coherency MAR: If an Attack from a Weapon with
the Pinpoint Attack MAR causes a roll on the Critical
Hits Table, any result rolled on the Critical Hit Table
may be increased by 1 after the dice are rolled.
• 162 •
39. Rear Echelon
A Squadron containing only Models with this MAR
does NOT perform any Squadron Activation during
any Game Turn. A Squadron does not take Disorder
checks for Models with this MAR that are Lost or Out
of Coherency.
40. Redoubtable (Weapon/Statistic)
This Model only reduces its Attack Dice (AD) by 1
for every 2 Hull Points (HP) of Damage taken when
using the Weapon/Statistic listed in parenthesis. If
NO Weapon/Statistic is listed, the Redoubtable MAR
is applied to ALL weapons and statistics on the
Model where relevant.
41. Reinforced Bulkheads
When Submerged, this Model ignores the
requirement to surface when it suffers a Critical Hit.
42. Retardant Armour (Munitions
Type/Gunnery Type, Number)
Defensive MAR: A Model subject to any Targeted
Attack or Counter Attack by the Munitions/Gunnery
Type listed, treats the Number of initial (RED) 6’s
rolled as Heavy (BLUE) 6s instead.
43. Rugged Construction (Value)
Defensive MAR: Any Targeted Attack or Counter
Attack against a Model with the Rugged Construction
Model Assigned Rule must reduce the number of
successes to be rolled in any Ranged Attack by the
Value listed in parenthesis.
44. Security Posts (Value)
If this Model is the target of an Aggressive Boarding
Action it ignores the number of Hits, noted in
parenthesis, scored against it during the Close
Quarters Battle Step. This MAR has no effect during
a Robot Boarding Action.
45. Sharpshooters (Value)
During the Firing Segment, a Model with this MAR
that is occupying the Surface or Flying Height Level
can target one enemy Model within 4” of it, on the
Surface or Flying Height Level that is not a Robot or
Support Aircraft Squadron. Roll a (BLACK) D6 for
 
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
each point of Value listed in parenthesis: For each
5 or 6 rolled, the target loses 1 Assault Point (AP).
Despite being resolved in the Firing Segment, this
does not count as an Attack.
46. Sharp Turn
This Model does not need to move directly straight
ahead during its Minimum Move. The Model must
still make its Minimum Move.
47. Small Target
Capital Models suffer a -1 ‘To Hit’ modifier when
targeting this Model with Targeted Attacks.
48. Specialised Defences (Value)
If this Model is the target of an Aggressive Boarding
Action, the Model gains a bonus to its Ack Ack (AA)
and Concussion Charges (CC) listed in parenthesis.
49. Spotter (Range”)
Elements in the Force may perform Indirect Firing
Actions against enemy targets provided a Model
with the Spotter MAR is within the Range listed in
parenthesis of the target can draw an unobstructed
Line of Sight to the target.
50. Squadron Support (Model, Value)
A Model with the Squadron Support MAR enters
the battlefield with additional Models designed to
support the combat effectiveness of the Force. Models
with the Squadron Support MAR may field a number
of Models of the type listed in their bracket entry,
equal in number to the Value listed in parenthesis.
All additional Models must be Deployed at the same
time as the Parent Squadron, and within 4” of one of
the Parent Models, but are free to act separately as a
Squadron in their own right during the Game.
Multiple instances of Squadron Support have
a combined effect, and MUST be used to create a
single Squadron. The points cost of the Models
gained through Squadron Support are included in
the overall cost of the Parent Model, however their
individual points costs are used for Victory Points
calculations in the End Phase.
• 163 •
51. Strategic Value (Victory Points)
If this Model is Lost, the opposing player adds
an additional number of Victory Points to their
Total equal to the Value listed in parenthesis. This
modification to the VP score is done after a Model’s
VP are doubled or halved by Prize or Salvage
conditions.
52. Sturginium Boost
At the start of the Movement Segment of this Model’s
Squadron Activation, roll 1D6. On a roll of 5 or 6
(BLACK) the Model’s Movement (Mv) is increased by
2”. If this Model is part of a Squadron, the Squadron
only rolls once, and applies the result to all Models in
the Squadron with the Sturginium Boost MAR.
53. Sub Killer (Weapon)
The Weapon listed in parenthesis does not suffer the
automatic Partially Blocked penalty when firing at a
target occupying the Diving Height Band and may
also target Submerged or Deep Diving Models at
Range Band 1.
54. Sustained Assault (Value)
Coherency MAR: If this Model initiates an Aggressive
Boarding Action, during the Close Quarter Battle
Step of the Boarding Segment, the Model’s Assault
Group can re-roll any of the initial Attack Dice (AD)
up to the Value listed in parenthesis. The second roll
must be accepted.
55. Sustained Fire (Weapon, Value)
Coherency MAR: If this Model makes an Attack
using the Weapon listed in parenthesis, it can re-roll
any initial Attack Dice (AD) up to the value listed
in parenthesis. The second roll must be accepted.
Multiple instances of Sustained Fire in a Squadron
do not have a cumulative effect to the Attack Dice
(AD) totals used in any single Attack.
56. Swarm Tactics
Coherency MAR: Any Attack or Counter Attack
using Combined Fire increases its Attack Dice Total
(AD) by 2.
 
 D1 - Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
57. Terror Tactics (Value)
If this Model successfully places Assault Points on
board an enemy Model during the Close Quarters
Battle Step of an Aggressive Boarding Action, their
Assault Group generates additional Attack Dice (AD)
up to the Value listed in parenthesis.
58. Terrifying (Weapon/Action)
Coherency MAR: If the number of Hits the Weapon/
Action listed in parenthesis equals or exceeds the
Damage Rating (DR) the target Squadron must
immediately take a Disorder Test. If the Weapon/
Action equals or exceeds the Critical Rating (CR) the
Squadron must immediately take a Disorder Test that
requires an additional success.
59. Unique
Only one of each named Model with this MAR may
be fielded in a player fleet.
• 164 •
60. Unstoppable
If this Model performs a Ram Action, and equals or
exceeds the Damage Rating (DR) of its Target, place
this Model with its Aft touching the opposite side of
the Target Model, as if it had just passed underneath
it in a straight line: even if it would not have had
enough Movement to do so. This Model cannot be
touching any other Model or solid Terrain at the end
of this movement. If there is not enough room to
place this Model, you cannot use the Unstoppable
MAR.
61. Vertical Dive
During an Attack Run, the Support Aircraft Wings
within the Support Aircraft Squadron have a Damage
Rating (DR) of 3 rather than Damage Rating (DR) 2
as would normally be the case.
62. Vulnerable
If this Model suffers a Critical Hit, the initial Critical
Hit Result may be re-rolled by your Opponent, but
the second result must be accepted.
63. Wing Launcher (Value)
Once per game a Model with the Wing Launcher may
perform a single Replenishment Action, just as if
it were a Carrier. The number of Wings replaced
is equal to the Value listed in parenthesis.
 
 D2 - Generators
Generators
T here are several different types of Generators
used in Dystopian Wars and each can confer a
specific ability to the Model that it is attached to.
There are some rules which apply consistently to all
Generators used in the game no matter what nation
or type:
• Unless otherwise stated a Generator will activate
during the Consolidation Step of the Command
Segment of a Model’s Activation.
• The effects of a Generator are NOT reduced by
Damage.
• Unless it has a Continuous Effect, a Generator
may only be Activated once per Activation.
• Generators with a Continuous Effect are ALWAYS
Active unless the Model suffers the Generators
Offline Critical Effect, or is in some other way
disabled.
• A Model CAN initiate an Aggressive Boarding
Action against a Model it has targeted with an
Offensive Generator in the current Activation,
unless otherwise specified.
• A Model CAN use a Generator AND fire both
Ordnance and Auxiliary weapons in its current
Activation.
• A Model CANNOT fire an Offensive Generator
against a Support Aircraft Squadron.
• The Range in inches (Range “) of all Generators is
measured from the Centre of the Model.
Important Note: If a Model has been captured as a
Prize, Salvaged, or left Derelict, any Generators on
the Model CANNOT be used.
• 165 •
GENERATOR MOUNTINGS
Generators can be mounted on Models in one of two
ways: External or Internal.
External
A Generator listed as External is mounted on the
outside of a Model and will often find itself in a
prominent location to better assist its operations
and range. This is not without peril, however, as the
enemy will often target these important systems in an
effort to weaken the Model for subsequent attacks.
Ordnance Attacks may only be directed against an
External generator if the Target Model is considered
to be ‘In the Open’ for all weapons contributing to
the Attack. This kind of Attack is referred to in the
game as a Generator Strike.
Internal
A Generator listed as Internal in its Profile is
considered to be enclosed and may NOT be the
subject of a Generator Strike.
Generator Strikes
An Attacker must nominate that they are attempting
a Generator Strike during the Declare Attacks Step
of the Firing Segment and may NOT target a Model
with a Generator Strike using any Indiscriminate
Weaponry, Tertiary Weaponry or Auxiliary Weaponry.
All Models involved must be within Range Band 1
or 2 to attempt a Generator Strike.
If the Target suffers a Critical Hit from a Gener-
ator Strike Attack, when applying Critical Hits, do
not roll on the Critical Damage Table, rather apply
the Generators Offline result. The affected Model
suffers the 2 Hull Point loss of the Critical Hit as
normal.
 
 D2 - Generators
TYPES
The plethora of Generators available to the nations
in the Dystopian World are divided into three
categories: Standard, Defensive and Offensive.
STANDARD GENERATORS
Generators are neutral in their aspect, providing
support to the Force in neither an offensive or
defensive capacity.
Ice Generator (Range”)
The crushing strength of nature’s icy grip can paralyse
all but the greatest of machines.
An Ice Generator may be activated during the
Movement Declarations Step of a Model’s Activa-
tion, and can activate at the start or end of a Model’s
Movement. A Model with a functioning Ice Gener-
ator may roll a D6 targeting an enemy Model within
the Range” listed in parenthesis and then consult the
table below:
D6 Result Critical Effect Suffered
1-2 No Effect
3-5 Navigational Lock
6 Engine Failure AND
Navigational Lock
Kinetic Generator
Commanders who prize speed over all things frequently
put demands upon their scientist to give them an edge
in combat.
The Kinetic Generator may be activated during
the Movement Declarations Step of a Model’s Acti-
vation. The Kinetic Generator gives a boost to a
Model’s Total Movement (Mv). When a Model fitted
with a Kinetic Generator is activated, the controlling
player can choose to roll for it to gain +1D6” of Total
Movement, with the boost applied to its Minimum
Move. If a Squadron of Models are fitted with Kinetic
Generators, roll once and apply the result to the
entire Squadron.
• 166 •
GNE Boost Generator (Range”)
Often stylized as the cavalry of the modern age,
GNE-supported vessels are capable of breakneck speeds
when empowered by this generator.
The GNE Boost Generator may be activated
during the Movement Declarations Step of a Model’s
Activation. The Model may target a Squadron within
Line of Sight that has the Surface Skimmer Model
Function and is Ready to Activate. All viable Models
within the Range” listed in the brackets are affected.
The affected Models gain an additional D3+1”
Movement which is added to their Movement Value
(Mv) when they Activate this turn. A Model may
only benefit from ONE GNE boost per Game Turn.
Lazarus Generator (Range”)
The restorative effects of Element 270 are not to be
underestimated… or taken for granted.
A model may activate the Lazarus Generator
during the Consolidation Step of its Command
Segment. Roll a D6 and consult the table below:
D6 Result Effect
1 Target Model loses 1 HP
2-3 No Effect
4-5 Target Model recovers 1 Hull
Point
6 Target Model recovers D3 Hull
Points
 
 D2 - Generators
Mimic Generator (Range”)
Why spend the time constructing your own Generator
technology when you can simply steal your enemy’s and
use it agaisnt them!?
The Mimic Generator may be activated during the
Movement Declarations Step of a Model’s Activation
A Model with a Mimic Generator can select any other
Model within the Range” listed in parenthesis and
attempt to copy the abilities of one Generator on that
Model fitted by rolling a 3+ on a single D6.
All rules pertaining to the Copied Generator can be
used by the Model with the Mimic Generator in the
current Squadron Activation, if appropriate. These
abilities remain until the Model with the Mimic
Generator suffers a Generators Offline Critical Result
or it copies a new Generator.
Mine Controller Generator (Range”)
Captain! Mines spotted of the Starboard bow… and
they are closing in on us?!
The Mine Controller Generator has a contin-
uous effect. The Mine Controller Generator treats
all Mines deployed by the controlling player within
the Range listed in parenthesis as having the Sentient
Mines special rule - see Page 138 for model details
on such Mines.
Important Note: Any Attempt to move a Linked
Mine will result in the Linked Mines detonating
immediately!
Teleport Generator (Size, Range”)
The incredibly innovative strength of the Covenant
Scientific community has once again presented us with
the impossible, made possible.
The Teleport Generator may be activated during
the Movement Declarations Step of a Model’s
Activation. A Model may not use Primary or
Secondary Weapons in the same turn as activating
its Teleport Generator, such is the incredible energy
required to produce these phenomena. The Generator
automatically places a pair of Energy Templates: One
Energy Template is placed within 8” and within Line
of Sight of the Model.
• 167 •
A second Template is then placed within the
Range” listed in parenthesis, and also within Line of
Sight of the Model. These Templates are referred to
as Energy Portals.
No Energy Portal may be placed within 4” of a
Model, piece of Terrain or another Energy Portal.
Once placed, a Template remains in play until the
Compulsory Actions Step of the End Phase. These
Energy Portals are connected and exist at the Surface
Height Level, having no effect on any Models
occupying the other Height Levels. Any Firing that
passes through, an Energy Portal is Partially Blocked.
Once the Portals are in play, any Model equal to or
smaller than the Size listed in parenthesis that makes
contact with a Portal are immediately removed from
play and are placed in contact with the other portal.
The owning player may choose the orientation of
their model and the model may choose to continue
their move if desired. Once all members of the
Squadron have completed their Movement Phase,
the teleporting Squadron must take an immediate
Disorder Test…moving through space and time is
disorientating!
Tensile Accelerator Generator (Value/
Value)
Known by its technicians as the Armour-Clad Generator,
this wondrous piece of technology can strengthen the
metals that surround it for a short period of time,
making the vessel’s hull incredibly robust.
This Generator may be activated during the
Consolidation Step of a models Command Segment
with the effect remaining in play until the End Phase
of the same Game Turn. The Model increases its
Damage Rating (DR) by the first Value in parenthesis,
and its Critical Rating (CR) by the second Value in
parenthesis. Should the Model suffer a Generators
Offline Critical Effect while under the effects of the
Generator the increased statistics remain in play
until the End Phase, where they dissipate as normal.
 
 D2 - Generators

Time Flow Generator (Range”) Disruption Generator (Range”)

Developed by the Covenant to provide medical facilities
with a stable work environment for complex surgical
operations, the Time Flow Generator was later
weaponized to create a flexible area of effect that assists
or hinders in equal measure.
The Time Flow Generator may be activated during
the Consolidation Step of the Command Segment of
the Model’s Activation. Place a Large Effect Template
within the listed Range” of the Model Activating the
Generator. All Models regardless of Height Level,
that make contact with the Template will have their
Maximum Movement (Mv) value increased OR
decreased by D3+1”, with the player activating the
Generator deciding which effect applies. The effect
of this Generator lasts until the Consolidation Step
of the End Phase at which point the Template is
removed.
OFFENSIVE GENERATORS
Offensive Generators are used by nations to
aggressively target enemy Models, causing all manner
of command and control effects, damage and chaos!
Entropy Generator (Range”)
The exotic energies of the Entropy Generator cause the
hull of its unfortunate target to disintegrate before the
eyes of the horrified crew.
The Entropy Generator may be activated during
the Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of
the Model’s Activation. The Activating Model may
target a single Model within the Range” listed in
parenthesis. Roll a D6, on the roll of a 4+, the target
is affected and suffers an immediate Corrosion Game
Marker.
The reliance of many nations on shield-technology is
quickly mitigated by this innovative generator system.
Seen as ‘unsporting’ by many nations in the theatre of
war, few exponents of the dreaded disruption generator
care about such sentiments.
The Disruption Generator may be activated during
the Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of
the Model’s Activation. The Disruption Generator
has the power to take all localised Generators Offline.
It affects ALL Models equipped with a Generator
within the Range” listed in parenthesis of the centre
of the Activating Model, including your own Models.
The effects of the Disruption Generator do not affect
the Model using the Generator. Roll a D6 and consult
the table below:
D6 Result Effect Suffered
1-3 No Effect
3-5 Target suffers a Generators
Offline Critical Effect
Target suffers a Generators
6 Offline Critical Effect and 1AP
loss

• 168 •  
 D2 - Generators
Fury Generator (Range”)
“Let Wrath be my steed and Fury my sword.”
The Fury Generator may be activated during the
Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of the
Model’s Activation. The Activating Model may target
a single Model within the Range” listed in paren-
thesis. Roll a D6 and consult the table below:
D6 Result Effect Suffered
1-2 No Effect
3-5 D3 Raging Fire Markers
D3 Raging Fire Markers AND
6 1 AP Lost
Pulse Generator (Range”)
Enemy defenses are easily overwhelmed by this
surprisingly effective generator. No Minefield, or mine
cluster can withstand the power of the pulse.
The Pulse Generator may be activated during the
Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of the
Model’s Activation. The Model places ONE Energy
Template within the Range” listed in parenthesis: this
represents the range of the Pulse.
The Pulse operates in a Fixed Channel originating
from the controlling Model and terminating at the
Energy Template. Any Mines, both Surface and
Airburst, within the Fixed Channel of the Pulse
automatically Detonate.
• 169 •
Target Painter Generator (Weapon, Range”)
Most vessels are equipped with complex targeting
equipment, capable of calculating the correct firing
angle for ranged attacks. The Target Painter provides
an expedient method of accelerating these calculations
to the point where ordnance is punishingly accurate.
The Target Painter Generator may be activated
during the Consolidation Step of the Movement
Segment of the Model’s Activation. When activated,
the Generator can target ONE Model within the
Range” listed in parenthesis. Roll a D6, on the roll
of a 3+ the target is ‘painted’. Any Attack made by
Models in the activating Squadron using the Weapon
listed in parenthesis against the Model receives a +1
bonus to hit on their Attack Dice (AD) rolls. Multiple
instances of this Generator do not have a cumulative
effect.
Sonic Generator (Range”)
The raw power of sound can be a fearsome defensive or
aggressive tool.
The Sonic Generator may be activated during the
Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of the
Model’s Activation. When activated the Generator
must choose between one of two different outputs:
Shriek or Repulse.
Shriek - A Sonic Generator activating in Shriek Mode
can attempt to blast an enemy with a thunderous
volley of ear bursting sound to sow chaos and
disorder on deck. When activated, the Generator
targets one Model within a Squadron occupying the
Surface or Aerial Height Bands that is within the
Range” listed in parenthesis. Roll a D6, on the roll
of a 3+ the target is affected, gaining an immediate
Chaos and Disarray Effect Marker.
Repulse - A Sonic Generator that uses Repulse Mode
sends a rolling disruptive frequency of crafted noise
and propaganda blaring across its decks, dissuading
enemies from launching an assault on it. A model
that uses a Sonic Generator to Repulse forces causes
all enemy Boarding Attacks by non-Robot Models to
suffer a -1 ‘To Hit’ for the duration of the Game Turn.
 
 D2 - Generators
Tesla Generator (Range”)
The harnessed power of electricity can be a potent
weapon in the right hands… or the wrong hands.
The Tesla Generator may be activated during the
Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment of the
Model’s Activation. When activated the Generator
must choose between TWO different outputs: Boost
or Surge.
Boost - A Tesla Generator that elects to Boost changes
the designation of the Generator to a Standard
Generator for the Game Turn. When a Boosting, the
Model gains D3” of Movement directly forwards. If a
Squadron of Models are fitted with Tesla Generators,
roll for each Boosting Model independently. Any
Model that Boosted with a Tesla Generator MUST
move at least its Minimum Move AND its bonus
Boost Movement during the Movement Segment.
Surge - A Tesla Generator activating on its Surge
setting can attempt to short-circuit the vital systems
of another Model. It affects one Model within the
Range” listed, regardless of their Height Level. Roll
a D6, on the roll of a 3+, the target suffers a Focused
Critical Effect, but not the Damage. Should a Target
Model have one or more Lightning Rod Game
Markers, roll TWICE on the Focused Critical Effect
Table and apply both results!
• 170 •
Whirlwind Generator (Range”)
Invented by Ottoman Imperial scientists eager to
increase the offensive nature of the Storm Generator,
the Whirlwind (or Djinn) Generator gathers up flyers
in a maelstrom, disorientating them and often blowing
them off course!
A model may activate its Whirlwind Generator
during the Consolidation Step of its Movement
Segment. The activating model may target a single
squadron occupying the Aerial or Obscured Height
Levels within the Range” listed in parenthesis. When
targeting Squadrons occupying the Obscured Height
Level add +1 to the result on this table. Roll a D6 and
consult the table below:
D6 Effect Suffered
Result
The Squadron rides out the
1-2 Generator’s Attack with no effect.
Centre the Random
Determination Template above
a Target Model in the Squadron
and roll a D6. Change the
3-4 Model’s facing to the result
of the roll corresponding to
the template. Rotate all other
Models in the Squadron to face
the same direction.
In addition to the effects noted
on a 3-4 result, move the
Squadron D6” directly forwards
5-6 after they have rotated. Roll
separately for each Model in the
Squadron.
 
 D2 - Generators
DEFENSIVE GENERATORS
These Generators protect and defend the Model that
owns the Generator, or in some cases provides a
degree of protection to Models that are nearby.
Cloud Generator
The use of steam and vapor as a defensive technique has
been well founded on the Dystopian World for a number
of years. The creation of a dedicated Generator to direct
and focus this is hardly a surprise...
The Cloud Generator has a continuous effect.
Targeted Attacks against a Model with this Gener-
ator suffer a -1 to hit modifier. This does not apply to
Indiscriminate Attacks. The Cloud Generator has no
effect at Range Band 1.
Dilation Field Generator (Range”)
Firing a weapon through an area that exists out of time
and space poses a number of challenges for gunnery
commanders.
The Dilation Field Generator is activated during
the Consolidation Step of the Movement Segment
in a Model’s Activation, allowing the placement of
a Large Effect Template, the Centre of which must
be within Line of Sight and the Range” listed. Any
Model firing into, through, or out of the Template
at any Height Level, are Partially Blocked. The effect
of this Generator lasts until the Compulsory Actions
Segment of the End Phase of the current Game Turn.
Shield Generator (Value)
The creation of the Shield Generator was an inevitable
advancement in the Dystopian World. The ability to
repel ordnance has saved many a war machine...
This Generator has a continuous effect. Shield
Generators allow a Model to try and deflect any
hits from Gunnery Weapons, Rockets, Ack-Ack and
Concussion Charges.
Shield Generators have no effect against
Indiscriminate Attacks, Aggressive Boarding Actions,
or other Generators.
Roll the number of Shield Dice equal to the Value
listed in parenthesis for each Shield Generator:
In most cases a 4, 5 or (RED) 6 is required to
succeed against Gunnery Attacks. For each Hit
scored, reduce the amount of incoming Hits by 1.
• 171 •
Important Note: Remember that Indiscriminate
Attacks ignore Shields!
Guardian Shield Generator (Value, Range”,
Protection Value)
A natural progression from the Shield Generator, the
Guardian passes a measure of its power to all models
within its aegis.
This Generator has a continuous effect. The
Guardian Shield Generator grants the Model to
which it is fitted, ALL of the effects of a Shield Gener-
ator (see above). In addition, Guardian Shield Gener-
ators also grant ALL Models from the same Force
within Range”, on ANY Height Level, a number of
Shield Dice equal to the Protection Value listed in
parenthesis. Nearby Models must NOT have their
own Shield Generator of any type to gain benefit of a
Guardian Shield Generator. Support Aircraft Squad-
rons may not benefit from the Guardian Generator’s
protection.
A Model can only gain the benefit of ONE
Guardian Shield Generator of any type at any one
time and must choose the highest Protection Value
within range.
Nullification Generator
What is better than having a powerful generator…why,
nullifying an enemy’s generator of course!
This Generator has a continuous effect. The
Nullification Generator can cancel the effects of
an Offensive Generator. It automatically Acti-
vates AFTER an enemy Generator has successfully
targeted the Model. Roll a D6, on the roll of a 3+, the
target is unaffected by the enemy Generator effects.
Important Note: A result will only cancel the effect
against he model itself and will not assist other
models affected.
Rampart Generator
Projecting a wall of pure energy across the battlefield
the Rampart Generator links two similarly equipped
vessels to provide a barrier behind which their charges
can muster.
This Generator has a continuous effect. The
Generator provides a wall of energy that blocks
 
 D2 - Generators
the targeting systems of weapons. The Generator’s
effect ONLY works against Attacks originating from
Models on the Surface Height Level that are directed
against targets occupying the Surface Height Level.
Two functional Rampart Generators within 8” of
each other will cause any enemy Ranged Attack not
using the Indirect Fire Firing Option that passes
between them to use Heavy (BLUE) Dice.
Important Note: A Model with a Rampart Generator
does not gain any benefit from its own Generator.
Target Jammer Generator (Weapon
System, Value)
This scrambling technology gives the vessel equipped
with it a solid defense against attacks that otherwise
might go unanswered. Such generators draw a large
number of personnel to their use however, often leading
to a shortfall in more conventional defensive systems
often tasked to perform similar duties.
This Generator has a continuous effect. This
Generator resolves the instant an enemy Squadron
targets the Model with the Generator using the
Weapon noted in parenthesis.
Roll the number of Dice equal to the Value, with
a ‘To Hit’ Number of 4, 5 or (RED) 6 and determine
the number of Hits. The resulting number of Hits
then removed from the firer’s initial Attack Dice Pool
before it is rolled.
Storm Generator (Value, Range”)
Originally designed by the Ottoman Empire to assist in
the cultivation of crops and provide a bulwark against
periods of drought, the Storm Generator was later
weaponised to give a flexible mixture of defensive and
disruptive capabilities to the forces equipped with it.
Each functioning Storm Generator has a Value
listed in parenthesis that represents the Storm Points
available to each Model in a Squadron. Any Storm
Points generated from various Squadron members
are added together to form a total for the Squadron.
Storm Points may be used in one of two ways,
transforming the Generator’s purpose from defensive
to area denial with one flick of a switch. These two
modes are known, respectively, as Cloud Effect and
Storm Effect.
• 172 •
These effects are not mutually exclusive, and a
functional Storm Generator may use both, provided
the Squadron has sufficient Storm Points available.
Cloud Effect
A Model with a functioning Storm Generator is
considered to have a functioning Cloud Generator
(see above) with IMMEDIATE effect. Each Cloud
Effect costs ONE Storm Point to maintain. A Model
may only ever place a Cloud Effect upon itself, never
on other Models.
Storm Effect
A Model with a functioning Storm Generator
may spend Storm Points to place a number of Storm
Templates, represented by the Large Effect Template
on the Tabletop. Each Storm Template costs TWO
Storm Points to maintain and may be placed
anywhere on the Tabletop within the Range” listed
in parenthesis.
If a Squadron for any reason does not have
sufficient Storm Points to maintain a Storm Template,
the Template must be removed immediately. If a
Squadron maintains multiple Storm Templates the
controlling player may decide which Templates
should be removed.
Multiple Storm Template placed by a Squadron
must be placed touching, but not overlapping.
Storm Templates may never overlap under any
circumstances but the effects of multiple Templates
are cumulative.
The effect of Storm Templates are as follows:
• All Surface and Aerial Models that touch a Storm
Template at any point during their Movement
Segment suffer a -1” Movement Penalty.
• All Attack Dice from Surface and Aerial Models
firing into, through or out of a Storm Template,
suffer a -1 ‘To Hit’ modifier.
The effect of this Generator (be it Cloud Effects or
Storm Effects) lasts until the Compulsory Actions
Segment of the End Phase of the current Turn, at
which time Storm Templates are removed and all
Effects dissipate.
 
 D3 - Basic Terrain
Basic Terrain
A t first glance the Terrain Chapter of the rules
may seem a bit daunting, but stick with us on
this as terrain and scenery is an important part of
game play.
There are numerous terrain effects that occur in
the game of Dystopian Wars, reaching across three
distinct theatres of war that can exist at up to 6
distinct Height Bands.
When you are just getting started, however, it
is really only important to know the Basic Terrain
rules. Once you have these under your belt we would
advise you to move on to the Advanced Terrain
Section where things become really interesting!
Major Surfaces
In Dystopian Wars it is critical for players to be able
to delineate between the Land Surface and the Water
Surface. These are known as Major Surfaces. Both
are considered to exist in isolation, making up the
‘base’ of the Surface Height Level allowing the vast
majority of the Models being used to move, shoot
and fight over.
The following are the only mandatory rules for
Major Surfaces in the game:
• Major Surfaces are defined during the Common
Agreements Segment of Game Set-Up.
• Major Surfaces cannot overlap other Major
Surfaces.
• ALL areas of the Tabletop are required to have a
Major Surface assigned to them.
In Competitive Play, the entire table should ideally
be declared as a single continuous Major Surface.
However, in non-competitive gaming players can
agree on their preferred Major Surface arrangement.
This allows players to create unusual tables, befitting
of scenario driven games, such as Amphibious
Landings!
• 173 •
TERRAIN
Terrain features have no Profile, and as a result
cannot be targeted, damaged, moved or manipulated
for any reason once it has been placed. Although the
industrial capabilities of the Dystopian Wars world
are staggering, they are not yet able to make any
lasting impact on Indestructible Terrain in the space
of a battle.
In order to accommodate the wide variety
of different terrain pieces that can exist on the
battlefield, terrain is broken down into main
classifications as follows:
1. Major Surfaces
2. Terrain Features
3. Minor Surfaces
1. Major Surfaces
Although not placed per say, Major Surfaces function
very much in the same way as other Indestructible
Terrain in that they are Impassable to some game
Models, but not to others.
2. Terrain Features
Unless the battle is taking place in the middle of an
ocean or desert, it is very unlikely that the Major
Surfaces selected will not be populated by Terrain
Features.
These help to keep the game exciting, providing a
diverse array of opportunities for Commanders who
know how to exploit them fully. Terrain Features
normally occupy the Surface Height Level, unless
otherwise stated, and are capable of interfering with
Line of Sight and in some cases may even exist in
multiple Height Levels.
 
 D3 - Basic Terrain
Terrain Features are areas that represent
abnormalities or inconsistencies in the Major
Surface, such as Forests, Swamps, Reefs, Islands or
even Mountain Ranges!
The following are the mandatory rules for Terrain
Feature placement:
• Terrain Features may only be placed completely
on their appropriate Major Surface.
• All Terrain Features must have a clearly defined
perimeter, allowing players to clearly determine
the dimensions of the Feature.
• Players must agree on any additional rules
to be given to a Terrain Feature before the game
begins.
The particular influence of Terrain Features can vary
depending on whether a Naval, Armoured or Aerial
Model is interacting with it, and the Height Level the
Model currently occupies.
Important Note: Models are only ever influenced by
Terrain Classifications that occupy the same Height
Level as themselves.
3. Minor Surfaces
Minor Surfaces are used exclusively in Scenario
or Friendly Games and, as a result, we recommend
that players only include them once they are familiar
with the Basic Rules of Terrain. For more information
please see the Advanced Terrain Rules on Page 179.
Terrain Density
All Terrain has an associated Density, which is used to
represent how easily various Models can traverse it.
These are normally dependent on the characteristics
of the Model that is interacting with the Terrain: most
commonly Model Classification, Size and MARs. The
three Densities of Terrain are denoted as follows:
A. Clear
B. Treacherous
C. Impassable
• 174 •
A. Clear
A piece of Terrain that is denoted as being Clear
means that appropriate Models will encounter no
problems when moving within it regardless of their
speed, such as an Armoured Model moving across
the Land Surface.
B. Treacherous
During the Movement Declarations Step, if a
Model activates within, or during its Movement
will then touch, a piece of Terrain that is defined as
Treacherous to it, then the Model must declare if it
intends to move at Full Speed or Half Speed during
its current Movement and Manoeuvre Step.
A Model declared to be moving at Half Speed can
only move up to half of its Movement (Mv), listed
in its Profile, and may not increase its Movement by
any Game effect.
Important Note: A Model may be affected by various
MARs, Generators and other effects that will modify
their overall Movement (Mv). These instances have
no effect with regard to Treacherous Terrain Tests:
a Model may only move up to half of its Initial
Movement Value (Mv), as listed in its Profile.
During the Activation, the Half Speed Model does
not need to perform a Treacherous Terrain Test (see
below) during its Movement and Manoeuvre Step.
In addition, a Model with a Low Speed Manoeuvre
Marker does not need to perform a Treacherous
Terrain Test.
A Model declared to be moving at Full Speed may
move normally but must perform one Treacherous
Terrain Test each time either of the following
conditions applies:
• Activation begins within a piece of Terrain
that is deemed Treacherous to it: the test is taken
immediately after the Full Speed declaration is
made.
• Moving into contact with a piece of Terrain
that is deemed Treacherous to it: the test is taken
immediately upon making contact.
 
 D3 - Basic Terrain
Important Note: Drifting Models are ALWAYS
considered to be moving at Full Speed.
C. Impassable
A Model CANNOT move into or through a piece
of Terrain that has been nominated as Impassable
to it. If a Model comes into contact with any
Terrain deemed Impassable, other than as part of a
Controlled Contact, it must immediately stop and
resolve a Collision with the piece of Terrain.
If, for any reason, a Model is placed wholly or
partially within a piece of Terrain that is deemed
Impassable to it (through Teleportation for example),
the Model is immediately Scrapped and placed in the
appropriate Scrapyard unless a specific condition or
Model Assigned Rule applies.
Resolving a Collision with Terrain
Having Collided with a piece of Terrain, a Model
will likely suffer a degree of damage. This can range
from scratched paint to catastrophic hull breaches!
The severity of this damage is determined by using
the relative bulk of the vessel as represented by the
Model’s initial Hull Points (HP) and the Terrain
Collision Properties involved.
Terrain Collision Properties
In order to resolve the Collision with Terrain, refer
to the Terrain Collision Properties of the piece of
Terrain involved. The number of Attack Dice rolled
against the Model involved is calculated as follows
in the table below:
Terrain Number of Attack
Collision Properties Dice (AD) Rolled
2x Initial Hull
Difficult Terrain Points (HP) of the
Colliding Model
4x Initial Hull
Hazardous Terrain Points (HP) of the
Colliding Model
• 175 •
These Attack Dice (AD) are considered to be an
Indiscriminate Attack, requiring a 4, 5 or Exploding
(RED) 6 ‘To Hit’; unless a specific condition or Model
Assigned Rule (MAR) applies. For further rules
regarding the aftermath of a Collision see Page 112.
Terrain Size
Every Model in Dystopian Wars has its Size defined
in its Profile. Likewise Terrain has an assigned Size.
Terrain can be Tiny, Small, Medium, Large Massive
and a special expanding terrain Size of Massive +X.
Terrain with a Size blocks Line of Sight in exactly
the same way as Models, for example, a Hill declared
as being Medium in Size would block Line of Sight
as if it were a Medium Model (see Line of Sight on
Page 121 for more).
Elevation Bonus
Certain pieces of Terrain possess an Elevation Bonus,
which will alter the Size of any Model entirely within
its confines. If a Model finds itself partially within
the confines of a Terrain Feature which has an
Elevation Bonus, they do not gain the benefit. Being
on an elevated feature provides those Models with a
vantage point from which to rain down some serious
firepower!
This is the most common method by which
Models will find themselves exceeding the Massive
Size!
The Modified Size of a Model is determined by
adding the Elevation Bonus of the Terrain occupied,
to the Size of the Model involved.
If a Model possesses the Altered Silhouette MAR,
then the Elevation Bonus of the Terrain should be
applied to the Size listed in the Altered Silhouette
MAR instead of the Size listed in its Profile.
Important Note: For the purposes of Field Orders,
Scenario Special Rules, MARs etc., these always refer
to the Size present on a Models’ Profile, and never to
its Modified Size due to Elevation Bonus.
 
 D3 - Basic Terrain

Model ELEVATION BONUS

Size +0 +1 +2 +3 +4 +5
Tiny Tiny Small Medium Large Massive Massive +1

Small Small Medium Large Massive Massive +1 Massive +2

Medium Medium Large Massive Massive +1 Massive +2 Massive +3

Large Large Massive Massive +1 Massive +2 Massive +3 Massive +4

Massive Massive Massive +1 Massive +2 Massive +3 Massive +4 Massive +5

Massive +X Massive+X Massive Massive Massive Massive Massive
+X+1 +X+2 +X+3 +X+4 +X+5

Major Surfaces
The following rules apply to Major Surfaces unless otherwise specified and are tabulated
below for ease:

MAJOR TERRAIN SURFACE

Terrain Density
Terrain Collision
Name
Clear Impassable Property

Aerial
Diving Armoured
Water Surface Hazardous
Burrowing
Naval
Aerial
Armoured Diving
Land Surface Hazardous
Naval
Burrowing
ADDITIONAL RULES:
Major Surfaces do NOT influence Line of Sight.
All Major Surfaces occupy the Surface and Diving Height Bands.

• 176 •  
 D3 - Basic Terrain

Water Surface Terrain Features

The following rules apply to Water Surface Features unless otherwise specified and are
tabulated below for ease:

WATER SURFACE TERRAIN FEATURES

Terrain Density Terrain
Available Elevation
Name Collision
Size Bonus Clear Treacherous Impassable Property
Massive +5 Aerial Diving
Island Armoured N/A Hazardous
Naval
Large +4 Burrowing
Diving Armoured
Reef N/A +0 Aerial Hazardous
Naval Burrowing
Armoured Burrowing
Sandbar Tiny +0 Aerial Difficult
Naval (Surface) Diving

Large +4 Armoured
Burrowing
Diving
Iceberg Aerial Diving Hazardous
(Deep Diving) (Other)
Medium +3 Naval

ADDITIONAL RULES:
All Water Surface Terrain Features occupy the Surface and Diving Height Levels.
Water Surface Terrain Features with multiple Available Sizes must have their Size
declared by the player when they place it.
Upon placing an Island, the Water Major Surface directly beneath its footprint changes to
become the Land Major Surface.

• 177 •  
 D3 - Basic Terrain

Land Surface Terrain Features

The following rules apply to Land Surface Features unless otherwise specified and
are tabulated below for ease:

LAND SURFACE TERRAIN FEATURES TABLE

Terrain Density Terrain
Available Elevation
Name Collision
Size Bonus
Clear Treacherous Impassable Property

Massive +5 Aerial Diving

Hill Armoured Hazardous
Large +4 Burrowing Naval

Armoured Diving
Swamp N/A +0 Aerial Hazardous
Burrowing Naval
Forest / Aerial Diving
Small +0 Armoured Difficult
Jungle Burrowing Naval
Ruins/Rocky Aerial Diving
Tiny +0 Armoured Hazardous
Outcrop Burrowing Naval

ADDITIONAL RULES:
All Land Surface Terrain Features occupy the Surface Height Levels.
Swamps also occupy the Submerged Height Level.
Land Surface Terrain Features with multiple ‘Available Size’ must have their Size
declared by the player when they place it.
Swamps, Forests/Jungles and Ruins/Rocky Outcrops Provides Cover for Infantry - see Page 192).

Universal Terrain Features

The following rules apply to Universal Features unless otherwise specified and are
tabulated below for ease:

UNIVERSAL TERRAIN FEATURES TABLE

Terrain Density Terrain
Elevation
Name Size Collision
Bonus Clear Treacherous Impassable Property
Aerial (Other)
Armoured
See Aerial
Mountain N/A N/A Burrowing Hazardous
Rules (Obscured) Diving
Naval
ADDITIONAL RULES:
Mountains occupy ALL Height Levels EXCEPT Stratospheric.
Line of Sight CANNOT be drawn through a Mountain, unless the Target or Firer occupy the
Obscured or Stratospheric Height Levels.
The Indirect Fire Option CANNOT be used to fire over a Mountain.
Minor Surfaces CANNOT be placed within the confines of a Mountain.

• 178 •  
 D4 - Advanced Terrain

Advanced Terrain
The rules in the Basic Terrain Section provide players with the ability to rapidly build a fun Battlefield, and
are ideal for Competitive gaming and Tournament play. However, players may wish to craft a much more
in-depth arrangement of scenery, perhaps to provide them with a fresh challenge or to enact a historical event
from the Dystopian Wars timeline. The rules in this Chapter are designed to create rich and inspiring Battle-
fields, allowing for a more complex build of tabletop. This can manifest itself in the shape of Minor Surfaces,
such as winding roads and rivers that criss-cross the land.

D uring Competitive Play the following rules

apply to Terrain Features and their placement:
• A Terrain Feature must be at least 3” x 3” in
tabletop footprint, unless both players agree to
using a different size.
• A Terrain Feature may not exceed 9” x 9” in
tabletop footprint, unless both players agree to
using a different size.
• A Terrain Feature may not be placed within 4” of
any Flanking Edge or another Terrain Feature
Minor Surfaces
This is the third Classification of Indestructible
Terrain, the initial two having been explained fully
in the Basic Terrain Section - see Page 173). Minor
Surfaces are meant to represent an array of ‘changes’
to the Battlefield, up to and including some of the
more extreme devastation wrought by the gigantic
machines of war that roam the Dystopian world!
The placement of Minor Surfaces occurs once
the Major Surfaces and Terrain Features have been
established and placed, as Minor Surfaces are laid
down ‘on top’ of this foundation. Minor Surfaces
differ from other Terrain Classifications because
they are used to ‘overwrite’ the Terrain Quality and
Collision Properties of any Terrain beneath them, but
leave their Elevation Bonus unaffected. Examples of
Minor Surfaces are Roads, Shallow Water, and Cliffs.
The following are the mandatory rules for Minor
Surfaces and their placement:
• A Minor Surface cannot overlap a different Minor
Surface. If this occurs, the most recent Minor
Surface replaces the original.
• If a Minor Surface is placed within the confines of
a Major Surface that it is not deemed appropriate
for, it is immediately removed from play before
any of its effects are resolved.
• The Surface Height and Elevation Bonus of any
Terrain that Minor Surfaces are placed upon
remains unaffected.
• Also, unless both players agree otherwise (or
a Scenario Special Rule states otherwise), the
following also applies for Minor Surfaces and
their placement:
• A Minor Surface may not be placed
such that it overlaps multiple Terrain
Classifications.
• A Minor Surface must be at least 3” x 3” in
area.
As you can imagine, these rules allow
Commanders to build long and winding Roads to
provide a safe highway through Swamps and other
Terrain Features, or represent long flowing rivers of
Shallow Water to hamper and channel an opponent!

• 179 •  
 D4 - Advanced Terrain

LAND MINOR SURFACES

The world is a dynamic place, full of change, and with the power of Sturginium firmly in his grip,
mankind is more able than ever to leave his mark upon the world for better or worse. Extreme
examples of prolonged warfare can result in Killing Fields; vast wastelands of barbed wire, unex-
ploded bombs and lingering clouds of lethal gas which can stop an Infantry advance in its tracks.

LAND MINOR SURFACES

Terrain Density Terrain
Name Collision
Clear Treacherous Impassable Property
Diving
Aerial, Armoured
Killing Fields N/A Naval Difficult
Burrowing Infantry
Aerial, Armoured Diving
Trench Network N/A Difficult
Burrowing Naval
Aerial, Armoured Diving
Roads N/A Difficult
Burrowing Naval
ADDITIONAL RULES:
Land Minor Surfaces do not influence Line Of Sight.
Massive Armoured Models may not gain the benefit of Roads.
All Land Minor Surfaces occupy the Surface Height Level.
Trench Networks provide Cover to Infantry - see Page 192.
Roads provide Armoured Models an increase in their Profile Movement (Mv) of +3”.
A Model that uses a Road to gain this bonus may not make any Attacks in the subsequent
Firing Segment, and MUST spend their ENTIRE Movement Segment on the Road.

WATER MINOR SURFACES

As battles continue to rage around the world, Commanders can find themselves visiting the after-
math of a battle, be it to pick through the wreckage looking for survivors or to salvage what they can
from the colossal hulls that now rest at the bottom of the ocean.

WATER MINOR SURFACES

Terrain Density Terrain
Name Collision
Clear Treacherous Impassable Property
Ice Sheet/Floating Aerial, Naval Diving, Naval Armoured Difficult
Wreckage (Massive/Large) (Other) Burrowing
Aerial,
Armoured,
Ship Graveyard N/A Diving Difficult
Burrowing,
Naval
ADDITIONAL RULES:
Water Minor Surfaces do not influence Line Of Sight.
Ice Sheet/Floating Wreckage occupies the Surface Height Level.
Ship Graveyards occupy the entire Diving Height Band.

• 180 •  
 D4 - Advanced Terrain

UNIVERSAL MINOR SURFACE

Although Commanders may prefer to engage their foe in the open sea, there is every chance that
they will be called to defend their coastline from a looming threat. In such proximity to land, these
naval forces may encounter Shallow Water in the form of coves and bays, and the very same body of
water may trouble their Armoured comrades on land as a river winds its way towards the sea.

UNIVERSAL MINOR SURFACES TABLE

Terrain Density Terrain
Name Collision
Clear Treacherous Impassable Property
Armoured (Other)
Armoured (Large/Massive)
Shallow Burrowing
Aerial Naval (Small/Tiny) Hazardous
Water Diving (Other)
Diving (Small/Tiny) Naval (Other)
Armoured,
Cliffs Aerial Diving Burrowing, Diving, Hazardous
Naval
ADDITIONAL RULES:
Shallow Water does not influence Line Of Sight.
Cliffs and Shallow Water occupy the Surface and Diving Height Bands.
Cliffs MUST be placed adjacent to Hills/Islands or the boundaries of the Water Major
Surface and Land Major Surface.
Cliffs may not extend more than 4” away from these Terrain Features and/or the
Major Surface boundary.
Models with the Multi-Purpose function may ignore Shallow Water.

• 181 •  
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers

Support Aircraft,
Carriers And Drone
Launchers
In this section, you will find the rules for the creation of Support Aircraft Squad-
rons (SAS) and how they are formed into Support Aircraft Wings (SAW) and how they
interact on the tabletop. In addition, there are rules for Carriers and Drone Launchers,
and how they operate on the tabletop.

S mall aircraft are a lethal addition to the military

arsenal of a Dystopian nation. Since their
invention, scientists and engineers alike have been
refining this new method of aerial destruction.
In Dystopian Wars any type of small aircraft
is referred to using the generic name of Support
Aircraft Wing, or SAW, and players have three
types available to them: Fighters, Dive Bombers
and Torpedo Bombers.
These are represented in the game as small,
square resin tokens with the relief of a nation’s
aircraft on top of it. Groups of SAW tokens are
pulled together to form a Squadron on the tabletop
and this is called a Support Aircraft Squadron, or
SAS. To facilitate the easy movement of a SAS we
use what is called a SAS Movement Tray, which
also makes measuring simpler. These Trays can
hold up to a maximum of five SAW tokens.
The Tray also enables all SAW tokens to remain
in contact with at least one other SAW from the
same Squadron at all times - a pre-requisite of the
rules.
SAS are considered to be Models that exist outside
the normal Size Classifications of the game. They are
even smaller than Tiny Models.
SAS are governed by the following simple rules for
their composition:
1. A SAS MAY only contain ONE type of SAW.
2. A legal SAS formation MUST contain between 3 and
5 SAW tokens when it is created. During a battle,
however, a SAS Formation may fall below 3 SAW
tokens and still function.
3. Once created, a SAS formation is treated as a single
entity for Line of Sight, the measurement of Ranges
and Firing.
Important Note: SAS created by Carriers or through
Squadron Support declare the type and number of
SAWs they contain when Deployed, and are NOT
required to be denoted prior to a battle in the same
way as Local Air Support (see later).

• 182 •  
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
DEPLOYED STRENGTH
Unlike other Squadrons in the game, it is important
to have a record of the size of an SAS at the moment
of its Deployment.
Each SAS is deployed with a die in its Tray that
denotes its starting Squadron Size, which is referred
to as its Deployed Strength. This does not change
in-game and is important for determining how
large the Squadron can be when benefiting from a
Replenishment Action.
The die is also useful for allowing players to view
at a glance which type of SAS the Squadron is: this
becomes particularly important when playing with
Forces that are not yet painted, or where the player
has chosen to paint their SAWs identically.
SAS Die Colour
Choosing a colour of die to help identify the type
of SAW being used in a SAS will be helpful and will
avoid confusion later. Using the convention of White
for Fighters, Green for Dive Bombers and Red for
Torpedo Bombers is a good method.
You can also choose to paint your SAWs different
colours to represent the different types of SAW, or
maybe even paint the edge for the same reason.
The Kingdom of Britannia Illustrious Sky Fortress is a stunning example of engineering in the Sturginium Age.
• 183 •
LOCAL AIR SUPPORT
When a player builds their Force they will be allowed
to add a number of 5-strong Fighter Wings to their
force for free! The number of Local Air Support
Squadrons permitted is determined by the size of the
MFV being played. See Page 80 for more.
COMBAT AIR PATROL
It is possible to Attach Fighter SAS as a Combat Air
Patrol (CAP) to protect valuable Models in a player’s
Force. For more information on this, see the Combat
Air Patrols rules on Page 86.
ORDNANCE AWAY! MARKER
This Game Marker is placed next to an
SAS Tray that has dropped its Bombs or
Torpedoes. The Ordnance Away! Game
Marker provides an important reminder
to both players as to which SAS can still drop their
Ordnance, and those which must Re-arm at a Carrier.
 
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
SAS WING FORMATIONS
SAS must always maintain a valid Squadron
Formation, as shown in the diagram on this page.
Should an Ace be present in a SAS (see Page 186
for details on Aces) an appropriately identifiable
SAW token must be placed as close to the middle of
the formation as possible at all times.
SAW CONSISTENCIES
A number of consistencies are present throughout
all SAWs, although any modifiers used may change
depending on different national characteristics:
• ALL Attacks and Counter Attacks by SAS use
the Combined Fire Firing Options calculated by
adding together ALL the Ordnance or Ack-Ack
AD of the SAWs in the SAS.
• Fighters will commonly have the Hunter (Aerial,
+1) MAR, giving them the edge against all Models
that occupy the Aerial Height Band, be they
other SAS or larger Models such as Interceptors,
Scoutships and Sky Fortresses.
5 SAW 4 SAW
Ace
2 SAW 1 SAW
Ace
• 184 •
• Torpedo Bombers excel at engaging targets
beneath the waves and commonly have the
Hunter (Diving, +2) MAR. This means that
Torpedo Bombers often hit Models occupying
the Submerged Height Level on a 3+ and may
even strike at targets occupying the Deep Diving
Height Level on the roll of a 4+.
• Dive Bombers are adept at engaging targets on
the Surface Height Level and commonly gain the
Hunter (Surface, +1) MAR. This means that Dive
Bombers will tend to hit Models occupying the
Surface Height Level on a 3+. In some instances
Dive Bombers will also gain a bonus against
Submerged Models too - usually when targeting
Armoured Models that are moving below ground!
Note that these exceptions will always be listed in
the relevant Force List.
3 SAW
Ace Ace
Remember that 3 to 5 SAWs are
the requirements for a ‘legal’ SAS
when it is first deployed in a game.
As casualties are inflicted the SAS
Ace can fall to 2 or even 1 SAW.
If you are using Aces always try to
keep them to the middle front row
of yoru SAS Tray.
 
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers

SAS MOVEMENT
SAS Trays have a 360 degree Movement. These
aircraft are not equipped to operate safely at the
Obscured or Stratospheric Height Levels and so
may only ever occupy the Flying Height Level of
the Aerial Height Band. In addition, no SAS may be
subject to a Collision or Ram with another Model.
SAS & BOARDING ACTIONS
SAS may NEVER be the target of a Boarding Action
under any circumstances.
SAS & DISORDER
SAS are always considered to have the Fearless MAR.
ATTACKS AGAINST SAS
Squadrons attacking SAS require quick firing, low
calibre cannons to effectively bring down their
targets. This is represented by a Model’s Ack-Ack
(AA) statistic. All AA against SAS uses the Heavy
(BLUE) Dice mechanic unless a specific condition
or MAR applies.
SAS are targeted as a single entity and AA against SAS
is always measured to the closest point of the SAS
Tray and any casualties are applied across the entire
SAS. After all Attacks on the SAS have been resolved
in an Activation, casualties are removed so that the
SAS remains in a valid Wing Formation.
ROLLING TO HIT SAS
Unlike other Models, when attacking SAS, if the
number of Hits equals the Damage Rating (DR), a
single SAW token is removed. If the number of Hits
equals twice the Damage Rating (DR), two SAWs are
removed, and so on.
The ‘Roll to Hit’ against SAS are as follows:
• Non-SAS Models targeting SAS Squadrons require
a 4+ ‘To Hit’ Number.
• During Dogfight Attacks between two enemy SAS
their AA has a starting 5+.
Remember that all AA Attacks against SAS uses
the Heavy (BLUE) Dice mechanic unless a specific
condition or MAR applies.

The maximum range of any of these Attacks is

dependent on the firing model, but can also be
amended by certain special rules or scenario
conditions:
• Aggressive Counter Attacks - Maximum Range
for Aggressive Counter Attacks and Dogfights
against SAS is always 4” - unless a MAR applies.
• Interception Attacks - The Maximum Range for
Interception Attacks against SAS is always 8” -
unless a MAR applies.

Air Vice-Masrshal Stanley Bartholomew Parkinson

III is a most capable commanding officer, if only the
same could be said about his piloting skills. Deadly
in a dogfight his main problem was landings... which
he never truly mastered!

• 185 •  
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
TYPES OF SAS ENGAGEMENT
The methods of combat for SAS are divided into three
types: Attack Runs, Interceptions and Dogfights.
Each of these Attacks will often involve different ‘To
Hit’ Numbers, Attack Ranges and MARs.
Attack Runs
All Attacks made by SAS which are directed against
larger enemy Models are called Attack Runs. These
Attacks occur when a SAS engages the enemy during
its own Activation.
Attack Runs are often subject to enemy Counter
Attack Actions.
• SAS may only ever execute one Attack Run per
Activation.
• SAS may only ever target one Model during an
Attack Run.
• SAS may use either Ordnance or AA where
appropriate when making an Attack Run.
• All Attack Runs made using AA have a Maximum
Range of 4”, unless a MAR applies.
• An SAS of Torpedo Bombers fires its Torpedoes
using the Fore Fixed Channel Fire Arc, with the
width of the SAS Tray (or Wing Formation) used
to determine the width of the Fire Arc, and have a
Maximum Range of 4”.
• An SAS Tray of Dive Bombers must touch a target
Model in order to use their Bombs. If a Tray is
not being used at least one SAW token must be
touching the target Model.
• SAS mounting an Attack Run has a ‘To Hit’
number of 4, 5 or (RED) 6, using the standard ‘To
Hit’ mechanics and is affected by modifiers as and
MARs as normal.
• Once an Attack Run by Torpedo Bombers or Dive
Bombers has been resolved, place an Ordnance
Away! Game Marker on the SAS to designate it
has fired its ordnance and may not fire again until
it Re-Arms at a Carrier.
• 186 •
Dogfight Attacks
All Attacks or Aggressive Counter Attacks made by
SAS against enemy SAS are deemed to be Dogfights.
Interception Attacks
All Attacks made by Models (other than SAS)
against SAS are called Interception Attacks. These
occur when Models or a Squadron of Models engage
an enemy SAS with their AA weaponry during the
Model/Squadron’s Activation.
ACES!
Each Force has the provision for adding Aces to their
SAS. The additional points cost for adding these
heroic individuals is listed in the relevant entry in a
Nation’s Force Guide.
An SAS that includes an Ace must replace one of
their SAW tokens with an appropriately identifiable
token, such as a differently painted one. The Ace is
placed as close to the centre of the SAS formation as
possible. Unless killed as part of a Dogfight Duel, an
Ace in a Squadron is always removed last!
An Ace can often give a Squadron the decisive
edge it needs when engaging in Dogfights or during
Attack Runs. Each time a Squadron that includes
an Ace is called upon to make an Attack Run, fight
a Duel or execute a Dogfight Attack, the Ace may
re-roll ALL of the initial dice they supplied to the
Attack Dice Pool. This means players should always
roll their Aces’ dice separately or mark them in some
way by using different coloured dice.
 
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
DUELLING
Should a situation occur that an SAS that includes an
Ace engages in a Dogfight Attack against an enemy
SAS that also contains an Ace, the two heroes of the
skies will duel it out, performing acts of incredible
bravery as they strive to cement their legend and kill
their bitter rival.
Should two Aces meet in a Dogfight Attack, their
AA dice should be separated from the other members
of the SAS as normal and only rolled against the other
Ace. No other AA can affect the Aces as they Duel,
effectively creating two engagements: the Dogfight
and the Duel.
Each Ace killed in a Duel is worth +25 Victory
Points and should be added to the Scrapyard as a
scoring Model.
Important Note: This is the ONLY time a SAW can
be worth Victory Points!
CARRIER MODELS
Carriers operate a critical role in the Replenishment,
Re-Arming and Redistribution of SAWs within
the Dystopian World. Without Models capable of
performing these tasks, the power of many a Nation’s
air forces would dwindle to the point of uselessness.
A Carrier is identified as having the Carrier
(Value) MAR. The Value listed in the brackets is used
for both SAW Numbers and Carrier Actions.
The Carrier Value of a Model is by no means
fixed, and can be reduced as the actual Model suffers
Damage. This represents the decks of the Model
becoming too damaged to allow planes to land, the
hangar bays becoming blocked with debris, or the
magazines of the Model catching fire!
• 187 •
The Value notation will also denote the sizes of
SAWs that can be deployed by the Carrier along
with the Number of Squadrons that the Carrier has
available.
As an example: A Prussian Empire Imperium
Class Airship has the Carrier (6, 1x5 Wing) MAR
meaning it has SIX Carrier Points at its disposal and
deploys a single SAS numbering 5 SAW tokens.
Whereas a Prussian Empire Seydlitz Mobile
Airfield has the Carrier (9, 2x4 Wing) MAR. This
means the Seydlitz has NINE Carrier Points, and can
field TWO SAS with each containing 4 SAW tokens.
SAW DEPLOYMENT BY CARRIERS
Carriers benefit commanders with their increased
degrees of flexibility and martial strength over long
distances. Although a relatively new innovation in
the Dystopian World, as the war has progressed
logistical and strategic concerns associated with
static airfields has meant that commanders are more
willing to utilise this innovation to ensure they have
the right tool for the job when defending their forces
or mounting a sustained bombardment.
SAWs deployed using Carrier models must be
organised into legal SAS adhering to the rules for
Wing Composition as noted earlier. However, unlike
Local Air Support, this can be done after comparing
Forces during the Game Setup Phase.
SAS generated by a Carrier Model must be
Deployed using the standard Deployment rules,
within 4” of any part of their Carrier Model during
its Deployment, after which they are free to operate
independently.
 
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
CARRIER ACTIONS
Models with the Carrier MAR use the Value listed in
parenthesis to determine the extent to which they
can execute one of the four different types of Carrier
Action available to them during Command and
Control Step of their Activation.
There are a number of common rules that must
be adhered to by players when performing Carrier
Actions during an Activation:
• A Carrier Action may be directed towards ANY
SAS within 4” - not just the ones created by the
Model.
• Each Action costs a portion of a Carrier’s
remaining Carrier Value for that Activation. A
Model’s Carrier Value is replenished at the end of
every Game Turn, but remember the maximum
number it can be replenished to can be reduced
by Damage. A Carrier Model’s current Carrier
Value during its Activation is therefore the sum
of the initial Carrier Value minus the amount of
Damage the Model the Carrier has sustained.
• A Carrier (or Drone Launcher) may not execute
Carrier Actions if it is Disordered or has the Chaos
and Disarray Game Marker.
• A Carrier (or Drone Launcher) may only perform
Carrier Actions with SAS from their own Nation
unless a specific MAR or scenario condition
applies.
• A Squadron containing two or more Carriers
CAN pool their Carrier Values to perform Carrier
Actions, providing they are all in range of the
target SAS.
• A Carrier may performs one or more of the
following Carrier Actions – Replenish, Re-Arm,
Re-Task or Re-Build.
TYPES OF CARRIER ACTION
Action
Replenish 1 Carrier Point per SAW recovered
Re-Arming
Re-Task
Re-Building
• 188 •
Replenishing a Squadron
Casualties amongst SAWs are inevitable and are often
numerous! All Carriers have the ability to execute
a Replenish Carrier Action, which will see Carrier
Model spend a variable amount of Carrier Points
Replenishing a Squadron. This costs 1 Point from the
Carrier Value per SAW replaced and may not take the
SAS above its Initial Deployed Strength.
Re-Arming Ordnance
SAS are only capable of carrying minimal payloads of
munitions this means that once they have delivered
their payloads they must Re-Arm. Each time a Dive
Bomber or Torpedo Bomber SAS executes a single
Attack Run it gains a Ordnance Away! Game Marker.
In order for a Carrier to remove this Game Marker
a player must announce the Carrier is spending 1
Point of its remaining Carrier Value, thus Re-Arming
the SAS. Once this cost is paid, the SAS removes any
Ordnance Away! Game Marker it has and is free to
rain high explosive death once more!
Re-Tasking a Squadron
As a battle progresses it will often become critical to
change the spread of air support provided by Carriers
– the enemy may be advancing with large aircraft at
the fore, or could be lurking under the waves. To give
Carriers an edge in such situations they have access
to the Re-Task Action.
In order to execute a Re-Tasking Carrier Action,
a Carrier Model must spend 2 Carrier Points to
Re-Task a SAS.
Once spent, a SAS must immediately change its
designation to a different type of SAW. A SAS with an
Ace that is Re-Tasked loses their inspirational leader,
and the Ace is lost for the remainder of the game.
Cost
1 Carrier Points
2 Carrier Points
3 Carrier Points
 
 D5 - Support Aircraft, Carriers And Drone Launchers
Re-Building a Squadron
Sometimes SAS will be completely eliminated by
the enemy either through heroic Dogfights or sheer
volumes of AA! In order to execute a Re-Build Carrier
Action, a Carrier Model must spend 3 Carrier Points
to Re-Build a lost SAS.
The Carrier Model may then immediately launch
the new SAS equal to the permitted Squadron size
stated in the Carrier’s MAR. This new SAS can only
be Re-Built from SAW casualties taken from a player’s
Scrapyard. The newly created SAS must be deployed
within 4” of the Carrier Model which created it.
DRONE LAUNCHERS & DRONES
Not all Carriers deploy aircraft manned by human
beings. Some more advanced Nations are able to
deploy Drones that are controlled remotely via a link
to a network broadcast over the Battlefield.
Such Drones are often capable of performing
exceptional feats of acrobatics unfettered by the
• 189 •
limitations of a human pilot’s physiology. They
are not, however, without drawbacks as the Drone
Automata lack the critical edge that comes from the
instincts of an expert pilot.
Drones tend to be slower than their human
counterparts and can only gain the benefit of MARs
if certain models are within range, transmitting
engagement protocols to the Drones.
Drone Launchers operate in the same way as
Carriers for the most part, but have one significant
difference. Drones are quite literally ‘fired’ into the
air from launch tubes or racks, allowing the Drone
Launchers an increased support range.
All Carrier Actions performed by a Drone
Launcher are executed up to 6” away from the Drone
launcher rather than 4” as would normally be the
case.
For more information on Drones and Drone
Launchers look to the ORBATs of those Nations that
make use of them. These can be found on the Spartan
Games website for free download.
 
 D6 - Infantry

Infantry

Military historians have long cursed the huge variety of names used by military commanders for the
formations they lead. The Infantry, with the longest history of all troop types, have accumulated the most
names: Regiments, Cohorts, Columns, Battalions, Legions, Banners, Brigades, Files, Battery, Troop, Group,
Sonita, Abteilung...

E ven within the same language, the same

name does not always describe the same
size or type of Infantry unit, as various FSA and
Britannian Commanders have found to their
surprise. In the world of Dystopian Wars, a
single Base of Infantry is designed to represent
one Company, with each Hull Point designed
to represent a single Platoon of men and their
equipment.
PURCHASING INFANTRY
The most important thing to remember is that
Infantry are not an unlimited resource on the
Battlefield. Although Line Infantry are relativity
common, the other, more specialised troop types are
only deployed in a planned fashion.
Dystopian Wars is a game of massed Tank
and Robot battles, and Infantry are often used
to supplement these monolithic behemoths,
although the average life expectancy of the
common soldier is short!
Infantry of any Type may not be bought directly.
Instead, they are obtained through one of the
following means:
• The Squadron Support or Combat
Deployment MARs.
• A Scenario condition dictating their
inclusion in the Force is in play.

• 190 •  
 D6 - Infantry
INFANTRY BASES
Each Infantry Base comes with two square spaces
moulded into the surface designed to hold a mini
six-sided die. These dice can be used as an alternative
to the Hull Point (HP) and Assault Point (AP) Game
Markers that other Models use.
A white die represents the Company’s current
Hull Point (HP) value - think life points. The second
die, usually a green die or another available colour,
represents the Company’s current Assault Point (AP)
value.
As a Company’s HP and AP values change during
the game, the mini dice should be rotated to show
the appropriate number face up.
An Infantry Formation is composed of between
one and three (unless otherwise specified)
Companies of Infantry which are always placed in
a horizontal line. and performs a normal Squadron
Activation as a single entity. It is simply a larger
Company in game play terms.
ALL INFANTRY FORMATIONS
HAVE THE FOLLOWING RULES:
Infantry Formations are identified by having the
Infantry Classification and are treated as a Model
with the exceptions noted below:
• Infantry Formations must always be made up of
the same type of Infantry.
• Targeted Attacks against Infantry use Heavy
(BLUE) Dice, not Exploding (RED) Dice.
• Infantry ALWAYS have the Controlled Contact,
Difficult Target (unless Mechanised), Elusive
Target, and Inert MARs.
• Infantry may never have any Persistent Damage
Markers on them.
• Infantry Formations are considered to be a
single entity for the purposes of Range and
Measurement.
• Infantry must use the Combined Fire option with
ALL Ordnance and Auxiliary Weapons, unless
another condition applies.
• 191 •
• Infantry never collide with any form of Terrain.
• Infantry that find themselves on Impassable
Terrain for any reason are automatically Lost
• When engaging in a Boarding Action, an Infantry
Formation must allocate all of their AP as a single
Assault Group.
Mechanised Infantry
Any type of Infantry may be upgraded to a
Mechanised Infantry Formation during a player’s
Force List creation, lending greater mobility to the
formation by way of Armoured Personnel Carriers
and other vehicle transports.
This is represented in the Infantry Formation’s
Profile in the following ways:
• Mechanised Infantry add an additional 3” to their
Movement (Mv).
• Mechanised Infantry have the Small Target MAR
instead of the Difficult Target MAR.
• Mechanised Infantry does not gain benefits of
Cover.
COLLISIONS
Infantry Formations NEVER take Damage from a
Ram or Collision with another Model.
If a Non-Infantry Model Collides with or Rams
Infantry, do not resolve a Collision or Ram. Instead
the Infantry MAY initiate an immediate, out of
sequence, Aggressive Boarding Action.
This is carried out in the same sequence as a standard
Aggressive Boarding Action (see Page 144) with the
following exceptions:
• An Infantry Formation may only Assault the
Model that Collided or Rammed it.
• There is NO Anti-Boarding Fire possible against
this Assault.
• Following this Collision, the Infantry Formation
must immediately Disengage, see Page 113.
 
 D6 - Infantry
BOARDING ACTIONS
In order to initiate a Boarding Action during the
Boarding Segment against a specified Target:
• An Infantry Formation must have finished its
movement with at least one of its bases within 2”
of its intended Target, unless a specific condition
or MAR applies.
• Infantry may only perform Boarding Actions
against Models on the Surface Height Level,
unless a specific condition or MAR applies.
• In all other respects, Infantry perform Boarding
Actions as normal.
• Infantry Companies may never be taken as a
Prize, Sabotaged or left Derelict. If any Boarding
Action result would leave an Infantry Company
Prized or Derelict, it is Lost instead.
• Infantry Formations may Prize or Salvage Models
as normal. If sufficient AP is allocated as Prize
Crew, Salvage Crew, or to a Friendly Boarding
Action to remove an Infantry Bases from play,
then the Infantry Base is Lost as normal, but the
rest of the Infantry Formation is not required to
take a Disorder Check.
• 192 •
APPLYING DAMAGE TO INFANTRY
Infantry Formations do not take Damage in the same
way as other Models. If a Formation takes Damage,
all Damage must be applied to one Company until
it is removed, at which point Damage is applied to
another Company in the Formation.
Once a Company of Infantry has been Lost it
cannot be returned to the tabletop for any reason
whatsoever. If an Infantry Formation loses a point of
Assault Personnel (AP) for any reason, it also loses 1
Hull Point (HP) immediately.
Important Note: This also applies to Infantry who
are removed from a Formation to become part of a
Prize or Salvage Crew.
INFANTRY IN COVER
If Non-Mechanised Infantry start their Activation
in certain types of Terrain, they are considered to
benefit from the Cover afforded to them by it, as
long as they remain fully within the confines of the
Terrain Feature. If in Cover, they gain the Rugged
Construction (1) and Security Posts (2) MARs. Any
Terrain that provides Infantry with Cover will state it
provides Infantry Cover in its entry in the Advanced
Terrain Rules - see Page 173 for more details.
INFANTRY BUNKERS
These Fortifications allow commanders to deploy
their Infantry in advance of their Main Force, closer
to the likely engagement areas where the weight of
the infantry might be used to tip the balance. For
the Profiles and Points for Infantry Bunkers, players
should look to their own National Force Guide.
Lord Leonidas of the Covenant of Antarctica - a
mixture of genius, eccentric and madman! If one
man can truly be credited for unlocking the secrets
of ‘The Vault’ it would most certainly be the Lord. It
is also said he ‘talks’ to the walls of the Vault...
 
 D7 - Model Classifications
Model Classifications
M odel Classifications are the way that the
Dystopian Wars rules define how a Model will
behave during a game. A Model will always have a
Size, Type and Designation listed. It will also state if
a Model is Capital Class and may, if pertinent, list the
Function of the Model. Let’s look at them:
MODEL SIZE
The Size of a Model is very important when
calculating Line of Sight, interaction with Terrain,
Force Composition and other aspects of game play.
A Model will be listed as being Tiny, Small, Medium,
Large of Massive.
MODEL TYPE
Quite simply denotes the Core Force that a Model
belongs to.
MODEL DESIGNATION
This defines what a Model is and dictates which
Height Level of a game it can operate in. There are
several key Designations you need to understand:
AERIAL
These are flying Models that move through the air,
and can range from sleek Interceptors to hulking Sky
Fortresses. Aerial Models are normally capable of
occupying a number of Height Levels, able to move
up and down to perform different missions.
ARMOURED
These are Tanks, Land Ships, Walkers and various
other land-based Models. They move over the Land
Surface Height Level. The difficulty of moving
a house or factory size vehicle over land means
Armoured Models are typically slightly smaller than
the equivalent Naval Models.
• 193 •
NAVAL
These designations covers such things as Frigates,
Cruisers, Carriers, Battleships, Dreadnoughts and
other ships. They move on the Water Surface Height
Level.
FORTIFICATIONS
Fortifications are designed and built to withstand
the rigors of a combat environment and are armed
with significant offensive firepower. Full Profiles for
Fortifications will be listed in each Nation’s Force
Guide and may be selected normally during Force
Composition.
All Fortifications are divided into three types:
• Universal Fortifications may be deployed on
either Land or Water Major Surface, and must
be placed on top of Terrain Features that are not
Impassable to Armoured Models (if deployed
on the Land Major Surface) or Naval Models (if
deployed on the Water Major Surface).
• Land Fortifications may only be deployed on the
Land Major Surface and on Terrain Features that
are NOT Impassable to Armoured Models.
• Water Fortifications may only be deployed on
the Water Major Surface and may never be placed
upon Terrain Features.
Below are rules universal to all Fortifications:
• Fortifications are always considered to be
Non-Core for the purpose of Force Composition.
• ALL Fortifications are part of a player’s Advance
Force, so can be deployed anywhere in the Main
or Advance Deployment Zones on any Permitted
Terrain Type.
• Fortifications cannot be Damaged by Rocket
or Torpedo Ordnance Attacks, therefore by
association by any MAR associated with them.
 
 D7 - Model Classifications

• If left Derelict, Fortifications do not lose any Hull CAPITAL CLASS

Points in the End Phase.
• All Attacks against Fortifications have a +1 ‘To Hit’
modifier.
• Fortifications cannot move or be moved. If a
Fortification is Teleported, due to a Critical Hit
result of MAR, it is instead destroyed.
INFANTRY
Infantry differ from standard Assault Personnel,
in that they are formed into Companies or larger
formations. Where the Assault personnel on Models
are equipped with jetpacks, Infantry are purely
ground based. Infantry Rules are found on Page 191.
This is the Designation given to Capital Models.
These are mainly larger Models, and have significant
command and control facilities. They will be
commanded by an experienced officer capable of
running a smaller force by themselves. However,
they are not without disadvantages, including the
enemy regarding them as a valuable prize!
Capital Models are governed by the following rules:
• Any Model that does not have the Capital
Designation is considered to be a Non-Capital
Model.
• Only Capital Models may be Prized or Salvaged.

ROBOT
The classification Robot refers to such Models that
are manned by relatively few crew, but are able to
dominate and control the Battlefield by virtue of
their massive bulk, raw durability and, of course ,the
feeling of invincibility that inevitably infuses itself
into the psyche of any crew member residing within
such a metallic monstrosity!
Models with the Robot Classification are
considered to have the Controlled Contact and
Fearless MARs as standard.
In most cases, Robots are treated the same as any
other model, the notable exception to this however
in when dealing with robots in Boarding Actions.

Dystopian Wars features some of the coolest

1/1200th scale models you will ever see in a
tabletop game. Left is a Covenant Coeus Class
Dreadnought Battle Robot and above is a
Blazing Sun Ayakashi Class Dreadnought Class
Battle Robot.

• 194 •  
 D7 - Model Classifications
MODEL FUNCTIONS
This is a most important aspect of a Model and is
used to identify many of the strange and varied
machines of war which exist in the Dystopian World.
It includes such things as:
BURROWING
A Burrowing Model will often be a large monstrosity,
capable of churning through the earth’s crust
and moving towards the enemy in relative safety.
Burrowing Models may only use a limited selection
of weapons, but are next to impossible to hit with
standard weaponry, instead requiring concerted
bombing or concussive attacks to destroy them.
Similarly, few Models can launch Boarding Actions
from or against a Model below the surface. Burrowing
Models abide by the following rules, unless otherwise
specified:
• Burrowing Models may choose to occupy either
the Surface Height Level or the Submerged Height
Level while occupying the Land Major Surface -
see Changing Height Levels on Page 107.
• A Model with the Burrowing Model Function
that is on the Land Major Surface can Surface
or Submerge during the Movement Declarations
Segment of its Activation. However, a Burrowing
Model may only Submerge if it has a Low Speed
Manoeuvre Game Marker, and may not attempt a
Swift Manoeuvre under any circumstances!
• A Model occupying the Diving Height Band on
the Land Major Surface that suffers any Critical
Hit must immediately move to the Surface Height
Level.
• Any Model occupying the Submerged Height
Level can only use its Concussion Charges (CC)
to mount Attacks and may ONLY be targeted
with Concussion Charges (CC) or Concentrated
Bombing.
• A Burrowing Model occupying the Submerged
Height Level on the Land Major Surface can only
use its Concussion Charges (CC).
• No Boarding Actions may be launched by, or
against, a Model occupying the Submerged Height
Level unless a specific condition or MAR applies.
• 195 •
• When determining Terrain Quality, a Model
with the Burrowing Model Function refers to the
Burrowing entry and ignores the Armoured Entry
in Terrain Tables.
DIVING
A Diving Model is a Submarine or other Model
capable of occupying the Diving Height Band in
Water. Whilst underwater, a Diving Model may only
use a limited selection of weapons, but is far harder
to hit. Similarly, few Models can launch Boarding
Actions from or against a Model underwater.
Diving Models abide by the following rules, unless
otherwise specified:
• Diving Models may choose to occupy either the
Surface Height Band or the Diving Height Band
while occupying the Water Major Surface - see
Changing Height Levels on Page 107.
• Surface Models may not use an Ordnance Weapon
to target a Model occupying the Diving Height
Band in Water at Range Band 1, unless a specific
rule or MAR applies.
• Any Model occupying the Surface or Aerial Height
Bands is always counted as being Partially Blocked
(see Page 119) when firing an Ordnance Weapon
at a Model occupying the Diving Height Band in
Water unless a specific rule of MAR applies.
• A Model occupying the Diving Height Band in the
Water Major Surface can only use its Concussion
Charges (CC), Torpedoes or Particle Accelerator
weaponry.
• A Model occupying the Diving Height Band in
the Water Major Surface that suffers any Critical
Hit must immediately move to the Surface Height
Level.
• No Boarding Actions may be launched by, or
against, a Model occupying the Submerged Height
Level unless a specific condition or MAR applies.
• Models attacking from the Diving Height Band in
Water may be subject to an Aggressive Counter
Attack from Concussion Charges (CC).
• When determining Terrain Quality, a Model with
the Diving Model Function refers to the Diving
Entry and ignores the Naval Entry in the Terrain
Tables.
 
 D7 - Model Classifications
ESCORT
This Model may be included in any Squadron where
the Attachment MAR is cited and names the Model.
Models with the Escort Designation are governed by
the following additional rules:
• Escort Models attached to a Parent Model count
as the one allowed Attachment Group under the
mixed Squadron rules.
• The Parent Models of this Mixed Squadron do
not need to test for Disorder if any of the Escort
Models are Scrapped.
• In all other respects, Escort Models function as
normal members of the Squadron.
• 196 •
LANDING CRAFT
During an Amphibious Landing Scenario, a player
MUST take a Landing Craft Model in the Force for
all Armoured Squadrons in the Landing Force that
lack the Multi-Purpose or Surface Skimming Model
Functions. The Landing Craft Model MUST be used
to transport the Squadron for which it has been
purchased.
Landing Craft are governed by the following special
rules:
• All Landing Craft have the Controlled Contact
MAR.
• If a Landing Craft has no Models Embarked upon
it, it gains the Rear Echelon MAR - see Page 162.
• A Landing Craft may not initiate Attacks or
Boarding Actions.
• A Landing Craft is considered to have Ack Ack
(AA) and Concussion Charge (CC) Values
determined by Linking the AA and CC Values of
the Embarked Models on-board, with the Landing
Craft designated as the Lead Model.
• The Assault Points (AP) Value of a Landing
Craft is determined by combining the AP of the
Embarked Models. When the Embarked Models
are Deployed, any AP losses suffered by the
Landing Craft are distributed as evenly as possible
amongst them.
• The Type, Size and Number of Models that may
count as an Embarked Squadron will depend on
the Size of the Landing Craft, and is listed in a
Landing Craft’s Profile.
The scale of the world war has left many
nations struggling to cope with their
manufacturing needs. Here the Federated
States of America is calling out to its citizens to
provide spare metal for the war effort...
 
 D7 - Model Classifications
MULTI-PURPOSE
A Multi-Purpose Model ALWAYS treats ALL Major/
Minor Surfaces as having a Terrain Quality of Clear.
This Model always refers to its listed Type (or Diving/
Burrowing Function if applicable) for the purposes
of Terrain interaction.
SURFACE SKIMMING
A Surface Skimming Model is treated as having the
Multi-Purpose Model Function, but also has the
following additional rules:
• Surface Skimming Models treat any Terrain
Features occupying the Surface Height Level as
Clear, unless the Terrain is Impassable to both
Naval and Armoured Models, in which case the
Model treats the Terrain as Impassable.
• Surface Skimming Models MAY move over other
Models occupying the Surface Height Level
without causing a Collision or Ram, providing it
does not finish its move on top of any part of the
Model or Base. This has no effect on other Models
Colliding with or Ramming the Surface Skimming
Model.
• A Model with the Surface Skimming Model
Function does not detonate Armed Surface Mines
if the Model passes by them, but WILL Detonate
them if it finishes its Activation within 1” of any
Armed Surface Mine Marker.
• A Model with the Surface Skimming Model
Function is considered to have an Elevation
Bonus of +1 - see Basic Terrain on Page 175.
• 197 •
LOW LEVEL FLYER
A Model with the Low Level Flyer Model Function
is able to fly so low that it is considered to occupy
the Surface Height Level rather than Aerial Height
Levels.
When choosing to fly at this Height Level a Model
is considered to have the Surface Skimmer Model
Function and the Vulnerable MAR. Whilst occupying
the Surface Height Level, Low Level Flyers may not
drop Bombs, may not be targeted by AA and they
may NOT make a Swift Manoeuvre.
To enter or leave the Surface Height Level, the
Low Level Flyer changes Height Level in the same
way as changing between Aerial Height Levels - see
Page 107.
REPAIR
A Model with this Function may choose to perform
a Friendly Boarding Action against a Target Model
at the same Height Level as itself. A Model can only
be the target of one Repair attempt per Squadron
Activation, but multiple Models may attempt to
Repair the same Model as part of a single Repair
attempt.
Each Model in any single Repair attempt allocates
its entire current AP value to the Repair attempt. The
total number of AP allocated to each Target Model is
translated into Repair Dice. Repair Dice require a 4,
5 or (RED) 6 to register a success.
If the number of Hits is equal to, or exceeds the
Damage Rating (DR) value of the Target Model,
remove 1 Hull Point of Damage from the Target
Model. If the number of Hits is equal to, or exceeds,
the Critical Rating (CR) value of the Target Model,
recover 2 lost Hull Points (HP) of Damage suffered
from the Target Model and additionally remove one
Critical Effect or Persistent Effect Marker present on
the Model.
 
 D7 - Model Classifications
WAVE LURKER
Models with this Function exist at a point half-way
between a normal ship and a true submersible, hence
being defined as ‘wave lurking’.
Wave Lurker Models are designed so the bridge
section of a Model can lift off, and be placed in a
hole either in an acrylic outline or in a resin Base.
Doing so denotes the Model has chosen to activate
the Wave Lurker Function.
Except where specified below, Wave Lurkers are
considered to occupy the Surface Height Level in all
respects:
• A Wave Lurker can move between being fully on
the Surface Height Level and Wave Lurking in the
same way as a Diving Model moves between the
Surface and Submerged Height Levels, including
using Swift Manoeuvres.
• A Wave Lurking Model uses AA, CC and any
weapons listed as ‘Raised’ in their Profile normally.
• For a Wave Lurking Model, any ‘Lower’ weapons
are always considered to be Partially Blocked
unless otherwise specified.
• A Wave Lurking Model uses Torpedoes and
Particle Accelerators as if it were occupying the
Submerged Height Level, and for these weapons
only, is governed by targeting rules and ‘To Hit’
modifiers as if were occupying the Submerged
Height Level.
• Any Model occupying the Surface or Aerial Height
Bands targeting a Wave Lurking Model suffers a -1
‘To Hit’ modifier, unless using a weapon with the
Sub Killer MAR
The Covenant Aristotle Class Battleship is designated
as a Wave Lurker, meaning it can dip beneath the
waves to avoid enemy ordnance...
• 198 •
• A Wave Lurking Model counts as a Small Size
Model on the Surface Height Level for the
purposes of Line of Sight.
• For the purposes of all measurements, Rams, and
Collisions, the acrylic/resin Base is counted as
part of the Model.
OPERATIONAL ASSETS
These are elements of the game that exist outside
of the standard Order of Battle for all Nations. They
may be elements such as landing barges, support
carriers, reconditioned escorts, oil rigs, factories and
any other myriad of esoteric things that find their
way into the exciting world of Dystopian Wars!
Operational Assets are governed by the following
simple rules:
• These models will be identified by having the
Operational Asset Designation.
• Operational Assets are always taken from the 40%
Non-Core part of the MFV, but are not subject to
the Small/Medium/Large Limitations of the entire
Force.
• Operational Assets do not gain the benefit of any
Commodore Traits.
• Unless otherwise stated, Operational Assets are
NOT permitted to have TACs played upon them.
• Operational Assets never gain a bonus die for the
presence of a Commodore when resolving any
Disorder Tests.
 
 D8 - Using Allies In A Game

Using Allies
W hile no man is an island, equally no Nation
stands alone in the World War that threatens
the Dystopian World. Alliances are well forged across
the world, with some being stronger than others, and
faced with a common threat their importance cannot
be overlooked. The seconding of military materials
and crews are frequent sights on the battlefield where
Commanders are often eager to put the equipment
of their allies to the ultimate test during the heat of
battle.
Nations like the Ottoman Empire, Indian Raj,
Dominion of Canada, Australians (Royal and Free),
Chinese Federation, League of Italian States and
many more are as much part of this conflict as any
other Core Nation.
The availability of Allies in Dystopian Wars 2.5 is
vastly different to those of previous versions of the
game rules. Whilst considerably simpler, the use of
Allies does come with a few broad guidelines:
• Allies are organised into two Super-Blocks: The
Imperial Bond and Grand Coalition, as well as in
a third category known as Free Nations.
• Allies are not permitted in Competitive Games
without the express permission of an Opponent
or, in the case of Tournament Play, with the clear
instruction of an Event Organiser.
• No Allies may be taken from two different Super-
Blocks without the express permission of an
Opponent.
• Allies are always taken from the 40% Non-Core
part of the MFV and are subject to the Small/
Medium/Large Limitations of the entire Force as
normal.
• Allied models must be taken in Squadrons of their
own and may not be mixed with models from the
Core Force.
• No model may be taken as an Allied Squadron if it
has the Strategic Asset (Value) MAR.

DYSTOPIAN SUPER-BLOCKS
IMPERIAL BOND FREE NATIONS GRAND COALITION

Prussian Empire Covenant of Antarctica Kingdom of Britannia

Empire of the Blazing Sun
République of France
Kingdom of Denmark
Chinese Federation
Ottoman Empire – Traditionalists
The Wani
Free Chilean Republic
Spanish Republican Confederacy
Commonwealth of Free Australia Federated States of America
Ottoman Empire – Separatists Russian Coalition
League of Italian States Dominion of Canada
Black Wolf Indian Raj
East India Merchant Company Royal Australia
The Honourable Eclipse Company Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth
League of Crimson Republic of Egypt
Socialist Union of South America Free Hellenic Kingdom

• 199 •  
 D8 - Using Allies In A Game

“The Wani are a perfect example of an Alliance Nation. First seen in the Operation
Shadow Hunter Battle Set this secretive force will play a major role in the world war!”

• 200 •  
 D9 - Competitive Play Scenarios
Competitive Play
M any players will have experienced the rigours
of playing in a Tournament, with a highly
set of competitive players all vying to prove they
are the best! Tournaments tend to be hosted by a
Tournament Organiser (TO) whose job it is to make
sure the logistics and gameplay of the day (or days!)
run smoothly for the players.
We are reluctant to ‘tell’ Tournament Organisers
what to do, as many of them will be coming to a
competitive event structure with a strong knowledge
of the game. Instead, we propose the following
information as a useful starting point for organising
a competitive series of games.
Over the many years we have developed and
played Dystopian Wars, we have commonly fallen
back on a few ‘old faithfuls’ when we run competitive
games amongst ourselves. In this chapter we have
put in the tournament scenarios WE have used over
the past 8 years, but of course these are only the tip
of the iceberg… There are literally thousands of ways
to play Dystopian Wars, across multiple theatres!
• 201 •
We would heartily encourage Tournament
Organisers to come up with their own scenarios for
their day, but to get you started here are some ideas.
OBJECTIVES
In two of the scenarios presented we mention the
use of Objectives. These can be small naval instal-
lations, oil rigs, secret sky bases, fortified towns, or
any other varies and wonderful construction that
you might think of that is worth fighting over in the
Dystopian Conflict. Spartan Games makes an array
of exciting models you can buy to fulfil this role on
the gaming table.
All objectives have a common profile which we
have created for you, see below. They do not ‘belong’
to any Faction (unless otherwise stated). They may
not be attacked or damaged unless a scenario states
otherwise – this is to ensure that they remain on the
table until the end of the game.
 
 Scenario 1: Capture!

TURN LIMIT VICTORY POINTS

5 Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the
Terrain Setup rules found on Pages 86-88. In
addition, the Battlefield must contain ONE Primary
Objective placed in the exact centre of the table and
TWO Secondary Objectives placed 12” in from each
neutral table side.
BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT
Roll for Advantage, pick edges and deployment using
the rules in the book.
Victory Points are awarded as normal. In addition, a
player gains an additional +50VPs for each Secondary
Objective they control during each End Phase and
100VPs if they control the Primary Objective in the
End Phase.
THE OBJECTIVE AND HOW TO HOLD IT – An
Objective should be placed on a Hill (if playing an
Armoured Core Game) or Island (if playing a Naval
Core Game) that is no bigger 4” x 4” in tabletop
footprint.
To hold an Objective a player must board it by
using a Boarding Assault Action and Prize it using
the boarding rules as normal.

FIELD ORDERS VICTORY POINTS AND CONDITIONS

In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.
The winner is the player that have has the most VP
at the end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their
Field Order ahead of the opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.

• 202 •  
 Scenario 2: King of the Hill

TURN LIMIT VICTORY POINTS

5 Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the Terrain
Setup rules found on Pages 86-88. In addition, the
battlefield must contain ONE Primary Objective
placed in the exact centre of the table.
BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT
Roll for Advantage as normal.
FIELD ORDERS
In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.
Victory Points are awarded as normal. In addition, a
player gains an additional +75VPs if they control the
Primary Objective in the End Phase.
THE OBJECTIVE AND HOW TO HOLD IT – The
Objective should be placed on a Hill (if playing an
Armoured Core Game) or Island (if playing a Naval
Core Game) that is no bigger 4” x 4” in tabletop
footprint.
To hold an Objective a player must board it by
using a Boarding Assault Action and Prize it using
the boarding rules as normal.
VICTORY POINT CONDITIONS
The winner is the player that has the most VP at the
end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their Field
Order ahead of their opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.

• 203 •  
 Scenario 3: Shield of Iron

TURN LIMIT VICTORY POINTS AND CONDITIONS

5 Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the
Terrain Setup rules found on Pages 86-88.
The winner is the player that have has the most VP
at the end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their
Field Order ahead of the opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.

BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT

Roll for Advantage as normal.

FIELD ORDERS
In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.

VICTORY POINTS
Victory Points are awarded as normal. In addition,
all Large and Massive Models in each Force gain the
Strategic Objective (50) MAR. If the model already
has this MAR, increase it by +50.

• 204 •  
 Scenario 4: Gathering Might
TURN LIMIT
5 Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the
Terrain Setup rules found on Pages 86-88.
BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT
Roll for Advantage, pick edges and deployment using
the rules in the book.
Only Fortifications and Non-Capital Models may
deploy in the Deployment Phase (along with any
model that would normally deploy with them. All
other Models are held in reserve, coming in from
their Friendly Board Edge. No Flanking Forces may
be used in this Scenario.
• 205 •
FIELD ORDERS
In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.
VICTORY POINTS
Victory Points are awarded as normal. In addition,
all non-Capital Squadrons (not including SAS) in
each Force are worth an additional +25VPs when
completely wiped out.
VICTORY POINT CONDITIONS
The winner is the player that has the most VP at the
end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their Field
Order ahead of their opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.
 
 Scenario 5: The Long War

TURN LIMIT VICTORY POINTS AND CONDITIONS

6+ Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the
Terrain Setup rules found on Pages 86-88.
BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT
Roll for Advantage as normal. Neither Force may
make use of Flanking Forces in this scenario.
FIELD ORDERS
In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.
VICTORY POINTS
Victory Points are awarded as normal.
The winner is the player that have has the most VP
at the end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their
Field Order ahead of the opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.
RANDOM GAME LENGTH - At the end of Game
Turn 6, and if no player has achieved their Field
Orders, each player rolls a single D6:
• If the player who has the most Victory Points at
this time rolls higher, the game ends.
• If the Player with the least Victory Points rolls
higher (or both players have the same number of
Victory Points) the game continues.

• 206 •  
 Scenario 6: Maelstrom of Battle
TURN LIMIT
3+ Game Turns.
TERRAIN
Terrain should be set up by the Tournament
Organiser. If this cannot be done reference the
Terrain Setup rules found on Pages 86-88.
BOARD EDGE AND DEPLOYMENT
Roll for Advantage, pick edges and deployment using
the rules in the book. Both Force MUST make use of
Flanking Forces in this scenario.
ATTRITION - After all deployment has been
completed, but before rolling for the first Turn, both
player rolls a D6 for each Squadron in their Force
(excluding SAS), referring to the table below:
D6 ATTRITION RESULT
The Squadron gains D3 Damage Points,
1 distributed as the owning player chooses. In
addition the Squadron gains a Disorder Marker.
The Squadron gains D3 Damage Points,
2-3
distributed as the owning player chooses.
4-5 The Squadron gains a Disorder Marker
6 No Effect
• 207 •
FIELD ORDERS
In this scenario, both players must use the Free to
Engage Victory Condition.
VICTORY POINTS
Victory Points are awarded as normal.
VICTORY POINT CONDITIONS
The winner is the player that have has the most VP
at the end of the Final Game Turn or achieves their
Field Order ahead of the opponent.
A player that has no Capital models on the table at
any point automatically loses the game.
RANDOM GAME LENGTH - At the end of Game
Turn 6, and if no player has achieved their Field
Orders, each player rolls a single D6:
• If the player who has the most Victory Points at
this time rolls higher, the game ends.
• If the Player with the least Victory Points rolls
higher (or both players have the same number of
Victory Points) the game continues.
All Damage and Disorder Markers are
applied immediately.
 
 D10 - Commodores
Commodores
W hilst the stories of the Dystopian World
involve massed armies, air armadas and
vast shipping flotillas, it is the heroes and heroines
behind such machines of war that fuel the hearts and
minds of us all.
Commodores, and sub-Commanders are always
present in the background stories of the world and
it seems only reasonable that players should be
permitted to create their own to match the story they
themselves representing on the tabletop.
We are hoping that experienced players may
choose to play with their Commodores/Commanders
chosen by the ‘hand of fate’. This is something we
would highly recommend especially for one off
‘bounce games’ where no narrative is being used. After
all, who is to say if your force is led by a genius of
strategy and tactics or by a bumbling buffoon put
in place because his father or mother was a high
ranking faction member….. the aristocracy of talent
vs the aristocracy of patronage is a real and present
danger in the Dystopian World!
• 208 •
Finally, players might choose to simply play out
their games using the Special Commodore characters
present in their Nation Force Guide. This is perfectly
acceptable, especially if they are playing through a
campaign or narrative. However, please bear in mind
that these are narrative only characters and might
overbalance the game a little if your opponent is
playing with a randomly generated Commodore. So
be generous and agree prior to the game if you are
intending to field these great men or women!
COMMODORE TABLES
A Commodore’s overall abilities are divided into 3
types of Trait Table: Command, Aggressive and
Defensive. The number of times a player may access
a Trait Table is determined by the size of game being
played. It is reasonable to assume that a huge battle
would be commanded by a suitably able Commodore
- or perhaps not!
GAME MFV NUMBER OF ROLLS
0-750 3
751-1250 4
1251-1500 5
1500+ 6
Left: Admiral Arthur Donald Duxford is commanding
the Britannian forces which form the core of Operation:
Bronze Typhoon, and as such he is perfectly placed to act
as the Commodore for any Kingdom of Britannia tabletop
force. Find out more about his traits in the Bronze Typhoon
Campaign Guide, or try rolling your own abilities for him using
our easy to use tables.
 
 D10 - Commodores

COMMAND TRAIT
D6 Trait Name Game Effect

Reputation for Persistent - This person does not inspire confidence in those around them. The
1
Failure Commodore reduces their Commodore Command Radius by half!

Once per Game Turn - This Ability may be activated during the Command
Segment of a non-Disordered Squadron's Activation provided a member of the
2 Perfect Plotting
Squadron is within Command Range of the Commodore’s Model. The Squadron does
not require a Spotter model to have Line of Sight to their intended target.

Persistent - This Ability may be activated before any cards can be played in the
3 Spy Master TACs Segment of the FIRST Game Turn. The Commodore may draw an additional
TAC from their Deck at random and add it in their TAC Hand.

Persistent - This Ability may be activated during the Command and Control Step
of the Command Segment in a Squadron’s Activation, provided a member of the
4 Coordinated Attack Squadron is within Command Radius of the Commodore’s Model. The Squadron
may ignore the restrictions for being Disordered when determining Firing Options
with Targeted Gunnery or Boarding Actions.
One per Game Turn - The Commodore may extol a Squadron within their
5 Not One Step Back Command Radius to automatically pass any a Disorder Tests it is required to take for
the remainder of the Game Turn. Activate this ability before rolling the Disorder Test.

Once per Game - Commodore may activate a ‘ready’ Squadron within their
6 With Me!! Command Radius directly after they have completed the Squadron activation of their
Flagship.

Competitive Commodores
During competitive play it seems reasonable that all players should be judged by their
own stewardship and tactical capability rather than relying of the luck of the gods in the
qualities of a random Commodore.

When playing a competitive game your Commodore always has the following abilities
irrespective of the MFV being used:

Command: Perfect Plotting, Not One Step Back

Aggressive: Send In My Best, Deadeye Gunnery
Defensive: Pass the Tools, Jury Rigger

• 209 •  
 D10 - Commodores

AGGRESSIVE TRAIT
D6 Trait Name Game Effect
We Shall Attack The
Persistent - All Ranged Attacks performed by the Force during the FIRST and
1 Enemy With The Sun
SECOND Game Turns at Range Band 4 suffer an additional -1 ‘To Hit’ modifier!
At Their Backs!

Close Range Once per Game Turn - Re-roll one Critical Effect Result against an enemy Model
2
Precision targeted by the Commodore’s Model within Range Band 1.

Once per Game Turn - This Ability may be activated during the Command
Send In
3 Segment of a Commodore's Activation. For the remainder of the Activation, the
My Best
Commodore's Model gains the Terror Tactics (4) MAR.

Once per Game - This Ability may be activated during the Command and Control
Strike Hard Step of the Commodore's Activation. All Models in the Force gain +2” Movement
4
and Fast! (Mv) for the duration of the Game Turn. This additional movement must be added to
a model’s Minimum Move where appropriate.

Once per Game - This Ability may be activated during Declaring Attacks Step of the
Firing Segment of a non-Disordered Squadron's Activation provided a member of the
Deadeye
5 firing Squadron is within Command Radius of the Commodore’s Model. ALL Attacks
Gunnery
executed with Primary Gunnery from the Squadron that cause a Critical Hit cause the
target to lose an additional D3-1 Hull Points [HP].

Once Per Game - This Ability may be activated during the Command Segment of a
non-Disordered Squadron's Activation provided a member of the Squadron is within
Weapons
6 the Command Radius of the Commodore’s Model. The Squadron may elect to re-roll
Free!
ALL of the INITIAL Attack Dice from an Attack using Secondary Weaponry. Only
INITIAL Dice are re-rolled and the second result MUST be accepted.

No Commodore may have more than two Traits
on the same table, meaning that Commodores will
always have a combination of Command, Strategic
or Logistics Traits. Equally no Commodore may ever
duplicate the same Trait.
Those players deciding to let fate decide their
Commodore should roll a D6 and refer to the table
(re-rolling any duplicates).
If you and your opponent have decided to choose
your traits ignore the D6 column in the tables and
simply decide which ones you want!
• Each Trait will have a ‘trigger point’ noted at the
beginning of their rules text. This denote when
the Trait can be activated.
• Persistent Traits are in play from the beginning
of the Game. These tend to be less powerful than
the rest but can give players a good basis for a
Commodore.
• Once per Game Turn Traits are reasonably
powerful and should be used as often as possible!
• Once per Game Traits are the most powerful
and so are restricted to being only used once!

• 210 •  
 D10 - Commodores

DEFENSIVE TRAIT
D6 Trait Name Game Effect

Requisitioned For My Persistent - The Commodore has stripped the Force bare of essential equipment and
1
Personal Transport supplies. All successful Repair Rolls in the Force suffer a -1 to their result.

Perfect Once per Game Turn - One Squadron within the Command Radius of the Commo-
2
Reconnaissance dore’s Model may re-roll any INITIAL failed Treacherous Terrain Test.

Once per Game Turn - One Model within Command Radius of the Commodore’s
3 Pass the Tools
Model may re-roll a single failed Repair attempt.

Local Air Persistent - The Commodore demands additional support from local airfields.
4
Superiority Increase the number of Local Air Support Squadrons available to the force by +1.

Persistent - This Ability may be activated at the beginning of the Compulsory

Actions Segment of the End Phase. The Commodore's Model can automatically
Jury
5 remove a single Critical Effect Markers or Persistent Effect Markers affecting it. Roll a
Rigger
D6 for each Marker removed by the Ability. For each roll of a 6, the vessel loses one
Hull Point (HP).
Once per Game Turn - This Ability may be activated during the Command
Segment of a Squadron's Activation provided a member of the Squadron is within
Battle
Command Radius of the Commodore’s Model. Until the End Phase of the current
6 Drilled
Game Turn, the Squadron may elect to re-roll ALL the INITIAL Attack Dice in any
Ack Ack
SINGLE Attack, Counter Attack, or Anti-Boarding Fire roll using Ack Ack (AA).
INITIAL Dice are re-rolled and the second result MUST be accepted.

USING SUB-COMMANDERS • Sub-Commanders have a single Trait. Just as

These individuals can be viewed as experienced ship
captains, aeronautical fleet leaders or generals of
grand armoured battle groups. They exist below the
rank of Commodore and can be a fun way of adding
in a narrative to represent other individuals you may
have in your force.
Sub-Commanders are governed by the following
rules:
• They may only be allocated to Large or Massive
Models and must be clearly noted on the Force
List.
• They may not be added to Robots or to any Model
that already has the Commodore aboard.
• Should the Commodore move to a Model that has
a Sub-Commander on-board, the sub-Commander
is lost… the Commodore takes over!
with Commodores, players can elect to roll the
single Trait, choose it or choose to use a Special
Sub-Commander from their Force Lists.
• Sub-Commanders exert a Commodore Command
Radius of 4”.
• Models with a Sub Commander on-board gain
the Strategic Value (25) Model Assigned Rule.
Remember if the model already has the Strategic
Value MAR, simply increase the Value by 25.
We would recommend players think about
the narrative they are trying to create with their
Sub-Commanders. In most cases its best to only have
a few sub-Commanders so as not to detract from
the Commodore, so perhaps setting a limit of 1 per
full 1000 Points of MFV being played is best…. Of
course, feel free to ignore this advice and make each
Large and Massive in your force have a commander
if you choose!

• 211 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
Dystopian Wars
Flashpoint Rules
C ampaigns are a very personal experience, some
are played by massed groups in games clubs and
can last for weeks, months and, in some cases, years
at a time! Sometimes it is just two players deciding
to delve into the narrative of their favourite game
and world.
The challenge is therefore to is design a campaign
framework that appeals to each and every gamer no
matter their sized of group or frequency of play.
At Spartan Games we sat down, with various types
of grape and grain to assist us, and brainstormed the
common factors we believed are present in all types
of campaign games. Our plan was to understand the
reasons why players would want a campaign system,
but also why many don’t actually play them!? Below
we have headlined some our conclusions:
NARRATIVE
No campaign works without an exciting narrative.
There needs to be a basic premise, location and
ongoing motive for gameplay... otherwise you are
simply playing a friendly or competitive game with
a new skin on it.
Keeping the narrative going over a long period
of time across the entirety of the Dystopian World
would be an insurmountable challenge of course, so
clearly it is easier to parcel it up into smaller stories,
using what we refer to as the idea of ‘Flashpoints’ to
build an ongoing narrative in specific parts of the
world.
This is something we first delved into with such
campaign books as Hurricane Season, Storm Of Steel
and Operation Sirocco. This allowed us to accelerate
the global conflict, but still control the storytelling. It
• 212 •
also had the benefit of allowing us to create detailed
campaign maps that players could use to build up a
‘picture’ of the Dystopian World.
GAME BALANCE VS NARRATIVE
In the narrative space it is not that important to make
a campaigning system that is exactly balanced, either
statistically speaking or in generalised gameplay
terms.
It is the STORY that matters, not if one player wins
or loses. This is an important distinction between
Campaign Games and Friendly/Competitive Games,
something which might take some players a bit of
getting used to.
What we would therefore ask is that players
remember they are part of the story and not the story
when playing campaign games… winning is almost
secondary.
PLAYER AVAILABILITY
One of the major issues of running a campaign is the
fact that not everybody is always available to play out
their games - life has a frustrating way of getting in
the way of our wargaming!
So it is clear that we need a means by which to
resolve games without actual gameplay, but make
that resolution much harsher to all involved –
we want to encourage games, but accept that not
everyone can be available all the time.
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
TIME BOUND PRESSURES
We all have anecdotal stories about our wargaming,
and while creating this chapter we collated a few
choice ones. One of most infamous stories that had
us all laughing about was a WWII campaign that
actually lasted longer than the conflict itself!
Clearly this is untenable for most people, so
a campaign game that lasts a set number of weeks
(both in gameplay and in real time) seems a good
way to allow players to get their fill of campaigning
without it dominating their entire hobby.
INEVITABILITY OF CAMPAIGNS
VS. THE STURGINIUM AGE
And of course we need to include enough weirdness
and chaos to reflect the true nature of our exciting
and thought-provoking Dystopian World! Whilst
conventional warfare is often a series of engagements
leading towards an inevitable logistical/will abundance
vs. logistical/will shortfall conclusion, the Dystopian
World is far more complex and flexible.
• 213 •
BUILDING A CAMPAIGN
Our Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
System is therefore designed to provide an exciting
narrative mechanism to allow players to build a
framework into their games of Dystopian Wars. It
will involve the careful marshalling of resources,
both materiel and labour to achieve this, not to
mention a coldblooded devotion to the goals of their
relative Factions.
The battles players fight against each other will be
of their own choosing on the parts of the map they
themselves have deployed forces into. A multitude of
tactics are open to players, such as resource capture,
enemy destruction, punitive raids on population
centres and even a scorched earth policy for those
with more homicidal tendencies!
In the following pages we will discuss some of
the components you will need to successfully play a
Dystopian Flashpoint Campaign:
1. Campaign Map
2. Tile Upgrades
3. Battle Groups
4. Campaign Sheet
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

1. CAMPAIGN MAP
On the previous page is an example of a starter
campaign map which we have called Flashpoint:
Harmattan, located just off the African Coast. As
you can see, there are several important geographical
points noted on the map such as cities and supply/
trade routes, etc.
Flashpoint Campaigns will use a hex-based
bespoke Campaign Map to focus the gameplay to just
one area of the Dystopian World. Clearly there are
many Flashpoints happening at the same time in this
global war, but for the purposes of the narrative, we
will recommend that players focus on just one map
at a time. But this can be managed and influenced by
your group itself.
Over time we will provide a series of maps for
digital download as PDFs, along with templates that
will assist you in creating maps which match up to
your own planned campaigns.

Area Of Influence
This represents the amount of land and sea a player
controls with their chosen Faction. This is, however,
fluid as territory will change hands frequently in
many of the Flashpoint areas as forces thrust and
counter thrust across the map.
The Area of Influence of a Faction will be
represented by the Tiles they control with the
placement of a Fortification Dice marked in their
colour or by an Undeveloped Tile Upgrade marker
painted in the same colour.
2. TILE MARKERS
Clearly not every hex on a campaign map will be
the same as each other. Some areas will be highly
industrialised, some will have heavy population
densities, some may be rural farmland, some may be
barren and yet to feel the machinery of modern man.
To represent this we use Tile Markers. These
should be painted so that they can appear generic,
thus able to be used by all Factions. As time goes by
you may want to add in more Upgrades, especially
when the campaigns last for a long time and players
fortify, develop and construct upon existing Tiles!
Tile Markers used in the game include: Military
Installations, Population Centre, Industrial
Heartland, Breadbasket Area and Undeveloped.
Example Tile Markers
Above are examples of the five Tile Markers
that will be sold as part of our Campaign
Packs – a free downloadable graphic of
each will also be made available.
From top to bottom we have: Military
Installation, Breadbasket Area, Industrial
Heartland, Undeveloped and Population
Centre.
There is a slot for a micro dice which
is used to denote the current level of
fortification of the Tile. Each faction in
any Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
should be allocated a colour of micro dice,
so identifying the player who controls the
Tile, and hence the infrastructure is quickly
identified as being owned by a player.

• 214 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
Military Installation Markers are categorised as
airfields, bunker complexes, troop muster points,
secret hidden bases, or any other esoteric defensive
locations that might shelter troops in times of war.
The also act as bastions, defending the soft
underbelly of many empires with a shield of
stone, iron and flesh. Campaign rules for Military
Installations see them generate 1 Resource Point per
Game Turn and have a starting Fortification Level
of 4.
Population Centre Markers are large towns or cities
which may hold millions of souls, keen to live out
their lives consuming all the pleasures and comforts
afforded by the Dystopian Age.
Such locations are prime targets for occupation
however and only the foolhardy leave such Jewels Of
Empire undefended. Population Centres generate 2
Resource Points per Game Turn and have a starting
Fortification Level of 2.
Industrial Heartland Markers have huge levels
of production and industry. They are often heavily
polluted with the lives of their workers ground down
in unremitting toil – such is the price of progress.
Industrial Heartlands generate 1 Resource Point per
Game Turn, can additionally generate Sturginium
Points and have a starting Fortification Level of 1.
Breadbasket Area Markers are classically rural in
their focus, with huge tracts of land being put over to
production of any number of foodstuffs. Breadbasket
Marker generate 2 Resource Points per Game Turn
and have a starting Fortification Level of 1.
Undeveloped Markers are self-explanatory. Not
every area on the campaign map has a specific focus,
being occupied by numerous smaller settlements that
have no dominant type of production. Undeveloped
Markers generate 0 Resource Points per Game Turn
and have No Fortification Level.
3. BATTLE GROUP COUNTERS
Below are examples of Battle Group Markers which
you will use on a campaign map to identify your
military forces. These are armies or fleets of your
• 215 •
best fighting personnel tasked with defending your
holdings in a Flashpoint Area, or you can use them
to take the fight to your enemies!
Each of our resin or acrylic Battle Group Markers
has a number on it so that you can identify it on your
Campaign Sheet. We would recommend that players
paint these, and it’s a good idea to make sure that
your Battle Groups Markers are clearly identifiable
to your opponents.
4. 6-SIDED DICE
The Flashpoint Campaign System uses six-sided dice
which are rolled using either the Exploding (RED
D6) or Basic (BLACK D6) dice mechanic. You will
need around 15 Dice.
5. CAMPAIGN SHEET
The Campaign Sheet is a living document that will
change during the course of the campaign to act as a
record of your achievements and to record any losses
suffered by your forces.
On the sheet you will create your Battle Groups
and allocate Logistics Points to them. You will also
allocate excess resources to a Faction’s Stockpile –
think of this like a bank of unspent resource that you
can draw upon later when times are tough!
The Campaign Sheet will be constantly updated
in the game so if players are using a paper version
they might want to also use a pencil and eraser to
keep everything together.
You can download a PDF version of a blank
Campaign Sheet from the Spartan Games website at
www.spartangames.co.uk.
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

Below is an example of a typical Campaign Sheet for a campaign. You can see that Marc is doing
pretty well with his Prussian Forces in this ongoing campaign. Battle Groups 1, 2 and 5 are likely tasked
with defending their base of operations, whereas the other Armoured and Aerial Battle Groups have a
freer ranging role. The Naval Battle Groups 7 to 9 might be tasked at this point to attack enemy shipping
lanes. Finally, it’s important to mention that Battle Group 10 has been allocated as an Amphibious Battle
Group, meaning that the group is in fact an armoured one that can move on the sea!
Marc has also elected to purchase Logistics Points which will help the Forces under his command
survive the rigours of the upcoming campaign. See Logistics Points on Page 218.

PLAY SHEET
FACTION: PRUSSIANS
PLAYER DAVE STOCKPILED
3
RESOURCES:
BATTLE CORE LOGISTICS
MFV
GROUP #1 FORCE POINTS

BG1 ARMOURED 1600 4

BG2 ARMOURED 1000 2

BG3 ARMOURED 1000 2

BG4 ARMOURED 850 1

BG5 AIR 1600 3

BG6 AIR 800 1

BG7 NAVAL 800 1

BG8 NAVAL 750 1

BG9 NAVAL 750 1

1600
BG10 NAVAL 3
(Amphibious)

• 216 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
GETTING STARTED
No battle in Dystopian Wars can be executed without
the will of higher powers directing forces into
warzones, often for reasons that are inscrutable to
those tasked with the execution of their missions.
In the Flashpoint setting YOU are that higher
power, directing your forces according to YOUR
will… but even you have someone to report to!
Perhaps it is the Empress herself if you are a Blazing
Sun player, or the Britannian Parliament, or the Tsar
and his court...
All Flashpoint Campaigns have a Briefing
Document for each of the Factions involved and will
also have a detailed version of the Campaign Map to
show where their starting deployments should be.
We would strongly urge that players DO NOT
read a Briefing Document that is not intended
for them as each Briefing will have a set of Secret
Objectives the player of that faction will often be
required to execute.
Each Briefing Document will be arranged to
summarise the starting position of the Faction
involved along with a starting point for the enemy’s
infrastructure in the form of Upgrade Tiles. Some
Battle Groups belonging to the enemy may also be
represented, but not all of them!
KEY OBJECTIVES AND
CAMPAIGN POINTS
Each player will receive a briefing from their High
Command Staff where the Key Objectives of the
upcoming campaign will be outlined – these could
include the elimination of an area’s military assets,
the destruction of Industrial Heartlands or, in
extreme cases, the destruction of specific cities!
Achieving Key Objectives during a campaign’s
Game Turn will generate a player Campaign Points.
All Factions involved in the campaign will have a
set number of Campaign Points they must score
to consider themselves victorious – remember, no
campaign is intended to be balanced, it is there to
facilitate the story of what has already happened…
but, that is not to say that a player with the odds
stacked against them cannot re-write history!
• 217 •
Campaign Points
Every Objective achieved by the end of a game will
be worth an amount of Campaign Points. These are
not scored until the end of a game, but should a
player achieve a condition that does not require them
to hold a Tile at the end of the game (perhaps they
were to destroy a famous Dreadnought, or execute
a scorched earth policy on a number of settlements,
etc.) the player should note on their Campaign Sheet
that they achieved the Objective.
Campaign Requisites
Players will also be limited to a starting number of
resources that can be drawn upon to bring them
closer to their eventual victory. See below.
Starting Sturginium Points (SP)
Each Faction engaging in the campaign will be
allocated a number of Sturginium Points (SP) from
the beginning. These points represent the high level
of industrial capability each Faction has, or is willing
to allocate within the campaign. Sturginium Points
are used at the end of the Game Turn to build larger
fortifications and some of the more monolithic
warmachines fielded by the factions such as
Dreadnoughts. These are precious resources however
and so should be marshalled carefully. Obtaining
more Sturginium is very difficult in the game… that’s
why there is a war on!
Starting Resource Points (RP)
All Factions will start with a set number of Resource
Points which can be allocated in a number of ways:
• Battle Group Allocation – Each player will be
required to build a number of Battle Groups
to defend their empires or bring down enemy
cities. To build a Battle Group a player allocates
a number of Resource Points to it and multiplies
that number by 100 to create the Battle Group’s
starting MFV. At the beginning of a Game Turn
a Battle Group MUST contain at least 400 points
of Dystopian Wars assets and may not contain
more than 1600 points of Dystopian Wars assets.
The Battle Group must also be clearly marked
on a player’s Campaign Sheet as being either an
Armoured, Naval or Aerial core force. This is
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
important because as the game develops players
will need to ensure that forces can in fact engage
each other!
• Logistical Allocation – Logistics Points are vital
for the continued operations of the Battle Groups
created by a faction. Armies or Fleets that are
intending to operate a long way from supply lanes
or population centres would ensure they allocate
points in the correct way. A Logistics Point costs
ONE Resource Point and a Battle Group may
never have more than 6 Logistics Points at any
given time.
• Stockpile Allocation – Any number of Resource
Points may be allocated to remain in the coffers
of a faction to be used later in the game. This
can sometimes be a very good idea since few can
predict the arrows of outrageous fortune that
often beset forces in the Dystopian World!
SUPPLY ROUTES
These will be clearly shown on a Briefing Map, along
with the requirements for them to deliver their
Resource. In most cases this will require a simply
supply line of owned Tiles to a friendly Population
Centre or Base of Operations be available, but in
other, more unusual cases, special stipulations may
be applied. This will depend on the narrative being
told in the Flashpoint Campaign.
MAXIMUM BATTLE GROUP
NUMBERS
In all Flashpoint Campaigns, each player will have
a maximum cap on the number of individual Battle
Groups that can be fielded. In most cases this will
be fixed throughout the Campaign, but in some
instances factions may gain access to more as a
campaign develops.
STARTING TILE PLACEMENT AND
DEPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
All parts of a Campaign Map will have specific
locations identified with Tile Upgrades, along
with who controls them. This shows the starting
Upgrade Tile placement during the first week of the
Flashpoint. Remember that Tiles can change hands
multiple times during a campaign and may even be
wiped out, leaving an undeveloped Tile!
• 218 •
This part of the briefing will also highlight if
there are any specific deployment conditions where
a Faction will be called upon to place at least one
Battle Group in a specific Tile. This might represent a
garrison, a marauding Battle Group attacking coastal
settlements or even a besieged defender desperately
trying to hold out against the odds.
DREADNOUGHT LIMITATIONS
In many Flashpoint Campaigns access to
Dreadnought size models will be restricted. This is
designed to represent the huge investment of time
and resource that goes into these huge warships,
airships and armoured beasts.
In some cases, it will be necessary for players to
note on their Campaign Sheet if a Battle Groups has
a Dreadnought present. If the available MFV of the
Battle Group drops below the required amount of
points needed to field the actual model in a game of
Dystopian Wars, the Dreadnought is lost, although
the remaining points remain. Note this is highly
likely to result in the Battle Group being Scattered
as there are very few Dreadnoughts that cost over
400 Points.
FLASHPOINT DURATION
This will give the players an idea of how many Game
Turns the Flashpoint narrative will run. Players
should feel free to increase or decrease this number
if they wish to play a longer or shorter campaign.
We have put this into the rules to give the
campaign’s narrative a definite beginning, middle
and end to facilitate the story we are looking to
tell… but the timeframe is not set in stone…it is your
campaign so if you want to change it, go for it!
INITIAL BATTLE GROUP
DEPLOYMENT
Prior to the first Game Turn, players must place
the Battle Groups they intend to use in the game.
Starting with the player who has the initiative players
should place all their Battle Groups on the Map.
In some cases, a Briefing Document may dictate
the places where a Battle Group must deploy, along
with its Type, but in most cases a player is free to
place a Battle Group anywhere within their own Area
of Influence.
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

THE GAME TURN 1. Operations Segment – This is where the ability of

The dangerous Dystopian World is not to be trifled
with, and only the foolish or foolhardy expect to
survive it unscathed.
During a Game Turn, Battle Groups will contest
with each other over vital resources, shipping lanes,
population centres, military fortifications or other
strategic locations.
Each Game Turn ends with a ‘book-keeping’ phase
called the End Phase which is designed to represent
the various actions that might occur during the
Game Turn itself but are best resolved at the end.
A Game Turn is divided into what we refer to as
‘Weeks’ to represent actions that happen in a space of
time. Clearly some of these actions will not take that
long, and some might take longer… the term Week
simply gives us a reference point.
During the Game Turn each player takes an
individual go one after the other. To determine who
goes first in a Game Turn refer to the Briefing for the
narrative campaign you are playing. If no turn order
is stated, roll 2D6 for each player picking the highest
result to determine the order of play - in the event of
a tie keep rolling until there is a winner.
During their individual go a player works through
the sequence listed to the right for each Battle Group
under their control. Once every player has completed
an activation with each Battle Group they have the
Game Turn moves to the End Phase.
Each Battle Group will activate in the following
sequence, completing each of the FIVE segments in
its entirety before moving on to the next:
the Battle Group to draw its line of supply back to its
Base of Operations or other supply point is checked.
2. Scouting and Movement Segment – The Battle
Group tests to see if it can move from one Tile to
another… or if their scouting forces have suffered
some sort of mishap. Once this is done the Battle
Group makes a move to an adjacent Tile.
3. Battle Segment – The Battle Group engages
enemy forces on the Tile they occupy. Battles can
take the form of Bombardments, Storming Actions
or simple toe-to-toe Conflicts.
4. Scorched Earth Segment – The Battle Group
may elect to raid an uncontested Tile, causing untold
damage to its infrastructure and populace.
5. Reorganisation Segment – If several friendly
Battle Groups are on the same Tile, they may combine
to create a new Battle Group. This is particularly
important for Battle Groups that have suffered losses,
but remember that no Battle Group may ever exist
with less than 400 points or above 1600 points.

The power of a campaign system is that there

is far more to it than just killing your enemies!
Sturginium (Element 270) is a critical resource
for every nation of the world.... the glowing green
wonder element used to power everything from
simple lights to Teleporation Generators!

• 219 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

1. THE OPERATIONS SEGMENT Supply Shortfall

Battle Groups require constant support from any
number of resources to remain operational. Be it
ammunition, replacement parts, troop reinforcement
or beer, all armies require the hard work and
diligence of their quartermasters and supply officers
to keep them fighting on in the theatre of war! In the
Flashpoint Campaign Game this is covered by the
Operations Segment.
A Battle Group can exist as either Operational OR
suffering a Supply Shortfall.
Supply Shortfalls can be avoided under the following
conditions:
• Supply Lines – A Battle Group is considered to be
Operational if it can draw a clear line though hexes
it controls to a Population Centre (assuming it is not
suffering under a Bombardment) or to their Base of
Operations.
• Supply Entry Points – In some campaign games
there might be a Supply Entry Point shown on the
map. This is simply a part of the map where a player
can otherwise draw a supply line from. It functions
the same as a Population Centre but cannot be placed
under a Bombardment…but it can be captured,
essentially cutting the throat of the enemy player! A
Battle Group is considered to be Operational if it can
draw a clear line though hexes it controls to a Supply
Entry Point that is under their control.
• Logistics Points – A Battle Group can also choose
to spend a Logistics Point that is held by the Battle
Group to ensure is remains Operational.
Should a Battle Group fail to fulfil one of the
conditions above it will suffer a Supply Shortfall. If
this happens roll a D6 for the Battle Group and refer
to the table at the bottom of this page.
The owning player must remove the number
of points lost from the affected Battle Group
immediately. Think of these losses as being the
inevitable attrition of operating in the field, perhaps
brought on by storms, guerrilla actions, or any
number of unfortunate circumstances.
Should the Battle Group drop below the
minimum size required for a group to be considered
to be functional (400pts), then it is considered to be
Scattered.
Scattered Battle Groups
A Scattered Battle Group must return to its Base
of Operations or a friendly Population Centre
(assuming it is not suffering under a Bombardment)
during its Movement Segment by the most preferred
route possible (chosen by the controlling player). If
the Battle Group ends its movement on a Tile with a
friendly Battle group it may still attempt to perform
a Reorganising Action, but otherwise it may not
engage in any Battles unless attacked itself, nor may
the Battle Group be used to capture Tiles.

SUPPLY SHORTFALL TABLE

D6 Effect Result

1 Withering Losses Lose D6 x 100 Points of MFV from the Battle Group.

2 Botched Repairs Lose D6 x 75 Points of MFV from the Battle Group.

3 Hard Choices Lose D6 x 50 Points of MFV from the Battle Group.

4 Minimal Losses Lose D6 x 25 Points of MFV from the Battle Group.

5-6 Patched Job The Battle Group may continue as normal… just!

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 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

2. SCOUTING AND MOVEMENT Impossible Scouting Actions - Obviously is would

SEGMENT
Large Battle Groups require careful manoeuvring,
with outriders being used to scout ahead of the main
force to ensure the way is clear of obstructions. Once
the Battle Group has completed its reconnaissance
it will move en-masse bringing all the power of its
fighting might with it!
The actions required in this segment of a Battle
Group’s activation are resolved in the following
manner:
A. Scouting Declarations
B. Scouting Resolution
C. Battle Group Movement
D. Additional Movement
A. SCOUTING DECLARATION
When Scouting a Tile that does not belong to
the same faction, players must make a Scouting
Declaration with the Battle Group intending to move
into the Tile.
be unreasonable for a Naval Core Force to scout a
purely Land Tile because it cannot move into that
Tile and vice versa. The exception to this are Air
Battle Groups, who can move anywhere!
B. SCOUTING RESOLUTION
When scouting a Tile that does not belong to
the owning player, a Battle Group must roll 3D6
[BLACK] and get at least ONE success on a 4, 5 or 6.
In certain scenario conditions, more successes might
be required, but the default roll only requires one
success.
If a Battle Group fails to roll the required number
of successes to successfully Scout the Tile, it has
suffered a Recon Mishap and must roll 2D6 and refer
to the table below:

RECON MISHAP TABLE

2D6 Result Effect
A mass desertion amongst the force captains leads to the Battle Group suffering D6x
2 Mutiny!
100 MFV losses and apply the Fractured Orders result.!
Reduce the amount of Logistics Points held by the Battel Group by D3. If the Battle
3-4 Supplies Lost Group has no Logistics Points, check to see if it is still Operational and apply the
Fractured Orders result.

5-6 Fractured Orders The Battle Group may not move this Turn.

The scouting forces bungle their attempt and accidentally scout the wrong Tile. Roll
Communications
7 a D6 marking the preferred Tile as 1, ticking round the Tile in a clockwise direction.
Breakdown
The number indicated is the actual Tile scouted.
8-9 Fractured Orders The Battle Group may not move this Turn.
The recon forces encounter an enemy supply convoy and ‘liberate’ the vital supplies
10-11 Opportunity Knocks they carried. Increase the Logistics Points of the Battle Group by D3 and apply the
Fractured Orders result.
The scouts encounter a rogue faction (pirates or brigands or simply dilettantes with
12 Mercs for Hire! machinery!) Increase the size of the MFV by D6 x 100 and apply the Fractured
Orders result.

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 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
C. BATTLE GROUP MOVEMENT
Assuming no impossible moves are attempted (see
above) a Battle Group may move to any adjacent Tile
that is part of their Faction. If a Battle Group wishes
to move to a Tile that is NOT belonging to their
Faction (either because it is unknown or belongs to
the enemy) they must have successfully performed a
Recon Action in their last Recon Segment.
Once a Battle Group has completed its movement,
should the enemy be present on the Tile they will
both progress to the Battle Segment where the
carnage will ensue!
Impossible Moves - Obviously, Land Forces can’t
be expected to move on the North Atlantic Ocean,
likewise Naval Forces will have a hard time fighting
a battle on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. No
Naval Battle Group may move onto a Tile that is
entirely covered by Land unless it was previously
part of an Amphibious Naval Battle Group (see Page
225). No Armoured Battle Group may move onto an
exclusively Water Tile unless it has merged with an
Amphibious Naval Battle Group on the same Tile.
Capturing A Tile - Should a Battle Group succeed
in scouting an unoccupied Tile and elects to move
onto it, the Tile becomes part of their Faction’s Area
Of Influence – the player then places the coloured
dice of their Faction showing the Fortification Value
of the upgrade captured. In the case of Undeveloped
Tiles, simply place the Undeveloped Upgrade on
the Tile to represent your capturing it. If however,
an enemy Battle Group is present, the player cannot
capture the Tile until a Battle is fought!
Maximum Tile Occupancy - When gathered
together in large numbers in a restricted space,
any fighting force will lose its cohesion and would
be vulnerable to guerrilla attacks from faster, more
mobile forces. To prevent the situation arising, no
Tile may ever have more than 3000 Points from a
single Faction on it at any one time. Of course, this
does not apply when two rival Factions clash on a
tile in combat!
• 222 •
Advanced Rule - Voluntary
Withdrawal
In some cases, a Battle Group attacked by the enemy
may wish to voluntarily withdraw. This is an out
of sequence Movement Action which is permitted
provided all players in the campaign have agreed to
use this Advanced Rule.
A Battle Group that does not wish to fight a battle
against an enemy Battle Group can elect to move to
another adjacent Tile provided it is unoccupied and
still exists within their Area Of Influence.
A Battle Group that moves in this fashion has
quite literally abandoned the populace to their fate,
leaving at a moment’s notice and so must abandon
all Logistics Points it has accumulated over the
campaign, leaving them for the invading Battle
Group to capture.
D. ADDITIONAL MOVEMENT
Aerial Battle Groups
These Battle Groups are considerably faster than
their surface based counterparts and can be expected
to move across all forms of terrain be it sea or land.
When moving an Aerial Core Battle Group players
may elect move up to TWO Tiles in one Movement
Segment.
Aerial Battle Groups are not required to scout the
Tiles they move onto…they are simply too high up
to worry about such things. However Aerial Battle
Groups may never capture the Tiles they travel over
and may not claim any Fortification Bonus from a
Tile they are on, even if it already exists within their
Area Of Influence.
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

3. BATTLE SEGMENT Auto-Resolve Battles

The Dystopian Wars have devolved into a series of
brutal and unremitting conflicts between the global
powers. Equally there are numerous minor factions
and mercenary groups that bring further chaos to the
world with their shifting allegiances and individual
agendas. War is a global threat, and no populace is
free of its touch.
Dystopian Battles
Clearly the aim of this campaign system is to
encourage the playing of Dystopian Wars in all its
theatres and contexts. We expect players so struggle
over land, air and sea to show who has dominance
over the area covered under the Flashpoint.
When it comes to a battle played out on the
games table, remember you are playing in a narrative
campaign, so it is always a good idea to set up the
terrain to reflect the conditions – if you are fighting
over a stretch of coastline, then having a side of the
table that is one continuous land mass makes sense!
Also, players might wish to disregard the Hidden
Orders rules focusing instead on the 70% Order. Or
you might decide to change the Deployment rules, or
choose not to use Tactical Action Cards, it really up
to you. It is your campaign after all!
Just remember the focus is on telling the story
rather than just winning the game. If you stick to
that you shouldn’t have any problems converting the
game to any situation or environment you choose.
Once a winner in the battle has been determined,
players should refer to the table below:
Players might not always be willing or able to resolve
all their battles on the tabletop every time. Given this
is one of the biggest reasons why campaigns fail in
the long run, we have included rules to allow players
to resolve their battles automatically.
There are 2 types of Auto-Resolve Battles possible
in this segment: Bombardments and Conflicts
Actions.
1. Bombardments happen when two opposing
Battle Groups are present and Defender decides to
retire behind the fortifications that are built on the
Tile they control. No direct battle is fought, and the
defender must test to see if their fortifications will
hold out long enough for them to call in relief forces.
2. Conflicts take place when two opposing Battle
Groups meet and neither wishes to (or is able to!)
retire to defences. Given this type of Battle is likely to
be the most frequent, we will look at these rules first!
To resolve a Conflict each player must announce
the total number of MFV all Battle Groups involved.
The players then refer to the Battle Dice Table where
their MFV is rounded down to the nearest 200 Points.
BATTLE DICE TABLE
MFV Attack Dice Rolled
400-599 3

DYSTOPIAN WARS BATTLE RESOLUTION TABLE 600-799 4

800-999 5
Game Result Points Lost
1000-1199 6
Winner loses D6 x 50 Points of
Major Victory MFV. Loser loses D6 x 100 Points 1200-1399 7
of MFV and must Retreat. 1400-1599 8
Winner loses D6 x 50 Points of 1600-1799 9
Minor Victory MFV. Loser loses D6 x 50 Points of
1800-1999 10
MFV and must Retreat.
2000-2199 11
Both Sides lose D6 x 50 Points of
Draw 2200+ 12
MFV and Attacker Falls Back.

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Strategic Dominance Resolving an Off-Table Battle

Armoured Forces have a clear strategic advantage To resolve a battle each player now rolls their
in the Dystopian World over enemy Aerial Battle respective Battle Dice requiring a 4, 5 or (RED) 6 to
Groups, especially when they are dug in! Naval generate a success.
Forces can severely maul enemy Land Forces who The Defender can gain additional successes from
must suffer the massed firepower of the ship-mounted a Defence Bonus if it is occupying a Fortified Tile. See
guns that pound them apart with relative impunity, the table below:
Aerial Battle Groups excel in hunting down enemy
Naval Battle Groups using their manoeuvrability and DEFENCE BONUS TABLE
the element of surprise to strike without warning. Tile Type Defence Bonus
When two different types of Core Battle Group Base of Operations +4
engage each other on the Campaign Map refer to the
Military Installation +3
table to ascertain any Strategic Dominance bonus/
Population Centre +2
penalty which is applied to the Attacking Battle
Group’s Battle Dice. Industrial Heartland +1
Breadbasket +1

STRATEGIC DOMINANCE Undeveloped 0

DEFENDER
Remember Aerial Battle Groups do NOT gain any
ATTACKER NAVAL AERIAL ARMOURED Fortification bonuses from the Tile they are on. They
rise above those defences.
ARMOURED -2 +2 0

AERIAL +2 0 -2 Once both players have totalled their successes

NAVAL 0 -2 +2 (including Defensive Bonuses) compare the number
of successes to the Battle Resolution Table below:

BATTLE RESOLUTION TABLE

D6 Effect Result
Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Attacker wins by 4+ Defenders Rout
Defender loses D6+2 x100 Points of MFV and is Dispersed.
Thumping Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Attacker wins by 3
Triumph Defender loses D6+1 x100 Points of MFV and is Dispersed.
Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Attacker wins by 2 Decisive Victory
Defender loses D6 x100 Points of MFV and must Retreat.
Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Attacker wins by 1 Narrow Win
Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV and must Retreat.
Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV and must Fall Back.
Draw Stalemate
Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Defender wins by 1 Narrow Loss
Attacker loses D6 x50 Points of MFV and must Retreat.
Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Defender wins by 2 Decisive Defeat
Attacker loses D6 x100 Points of MFV and must Retreat.
Ignominious Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Defender wins by 3
Downfall Attacker loses D6+1 x100 Points of MFV and is Dispersed.
Defender loses D6 x50 Points of MFV.
Defender wins by 4+ Humiliation!
Attacker loses D6+2 x100 Points of MFV and is Dispersed.

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Dispersed – The Battle Group affected moves to an Bombardments

adjacent unoccupied Tile and must test to see if it is
still Operational. If it is unable to move, OR suffers
any form of Supply Shortfall (even if it is able to carry
on) it is destroyed.
Retreat – The Battle Group affected moves to an
adjacent unoccupied Tile and must test to see if it
is still Operational. If it cannot move it is destroyed.
Fall Back – The Battle Group moves to an adjacent
unoccupied Tile. If unable to do so it is destroyed.
Amphibious Battle Groups
Amphibious Battle Groups are considered to be have
a Naval Core Type until they move into a Tile which
has Land on it. At which point the player may elect
to change the Core Type of the Battle Group to being
Armoured instead of Naval. Note this is only possible
when a Battle Group moves and not when an enemy
engages them by moving onto a Tile the Amphibious
Battle Group currently occupies.
Amphibious Battle Groups are not as combat
effective as their Naval counterparts, giving up
firepower and durability for the flexibility to deploy
armoured forces. These unusual Battle Groups count
their MFV as being HALF the number of points
listed on their Campaign Sheet until it commits to
becoming an Armoured Battle Group, at which time
it reverts to its full MFV.
Not every battle will be resolved immediately.
Some attacking Battle Groups may elect to soften up
their targets first with a series of devastating barrages
from their artillery, protracted bombing raids or even
bringing their huge ship guns to bear!
If a defending enemy player elects to make use
of the Defensive Bonus listed on the micro-d6 on
their Upgrade Marker on the Tile in a battle, the
attacker can elect to break off their attack and revert
to a Bombardment instead. The normal process of
conflicts is halted at this point and the following
rules are used instead.
Bombardments require considerable resources
both to deliver and to withstand. To execute a
Bombardment the attacker MUST first spend a
Logistics Point. If it cannot spend a point, it cannot
execute Bombardment.
If they do so the Bombardment will rain down on
the target causing considerable damage and hardship
to those under its wrath. The Defender must first
spend a Logistics Points, or suffer a Supply Shortfall
(rolling on the Shortfall Table as normal), after this
the attacker rolls a D6 for each point of Fortification
Bonus the Tile has.
Each roll of a (BLACK) 4, 5 or 6, the Tile loses a
point on its Fortification Bonus permanently. See the
example below:

For Example, A Britannian Naval Battle Group (Blue 1) enters a

hex that is occupied by a Prussian Armoured Battle Group (Red 6),
forcing a Battle to take place.
The Prussian Armoured Battle Group has chosen to shelter
behind the defences of an Industrial Port (Red dice 4). The
Britannian Battle Group elects to Bombard the tile rather than
storm the heavily fortified defenders.
The Britannian Force spends its Logistics Point to deliver its
Bombardment, then the Prussian Force MUST spend a Logistics
Point, but unfortunatey has none to spend and so suffers a Supply
Shortfall… losing 300 Points off their MFV!
The Prussian port has a Fortification Bonus of +4 at this point
in the campaign, so the Britannian player rolls 4 x D6, needing
(Black) 5 or 6 to reduce the target’s Fortification Bonus…scoring 1
hit, and so the Fortification micro-die is reduced from 4 to 3.

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 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

Scorched Earth Actions
Not every Battle Group is led by a hero of the
realm, noble and fair. Some are led by persons of
‘dubious’ character who view warfare as a pragmatic
execution of tasks and care little or nothing for their
reputation.
These individuals can be portrayed as mavericks,
a necessary evil or even as war criminals. Often the
greatest focus on the character of a commander can
be their willingness to engage in activities known as
Scorched Earth incidents. The world press view such
incidents with universal condemnation.
The Battle Group may elect to raid an uncontested
Tile, causing untold damage to its infrastructure and
populace.
Battle Groups that choose to execute a Scorched
Earth Action roll a D6 and refer to the table at the
bottom of this page:
Reorganisation Segment
This segment of a Battle Group’s activation is often
overlooked by inexperienced players, but is vital
to the continued success of an overall campaign.
All manner of catastrophic occurrences can occur
to individual Battle Groups, and it is important to
ensure that you are able to support front line forces
who are likely to suffer the heaviest casualties in
upcoming engagements.
If two or more Battle Groups from the same
Faction and Type find themselves on the same tile
(either by accident or design) they may attempt to
reorganise.
The Battle Groups can execute any number of the
following:
Logistics Transfer – The Battle Groups can combine
their Logistics Points then reallocate them as they
see fit.
For Example - Two Armoured Battle Groups find
themselves on the same Tile and choose to execute a
Logistics Transfer. One Battle Group has 4 Logistics
Points, the other has none.
The player then chooses to allow both to have 2
Logistics Points.
Materiel Transfer - The Battle Groups can combine
their MFVs then reallocate them as they see fit.
For Example - Two Naval Battle Groups find
themselves on the same Tile and choose to execute a
Materiel Transfer. One Battle Group has 1500 Points
worth of MFV, the other has only 250 Points of MFV
(meaning it is below the minimum Battle Group size
threshold.
The player then chooses to send 500 Point to
reinforce the beleaguered Battle Group, meaning
that one Battle group has 1000 Points and the
other has 750 points (and so is above the minimum
threshold!).
Battle Group Merging – The Battle Groups can fully
combine their MFVs. This action is unusual in that
it allows Battle Groups that are not of the same type
(Armoured/Naval/Aerial) to interact with each other.
To be able to execute a Merging, all Battle Groups
combine into a single Battle Group, becoming a
Battle Group Type that is consistent to the largest in
MFV of the Battle Groups before they merged. All
Logistics Points are also combined.

SCORCHED EARTH TABLE

D6 Result Effect
Despite their best efforts, the Battle Group fails to cause sufficient
1-2 No Effect
damage, nor do they manage to liberate any supplied.

3-5 Extorted Supplied The Battle Group gains a Logistics Point.

The Battle Group gains 1 Logistics Point and reduces the Fortification
6 Total Warfare Bonus by D3. If this causes the Tile Marker Fortification Bonus to
zero, remove the Marker!

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 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

This action is still governed by the minimum and
maximum allowances for Battle Groups with any
excess in either MFV or Logistics Points lost. Further
to this, no Battle Group that merges with another
may activate in the next Week of the Campaign
(although they may defend themselves as normal!),
as it takes all their time to organise the transfer of
material and logistics to a new command structure.
For Example: Three Battle Groups meet on a tile,
One Armoured totalling 450 Points and 2 Logistics
Points, one Aerial totalling 800 Points and 4 Logistics
Points, and one Naval totalling 600 Points and 3
Logistics Points. All three wish to merge with each other.
The Merging of these Battle Groups would mean the
new Battle Group would by 1600 Points and could carry
6 Logistics Points (with the excess of 250 Points and 3
Logistics Points being lost!).
END PHASE
1. Line of Supply
2. Random Events
3. Gathering of Resources
4. Diplomatic Channels
5. Resource Allocation
6. Espionage
7. End of Game
The End Phase is intended to give the campaign a
chance to draw breath! Up to this point forces have
been clashing with each other over land sea and air,
mighty war machines have been destroyed and entire
populations have been blighted by the spectre of war.
The End Phase gives the players a chance to check
for supplies, open diplomatic channels, and even
engage in a bit of skulduggery using insurgents and
secret police! Once this is completed, and assuming
the Flashpoint is not set to finish, the players move
forwards to the next Game Turn.
This section should be resolved in the following
order:
1. The Line of Supply
In this segment, the Battle Groups on the
Campaign Map must test again to see if they are
Operational. This is designed to represent the overall
rigours of operations in the field and can often be
punishing for those Battle Groups that have seen
active duty.
Use the Initiative Order to see which player
should go first. Each player then checks each of their
Battle Groups to see if they are still Operational at
this point. Those who suffer a Supply Shortfall must
roll on the Supply Shortfall Table (see Page 220) and
apply the result.
2. Random Events
In this segment, players will roll randomly to
determine how their efforts are being received by
the wider populace! In some cases, the Flashpoint
will be given positive coverage in the press and the
public have lauded your efforts, donating materiel
and manpower to the cause!
Remember the mob is fickle however, and politi-
cians are well used to pandering to their whims, so
should fate intervene you could find yourself on the
cusp of disaster as your perceived failures are cited
for censure!
Important Note: Players will notice this table is
NOT balanced! This is intentional, news from home
is rarely good when you are trying to win a war….

The Chinese explorer Zheng He was famed

for his voyages of exploration and a favourite
of his Emperor...

• 227 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

RANDOM EVENTS TABLE

2D6 Effect Result
The enemy faction may choose a single Battle Group that is currently outside with the Base of
Operations. This Battle Group is removed from the Campaigns Sheet, along with any remaining
1 or less Treachery!
Logistics Points it might have… never to be seen again. Perhaps they became bandits or pirates or
mercenaries, perhaps they settled down and became farmers…. You will never know!

The demands of industry are fraught with peril and only a fool mistreats Sturginium…. Randomly
2 Sturginium Flare! determine an Industrial Heartland in your area of influence. Remove the Industrial Heartland Upgrade
replacing it with an Undeveloped Upgrade, any garrisoned forces are also lost in the conflagration!

Randomly determine a Population Centre in your area of influence that is situated on a costal Tile (ie a
3 Disease Outbreak Tile that has both Land and Water on it!) All Battle Groups on that Tile and any Tile that is adjacent to
it must make a roll on the Supply Shortfall table. Logistics Points may not be used to ignore this.

No More Money The populace back home resent having to dip into their pockets to fund your incompetence! Reduce
4
For A Bungler! the amount for Resource allotted to you by Supply Routes by [BLACK] 2D6.

The local populace resent having to dip into their pockets to fund your incompetence! Reduce the
5 Unfair Taxes!
amount for Resource allotted to you by Tiles by D6.

The enemy faction may choose an unoccupied Industrial Heartland that borders their area of
influence. The Tile is riven by industrial action, fuelled by agitators intent on disrupting the flow of
6 Union Revolt
vital assets to their employers until their demands are met. The Tile does not generate Resource and
may to roll to generate Sturginium this turn.

Roll a [BLACK] D6 for each Breadbasket Tile that is adjacent to an enemy Tile. On the roll of a 1,
7 Raiders
reduce your Resource gained from the Tile to 0.
No Better Or The news is neither god nor bad. People are ambivalent to your stewardship. No negative or positive
8
Worse… effects occur.
Solid Economic Business is good and consumers are keen to unburden themselves of their hard earned monies.
9
Results Increase the Resource gathered by your Populations Centres by +1 each.

One of your Commanders is blessed with a run of good luck that few can match. Secretly nominate
Better To Be
10 one of your Battle Groups on your Campaign Sheet. Any auto-resolve Battles this Battle Group fights
Lucky Than Good
during the next Game Turn may re-roll up to 3 Initial Battle Dice.

Recruitment Inspired by your successes on the field of battle, the ranks of the military gain a huge boost to their
11
Numbers Swell numbers of new recruits eager to serve. Increase the size of a single Battle Group by 2D6 x 100.

New Sturginium If you dig deep... you will be rewarded. Nominate an Industrial Heartland in your area of influence.
12
Deposit Found The Tile will automatically generate D3 Sturginium Points this turn without needing to roll.

The people love you, and are planning statues and fetes in your honour! Increase the amount of
13+ Hero of the Realm
Resource Points you receive this Game Turn by 2D6 and gain D3 Sturginium Points!

• Players who have fought and won 4 or more Battles during the Game Turn increase their roll by +1.
• Players who destroy an enemy Battle Group in battle increase their roll by +1 for each Battle Group wiped out.
• Players who performed a Scorched Earth Action on an Upgraded Tile within their enemy’s Area of Influence this Game Turn
reduce their roll by -1.
• Players who have lost a Battle Group in battle reduce their roll by -1 for each Battle Group wiped out.
• Players who have fought and lost 4 or more Battles during the Game Turn reduce their roll by -1.
• Players who performed a Scorched Earth Action on an Upgraded Tile within their Area of Influence this Game Turn reduce their
roll by -2.

• 228 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

3. Gathering of Resources 4. Diplomatic Channels

This segment allows players to reap the rewards of
their expansionist thinking, gathering resources from
their area of influence and pooling them to rebuild,
rearm and reinforce their holdings.
Most Tiles will create Resource Points (RP), as
will certain supply routes from off the map.
RESOURCES TABLE
Tile Type Resource Gained
Breadbasket Tiles 2
Industrial Heartland 1
Military Installations 1 Sending a Diplomatic Mission
Population Centres 2 A Diplomatic Mission is simply a note on a piece of
Base of Operations 3 paper that is given to another player in the campaign.
Supply Routes *Variable
*See the Briefing for Resources gained from Supply Routes
Other Forms Of Resource Gathering - There may
be other forms of resources allocated to a faction as a
result of the Random Event they have rolled. Equally
players may be penalised by fate on that table!
Remember to apply any of those benefits/penalties!
Industrial Heartlands and Sturginium
As mentioned before, all Industrial Heartlands tend to
be based in areas where there are Sturginium deposits
– the vital component needed to fuel the engines of
industry in the Dystopian World! Extraction of the
element is by no means a guarantee however as often
the ore when refined is found to be of poor quality.
Roll a D6 for each Industrial Heartland in a
Faction’s area of influence. On the roll of [BLACK]
4, 5 or 6, the Tile produces a Sturginium Point.
Sturginium Points are vital for building defences and
larger military assets (see Page 231).
Designers Note: We are conscious that every
campaigning group is different so we have kept this
section of the rules as ‘woolly’ as possible, with very
few constraints to encourage players to be as creative
as possible!
Most Campaign Systems have a method for players to
‘talk’ to each other in game-terms, and a Flashpoint
Campaign is no different! Communication between
players in game-terms is achieved through sending a
Diplomatic Mission.
To send a Diplomatic Mission costs a player a
single Resource Point.
Each Mission sent should have a Request that is
no more than ONE sentence long. In addition, the
Mission note should have a Yes or No reply.
If you resend notes, send new ones, etc, remember
EACH note you send costs 1 Resource Point!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember the shadowy
world of diplomacy in the Dystopian World is full of
promises and few truths. Don’t expect players to keep
their word, even if you have a Diplomatic Mission
response to wave in front of them! If the player you
sent that Mission to is eminently untrustworthy,
don’t be surprised when they stab you in the back!
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• 229 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign
5. Resource Allocation
Once all Diplomatic Actions have been resolved it
is time to resupply, rearm and recruit, ready for the
upcoming Game Turn.
At this point all players should secretly determine
how they intend to spread their gathered resources
across the elements within their Area of Influence.
SPENDING RESOURCE POINTS
Resource Points can be spent to purchase the
following:
Battle Group Replenishment – Existing Battle
Groups in the field may be replenished up to the
maximum Battle Group MFV allowance provided
they have a clear line of supply to either their Base of
Operations or a Population Centre suffering under
a Bombardment. Players can add 100 Points worth
of MFV to a Battle Group for each Resource Point
they spend.
Battle Group Creation – The Player may elect to
create a new Battle Group. This Battle Group is still
governed by the normal Battle Group regarding its
minimum and maximum MFV. The player should
secretly note its location within their area of influence
ensuring it is not placed on a Tile that has an enemy
held Tile adjacent to it (they would see it sneaking
up on them!).
The Battle Group may also not be placed on a
Tile that does not have a clear line of supply to their
Base of Operations. Players build a Battle Group
that is at least 400 Points in size, but not larger than
1600 Points, with each 100 Points spent costing 1
Resource Point.
Logistics Points – Logistics Points can be purchased
for any Battle Group that exists provided they
have a clear line of supply to either their Base of
Operations or a Population Centre suffering under a
Bombardment. Each Logistics Point purchased costs
a single Resource Point.
• 230 •
Agent Training – Players can also buy a mix of
agents to perform any number of clandestine
activities in their own areas of influence and even
in their enemy’s! Secret Police cost 1 Resource Point
and Insurgents cost 2 Resource Points to hire.
Stockpile - Players can choose to add any unspent
Resource Points to their Faction’s Stockpile. There is
no limit to the number of Resource Points that can
be held in this way, but remember money in the bank
does nothing for you in the short term….spending it
however will keep you alive!
RESOURCE COSTS TABLE
Action Cost
Battle Group
1 x RP per 100 Points of MFV added.
Replenishment
Battle Group 1 x RP per 100 Points spent to create
Creation the Battle Group.
Logistics Points 1 x RP per Logistics Point.
Agent 1 x RP per Secret Police Cell.
Training 2 x RP per Insurgent Cell.
Players can choose to add any
Stockpile unspent Resource Points to their
Faction’s Stockpile.
SPENDING STURGINIUM POINTS
Element 270 termed Sturginium after Barnabas
Sturgeon himself, is the single most precious
resource available to Mankind. It infuses almost
every form of industry and has become crucial to the
continued development of the human race. Factions
with access to Sturginium cement their power on the
world stage, ensuring their industrial dominance as
well as their military might!
Sturginium can be spent in the following ways:
Dreadnought Construction – A player can elect to
add a Model with the word Dreadnought in its title
to a specific Battle Group. This addition should be
noted secretly on their Campaign Sheet and comes
out the Battle Group’s MFV as normal. Dreadnought
Construction costs 2 Sturginium Points.
 
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

Fortification Improvement – A player might decide
to increase the Fortification of a Tile to protect it
from the depredations of the enemy, providing a
strong bulwark from which they can base a defensive
line. Increasing the Fortification of a Developed Tile
by +1 costs a single Sturginium Point.
Scorched Earth Recovery – The horror of scorched
earth is not easily forgotten and will require a huge
application of manpower and industrial machinery
to put right. To return a Tile that was previously the
target of a Scorched Earth Action to its former state
costs 2 Sturginium Points.
STURGINIUM COSTS
Action Cost
Dreadnought
2xSP to create a Dreadnought.
Construction
Fortification 1 x SP to increase an Upgraded Tile
Improvement by +1.
Scorched Earth 2 x SP to remove a Scorched Earth
Recovery Effect from a Tile.
Players may not Stockpile
Stockpile Sturginium….it is always
needed elsewhere!
6. Espionage
The Dystopian World is rife with treachery and
dissent. Organised gangs, crime lords, terrorists
and freedom fighters are the bane of governments,
each operating to their own agendas.The only line
of defence against these malcontents are the various
agencies commanded by the government whose task
is simple – find and neutralise these groups!
The Espionage Segment of a Flashpoint Campaign
gives players a chance to play out a John le Carre
novel in a few dice rolls! Players should purchase
the agents they intend to use in the phase during
the Resource Allocation Segment of the Game Turn
and make a note of how many they have available
on their Campaign Sheet. These are only available in
the same turn as they are purchased and so may not
be stockpiled!
There are two types of agent available to a player:
Insurgents are tasked by their faction’s high
command to infiltrate the enemy area of influence
and organise resistance activities including
assassinations, sabotage of vital transportation links
and any number of other covert operations.
Secret Police are used to ferret out insurgency cells
and eliminate them. Of course, their methods often
involve repression of the populous, gagging of the
press and murder…
All players must secretly note down if they have
secret police or insurgents on a Land Tile on their
Campaign Sheet. No Tile may have more than one
Insurgent or Secret Police cell allocated to it. The
exception to this is the faction’s Base of Operations
– this always has a Secret Police cell active on it, and
never loses it.
Starting with the player with the initiative, each
player nominates a Tile and announces they have an
Insurgent cell operating there. If the enemy Faction
has no Secret Police on the Tile resolve the Insurgent
activity on the table below:

INSURGENT ACTIVITY TABLE

The Insurgents fail to achieve anything, being too busy living the high life on the monies
1-2 Bunglers!
they were given. The Cell is removed with no effect.
Remove D3 Logistics Points from any single Battle Group on the Tile. The Cell is
3 Burned the Stores
removed after completing their mission.
Reduce the MFV of a single Battle Group on the Tile by D6x 100 Points. The Cell is
4-5 Sabotage!
removed after completing their mission.
Apply the Sabotage Result above. In addition, the Battle Group may not make any
6 Assassination actions in the first Week of the next Game Turn as they grieve the loss of their glorious
leader. The Cell is removed after completing their mission.

• 231 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

If, however, the enemy has a Secret Police Cell operating in that cell, roll on the Counter-Terrorism Table
below first, before rolling on the Insurgent Table if applicable.

COUNTER-TERRORISM TABLE

The Secret Police fail to uncover anything. The Secret Police Cell is removed with no
1-2 Slipshod Investigations
effect and the Insurgents are free to act.

The authorities are close to uncovering the Insurgent cell, forcing them to act rashly. The
3 Hot on their Trail Secret Police Cell is removed and the Insurgents are able to act but must roll twice on the
Insurgency Table with the Secret Police choosing the preferred result.

The Secret Police manage to capture the Insurgents before they can launch their
4-5 Gotcha!
campaign of terror. Both cells are removed without further effect.

6 Double Agents
The spymasters within the Secret Police manage to corrupt the enemy insurgents,
convincing them the error of their ways, and turning them to their side! Apply the
Gotcha! Result above. In addition, the Insurgent Cell is immediately directed to attack a
Tile in the enemy’s area of influence! Apply the result immediately before moving on to
the next player!

Advanced Rule - Maximum Agent
Allowance
During our testing games we found it was best to
limit the amount of agents a player can field, mostly
to stop a player who was ahead in a campaign from
crushing folks with wave after wave of Insurgents….
We would suggest you set a limit of no more than 6
Agents that can be purchased in this Phase!
However, using Agents is cool and folks will like
using them…..a lot!, so we don’t want to make it a
hard and fast rule in the Campaign System. To that
end we have made it an Advanced Rule to be used so
long as all players agree.
7. END OF GAME
As mentioned before, all Flashpoint Campaigns will
have a definite end point. This is needed to ensure
the campaign does not roll on too long and draws a
line under the narrative being told.
Each Briefing Document for the factions involved
will always state the number of Game turns that we
expect the Campaign to last. Once this is reached it is
important to find out how well the various Factions
have got on!
Remember that players who have decided to keep
their objectives secret (by not reading the other
Faction’s Briefing Document!) are probably the ones
who will get the most out of a Flashpoint Campaign
because at this point nobody is really sure what the
other side was really trying to achieve….
Once the End of the Game has been reached,
the player with the Initiative in the final Game
Turn should reveal their Objectives and total their
Campaign Points. Then the remaining players
should announce their Objectives and Campaign
Points scored in order. Any factions that reach their
required number of Campaign Points have won.
Of course it is possible for more than one Faction
to reach their Campaign Points target by the end
of the game, meaning that neither side has won.
Although you might wish to say that both sides have
won if it makes you feel any better….

• 232 •  
 D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

PLAY SHEET
FACTION:
PLAYER STOCKPILED
RESOURCES:
BATTLE CORE LOGISTICS
MFV
GROUP #1 FORCE POINTS

BG1

BG2

BG3

BG4

BG5

BG6

BG7

BG8

BG9

BG10

• 233 •  
D11 - Dystopian Wars Flashpoint Campaign

• 234 •  
 GAME BASICS

Fleet Action
Fast Play Rules
D ystopian Wars: Fleet Action has been designed
to be a fast and furious combined arms game set
in the technologically advanced 1870s: where giant
MODELS AND BASING
The game uses highly detailed models created by
machines of war fuelled by the technology of the Spartan Games - available from www.spartangames.
Sturginium Age battle across a war-torn world. co.uk and other retailers.
These fast play rules were created at the request of Any model supplied with a base (such as
Dystopian gamers who wanted a less granular game Armoured or Aerial models) must use the base
than the parent Dystopian Wars to be made available. supplied with the model. All ranges in DW: Fleet
The idea being that such a game could used as an Action are, however, measured from centre of a
entry level portal for new players, or by experienced model to centre of a model, and not from bases.
gamers who simply wanted to play a rapid throw-
down game. MEASURING AND
Both versions of ther rules are complimentary to
PRE-MEASURING
each other, sharing a common syntax and using the
same models and basing conventions. All measurement in DW: Fleet Action is done in
inches, often shortened to “.
WHAT YOU NEED TO PLAY A tape measure is the easiest way to measure
distances. If you don’t have access to a tape measure
When playing DW: Fleet Action you will require: marked in inches, use the conversion:
• Spartan Games 1/120th scale models.
• A tape measure, preferably marked in inches (”). 1 Inch = 2.5 centimetres 1” = 2.5 cm
• A Battlefield or other suitable gaming area. The
size of it will be dependent on how many points Pre-measuring is allowed at any time, for any
of models you are playing with. reason you like – this is a game of tactical skill, not
• Game Markers to identify the various effects and who is best at guessing ranges!
conditions that can apply in the game.
• A number of 6-sided Dice.
• A Force List that shows the Squadrons and Battle
Groups you are taking into battle. This will have
been chosen to a Maximum Fleet Value (referred
to as the MFV), which will be decided upon
beforehand by the players.
• A copy of your nation’s Order of Battle with the
rules for your models. These can be downloaded
for free from the Spartan Games website.

• 235 •  
 GAME BASICS
THE BATTLEFIELD
DW: Fleet Action is played on a Battlefield. The
easiest way to make a Battlefield is to place a blue or
green cloth (depending on whether you are playing
a Naval, Aerial or Armoured game) on a tabletop.
You may also want to use some terrain that you have
in your collection, such as islands, hills, woods, etc.
Many shops, clubs and gaming venues will often
have boards and terrain already prepared. Most
importantly any terrain already available for games
of Dystopian Wars 2.0 will be fully compatible with
these fast play rules.
See Page 246 for descriptions of the various
Terrain Types you can use.
THE GRAVEYARD
The Graveyard is a place off-table where you can put
your destroyed models and ‘spent’ Support Aircraft
Wings (SAW) Tokens.
We recommend players use this off-table
Graveyard as it helps keep clutter off the Battlefield
and makes a game look more cinematic. It also
makes it easier to assess how a game is progressing.
GAME MARKERS
To keep track of Damage, Disorder and other
in-game effects DW: Fleet Action makes use of a
limited number of on-table Game Markers, which
are summarised below:
ACTIVATION MARKERS
This Marker denotes a Squadron
that has been Activated. Only one
Activation Marker can be applied
to a Squadron. A Squadron with an
Activated Marker may not take any further part in a
Game Turn (other than to defend itself).
• 236 •
DAMAGE MARKERS
This Marker is used to denote the level
of Damage that has been applied to a
model within a Squadron. Once a model
has the same number of Damage Markers
applied to it as it has Hull Rating points it is removed
from play.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Models with Damage Markers
reduce their total of Attack Successes by the number
of Damage Markers present.
This applies to Successes generated when
attacking using Weapon Attacks, SAW Bombing
Runs, Fighter Attack Runs and when participating
in Boarding Assaults.
DISORDER MARKERS
This Game Marker is used to denote a
Squadron suffering a negative morale
effect known as Disorder.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR LATER: Models with
Disorder Markers reduce their Defensive Successes
by the number of Disorder Markers present. This
applies to Successes generated when defending
against Weapon Attacks, Fighter Interceptions and
when defending against Boarding Assaults.
OBSCURED MARKERS
This Marker is used to indicate a model
that is governed by an Obscured effect.
This Marker can be used for both Aerial
models that have flown ‘into the clouds’ or Surface
models that have elected to dive ‘below the waves’ or
‘ burrowed under the ground’.
 
 GAME BASICS
USING ACTIVATION MARKERS
In every Game Turn, you get to Activate each of
your Squadrons in an alternating fashion, and as
such it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of
what Squadrons have been Activated, and which
Squadrons have yet to Activate.
To help keep track of which Squadrons have been
activated in a Game Turn, at the end of a Squadron’s
Activation, place an Activation Marker by the
Squadron to show it CANNOT Activate again that
Game Turn.
A Squadron that has not yet Activated in a
Game Turn and has no Activation Marker is
considered ‘Ready to Activate’. There are also some
circumstances in which a Squadron may acquire an
Activation Marker without having been Activated, in
which case it will not get to Activate at all that Game
Turn, but it may defend itself.
SAW BOMBERS & FIGHTERS
Support Aircraft Wings (SAWs), such as Fighters and
Bombers, are represented by small resin tokens that
carry a relief of three aircraft from a specific nation.
In the full Dystopian Wars 2.5 ruleset these tokens
are placed on a Flight Tray along with a small micro-
dice.
This method is not used in DW: Fleet Action. In
our fast play rules single resin tokens are used and
in most cases we recommend a player places them
on the top deck of the Carrier model that generated
them in game.
More information about the use of these SAW
Tokens in DW: Fleet Action can be found on Page
258.
• 237 •
GENERAL DICE PRINCIPLES
Initial Dice
There are many effects in the game that determine
the number of Dice that are to be rolled. Whenever
the rules mention Initial Dice, we are referring to
your total number of Dice rolled BEFORE adding any
extra Dice from other sources or effects, such as the
Exploding Dice Mechanic.
Rolling to Hit
All rolls to hit in a game of DW: Fleet Action
require a 4, 5 or 6 to generate a Success - or Successes
depending on the Type of Dice Roll.
TYPES OF DICE ROLL
Exploding Dice Mechanic
Most Dice Rolls in DW: Fleet Action will use the
Exploding Dice Mechanic as a means of generating
hits. Unless otherwise stated, the Exploding Dice
Mechanic is always in use.
The Exploding Dice Mechanic works as follows:
• Roll your Initial Dice.
• Set aside all Dice that resulted in a hit and count
the total number of 6s that were rolled.
• The Exploding Step: Roll an additional Die for
each 6 in exactly the same way as before.
• Repeat the process in Steps 2 and 3 until there
are no more additional rolls to be made.
• Count up the total number of Successes from all
Dice rolled. Each 6 counts as TWO Successes
instead of one.
Heavy Dice
There will be occasions in-game where the rules
will note that a dice roll must use the Heavy Dice
Mechanic due to a single Dice Shift to the Right.
The Heavy Dice Mechanic is less powerful than the
Exploding Dice Mechanic as it will generate less hits
on average.
If the dice roll is listed as a Heavy, a roll of 6
results in TWO Successes and no re-roll is permitted
for that 6.
 
 GAME BASICS
BASIC DICE
There will be occasions in-game where the rules will
note that a dice roll must use the Basic Dice Mechanic
as a result of a double Dice Shift to the Right. The
use of this mechanic is kept for simple dice rolls and
ones where a target is extremely difficult to hit. If the
dice roll is listed as a Basic Roll, neither the Heavy
Dice Mechanic nor the Exploding Dice Mechanic is
to be used, and a roll of a 6 only ever results in ONE
Success.
Dice Shifts
Dice Shifts are commonly a degradation in the
effectiveness of an Attack, moving the dice roll from
Explosive to Heavy and finally to Basic. No dice roll
can ever be better than Explosive due to Dice Shifts
or worse than Basic.
Rolling a D3
In some cases (such as when performing a Boarding
Assault), players will be called upon to perform
a Basic Dice roll using a D3. Rolling a D3 can be
achieved by rolling a D6 and using the following
values: 1 or 2 = 1, 3 or 4 = 2 and 5 or 6 = 3.
• 238 •
XD6 Rolls
With some rules you may be asked to roll a number
of dice in one go to generate a combined result.
Unless otherwise stated, the term XD6 means rolling
the number of dice listed in the X using Basic Dice
Mechanic, and adding the scores (or in some cases
the number of hits) of these dice together, to give
a result. This is most commonly done during an
Opposed Tactics Test.
RE-ROLLS AND ‘INITIAL DICE’
In some situations, a player may be permitted (or
even forced) to re-roll a certain number of dice from
their Initial Dice roll. This simply means you pick
them up and roll them again, discounting what had
previously been rolled.
ROUNDING UP
If, for any reason, the rules state that a value is to
be reduced by HALF, the original number is always
Rounded Up to the nearest whole number.
For example, a Dice Pool numbering 13 Attack
Dice (AD) is halved, taking the number to 6.5. This
is Rounded Up to 7 AD.
 
 GAME BASICS
HEIGHT LEVELS IN THE GAME
To keep a game tactically rich, models can exist in one
of THREE Height Levels in the Game: Sub-Surface,
Combat and Flying High. These Height Levels are
additionally divided into sub-categories depending
on the models involved.
See the simple diagram below which shows the
levels available to models:
SUB-SURFACE (WATER/GROUND)
A model occupying the Sub-Surface Height Level can
be either Diving (Under the Water) or Burrowing
(Under the Ground). Models capable of operating
Sub-Surface are still rare even in the Dystopian
World and will have the Height Levels they can
occupy listed in the Model Designation line of their
statistic card. Sub-Surface models are not affected by
intervening models of any type when determining
Line of Sight, but can be affected by intervening
Terrain.
COMBAT (SURFACE/AERIAL)
This is the Height Level most commonly used by
models in the game. The Combat Height Level is
sub-divided into two categories: Combat (Surface)
and Combat (Aerial).
Surface models are affected by Terrain and other
similar or larger Surface models when determining
Line of Sight. Aerial models at this Height Level are
not affected by Terrain or models of any type when
determining Line of Sight.
• 239 •
FLYING HIGH
This is the Height Level set aside for Aerial models to
hide in the clouds! Models Flying High are difficult
to hit from the Combat (Surface/Aerial) Height Level
and VERY difficult to hit by Sub-Surface models!
Models Flying High are not affected by Terrain or
models of any type when determining Line of Sight.
DICE SHIFTS DUE TO HEIGHT LEVELS
A target that occupies the same Height Level as the
attacker is not affected by Dice Shifts due to Height
Levels. However, there are a few instances whereby
an attacker will be forced to downgrade their
Dice type from Exploding to Heavy, or even from
Exploding to Basic!
Should an attacker be one Height Level away from
the target the Attack Dice Type rolled shifts Right
ONCE.
Should an attacker be two Height Levels away
from the target the Attack Dice Type rolled shifts
Right TWICE.
Example 1: A Combat (Aerial) model firing at
a Sub-Surface Burrowing model would use Heavy
Dice….. think of the firer being affected by the masses
of rock and dirt between them!
Example 2: A Sub-Surface Diving model firing
at a Flying High model with rockets would use Basic
Dice… think of the model as surfacing for the briefest
of moments to fire a snap shot at the Flyer before crash-
diving beneath the waves once more.
 
 GAME BASICS
Remember to look for Obscured Markers on
target models as Diving and Burrowing models can
move between Height Levels.
MEASURING TO AND FROM
MODELS
You will often have to measure to models, such as
when moving or when determining what range
a weapon is firing at. In DW: Fleet Action, all
measurement for range is made from the CENTRE of
a model to the CENTRE of a target model.
RANGES
Range is the distance (in inches) between the centre
of the Attacking model and the centre of its target,
along which Line of Sight is also determined. If a
Model is on a transparent flight stand then measure
to the centre of the stand.
ARCS OF FIRE
During a game, players will often have to determine
whether their models can draw Line of Sight to
enemy targets. In the vast majority of instances
a model MUST be able to draw Line of Sight to a
target model to engage it in combat with its weapon
systems.
Think of Arcs of Fire as imaginary lines radiating
from the centre point of a model. There are four
standard 90-degree Arcs of Fire: Fore, Aft, Port and
Starboard. A model’s weapon will list which of these
arcs it can fire into clearly.
Some models will have weapons with the ability
to fire in ANY direction, these are noted as 360°
in a weapon’s profile. This means that they are not
restricted by Arcs of Fire at all.
Additionally, some weapons have specifically
listed mountings, allowing them to ONLY fire in a
single Arc of Fire.
Arcs of Fire become important when Attacks are
being planned and then executed, see Page 252 for
more details and diagrams showing the various Arcs
of Fire in the game.
• 240 •
LINE OF SIGHT
Models and Terrain can block Line of Sight to other
models behind them. If a model occupies the Combat
(Surface) Height Level, Line of Sight may be blocked
by models between the attacker and the target.
If either the Attacker or the Target is larger than
any model across which Line of Sight is drawn, then
Line of Sight is NOT blocked.
If a model between the Attacker and the Target is
the same size or larger than both the attacker and the
target, then Line of Sight is considered to be blocked,
and the attack may not be made.
Models that are Aerial or currently Sub-Surface
never have their Line of Sight blocked by intervening
models, but some Terrain may block their Line of
Sight. Check out Terrain on Page 246 for details.
ALTERNATING ACTIVATIONS
DW: Fleet Action uses an Alternating Activation
system. This means a player will activate a single
Squadron, resolve the various in-game actions (move,
attack, board etc.) that result from the Activation,
before play then passes to the other player.
Should a player have activations remaining after
the opponent has completed activating all their
Squadrons, the player may activate these as normal,
one following the other until they too have activated
all the Squadrons in their force. Often this will lead
to the demise of an outnumbered enemy – having
more activations than the other player is often highly
beneficial.
OPPOSED TACTICS TEST
These are most often used when determining
important matters, such as the Game Turn Initiative.
The number of Dice required to be rolled in an
Opposed Tactics Test is normally two per player,
but this can vary depending on circumstance. Both
players roll using the XD6 method and the Basic Dice
Mechanic and then compare the results.
If two players roll the same result, they re-roll all
their dice. Note that a tie is not a possible outcome
for such rolls - someone must win!
 
 GAME BASICS
DEFINING A MODEL
Models will be defined by three labels which a
player should understand when building their Battle
Groups. These are Size, Theatre and, if required,
Function.
SIZE (SMALL, MEDIUM, LARGE)
The Size is important for Line of Sight, interaction
with Terrain, Force Composition and Victory Points.
THEATRE
This denotes the likely battlefields this model will
operate within and are defined as follows:
AERIAL
These are flying models that move through the
air, and can range from sleek Interceptors to huge
hulking Sky Fortresses.
All Aerial models deploy at the Combat (Aerial)
Height Level. At the beginning of its activation an
Aerial Model must decide if it is occupying the
Combat (Aerial) OR Flying High Height Level.
Examples of this include the Prussian Imperium Sky
Fortress or Britannian Hawk War Rotor.
ARMOURED
These are Tanks, Land Ships, Walkers and various
other Land-based models. They move over the
Combat (Surface) Height Level and are restricted to
fighting on land. Examples of this include the Blazing
Sun Bansan Walker or Covenant Socrates Bombard.
NAVAL
These are generally Frigates, Cruisers, Battleships,
Carriers, and other ships. They move on the Combat
(Surface) Height Level and are restricted to fighting
on water. Examples of this include the Britannian
Majesty Dreadnought and Federated States Annapolis
Battlecruiser.
• 241 •
MULTI-THEATRE
These models are special and rare and are able to
travel on both Naval and Armoured Battlefields,
operating on the Combat (Surface) Height Level.
These models may move over Islands/Icebergs, Reefs/
Sandbars and Forest/Jungle terrain with no penalty.
Examples of this include the Prussian Metzger Robot
and Covenant Arronax Battle Robot.
MODEL FUNCTIONS
This is an additional label that denotes any special
ability a model may have, and will often deliver great
tactical options on the Battlefield:
BURROWING
A Burrowing Model will often be a large monstrosity,
capable of churning through the Earth’s crust and
moving towards the enemy in relative safety. Whilst
underground, a Burrowing model is far harder to hit,
but also finds it harder to hit enemy models.
All Burrowing models deploy at the Combat
(Surface) Height Level. At the beginning of its
activation a Burrowing model must decide if it is
occupying the Sub-Surface Height Level OR the
Combat (Surface) Height Level.
DIVING
Models that can dive underwater are rare in the
Dystopian World, but they are often of great
tactical flexibility to a nation that uses them. Whilst
underwater, a Diving model is far harder to hit, but
also finds it harder to hit enemy models.
All Diving models deploy at the Combat (Surface)
Height Level. At the beginning of its activation
a Diving model must decide if it is occupying the
Sub-Surface Height Level OR the Combat (Surface)
Height Level.
 
 ANATOMY OF A STATISTIC CARD

Anatomy of a
Statistic Card
S tatistics are an important part of a game of DW: Fleet Action. They help differentiate the models in a Fleet.
Statistics will be made available as free PDF downloads from the Spartan Games website. Please note that
downloads will always take precedence over any printed materials. The following text explain the statistic card
you can see on the opposite page:

A) Faction Flag and Name – The flag and name of the
Faction it belongs to.
B) Model Designation – A model’s designation will
indicate which Height Level and Theatre of War it may
operate within. The model’s size will also be listed here
and has an impact how it may or may not block Line
of Sight.
C) Ship Name and Picture – The model’s name and a
render of the model.
D) Squadron Size – All models in the game are
organised into Squadrons. In some cases, this will be 1,
2, 3 or more models of the same type, in others mixed
Squadrons can be created using the Attachment rules.
E) Points Cost – All models will have a points cost
attached to then. This is deducted from the MFV when
the model is chosen in a fleet.
F) Model Assigned Rules – Listed in this box are any
MARs and Generators that apply to the model.
G) Movement (M”) – The maximum distance the
model can move in a single activation.
H) Damage Rating (DR) – The number of hits the
opponent must score when attacking in order to roll
on the Damage Table.
I) Hull Points (HP) – If a model ever accrues a number
of Damage Markers equal to its Hull Points, the model
is removed from play and placed in the Graveyard.
J) Crew Points (CP) – Shows the strength with which
a model can initiate Boarding Assaults and defend itself
from invaders!
K) Active Defence – The Active Defence (Act.D) value
(shown in BLUE) of a model denotes its ability to
defend against incoming attacks from BLUE Weapons
(namely Torpedoes, Rockets, Boarding Assaults and
Bombing/Attack Runs etc.).
L) Passive Defence – The Passive Defence (Pas.D)
(shown in RED) of a model denotes its ability to
defend against incoming attacks from RED Weapons
(namely Gunnery, Bombards and so on).
M) Victory Points (VP) – This shows how many
Victory Points an opponent scores when this model is
Destroyed.
N) Weapon – All Weapons will have a Name and
Prefix. It is these two elements that allow them to
potentially interact with each other. It will also dictate
whether any MARs are linked to them. Weapons are
also coloured as RED (shown in RED Text) or BLUE
(shown in BLUE text).

• 242 •  
 ANATOMY OF A STATISTIC CARD

You will also see the Arcs of Fire that the weapon can
fire into (F = Fore Arc only, F/P/S= Fore OR Port OR
Starboard Arcs, P+S = Port AND Starboard Arcs, P/S
= Port OR Starboard Arcs, S+A = Starboard AND Aft,
360° = Any Arc of Fire).
O) Ranges – These are divided into three: Point Blank,
Effective Range and Long Range.
• Point Blank (PB) – This shows the effectiveness
of a weapon at short range (0” up to 8”).
• Effective Range (EF) – This box shows the
effectiveness of a weapon at its optimum effective
range (greater than 8+” and up to 24”).
• Long Range (LR) – This box shows the
effectiveness of a weapon at extreme long range
(any range 24+” and up to 32”).
P) Special Rules – In some cases a model may also
have a descriptive Special Rules box where unusual
rules. that are bespoke to that model, will be listed.

C
A
B D E

C F

G H I J K L M

N O

• 243 •  
 ANATOMY OF A STATISTIC CARD

How to Build
Your Force
A ll forces in DW: Fleet Action are made up of one
or more Battle Groups, which are in turn made
up of one or more Squadrons, each containing one or
It is also worth noting that a Core Battle Group can
sometimes vary in its organisation from theatre to
theatre in DW: Fleet Action, so check your nation’s
more models. ORBAT for more details.
A Force can be as small as only one Battle Group
BATTLE GROUP REQUISITES
if a player prefers, or it can be as large as numerous
All Battle Groups will have what are known as
Battle Groups brought together as a fighting force and
Requisite Squadrons available to them. A Requisite
limited only by the Maximum Fleet Value (MFV) that
Squadron MUST be taken for the Battle Group to be
has been chosen by players.
deemed valid on a Battlefield.
We recommend that when you first start playing you
Check your nation’s ORBAT for details on Requisite
keep the number of Battle Groups to 1 or 2 until you
Squadrons and the models that they are composed of.
have a full grasp of the game rules, after which... feel
free to go crazy with your gaming!
BATTLE GROUP OPTIONAL ASSETS
Battle Groups will also have access to additional
MAXIMUM FLEET VALUE
forces beyond their Requisites – named Optional
This is the maximum amount of points a player can
Assets. Think of these as your personal choices for a
spend on the models in their Fleet. Often, players will
Battle Group and it is here that players can truly look
find they are unable to spend all their points, but so
to customise their forces. Check your nation’s ORBAT
long as they do not spend more than their MFV it is
for details on Optional Assets and the models that they
fine to be a few points short!
are composed of.
The MFV is generally influenced by the size of
gaming area available, the time players have to engage
NARRATIVE BATTLE GROUPS
in a game and the models available.
We expect most players to build their Fleets
using multiple Core Battle Groups when playing
THE TWO BUILDING BLOCKS
competitively, but for players after a more narrative-
Battle Groups come in two flavours: CORE and
driven game, there are a number of optional Narrative
NARRATIVE. A force MUST begin with a Core Battle
Battle Groups that can be fielded by them.
Group and to this additional Battle Groups may be
We have included a sample set of Narrative Battle
added, up to the level of the chosen MFV.
Groups on our website at www.spartangames.co.uk.
Core Battle Groups are the mainstay building blocks
These example Narrative Battle Groups include
of forces in DW: Fleet Action, and we recommend these
Hunter, Support, Bombardment, Reconnaissance and
be primarily used by those players who are looking
so on. Check out your nation’s ORBATs to see how
to build balanced fleets with a variety of structured
these structures can vary.
options available to them.
We also look forward to hearing about your own
A Core Battle Group is closest to the Battle Group
custom Battle Groups that you and your opponents
Structure you will find in the Dystopian Wars 2.5
create!
ORBATs.

• 244 •  
 ANATOMY OF A STATISTIC CARD
BATTLE GROUP SPECIAL RULES
Some Battle Groups will have interesting Special
Rules that apply to them. To make best use of these
rules, we recommend that players identify the models
belonging to each Battle Group in some way.
FORCE QUALITY RATING
All nations in DW: Fleet Action have what is known
as a Force Quality Rating and this is an important
number that reflects their training and resilience in
battle. This rating is primarily used when dealing with
Disorder Markers, and is generally set in the ORBATs
for a nation.
Some Scenarios and situations may affect this
number, as can the use of Generals and Commodores.
Optional Large Squadron
Requisite Large Squadron
Requisite Medium Squadron
Optional Medium Squadron
Requisite Small Squadron
Optional Small Squadron
• 245 •
LEAD SQUADRONS
All Battle Groups in DW: Fleet Action should
have what is known as a Lead Squadron, which is
designated as hosting the leader of the Battle Group.
The Lead Squadron should be noted in secret before a
battle begins as its loss can have an impact on a game.
Players should make a note of the Lead Squadron
and at its loss inform their opponent who can then add
any Victory Points to their total.
Important Note: in the case of a Lead Squadron
with more than one model (excluding Attachments)
a player should elect ONE to be the Lead Model and
should inform their opponent when the Model is
lost.
A Core Battle Group MUST contain the
following Requisite Squadrons:
1 Large Squadron (acting as the Lead Squadron)
1 Medium Squadron
1 Small Squadron
The Core Battle Group may then add the
following Optional Squadrons:
0-1 Large Squadrons
0-2 Medium Squadrons
0-2 Small Squadrons
 
 USING TERRAIN
How to Use
Terrain
DW: Fleet Action is, at its core, a combined arms
game that utilises Aerial, Naval and Armoured forces.
We strongly suggest that players add terrain to their
Battlefield to spice up game-play, add tactical depth
to the game experience and a challenge for both
players to monopolise in their struggle for victory.
What follows are a simple set of general rules for
using Terrain in your games of DW: Fleet Action.
THE FOOTPRINT
All pieces of Terrain should have a Footprint. This
represents an area of a Battlefield that is affected by
the rules of that Terrain. To be considered within a
piece of Terrain, a model must be fully within the
Terrain’s Footprint. We leave the size of any Terrain
features up to you, but as a good rule of thumb, we
recommend no footprint be bigger than 8” x 8” in
size.
Whilst it is true that certain types of Terrain will
be far larger than this, it makes for a very tricky
wargame to play on a small gaming table… but if
you and your opponent want to play an entire game
in a Jungle… go for it!
BATTLEFIELD SECTORS
Any Battlefield you play on is divided into 2’ x 2’
Sectors. This means that on a 6’ x 4’ Battlefield you
will have 6 Sectors, and a Battlefield that is 2’ x 2’ will
have only have one Sector! Each Sector on a DW:
Fleet Action Battlefield should ideally have a single
piece of Terrain allocated to it.
TERRAIN PLACEMENT
All Terrain is placed according to mutual player
consent. Both players should be happy with a
• 246 •
Battlefield before playing on it. That said, in certain
Scenarios, the attacker or the defender might be
called upon to set up the Terrain. In these cases,
we would encourage the players to be competitive,
but friendly… remember you may have to play on a
board set up by your opponent next time you play!
TERRAIN TYPES
Terrain comes in a variety of forms that fit into one of
the following categories:
Islands/Icebergs – Any Combat (Surface) or
Sub-Surface model that moves into contact with
an Island or Iceberg is immediately destroyed. This
Terrain type counts as a Medium Sized Model for
determining Line of Sight.
Reefs/Sandbars – Any Sub-Surface model that
moves into contact with a Reef/Sandbar is immedi-
ately destroyed. Any Surface model that moves into
contact or moves through a Reef/Sandbar must make
an immediate roll on the Damage Table. This attack
ignores both Active and Passive Defences.
Once this roll is completed, the model is moved
by mutual consent so it will not collide again with
the same Terrain Feature the next time it moves.
Hills – Hills will block Line of Sight for Armoured
Surface Models. This does not apply to Squadrons
that are located ON a hill, rather for Squadrons
engaging an enemy where a Hill intersects Line
of Sight. Squadrons on a Hill are considered to be
ONE size class larger than listed in their Profile (to a
maximum of Large).
 
 ANATOMY OF A STATISTIC CARD
Ruins/Buildings – Ruins and Buildings block Line
of Sight for Small or Medium Armoured Surface
models. Large Armoured models may fire over these
Terrain Features without penalty. No non-Infantry
Armoured model may move through Ruins/Buildings
and collisions are treated in the same way as Reefs/
Sandbars (see above).
If a base of Infantry is located inside the footprint
of Ruins or Buildings it is deemed to benefit from
the cover surrounding them, and ALL attacks made
against the base suffer a 2 Dice Shift to the Right
(normally taking the Attack Dice against the Infantry
from Explosive to a Basic Roll!)
Forest/Jungle – Forests/Jungles Block Line of Sight
of Small and Medium Armoured models. Large
Armoured models may fire over these Terrain
Features without penalty. All Armoured Models
moving through a Forest/Jungle Halve their
maximum Movement (Mv).
If a model is located inside the footprint of a
Forest/Jungle it is deemed to benefit from the cover
surrounding them and ALL attacks made against it
suffer a single Dice Shift to the Right.
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• 247 •
Mountain – Mountains block Line of Sight for ALL
Models. Any Models coming into contact with a
Mountain are immediately destroyed. Fortifications
may not be placed on this type of Terrain.
Minefields − These are not strictly
Terrain features and are added after
players dice off for the table edge but
before any Battlegroups are deployed.
Minefields can ONLY be placed by the side that has
the most Squadrons with the Minelayer MAR.
If one side has DOUBLE the number of Squadrons
with the Minelayer MAR (or if one side has no Mine-
layers), 2 Minefields are placed. Minefields should
have a footprint of no greater than 4” x 4” square
and are treated as stationary objects, being tethered
in place once deployed.
Any Combat (Surface) or Sub-Surface (Water or
Ground) model electing to move through a Mine-
field must roll a single D6. On the result of a 4+ the
Minefield detonates, with the model suffering an
instant roll on the Damage Table roll against the
affected model. This ignores both Active and Passive
Defences.
The Minefield is removed from play when it has
detonated 3 times. Use a die or marker of some sort
to remind you how many times it has detonated.
Fortifications may not be placed in a Minefield.
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 SEQUENCE OF PLAY

The Sequence
Of Play
WHAT TO DO BEFORE YOU PLAY...

PRE-GAME SETUP

Players should agree on the following:

1. Size of Game – Players should decide what their MFV will be. This is
Mutual
the maximum amount of points a game will be and will determine how
Agreements
many models they will be able to take.
2. Size of Battlefield – Players should decide how big their gaming space
will be for the game. This is often guided by the size of MFV being played.

Players now have two choices:

Build the
Scenario 1. Roll a D6 and play a random Scenario.
2. Pick a Scenario they both agree on.
Deployment of Battle Groups is determined by the Scenario being played.
In some cases, Battle Groups may be kept off-table to enter as Reserves, in
Deployment of others they will deploy further onto the table as part of a vanguard force
Battle Groups etc. A Scenario will usually detail how to do this and what special rules
apply. All models within Battle Groups deploy in the Combat Height Level
(either Surface or Aerial).

YOU ARE NOW READY TO GET STARTED!

• 248 •  
 SEQUENCE OF PLAY

BASIC SEQUENCE OF PLAY

GAME TURN

Each player rolls 2D6 with the highest score considered to be first in the
Determine Initiative Order, with all other players ranked beneath them in order of
Initiative their score. Players with the same result should re-roll among themselves
until the Order is set.

1. The Player first in the Initiative Order activates a Squadron by Moving

all models, then Attacking with it.
2. The next Player in the Initiative Order activates a Squadron by Moving
all models, then Attacking with it.
3. And so on…
Activation
Phase Once ALL players have activated a Squadron, play returns to the top of
the Initiative Order and continues through the Order until all Squadrons
have activated, at which point the End Phase begins.
If a player is left with activations after all other players have completed
theirs, they may continue to activate until all of their Squadrons have
activated.

1. Check Victory Points – Fleets will score Victory Points, affecting

their Victory Total when enemy models are Destroyed. There may also be
instances where a Scenario applies additional Victory Points. Once this is
done, players may need to roll for the end of the game.
2. Carrier Replenishment – During this Step, players will return any
used SAW Tokens from their Graveyard to the Carrier models in their Fleet
End
that generated them.
Phase
3. Resolve Disorder – All Fleets can elect to try and remove Disorder
Markers from models in their force using their Nation’s Force Quality
Rating as listed in each Nation’s respective ORBAT.
4. Prepare Forces – Once all steps above are completed, ensure all
Markers are next to or removed from models or Squadrons, the Victory
total has been updated, and your dice are ready!

New Game
If the Scenario permits, begin a new Game Turn.
Turn?

THE FOLLOWING CHAPTERS WILL NOW DETAIL EACH

OF THE PHASES AND STEPS ABOVE.

• 249 •  
 HOW TO MOVE MODELS
How to Move
Your Models
Movement in DW: Fleet Action is designed to be
simple and smooth, allowing players to manoeuvre
their models around the table with ease. It is one of
the most common actions in the game, and despite
the seeming simplicity, Movement is tactically vital
for lining up Firing Arcs and Line of Sight.
When a Squadron is Activated, a player should
move each model one after the other until all the
models in the Squadron have moved.
When activating a Squadron, a player must ensure
that they remain in coherency after a player has
finished moving their models (see below).
OVERLAPPING
No model or model’s base may ever overlap another.
If, at the end of a model’s Movement, a model would
overlap another, retrace its Movement up to its
starting point and try moving it again.
If this still results in models making contact with
hazardous Terrain or other models, a Ram or Colli-
sion occurs!
RAMMING
A model may deliberately or as a result of a Drift
Move, come into contact with another model. If
these models are at the same Height Level, they will
Ram one another!
Each model rolls an attack against the enemy
using a number of Attack Dice equal to the model’s
starting Hull Points (some MARs may add to this, so
check your statistics carefully!).
NO Active or Passive Defences may be used by
either model to defend against the Ram. After the
Ram has been resolved, if the stationary model was
not destroyed, the moving model ends its move. If
• 250 •
the Stationary model was larger than, or an equal
size to, the moving model then the moving Model
HALVES any Attack Dice in the subsequent Attacks
Segment.
If 2 Models involved in a ram survive the next
time one of the involved Models activates move it by
the minimum amount required for the model to be
able to complete its drift move without colliding with
the same Model again.
Collisions – Collisions happen when a model makes
contact with a piece of hazardous terrain such as a
reef, island, mountain, etc. These rules are covered
in the Terrain Section on Page 18.
MOVEMENT STEPS EXPLAINED
All Movement in DW: Fleet Action is divided into 2
key steps: Drift and Remaining Move.
DRIFT
When activated, a model must first make a compul-
sory 2” Drift Move directly forwards. This Drift
Move is counted against the maximum movement
of a model (so a model with a Mv Stat of 8”, must
first Drift 2”, and may then move normally with the
remaining 6”).
0” Movement Models - Models with a 0” Movement
Statistic (such as Fortifications), do not Drift… as
they have no Movement Statistic in the first place.
 
 HOW TO MOVE MODELS
REMAINING MOVE
The remainder of a models move can be divided into
moving straight forwards and Turning. Models are
not obliged to move their full Movement Character-
istic, and can choose to simply Drift if they wish.
TURNING
Models may only begin turning after they have
completed their compulsory Drift Move (see above).
Only one Turning Template is used when turning
a model - the Medium Template. This Template is
included in Dystopian Wars Battle Group boxed sets,
or can be downloaded from our website, or bought
from our Online Store.
Once a model begins turning in a direction it
MUST continue turning in that direction (though
it may move directly forwards for any distance and
then continue turning) UNLESS it performs another
2” move directly forwards after which it may turn in
the other direction.
USING THE TURNING TEMPLATE
The small ‘pips’ around the edge of the Turning
Template are called Navigation Points, and are 1”
apart.
LEAVING THE BATTLEFIELD
If a model exits a Battlefield (voluntarily or
by accident) it is immediately Destroyed and
the opponent will gain any Victory Points for
the loss!
• 251 •
To use a Turning Template: the Turning Template
is placed next to the side of the Model, with a feature
on the model, which is called the Turning Point, in
line with a Navigation Point. The model is advanced
1” round the Turning Template so the Turning Point
is lined up with the next Navigation Point. Each turn
like this counts as 1” of Movement.
CHECK MODEL COHERENCY
Models within the same Squadron must attempt to
maintain a degree of Coherency with each other.
In order to maintain Coherency every model in a
Squadron should end its movement within 6” of
another model in the same Squadron (measured
centre of model to centre of model) creating an
unbroken chain of Coherency.
In this way, after a Squadron has moved, it may
be bunched together, or may form a chain with each
model within the coherency distance of 6” of another
model in the same Squadron.
If this cannot be achieved, the whole Squadron
is considered to be Split and may not combine any
Attack Dice in their upcoming Attacks Segment.
Independent Move MAR
Some models are so manoeuvrable that they
can move in any direction they wish, without
the need for the Turning Template and do
not make a Drift Move. These are normally
Armoured models, but certain Aerial models
may also have this highly prized ability!
Medium Turning
Template
 
 ATTACKING ENEMY MODELS
How to Attack
With Models
During this phase, a Squadron that has been activated
will announce and execute all manner of attacks
against enemy Squadrons using a combination of
weapons, boarding assaults, bombing runs and
attack runs.
Additionally, a defending player can launch
Support Aircraft Wings (SAWs) to attempt to cut
down enemy Boarders or SAWs on bombing and
attack runs before they can reach their target.
The following general rules should be used for
determining Attacks and Defence:
NOMINATING TARGETS
This is when a player announces ALL attacks they
are planning with their activating Squadron. Once
all attacks have been nominated, a player can execute
them in any order they see fit.
• 252 •
A player’s nominated Attacks are referred to as
Salvos. A Salvo may include a single weapon, or it
may include multiple weapons combining.
A player should ensure that the weapons in a
Salvo have Line of Sight to the nominated Target, and
are in Range, remembering that weapons will often
contribute different amounts of Attack Dice (AD)
to a Salvo depending on whether they are at Point
Blank, Effective Range or Long Range.
MEASURING RANGES
Measure the distance between the models (centre of
model to centre of model). This will tell you whether
the target is in Point Blank, Effective Range or Long
Range, which in turn tells you how many Attack Dice
(AD) to roll.
Line of Sight Example: In this diagram we see
a Prussian Empire Pflicht Airship. The Aerial
model has a powerful Tesla Fixed Weapon to
its Fore and less powerful Broadsides to its Port
and Starboard.
When attacking the Diogenes Squadron in the
picture, the Fore Tesla CAN target ships B and
C, but not A… conversely the Broadsides can
fire on ship A but CANNOT target B or C.
 
 ATTACKING ENEMY MODELS
LINE OF SIGHT AND FIRE ARCS
In order to be able to fire on an enemy model,
you must be able to trace a Line of Sight from the
attacking model(s) to the target model, this is also
done centre of model to centre of model and the
target must be within an Arc of Fire that the weapon
is capable of firing in.
DIFFERENT WEAPON SYSTEMS
In DW: Fleet Action the following Weapon
Classifications are commonly used:
Broadsides
These are limited to firing from a model’s Port and
Starboard Fire Arcs. Some nations will rely heavily
on Broadsides, forming the basis of their entire
engagement strategy, whereas others will see them in
a more secondary role that supports more devastating
weapon systems.
Battery
These are commonly linked to a specialist weapon
system, such as Rockets or Torpedoes, and can
feature an array of Arcs of Fire.
Turrets
The strength of a Turret is its ability to engage in
wider Arcs of Fire and such weapons are therefore
highly prized as a result.
Turrets will list whether they can track to Fore,
Aft, Port or Starboard it is not unknown for some
Turrets to traverse 360 degrees.
For example, an FSA Liberty Class Battleship is listed
as having two Gunnery Turrets, with one able to fire
to the Fore, Port and Starboard and the second to the
Aft, Port and Starboard. A Turret Battery may include
several Turrets with a common field of fire in one profile.
Fixed Weapons
Some models are outfitted with heavy cannons that
are fixed directly to the hull giving them a restricted
Fire Arc that is off-set by a very stable firing platform.
Most Fixed Weapons will be restricted to a single
Fire Arc – usually to the Fore, but some may be Port
and Starboard.
• 253 •
Bombard
Bombard weapons are treated as normal weapons
in most respects, but they have the ability to ignore
Line of Sight, with ordnance often lobbed over
intervening terrain/models to target an enemy. These
weapons invariably have the Indirect Fire MAR.
Rockets
These weapons can be used to target the enemy with
a barrage of deadly ordnance. They are often targeted
by enemy flak-gunners, but it requires a truly
dedicated crew to reduce the effects of a powerful
Rocket volley. All Rocket Attacks can be reduced in
effectiveness by a target model’s Act.D Defences.
Torpedoes
These weapons are launched at an enemy Combat
(Surface) and Sub-Surface targets on the water. They
CANNOT pass through intervening models, no
matter what their Size Class. All Torpedo Attacks
can be reduced in effectiveness by a target model’s
Act.D Defences.
Bombs
Bombs are a special type of weapon that have their
own range of 4”. Bombs CANNOT be used to attack
models operating in the Flying High or Combat
(Flying) Height Levels, but are free to engage targets
at any other Height Level. Bombs ignore all Act.D
and Pas.D Defences, and the strength of an attack
can be affected as normal.
WEAPON PREFIXES
On the previous page we described the standard
ordnance delivery systems used in DW: Fleet Action.
This is simply the tip of the iceberg in terms of the
variety of technology available to different Factions.
Below we will now look at a number of specific
sub-types of weapon that are commonly used by
nations, though more exotic weapons may have
other prefixes:
Gunnery
These are rapid-firing weapons that come together
on a model to deliver a devastating volley of
 
 ATTACKING ENEMY MODELS
destruction. They tend to be relatively short range,
but are extremely potent. These weapons commonly
have the Massed Fire MAR.
Tesla
The Sturginium Age has seen the development
of a staggering array of new and deadly weapon
systems, with Tesla weapons being one of the most
devastating, especially to the crews of models hit by
such weaponry. These weapons commonly have the
Lethal MAR.
Incendiary
The use of shock and awe weaponry is commonplace
in the Dystopian Age, with commanders looking to
debilitate crews with hideous effects, be it by using
flames or caustic burning chemicals. These weapons
commonly have the Lethal or Flame MAR.
Energy
The use of energy weapons is relatively rare in
Dystopian Wars with Factions such as the Covenant
of Antarctica being one of the few to use them
extensively. These weapons commonly have the
Punishing MAR.
COMBINING WEAPON SYSTEMS
The ability to combine together the Attack Dice of
weapon systems can result in a devastating Salvo
targeting an enemy model. But NOT all weapon
systems can combine their AD together.
The rules for Combining Weapon Systems are:
• If weapon systems share the same PREFIX they
can be combined with all MARs applied to
weapons involved being applicable.
• The following Weapon Systems - Rockets,
Torpedoes, and Bombs - can ONLY EVER
combine with other weapons with the same
classification.
• So, for example a Tesla Turret can combine with
a second, third or more Tesla Turrets. A Torpedo
Fixed Weapon can combine with a Torpedo
• 254 •
IMPORTANT NOTE
Remember that the colour of a weapon
denotes what Defence can be used against it,
and not what weapons can be combined. It is
the PREFIX of a weapon that controls this.
Turret. An Incendiary Broadside can combine
with an Incendiary Bombard.
• But a Tesla Broadside cannot combine with a
Standard Broadside because they do not share
the same Prefix.
• A Weapon with no Prefix cannot be combined
with another Weapon System.
• All Weapons must have Line of Sight to the
target too.
• It really does quite simply boil down to what is
in a name!
NON-WEAPON ATTACKS
This is a catch-all category that brings all the other
methods of Attack into the rules and includes such
things as:
Bombing Runs – Multiple SAW Tokens on a
Bombing run may elect to combine their Attack Dice
into the same Salvo. This Attack can only be directed
towards a Naval, Armoured or Multi-Theatre target.
Attack Runs – Multiple SAW Tokens on an Attack
Run sortie may elect to combine their Attack Dice
into the same Salvo. This Attack can only be directed
towards an Aerial target.
Boarding Assaults – Waves of jet-pack boarding
troops launched against an enemy MUST always
combine their Attack Dice into the same Salvo. This
is because a Squadron may only execute a single
boarding assault against a single enemy model
during its activation.
Interception Action – Whilst not strictly an Attack,
Fighter Tokens launched to defend a friendly model
against Boarders or enemy SAW Bomber/Attack Runs
MUST always combine their Attack Dice with the
Active (Act.D) Defences of the friendly target.
 
 ATTACKING ENEMY MODELS

WEAPON TYPES & THEIR ‘TRIGGERS’
If a Salvo has resulted in enough Successes to equal
or beat the Damage Rating of the Target model,
thereby potentially Damaging it, the defending
player will get a chance to defend the model using
its Defensive Dice.
A set of Defences will only become available (or
‘trigger’) for a model if the weapon(s) that caused the
hits shares the same colour as the Defence available.
As stated earlier, there are two types of Defences:
Active (Act.D) and Passive (Pas.D). On a model’s
statistic card a number will be listed under each of
these Defences.
For example, a Gunnery Turret weapon is denoted in
RED text on a statistic card and so would therefore
permit Pas.D Defences to be used to defend against it as
they are also denoted in RED text. Whereas a Boarding
Assault can only be defended against by using an Act.D
Defence.

STEP ACTION

1. All Salvos to be executed by a Squadron should be nominated by the attacking player, including
Nominate any Boarding Assaults and Bombing or Attack Runs they wish to launch.
All
Salvos (Inexperienced players might prefer to use dice to mark the models they wish to attack, so they don’t
forget when the shooting begins!)

2. Attack Process – Combine the relevant Attack Dice for the Attack and roll to hit using the
relevant Dice Mechanic.
3. Defence Process – Roll any defences that might be applicable depending on the colour of the
Execute
Weapon being used (RED weapons can be defended by Pas.D, BLUE weapons can be defended
A Salvo
by Act.D). Combine the relevant Defence Dice for the incoming Attack and roll to hit using
Exploding Dice Mechanic. Each Defence success rolled will reduce the number of successes rolled
by the attacker by 1.

4. Total the number of successes scored by the attacker and compare it to a target’s Damage Rating
(DR).
• If the DR is EQUALLED OR EXCEEDED, roll once on the Damage Table.
Roll On The • If the DR was DOUBLED, roll twice on the Damage Table. MAR effects such as Lethal,
Damage Table Punishing etc. are not applied to the second roll.
(if applicable) • If the DR was TRIPLED, roll three times on the Damage Table. MAR effects such as Lethal,
Punishing etc. are not applied to rolls after the first.
• If the DR was QUADRUPLED, roll four times on the Damage Table. MAR effects such as
Lethal, Punishing etc. are not applied to rolls after the first.

5. All rolls on the Damage Table will apply either Damage or Disorder Markers. These should be
Apply Effects placed next to a model’s base to make it easy to move later and will help keep the Battlefield less
cluttered.

Proceed With
Move on to the next nominated Salvo.
The Next Salvo

• 255 •  
 BOARDING ENEMY MODELS
How to Board
With Models
Most models in DW: Fleet Action are crewed with
assault troops (either wearing jet-packs or inside
small diving assault craft) who, when within range
of the enemy, can surge across the gap with the aim
of inflicting as much chaos and mayhem as possible.
Any Boarding Assaults in the game may only take
place at the Point Blank Range Band (0-8”), unless a
special rule states otherwise and no Line of Sight is
necessary.
All models in a Squadron that intend to initiate a
Boarding Assault MUST target the same model in a
Squadron (such activities tend to be ‘all-or-nothing’
affairs!).
Boarding Assaults are resolved using the following
process:
1. The attacking player combines the Attack Dice
(generated by adding the Crew Points (CP) of the
models initiating the Boarding Action) together, this
forms the Attack Dice Pool.
2. The defending player now looks to reduce this
total by shooting their ack-ack at the incoming
assault troops. This is done by adding together the
Act.D rating of the target Model (along with the
Act.D rating of any Interceptors sent to defend the
model – see later) creating a Defensive Dice Pool.
The defender rolls that number of D6 using the
Exploding Dice Mechanic. Each success achieved by
this roll will reduce the number of dice in the Attack
Dice Pool by 1.
• 256 •
3. Melee Step - The players now roll simultaneously
using the Exploding Dice Mechanic, with the
attacking player using the surviving Attack Dice
Pool and the Defender using their model’s CP rating.
Remember that Damage tokens will reduce the
number of successes rolled by the Attacking and
Defending Models.
4. With their totals in hand the player’s now refer
to the Boarding Assault Table on the next page to
determine the outcome.
For example: Daniel is attacking a Covenant Cleomedes
Medium Cruiser with 4 Prussian Stolz Destroyers. The
Crew of each Destroyer is 3 so the Attack Dice Pool
generated is 12 - think of this as 12 Sections of wild eyed
jet-pack Luftlancers hurtling toward the Cleomedes.
Claire’s Medium Cruiser has an Act.D of 4. Sadly all
available Fighters in Claire’s Fleet are out of range
and so cannot assist in the defence. She rolls 4 dice
and winces, only scoring 3 successes. Claire’s three
successes are deducted from Daniel’s Attack Dice Pool
of 12, leaving him with 9 Dice.
In the subsequent Melee Step Daniel rolls his 9
remaining Attack Dice while Claire rolls her Crew
Rating of 4 in Attack Dice and they compare the total
number of successes that each of them rolled on the
Boarding Assault Table to the right.
 
 DAMAGE & BOARDING ASSAULT TABLES

HOW TO ROLL ON THE DAMAGE TABLE

Below you can see the Damage Table. When called upon to roll on the table roll a 2D6 and reference the table
with the result. Remember MARs or the number of successes may modify the result.

THE DAMAGE TABLE

2D6 Effect Boarding Damage Result

2 1 Disorder -

3 1 Damage -

4 1 Damage, 1 Disorder 1

5 2 Damage 2

6 2 Damage, 1 Disorder 3

7 3 Damage -

8 2 Damage, 1 Disorder 4

9 2 Damage 5

10 1 Damage, 1 Disorder 6

11 1 Damage -

12 1 Disorder -

BOARDING ASSSAULT TABLE

SCORE NAME EFFECT

Attacker has more hits, but not Sweeping Roll a D6 on the Boarding Damage Result Column of the
DOUBLE Assault Damage Table applying the result to the Boarded Model.

Roll a D6 on the Boarding Damage Column of the Damage

Attacker has DOUBLE the Storming
Table and apply the result to the Boarded Model. The
number of hits, but not TRIPLE Action *
Attacker may increase or decrease the result by 1.

Roll a D6 on the Boarding Damage Column of the Damage

Attacker has TRIPLE the All Objectives
Table and apply the result to the Boarded Model. The
number of hits or more Secured
Attacker may increase or decrease the result by 1 or 2.
Attacker and Defender roll the
Hold The Line No Effect
same number of hits
Defender has more hits, but not Drive Them Each attacking model that contributed CP to the Attack Pool
DOUBLE Back ** gains 1 Disorder Marker.

Defender has DOUBLE the Bloody Each attacking model that contributed CP to the Attack Pool
number of hits, but not TRIPLE Repulse gains 2 Disorder Markers.

Defender has TRIPLE the Each attacking model that contributed CP to the Attack Pool
Massacre
number of hits or more gains 3 Disorder Markers.
* In instances where the Defender has rolled no hits and the Attacker has scored hits, a Storming Action result is scored.
** In instances where the Attacker has rolled no hits and the Defender has scored hits, a Drive Them Back result is scored.

• 257 •  
 SAWs
Using Support
Aircraft Wings
Certain models (called Carrier models) in DW:
Fleet Action can launch sorties of Support Aircraft
Wings (SAW) equipped with high ordnance bombs
or piercing air-to-air missiles that, when directed
at a target, can be utterly devastating. These are
represented on the battlefield as resin SAW Tokens.
The availability of SAW within a force is finite,
with only so many wings being able to launch at
any one time. This is represented by a Carrier model
having Wings ‘On-Deck’. During the End Phase of
any Game Turn, Carrier models choose which type
of SAW they wish to field in the upcoming Turn and
literally place them ‘On Deck’, by putting the physical
Token on the Flight Deck of the Carrier.
The Carrier MAR will denote how many Wings
can be placed ‘On Deck’ and these Wings MUST be
determined in the End Phase before moving on to a
new Turn and once chosen they cannot be changed
during the Turn.
Carrier Models are deployed without SAWs
‘On Deck’ - they are being scrambled as the
Forces close. This means that NO Carrier
models may launch Wings in their first turn
of being on the battlefield.
Bombing Runs by Bombers can be launched
against Sub-Surface and Combat (Surface) targets at
a maximum of Effective Range with no Line of Sight
being necessary. Bombing Runs may not be executed
by Carriers that are occupying the Sub-Surface
Height Level.
• 258 •
Attack Runs from Fighters can be launched
against targets occupying the Combat (Aerial) and
Flying High Height Levels at a maximum of Effective
Range with no Line of Sight being necessary. Attack
Runs may not be executed by Carriers that are
occupying the Sub-Surface Height Level.
When a Bombing/Attack Run is launched from
a Carrier model, place the SAW Token into contact
with the target model. Repeat the process with any
other Bomber/Fighter SAW Tokens you wish to
launch from the model/Squadron as part of an attack.
Once this is done, the Defender may elect to
launch Fighters from the targeted model and/or
friendly models within Effective Range of the target
model as part of an Interception Action, in an attempt
to mitigate the effect of the incoming attack. This
could see the defending player launching multiple
Fighter SAW Tokens if desired. Interception Actions
may not be executed by Carriers on the Sub-Surface
Height Level.
Remember you cannot launch more Bombers or
Interceptors than you have SAW Tokens ‘On Deck’.
 
 SAWs
When executing Bombing/Attack Runs against a
model, follow these simple guidelines:
1 - Total the Attack Dice of all SAW Tokens mounting
the attack to create an Attack Dice Pool and roll to hit
using the Exploding Dice Mechanic.
Remember that Damage Markers on Parent
models negatively affect the successes rolled
by their Bombers or Fighters when they
attempt a Bombing or Attack Run!
2 - Total all Defence Dice generated from Act.D
Defence of the target (combining with the Act.D
Defence of any Fighters sent to defend the model
as part of an Intercept Action) to create a Defence
Dice Pool and roll to hit using the Exploding Dice
Mechanic. Each Success from this roll will reduce the
number of Attack successes rolled by 1.
Remember that Disorder Markers on Parent
models negatively affect the successes rolled
by their intercepting Fighters!
3 - Compare the remaining number of attacker
Successes to the Damage Rating of the target model.
If the attacker Successes equal or exceed the Damage
Rating of the target model, players will roll on the
Damage Table. Attack Runs and Bombing Runs
BOTH ignore Passive (Pas.D) Defences as they are
able to deliver their payloads at a range far closer
than these Defences can protect a model.
• 259 •
4 - Place the used SAW Tokens (including any
intercepting Fighters) into their respective
Graveyards to be returned to the battle in the End
Phase (assuming their Carrier models survive that
is!).
Remember that a Fighter SAW Token can
protect its Parent model in the same way
that it protects another friendly model.
INTERCEPTION!
When a model is announced as a target of a Bombing/
Attack Run or Boarding Assault, certain models may
elect to launch one of their Fighter SAW Tokens to
defend the target. Fighters may only be launched
towards a friendly model within Effective Range.
The Fighter SAW Token is removed from its parent
model’s deck and placed in contact with the friendly
model they are defending.
Fighters increase the Act.D Defence of the target
model by the AD number listed in its stat line on
the parent model’s statistic card - with any Disorder
Markers on the parent model negatively affecting the
Wing’s Defensive Total rolled as normal. Multiple
models in a Fleet may elect to send Fighter SAW
Tokens to defend a friendly model if desired.
Remember once a SAW Token (Bomber
or Fighter) has completed its action it is
removed from the table and placed in a
player's Graveyard for convenience, ready to
be reassigned during the End Phase.
 
 End Phase

The End
Phase
Once both players have activated all the Squadrons
they can, play moves on to the End of Turn. At this
time, players will check to see if someone has won
a game and they may attempt to remove Disorder
from Squadrons. The following details the sequence
players should follow in the End Phase:
1. CHECK VICTORY POINTS
Model Kills - All models in a Squadron are considered
to be worth Victory Points (VPs) which are denoted
on their Statistics Profile. To score VPs a player must
destroy an enemy model by causing enough Damage
so as to equal the model’s Hull Points.
Scoring Additional VPs - Many Scenarios in this
book include the following additional methods for
scoring VPs:
Lead Squadron Kill Bonus – A Squadron designated
as a Lead Squadron grants an additional +2 VPs when
it is Destroyed. In cases where attachments are added
to these Squadrons, the VPs are awarded when the
parent model(s) are Destroyed.
Objective Capture – In certain Scenarios there will
be an Objective present that will provide a specific
number of VPs to a side.
2. CARRIER REPLENISHMENT
During the Carrier Replenishment Step, players will
return SAW Tokens of Bombers and Fighters from
their Graveyard back to the models in their Fleet that
launched them.
These Token(s) should be remove from the
player’s Graveyard and placed ‘On Deck’ of a suitable
carrier. The Token must be designated as Bombers
or Fighters when placed. Unused Tokens still ‘On
Deck’ during the Carrier Replenishment Step may be
re-tasked as a different Token if desired,
The Carrier Replenishment Step is also the
time players can execute a number of special
rules and resolve the effects of some MARs.

Sector Control – A fleet may score a bonus of +1

VP in the End Phase of each turn for any Sector it
controls. A player is regarded as having control of a
Sector if they are the only player to have a model in
that Sector.

Battle Group Kills − A Force may score a bonus +2

VPs in the End Phase for each complete enemy Battle
Group that is Destroyed that Turn.

• 260 •  
 End Phase

3. RESOLVE DISORDER MARKERS Every two Disorder Markers remaining on a

All forces can elect to remove Disorder Markers from
models in their force. This is done so by rolling a
number of dice equal to their Force Quality Rating
using the Exploding Dice Mechanic.
Remove 1 Disorder Marker from the force for
each Success rolled. Remember that certain models
may even be able to remove Disorder Markers
automatically by virtue of a MAR or commander
effect. This should be done BEFORE players elect to
make their Force Quality Rating roll.
Model are then removed and replaced with a Damage
Token. Any excess Disorder Tokens remain in play.
Example: Kathryn’s Monarch Heavy Battleship has six
Disorder Tokens in the End Phase. She removes one with
a success from her Force Quality roll leaving 5. 4 Tokens
are then exchanged for 2 Damage tokens. The remaining
Disorder Token remains on the Model for the next turn.
4. PREPARE FORCES
At this point players should ensure that their VP
totals are correct, all models have the relevant
Markers on their base, all Activation Markers are
removed from the battlefield.

1. Check Victory Points – Players will score Victory Points

when enemy models and Squadrons are Destroyed. Some
Scenarios may also allocate additional Victory Points to
players for secured objectives. Once this is done, players may
need to roll for the end of the game
2. Carrier Replenishment – During this Step, players will
return used SAW Tokens of Bombers and Fighters from their
End Graveyard to the Carriers in their Fleet that generated them.
Phase 3. Resolve Disorder Markers – Players can elect to try and
remove Disorder Markers from models in their Fleet by rolling
using their Force Quality Rating. Any remaining Disorder
Markers on a model are now turned into Damage Markers at
this point.
4. Prepare Forces – Once all steps above are completed,
ensure all appropriate Markers are applied to the correct
Models and the Victory Total is up to date.

• 261 •  
 MARs and Generators
MARs &
Generators
In order to provide an exciting sense of Victorian Super
Science Fiction, we use Model Assigned Rules (MARs)
and Generators to enhance some game models:
CARRIER (VALUE)
A model with this MAR is considered to be a Carrier
and can generate a number of SAW Tokens equal to the
Value listed in parenthesis.
CLOUD GENERATOR
Any enemy targeting a model with the Cloud Generator
is subject to a single Dice Shift to the Right. This is
cumulative to any reductions made by firing across
Height Levels. The Cloud Generator does not function
if the attacking model is within Point Blank Range.
COMBAT DEPLOYMENT (MODEL, VALUE)
Once per game during the Carrier Replenishment Step
of the End Phase, a model with the Combat Deployment
MAR may deploy a number of Models equal to the
Model and Value listed in the brackets. Models deployed
via Combat Deployment must be deployed within 4” of
the transporting model and become activations in their
own right. Should the transporting model be destroyed
before deploying its cargo the models are lost and
victory points are awarded for the transported models
as well as the transporting model.
CORROSIVE
A Weapon with this MAR counts the DR of its target as
being 1 lower when resolving an attack.
CRUSHING IMPACT (VALUE)
This model adds the number listed in the parenthesis to
its AD during a Ram.
• 262 •
DIEHARD CREW
In the End Phase roll a single D6 for each Squadron that
has the Diehard Crew MAR, using the Exploding Dice
Mechanic. For each Success rolled you can remove one
Disorder Token from a model in that Squadron. This
roll takes place before a player rolls their Force Quality
Rating.
DISRUPTION GENERATOR
At the end of a model’s Movement the controlling player
may target an enemy model that is within Point Blank
Range: roll a D3-1 and add a number of Disorder Tokens
to the target model equal to the result of the roll.
Node Generator: A Model with a Node Generator
may target an enemy model within Effective Range
but may not target a model within Point Blank Range.
ELITE CREW
Models with this MAR may re-roll any INITIAL rolls of a
1 when engaging in the Melee Step of a Boarding Action.
ESCORT
Models with this MAR may be used to ‘escort’ a model.
Escort Models may add their (Act.D) Defence statistics
to their Parent Model when the Parent is attacked by an
applicable weapon.
FEARLESS
This model may never take Disorder Markers and cannot
be affected by Disorder in any way.
FLAME
Weapons with the Flame MAR do not roll on the
Damage Table. If a Weapon with the Flame MAR exceed
the targets DR apply one Damage Token and D3 Disorder
 
 MARs and Generators
Tokens. If it Doubles the targets DR apply this effect
twice. If it Triples the target DR apply this effect three
times.
HUNTER (HEIGHT LEVEL)
Weapons with the Hunter MAR are designed to target
and eliminate an enemy model as denoted in the
parenthesis. When targeting such Models the firer gains
a Dice Shift to the Left, up to a maximum of Exploding.
Elements with Hunter (All) gain the bonus against all
targets (assuming they can attack them!).
INDEPENDENT MOVE
Some models can move in any direction they wish,
without the need for the Turning Template and are not
required to make a Drift Move.
INDIRECT FIRE
This model may elect to fire at a target at in the Long or
Effective Range Bracket without having Line of Sight.
The Attack always uses the Basic Dice Mechanic and
cannot be modified in any way.
INVENTIVE SCIENTISTS (VALUE)
This model may re-roll a number of INITIAL die equal
to the value in parenthesis from any Pas.D Defensive
Pool, the second result MUST be accepted.
KINETIC GENERATOR
A model with a Kinetic Generator may roll a single D6
at the beginning of its activation. The Model must be
moved straight ahead a number of inches equal to the
dice result. The model may then be moved normally,
including any compulsory Drift Move.
LETHAL
When a Lethal weapon causes a roll on the Damage
Table, the target automatically gains a Disorder Marker
in addition to any other effects.
MASSED FIRE
Weapons with this MAR may re-roll any INITIAL rolls
of a 1 when engaging in a Firing Action at Point Blank
Range.
• 263 •
MIMIC GENERATOR
If this model is within Point Blank Range of a Medium
size class enemy Model its Pas.D is increased by 1. If
this model is within Point Blank Range of a Large size
class enemy Model its Pas.D is increased by 2.
MINELAYER
Total the number of Squadrons with the Minelayer MAR
in a Fleet – if it is more than the enemy, place a Minefield
Terrain Piece as an additional piece of terrain on the
battlefield after table sides have been determined.
If it is DOUBLE the enemy’s total squadrons with
the Minelayer MAR (or if the enemy has no Squad-
rons with the Minelayer MAR at all!) place TWO
Minefield Terrain Pieces. Minefield Terrain may not
be placed in Deployment Zones.
PUNISHING
When a weapon with this MAR successfully matches or
exceeds the Damage Rating of a model the Attacker may
increase or decrease their roll on the Damage Table by 1.
REPAIR (VALUE)
During the Carrier Replenishment Step of the End
Phase, models with this MAR should roll a number of
dice equal to the value in parenthesis of the Repair MAR
using the Exploding Dice Mechanic. For every success
rolled, the Repair model may remove 1 Damage Marker
from any friendly model/s within Point Blank Range.
SECURITY POSTS (VALUE)
This model adds the number in parenthesis to its Act.D
Defence Dice Pool when subject to a Boarded Assault.
SMALL TARGET
Any model without this MAR that targets a model with
this MAR is subject to a single Dice Shift to the Right.
For example, a Battleship without the Small Target MAR
firing at a Frigate with the Small Target MAR would have
its Attacks resolved using the Heavy Dice Mechanic.
SPECIAL FORCES (VALUE)
A model with the Special Forces MAR may add a number
of dice equal to the value listed in the parenthesis to the
Attack Dice Pool used in the Melee Step when initiating
a Boarding Assault.
 
A Britannian Armoured Battle Group in North Africa...

• 264 •  
 Game Markers In Dystopian Wars
GAME MARKERS IN
DYSTOPIAN WARS
Assault Points (AP) Loss
Green Numbers denote the APs that have been
Lost by a model. A Model must use multiple
Game Markers to represent higher levels of Crew
loss! Should a Model lose ALL of its APs, the
Green Zero should be used to denote the Model’s
vulnerability to a Boarding Assault!
Hull Points Loss
The Red Numbers on this Game Marker denote
Hull Points Loss that a Model has suffered. Under
extreme levels of damage, a model must use
multiple Game Markers to represent debilitating
levels of hull Damage.
Raging Fire
This Game Marker is used to denote the
Raging Fire Persistent Effect. Fires that rage
unchecked across a model will eliminate Crew and
structural integrity at a terrifying rate.
Corrosion
This Game Marker is used to denote the
Corrosion Persistent Effect. This effect can
cause a Model to quite literally fall apart!
Lightning Rod
This Game Marker is used to denote the
Lightning Rod Persistent Effect, applied
most commonly using Speerschleuder Tesla Weapons!
Disordered
This Game Marker is used to denote a Model/
Squadron that is suffering from Disorder.
Prized
This Game Marker is used to denote a Model
that has been successfully Prized by an
Aggressive Boarding Action.
Salvaged
This Game Marker is used to denote a
previously Prized Model that has been
successfully recaptured/Salvaged by an
Aggressive Boarding Action.
• 265 •
Derelict
This Game Marker denotes a Model that
has been taken out of action, but is neither
a Prize or a Salvage. Such Models are prone
to self destruction as their critical systems are left
unattended, and as such will decay over time.
Commodore
This Game Marker denotes the Model in the
Force your Force Commodore has elected to
use as their Flagship. Using this Game Marker allows
both players to remember who is really in charge as
battle is joined!
Mines
This Game Marker is used to denote the
presence of a Mine on the Tabletop.
Vulnerable
This Game Marker is used to denote
Models that have developed a fault in their
superstructure or are inherently unstable anyway!
Low Speed Manoeuvre
This Game Marker denotes a Model that is
executing a Low Speed Manoeuvre.
Ordnance Away!
This Game Marker is used to denote Models
that have deployed their munitions and are
unable to fire them again! In the case of Support
Aircraft Squadrons this can be alleviated by
rearming with a Carrier Model.
Shredded Defences
This Game Marker denotes a Model that
is suffering from a Shredded Defences
Critical Effect. The Model is unable to use Ack
Ack or Concussion Charges, counting both as
being 0.
Generators Offline
This Game Marker is used denote a
Model that is suffering from a Generators
Offline Critical Effect.
 
 Game Markers In Dystopian Wars
Navigational Lock
This Game Marker is used denote a Model
that is suffering from a Navigational Lock
Critical Effect.
Engine Failure
This Game Marker is used denote a Model
that is suffering from an Engine Failure
Critical Effect.
Weapons Damage
This Game Marker is used denote a Model
that is suffering from a Weapons Damage
Critical Effect.
Chaos and Disarray
This Game Marker is used denote a Model
that is suffering from a Chaos and Disarray
Critical Effect.
Submerged
This Game Marker is used to denote Models
that inhabit the Submerged Height Level.
Models that occupy the Deep Diving Height
Level should be given TWO Submerged Game
Markers.
Obscured
This Game Marker is used to denote models
that inhabit the Obscured Height Level.
Models that occupy the Stratospheric Height Level
should be given TWO Obscured Game Markers.
Activation Marker
This Game Marker is used to denote
Squadrons that have completed their
Activation.

GAME TEMPLATES IN DYSTOPIAN WARS

Large Effect Template Large Turning Template

Medium Turning Template

RandomDetermination Template

Small Turning Template

Energy Template

45 Degree Turning Template

Small Effect Template

• 266 •  
 A Special Thank You To Our Kickstarter Backers
“Amiral X” – Xavier LE VERN Baron Von Aeridor Cristiano Silei FougerePilote&HamsterBus James S. Parsons
A Fortner, QMC(Ret), USN Barry Mitchell Cristoph Petersen Frederic Chiles James Smedley
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Aaron Manuel Ben Robinson Dagot Jean-Baptiste G Tillbrook James, Meredith, Michael
AbstauBAER and Tsunaj Benjamin Alsop Dale Elvy Gabriel Garcia Jamie “The Jager” Devlin
Adam Dicken Benjamin Schaarschmidt Dan Pratt GALLO “Skilledou” Laurent Jamie Swaffer
Adam Fisher Benjamin W Dilley Dan Weber Gareth Steel Jan Hulverscheidt
Adam Holliday Benji Martin Daniel Adamson Garrett Gfeller Janusz Chotkiewicz
Adam Parker Benoit ‘chipkool’ Moulin Daniel Agar Gary Lee, Prussian Empire Jarek Dekowski
Ade Sant Berthil Timmermans Daniel Allan Gary Warby Jarrod Ramsdale
Admiral Adam J. Richman Bethan Nye Daniel Charlton Gawain Davidson Jase Duncum
Admiral Freund Betti & Stefan Reiter Daniel J Maresca Genosse Caviglia Jason & Rob Holland
Admiral ‘Ironside’ Wilkinson Biff Daniel Lawrence Geoffroy Dupont Jason Bahr
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Admiral Paul BlueBerry_Man Daniel Sjunnesson Gérard Kraus & David Viola Jason O’ Mahony
Admiral Ravendark Bob Kuzmeski Daniil Ershov Giambattista R Jason Pennock
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Admiral Timothy Mellors Boyd Fletcher Dargon Gisbert Kühl Jason Siegel
Admirals T. Øygard & H. Brad D. Kane Darkshadow Globul Jayson Torres
Meløy Bradley Gust Darrel Mason GM Mellor Jean Joswig
Adrian Andrew dela Paz Bradley Toney Darren ‘Dazz’ Gourley Graham Lewis Jean Mennella
Adrian Barnes Brandon J. Bourg Darren Griffiths Graham Quartly Jeff Hagman
Adrian R Brown Braxton K Russell Darren Stephen Bird Graham Roden Jeff Neely
Adrien Godart Brendan Martin Darryl Houghton Grahame Wright Jeffrey Hardisty
Akesh Brett Daniel Dave Gordon Grant C Lindsay Jeremy E. Zipay
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Aldermac Bryan Stotz David Clark Gregory S. Small Jim Autry
Aled, Alan, and Paul Bryan Stroup David Dunwoody Guilhem Romano Jim Ebert
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Alex Billing C.J. Hrach David Galletly Hans “Mithrion” Luyten Joe Burnham
Alex Cutforth Callum James David Homister Hans Sverre Smalo Joe, Harold, Percy and John
Alex Howell Callumn James David Martin Henrik L. Ekholm Joel Hocknell, Aussie Legend.
Alex Roberts Captain Chris Tolley and David Ogea Henry Marcus Johan Lövgren
Alexander Amann Captain Richard Tolley David Riffault Herr Shearrer John “Zoo” Walker
Alexander Hartmann Carl Burks David Walton Hilco Melis John Elwen
Alexandre Rey & Jerome Cassan Axel David Whyte Hillardo John Jones
Mathieu Cathal Nerney David Zamudio His Highness Admiral Lord John Portsmouth
Alexey Smyshliaev CDR Joseph J. Leonard, Jr. Dayve Walshe Bane John R. Baldwin
Alfie Diggle Charles Yang Dean Parker Holger John Sharman
Alisdair Rose Chaton Dean Wood Hong Win Soon Harbinger John Somers
Allan Stoddart / Nathan Wright Chris Carter Dennis Kieper of Tesla John Sullivan
Amoeba Bait Chris Earl Deon Capogreco Howard J Nenno John W Wilson
Andre Herbert Chris Horsley Diego Rossotti Hugo Suarez Torres Jon Leigh
Andreas Boesch Chris Kudola Dirk Lange Hywel Thomas Jonas Koch
Andreas Welkerling Chris Lowe Dirk Von Siebold Iain laird Jonathan Amsberry
Andreas Wozny Chris Parslow Dj Dano Iain Young Jonathan Cook
Andrew Cooke Chris Townley Donald James MacLeod Ian Banks Jonathan Weston
Andrew Cox Chris Wallace Douglas Bell Ian Dawe Jon-Paul Klepacz
Andrew Field Christian aka Sleppel Douwe ter Horst Ian Eckworth Jordan Romansky
Andrew Glass Christian Grill DR VAUGHAN POWELL Ian Fielder Jordi Aldeguer
Andrew Johnstone Christian Kenneth C. Dr. Sky Ian James Josh Gallup
Andrew Lloyd Penaranda Duncan Hodges Ian Newborn Joshua Randall
Andrew Milashius Christian Moritz Duncan Waugh Ian Stewart Josiah McPratley
Andrew Moss Christian Peter durkada Ibon Burgoa JP Farenden
Andrew Newton Christian Seifert Dustin “Tanis Dragon” Gross Igor Makarev Juan Ignacio “Bugarro”
Andrew Pryor Christoph Schmidt Dutchman Ing. Petr Sklenar jub
Andrew Torrens Christopher Bint Dwayne Hauser Ironside Juergen Greiner
Andrew U Christopher Eric Wyatt Edenny J. Hillen-Keene & D. Kane Julien
Andrew Ward Christopher Hall Edward Cottee J. Houterman-Timmers Julien “Eurynome” Morand
Andy “Ruckdog” Rucker Christopher James Campbell Edward J Bonthron AFBLIJVEN! JUN
Andy Mac Christopher Jordan Edward R. Kercado J.D. (JuJuBee) Mohrmann Justin “JD” Donnelly
Andy Miller Christopher La Cross Emperor Plummer Jackyphoenix Justin M., Mike B., & Peter F.
Andy Thompson Christopher Lagan Eppu Piipari Jacob Kolodny Kamil Surmacz
Anonymous Christopher Mazon Erdbeerschorsch, Karle on Jake ‘Faolan’ Schneider Karl Hit
Anthony Jones Christopher Paul Edwards Horschd James A.R. Martin & Phillip Kash, Leonidas & Lucius Tan
Anthony Lee Christopher Smith Eric GUEGUEN Thowney Kasper Villumsen
Antoine Buttigieg - Malta Christopher White Erik Fokke James Arel Kaz
Archduk City Hunter 97 Erloas James Arthur Brown Kazerian Arevian
Arnaud Girand Clint Williams Eta Lemir James Blair Keith Gray
Arne Cluever Clockworkpoodle Ewen Pritchard James Bowen Keith Morphy
Aron Postma Colin Peake Fabio Hasler James Cheung Keith Polott
Arthur Garlick Commander Bob McCallum FADM Howard Todt von James Crook Keith Steptoe
Ash Thompson Commodore Richard Thomas Kauderer James Doughty Ken Pearce
Atarmanmorn Commodore Triplecrit Fantetti G. & Cavallone A. James Dunn Kenneth Tedrick
Atcho Commodores Linde and Federico Rapetti James Hawkins. Kevin “Bogo” Bogucki
Axel LE BRIZE Weskott Feelingweird James Heap Kevin “Oracle” Walker
Azrael’s Portal Corey and Austin First Sealord S Kirby James Henderson Kevin A J Hooper
Azzorak Craig A. Tyler Fleet Admiral Andrew Walker James John Vaughan III Kevin B. Hoag
B. Vidler Craig M. Murphy Flottenadmiral Mario von James Killen Kevin Ciantar
BADGA Craig Plummer der Reith James Neill Kevin Goudge

• 267 •  
 A Special Thank You To Our Kickstarter Backers
Kevin Pederson Mike Crowhurst Richard Marsh Stephan Dahl Will Foster
Kirsten Robinson Mitchell Brenner Richard Newman Stephan Janka Will Griffin
Kory Lorenz Mitchell D. Balicki Richard Rui Hu Zhang Stephan Werz Will Sorensen
Kris Wenner Myles A Clark Richi Schuler & Sven Stephen Finlay William De Prêtre
Kyle Burall Nathaniel Mericle Zimmermann Stephen Hallowich William J. Keane
Kyle Richardson Nathaniel Swift Rick Baarsch - Corsair Stephen Stewart William Kirkland
L W Wood Nathaniel T G Smith Rick Christian Steve Excell William R. Hols
L. Cooper Neil Howard Ricky Medina Steve Jones William Van Houten
Lance M Kazmark Neil Innes Rob Mildon Steve M. Wolff Eric
Lars Tornfeldt Neil J Thomas Rob Strohmeyer Steve Russell Woodfox
Lars-VanCiental & Lahary Neil ‘Jag’ Jagger Rob Uter Steve Tidswell Wuemul
LastGiantRobot Nic Blackmore Robert Blazekovic Steve Weekes Wyrdpig
Lawrence Oberst Nicholas Forster Robert C. Hart Steve White Xavier & Jordi Mundet Mas
Lee Adam Thomas Nicholas Lee Boon Chiun Robert Corner Steven “Dunni” Dunbar Xeno-25
Lee Yokum - Feared by all, Nicholas Williams Robert DeVere Steven J Pennock Xerxes
Ruled by none Niclas Jacobsson Robert Henderson Steven Kerampran Y. van Straalen & M. Hakfoort
Leonardo Lee Nico Cinquini Robert Howard Steven Robinson Yann Florent
LeRoy Brown Nicolas “Dalios” Melebeck Robert Kimbell stevepraz Yu-Cheng Hsu
Le-Roy Karunaratne Nicolas Federico Giorgi Robert Kohnen Stewart Jèsus Weir z4carlo
Lex Strikwerda Nicolas Roche Robert Soutar Strike Captain Shaun Bird Zak Macklin
Liam Jones Nigel Bee Robert W. Linton Strubbe Jo
Lifegiver (Marcus Nowak) Nigel Doherty Robin Marmillon Stuart James Saunders
Lon Teal (Treganter) Nigel Wright Robustiano Fernandez Stuart Seydel
Lord Admiral Maximus Nuffik + Slanina + Arnie + Rodney White Supreme Commander Thor of
Lord Commander Andy Agnew Hubaj + Sunny + Amon Roeland Kegel the Asguard Fleet
Louis Verlaine Nuno Castilho Roelof Jan Mathijs de Groot Suresh Kumar
Louis-Gabriel de Chateau- Obi Byrne - Spartan 1337 Roger Campbell T Q Chant
Zongo Oleg Rolando Pantoja T.E. Groeneweg
Lukas Cermak Oliver Gerstmann Romain “true_cricket” Euvrard Taffparry
Luke Morton Olli ‘bonebreaker’ Finck Romain LINARES Take it easy.
Luke. W. Polwarth Ondrej Khazad Wachsmuth Romain Soulie Tamereth
M. Gerhardt Oscar Yañez Yuste “Blaze” Ross ‘Marquis’ Lewis Templer_Tassada
MadMan_6424 P. Andrew Christianson Rupert Last Thargor
Major Markus Fröhlich P. E. Bardo Russ Allred The Black Marsh Amtgard
Marco Borgonovo Patrick Ball Russell Simister Group
Marcus, Alex and Phil Patrick Horton Ryan Collins and Simon The Brothers Shoulder
Marius “Astartus” Roth Patrick Joynt Solecki The Glorious KON of Grantia
Marius Grannaes Patrick Mullins Ryan Ulick The Great Big Jonah
Mark C Hoffman Patrick Scherr (PMOS1101) Ryan Wallace The Norfolk Navigators
Mark Fortner Patrick Woywood Ryland McDeed Theodore McBride-Schmars
Mark Gamble Paul Beccarelli S. Alexander Gentry, PhD Thomas Amundson
Mark Hedges Paul Chater SABINO MARTIN GUERRA Thomas Böhmer
Mark J. Muir Paul Cox Sam Castledine Thomas ‘dogswater’ Benson
Mark Morrice Paul Mills Sam Durant Thomas Grassl
Mark Taylor Paul Mullis Samuel Gulliver-Goodall Thomas Jauch
Markus Hoereth Paul Q. Ziebart, Esq. Samuel Henri Karakai Dupret Thomas Morgan
Markus Sharaput Paul Smith Samuel Huylebroeck Thomas Verkooijen
Martin Dahl Paul Sutton Samuel Smith Tiffany & Michael Sanders
Martin Mitchell Paul Wi Santiago Rodríguez Cadavid Tim
Martin Mollenhauer Paul Wingrove SANTINO Tim “Whiskey” Enno
Martin Schardt Paulo Barreiro Scott Gray Tim Regan
Mason Kennedy Pedro Manuel Saraiva Cardoso Scott L. Willerton Timon Pike
Mathew Barker Pete Konieczko-Hansom Scott Neilson Timothy Maguire
Mathieu Liboiron Peter Alexander Ravn Scott Simoneau Timothy Morton
Matias Frosterus Peter Doucé Sean P. Franklin Timothy Wolford
Mats Larsolle Peter J. Evanko Sean Pollman Tom “Original Timmy” Mills
Mats, Joakim, Peter och Peter Peter James Smith Sean W Cravens Tom Davies
Matt Hume Peter L Fontebasso Sean Wong Tom Hodson & Stephen Myers
Matt Slade Peter Nolan Sebastian T. Hennekes Tom Kent
Matteo Miceli Peter Vanella Sebenko Tom Lády
Matthew “Pudgee” Cox Phil Crawley Serrge le plus Magnifik! Tom Redman
Matthew Arnold Phil Reeves Shane Jenkins Tom TY Ignatius Tong
Matthew Callison Philip James Patrick Taylor Shane T. Bennett Tommy NG
MATTHEW HOOD Philipp Wilhelm & Boris Shaun Desmond Torsten Pieper
Matthew Rose Studer Shaun Sains Travis Hartsgrove
Matthew Walker Pierre “vonHymack” Shaun Whyley Tristan Coulson
Matthias Tellschaft-Stachowski CAILLEAU Shawn Higham Tristan Skelding
Mattias von Wowern Pierre-Alexandre Bodson Simo Kolehmainen Trolls De Jeux
Melchior Pelleterat de Borde Pierre-Alexis Gonsard Simon Atkinson Tsuyoshi Azuma
Melvyn Jenkins-Welch Praetor Neolenin Simon Bianchi Ulrik ConDoin
Mercenary Fan PREGEVOLE Simon Cadden Ultima Alleanza Padova
Michael Atkinson Property of The Scott Simon Kuenzle V Vlad
Michael Cummings Rafał Derewicz Simon Michael Charlwood. V1AL
Michael Gallagher “Ray Henderson Simon Trampnau Vadis
Michael J. Matlock IV “ Simon Whitley Valentin PACQUET
Michael L Mills Ray Lowe Sir Kugnade Vanguard Albert
Michael Mitchell Raymund Tesoro Sire Dubach VENET DAVID
Michael Patrick Sullivan Redención de Tor Achare Sissilith/ StuartIcon VINCE FARROW & IAN
Michael Ryan Redmick Smackweasel of the Great MATHEWSON
Michael S. Follis Reese Blake Northern Fleet Vince Terry
Michael V Mandzak Rem Solraak Vizier Norm “Laserwolf” Fraley
Michael Virks Remi et Guillaume Sophie Michel Vlastimil Cadra
Michael wells Richard “Cteno” Northam Spormyn Volker Jacobsen
Michael Zielinski Richard “Kombine” Whitmore Stefan Hanisch Wade Blaylock
Mick Clark Richard Alan Hall ADI Stefan Leipnitz Warren Seychell
Miguel “Freakshow” Flores Richard Citti Stefano Tonini Warwick Keen
Mikael Palm Richard M. Blacklock Stein Vegard Hansen Wayne Tsipouras

• 268 •  
 DYSTOPIAN WARS 2.5 INDEX
Action 81, 98,99
Activation Marker 64, 77, 158
Allies 85, 92, 199-200
Attachments 77, 80, 260
Attacks 99, 100-102, 124-131
Generator Strikes 165
Indiscriminate Attacks 100
Targeted Attack 100, 128, 159
Boarding Action Segment 99, 144-154
Aggressive Boarding Action 144-149
Friendly Boarding Action 144
Re-Crew Boarding Actions 144
Repair Boarding Action 144, 197
Robot Boarding Action 150-152
Carrier Action 105, 187, 188-189
Re-arm 188
Re-Build 189
Replenish 188
Re-task 188
Collisions 76, 100, 108, 111-115, Concentrated Bombardment 127, 130, 132
144, 151
Disengaging 113
Ram 111-112
Combat Patrols 80, 149, 160
Command Segment 99, 106
Command Coherency 104, 106
Command and Control 104, 106
Command Consolidation 106
Commodore 85, 89, 105, 208-211
Commodore Engagement 84-85, 90
Commodore Traits 208-211
Damage 100-102
Critical Hit 76, 100, 101
Critical Hit Table 103
Designation 76, 193
Capital 194
Fortification 193
Infantry 190-192, 194
Robot 194
Dice 67-71
Basic 70
D6 67
D3 67
Exploding 68
Heavy 70
• 269 •
Initial 69
Modifiers 68
Opposed 70
Re-Roll 71
XD6 70
Disorder 104-105
Drones 189
End Phase 81, 98, 99, 104, 156-158
Raging Fires 157
Corrosion 157
Firing 99, 124-143
Aggressive Counter Attack 125, 136, 137, 185, 186
Defensive Counter Attack 125, 128, 132, 136
Initial Attack Dice 126-127
Effective Attack Dice 126
Profile Attack Dice 126
Firing Options 129-131
Area Bombardment 130, 143, 159
Combined Fire 129-130
Indirect Fire 127, 128, 130, 131
Linked Fire 127, 129
Standard Fire 129
Functions 195-198
Burrowing 195
Diving 195
Escort 196
Landing Craft 196
Low Level Flyer 197
Multi-purpose 196
Repair 197
Surface Skimming 197
Wave Lurker 198
Game Marker 64, 65
Critical Effect 100, 102, 156
Persistent Effect 99, 157
Game Set-Up 87-90
Advance Forces 88, 89
Board Edges 88
Board Size 87
Common Agreements 84
Core/Non Core Force 84-85
Deployment 88-89
Field Orders 90
Flanking Forces 87, 88, 89, 98
 
 DYSTOPIAN WARS 2.5 INDEX
Force List 87, 93, 184
Local Air Support 85-86, 89, 183
Main force 85, 89
Maximum Force Value 84, 85
Operational Advantage 87, 89, 98
Reserve Forces 85, 87, 89, 98
Strategic Advantage 87, 88, 98
Strategic Forces 85, 98
Tactical Action Card Deck 86, 90, 92-93
Terrain Placement 87
Theatre of Engagement 84
Game Turns 98
Generators 119, 165-172
Defensive 128, 171-172
Offensive 168-170
Standard 166-168
Height Band 73-74
Aerial 73
Diving 74
Surface 73-74
Height Level 73, 127
Stratospheric 73, 89, 127
Obscured 73, 127
Flying 73, 127
Water 73, 127
Land 74, 127
Submerged 74, 127
Deep Diving 74, 127
Initiative 81, 98, 99
Line of Sight 116-123, 124
Model Assigned Rules 159-164
Model Profile 75-77
Model State 77
Activated 77, 81
Drifting 77, 156
Lost 77
Ready to Activate 77
Scrapped 76, 77, 90, 102
Movement 99, 107-115
0” Movement 109
Changing Height Levels 107, 112, 113
Controlled Contact 111, 113, 150
Disembarking 81, 105, 110
360 Degree Movement 109
Moving SAS 109
• 270 •
Moving Infantry 109
Low Speed Manoeuvres 109, 110-111, 113, 128
Maximum Movement 109
Minimum Movement 76, 107, 109, 110
Moving Backwards 109, 111
Moving off the Battlefield 109
Moving onto the Battlefield 109
Path of Least Disturbance 109
Snaking 108
Swift Manoeuvres 112, 113
Turning 76, 107-108
Range Bands 73
Scrapyard 71, 77, 102
Support Aircraft Squadrons 85, 102, 182-189
Interception Attack 186
Dogfight 186
Aces 186
Duelling 187
Tactical Action Cards 92
Terrain 65, 87, 173-181
Elevation Bonus 175-176
Major Surfaces 173, 176
Minor Surfaces 174
Terrain Features 173-174, 177-178
Terrain Density 174, 176-178, 180
Terrain Size 175
Weaponry 131-137
Auxiliary 120, 124-125, 136-137
Mines 138-140
Node Projectors 140
Other 132-133
Primary 76, 120, 127, 130, 131
Secondary 76, 120, 131
Special Munitions 137-138
Specialised 133-136
Tertiary 120, 131, 132
 
 FLEET ACTION FAST PLAY RULES INDEX

Active Defence 242, 253, 255, 256, 259 Initiative 249

Alternating Activations 240
Arcs of Fire 240, 243 Lead Squadron 245, 260
Attacks 252-255 Line of Sight 240, 252-253
Combining 254
Non-Weapon attacks 254 Maximum Fleet Value 244
Minefields 247
Battle Groups 244-245, 260 Model 241
Core Battle Groups 244 Size 241
Narrative Battle Groups 244 Model Functions 241
Boarding 256-257 Burrowing 241
Results table 257 Diving 241
Movement 250-251
Carrier Replenishment 249, 260 Drift 251
Collisions 250 0” movement 251
Coherency 251
Damage Table 255, 257 Turning 251
Dice 237
Basic Dice 238 Opposed Tactics Test 240
D3 238
Dice shifts 238 Passive Defence 242, 255
Exploding dice 237
Heavy Dice 237 Ramming 250
Initial dice 237 Ranges 240, 243, 252
Re-rolls 238 Rounding up 238
Rolling to hit 237
XD6 238 Statistics card 242-243
Disorder 249, 261 Support Aircraft Squadrons 237, 258-259
Attack Runs 258, 259
End Phase 261-261 Bombing Runs 258, 259
Interception 254, 255, 258, 259
Force Quality Rating 245
Terrain 246-247
Game Markers: 236 Theatre 241
Activation Marker 236, 237 Aerial 241
Damage Marker 236, 259 Armoured 241
Disorder Maker 236, 259 Naval 241
Obscured Marker 236 Multi-Theatre 241
Game Turn 249
Graveyard 236 Weapons 253-254
Types 253
Height Levels 239 Prefixes 253-254
Combat 239
Flying High 239
Sub-Surface 239

• 271 •