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Recently started getting into Warmachine, and started to get a protectorate of menoth army. I grabbed some wracks, a choir and the two player box half. I will be playing against my friends Cryx army later and started wondering if I have to explain my units, and what they do. I know the wracks provide focus, but do I need to tell him that they explode? I will tell him if I need to, but I wanted to keep that small surprise in case he got close to them. So whats your opinions on that matter, should you be able to withhold unit rules/information? or are you obligated to tell your opponent all of your models rules, and important information such as "the wracks explode"

You are obligated to show your opponent the cards for your models, with any damage, spells, animi, or effects, at any time.

there is no concealed information in Warmachine.

Well thanks for resolving that for me! Now I know that there wont be any hidden tricks between us.

That being said, you are obligated to tell him if he asks. You aren't obligated to tell him unless he does. Though to be fair, I like to give at least a warning to newer players before letting the hazing begin.

And stuff.

 Dylanj94 wrote:
Well thanks for resolving that for me! Now I know that there wont be any hidden tricks between us.

No there are no "hidden" tricks, but there are a ton of things that new (and lets be honest, seasoned) players just don't see coming.

In Warmachine, as everyone says, there is no concealed information between plays. If she/he asks to see yours cards, then it is in good faith to show him/her, and if he does not, I say ask if he/she wants to just to be a good sport about it.

I've found in casual games a quick 'anything I should be worried about?' goes a long way. Most players seem to be more than happy to tell me how they plan to kill me, just to see my expression when I stare impotently at my on coming destruction.

Just in addendum, the no concealed info also applies to all measurements taken on the field - if you get to measure something for any reason, your opponent should know the distance as well.


For myself, I always like to explain unfamiliar models to opponents before a game, and especially go over the caster and his feat, as it's friendly and much nicer than making people read all your cards, but all that is actually required is for you to show the cards to your opponent.

Not only is all information public, but an effort should be made as to be as forthcoming as possible with interactions that may not be obvious from stats alone. Particularly in casual games. This game has a lot of moving parts and it works better when people are as aware of them as possible.

Info is public, but you are not obligated to spoon feed your opponent. If he doesn't ask, don't tell.

Nothing is required to be stated until your opponent asks or it comes into effect. If he doesn't ask, its his loss.


I always go over some of the more obscure parts of my list, but not in major detail unless its asked for. This is against players of equal skill though. Newbies will get more detailed explanations, although I have found that not being forthcoming does help foster them into the mindset of always asking questions. I also always make it a habit of asking for my opponent's casters cards.

 Grey Templar wrote:
Info is public, but you are not obligated to spoon feed your opponent. If he doesn't ask, don't tell.

Obligated? No. But I suppose you're not obligated to bathe or wear pants that hide your butt crack before coming to the game either. Certainly, a lot of people at game stores choose to exercise those options too. It certainly doesn't make them any more fun to play against.

Whenever I don't know for sure that my opponent understands my spells or effects, I announce them. "My paladin advances and uses impervious wall, so they can't be harmed except by magic" or the like. A little bit of courtesy goes a long way to make the game more fun and accessible for everyone.

I suppose one could just shuffle your guys up and say "They use impervious wall" and wait for the opponent to be surprised when they find out their non-magic attacks bounce off. I for one, would call that particular player a dink. Pushing a pile of cardboard towards a player with a "Figure it out yourself" attitude, does little but give them a wall-o-text that's hard to digest.

Yeah. Don't be that guy.

But it does depend on weep you are playing and what your area is like. I know sometimes my friend and I will be much harder on each other whew we are prepping for a tourney. But casual play, just be cool.

 Chongara wrote:

 Grey Templar wrote:
Info is public, but you are not obligated to spoon feed your opponent. If he doesn't ask, don't tell.

Obligated? No. But I suppose you're not obligated to bathe or wear pants that hide your butt crack before coming to the game either. Certainly, a lot of people at game stores choose to exercise those options too. It certainly doesn't make them any more fun to play against.

Whenever I don't know for sure that my opponent understands my spells or effects, I announce them. "My paladin advances and uses impervious wall, so they can't be harmed except by magic" or the like. A little bit of courtesy goes a long way to make the game more fun and accessible for everyone.

I suppose one could just shuffle your guys up and say "They use impervious wall" and wait for the opponent to be surprised when they find out their non-magic attacks bounce off. I for one, would call that particular player a dink. Pushing a pile of cardboard towards a player with a "Figure it out yourself" attitude, does little but give them a wall-o-text that's hard to digest.

I only do that with moderately experienced players, not the newbies. But I expect them to get weaned off as soon as possible.

And with moderately experienced players they should be fairly experienced to know what some of the more basic things about their opponents army do. So that cuts down on the amount of questions after a point. Then its usually just about the caster's spell list and any wonky special rules they have.

 Mordekiem wrote:


But casual play, just be cool.

Sorry, couldn't resist. I would recommend this as the best way to play casually. People appreciate it and remember that a game against you was fun. Tournaments? All bets are off.

I think Grey Templar has the right of it here. If I say "My druid here makes a vortex cloud" and a fairly experienced player doesn't know what that does, he should ask. It is my death clock running, after all; no need for long speeches from me. If I am playing a newbie I will explain what it does in more detail because we are not using a clock, and they need to know. Hell, if I am playing a newbie I will tell them what they should do to defeat me in detail. Once the noob shoes come off, then they should be asking if they don't know.