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Made in us
Monstrous Master Moulder




Rust belt

Been playing warmachine for about two years now and it seems like I have come to a crawl on the learning curve. I try to play once a week and challenge the more experienced players at the shop. More loses then wins when I play the more experienced players. Seems like I keep making the same mistakes in every game, bad positioning, forgetting my feat at the right time, not knowing what the other person caster or army can do, ect. Besides playing more games and gaining experience what are some other things you do to get better at the game? I try listening to chain attack podcast but much of their conversation about the game is over my head. Is there and videos on YouTube that talk about tatics? One where they explain why they are moving their model to a certain area of the board? I play Menoth so tatic video on my army would be great, I'm more of a visual learning.

   
Made in us
Cosmic Joe





Study. Try to learn what the other casters can do. Get familiar with them and learn their common tricks and tactics. Do this by going to their specific forums and what not.
Also, how many factions do you play. Playing a faction wildly different than your own may help you understand the game from your enemy's perspective.



Also, check out my history blog: Minimum Wage Historian, a fun place to check out history that often falls between the couch cushions. 
   
Made in gb
Drakhun





Study study study. Battle reports are a good idea and so are pod casts.

It might be sad, but practise on your own. Put out an enemy force, maybe split your army in two and practice moving it around. Then sit on the other side and look to see how you'd crack your own game.

DS:90-S+G+++M++B-IPw40k03+D+A++/fWD-R++T(T)DM+
Warmachine MKIII record 39W/0D/6L
 
   
Made in us
Monstrous Master Moulder




Rust belt

I only play Menoth at this time but I did pick up the legion all in one box. Just have not had time to put it together and waiting for the next journeyman league to start this winter. Good idea about going on the PP other faction threads and poking around.
   
Made in gb
Longtime Dakkanaut




Study. Get games in. Learn from your mistakes and apply your learning. Yo are apparently not doing this.

I'm afraid there is no 'easy button' option. Warmachine is a game where those who excel understand the burden of knowledge required (ie know your stuff, and know his even better!) backed up by proper threat analysis on the table top and positioning/control for maximum advantage (ie how you set your dudes up, how you move them about and what you go after and where). Study and practice are the only ways. Like anything really.

greatest band in the universe: machine supremacy

"Punch your fist in the air and hold your Gameboy aloft like the warrior you are" 
   
Made in gb
Hacking Shang Jí





Bournemouth, England

Do you change your Caster and list often enough?

One of my regular opponents plays Cygnar and frequently plays his favourite line ups. He often loses and a lot of it is down to me knowing what his models can do.

Myself on the other hand have nearly all my factions Casters and a lot of options for my lists. I prefer to mix my list selection up every game and this helps me keep the edge.

Need more 's in my life!  
   
Made in us
Monstrous Master Moulder




Rust belt

Well I guess I have to dedicate a hr each day to studying haven't studied anything since college. I switch it up some been trying new casters every few weeks.
   
Made in us
Cosmic Joe





If you're just starting out, don't switch casters. Not until you understand the game. If you're more experienced then switching casters around is a great idea.



Also, check out my history blog: Minimum Wage Historian, a fun place to check out history that often falls between the couch cushions. 
   
Made in au
Tough Tyrant Guard







Why not try just getting your opponents to talk through what they're doing and why? They can also probably often help by pointing out if they think you're making a mistake, if you ask them. Then you can explain why you did a particular thing.

Also, maybe consider taking notes on why you lose (or win) games and reviewing them. In school they said you should review your notes after a day, then a week, then a month and ... six months? Or something? To get it into your long-term memory.

You could also try getting advice on the lists you're running. It could be that you're missing particular pieces that would make your lists much stronger, or particular model interactions that can help a lot.
   
Made in us
Purged Thrall





FL

Yeah, we've got one guy who keeps notes on the games he plays, stuff like: bad timing on feat and the circumstances, forgot this ability, should have attacked objective here.

As for chain attack, they've got a "what to expect" series (for free) about the different factions.

And if you don't mind spending the money, but all the cards on Warroom. You can anyways quickly look at enemy models and when people reference things your unfamiliar with, you can look it up.
   
Made in us
Monstrous Master Moulder




Rust belt

Yeah need to get the war room app. Just didn't want to spend the money plus I hate using my phone for things like that. I'm not a bad player have placed 3rd in steamroller events with 25 players. Just need to take my game to the next level.
   
Made in us
Warning From Magnus? Not Listening!





Va

I've been playing for about 7 months and just won my first steam roller about 3 weeks ago. I watch as many advanced manuevers and mini war gaming battle reports as I can. It helps you see what other factions can do and it shows you how different scenarios play out on the table, like when to jam, etc. Not to make it sound too serious, but ts kind of like NFL players wAtching game tape. It doesn't beat playing, but it's the next best thing.

Also, go on battle college and read up on your factions models. Focus on the synergies they have with other models and build lists off a few of these. I try to have three good "tricks" when I make lists. Enough to be versatile, but not too many to forget. Then read about the other factions stuff as well.

This is what I've been doing the past 7 months and I have improved by leaps and bounds.

Check out my Deadzone/40k/necromunda blog here! 
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

 Emperors_Champion wrote:
Do you change your Caster and list often enough?

One of my regular opponents plays Cygnar and frequently plays his favourite line ups. He often loses and a lot of it is down to me knowing what his models can do.

Myself on the other hand have nearly all my factions Casters and a lot of options for my lists. I prefer to mix my list selection up every game and this helps me keep the edge.


Actually hopping lists and casters has the opposite effect. Having skill with the particular list you are using is very important. Most top players play their competitive lists for at least a year straight till they can play it in their sleep. They also know the specifics of that lists good and bad matchups too. They'll also put the same effort into the list they are pairing this one with.

Building a list and then getting as much practice as possible with it is key, against many opponents and matchups so you can analyze its strengths and weaknesses.

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in gb
Hacking Shang Jí





Bournemouth, England

 Grey Templar wrote:
 Emperors_Champion wrote:
Do you change your Caster and list often enough?

One of my regular opponents plays Cygnar and frequently plays his favourite line ups. He often loses and a lot of it is down to me knowing what his models can do.

Myself on the other hand have nearly all my factions Casters and a lot of options for my lists. I prefer to mix my list selection up every game and this helps me keep the edge.


Actually hopping lists and casters has the opposite effect. Having skill with the particular list you are using is very important. Most top players play their competitive lists for at least a year straight till they can play it in their sleep. They also know the specifics of that lists good and bad matchups too. They'll also put the same effort into the list they are pairing this one with.

Building a list and then getting as much practice as possible with it is key, against many opponents and matchups so you can analyze its strengths and weaknesses.


Yeh I suppose that makes more sense really. I couldnt do that myself as I'd just get bored. I'm one of those hobbiers that needs to switch things up fair often or the system gets pushed aside for new and shinys!

Need more 's in my life!  
   
Made in us
The Conquerer






Waiting for my shill money from Spiral Arm Studios

Its a curse we must live with. Wanting to play the new shiny, but also wanting to get super good.

I sort of compromise. I'll play my competitive lists for 2 weeks, then spend one week playing an off list if I'm bored.

Self-proclaimed evil Cat-person. Dues Ex Felines

Cato Sicarius, after force feeding Captain Ventris a copy of the Codex Astartes for having the audacity to play Deathwatch, chokes to death on his own D-baggery after finding Calgar assembling his new Eldar army.

MURICA!!! IN SPESS!!! 
   
Made in us
Hurr! Ogryn Bone 'Ead!





Fake Englandland

 Grey Templar wrote:
Its a curse we must live with. Wanting to play the new shiny, but also wanting to get super good.

I sort of compromise. I'll play my competitive lists for 2 weeks, then spend one week playing an off list if I'm bored.

I think this isn't a bad way to go about it personally. I find with myself at least that working on the same list, or the same painting project or whatever it is that breaking it up with something new to paint or new list makes me come back with fresh eyes the next week and helps me see issues I hadn't seen when I was working on it week after week. Maybe that means I won't be a world class player, but I play for fun

Shadowrun is the best game ever. It's the only thing I have ever played in which I have jumped out of a shot out van with a chainsaw to cut a flying drone in half before leveling a building with ANFO assisted by a troll, a dwarf, an elf, and a wizard. 
   
Made in au
[MOD]
Not as Good as a Minion






Brisbane

I think the second faction idea, if you have the money and time for it, is a great one. It really does help. Or if you can't play them, help your friends make lists/sort out match ups for them, it's the next best thing. When you're sitting about the store and they're keen to talk about their lists engage with them and learn about how it all works, it'll help

I wish I had time for all the game systems I own, let alone want to own... 
   
Made in gb
Storm Guard



Northampton, England

I basically struggled against Circle the first few times I played them so what did I do? Went out and played Circle, now I have very little trouble with them as I know what to do against most of their common pieces.

In my meta and tournament scene I see a lot of Legion, Cryx, Skorne and Khador so regular games against them has allowed me to learn to combat a lot of what they do.

At the end of the day though, I know how to play 3/4 Cygnar casters really well and what I like that works well with them, I can play two Menoth casters quite well and know many of their tricks, same with Mercs and Minions.

As I rarely see Trollbloods on the table they're next on my list so I can learn their counters.

Even though Warmachine is cheaper than other TTG's, a lot of what you put in is what you get out - financially and on the table.

Cygnar (133) | 82% painted - Menoth (65) | 92% painted
Mercenaries (52) | 53% painted - Circle Orboros (42) | 92% painted - Minions (20) | 0% painted

Systems I play : Warmachine, Hordes, Star Wars X-Wing, Star Trek Attack Wing, Malifaux & Bolt Action.

Listen to my band : http://tigerstyleuk.bandcamp.com | Follow my wrestling promotion http://www.goodwrestling.com 
   
 
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