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Local store is starting escalation and I am getting ready to make my initial purchase. 15/25/35/45/50 I believe.

I don't know what my lists will be (beyond the 15 starting) but I have decided to wade in deep with my initial buy.

Here are the units I'm considering buying

Battle group
Black 13th
Arcane Tempest Mages
Arcane Tempest Mage Captain
Junior
Squire
Minuteman
Hunter

The battlegroup and Black 13 will be my first 15 points.

I plan to run the hunter with the gun mages, and the minuteman is good up front from what I have read.

When I played 40k (just a little) I stuck with Tau and Grey Knights. I liked the shooty aspect of the tau and I liked the lower model count of grey knights (so I could focus more on having better painted units).

I know full shooty isn't viable with warmachine, and I'm ok with that. Ideally I don't want a massive model count (I really like painting and want each unit to look great). I understand I might need to get into the Mercs for some tar pit units (boomhowler) but I want to focus on learning one faction and the game first.

Is there anything I'm missing that I should get? I can get stuff easily from my FLGS but their on hand stock is limited, so they would have to order.

And before you mention it, I plan to magnetize the heavy jack. I considered getting ol' rowdy as well, since stryker and him has a bromance.

I should mention I have darius already, bought him years ago because I liked the model. So there is that to consider.

The main thing you are missing is a tarpit.

I started with something similar to what you have. Two big things I learned were to take fewer jacks and get a tarpit unit.

Cygnar is a combined arms faction. You really do need some of everything.

So I'd drop the Jr (for now), minuteman and hunter from your to buy list.

I'd also consider dropping one of the two gun mage units (for now).

Use that freed up cash and points to get a tarpit. I like Boomhowlers. I do not believe pStrykers feat works on them (unless you add in Capt Murdoch), but Arcane shield will.

Not sure when you can do a caster switch in your league, but most people move past pStryker as soon as they can.

Also, depending on how much cash you have and how serious you are about Cygnar, the "for now" purchases are great purchases. But you need to get our base down before you get all the support and fancy stuff. That is why I highly recommend a tarpit unit and less jacks.

Good luck!

I decided to look through the tarpit options and I think I like the forgeguard.

Yes they are slow, but the other options don't speak to me. I don't want to paint a model simply because it works, I want to actually like the model. I like the forge guard.

I decided to add the 2 heavy jack kits (the 3-in-1s), forgeguard and carvolo.

Money isn't an issue, I mean it is but I'm not on a strict budget.

Forge Guard isn't really a tarpit unit.

Usual tarpit units for Cygnar are (in order of use, usually):

- Boomhowlers;
- Pirate Boat;
- Stormguard (normal or Sylverline) + Carvolo;
- Steelhead Halberdiers + Carvolo;

Came up with 2 different lists (15 and 25pts), basically the first 2 weeks.

15pts
stryker
- lancer
- charger
- ironclad
b13

25pts
stryker
- ironclad
- squire
gun mages
- officer
- hunter
stormguard
- carvolo

Looking at these, the models are affordable and there aren't any non useful models in there (except potentially the battlebox, but that will depend on my playstyle).

I keep seeing boomhowlers, but I just don't like the models.

Cygnar isn't built for tarpitting; if you're tanking charges, running up to tie folks up in melee, or otherwise getting in a stand-up fight you're doing something wrong.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Cygnar isn't built for tarpitting; if you're tanking charges, running up to tie folks up in melee, or otherwise getting in a stand-up fight you're doing something wrong.

Except that if you don't at least have a couple of pieces to take and contest objectives, you will loose every single game on scenario.

PhantomViper wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Cygnar isn't built for tarpitting; if you're tanking charges, running up to tie folks up in melee, or otherwise getting in a stand-up fight you're doing something wrong.

Except that if you don't at least have a couple of pieces to take and contest objectives, you will loose every single game on scenario.

You have an easier time killing the enemy or otherwise forcing them off objectives than sitting there and getting in a slugging match.

I would get stormblades or if you are feeling like it silver line/storm guard. Wait later for more jacks- although use junior to run your charger. You need screens.