streetsamurai wrote: Is malifaux still going strong? In my area, it was big 10 years ago, but seems to have taken a hit since
The rumors of Wyrd deciding to replace all of their current plastic with giant puppets are unsubstantiated rumors.
It's dead Jim, but M3E looks like they got their collectivist heads out of their fourth point of contact and actually listened to some real game designers for a change, and have been hard at work shoring up some of the bone heads content that they had saddled themselves up with in 2d Edition, which pretty much killed the game for them.
Now- Less of the jackass, and more factions and characters. They actually look like they want to make a real game, now, and it's not just that one guy's vanity project for his E-peen stroking.
Tell us how you really feel.
TBH I have no idea what you are even referring to, I've played Malifaux but never really got into the community side of things.
What are YOU talking about?
M1E, the game was hotcakes.
2d edition sucked.
3d Edition is pretty good, and the whole company has taken a page and LISTENED to peoples issues.
It really isn't that hard. From figures, to mechanics, to tone, the game has improved 10 fold.
HAD you gotten into the "Community Side of things", you would know what I was talking about. Issues that killed the game, and the collective head smacks that everyone who started in 1 E, the RPG, The Kickstarter, the collective cries of pain, because of the back room crap, and everything else players had to deal with.
Alpharius wrote: ...he often is! Smart guy, that Past Mikes fellow!
I have yet to encounter a game of Malifaux anywhere in the Real World - I'd love to see it in action someday.
Amusingly enough, I stumbled(literally! I tripped as I came into the shop! ) across a tournament at the FLGS where I go for Battletech, Legion, and MTG stuff.
I didn't have any idea what the heck was going on at the time, since they were just setting up as I was leaving but they posted the photos of it after. Made me wish I'd stayed a bit longer.
Kanluwen wrote: Do you think Von Schill will be getting a Title?
When the new title wave first got announced it was confirmed every master (including Explorers) is getting one. Presumably the next book is going to be made up of titles and very few new models (most likely dual keyword and built for titles like the Nightmare/Oni lady coming) which is a great way to reduce SKU bloat and still keep the game fresh
Kanluwen wrote: Do you think Von Schill will be getting a Title?
When the new title wave first got announced it was confirmed every master (including Explorers) is getting one. Presumably the next book is going to be made up of titles and very few new models (most likely dual keyword and built for titles like the Nightmare/Oni lady coming) which is a great way to reduce SKU bloat and still keep the game fresh
I don't see how every master in the game getting an alternate model to go along with their new title is going to help SKU bloat.
Did I read somewhere that said the alt models would be included in Otherside starters? That could reduce some of the bloat load. Maybe. dunno, wasn't really paying attention.
streetsamurai wrote: Is malifaux still going strong? In my area, it was big 10 years ago, but seems to have taken a hit since
The rumors of Wyrd deciding to replace all of their current plastic with giant puppets are unsubstantiated rumors.
It's dead Jim, but M3E looks like they got their collectivist heads out of their fourth point of contact and actually listened to some real game designers for a change, and have been hard at work shoring up some of the bone heads content that they had saddled themselves up with in 2d Edition, which pretty much killed the game for them.
Now- Less of the jackass, and more factions and characters. They actually look like they want to make a real game, now, and it's not just that one guy's vanity project for his E-peen stroking.
Tell us how you really feel.
TBH I have no idea what you are even referring to, I've played Malifaux but never really got into the community side of things.
What are YOU talking about?
M1E, the game was hotcakes.
2d edition sucked.
3d Edition is pretty good, and the whole company has taken a page and LISTENED to peoples issues.
It really isn't that hard. From figures, to mechanics, to tone, the game has improved 10 fold.
HAD you gotten into the "Community Side of things", you would know what I was talking about. Issues that killed the game, and the collective head smacks that everyone who started in 1 E, the RPG, The Kickstarter, the collective cries of pain, because of the back room crap, and everything else players had to deal with.
Your welcome to ask, someone might educate you.
Errr... heres what I am talkig about, because they make no sense to me:
-"It's dead Jim"
-"collectivist heads"
-"fourth point of contact"
-"listened to some real game designers"
-"bone heads content that they had saddled themselves up with"
-"less of the jackass"
-"one guys vanity project for his e-peen stroking"
That being said, your perspective of the games success is different from what I experienced here. M1E was never hotcakes in my little slice of earth, the shops here mostly didn't carry it and the few that did ended up selling it all out for pennies on the dollar after it sat on shelves. M2E was one of the most popular games in the area and was played regularly on a weekly basis in a number of stores. M3E I have yet to see anyone actually play a game of in person.
I suppose its hard to believe that there were "issues killing the game" in M2E when it was seemingly more popular then than it is now.
I suppose its hard to believe that there were "issues killing the game" in M2E when it was seemingly more popular then than it is now.
There was a contingent of M1E players upset about the changes to M2E that made a dedicated effort to ensure the game died. Ultimately M2E won over a whole knew crowd, but every once in a while I run into part of the crew insisting its dead because they declared it so.
Having not played M1E I can't imagine what might have changed that would render M2E so unpopular, but I'm guessing, based on your response, that Grot 6 is amongst the disaffected M1E loyalists?
chaos0xomega wrote: Having not played M1E I can't imagine what might have changed that would render M2E so unpopular, but I'm guessing, based on your response, that Grot 6 is amongst the disaffected M1E loyalists?
I couldn't say for sure. I didn't get into the game until shortly after the launch of M2E and only played a couple games of M1E. I just saw a few of the blow ups on the forums and mostly tried to stay out of it.
.Mikes. wrote: Did I read somewhere that said the alt models would be included in Otherside starters? That could reduce some of the bloat load. Maybe. dunno, wasn't really paying attention.
I kinda hope that's not the case, or that's a limited number of them.
I don't want to have to buy a whole starter just to get an alternate version of Von Schill!
.Mikes. wrote: Did I read somewhere that said the alt models would be included in Otherside starters? That could reduce some of the bloat load. Maybe. dunno, wasn't really paying attention.
I kinda hope that's not the case, or that's a limited number of them.
I don't want to have to buy a whole starter just to get an alternate version of Von Schill!
Sonnia and Kirai are in the Other Side 2 Player starter, but I highly doubt that would apply to the rest of them. 57 new Otherside starters would be.... a lot.
Also worth noting that the Other Side units in the 2 Player starter have Malifaux rules.
It's all stuff from the new book, most things that will be added are what's being announced via fan media this month. A few podcasts/youtube channels are doing reveals all this month of stuff from the new book, looks like they'll all have 2 Titles and a model that connects them
In Malifaux Burns, the latest book for M3E, the Burning Man has arrived. For the last few years, the failed experiment of the former Governor-General has been causing havoc on Earth, warping mankind from the clouds above. His portals have opened in both sea and sky, letting loose creatures that even the most imaginative minds could not fathom. His path of destruction is random and without remorse, and now he’s here… back where it all started.
With this expansion, we have created new ways to play every keyword by re-designing Masters from the ground up. Not only do these titles create strengths where there were once weaknesses, but they also create questions for your opponent to ask as soon as the crew building begins. What version of Ulix is my opponent playing? Should I bring counters to his grow mechanics or his fiery pig steed? Which version fits the current pool of Strategies and Schemes?
We wanted to expand the ways you play a specific keyword or crew so that they are viable in more pools and are competitive in more instances, while also making existing Masters that don’t see as much play reach the table more often, as well.
Hidden information between players before the game even starts has been a staple in previous editions, such as through Upgrades and even scoring points. We’ve learned a lot from those iterations, and believe that this approach further pushes specialization of a single keyword, which keeps the barrier of entry low and tactical decisions high, while staying true to the many secrets that Malifaux has to offer. Even from a lore perspective, with Malifaux Burns, we’re harkening back to the past to take another look at how we used to tell stories on a grander scale. Like First Edition, the story in Malifaux Burns will be broad and expansive, covering the details of what happened to the 8 Masters who have been corrupted by the Burning Man’s sudden arrival. It’s the largest single story ever written for a Malifaux book (because creating new ways to play 54 Masters wasn’t enough), and we can’t wait for you to experience it.
This is how the new Title setup will be packaged:
What this seems to indicate as well is that the pairings we've been seeing in the previews will be boxes. Which seems to actually be fairly well done.
Yeah, they've spoiled several of the box sets now. The upcoming releases page has the first wave of them up.
I'm... conflicted. Like.... I get it. Releasing the models individually would likely result in some shelf sitters clogging up inventory. It's effectively the same reason they abandoned Avatars. A model that only appeals to a subset of a subset of a subset of players. The packaging just spreads the risk around.
In some ways though, I wish they were just like 3-4 packs of the master models. The dual keyword solo is nice, but really complicates splitting the boxes and despite the fact I own nearly 20 masters, so far I'm 0:6 on boxes that I want all 3 models from. I'm super happy to sell off the extras, but... kind of sucks they don't get the the new Enforcer.
Wyrd continually seems to waffle between declaring they want themes to be self-contained and declaring cross-faction nonsense. I felt really burned by their 3rd edition changes (not that my collection was hit as bad as many, though I won some painting competitions to get a sense of the work involved), and this sort of nonsense makes me feel the decision to abandon keeping up was the right one, despite nostalgia for that competitive environment. They lost my trust about how they treat players between that and my experiences in closed and open beta, and I've still not seen evidence that they won't just screw fans for their whims and decisions on collections. Yeah, you have the option to get useless models, break up kits, or buy another core. (FWIW, I've felt for a long time that they behave like no one wants only a partial collection, and I don't know if it's intentional or just oblivious.)
I have nostalgia for the game and for the company, but why the hell would I buy a box that comes with models for factions I don't want or have? What's the logic here?
On top of that, I feel like stacking more optional upgrades/profiles for masters will serve only to add to the pile of already byzantine interactions in the game. We're quickly approaching Stratagem levels.
spiralingcadaver wrote: Yeah, you have the option to get useless models, break up kits, or buy another core. (FWIW, I've felt for a long time that they behave like no one wants only a partial collection, and I don't know if it's intentional or just oblivious.)
I'm still fairly new into Malifaux, so can't comment on most of what your post was so I set it to just the relevant point.
It seems to me though that Wyrd is following in Corvus Belli's footsteps. CB's packaging pushes have gotten kinda/sorta better but they've always believed (despite players outright telling them it's not the case) that people collect factions, not subfactions. For Malifaux, I could see a similar argument in the keyword system being a new player driver.
Speaking for myself? When I dove in with Freikorps(literally bought into the faction and then saw the daggone Explorer's Society! ), I went for everything with the Freikorps keyword that I liked the look of. Just waiting on Lazarus & Engineers to come in this month.
Anya was the one I really, really liked from ES but that keyword is a heckin' mess. Outcast Starter for the Syndicate keyworded Catalans, Dirty Work for Rook and the corporate spies, and then Anya's Core just to field something that isn't the Surveyors? It's a mess and has kept me way away from it.
Anyways, another Master pairing got spoiled via Miniature Market! ‣ Charles Hoffman (Inventor) ‣ Metallurgist ‣ Von Schill (Iron-Heart)
I get that approach, but how does that explain how Wyrd handles cross-faction or cross-game stuff? They believe that players collect their entire universe? I just feel like they push it so hard...
spiralingcadaver wrote: I get that approach, but how does that explain how Wyrd handles cross-faction or cross-game stuff? They believe that players collect their entire universe? I just feel like they push it so hard...
I dont think there is that assumption. But if your do what to start colleting another faction in Malifaux or move into TOS at some point then its easy to do as you often already have a few models from that game/faction.
Its simple from a collecting pov and makes sense from a company making-money pov.
Yep, that's my more cynical expectation. Personally, rather than a partial overlap encouraging expansion, for me where I have a limited budget and interest, it means I'm buying stuff for nothing. I'm on the fence about, for nostalgia, getting my favorite masters' new versions, but being expected to pay for pieces from other external factions or games is a deterrent. At least when they're part of one faction, there's the possibility that one can broaden an internal collection.
I'd never really looked at Hoffman until seeing Von Schill packed with him...I've got a price drop alert on Hoffman's Guild picks for Miniature Market & a note with my FLGS if they get Hoffman stuff in to give me a shout.
.Mikes. wrote: Captial City Crew podcast this morning dropped the alt versions of Lady J and Tara this morning.
I'm excited about playing Lady J all of a sudden.
The sculpt for that pose was teased in this thread a lifetime ago. I always wondered what happened to it when the M3E box was redone with a completely different sculpt.
aku-chan wrote: Crud, I was hoping Cooper would be closer to his original mini.
Looks like I am going to have to buy his starter set just for the one guy.
Ya kinda need his starter set for all the Totem Minions anyways...
That said, he just seems to be 'on the hunt' rather than 'standing on a trophy kill'. Feels fine to me.
I don't play and none of the other minis in his set appeal to me, that's why I was hoping his alt version (as nice as it is) would provide a similar, less expensive option.
I already want a few of these alt sets so it's probably a good thing I can knock one off the list.
Ugh. Lazarus is the same material as the old Warmahordes starters it feels.
I thought the new starter /new player boxes were single piece models but in hard plastic. You saying they are in the soft plastic early MK3 WM/H battle box models? Cos that's .........not good. They were so hit and miss quality wise.
Ugh. Lazarus is the same material as the old Warmahordes starters it feels.
I thought the new starter /new player boxes were single piece models but in hard plastic. You saying they are in the soft plastic early MK3 WM/H battle box models? Cos that's .........not good. They were so hit and miss quality wise.
It doesn't seem to be the same as the Warmahordes stuff, but it is definitely not hard plastic.
I also wonder what the new two player ToS box will be. The quality control issues with models is what made me stop playing that game.
Ugh. Lazarus is the same material as the old Warmahordes starters it feels.
I thought the new starter /new player boxes were single piece models but in hard plastic. You saying they are in the soft plastic early MK3 WM/H battle box models? Cos that's .........not good. They were so hit and miss quality wise.
I'm saying that the Lazarus model which came in "Cutting Edge Technology"(which isn't a starter/new player box) is not the standard hard plastic.
It came in a baggy, not on a sprue and it was not a single piece model. It was not taking superglue or plastic glue despite being cleaned thoroughly. I'm going to try to get in touch with them about it.
Kudos to them on the detail though. The issue, bluntly, is that the steam engine has the ammo feed linked to it and the ammo feed links to the arm...but the steam engine doesn't really want to fit properly into the back 'nub'.
Tried heating it to link the feed into place and the dang thing 'reset' its elasticity within milliseconds.
Yeah, I've heard several people surprised by this in the current set of releases. The Botonist Explorer's pack has the same thing, though there's a tiny "preassembled" warning in the corner of the box.
I assume its the same material used for The Other Side. I got the Outcast starter which is one of the preassembled sets and the models are okay. I think in some ways the details might be better than the hard plastics (Wyrd's HIPS is always a little overly smooth, IMO) but the posing really lacks ambition. One guy is holding a rifle in a way that would go flying out of his hand and they're all kind of just standing around.
Logged onto the Wyrd store to talk myself down from The Other Side starter ... and discovered that it's the only Gen Con thing sold out. Legitimately disappointed.
Any word on this thing seeing general release? And I'm assuming $100 is what it costs all the time, as Wyrd doesn't really do discounts, just throws more stuff at you for using their store.
The new book is really exciting. Not super thrilled about the way its packaged of course, but at least its twisting my arm in such a way as to get me to buy English Ivan, who I mostly just needed an excuse for thus far.
Salute Wayland store had SO MUCH Wyrd stuff that I almost caved in. Extremely confused with packaging or editions and games since there was loads of different packaging for the minis.
NAVARRO wrote: Salute Wayland store had SO MUCH Wyrd stuff that I almost caved in. Extremely confused with packaging or editions and games since there was loads of different packaging for the minis.
I don't live there anymore but im told that the London and wider SE Malifaux scene is popping right now.
Exciting stuff! I've been looking for something to drag me in to actually playing some games. My solo trials of Malifaux were more successful than most...
For me Malifaux is nearly the perfect game in so many ways. The one way I feel it lets itself down are on rules bloat. Not the number of rules in itself, but that all models have so many rules on their cards. 4ss minions do not need an entire tarot card of rules. Honestly if they just cut down on that the game would be so much better.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Also bring back Collodi.
By now, you have heard that Fourth Edition is coming. While there is a lot we are very excited to reveal about the rules, we know many of you will have questions about whether you can still use the models you already own, how you will get stat cards, and all sorts of other details about how the transition between editions will be handled. This article aims to answer as many of those questions as possible.
Crew Composition
With any new edition comes changes to crew composition. Some models may gain or lose a keyword or even change factions depending on how the story progresses. We will have more information on that next week, but to start, we wanted to say Fourth Edition will not see a continuation of Dead Man’s Hand.
There are a handful of models leaving the range, but we were far more selective than during DMH. There are no full keywords leaving the range, and the only master who will not have a stat card in Fourth Edition is Leveticus (for narrative reasons). All the rest of the Amalgam models are still playable in Fourth Edition, with Rusty Alyce as their new master. Any of the Leveticus models (of the appropriate base size, of course) can serve as legal proxies for Rusty Alice and her titles, allowing you to still use them.
Almost all other models losing stat cards are receiving a similar fate. These are either old second edition sculpts whose molds have seen better days and were causing the warehouse a headache (Cojo, we're looking at you), or they were incredibly similar in look and theme to existing models (for example, we didn’t feel we needed both Dead Doxies and Rotten Belles). Every model leaving the range will be usable as a legal proxy for a model still available in Fourth Edition. The list of models leaving is incredibly limited for an edition change, and you can find the full list here, along with what the models may now proxy for:
A Line in the Sand
A major story beat for Malifaux Fourth Edition is characters being forced to choose a side. As such, some dual keyword models are joining one of those keywords permanently. However, the vast majority of models from the most recent Ashes of Malifaux release kept both their keywords. As an example, this year’s Easter alts will receive the following changes:
Triconus - Staying in Sooey but becoming a totem for Ulix, Porkbelly Protector
Maid in the Mist - Becoming purely Tri-Chi
Mr. Invisible - Becoming purely DUA
The Eighth Mate - Becoming purely Infamous
He-namatsu - Becoming purely Ten Thunders and Qi and Gong
Rules Availability
Throughout Third Edition, Malifaux players have enjoyed a high-quality app and free online rules, and these will continue to be available in Fourth. We are currently planning and designing a new Fourth Edition app, which we hope will match or exceed the quality you have come to expect. The rules and cards will be available in all the same ways they were in Third (via our website, Dropbox, app, and Wargame Vault) and we’ll continue to explore other opportunities.
The rules will have two separate books available: the Core Rules and the Comprehensive Rules. The difference between these two is that the Core Rules will be a more streamlined version written in conversational language with story-based examples. The Comprehensive Rules will provide full timing breakdowns, explain things in detailed steps, and include many clear diagrams. In other words, one version exists to learn the game in a vacuum, and the other will serve as a detailed reference for veteran players when they have questions. If the two books ever appear to disagree, the Comprehensive Rules take precedence.
This approach allows us to offer a rulebook that new players can use to learn the game from scratch without external guidance while retaining the depth and precise language needed for more competitive play.
The Core Rules will be printed and sold in game stores, while the Comprehensive Rules will remain digital-only. You’ll be able to access them online for free, and if you prefer a physical copy, you can print them yourself or order one through print-on-demand. Keeping the Comprehensive Rules online allows us to update them more easily and incorporate errata.
Starters
In addition to all this, we will release a new two-player starter set! This set will come with everything two players need, including 14 preassembled models, two fate decks, tokens, markers, and a Quick Start guide that teaches new players through a series of introductory games that build upon each other. The two crews will be completely new to Malifaux, and we will have more information on them in the coming weeks!
The old Third Edition starters will still exist with all their previous contents; they will simply be repackaged as “Versatile Packs” to avoid confusion with the new Two-Player Starter. The only exception is the Outcast starter, as those models have permanently joined the Syndicate. But do not fear, Outcasts! Angel Eyes and the Half-Bloods will be joining Outcasts to form their new Versatile Pack (which will complement Dr. Silas when he becomes a master after the launch of Fourth Edition, but that's a topic for another day).
Packaging
We will also be doing some repackaging. All titled Masters from the Malifaux Burns release that were packaged together will be repackaged into their own core boxes. These will be created using smaller boxes from the keyword. This will make the game easier to pick up for new players while reducing the number of SKUs stores must handle. For example, in Fourth Edition, Nightmare will have two core boxes:
The original core box contains:
The Dreamer
Lord Chompy Bits
Coppelius
3 x Alps
And the new core box contains:
The Dreamer, Insomniac
Lord Chompy Bits, Restless
3 x Daydream
3 x Stitched Together
You can see that we combined the Deep Sleep box, which contained Alps and Stitched Together, into the new core box, cutting down SKUs and making it much easier for a new player to start playing Nightmare. This box also includes a new Lord Chompy Bits title with its own sculpt and rules. Of course, not every keyword will have a different title for the totem. Some will be older models the master has taken under their wing, and others will be entirely new models. Regardless, each title 2 master will have their own totem, making them even more distinct from the original title.
Doo-Dads
Playing Malifaux involves more than just models and cards. You may also have tape measures, card sleeves, game mats, and more. All of these should carry over to Fourth Edition without issue. Deployment zones are not changing, so game mats with Third Edition markings will still work. Stat cards are also staying the same size, so your sleeves will continue to fit. The only potential changes are with tokens and markers you may have made, but even most of those will still be usable. Effects like Poison and Burning are still part of the game.
Things To Ease the Change
Now, you may be saying: “but I have the rest of the models in that box; I just want the new totem.” We hear you, and we agree. So, for one year after the box with the totem comes out, you will be able to order the totem individually from us directly without buying the entire box. This will also apply to any new non-totem models packaged this way.
Additionally, with the release of Malifaux Fourth Edition, we will offer “Faction Packs” containing all of the Fourth Edition stat cards, upgrades, and crew cards for a single faction. This way, you can update all your cards for your favorite faction at once.
Alright, that was a lot of information, but we hope it clarifies how things will work. At the end of the day, Malifaux and Wyrd exist because of you. We hope the details above will make this edition change as easy as possible so you can focus on playing this amazing game!
Automatically Appended Next Post: Being able to finish a game in 2 hours would be huge.
Also, $5 says Shockwaves go bye bye.
Automatically Appended Next Post: And obeys limited to one, maybe two crews.
New update. No more Dead Man's Hand. A list of models going away. Existing DMH serves as legal proxies for certain models. No keywords being removed. Leviticus is gone with Alyce becoming the new Amalgum master (and hopefully not Levitucus becoming Alyce >_>
Everytime GW launches a new edition I cringe at having to sit through the rehash of the world, the settings, and the explanation of new launch box SKUs.
That said, I now fully understand why they do it. If the goal of the new edition is to build hype and draw in new or lapsed audiences, this is a miserable failure. These posts are bereft of artwork, the video shows none of the products. I totally understand Wyrd is a tiny company, but I'm shocked they seem to give less attention to a new edition launch than a random box of alt models they sell at Easter.
When are we going to see a starter box? Retail packaging? A new model?
I'm obviously not a regular player, but I have a few crews and I want to get into it, but I don't see this reviving interest in my area. A pity.
Terrain has always been a vital part of miniature games. It is more than just scenery; it is the stage where every dramatic leap, tactical retreat, and rooftop duel plays out. In Malifaux Fourth Edition, we have taken steps to ensure terrain feels just as alive and interactive as the models moving through it.
Our goal was to make the game environment feel like a true extension of the strategy and storytelling. Whether it is vaulting over a fence, scaling a crumbling wall, or shoving an enemy into the mist below, terrain now plays a more active role in gameplay. It is not just something to navigate around; it is something to engage with.
To bring this vision to life, we refined rules, clarified interactions, and emphasized dynamic movement across the table. This new approach encourages players to think vertically, embrace creativity, and see the environment not as a limitation but as an opportunity.
Simplicity
One of our first goals in Fourth Edition was to make terrain more accessible during play. That starts by making it easier for models to interact with it.
When a model takes the Walk action, if it ends in base contact with climbable terrain, it may move to the top of that terrain for free. This change allows models to reach areas that were previously out of range due to vertical distance. It also makes lower terrain features easier and more rewarding to use.
We also introduced clearer rules for jumping gaps. If a model has enough movement to cross from one piece of terrain to another without falling, it can jump the gap. There are some limitations—like only being able to jump to the same elevation or slightly lower—but the key takeaway is that movement across terrain feels smoother and more natural without needing complex measurements or constant fall checks.
These updates give players more tactical options and let their models move through the environment in dramatic and intuitive ways, like jumping from rooftop to rooftop over the darkened streets of Malifaux.
As the hobby grows, so do the ways players build their tables. Whether you're using official kits, repurposing terrain from other games, or crafting your own with 3D printing, these new rules are designed to support a wide variety of setups and help make every board feel just as exciting as the crews that battle across it.
Usability
Now that models can easily get onto and interact with terrain, the next step was to make sure there are real tactical reasons to do so. We wanted terrain to feel meaningful, not just cinematic. That meant giving players incentives to seek the high ground and use their environment to their advantage.
One of the biggest changes is the removal of the Shadow rule. It was often unclear, clunky in practice, and discouraged active use of terrain. In its place, we have introduced visual diagrams in the new rulebook that make line of sight much easier to determine. Measurement is now done purely horizontally, which simplifies things considerably. A sniper on a rooftop does not suffer a penalty to range for being above their target. (And no, melee attacks do not reach through ceilings or up buildings. We accounted for that.) Falling is also less punishing, always causing 1 damage regardless of distance. You will likely be falling more often now that models are moving vertically more frequently.
A model attacking from a lower elevation is at a disadvantage when targeting an opponent positioned higher. That elevated model is not just standing still. It is crouching behind chimneys, lying low, and making use of the environment. To reflect this, when a model at a lower elevation attacks a model at a higher elevation, the defender gains cover.
Let’s talk about cover and concealment. Concealment still applies a negative flip to attacks when it is in effect. Cover now reduces all incoming damage by 1, giving it a more predictable and consistent impact. These effects now apply across all attack types—melee, missile, and magical—making terrain feel more intuitive in use. After all, swinging a sword in a fog bank or around a corner definitely changes your ability to hit.
These changes come together to reward smart positioning and encourage players to engage with terrain more actively. Whether you are storming a rooftop or hiding in the mist, the environment now plays a greater role in every action you take.
Incentive
Okay, terrain can help keep models alive, but so what? Who cares if your crew survives as long as you win? We hear you.
To further incentivize terrain use, several new schemes actively encourage interacting with it. You might find yourself scouting rooftops, holding the high ground, or tossing enemy models off buildings to "look like an accident." Not every scheme involves terrain, but a meaningful handful were designed with vertical play in mind, giving players more reasons to use the full depth of the table. A few of these terrain-focused schemes will be highlighted in an upcoming article, and the full list will be available during the open beta playtest.
All of these changes come together to create a dynamic, three-dimensional play experience. Climb walls, shoot from rooftops, and throw your enemies to the streets below. Malifaux Fourth Edition encourages you to make the most of the table and play with style.
To support this, we are expanding terrain options in a few key ways. We're developing a range of physical terrain kits for sale, along with 3D-printable files for players who prefer to build at home. Whether you're crafting your own setup or picking up something ready-made, you'll have a variety of options to bring your board to life.
One of the biggest and most exciting changes in Fourth Edition is how schemes have been reimagined. But first, a quick Malifaux history lesson:
In Second Edition, all schemes were kept secret. This was fun, but it also led to issues. Players revealed their schemes when they scored them, which allowed them to lock up all their points early and sometimes win by turn two or three. That wasn’t ideal.
Third Edition fixed that by requiring one objective to be scored when a scheme was revealed, and another at the end of the game. This stretched scoring across the full match and kept players engaged longer. However, the tradeoff was complexity. Each player had two schemes, each with two separate objectives, on top of the strategy. For new or casual players, it could feel overwhelming. Plus, because the second point came at the end of the game, players often defaulted to wiping out their opponent to remove any obstacles to scoring.
Fourth Edition aims to solve both problems: it keeps players engaged throughout the game, discourages early scheme lockouts, and reduces confusion for new players.
To accomplish this, we’ve introduced the Evolving Encounter style of schemes.
There are twelve schemes in Gaining Grounds 0. When a game begins, three are randomly selected to form the scheme pool. Each player secretly chooses one of those three schemes. That scheme has a single objective, with the option to earn a second point by going above and beyond. No multiple objectives to track — just one focus at a time.
Once a player completes their scheme, they reveal it and score any earned points. Then, at the end of that turn, they select a new scheme from the list of “Next Available Schemes” on their completed card. That becomes their new goal moving forward.
Example: After completing Scout the Rooftops, you’ll choose your next scheme from Light the Beacons, Assassinate, or Breakthrough.
If a scheme turns out to be unworkable, a player can also choose to abandon it at the end of the turn. They reveal it, score nothing, discard it, and choose a new one from the “Next Available” list. This gives players the flexibility to adjust plans on the fly.
There’s no cap on how many schemes a player can reveal during the game, but there is a cap on how many points they can score from them. Each player can earn a maximum of five victory points from schemes and cannot choose the same scheme more than once. This gives you flexibility to adapt without letting you run up the score too quickly.
While designing the system was complex, it’s easy to use in practice. You always have just one scheme in front of you. That simplicity makes it approachable for new players. When it’s time to pick a new one, look at your three choices and choose whichever fits the evolving story of the game in front of you.
At the same time, more experienced players can map out their scheme path early or anticipate their opponent’s likely moves, allowing for deep strategy and rewarding skillful play.
This structure also removes the incentive to table your opponent just to guarantee points. You can’t score all five scheme points in the early game like in Second Edition since you can only score one scheme per turn, and you can't reliably score at the end of the game by wiping out your opponent like in Third. The best path to victory now involves staying engaged with your evolving schemes all game long.
And it’s not just functional — it’s fun. The system creates opportunities for bluffing, misdirection, and storytelling. If your opponent just completed Breakthrough, you know the list of possible schemes they might choose next. So when they start dropping markers in your deployment zone, do they want your models near them or far away? Are those markers for their current scheme, or a setup for what’s coming?
The Evolving Encounter structure also strengthens narrative immersion. Maybe your crew starts by scouting rooftops, then lights the beacons to signal it's time to assassinate a key enemy. Or maybe you begin with a frame job and then rig an explosion to make it “look like an accident.” Malifaux has always thrived on its story-driven nature, and this new approach to schemes is designed to turn every game into a shared, evolving tale.
Automatically Appended Next Post: Really liking the sound of that. I'm getting Carnavale style runnign across the moonlit rooftops vibes coming from it. Also some aspects of m2e scheme choices coming back.
Alos glad the terrain shadow concept is going away. It was an easy concept to understand, but explaining it to a new player was always a pita.
The schemes look really ambitious. I hope they're able to keep them relatively simple as jumping to a new 3 each time is going to require really understanding the whole deck.
If Wyrd are smart, they will capitalise on the fact that Malifaux is, thematically and visually, about as close to an Arcane miniatures game as you can get. Post season 2, the hype train has naturally petered out but there's still enough interest and enthusiasm that the right models in the 2 player starter would really help springboard the M4E launch.
There are few things more iconic to Malifaux than cards and Soulstones, so it’s worth talking about how both are changing in Fourth Edition.
Empower
Cheating Fate and influencing the outcome of duels is one of Malifaux’s defining mechanics. But what happens when your opening hand is full of 2s and 3s? That’s never been a great feeling.
In Fourth Edition, we wanted every card in your hand to matter. Not just the high ones. That led to the introduction of a new mechanic: Empower.
Before a duel, you can empower it by discarding a card with a value of 5 or lower. Doing so gives you a positive flip and adds the suit of the discarded card to your duel total. This uses the same timing as spending a Soulstone for a positive flip or a suit in Third Edition. Empower gives low cards a real role in your hand. Instead of tossing them away as discard fodder, you’ll be thinking carefully about where they’ll have the most impact. A 2 of Rams is not the same as a 2 of Crows anymore.
Empower also opens up new tactical options. It helps offset negative flips, gives minions more reliable access to triggers, and generally puts more choices in your hands — always a good thing.
Soulstones
Soulstones have always been a big part of Malifaux, both in lore and on the table. They power spells, fuel resurrection, heal wounds, and more. But in Third Edition, they mostly functioned the same way across every crew, which created a disconnect between the game’s mechanics and its narrative.
In Fourth Edition, that’s changing.
Soulstones no longer have a list of generic uses in the core rules. Instead, they fuel unique, game-changing actions, abilities, and triggers that are specific to the crew or model using them.
In the past, Soulstones provided positives to duels or added suits. While convenient, this made it less exciting to actually draw the right suit in your hand. Those elements now live in the card deck through Empower. Soulstone-based damage prevention also acted as a kind of extra health pool, but it often slowed the game down and reduced the incentive to use cover or positioning.
We’ve moved those mechanical functions into more engaging places. Terrain plays a bigger role in damage reduction. Cards are now the source of your suits. And soulstones? They’re the source of your most powerful, thematic abilities — just like they are in the lore.
So What Do SoulStones Do Now?
Most crew cards give your models a unique way to use Soulstones. Currently, Marshals can spend them to avoid death. Mercenaries use them to reposition in the middle of a fight. Masters and high-cost models also gain new Soulstone-fueled actions and triggers that feel big and impactful.
This means that Soulstones power magic and special abilities in ways that are different for every character, just like in the stories.
Kirai’s crew gains access to Vengeance, a Soulstone ability. The ability text explains when to drain (discard) a Soulstone to use it. Meanwhile, the Soulstone icon in front of the Kirai’s Blessing action tells you that draining a Soulstone is a cost to use the action.
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On Lady Justice, the Soulstone icon in front of the Send Them Back to Hell trigger means she must spend a Soulstone to declare that trigger, no suit required.
As a final piece, Fourth Edition also introduces a new catch-up mechanic. When a friendly model dies, your crew gains a Soulstone. This keeps those big, dramatic plays fueled throughout the match and ties directly into how Soulstones recharge in the lore. The more chaos unfolds, the more power is up for grabs.
We’ve spent a lot of time highlighting the big, exciting changes coming in Malifaux Fourth Edition, but there are still several important updates worth mentioning. Here’s a quick overview of some of the other notable shifts.
Removal of Damage Flips
Damage flips are no longer part of the game in Fourth Edition. Instead, each damaging attack has a stat called Damage (Dmg) that shows how much damage it deals. To add a layer of variability and excitement, the damage increases by +1 for every full 5 points by which you win the duel. These 5-point increments are called raises.
For example, if Lady Justice attacks Seamus and wins the duel 15 to 10, that’s one raise, and the attack deals +1 damage. If the duel is tied, the attacker still wins, but any damage they would deal is reduced by 1. This gives the defender some breathing room and adds more nuance to damage outcomes without needing a flip.
While this may seem like a major change, the average results aren’t too far off from what already existed. Many damage tracks, such as 2/3/4, were functionally tied to margin of success due to flip mechanics. This new system simply streamlines that interaction.
Removing damage flips speeds up gameplay and makes combat feel more consistent. It also eliminates one of the more confusing steps for new players. By simplifying the process, we hope to improve first impressions and make the game easier to learn.
There is also new design flexibility here. Some models may modify how raises work, such as requiring a smaller margin to trigger one or increasing the bonus damage per raise.
Engagement
Engagement and disengaging were overdue for simplification. In Third Edition, disengaging could be awkward and many models ignored the penalties entirely.
In Fourth Edition, every model has an engagement range of 1", regardless of its melee range. Models can leave engagement freely, but if they do so using a Walk action, their movement is halved and they cannot Interact during that activation. While engaged, models are still prevented from Interacting, but friendly fire penalties no longer apply.
This change also opens up new design possibilities. In Third Edition, ranged or support models needed melee attacks just to have an engagement range and prevent enemy interact actions. Now, a sniper can remain a sniper, and a mage can focus on casting spells, without needing a sword for balance reasons.
Crew Cards
Every Master adds a crew card to their crew. This card provides new abilities and actions, including one or two soulstone-related options that are unique to that crew. You’ve already seen a preview of this with the Oni rework and in our recent article on soulstones.
Each title interacts with its models differently, encouraging synergy within the keyword and helping define each crew’s identity. The back of the crew card also lists all tokens and markers any model in the crew can generate (excluding Schemes, Remains, and Strategy markers). This is a helpful quality-of-life feature for players to quickly see what effects might be in play. If you hire out-of-keyword models, those units may bring in other tokens not listed on the card.
Bury
The Bury mechanic has been removed. While flavorful, it created confusion and often led to unfun experiences. Bury-focused crews either filled the board with their own models or sidelined enemy units in ways that slowed the game and frustrated opponents.
The removal of Bury clears the way for more engaging alternatives. The models that used to rely on this mechanic still exist, just with updated abilities that focus on new interactions and playstyles.
Tokens
Anything that temporarily alters a model’s status — and is not damage or movement — is now a token. This includes effects like Vent Steam, Boring Conversation, and Poison. Models may only have one of each token type at a time. No more stacking Poison +8.
Tokens are friendly to the crew that applied them and hostile to all others. For example, if a Concealment token creates cover within 2" of a model, only enemies of the applying crew treat that area as concealing.
This change eliminates the old problem of “non-condition conditions.” Previously, effects like Vent Steam acted like conditions but could not be removed by standard means. Now, all status effects are handled through a consistent token system and can be removed by abilities that interact with tokens.
Tokens are listed on the back of each crew card, which helps players track them more easily. This change also pushed us, during development, to reduce status effect bloat and gave us room to build more interesting synergies around those effects.
It also opens up new design space. The same Unsettling token applied by Boring Conversation can now be passed along with an attack, affecting enemies in new and creative ways.
There is still plenty more to explore in Malifaux Fourth Edition. With the open beta just around the corner, we invite you to jump in, try the new rules, and experience all the changes firsthand.
Automatically Appended Next Post: verall I'm liking about 95% of what we've seen. I'm only really lukewarm on the climbing mechanics from yesterday and the removal of damage flips. I understand they're trying to remove interactions, but the claculated chance of effects - which the player had some control over with the control hand - was a big part of the game. But I'll reserve judgement until I've had chance to play the full rules.
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Siygess wrote: If Wyrd are smart, they will capitalise on the fact that Malifaux is, thematically and visually, about as close to an Arcane miniatures game as you can get. Post season 2, the hype train has naturally petered out but there's still enough interest and enthusiasm that the right models in the 2 player starter would really help springboard the M4E launch.
Really? That's not a connection I've ever really made between the two.
Overall, I dig making Soulstones a less nebulous resource. I think the discard option is a solid replacement though I don't understand why that should be limited to 5 or less. If I want to burn a mid card for the suit I say go for it.
I think the big thing about removing the damage flip is it breaks one of the weird strangleholds competitive play has always had in the power of cheating damage. It was pretty common for players to exclusively make focused attacks for the +flip to damage to try and offset the usual negative to try and get to a cheatable value. I think the new system has promise, but it may also exacerbate how much the community values all base stats being even with that playing a bigger roll in damage dealt.
Pretty happy with the changes. So much is changing I can't say if they're good or not, but its the kind of shakeup I wanted and I'll be excited to test next week.
Only a handful of crews to play with right now. Must say now I see the crew cards I'm more confident with the rules changes. Looking forward to giving my Sonnia a whirl.
) across a tournament at the 
), I went for everything with the Freikorps keyword that I liked the look of. Just waiting on Lazarus & Engineers to come in this month.
