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Giving up 40k to do Warmachine. 40k is just to expensive, and is likely just going to get more so. That, and I like steampunk settings.

Problem I'm having is deciding on an army. I've been through the lists, galleries, guides and what have you multiple times, but just can't settle on one.

I like Cyngar, I like their units (especially the gunners and calvary), I like their jacks. I just generally like them. Only big issue being that their jacks all seem to mostly look the same, honestly, while I do sort of like their warjacks, their the biggest detriment to me playing them (that and the anime hair) considering they all look alike +/- one or two weapons.

I like TPOM, I like their knights mostly, and their jacks. Mainly don't like the lack of female units (which I would like to use alot of, honestly), really, I don't like their warcasters in general.

I like Cryx, mostly for their pirate units. I don't like alot of the undead, like the bane thralls, or the bloated so and so's. That isn't to say I don't like all of them, but most of the skeleton/corpse units, I'm not a big fan. But, their warjacks are likely my favorite, and what units I do like, I really like. Like the Satyxis Raiders, or the warwitch siren. I also don't like how they seem to have such a strong melee focus. I love having lines of melee soldiers backed by gunners for asthetic purposes.

Any assistance? What made you pick your particular army?

Sanon wrote:I like TPOM, I like their knights mostly, and their jacks. Mainly don't like the lack of female units (which I would like to use alot of, honestly)

Huh? Menoth is the only faction in the game (IIRC) that has a single all-female unit (as opposed to single models or solos).

Sanon wrote:I love having lines of melee soldiers backed by gunners for asthetic purposes.

You could really do this with almost every faction - Skorne, Circle, Everblight, Retribution, Cygnar, Menoth, Khador - although some do ranged better than others (Cygnar & Everblight) and some do combined arms better (Khador). Even Cryx & Trollbloods can do a form of combined arms, but Cryx likes to lead with their ranged units (bile thralls).

Sanon wrote:Any assistance? What made you pick your particular army?

My advice is to pick a faction that most of the models appeal to you visually. Personally, I like the martial apperance of Menoth and Skorne, so those are the factions I use (slowly working on the Skorne). After that, find a warcaster (or 2, or 3) that appeal to your playstyle.

For example, Khador can be heavy warjacks crashing their way through the lines, or they can be a (relatively) fast and mobile army, or even a ranged list. Cryx can be fast and tricky or slow and powerful. Cygnaran dogs should be wiped off Immoren. Menoth can have large powerful (but slow) 'jacks that burst through a front line or fast light jacks that use a pincer maneuver to control and overwhelm the enemy with strong infantry.

Yeah, Menoth has The Harbringer and Feora as female casters, and then there's the Daughters of the Flame unit that works well with Feora.

Cygnar has Haley and Kara, and some female gun mages, Journeyman warcaster variant and...is that it?

Khador has the female widowmaker, Zerkova, Sorcha, the Old Witch. That's all of them, right?

Cryx gets Deneghra, The Witches, Mortenebra, Skarre, and the various Satixys units, so I think they're the most femme heavy in Warmachine.


Anyhow, as to how I pick my armies, I always go for the models that appeal to me the most first, then the playstyle, and finally the background.

Da Boss wrote:Anyhow, as to how I pick my armies, I always go for the models that appeal to me the most first, then the playstyle, and finally the background.

Reverse the last two and that's my system.

You can make damn tasty Cryx armies without a single undead model, if you wish. A Satyxis army works particularly well with p/eSkarre (although I've had great success with pDenny), and you can spend the rest of your points on 'jacks.

When I started with Warmachine, and still being a new player myself(Only had a couple of Battlebox games against my Khador friend), my army was chosen completely on looks. While the Warjack looks themselves weren't a big factor for me, the unit/solo looks won me over to Menoth.

Well, and the Vigilant. Dual-wielding Tower Shields? Yes please

I went completely on what models I liked best. Ended up being Rhulic Searforge.

From my very limited knowledge, it appears you can make several competitive lists from every faction, so go with what will make you aesthetically pleased.

methoderik wrote:
From my very limited knowledge, it appears you can make several competitive lists from every faction, so go with what will make you aesthetically pleased.

You can.

All the jacks will look similar due to each faction only having 1 or 2 main bodies. Which is good because you can then magnetizable the weapons to save money (if you go with the plastic kits).

That being said I started with Cygnar because my friend started with Khador and those were the factions we played three demo games with. I then got into Skorne because I wanted a Hoards faction that nodbody was playing (I also enjoy the far east theme with back banners etc), I picked up Retribution eventually because nobody was playing them (and i came up with an alternate scheme I thought looked better than white).

I like some models in every faction so I picked up armies that people weren't playing because I like to be different (I adapt play styles for the army after buying it so I never have had an issue as each faction has multiple play styles).

In the end you can't go wrong with a faction, pick the one you like most and just run with it.

Da Boss wrote:Khador has the female widowmaker, Zerkova, Sorcha, the Old Witch. That's all of them, right?

Khador Winter Guard Officer, Alt Manhunter ( )Woodsmen have a female model and the new Eliminators from the Wrath book look like they will be a two model all female unit if the art is to be trusted.

Da Boss wrote:Yeah, Menoth has The Harbringer and Feora as female casters, and then there's the Daughters of the Flame unit that works well with Feora.
Cygnar has Haley and Kara, and some female gun mages, Journeyman warcaster variant and...is that it?
Khador has the female widowmaker, Zerkova, Sorcha, the Old Witch. That's all of them, right?
Cryx gets Deneghra, The Witches, Mortenebra, Skarre, and the various Satixys units, so I think they're the most femme heavy in Warmachine.

Cygnar +Constance Blaize, Stormsmith crew on the storm tower, Kathy Laddermore, Ranger

Khador +alt Manhunter, Winterguard LT, Kayazy Eliminators, Kossite

Mercenaries +Ashlynn, Fiona, Blythe, Hawk, Aiyanna, DiBray, De LaRivossi, Corbeau, Dirty Meg, Alexia(s), Eiryss(i) McHorne, Pressganger. I'd like to add that most of these models are awesome, though Fiona is a very terrible sculpt.

I'm probably still missing a few.

Da Boss wrote:and the various Satixys units, so I think they're the most femme heavy in Warmachine.

Ah, forgot about the Satyxis. How could I? They have a Great Rack!

Cygnar---like the fluff (bring back Vinter!) and really like Stryker. He just defines the IK for me in terms of aesthetics.

Blindwater---Voodoo gators, how could you not like that.

Another thing to keep in mind, not sure if it was said yet or not, kind of just skimmed through responses, is that no matter the faction you pick, you will have access to competitive builds. Unlike in other games where flavors of the month rule and there is a constant power struggle for the next army book to drop. Granted, some builds are going to be more powerful than others and there certainly can/is be a flavor of the month, the bottom line is, the game is built around balance and you can do well with any competent build.

When picking an army, playstyle and fluff are the two things I look for. I started with Circle, I loved the look of the Warp Wolves. However, I hated how they played. Hit and run tactics? Not for me. Then I saw Skorne. Giant elephants dressed in armor slugging it out in long battles of attrition? With Middle Eastern themes? Boom! Mine. It just takes some trial and error. Hell, buy a couple battle boxes that interest you, try 'em both out, then sell the one you liked less to a buddy. Then you've got another player and some trial and error under your belt.

I went with the models and playing style I like. Cryx appealed me with both of these for having gorgeous miniatures (few of the best in warmachine), good fluff and really nice and characteful units (HJ Nightmare, Bane Thralls etc.). Now I just have to start an Cryx Satyxis army

Epic Skarre got me into Warmachine. I thought her model was cool, bought it, then found out there's a game she belongs to. Both Skarres can lead a formidable living army very well and through very different means so even if they are your only warcasters, they're still very different in playstyles. If you want big Heavy jacks to tag along with your infantry I would recommend eSkarre over her Prime counterpart.

pSkarre is an infantry-buffing machine between Dark Guidance and her feat. You'll want a little bit of undead in the form of a Skarlock coupled with either Scrap Thralls or a Necrosurgeon, but otherwise she's perfectly happy to keep her fellow Raiders, Blood Witches, and a few variants of Ogrun around. While he is not quite dead, she does also enjoy the company of the Blighted Trollkin Gerlak Slaughterborn. His only concern when performing Pac-Man services is missing a strike which is tough to do at MAT7 with Dark Guidance.

eSkarre's Tides of Fate make her warjacks among the most focus efficient in the game since you can boost after seeing what your standard 2d6 nets you. Thankfully it is a passive ability so her focus is free to toss around via spells and allocation.

I just went with the army that I like the looks of the most. For me Khador love the look and love the big heavy jacks for plenty of axe to face fun.

Partially, I just like red. Thus, my first game was with Skorne, although the first models I bought were Khadoran.

Have you looked at hordes? I'm sure Circle has a load of female troops. Everblight; ALL the casters except 3 or so are female, all the beasts are neuter, and lots of nyss models are female. The other 3 horde factions tho...mostly sausagefest.

I went with look (models & art) and fluff....Cryx. Also ended up with a bunch of Skorne, decided to play them in the Journeyman, and now am really liking them.

Menoth+Fire+Holier than thou=Win.

I find the Knight theme very cool too.

Cygnar:



Menoth:

To be completely honest I started with what army I liked the most by their aesthetics, so I ended up with the Legion and Menoth battleboxes.

Pick your playstyle, then the faction will naturally come to you.

Fairly sure I'm going Menoth. While I do like all the female units and general SCIENCE feel of Cyngar, I like a pitifully small amount of their Warjacks.

I can deal with Menoth having no female solos, and only one unit with any females (and it's all female, ironically enough) since I like their look in general.

Maybe I'll have some ladies in the future! Privateer adds stuff all the time, don't they?

Protectorate has Daughters of the Flame and a Daughter of the
Flame warcaster, Thyra, Flame of Sorrow. There's even going
to be Daughter of the Flame solo to be released (no date yet),
Nicia.

Another thing to consider about Menoth are all the heavy robes
and masks. Some of those Temple Flameguard and Holy
Zealots could be female for all we know.

malfred wrote:Protectorate has Daughters of the Flame and a Daughter of the
Flame warcaster, Thyra, Flame of Sorrow. There's even going
to be Daughter of the Flame solo to be released (no date yet),
Nicia.

Another thing to consider about Menoth are all the heavy robes
and masks. Some of those Temple Flameguard and Holy
Zealots could be female for all we know.

Fantastic!

I'll have my army o' religious lady zealots yet!

How often does Privateer add new stuff?

The privateer press release schedule is a rolling one. It typically
looks like this.

Early models released from expansion Warmachine book (all
warmachine factions)

Warmachine book releases.

Models continue to be released from expansion Warmachine book. (again, all warmachine factions)

Rumors and previews of Hordes expansion book start to come out.

Early models released from expansion Hordes book (all
Hordes factions) start to trickle out.

Hordes expansion book releases.

Models continue to be released from expansion Hordes book. (again, all Hordes factions)

Sometimes they release 1 expansion book per year, sometimes
they do it every other year.

Wrath and Domination are the first two expansion books in Mk2.

Sanon wrote:How often does Privateer add new stuff?

All the time. Expansion books come about once a year and they contain new stuff for all of the factions. The actual mini releases are distribute around the year so new stuff is constantly trickling down. I guess all of the new entries from Faction books, which were published last year, have come out and now PP is bringing out minis from this years expansions: Wrath for WM and Domination for Hordes. We'll have new expansion books next year, probably on the second half of the year.

Well, to be honest I had perfected painting red on a large scale with my Ork army so Khador was an easy choice. Plus they played at first like my Orks. Rude, loud, tough and able to hit hard all the time. Come find out that it is more fun to play an army that has a few subtle tricks then an up in your face force.

On the "female units" thing, Circle is actually pretty well-represented, I think. Sure, only 2/8 of our actual warlocks are women, but we also have:
- Tharn Bloodtrackers
- Tharn Bloodweavers
- Tharn Wolfriders
- Druid Wilder

To boot, we actually don't know the gender of a lot of our troopers. The Reeves leader is a woman, but we only know this because she's not wearing a helmet (she doesn't have a fantasy "breast plate" thing going), so for all we know, half the rest of our stuff are also women, but wearing fairly heavy armor.

Legion and Cryx are pretty up there too, if I remember right.

As for picking my army, when we started, my group mostly picked a WM faction they liked. I grabbed Circle because I am contrarian (Hordes was the one that stood out), they were the Factionw ith the models I Liked (werewolves and human mages), and they had the overall playstyle I was itnerested in (guerrilla hit-and-run). Also neat fluff. It stuck, more or less. I am one who lucked-out on that I gather for the game though, having foudn a faction I liked form the get go.

And stuff.

Legion has the most female warlocks. They're ALL female
except for Harem Owner Thagrosh and his specially made
construct Kallus.