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I've read the Warmachine/Hordes rules, but I've never had a chance to play.  One thing jumps out at me that I'm curous about:

It seems like it's very easy to pick off specific models.  For example, the leader of a squad of infantry can just be shot.  Am I missing something?

That's why you keep the Unit Leaders behind other unit members. GMCAs just love shooting Choir Priests and Zealot Priests in the head...

Phryxis: It depends.

Attacks can't (generally) cross bases. So to target your leader in the
back, you have to leave an open lane of LOS to him between your models.

Some abilities bypass LOS automatically, but if you're aware of that it's not
so much of an issue.

Off the top of my head:

Drifting AOES (they target a model near your leader or too far away but the
leader is inbetween and pray for a good drift)

Cygnar Stormsmith. (their lightning strike isn't an attack)

Skarre's sacrificial Strike (Target ANYTHING in her control area)

GMCA as nike mentioned.

Well-placed spray attacks/spells

Bile Purge (they target a legal ranged target model)

Also, valid strategies include activating so that they can "open up" your
army to leader assassinations. Cygnar's Caine is very good at this,
as are doubleshotting Longgunners.

And Malfred's new avatar is....his bag.  Wow.


My n00b question:  What does GMCA stand for?

I figure since I just bought the Hordes rulebook, it's time for me to get "hip" to all the PP slang.

GMCA = Gun Mage Captain Adept.

He's a solo from WARMACHINE: Escalation.

Knight

If you read the Privateer Press forums, you might see people refer to him as
Abel, as in the brother of Cain, since they're both dual pistol packing spellcasters.

The GMCA works fine as a "sniper" or "assassin". Eiryss is another one. Both have "special" ammo that they can fire at range. Also, there is nothing wrong with "sniping" with a jack such as a Hunter, or if you have LOS but it's a bit far away, 16" of range for a Defender goes a long ways towards sniping.

Also, if you hover your mouse over a highlighted word, it will pop up with a few possible meanings for it.

The picking of important models is a big part of how the game plays. Most scenarios can be won with killing the opposing caster and some factions (Cryx) and casters rely on these assassinations to win games.

It is good that game is not lost when you are down to last figs if you can just find the opening to kill the critical enemy model.

True enough... when I started playing, I automatically made a correlation between this and chess. You can lose virtually every piece on the board, as long as you have your king left...