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Ok there are a few new player threads out there but none of them answer the question i have so here it goes.

I watched a game of warmachine at my FLGS and it looks like a complete blast, but im torn on what army i want to get started. I looked at the Warmachines and Hordes website and theres some fluff on the armies but not a lot about how they fight. So i was looking for what would be a good army based on some criteria.

First in every game I play I enjoy magic and straight up face smashing the most.

I would prefer a melee centric army backed up by a decent caster (If he buffs his units to make them hit harder, or straight up blow the enemy to bits i dont really care). I like the if they get into melee combat its really going to hurt kind of thing.

I dont mind shooting but if they cant shoot worth a damn it wont bother me.

Also im a little more partial to the horde armies, but if none of those fit the bill Warmachine armies are fine.

Thanks for your help!

You sound very much like you would enjoy Khador.

They are a bit slow on their stats. But their casters and certain Jacks mitigate this.
They tend toward High Armor and High Strength.
Definitely about getting in your face and smashing things.

I think Skorne for Hordes is a bit similar.
They have the big smashy Titans, and a Roman/Chinese army feel to their infantry.

Also, Trollbloods are about the hit in the face.
Though in truth, I think any of the Hordes factions fit what you describe.

Personally, I have just bought the models I liked
I found that I trend to one faction's models more than others, and that is the one I play.

You might also enjoy legoin of everblight, very powefull beasts and some gret spell slinging casters. Or menoth, buffing it's own units to great power and lighting lot's of stuff on fire. I think skrulnik has the right of it, chosse the faction you like the look of they can all be played in many ways.

khador, cryx,protectorate, trollbloods, and skorne sound like they fit your criteria. some of them can shoot fairly well but they are all very proficient at smashing things up close.
the one thats very different from the others is cryx, not that the others dont have thier own differences and intricacies, but cryx is starkly different. cryx requires more finesse but they are also sneaky and probably have the least focus on ranged in the game.

You could also do a melee centric Cygnar force.

you could do a melee centric army of any faction really but based on what is unwanted the selection would be more narrow.

Most armies can field a shooty or melee themed army. I find that the Protectorate can put numbers out there better than most (haven't played a Hordes army yet though), but they don't hit as hard as say a Khador army. Combined attacks can help and there are some pretty good multi-wound models. Some of the menoth casters are downright dirty - eKreoss and his feat potentially chief among them. I also like both versions of Feora, but some don't like her.

I am more then likely going to go with Khador, they look like a lot of fun.