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Hey all,

So, I've been looking to get into Warmachine nd Hordes ever since I found out about the games through the guys at Penny Arcade, and the sale going on at Privateer Press right now seems like the optimal time to do it.

Basically, my issue (like anyone starting out) comes in the form of figuring out what army I want to start with. I've read a whole bunch of the info that's out there, and with Hordes I've definitely settled on Legion of Everblight, as not only do their models appeal to me, but I just generally like the sound of how they play.

With Warmachine, however, I find myself hitting a bit more of a brick wall. Aesthetically, I like Khador's jacks the best, but like the overall looks of Cygnar and Cryx. Tactically, I get the feeling that I'd do the best with the full-on brute force of Khador or the shooty-meets-electricity tactics of Cygnar, though maybe there's something to the Cryx that I'm not seeing. I also LOVE the look of the Retribution warjacks, but I'd like to start out with a Battlebox. Not overly interested in Menoth, couldn't really tell you why.

Anyways, pardon this ramble, but any input that folks might offer would help me immensely. Thanks all!

Why the hurry? Start with one army, pick the second one when you start to get bored of Legion. You do know that Warmachine and Hordes are the same game and are completely cross-compatible right?

Oh I'm well-aware. I'm just also having a tough time deciding between summoned beasts and Steampunk war-bots, but I figure that decision will get easier once I settle on a faction of Steampunk war-bots.

Cryx like to Debuff enemies all the time basically, reducing their stats. They have a few hit and run plays and take a bit of skill/tactics to be able to play well.
Cygnar have a lot of shootyness, it's pretty much all they do, only choose them if you're sure you don't want to excel in melee.
Khador run in slowly and smash thing with hammers/axes etc. May I refer you to this for more details.
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/272107.page

Army ADD is pretty normal, and it looks like you have it before you even bought anything. I suggest you start with the legion since you had an instant affinity towards them. If you are anything like most of us, you will get a second army when it comes to you.

scarskull5 wrote:Cygnar have a lot of shootyness, it's pretty much all they do, only choose them if you're sure you don't want to excel in melee.

The StormClad would like to speak to you......................

Since you mention the 'current sale' that leaves Retribution out. They never had an official battle box and I don't think they are available as part of the sale for that reason.

Of the remaining factions I'd recommend Khador. They have an excellent combination of infantry and heavy jacks. Very few models in the game are better then Beast-09 and/or the Behemoth. Kovink Joe and the Winterguard are very adaptable infantry that cause your opponent lots of trouble.

That said, every faction can win and every faction has a killer combo or three.

Glad to have you join us!

J--

Da-Rock wrote:

scarskull5 wrote:Cygnar have a lot of shootyness, it's pretty much all they do, only choose them if you're sure you don't want to excel in melee.

The StormClad would like to speak to you......................

And the Centurion. And the Ironclad. And the Hammersmith. Ol' Rowdy, the Thunderhead's a beast in melee, Gallany has no ranged weapons in sight...

I said don't want to excel in melee, I never said they didn't have some decent melee jacks. Show me a Cygnar list that revolves around melee and works effectively and I'll eat my words.

scarskull5 wrote:I said don't want to excel in melee, I never said they didn't have some decent melee jacks. Show me a Cygnar list that revolves around melee and works effectively and I'll eat my words.

Every eStryker list ever? Most Darius lists? (well OK Darius lists might not be most effective but that's more due to Darius being overnerfed in MkII).

scarskull5 wrote:I said don't want to excel in melee, I never said they didn't have some decent melee jacks. Show me a Cygnar list that revolves around melee and works effectively and I'll eat my words.

eStryker, eNemo, Darius heck I even thought up a melee Siege list with minimal shooting and it worked rather well.

scarskull5 wrote:I said don't want to excel in melee, I never said they didn't have some decent melee jacks. Show me a Cygnar list that revolves around melee and works effectively and I'll eat my words.

Yeah, eStryker is all about melee. And others have posted other examples above me. While Cygnar does have very good shooting so does Khador. Cygnar's real strength is in combined arms tactics, with some all shooty or all melee lists in the extreme. Storm Knights and Sword Knights are all units that are melee centric as well. Cygnar being a gunline only is far from the truth. Heck, there are some Khador builds that are much more shooty than Cygnar, and their new Caster in Wrath appears to be all about shooting.

Meh, all I know is the major Cygnar builds I have seen such as eCaine etc. are all shooting based rather than melee. i have never myself played against a melee Cygnar army.

scarskull5 wrote:Meh, all I know is the major Cygnar builds I have seen such as eCaine etc. are all shooting based rather than melee. i have never myself played against a melee Cygnar army.

Well eCaine is one of the extremes as his elite cadre is Gun Mages so he's shooting based. Kara is also shooting based as well so her lists tend to be all ranged. Cygnar does have a lot of ranged builds, no doubt about it, but they generally excel in combined arms.

Thanks to everyone for their comments.

I'm still looking pretty intently at these guys, with Legion looking pretty appealing, as well as Cygnar and Khador. Hopefully gonna make a decision by the end of the week.

I was thinking on the same two factions, Cygnar and Khador when I was choosing my battlebox. Went with Khador myself mostly do in part to liking Sorscha's overall look and attitude as well the whole frost thing had been beat into my brain from playing a frost mage for the last year or so... anyways!

I'd say pick whichever warcaster that appeals to you from the two battleboxes and go on from there. Gonna be learning it anyways, might as well do so with a figure your comfortable with.

Welp, went to my FLGS yesterday with my friends who're looking at starting up the game as well. They each went with codexes for Khador, Circle and Protectorate, so I ended up jumping on Legion. Gonna put an order in for the Starter Kit with PP soon. Thanks to everyone who chimed in!

Anyone got any advice now for starting Legion?

Depends, what's your preferred playstyle? The best place to start is deciding on mainly ranged, melee or magic.

Definitely looking at fielding lots of beasts, potentially a mix of melee and ranged. Was maybe thinking:

Absylonia or eThagrosh
Carnivean
Typhon
Angelius
Nephilim Bolt Thrower
Couple of Shredders
Couple of Raptors

For starters, lot's of beasts are good, hordes needs beasts to be able to stay in the game. Secondly, I'd stick with one caster for a bit if I were you, maybe till you have about 25 points before you start experimenting. Lylith is the caster from the battle box if I remember correctly, and she's good with ranged units. You should purchase a unit of Blighted Archers (I don't know how many points anything I mention is, I am an ex Legion player). Spell Martyr solos are also good from what I remember. Although the list above looks doable, it's going to be hard to keep control of everything. I'd knock off a heavy and either the shredders or the raptors and maybe add in a spawning vessel, protected by your archers ofcourse.

-scarskull5

Thanks for the tips scarskull5, sounds like good advice to me. Probably gonna forego Typhon and the Raptors for now, and I'll take your advice on the Archers and the Spawning Vessel.

I would advise Striders over Blighted archers, in MkII Blighted Archers are... lacking. Raptors are also good but since they are big investment (both in points and in $) I would wait until you are playing 35-50 points games to get them. And seriously, a Spawning Vessel? Spell Martyrs? Are you trying to troll or you were just a bad Legion player? Both of those are considered sub-par choices at best by most Legion players, at least in low point games, sure at 50 points or so you could get some good use out of Vessel (though even then it's questionable choice), but at lower point games you're better off just spending those 2 points on the actual lesser beast. Spell Martyrs are just bit overcosted, once again at higher point games you can spare that one point but at 15-25 points every point counts. And with Witch Mark pLylyth don't need them really. For solos I would advise Shepherds, Forsaken and Strider Deathstalkers.

This is me as a Legion player in MK1, sorry if it's bad advice..

scarskull5 wrote:This is me as a Legion player in MK1, sorry if it's bad advice..

Ah, that explains it. In MkII archers (well, their UA mostly) got the short end of the stick.

Glad you chose one of the metal boxes to try out, they minis will probably survive better if you're going to be jumping on them.

*Ahem*

There are some guys out in Ottawa who play, Jason W is a Press Ganger in that area - what's your local store?

*sigh* Sale seems to have ended before I could order. Guess I'm paying full price for everything. Might just build an army from stuff from Maelstrom or something. Gah, I'm a sad panda.

Gingerk1d, my local store is Fandom II, and I did see a few people playing the last time I was there. I'll also forgive you for the pun.