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Which is the better spread of units, the battle box or the 2 player starter?

2 player starter is a better deal IMO. Its alot easier to start out with another guy to learn along with you.

I suggest you find someone to go in on half the box.

2 Player Starter is better for value, so long as you can split it with someone else.

The two player starter comes with everything the Khador and Menoth Battleboxes come with for the same price. In addition however, the two player starter also comes with a rule book and two full medium based units. It's like buying the two Battleboxes and then getting $100 of additional free stuff for your effort. My Cryx are Super jealous of the sweet deal Menoth and Khador get.

Actually, the jacks are slightly different from the battle box to the starter.

I personally would not buy either. If I were you, I would try to enlist a local WM/H vet to help explain to you the intricacies of the faction, nail down your play style, narrow your focus on the warcaster and army list you want to start with, and begin purchasing from there. The battlebox/starter will give you a unit you will rarely use, a very solid warcaster but few warjacks that he really tends to run, and 3 somewhat niche warjacks.

Eh, 2P Box comes with some nice things like the small rule book, dice, and quality models. It was the right way for me to start, because I don't know anyone in the area that plays. I can bribe people into a few games if I own two armies. I wrote a post about it last week:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/448530.page

Surtur wrote:Actually, the jacks are slightly different from the battle box to the starter.

Looked it up and you're right. The Menoth starter has two lights and a heavy to the two players two heavies and light. Khador jacks are the same in both though.

Having just started WM and having bought the two player box, I may be biased, but I think the two player box is the best deal.

While sourclams is correct in that you may possibly not use many of the models included in either the battleboxes or the two player starter in the long run, depending on what play style you like, I think it can take very long and needs a very complete understanding of the game rules only achieved through practice to actually find out what you want to use regularly. And until you really understand how the system works and develop an eye for the most useful synergies from just reading the unit card, you will have a lot of fun with the models that come in the box - plus it is about a 50% discount on all the models in there (and unlike the models in GW's starter boxes, these models are actually the real deal, no single pose boring cheapos).

One thing you might consider is buying the plastic heavy warjack with it. The crusader that comes in the box is rather plain and boring, imo, but the only difference to the templar are the arms. So with the warjack box and the crusader and vanquisher from the two player box, you could build two vanquishers and a templar. Not breathtaking, but maybe you'll prefer that.

Also, I think the Exemplar Cinerators are awesome models, and as far as I can see, being new to the game myself, they are also a quite useful unit.

TL;DR: 2-player box is an awesome deal, get it, sell the Khador, have a roughly 50% discount on awesome models and a heap of fun. Yay!

I agree wtih Skylifter. I bought the 2-player battlebox for the Protectorate stuff a month or more ago and I haven't looked back. Some people will tell you to wait to buy until you've proxied 10 games' worth of models or something so you can know your playstyle, but look: You just need to play some games, and what the battlebox gives you is more than enough to get started and have fun.

I've played a handful of games just with the battlebox stuff (eventually added a Choir and a Vassal), and I've had a blast and won more than I've lost.

The Battle boxes are the best way to start. Each box shows you the basics of the Faction and is a great starting point for your collection.

The only model difference is the Vanquisher you get instead of the Repenter (?) The ark node was taken out for balancing reasons.

Other than that the jacks in the starter are the same ones that come in the Jack kits. Grab some Rare Earth magnets and you have an interchangable kit.

Actually, IC, it's the Vanquisher instead of the Revenger. Both boxes come with a Repenter.

Plus you get a full unit of Cinerators.

Revenger, Repenter, Rearranger,Renamer. Rearender all I know is that it starts with RE and ends with ER

2 player battle box, its the same as battlebox but with $30 there is a full khador army, cinerators and a rulebook

Definitely the 2 player starter box! It's slightly different to the battle group set for Warjacks. This is worth every single penny, at the time I started, only the battle group box was available , so I had to buy the rulebook/cinerators which probably adds another $110 AUD on top of the 60 AUD for the for the battlegroup box set.

You get a set of Exemplar Cinerators, Warjacks are slightly different and most importantly a nice handheld Rulebook!

If you decide that "hang on I don't like Menoth anymore" you can always switch to Khador and play test them out!

2 box starter set = Win/Win

It's really a ridiculous value if you're interested in Khador or the Protectorate.

ICleadpeople wrote:Revenger, Repenter, Rearranger,Renamer. Rearender all I know is that it starts with RE and ends with ER

Menoth is quite fond of their rejacks aren't they? Yes, I love saying rejacks.

I would ignore both options and take advantage of PP's current summer sale, which is on until sometime in June. Check it out, 'cause it's a fantastic deal.

This post assumes that you are just starting warmachine, so let me know if I'm wrong. Depending on how good of deal the summer sale mentioned above is, if you are sure you want to start Menoth, I would recommend the 2-player box because you get a rulebook as well as a unit to learn with in addition to 3 jacks as opposed to just three jacks. Assuming you don't have a heretic...oops meant nice Khador player splitting the starter box with you, here is the breakdown.

Menoth Battlegroup: $50
Quick start rules
pKreoss
Repenter
Crusader
Revenger

To make this equal to the battlebox (Menoth content wise), you need to buy a vanquisher ($27-35, depending if you buy the metal model or the multi-warjack kit), a rulebook ($30), and a unit of cinerators ($45). The 2-player costs $100 and you only need to spend $20 or so more if you desire a revenger. One thing to note is that you don't get the fluff and stats for some of the models in the warmachine factions (excluding Retribution) IIRC.

The last bit of advice I have is this, but YMMV-If you think you are going to play pSeverius (and maybe eSevy, but I've never used him), I would recommend buying Blessing of Vengeance instead of a regular revenger if you decide you want an arc node for him.

On a final note, your friendly neighborhood Scrutator would like to remind you that not liking rejacks is heresy, and Reznik knows where you live and just got a new shipment of wracks in :p

The Menoth summer sale kit includes:

Warcaster High Exemplar Kreoss
Crusader Heavy Warjack
Revenger Light Warjack
Repenter Light Warjack
Choir of Menoth
Bastions
Vassal Mechanik
Vassal of Menoth
Prime MKII rulebook

That's for $129 total.

However, WMH is much easier to start with a friend, and the 2-player battle box can deliver that to you without much difficulty.

Got the 2 player battle box with a friend. Picked up a choir unit, a devish and a heavy jack kit. I'm magnetizing the two jacks and played my first game. I REALLY liked it, lost but I had no idea what I was doing so I expected that. Looking to pick up a vassal and maybe another unit of infantry or a jack just not sure which one yet. I'd like to play a bit more so I can make better choices on new editions.