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Well, fresh from Adepticon I have a brand new box of the Hordes Circle Orboros (battlegroup) and am thinking that painting something totally organic would be a nice break from my usual, regimented 40k painting.

So, according to the box I have..

Kaya the Wildborne Warlock
Feral Warpwolf Heavy Warbeast
2 Argus Light Warbeasts

I also have the Forge World "Skin Wolf" from Adepticon which I think would make a nice proxy for another Feral Warpwolf Heavy Warbeast.

That being said, I'm not sure where to go to make a playable army. I'm not adverse to buying a few more figures but do not want to end up with legions of figs to paint. I have the codex which I'll be going through carefully, but I don't know enough about Hordes to really make an intelligent decision on a list.

Is there anyone out there that can give me any guidance?

Thanks,
Gits

Hey!

First purchase after the starter box is usually a set of Shifting Stones. I would get atleast 5 games in with new models befoer adding anything else to the list. A good cheap alternative thats almost an auto include is the Lord of the Feast. This guy will get alot of use when you start adding in new casters .

The new plastic kit is a good buy as well. The Warp Wolf Stalker will make it into almost all your lists. Magnets are a good idae as well.

Kaya is a hit and run caster. she gets here Beast in to do some damage then spirit doors them back to saftey. She has a hard time holding spots on the board, as this is not what she designed for. Keep moving and use the terrain to your advantage.

Thanks ICleadpeople. There's a lot that' still confusing as I just have the dex at the moment (will get the rule book later). I don't see any point cost listed for the casters. Also, the whole "Tier list" thing doesn't make a lot of sense at this point.

Okay, I just did a bunch of research and deleted the post I had written .

In my opinion, the Absolute, MOST IMPORTANT thing to consider when making a warmachine / hordes list, is what warlock you want to use. You can peruse them here:

http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiCircle

From what I've read, I think with the models you have you want to consider either: Kaya, eKaya (the second "epic" version of her), or Kromac.

Even though you already have Kaya I'm going to rule her out personally, due to the sculpt...

Kromac is popular, and Wehrkind uses him frequently so if you want to go with him, I'd ask Werhkind for tips!

But I'd suggest eKaya. Here's her page on Battle College MKII:

http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiKaya2

The nice thing about her, is that it actually seems that running her tier list is the best way to run her, as it gives her heavy beasts advance deployment. Which really limits the options of what to buy, and thus what to consider, etc.

If I were you, I'd drop the arguses (argii?) as they're light warbeasts and wouldn't get advanced deployment. I think the forgeworld model's pose makes it a natural pureblood warpwolf.

So, then I'd add a Feral Warpwolf (plastic kit) to put you at 25 points and easy to play.

I.e.:

eKaya and Laris (+3)
Stalker - 10
Pureblood - 9
Feral - 9
Total - 25

Add in a unit of Druids and Shifting Stones + UA, and you're at 35. I got those lists from this tactica, his "Trinity" lists, based on using the 3 warpwolves:

http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?50366-Kaya-The-Moonhunter-(Epic-Kaya)-Tactica

I also found these discussions interesting:
http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?103490-eKaya-T4-SR-list-35pt-7pt-reinforcement-1st-SR!
http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?104526-eKaya-50ptn-T4-List-Pillow-fisted-Why-all-the-need-for-Gorax

Basically, if you limit yourself to units allowed in her tier list, you're pretty much staying very effective, anyway. The only model I think you'll really miss is the Lord of the Feast, who although very good, can be done without.

Skinwalkers are the only unit in her tier that you may want to pass on / wait until you want to play a 50 point game (which may be never). Druids are a very good unit, as is the Druid Wilder, and the Shifting Stones. These last 2 will help you manage fury and let you take lots of heavy beasts to try to wreck face!

So to summarize: take only models allowed by her tier, giving you advanced deployment for your heavy beasts. If you take the 3 heavy warpwolves, that puts you at 25 points (a common point level). Dropping the pureblood puts you at 15 points (an intro game). Adding a unit of druids and the shifting stones with their UA puts you at 35.

Of course, you can try other beasts / etc... the gorax seems good, and the Satyrs (and as heavies they get advanced deployment). But if you run more than 3 beasts you'll want some fury management- so either the shifting stones, or the druid wilder.

Hope this helps and you don't actually just hate eKaya but I gave it my best shot! Remember, pick your warlock first, then make a list for them...

your caster is included for free. The points on the card are for you to use an your Battle group i.e. your caster and the Beast you take. The teirs are not required to use. They are just another way to play with bonuses for restricting your choices. They are more of a fluff thing more than the best way to play.

Once you have the main rule book give it a good read and everything will make a little more sense. The battlebox has a quick start rule set included. IMO thats the best way to begin.

Excellent advice from both of you... thank you! Haven't learned a new game in many, many years. Looking forward to this!

Let us know what you decide to go with!

I've also started with Circle recently and one thing I would pass on is don't get down on yourself for losing. Circle has a very steep learning curve and are very unforgiving if you make a mistake. I've only won 4 of my first 11 games. I also recommend a unit of Shifting Stones when you can. They are a great little unit. Remember that for teleportation it states the model being placed within 8", not completely within. So as long as the back edge is within that 8" from where the model started, you get about an extra 1 1/2" with the size of a large base. It's rather handy.

I appreciate all the help guys... especially RiTides who did a bunch of PMing as well as his public advice.

I've decided to follow RiTides advice and go with the 3 big wolf list at 25 points. Small, easy to paint and as it's pretty much all the same should be easier to learn the game with. Then I'll add a squad of druids and the stones plus their keeper (also as RiTides suggested... and as the rest of you reinforced). Which brings me to a tidy 35 points. Should make a very attractive little force that should be fun to play. I'm not typically hung-up on winning bwats but I'll keep your advice in mind.

Apparently there's been an explosion of interest in WMH at our FLGS so I think once I get things painted up I'll be able to get plenty of practice, and they have some house figures and a demo table so I might even be able to familiarize myself with the game in the mean time.

All good!

Sounds awesome, Gits! I've actually Never yet played a game above 35 points, it truly is the "standard" around here. We also often play 25 point games- I think actually the majority of my games have been 25 points . So that will be a nice tidy little list you have together

Wehrkind I believe had more trouble starting Circle and doing well, until he went more beast heavy (particularly the actual "heavy" warbeasts, like you'll have here with the 3 different kinds of warpwolves). This will help you hit harder and be a little more survivable, things Circle struggles with, I think. And also be an easy place to start!

Eventually, the Druids and Shifting Stones will let you pull all those wonderful Circle shenanigans, if you so desire and are absolutely perfect things to add to make it a 35 point list.

I think you'll be able to do a nice uniform job of painting those warpwolves, too... very excited to follow your progress on this

Circle and Gators are the forces I always live vicariously through... very happy with my Trollbloods, but it'd be one of those that I ran if not for the trolls! So I really enjoy watching and reading about people starting these

One of my buds from our FLGS (Norbu the Destroyer) just finished painting a 25 point Gator force. It looks fantastic! Looking forward to sneaking in games with him over lunch once I get mine done.

I'll start a P&M blog once the last of the figures comes in. Could be as early as Friday but it's likely I won't be able to pick them up until next week.

You tease, he has zero gallery images!

Cool that you'll have another painted force to play against, once you get yours done.

Actually, Norbu is an amazing painter... he can crank out an astounding amount of fantastically painted figures in an insanely short period of time.

Thing is, it doesn't translate to dakka well. He has this system that makes beautiful looking models at tabletop (or even less than arms length) distance. However, if you zoom in they're in essence... fairly basic. Nice, neat... but not much in the way of advanced techniques. That being said the over all effect is stunningly effective and I'm pretty sure that in most cases, if you saw one of his many armies next to mine at playing distance... you'd pick his as being the nicer painted force.

He's just got this great sense for composition and color, as well as some neat tricks that make his figures jump off the table. And he's faster than hades to boot. His little croc force looks stunning, and I think he painted it in one or two sittings (a few hours).

They should make a great foil to your wolves, then!!

Yes.... crunchy on the outside... soft on the inside! "Tastes like chicken!"

Make sure to check out the Gorax. Primal is an amazing animus if used right.

@ICleadpeople: I understood about half of that.


Had my first game of Hordes today! Just got a couple of turns in but it was very fun. I'll be back for more to be sure.

The Gorax is a light beast with the Animus "Primal" Target beast gets +2 to melee attack and damage rolls. But must frenzy during your next turn.

This really helps with cracking high armor targets or buffing the MAT when needed.

Ah, OK... got it. An "Animus" is essentially a beast's magic power, yes? "Frenzy" is bad... isn't it?

Gitsplitta wrote:Ah, OK... got it. An "Animus" is essentially a beast's magic power, yes? "Frenzy" is bad... isn't it?

Yes. And Sometimes.

Frenzy isn't always bad. Sometimes it IS bad, but it's worth it. Primal is one of those times where it's worth it. It lets you full that warbeast up on Fury, and then you can run hot(ter than normal) on your other beasts and not worry about who you will leach from and who you have to risk going crazy.

Just make sure that an enemy is closer to him than a friendly...

Hmmmm.... interesting.

Or use eKaya's feat and make sure you beasts are right where you want them after the primal turn.

From what I read, you can get away without the Gorax animus when using eKaya. But it's definitely a beast to consider down the line!