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This game is getting popular at the LGS and was thinking about starting.
Like all games like this I will be hamstrung by my inability to buy models that I don't think look cool

Maybe yall can help figure out if I can even make a legal List within the limits of models i like

Cryx, I like the heavy jacks and the big war engine thing alot. Some of the infantry is meh. The knights are ok
How little infantry can you get away with in this game?

Cygnar, I just don't like the warjacks but love some of the infantry. Trenchers, gun mages especially.
Might seem contrary to premise of the game but are all infantry lists allowed?

I like all the merc pirates but they do seem abit out of place amidst the other factions
But a motley crew of dirty drunk pirates would be fun if nothing else.

I await the knowledgeable wisdom of dakka before spending a dime!

If you like the pirates take the pirates. All the factions are equally competitive in Warmachine and Hordes, so go with what you like.

Also, have you considered Hordes? The game is totally compatible with Warmachine, and there are some pretty awesome miniatures for it as well.

If you're thinking pirates then the next step is to pick your initial caster, I play a shae myself and if you get him then it is pretty much mandatory that you pick up the commodore or "That cannon" the game becomes very entertaining when you start throwing your enemies units around from 20" away.

I'd say go with the pirates since they have more of what you might like model wise.

Or you could go with a Cryx force that employs pirate mercs... that way you get your Cryx Jacks AND your drunk pirates.

All infantry warmachine lists can work... it might be a bit tricky but I've seen it done. In fact sometimes when I'm building a list, I start with the units and end up forgetting to put in a Jack or two.

I agree that mercenaries are probably your best bet. You can start with a good Shae list and then branch out to highborn covenant, who can take a unit of cygnar gun mages as part of their army.

Normally you start with a plastic battlebox, but mercenaries lack one so you will, unfortunately, have a larger startup cost. Faction books are all optional since models come with cards, but the mercenary one is the one I endorse the most as a good buy since it contains the limitations on all the contracts as well as theme lists, which Shae runs almost exclusively.

For pirates I was thinking Bart. Shae could work but none of the others would feel right to me.

Still mulling over a army of trenchers and trencher type support with gun mages with Sloan or Caine. I'd stay away from the 'knight' looking units.

Bart is an interesting caster, until recently he was considered bottom of the mercenary warcaster totem pole. Then the galleon rules were spoiled and his world changed. The galleon colossal coming out later this year will make him much more competitive in larger games.

You can certainly play Bart with pirates effectively but there is little incentive to go talion charter and play with only pirates. If you go with the four star syndicate or highborn covenant you will get access to many more options than pirates alone and could still run a pirate-based core. He is a caster that likes having at least 2-3 ranged jacks around though, so be prepared to spend some points on his battlegroup.

Most warmachine armies are 2-3 jacks and the rest tend to be infantry. Cryx tends to be more infantry heavy than most other factions because the casters do not like to share their focus and they have a variety of really great infantry. Cryx does have a definate pirate theme, though. Undead pirates and/or satyxis raiders.

Cygnar tends to be a little more jack heavy than Cryx, but only because they have some great jack marshalls. Most of the casters only want a couple jacks under their control. Trenchers are cool, but considered some of Cygnar's worse infantry. Not that they are bad, just a tad overpriced. Gun mages OTOH are awesome. Gun mages and either Caine can be really fun and caine tends to run low on jacks as he wants his focus to cast spells and shoot his guns. Not as knowlegable about sloan, but I think she likes a few shooty jacks around her.

Don't know much about merc pirates.

 jedi76 wrote:
This game is getting popular at the LGS and was thinking about starting.
Like all games like this I will be hamstrung by my inability to buy models that I don't think look cool

Maybe yall can help figure out if I can even make a legal List within the limits of models i like

Cryx, I like the heavy jacks and the big war engine thing alot. Some of the infantry is meh. The knights are ok
How little infantry can you get away with in this game?

Cygnar, I just don't like the warjacks but love some of the infantry. Trenchers, gun mages especially.
Might seem contrary to premise of the game but are all infantry lists allowed?

I like all the merc pirates but they do seem abit out of place amidst the other factions
But a motley crew of dirty drunk pirates would be fun if nothing else.

I await the knowledgeable wisdom of dakka before spending a dime!

I started playing 40K back in '87. Like you in my LFGS WM/H is getting attention. For the first time in a long time I got rather excited on being a newbie once again as know I have to learn an entire new rule set. I chose Khador because I felt it was the easiest to start off with.

And I'm going infantry heavy with that (Fluff) army and I don't care if I win or if lose. I'm going to have some fun.

My second choice is Cygnar because I do like the trenchers as well as the light mechs.

 Adam LongWalker wrote:

I chose Khador because I felt it was the easiest to start off with. And I'm going infantry heavy with that (Fluff) army and I don't care if I win or if lose. I'm going to have some fun.

Infantry heavy khador is very big right now. most casters only run 1-2 jacks and rely on the infantry for everything except the critical attacks that must be boosted.

 Dais wrote:

 Adam LongWalker wrote:

I chose Khador because I felt it was the easiest to start off with. And I'm going infantry heavy with that (Fluff) army and I don't care if I win or if lose. I'm going to have some fun.

Infantry heavy khador is very big right now. most casters only run 1-2 jacks and rely on the infantry for everything except the critical attacks that must be boosted.

Well that is good to know. I liked the Mother Russia aspect and decided to just go with an infantry theme when I do and paint.

A friend of mine showed me Battle College and I'll go there and look around and I found Forward Kommander from this site.

Now are there other places for us Newbies to look around besides here?

Thanks

Privateer Press forums are the best place for WM/H info. Lots of people willing to offer their ideas and pretty much every faction has a page with lots of links to articles on the various caster, jacks, solos, units, etc.

Also a real rules forum where you can get an actual PP employee to give you an official rules answer if needed. I say if needed because the WM/H rules are much tighter and nicer than GW's stuff. Most questions are clarifications by newer players. The rare problem that crops up is usually officially addressed. PP also has an errata that is kept pretty up to date.

Yeah, merc faction seems like what I need. Easier to pick and choose the coolest looking units!
Also it looks like it will be easy yo make different style lists. Pirates getting predictable, throw in some cygnar or trolls, very neat

Gonna try a game with a friends army this weekend. I've only watched a little but it seems like a blast. So will see if it's something worth spending $$$ on. These are really no cheaper than GW so may be checking eBay.

Individually it's not too much cheaper but you need far less for a game then you do of the citadel stuff which is where the cost difference comes in. You can easily get started with say 30-40 quid (do your own conversion of that) compared with the 100 odd or more gw can cost.

My first 15 point army costs me $90 US dollars + other models to go up in point value. Definitely a better deal for starting up a new game system than GW.

Hope you have fun at your first game.

Warmahordes is FAR cheaper than any gw game.

If you go in with a buddy on a 2 player starter, you each get a 25 pt army for 50 bucks (equivalent of a 1k pt 40k army). Battleboxes, which give you EVERYTHING to start, is 50 before discount (u can find em as low as 35 bucks online) which starts you learning and gives a good core army to build from.

I've spent 210 dollars since starting and its gotten me 2 full 35 pt lists, and I can stretch to 50 if I wanted. Oh, plus rulebook and war room cards for skorne (why buy the codex?). Not to mention a 35 dollar, 10 point warbeast in hordes goes a very long way... Unlike a 33 dollar box of wyches, which isn't even much for a 500 pt game. For 40k your looking at minimum around 500 bucks for a competative 2k pts list... Warmahordes you can get away with half that, and most items you buy will work in 2 or 3 casters lists; oh, did I mention that warmahordes core rules are stable and pp does upheave the game and change how everything works to sell more models?

Not to mention a 10 dollar bill in your pocket can buy a good solo, and even a few smaller units (like gobbers).... I can't even think of a single gw model that costs less than 13 bucks unless its oop and on feebay!

Well just thought I'd let you know, Started looking at hordes stuff and fell in love with skorne beasties! Awaiting their arrival in the mail Also found a few opponents that aren't in high school,a trollblood player, khador player and dude with circle, way cool!

 jedi76 wrote:
This game is getting popular at the LGS and was thinking about starting.
Like all games like this I will be hamstrung by my inability to buy models that I don't think look cool

Maybe yall can help figure out if I can even make a legal List within the limits of models i like

Cryx, I like the heavy jacks and the big war engine thing alot. Some of the infantry is meh. The knights are ok
How little infantry can you get away with in this game?

Cygnar, I just don't like the warjacks but love some of the infantry. Trenchers, gun mages especially.
Might seem contrary to premise of the game but are all infantry lists allowed?

I like all the merc pirates but they do seem abit out of place amidst the other factions
But a motley crew of dirty drunk pirates would be fun if nothing else.

I await the knowledgeable wisdom of dakka before spending a dime!

Cryx usually isn't a jack heavy army to my knowledge. They have the focus to get away with it though. A lot of their power is in nasty infantry choices.

All infantry lists are fine, but you'll have points for a 5-6 point jack granted by your warcaster so you will have at least 1 jack no matter what. You're probably gonna want to use Siege if you want trenchers.

Mercs are fun, but they do have problems. The contracts are basically the smallest faction if you play it. In addition many of their units are just a few stats shy of a typical faction model. Do it if you love it.