Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hi all.

I've really only just started Warmachine (as in the past 5-6 months) and a friend recommended I go Cryx. It wasn't until after I had the book and battle box and a few other pieces I was informed that Cryx have a pretty steep learning curve and I can definitely see that, out of the 15 or so games I've played so far I've only won 3 times which seems pretty poor.

Anyway, my question is what are some pointers that can help me improve?

My current army:

Deneghra Prime
Asphixious Prime
2xDeathrippers
1xDefiller
1xSlayer
1xSeether
1xBloat Thrall
1xNecrotech and Scrap Thrall
1xNecrosurgeon with grunts
Half unit 6 Mechanithralls (plan on getting a full unit soon with Brutethrall Weapon Attachment)
Full unit of 10 Bane thralls+Unit attachment
Pistol Wraith

Any recommendations?

All of the armies have a steep learning curve. We can provide some advice but there is no substitute for experience. You should stick with small games of no more than 25 points until you feel more comfortable. As you play more games you will learn your models better and learn general gameplay, but also try to put effort into learning what your opponent's models do. If you know what your opponent can do with fewer surprises it becomes a much more tactical game with both players trying to outmaneuver each other.

I definitely agree I need more experience. My local gamer club usually only do 35 point games though which is annoying. I'll talk to the higher up and ask if we can do smaller games until I am comfortable with these units.

Just to clarify: there is nothing wrong with larger game sizes, it can get hard to remember more things at once. It won't take long to build up to 35 points comfortably if you have regular opponents that replay enough of the same for you to get used to what they are using.

Ok cool, thanks. I'd still prefer a few smaller games to both A) learn my units and B) learn their units in a more controlled environment.

I've posted up about both those casters before. This thread has a load of details that could be handy but are based around a higher point game.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/450682.page

Its hard to know what your opponets units do for the first so many games... There are just so many out there.

pDene and EGasby are good casters to stay alive with.

3 out of 15 games vs players that have been into the game isn't bad. Asking for advice after the game isnt a bad thing either.

Take a look at skarre, styxis raiders and sea witch. They are awosome combintation. Also try purging bile htralls. That will clear out infantry so your mcthralls and banes can get to the heavies

I'd fill out your McThralls fast, only run 6 Banes + Attachment, get Tartarus and a second PW. Leave your Slayer at home.

With pDenny I run 3-4 arcnodes, 1-2 full McT units, Bane Thralls, often Bile Thralls, 2 PW and Gorman di Wulffe if I can get him in there.

That's alot of debuffs (-7 armor on feat turn to one target), heavy control (3 models capable of controlling Gargantuans/Colossals) and disposable troops and arcnodes.

3/15 is actually not too bad if the people in your area are really good. I lucked out when I started because no one really knew what Cryx did and I had lots of 40k/fantasy experience (manuvermanuvermanuver) I found that my biggest losses were due to those "Gotcha!" moments when I had no idea that so and so could charge 18" through heavy warjacks, intervening terrain, cloud effects, and kill everything in its path, arriving at my warcaster with 4 attacks all boosted.

As in all things "Know thyself" is the order of the day. If you know how your army works and what combos you want to try and get off, you'll know what you want to hit with which units. After that you'll know what can beat you and how to avoid/destroy/distract those pieces.

Go infantry heavy. Not sure how your lists are going, but you want lots of infantry and the right models to support them.

Get the mechanithralls maxed out and run them with the necrosurgeon. For the Bane Thralls seriously consider Tartarus.

for jacks, you usually want to run 2-3 arcnodes and maybe one heavy. Seether is nice efficiency.

I would really recommend a skarlock and a warwitch. they both help out tremendously with your focus pool. Skarlock should be at or very near the top of your TO BUY list. And it is a solo so is cheap.

pistol wraith is solid, but bloat thrall and the necrotech require a bit more thought about including them or not.

If you are going to be forced into 35 points I would create a single list and then play it for quite a few games. figure out what you like and do not like and then start mixing it up slowly.

Play alot and go read Battlecollege and the Privateer Press forums Cryx guide. in the Cryx forums.

All right.

Firstly in my books you are to unfocussed. Get a box of Deathrippers and a box of Defilers. That will give you 4 Deathrippers and 3 Defilers.

Next get some more Helljacks-only 1 or 2. Which ones you get depends on you but i myself like the Desecrator.

Once you have done these you will have some more flexibility along the Jacks side of things as remember just because you have it does not mean you need to use it.

After this i would advise getting a full unit of Mechanithralls and a unit or 2 of satyxis raiders with UA. i would also hint at getting a lifeguard for your warcaster-satyxis blood witchs for Denagra perhaps?

After this then just see where you instincts and playing style take you.......

If you buy more arcnodes I would only buy a box of two nightwretches. You will not need more than 2 arcnodes of any type for quite some time. No way you need 4 death rippers and definately not more defilers until you play them and decide you like them. Defilers are fine if they are your style, but most people just want cheap arcnodes. Play with them all before getting a bunch to decide which are your favorites. At 35 points I usually run one nightwretch and one deathripper because I like a little variety.

You also don't need more heavies since you got a slayer and seether. Most of our warcasters only want 1 heavy. At some point you will probably want to upgrade to one of the other heavies, but play a bit before you commit.

If you plan on continuing with Denaghra then nightmre is definetly an option to consider.