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I am new to Warmachine. Well, I am returning to it and I haven't purchase the mkII rules edition yet. Haven't played since my kids were born.

I am not sure if I understand the rules regarding Theme Lists. I am an old Magnus player from before and I see he has a lot of theme lists, some involving Long Gunners ( which sounds flipping' sweet, BTW), but I don't understand the rules for it yet.

Can anyone enlighten me to the rules on these lists?

Basically, theme lists are where you restrict your options to get other special benefits (so for Magnus, reduced Merc options in exchange for some Cygnar Units).

Each List has 4 Tiers, each of which has special requirements and benefits. You must fulfill the requirements of all preceding tiers to benefit from a tier benefit, and the benefits are cumulative.

For example, pMagnus' tier list:

Tier 1: Limited selection of models-> Cheaper renegades, Allowed unit of Long gunners or Trenchers.

Tier 2: Must take 2 Steelhead Units-> Steelheads gain advanced move

Tier 3: Must take 3+ Warjacks-> gain Wreck markers in back field.

Tier 4: Must take 2 renegades-> Begin Game with upkeeps.

So, if I limited my slelection to units in his Tier, I would get Tier 1. If I then took 2 units of Steelhead, I would get Tier 2. If I took 2 Renegades, I would gain no benefit unless I took a third 'Jack, in which case I would gain Tiers 3 and 4.

Thank you. That helps a lot.

So, I need not be restricted to a theme list or tier, it's just an option?

Right. Usually they're a fairly dubious option that you should only go with if you know what you're getting out of it.

Occasionally people run tournaments that require you to use a theme list at a certain tier level, but outside of that you don't need to use them. The rules about what you can take are in the rulebook somewhere.

Once again, thank you all.

One thing to be aware of with Mercs and Theme forces is that you don't use a contract when you use a Theme. With Magnus, it's not that big a deal because he can only join the Four Star Syndicate and that contract has no extra benefits. But let's say you were playing Gorten. Then you would have to choose between the Searforge contract restrictions (and benefits), the Highborn contract restrictions (and benefits), and his Theme force restrictions (and benefits).

He also can choose the Rhulic contract.

Leo_the_Rat wrote:
He also can choose the Rhulic contract.

The Searforge Commission is the Rhulic contract. But that's about Gorten, not Magnus.

Magnus only works for the Fourstar Syndicate contract these days. Agenda was changed into a theme force for pMagnus and expanded upon with eMagnus' Bad Seeds theme force from No Quarter that focuses on loyalist trenchers and sword knights.

The Rhulic contract is Searforge.