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.

I have played 40k for a long time and am looking to branch out. I really like the models for this game, particularly the Aleph faction. I see that the rule book is available on the website, what else would be good to have? Is there a source for the background, and is the background well developed?

All the models I have looked at in the game are nice, but I like the Aelph's models best. After reading the background paragraph for each army they are pretty much exactly targeted at some of my favorite sci-fi interests. I really like their entire range, particularly myrmidons and post-humans. What would be good first purchases?

The background is all in the physical books, so the main book, human sphere and campaign paradiso expand on that. They used to have all the different units' background in the gallery as well but that's gone now.

The starter boxes are usually pretty good and if you're going with Steel Phalanx, the myrmidon box should be a pretty safe buy as well. Others could probably give you some more advice but hope that helps

As said the back ground is in the books. Now ALEPH only has a couple blubs in the main book (N3), as they didn't become a playable faction until Human Sphere so the main book is only needed if you want the all the other factions fluff and the pretty pretty pics. With that said, you don't ever have to buy a book as the rules are 100% free online (except campaign rules from Paradiso). <they have yet to host the HS and C pdf on the new site>

As for where to start either ALEPH starter is great, one gives you REMs you can boost buy hacking, a camo hacker and a camo hunting Hi. The other give you 2 long range weapons (Missile Launcher, Light Rocket Launcher) some thing ALEPH is light on. Plus a MK12, basically a up close 1B less HMG and the Myrmidon hacker.

I'll also think about the Myrmidon box since you like them and/or the spitfire, or you can use the CCW model the box as the Spitfire (the CCW model are design to proxy as the range weapon of your choose).

For the Proxy unit, if you use them you will also need the Netrods found in the support box. As if your active proxy dies you can only Jump into a new Proxy if you have a active Netrod on the table.

Hope you enjoy yourself. Remember start slow and forget everything you learned in other miniature games (IT WILL NOT HELP YOU IN INFINITY).

Noir wrote:
Hope you enjoy yourself. Remember start slow and forget everything you learned in other miniature games (IT WILL NOT HELP YOU IN INFINITY).

I can say that I've learned quite a bit from other games and the insight served me well in Infinity too.

 Knight wrote:

Noir wrote:
Hope you enjoy yourself. Remember start slow and forget everything you learned in other miniature games (IT WILL NOT HELP YOU IN INFINITY).

I can say that I've learned quite a bit from other games and the insight served me well in Infinity too.

I didn't want to single out 40K but as it the only game he talks of playing I figure it was obvious what game I was really talking about.

Steel Phalanx box gets you Thorakitai ground troops (strong and affordable MI, but Frenzy can mess up your plans), an Agema (a sniper-duel fire support unit), a Myrmidon hacker (again, affordable and effective but Frenzy can mess you up at the wrong time), and Eudoros (multirole, fairly durable and effective at multiple range bands and in melee), it's a fairly balanced force of a little under 150pts that can engage a lot of targets effectively and has a lot of ODD to keep it alive. Expanding on that I'd suggest more Myrmidons (to take advantage of Fireteam: Entomotarchos if you're up for some more convoluted rules), a better hacker (the Myrmidon has an assault hacking device so his options are fairly limited; an Asura or Deva hacker gives you a much bigger toolbox), and some cheap units (Dakini tacbots, Remotes, Posthuman Proxies) to make sure you can fill out orders.

Funnily enough the base Aleph starter contains an Asura, a Deva, Dakini tacbots, and a Naga hacker; I'd suggest getting the Steel Phalanx starter and the basic starter, it nets you a pretty effective force with most of the holes plugged to get a feel for the faction with before you figure out your playstyle and get to expanding on that.

Welcome to Infinity!

Noir wrote:
I didn't want to single out 40K but as it the only game he talks of playing I figure it was obvious what game I was really talking about.

Warhammer 40K has lessons you can use.

 Knight wrote:

Noir wrote:
I didn't want to single out 40K but as it the only game he talks of playing I figure it was obvious what game I was really talking about.

Warhammer 40K has lessons you can use.

Not so much; in 40k if you didn't bring the right tool for the job you're SOL, in Infinity if you didn't bring the right tool for the job you have to work at it harder (or roll better). In 40k list-building revolves around grabbing the most broken unit you can find and playing as many duplicates of it as you can, Infinity actually has internal balance and encourages using a variety of units. 40k lets you pick out a big shiny unit that's nigh-unkillable and march it out with impunity to blast things, if you try that in Infinity your big shiny HI/TAG is about to get violently decapitated.

If there is one lesson from 40k that translates over to Infinity reasonably well it's the idea of target priority; you will find that whether by quirk of list building or setup some things on the other guy's side of the field are more threatening than others and you'll have a better time if you can pick off said threats easily.

Honestly I've gotten more applicable lessons to Infinity from playing Mass Effect than I have from 40k.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
(Biggest mistake new players make is trying to Rambo a TAG and get it nabbed by a basic LI hacker on the other side of the field who then turns it around and kills the rest of your army with it. Tell me the last time you saw a Guardsman do anything at all to a Riptide in 40k, let alone totally co-opt it.)

Certain lessons are universal. You can ask the same questions and use the same approaches to find the answer in either system, your results and experience will be slightly different. Finding what the system promotes and capitalising on it, tends to swing the outcome of the game in your favour.

Infinity if you didn't bring the right tool for the job you have to work at it harder (or roll better)

Playing against Aleph Steel Phalanx, camouflaged Ariadna, Tohaa, N2 Void operator/Preta/smoke. I cannot agree with you, I simply need certain elements to control the table and use them well too.

 Knight wrote:

Noir wrote:
I didn't want to single out 40K but as it the only game he talks of playing I figure it was obvious what game I was really talking about.

Warhammer 40K has lessons you can use.

Please do tell, but could you start another thread, as I think it would be a fun topic. But until then I stay to my view I devolved watch 40K try to play Infinity and then bitch about how this and that is wrong and broken because it don't it "should".

Aleph are nothing but demonic fascist with a desire to turn humans into useless puppets, open your mind and don't let them corrupt the last remaining ounce of soul within you!

You have a voice, let the world hear it!

-Talamare, proud free spirit of Bakunin

Woah there, reign it in cowboy! I appreciate the enthusiasm but this isn't 40k, there's no need to WAAAAAAAAGH over fluff

The biggest problem w/ Aleph is that most of their special rules aren't in the main rulebook. However, the 2nd ed rules wiki is still available and, with the FAQ, usable. Not ideal, but you'll need it for things like link team rules, fireteam enomotarcos rules and some weapons etc

http://infinitythegame.wikispot.org/Index?action=show

First, I woud decide whether you're interested in a regular Aleph army that can take everything or if you'd like to stick with just Myrmidons. Think of Myrmidons (AKA The Steel Phalanx or Assault Subsection) like a sub-codex in 40k or a Theme List in Warmachine/hordes, you're limited in what units you can field in Steel Phalanx but you get some powerful bonuses.

If you want regular Aleph (and make no mistake, "regular" Aleph is quite good!) one of each starter is a decent buy-in, although I'd recommend somebody with a spitfire (Asuras, Patrocles and Achilles are really good, though expensive, a regular myrmidon w/ spitfire is good too) and someone with a sniper rifle, Atalanta or an Agema.

Thorakitai are great for both regular and Steel Phalanx, solid and cheap way to get specialists (doctors/hackers/engineers/forward observers are required to accomplish certain mission objectives in scenarios). Downside is the only way to get them is in the steel phalanx starter, which kinda stinks.

I like to have an advance deploy unit as well, somebody that can aerial deploy (deep strike) or infiltrate. Ekdromoi are good AD:combat Jump, naga and Dasyus are TO camo infiltraters, but don't work for Steel Phalanx

 Knight wrote:
Certain lessons are universal. You can ask the same questions and use the same approaches to find the answer in either system, your results and experience will be slightly different. Finding what the system promotes and capitalising on it, tends to swing the outcome of the game in your favour.

Infinity if you didn't bring the right tool for the job you have to work at it harder (or roll better)

Playing against Aleph Steel Phalanx, camouflaged Ariadna, Tohaa, N2 Void operator/Preta/smoke. I cannot agree with you, I simply need certain elements to control the table and use them well too.

I play MO. I fight camo with one MSV option, and I do it by not getting in firefights with them.

Hello.
Allow me to try to help you with this.

I would recommend this list to you
Steel Phalanx
──────────────────────────────────────────────────

Group 1 10 0 1
EKDROMOS Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, AP CCW. (28)
MYRMIDON Spitfire, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (1 | 31)
MYRMIDON Spitfire, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (1 | 31)
MYRMIDON Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0.5 | 31)
MYRMIDON Hacker (Assault Hacking Device) Combi Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (0.5 | 31)
MYRMIDON Chain Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (16)
MYRMIDON Chain Rifle, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (16)
PHOENIX Lieutenant Heavy Rocket Launcher, Nanopulser, Smoke Grenades / Assault Pistol, DA CCW. (2 | 35)
MYRMIDON (Chain of Command) Boarding Shotgun, Nanopulser, Zero-V Smoke Grenades / Pistol, AP CCW. (1 | 37)
PENTHESILEA Combi Rifle, Contender, Nanopulser / Pistol, Monofilament CCW. (44)

6 SWC | 300 Points

Open with Army 5

Ok, so, how does this look? or what do I need to buy?

A box of these guys, the Myrmidons


2 blister sof this guy, the Myrmidon with Spitfire


This woman here, Myrmidon officer:

She will automatically become the Lt. if your Lt. dies.

This will be your Lieutenant: Phoenix.


Let's put something totally unpredictable here. Penthesilea!


And finally an alternative attack option: an Ekdromoi


I'm looking at Wayland store right now, this list (powerful and ITS effective) would cost like 66£ about 100$US Dollar.

Noir wrote:

 Knight wrote:

Noir wrote:
I didn't want to single out 40K but as it the only game he talks of playing I figure it was obvious what game I was really talking about.

Warhammer 40K has lessons you can use.

Please do tell, but could you start another thread, as I think it would be a fun topic. But until then I stay to my view I devolved watch 40K try to play Infinity and then bitch about how this and that is wrong and broken because it don't it "should".

It's quite interesting, I've shown wargamers of different backgrounds how to play Infinity, as well as people who have had no or very little experience in wargaming at all. Funnily enough, it's the latter group that seem to 'get' Infinity the fastest. They've played Battlefield or some other FPS, have watched war movies, and have some basic notions of how a soldier can avoid getting hit. They ask "can my guy crawl behind this wall?" or "he's going to give some covering fire over here". Essentially, what you would deem as 'common sense' actions, that the ruleset allows you to do. The best example of this was a friend of mine who had used his sniper to take out someone at long range. I asked if he was going to finish him off the wounded enemy with another shot, and he replied no because he wanted to wait for the wounded soldiers buddy (the medic) to come out to him and shoot him too. This was in his first game! But, he had seen Full Metal Jacket...

I think if you're coming from gaming with a less versatile ruleset, or rather one that is focused on squad or platoon level actions rather than individuals, you can have a lot more preconceptions about what you can and can't do and to an extent you have to un-learn these things. But, that's the wonderful thing about wargaming and playing different scales, periods, types of game; they can force you to think at the tactical level. As far as Infinity is concerned, I've seen interest from a local historicals group - guys that usually wouldn't do anything in sci-fi/fantasy, and not go within a million miles of a cat doctor miniature, but the mechanics and basic rule-set are so strong that what is possible in the game appeals to them as wargamers.