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 everybody. I'm looking for a nice fantasy skirmish boardgame to play something different than 40k (I was a fantasy player before AoS )
I'm in between Malifaux and Hordes but I actually fell in love with malifaux models and background and The idea of a deck of cards instead than a bunch of dice sounds me cool!
I was thinking to buy a my own starting set...
The 2e edition rulebook
2 decks
The relic hunters crew
And Open graves crew

In this way I can approach the game, start collecting 2 of the faction than I like and of course try to push into the game some players of my area with trial battles

My question is... I must add one more choise for both the crew? Or these two crew are enough balanced for a nice and funny first malifaux game?
Please reply and in case advice me about somethink to add if I need.

Nico is really bad for a box on box game. His entire thing is summoning. And against a high mobility master like McCabe, he'd be down and out.

If you want two box sets for each of those factions that are good for demoing against each other, go for Misaki and Saemus. Both have tricks available to them and both can function out of the box.

Onto the masters you picked:

Nicodem is a summoner. As such, he requires a heavy investment for models that you need.(All the resser minions-enforcers). But once you get those, he's awesome. Summoning Belles in the first few turns to lure your opponent too you, then flurrying them with zombies is awesome. And in the late game a summoned hanged can really seal the game for you.

McCabe is, as I said, a high mobility caster. He's on a horse, which means he has the walk value "all". His crew functions around his "treasures". These take the forms of upgrades which you pass around to your crew to give them benefits. Overall, he's rather daunting for a new player who doesn't know what their models do, let alone upgrades.

As such, I'd leave them till you get more experience with the game. Play your first few games without upgrades to get the feel of the models and then add the rest in increments.

Thanks for the detailed replay.
I could imagine the pure summoner was not the best for demo games.
Anyway that crew is in absolut my preferite, the concept of a classic horde of zombies is what I want from this game, considering that these models are the most beatiful zombie models I've ever seen in a tabletop game.
If this means spent a little bit more to balance the crew doesn't really matter (I play gw games so I'm used to spend money ).
What do you think, wich are among these the best reinforcements for the crew?

Crooked men
Canine remains
The hanged
Flesh construct

About mcabe I have few alternative. My starting Idea was Lucius.
Do you think is better than mc abe facing the zombie horde?
I was thinking about these reinforcement for Lucius or mc abe...

Mr graves (lucius)
Mr tannen (lucius)
The carver (lucius)
Death matshall (both)
Guild guard (both)

I really appreciated your advise about misaki and saemus, but you know I'm getting into malifaux mainly for aesthetic reasons and I dont like too much those crews.

Honestly I'd start with Seamus rather than Nicodem. As said, he works out of the box. He also gets you Belles, which, again as said, are great summons. Start with Seamus, then grab Nicodem and a box of Mindless Zombies. That will give you plenty of summon fodder which you can add to.

I started with Nico. Fast track 3 months later and I have most of the Resser faction. He is fun, but very straight forward. He moves up and you try to win by attrition by the mass summons. Its fun, but gets a little stale

I would actually say start Mc Mourning. He has minor summoning, but a enjoyable box. Lots of posion, can summon dogs or flesh constructs if lucky. Nurses are great.

If you go Lucius you can use some of his models for Mc Mourning

I also have Lucius, but I went Gunline, getting 3 guild riflemen, Ryle, and 2 Guard guard. Also very fun

If you decide to go Nicodem there's one summon choice missing from your list and that's rotten belles. No matter the situation, they are Always usefull. Never leave your graveyard without them. Canine remains can be usefull and I usually take at least one along for the ride. Necropunks might be a good investment aswell for doing some scheme running. Flesh constructs I barely ever use outside of games where McMourning is my chosen master. That, however, might also be a bit of a personal preference since I really like my punk zombies. Crooked men I never really got the most out of so usually leave them at home. But, and that's the thing with Nicodem, it's always usefull to have the models just in case you end up in a situation where you're going to need to summon one of them. hence the reason why Nico players usually end up with all the masters and models of their faction at a higher speed than the other players

While Nico may not be the best choice for a fresh starter he is by no mean's the worst, if your willing to plunge a little more than just his starter box you can run a lowish model count crew with him by exploiting his buffs over his summoning, while conventional logic dictates you NEVER hire punk zombies (Summon them instead) Nico can power them to phenomenal levels*


*I once had a vulture move a corpse to the other side of a building use its ability to cast through it, next activation made the corpse counter into a punk zombie, gave it fast and + flips and watch it flurry Ironsides to cat Kibble.

Just so you know, The Carver is a little different as he is a special scenario only figure and you can not hire him out as a normal model.
It is a cool model and can be proxied as something else, what I am not sure I do not play neverborn.

Oh the fun that could be had if the Carver could be summoned or recruited. As a Nightmare, The Dreamer could have so much fun.

But yes, I think the Carver is a model worthy of being in everyones collection for a variety of reasons. First and formost, it's a great miniature. It combines two pretty great stereotypical horror movie monsters depending on the head - the hessian sack headed monster, and the pumpkin headed monster.

Also, the scenario for him in Crossroads is fantastic. He's such a powerful model, and the ability for the defender to bluff you with who the sacrifice is makes for a great opening turn. Once he hits the table, there's the constant threat of him swapping to the opponents control so you either risk him and push deep into their territory or play it safe and potentially have a monster in your midst when he swaps sides.

Basically he's what I love about Malifaux distilled into a fantastic miniature - something uniquely horror inspired (and Halloween on top of that), with a great narrative driven scenario that still feels fun and fair to play - granted it's better if you play it twice and swap attacker/defender.

I really wish they would do more of these - and it seems they will with the Easter model tease, and the hint of more to come.