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, I recently was given an older Circle Orboros Battlegroup box set by a friend who was cleaning house of all his unused gaming stuff. I am now considering getting started in the game, although I probably won't go too far with it as Warhammer 40k is my main game. I'd kind of like advice as to what stuff I should pick up next for my collection. The Battlegroup contained Kaya the Wildborne, two Argus, and a Feral Warpwolf. My questions are:
1) Are these models any good in the game, or should I be looking into picking up different ones instead. I'm not looking to be super competitive, but I hope to play in my FLGS's WarmaHordes open play night and not just get my butt kicked every time.
2) Is the Circle faction even competitive? Should I get more of them? I'm not wanting to switch factions unless I really have to (like if Circle is to WarmaHordes what Chaos Marines were (before Traitor Legions) to 40k). If the faction is good, what models should I buy to expand my collection?
3) What kind of peripherals should I get to play? As in supplement books, tokens, play aids, etc.? Do I even need anything like that?
4) I downloaded a PDF of the rules online, but I'm not sure if it's the current rules. How can I tell?
5) I must say I don't find the "What's wrong with WarmaHordes" thread very encouraging, so is this a bad time to get into this game?

1) The models in the (old at this point) starter are pretty solid. The Argus are relatively cheap cruise missiles (POW 17 combo strike hurts, and Doppler Bark is a pretty strong animus), and the Feral is a good bruiser. Not too familiar with Kaya's rules in Mk3, but she's always been decent at a minimum.

2) All of the factions are competitive, despite the doom and gloom. Hordes has something of a disadvantage at higher skill levels thanks to the buff that warjacks got, but still hold their own rather well. I'll let an actual Circle player recommend things tho, or you could head over to the Circle section of the PP boards, which are a lot more active than Dakka's.

3) The supplement books are pretty optional, although they have theme forces and fluff galore. All their rules content can be found in the War Room app though, the Mk3 version of which is very solid. Tokens are a must for tracking Fury and spells in play, but you can get by with coins and bits of paper with spell names written on them if you want to. You'll want the templates as well, as you'll inevitably have something with a spray or AoE attack. Other than that, it's pretty much the usual: Dice, tape measure, maybe a laser pointer if you don't want to just eyeball things.

4) If you've got this file you've got the current rules. Cards are even easier, as current ones will have a date published and version number in the top right corner if they're from Mk3. Updated cards for errata'd units are available on Privateer's site, and all cards will be available for PDF download by this summer.

5) That's more of a personal call. I like the new edition, and Privateer's doing a good job of keeping an eye on rules balance with their bi-yearly updates. There's a lot of negativity thanks to pretty wide ranging nerfs to some of the more... potent choices out there, and Skorne was definitely overtuned until their recent update. However, for a new player it's a good time to start, thanks to lower price of entry, free rules, and soon to be free cards. That, and the saltier members of the player base getting out of the game means more stuff for cheap on eBay.

As to doom and gloom, attempting a bit less argumentative tone here. The game requires a serious commitment, as most even more casual groups are competitive in my experience, and that takes a lot of practice and reading up. It is far more tuned and far more competitive than anything GW puts out. There's a lot of bloat, and the game is fairly complex.

I'd highly recommend playing an intro game or two, and not just at the battle box size, or at least watch some games. It takes a commitment to get much out of it.

 ZergSmasher wrote:
Hi, I recently was given an older Circle Orboros Battlegroup box set by a friend who was cleaning house of all his unused gaming stuff. I am now considering getting started in the game, although I probably won't go too far with it as Warhammer 40k is my main game. I'd kind of like advice as to what stuff I should pick up next for my collection. The Battlegroup contained Kaya the Wildborne, two Argus, and a Feral Warpwolf. My questions are:
1) Are these models any good in the game, or should I be looking into picking up different ones instead. I'm not looking to be super competitive, but I hope to play in my FLGS's WarmaHordes open play night and not just get my butt kicked every time.
2) Is the Circle faction even competitive? Should I get more of them? I'm not wanting to switch factions unless I really have to (like if Circle is to WarmaHordes what Chaos Marines were (before Traitor Legions) to 40k). If the faction is good, what models should I buy to expand my collection?
3) What kind of peripherals should I get to play? As in supplement books, tokens, play aids, etc.? Do I even need anything like that?
4) I downloaded a PDF of the rules online, but I'm not sure if it's the current rules. How can I tell?
5) I must say I don't find the "What's wrong with WarmaHordes" thread very encouraging, so is this a bad time to get into this game?

1) The models are fine, Kaya is a bit average but a good first warcaster as she's trixy but not super complex, all the Beasts are playable

2 )Seems Mk3 Circle is on par and recent tweaks suggest some models are/were above the curve. Good starting add on models would be Shifting Stones, Sentry Stone & Mannikins, an infantry unit (Reeves or Bloodtrackers), the newer starter box is also nice even if the Tanith model is fluffing awful

3) I think you can get the up to date stat cards fop the PP website, although the Forces of HORDES: Circle Orboros Command book is handy as it fills in the fluff and has all the stats in one place

4) Mk3 is the current edition so hopefully your rules should be sporting mk3 somewhere

5) It's Dakka, people love to pish and groan, just try a few games with what you have, if its to your taste then give it whirl

get the war room 2 app. Even if you don't buy anything from the store (the up to date cards), I believe that it comes with a couple unlocked cards in each faction - essentially for the current battle box sets, as well as coming with the rulebook in searchable pdf form.

It also updates periodically as erratas are released.

I was also agree with warroom2.

You get the free deck, which is the battle box warlocks and all the beasts and units from primal. The whole deck is less than a tenner and you can buy every single deck if you want for a discount.

Which means you get every new card and update and errata and everything else from now until the end of the edition.