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So a freind and I are looking at the Hoards starter box with Circle Orboros and Everblight. I would be taking the Circle and really like the feel and look of the army. My question to you guys is can you do a decent army based around the Warpborn Skinwalkers? I am not asking for their stats or anything but I don't have the book and so have no idea if they are even a good choice. Before I throw money at the game I was hoping to find out if the figs I like most will actually be worth fielding. If they are decent who do they work best with? As I stated early I am not looking for stats or special rules just a general idea so I know what I'm getting into.

A good rule of thumb is that any unit in Warmachine/Hordes can be used in a competitive list. You just need to build the right list and use it to your full advantage.

Thanks for the fast reply. Do they ally well with Tharn units? I like the idea of a really savage looking army and they seem to embody that idea. Also would that work well in the fluff?

I don't really know, I'm not familiar with Circle.

The real way to tell is to look at all the units and their abilities and see what compliments the abilities of the Skinwalkers.

The Skinwalkers are getting a unit attachment in January(maybe Feb) that will greatly increase their desirability. While I don't have any personal experience with them, I think that you can certainly build good lists around them, and so you shouldn't be afraid to go with Circle.

Skinwalkers are a good tarpit unit who are about to get a UA to counter the fact they can't fight their way out of a wet paper bag.

Tekik wrote:
My question to you guys is can you do a decent army based around the Warpborn Skinwalkers?

Short answer, yes.

I just want to note though that you will be needing some warbeasts in your army, a couple of different heavies possibly. Also it is very rare that you find a need to spam units or even take two of the same.

To find out more about circle try battle college and/or the circle forums on the big boards as I'm sure there's starting info there.

Skinwalkers are quite playable and will soon become very strong after the officer comes out. They will be a fine unit to form the backbone of an army. The catch is that in this game it is rare to double-up on units so you probably will only have the one unit you use frequently and build around.

Cool, thank you all for the replies. I definitely think I will be picking up that box this weekend.

Tekik wrote:So a freind and I are looking at the Hoards starter box with Circle Orboros and Everblight. I would be taking the Circle and really like the feel and look of the army. My question to you guys is can you do a decent army based around the Warpborn Skinwalkers? I am not asking for their stats or anything but I don't have the book and so have no idea if they are even a good choice. Before I throw money at the game I was hoping to find out if the figs I like most will actually be worth fielding. If they are decent who do they work best with? As I stated early I am not looking for stats or special rules just a general idea so I know what I'm getting into.

Well bear in mind, warmachine and hordes aren't like 40k. you cant do a space marine "scout" army for instance, with everything being a scout. You will have a warlock, 2-3 warbeasts and then room for a squad or two.

As to skinwalkers, and how they are? they're a tarpit. they have very high armour, esppecially in melee, and are capable of soaking up a huge amount of damage. that said, on their own, neither their accuracy, or their damage output can be considering anything but "decent". they're also slow-ish. but then again, they're not necessarily there to kill stuff - they're there to tie stuff down. Now bear in mind, they're getting a unit attachment soon that gives them each a second attack, and lets them heal after they kill stuff, so one of their weaknesses is partially mitigated, whilt their strengths are increased. that said, the minion gatormen arguable still stack up better than them in some ways, and tharn ravagers beat them hands down for damage output(which isnt surprising, as tharn ravagers are shock troops, whilst skinwalkers are tarpits)

Like everything in the game, "spamming" isnt a good idea. nothing but skinwalkers opens you up to severe match up issues, once you factor in their limitations. but as part of a greater whole, they definately have a part to play, and make a fantastic anchor unit around which you can wheel the rest of your stuff.

Who do they work best with? anyone who can buff their damage output, buff their arm, or buff their accuracy. more importantly, think of what they give in return. and i honestly feel they can play a role in a lot of different forces.

Tekik wrote:Thanks for the fast reply. Do they ally well with Tharn units? I like the idea of a really savage looking army and they seem to embody that idea. Also would that work well in the fluff?

Why wouldnt it? both serve the druids of the Circle without any question. the tharn are the barbarian devourer worshipping humans, whilst the skinwalkers would belong to the Wolves - their other human allies.

as to would they ally with tharn in-game? absolutely. as mentioned, tharn ravagers are the shock troops of circle, but lack durability- they're the squishiest heavy infantry in the game. So in that sense, they compliment each others weaknesses. then again, 2 squads of heavy infantry brings its onw weakness - lack of numbers, and lack of board presense. as to the other tharn units - tharn bloodtrackers and wolf riders are personal favourites of mine. you cant go wrong with the tharn ladies. quick, hurty spears, good defence. nothing wrong with them in any combination, to be perfectly frank.

Here is a really good place to start as a new Circle player wondering what does what:

http://privateerpressforums.com/showthread.php?11315-The-Wilding-Way-Tactical-tips-for-Druids-both-new-and-old

It really is a great place.

As to skinwalkers, I am surprised at how much I like them. I don't run much infantry usually, but with the +2 armor buffs common in Circle (Morvahna, Kromac, Baldur) the Skinwalkers are ridiculously difficult to kill. In melee we are talking Khador heavy armor, no problem. With the new UA they will be even better. As a unit to tie down and control areas, they work really nicely. They can also put a few good chips in Heavies with CMA, as well as wreck a Light thing here and there if needed.

Unlike other games, everyting in Hordes is playable, so technically they can fit into any list. But to use them to their maximum powere experiment with them in differnet forces and with different warlocks