Malifaux How good is malifaux?

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**Kaptain Skullstompa**

So I've looked up this game, it seems pretty cool it has some nice models and a cool backstory but I have a few questions,

Is this game fun?

Is this game balanced?

How big of games do people?

How much does a standard army cost

I'd love to get your input, this game looks really cool

**Breotan**

Starter boxes for 2nd Edition are running at about $45 but you can find them at 25% off at most internet retailers.

The models are outstanding, being polystyrene kits. There are no instructions but it's usually pretty obvious how things go together and there are 3d renders on the boxes.

I haven't played enough to know if 2nd edition is balanced or how well it scales up for big games. The games I have played have been pretty fun.

**sing your life**

I think the Grimdark syling of the miniatures is excellant.

**Soteks Prophet**

It's really good. Very balanced and they listen to feedback. People do anything from a starter box (~6 minis) to about 10 minis.

**marv335**

The biggest game I've played has been around 12 models per side.
Cost wise, I'd say it's probably the cheapest miniature game I've ever played. £100 would probably get you everything you'd ever need.
I don't think the balance is perfect, but it's not bad, although my 2.0 experience is limited.
One thing I've found is that as a game it rewards a themed list.
Certain models work better with certain Masters.
From a games mechanics point of view, I love the fate deck, much better than a dice roll.

**Absolutionis**

The game is fun. If anything, it's unique. Rather than rolling dice for actions, you flip cards. This may seem like a gimmick at first, but you have a hand of cards as well with predetermined "flips" that you can use as a resource to replace bad flips. That alone makes it a unique resource beyond a simple gimmick.

Balance is tricky because the new 2.0 rules are just rolling out. Much has changed.

Games vary in size. About 7-8 models per side is normal/average. It can differ. Thing is, many Malifaux models have rather unique abilities that makes them seem like an individual. It's strictly a small skirmish game.

Standard army just costs a $40-$45 boxed set. The game has a great mechanic in that all unused 'points' in army building go over to your Master as a consumable resource during the game. Many of the boxed sets, especially the new plastic sets, have everything you need to get started on that specific master. The rules are free online. Customizing your force with miscellaneous add-ons have about $12-$25 per boxed add-on.

The game is cool.

**Kaptain Skullstompa**

Thanks all for your input

**Battlesong**

I actually appreciate this thread. I was looking at this game as well; loved the minis and wanted feedback..

**martin74**

Kaptain Skullstompa wrote:
So I've looked up this game, it seems pretty cool it has some nice models and a cool backstory but I have a few questions,

Is this game fun?

Is this game balanced?

How big of games do people?

How much does a standard army cost

I'd love to get your input, this game looks really cool

First off, I have been deployed for four months, and have yet to play any of the M2 rules, or, read any of them. I know they were available for testing and such, but, I will just wait for the book. Now, to your questions.

Yes, the game is fun. It is a different setting/story than the ordinary grim dark story that most of us know. It is a mixture of victorian horror, steampunk, magic, wild west, and more. Fun can depend upon what faction you pick, and what you like.

Is the game balanced? Sort of. I think M2 rules will address some of the over powered models and fix some weaker ones. Some models point cost was high for what they didn't do, and others, well undercosted. When the Missaki crew came out, it was tough to beat. The book 4 crews seemed to be a bit harder to defeat with older crews, but, it could be done. Once again, this is a game where just killing off the other players characters won't win you the game. You can actually win without a model on the board, it is difficult, but, I have seen it happen. Strategy of picking your schemes and crews can determine the outcome of the game before a single card is flipped.

where I play, anywhere from 35 - 50 points. I once played double master at 80 points for a fun game.

This is by far the cheapest miniture game I have gotten into. You could play at a competative level for under 100 USD. The basic rule manual was 15, a deck of cards for under 10, and you could get a fair amount of models with the remaining 75.

**dementedwombat**

Just curious, has anyone played both this and Infinity? I'm kind of curious how they stack up against each other. Not going to lie, I probably won't be getting into either (too much anime influence for my taste in the models) but I will admit being tempted repeatedly.

**martin74**

I have played both. I never really got the hang of Infinity. However, it is a more "realistic" game. In Infinity, you are more involved when it is not your "turn" than in malifaux. Even in Malifaux, when it isn't your turn, you are still very active with defence flips and such.

**bbb**

With Infinity you perform all of your teams' actions during your turn. Your opponent can react to them and is therefore still playing even when it isn't their turn. For Malifaux you activate one model and then your opponent activates one model and you take turns going back and forth till all models have activated.

In Infinity each model adds an activation to a pool and then they can be divided up as a player chooses. So if you have five models you can have each model perform one action, or you could split it up any other way you wanted, even just having one model activate 5 times during your turn. People often talk about having "cheerleaders" in the game. By this they mean cheap models who generate actions for other models. The "cheerleaders" are still useful beyond this as they can react to enemy models' actions, so they can cover alleys or objectives while just sitting around.

**Valhallan42nd**

Malifaux is the only game that I know of that you can still win after being tabled.

It's kind of the opposite of Warmachine in that way, where the caster kill trumps all, and scenario wins are possible. Malifaux is all about the mission and your secret plots (called schemes). If you complete those, no matter what, you're golden. It's different, but I think that difference is a strength of the game.

**bbb**

Also, in Malifaux, you pick your faction, then figure out what the scenario conditions are then you pick your crew, so as your collection grows you have more options to deal with different scenarios/opponents.

**androcles138**

And with 2nd ed, even once you've picked what master you want to use, you can buy additional abilities for that master, some of which can DRASTICALLY change the way they interact with the rest of your crew. This means that for a (relatively) small cost, you can get a well balanced force that can adapt to whatever you might face.

Biggest game I've ever played was 20 models vs. 10 (I play an evil puppeteer with a bunch of small, weaker minions, so the number's skewed based on that).

An average game can take between 1 and 2 hours, depending on the skill of the players, and their familiarity with their crews.

Cards as a resource adds a level of interesting mechanics to the game, as you can have models that let you draw more, force your enemy to discard, give you a bigger hand size. (zoraida reminds me much of Magic the Gathering's Blue)

**Twelvecarpileup**

dementedwombat wrote:
Just curious, has anyone played both this and Infinity? I'm kind of curious how they stack up against each other. Not going to lie, I probably won't be getting into either (too much anime influence for my taste in the models) but I will admit being tempted repeatedly.

I play both:

Infinity: Not as many special rules per model, but there's a lot of shenanigans that every army has. Cost is a bit more, but not much. You'll be playing with about 9-12 models. It's more realistic, if you get shot you're probably dead. The game is much more about positioning and covering your other guys.

Malifaux: More like Warmachine. Units have more abilities, and can take multiple hits.

They are both very different games, and it comes to personal preference.

Infinity is more about good positioning, covering your guys and out maneuvering your opponent. If you screw up and one of your guys is out in the open, he'll probably die.

Malifaux is more about getting in and pulling off combos with your units and abilities.

**dementedwombat**

Thanks for the nice and thorough reply (directly referencing my statement no less) and not getting mad at the fact I don't like anime that much.

Since I picked up Warmachine and quite enjoy it I figure if I was going to try one it would be Infinity since you say it would be more different.

If I could play infinity with 40k models I'd be set for sure (but that's an entirely different thread I'm guessing).

**Twelvecarpileup**

A starter box for infinity is pretty much all you need to play (well and one for your opponent). As the rules/army builder are online.

150 - 200 Point battles (Pretty much the starter box and maybe an extra model or two), are extremely fun, and I find more interesting then 300 point battles often are.

**Absolutionis**

dementedwombat wrote:
Just curious, has anyone played both this and Infinity? I'm kind of curious how they stack up against each other. Not going to lie, I probably won't be getting into either (too much anime influence for my taste in the models) but I will admit being tempted repeatedly.

I typed this up a while back, and I'll just repost it here as a comparison between the two games:

Absolutionis wrote:
I play both games even more than I play 40k. They're both great in their own way yet completely different.

Infinity has almost no forced synergy between specific models whereas Malifaux thrives on synergy and combinations.

Infinity is almost all ranged combat whereas Malifaux has a balance of the two leaning on melee.

Shooting ranges in Infinity ranges can go to 48" to 60" on typical weapons. In Malifaux, 12-16" is considered very long range.

In Infinity, 8" movement is typical in one order. In Malifaux, being able to move 6" in a turn is typical.

Infinity models have a huge range of actions and special rules they're allowed to perform, and they're all referenced in the main rulebook. Malifaux models usually have all their rules listed on their card.

Infinity has a turn-based system where you move several models and then I move several models, but every movement you perform, the enemies that see you may perform a reaction. Malifaux has a model-by-model IGO-UGO system (for the most part) and there are several reactions that may be performed on the opponent's turn based on special triggers on models' cards.

Infinity cares about your army as a whole and each model is capable of doing great things. Malifaux revolves around the master you chose and thus has several safeguards to ensure your master doesn't die too quickly. Both games allow you to operate and still win even if your key units die.

Infinity models oftentimes have one wound; anything higher and they're either superhuman or a large mech. Malifaux models, even the grunts will oftentimes have wounds in excess of five or six.

Infinity almost encourages you to be in cover at all times and positioning is almost everything. Malifaux units benefit from cover but particularly tough guys can just dance in the open.

Both games have their designers constantly changing minor rules for the sake of balance or just to update.

Infinity units oftentimes don't have anything that is outright 'bad'. Some Malifaux models may be 'bad' simply because other units are better.

Infinity rules are a bit convoluted to learn on your own, so it's best to have someone teach it to you or watch videos. Malifaux is surprisingly straightforward and all the complexity derives from your options displayed on the cards.

Infinity is a realistic-scale 28mm with straight bases. Malifaux is an exaggerated-scale 32mm with lipped bases.

Both games have rules available for free online; you can also print them if you want to waste ink (both).

Both games have an available army list builder for free online.

Infinity has the stats of all models available for free online. Malifaux doesn't publish stats of models (except for the first book) but includes useful stat cards in each model kit/blister.

Infinity uses d20s, so there is much less reliance on luck than other games out there. Malifaux uses cards (essentially rolling d13s) and you can replace unfavorable "rolls" with a card in your hard so it's MUCH less reliant on luck than other games out there.

Both games have ALL models and stats laid out as soon as a new book is released. You can proxy and play and playtest anything even before the official models come out.

Infinity is a Spanish company and it takes some people (such as myself) over two months to get the newest releases. Malifaux is in the US and I get the new releases less than a week after they're announced.

Infinity almost always releases one new model per faction per month with 1-2 factions missing out. Malifaux usually releases the same amount of models per month with a heavy focus on a specific faction each month.

Infinity has 7 factions (with one mercenary faction). Malifaux has 5 factions with 5 masters in each faction that completely determine your playstyle.

Infinity gameplay is incredibly tactical yet each factions oftentimes plays similarly. Malifaux gameplay focuses more on strategy and composition where each master plays completely differently.

**bbb**

Malifaux recently came out with their 2nd edition, so some of the points you raise for them are slightly different.

Currently the rules are not available for free.

There are currently 7 factions with 3 master each. Some masters are usable by two factions. When the rest of the 1st edition models are updated to 2nd edition there will be 3-4 more masters per faction.

Besides using a deck of cards and being able to substitute cards from your hand to get the result you want, you can also use Soulstones to lessen the effects of bad luck.

Crew selection is more important than in Infinity. With Malifaux since you pick your crew after determining strategy and schemes you can tailor it to the circumstances. For Infinity I've heard that how you play your list is more important than what list you bring.

Malifaux's recommended board size is 3' x3' and Infinity's recommended size is 4'x4'

**spiralingcadaver**

Oh, bbb's post reminded me- there's also a ton of faction overlap (mercs usually can work for any faction, some masters allow you to pick models of a certain class (construct, undead, beast, etc.) from any faction, which is big depending on how you collect games (a pain if you heavily collect a single faction, awesome if you know you're going to collect a bit of a lot of them)