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So I know there's probably a million posts like this , but I still need the help, so here goes:

I'm a warhammer/ Warmachine player thinking of branching out into infinity. Based on my experience in warhammer and warmachine, I know that I like armies with resiliency, that are designed to take a hit, get into close or medium range, and then counter-attack. I would also like to use some TAGS, because I like having single big tough units. Based on these preferences, are there any particular armies you would recommend I should collect?

Greetings

Infinity armies are diverse in styles you can play with. However some can do certain styles easier than the others. Considering what you've said. I'd recommend PanOceania or Yu-Jing.

Yu-Jing are centered around heavy infantry but can also bring a TAG to play. General Yu-Jing army with choices such as Shang Ji, Wu Ming, Su Jian, Hac Tao and Guilja. PanOceania has less choices in HI department but we have tremendous choice when it comes to TAGs. I think that with PanOceania you'd get what you're looking for, especially, if TAGs are the deciding aspect.

I don't feel this is a general rule but PanOceania is more likely to respond to enemy, I wont say we can't play aggressively but it's easier to be somewhat passive. Yu-Jing prefers to be more aggressive, not the roles can't be reversed but that has been my general impression of the Yu Jing force has been so far.

Look at the forces, say what catches your eye. I'm sure we can make a playable force that suits your style. No reason to go with PanOceania just because they might do certain style a little easier.

To be fair though, if you want a decent TAG or two to play around with you might be better off not picking ariadna or haqq, for starters.
Actually, I'd say that if you want more than one TAG you'll regularly play, sticking with PanO or Nomads (perhaps CA if those are to your tastes - certainly do fill four substantially different roles whereas PanO and nomads tend to vary on one theme a bit more) might not be a bad idea.

Going with what you like visually is important and most factions can do most things decently, but using "some TAGs" is something not many factions can pull off with that much ease.

Furthermore, "resiliency ... designed to take a hit" is a notion you'll be quickly disabused of for any faction. *Maybe* that pesky Tohaa symbiont armour will get you some ways there, but Infinity is a game based on cover more than armour; most things can kill most things and generally are only a few dice rolls away from doing so.
There's no such thing as "tanking" it to the other side here, I'm afraid.

Maybe (depending on taste!) you'd get somewhere close to that idea with lots and lots of camo - at least you'll be harder to hit, if still quite susceptible to being killed, which can help.
However, I wouldn't generally advise you to start with a camo-all-the-way list - they do play like a rather delicate toolbox and if it's the only tool you have, the prevalence of MSV (anti camo tool, chiefly) in your immediate (meta-) vicinity will take a remarkable flight in no time at all

If TAGs are a chief draw to infinity for you, I'd say stick with PanO, Nomads and CA - figure out if you like the looks of any of those, get a starter, play some games and come back here. We'll help you grow from there. But if TAGs are important, do stick with those.

I will agree that Infinity system favors camouflage over exposing your models. However camouflage heavy armies tend to play differently. Typically your list will be composed out of infiltrators, those infiltrators have simple aim(s), create attack vector(s) and alpha strike, claim objectives and run away or play sort of partisan style, where you slowly bleed your opponent out of orders and generally be annoyance. If the opponent lacks the means* to quickly peel the camouflage away it's game over.

HI can take a hit and still continue fighting, a link team of them can be a nasty combination. Learning not to over-extend (cover, shadow zone) and when to be aggressive or passive is required.

*(AoE spam is what you're looking for as MSVs are limited and expensive which results into classic "he can't be everywhere at the same time")

Yeah, i think it's best to not go for the "take a hit" then strike back. Infinity plays more like modern warfare, and you don't see modern armies planning on getting shot.

I'm going to agree with Knight though, an Ariadna camo army sounds like something he'd enjoy. I play one, and it often feels like I brace myself for their attack, and move quickly in to disable them after they've been fighting somewhat blind. .

What faction do you like the look/fluff of most. Really this is the only thing you need to think about when picking your faction.

Why be couse "elite" unit and TAGs go down to "line" just as quick, with the right tactics. While evey faction has "elite" units and most have multiple TAGs to pick from.

So pick the faction you like the most and go from there, it not really possable the other way around as the no set play styles or unit types for any faction.

Noir wrote:
What faction do you like the look/fluff of most. Really this is the only thing you need to think about when picking your faction.

Would definitely go with this..

Bolognesus definitely has a point about the TAGs, but I wouldn't say it is the 'be all and end all' of choosing a force. Every faction, with the exception of Ariadna and Tohaa before they release an official model, have a single hard-ass unit that will kill most things it puts its mind to.

The 'Maghariba guard' for Haqqislam and 'Lizard' for Nomad are considering average in the rules, but they will still stomp most stuff they come across and make your opponent poop themselves when facing them.. they are certainly no push-overs!

The utility of that maghariba guard varies greatly depending on the way terrain is set up on infinity tables in your general area, though. an 80mm base in a game depending on being able to dive behind cover, with every other model being based on 25 or 40 mm, can make the model damn near useless. It takes some consideration for it's existence in setting up tables at least; I wouldn't want to bring one to a random game of infinity.
...It is a lovely model, though

 Bolognesus wrote:
The utility of that maghariba guard varies greatly depending on the way terrain is set up on infinity tables in your general area, though. an 80mm base in a game depending on being able to dive behind cover, with every other model being based on 25 or 40 mm, can make the model damn near useless. It takes some consideration for it's existence in setting up tables at least; I wouldn't want to bring one to a random game of infinity.
...It is a lovely model, though

That not the model fault, but the people setting up terrain. The Magharba is meant to be used, if there to much terrain to use it then you need to play with less.

...Yeah, but it's the one fluke in a, what. 500 model range?
TBH I disagree with you that the entire game should be set up to accomodate one fluke of a model from the early start of the range.

Just house rule that it can move through gaps that are thinner than the base.. we usually imagine the body width is OK - in the same way that a spider can fit through tiny places!

And, TBH I usually play with a ton of terrain, and it's not something that comes up too often..

 Bolognesus wrote:
...Yeah, but it's the one fluke in a, what. 500 model range?
TBH I disagree with you that the entire game should be set up to accomodate one fluke of a model from the early start of the range.

Yeah no, if you're setting up terrain so the Maghariba can't move around, you've got a pretty dense table. 80mm sounds big for a base, but it's just over 3" wide. CB's guidelines are you should aim for no more than an 8" gap between terrain peices, but if you've got a table that's mostly terrain that's 3" apart all TAGs are going to have issues.

You don't have to tailor a table to give the Maghariba room to move. Honestly, you have to tailor it to not give it room to move.

Consider the CA.

We have a TAG thats like a giant deep striking bug-robot. When it comes down it creates an explosion around it that can lay waste to any nearby enemies. After that, its a tough as nails TAG with an HMG (very solid all purpose gun, think 40k autocannon but more potent as all guns in Infinity are scary as hell) and a heavy flame thrower with a simply enormous template that can auto-hit half a dozen line troops in one go.

We also have Ko Dali. Again, drop her in where needed. Then unleash a burst five BS 17 uzi of doom, matrix style, on everyone nearby. Flawless victory.

We also get Pretas and Gakis. Think Zerglings, or Genestealer type critters so cheap you can take whole swarms of them. The former has a acid spray gun (chain rifle) and lays mines, and isn't bad at all in close combat either. The latter can explode whenever it wants and has a sort of power-fist style CCW that wounds three times when it hits. And if it doesn't hit and he dies - well guess its time to explode then!