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Hi, I am really new to War Machine and was wondering if the two player box set with Khador and Protectorate of Menoth was a good way to start. I read through the beginners notes and it all looked like a new launguage. Like I said I'm new and know nothing about the game. I see there are a lot of different armies to play and was wondering if these two were good ones to play around with. I have a friend and a brother who might play with me, so if we do expand and play bigger games I will be the one buying the models, building and painting them up. What interests me about the game are the big mechy looking guys. I really like the way the Cygnar guys look and was wondering if I would be better off buying two seperate teams rather than the starter box. And if I do go the other route, what would be a good team to fight the Cygnar. Thanks

Its great for learning the game and the battlegroups are good.

The Cinerators and Shocktroopers are subpar but that only really matters much later.


It should be stated that the battleboxes are not balanced or all the same point value. They are purely to get you a legup on starting and learning the rules. It is intended for you to quickly expand a little.

As for which to get, it doesn't really matter. All the factions are good so its really a matter of taste in fluff or playstyle.

I too am very new. I have the two player starter and I recommend it, especially if your interested in Khador or Menoth. You get the rulebook, templates, dices, quick start rules and two ~20 armies. Your basically buying the two battlegroups and getting the rulebook, dice, templates, and two 5 man units for free. Its a good savings.

Im not planning on using either army now after learning to play, but its still a great deal, gives you two armies to experiment with, and even if you dont use one as your primary force, its always good having another faction for a change of pace.

Thanks for the help so far. I want to do Cygnar someday, but the Two player box just looks to usefull to resist at the moment. I will probably build up the Khador with the Cygnar when I learn the game so my brother/friend can field an army against me. Plus I think my brother will love the Russain look of the Khador. He plays Russians in all the historical games we play haha.

I'm in the same boat, and have decided to buy the starter box. Although I prefer the Cryx, the Menoth look cool to me, and with the fantastic savings, it seems stupid not to pic it up first!

So welcome to the Iron Kingdoms from a fellow newbie!

Von Chogg

I am going to have to disagree with the general consensus. The two player start is a fantastic deal, but only if your are interested in both armies or one army and splitting the cost.

You can just as easily learn the game with any two starter boxes and I truly believe you should buy the models you want to actually play with. Buying models that are just gonna sit on your shelf once you learn the game doesn't save you money in the long run.

 foolwiththefez wrote:
I am going to have to disagree with the general consensus. The two player start is a fantastic deal, but only if your are interested in both armies or one army and splitting the cost.

You can just as easily learn the game with any two starter boxes and I truly believe you should buy the models you want to actually play with. Buying models that are just gonna sit on your shelf once you learn the game doesn't save you money in the long run.

As a veteran player, I'm going to agree here. I highly recommend buying models you enjoy looking at and painting, otherwise you end up playing a great game with a faction you're not really tied to in any way.

In any case, welcome folks, and enjoy your stay!

Yeah, but even if you don't play both, or even either, army the two player battlebox isn't a bad start. You get rules, dice, etc. You also have two reasonable armies that you can play against other people much easier and get friends involved as well.

And because the boxes are so inexpensive it is not a huge deal to start one army and then realize you want to try something else. I have 5 armies myself that I could build at least a 35 point list with.

And worse comes to worse you can probably trade or sell one starter army to another person. I traded the Khador half of my two player box to my brother for some Malifaux stuff.

Do you get the full ruleset with the two-player battle box?

I believe so, I think it is a mini rulebook like the Dark Vengeance one.

Yup, the 2 player starters each come with the aproprite mini rule book.

The mini rulebook is really good. I actually like it more than the large rulebook in that you will want to bring it to any events you go to and it weighs a heck of a lot less and takes up less room. It just has smaller text, but it's otherwise a complete, identical reproduction of the rules section of the book. The part it's missing is the stories and other fluff things past a very general overview of the factions.

That said, apparently it's reasonably affordable on ebay (around $10, though I don't know about shipping) so if you wanted it despite wanting to play a faction that's not in the two-player battlebox then maybe you could go that route.

The mini rule book is excellent so you don't have to lug around a massive rule book.