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I dropped over to a new games shop in Dublin (Models Inc. for anyone reading this, near the Garden of Remembrance, really rather good, very friendly and helpful staff and a good selection of different games).

The guy started showing me and a friend how to play Warmachine, and it looks like a lot of fun.

So I've decided to start. I want to do Trollbloods, and one of the Warmachine factions. Probably the Russian looking dudes, but possibly someone else. Not sure.

For my trollbloods, I would like to field some of those gorgeous big warbeasts. Is this easily doable? Would a force based mostly around these babies work well? They look very good.

For the warmachine guys, I'm not as sure. Anyone have a favourite faction they'd like to pitch at me? I'm generally tactically aggressive and like taking the initiative in games, if that's any help. I like all the model ranges and concepts pretty much equally for warmachine. The trolls jumped out at me as lovely.

Also, any tips on painting corroded paint on metal and the like? Since the model count is so low, and the minis are so nice, I want to do a good job on my warjacks.

Welcome to Warmachine and Hordes! You'll never look back.

It is possible to play Dire-troll heavy. Check the PP forums, there are a lot of DT lists and beast heavy lists out there.

If you want to go ALL DTM (with some champions, natch), Hoarluk is the 'lock for you.

As for playing styles, Trolls and Khador play very similarly: they hit really hard, can take a lot of punishment, but are reaalllly slow (add to that the issue--with Trolls at least--that they're all med. base size or larger, and maneuverability can become an issue). This is made up for by the many ways they can have pathfinder (the ability to move through rough terrain unimpeded) and a few spells which give either them a boost or the opponent a block (Sorcha's Icy Gaze and Irusk's inhospitable ground come to mind).

If you want a faster, more maneuverable faction, Skorne, Legion, Cryx, and Cygnar are probably more up your speed. Magnus also has some merc tricks to get in your face for da crumpin' early. That having been said, Khador has some very fast moving/advance deployment (i.e. infiltrating) units and warjacks that could make for a faster paced army. Something like Sorcha, Iron Fang Cavalry, Kodiaks and/or Berzerkers, Doom Reavers, etc. with Kossite Woodsmen or Widowmakers. Something like that. Add Mercenaries to taste.

As for corroded effects, check out the paint thralls.

Tactically aggressive can describe pretty much any army with the right elements, though I
would argue that Protectorate of Menoth has less tactical aggressiveness due to their
reliance on troops dying. They have staying power, but they don't have as much
speed, punch or armor as some of the other factions.

Cryx has a nice level of aggressive play, and it has the benefit of being kind of opposite
of how the Trollbloods play. Trollbloods are like the Protectorate in relying on layered
buffs and bonuses, whereas Cryx relies on mobility and enemy debuffs. The only thing
with Cryx is you're not going to field a lot of heavy warjacks. Expect a troop heavy
army no matter what warcaster you play.

Heya Da Boss,

   small world, I play Hordes in that shop.

If you post on the modelsinc forum, http://modelsinc.ie/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=general asking about the trolls you should get some good replies too. There's a number of very good troll players in there.

I'm not convinced Trolls is the faction that best goes really beast-heavy. That might be circle, who I play. You don't tend to see massed Dire Trolls. It's usually champions (best unit in either game I think), Kriel stone bearer, fellcaller, then a couple of beasts chosen to a large extent on their animuses. The dire mauler, impaler, and axer have great animuses, the axer also hits almost like a heavy. The pyre troll has sort of a budget (but still good) version of the dire maulers animus.

Hoarluck is the guy for really big beast heavy in trolls, but I think he's the weakest of the troll warlocks.

That's just my, non-trollblood playing viewpoint. Ask on the modelsinc forums too, Paul in particular really knows trolls well, and would be happy to help.

You know there's a league going on in there at the moment? Number of beginners, play league games any day you want. Good luck with the Hordes/Warmachine stuff.

    Greg

Hmmm. I'm going to wander off and look in more detail at the various factions.
Yeah, me and my buddy were very impressed with the shop, we'd be on for a warmachine league. (Just gotta get them and paint them first!)
I'm also going to try and infect our 40K/Fantasy club with it as well. There's a heavy amount of resistance, but I reckon once they see a few games and gawp at a few warjacks and beasties they'll be hooked!
Thanks for all the advice. The playstyle stuff is handy.
I actually like all the hordes dudes, but the trolls have some beauties. Thinking of Russes avatar in particular...
*Drools*
Because they are so big, heavy and metal, I'm gonna need to pin all these guys, right?

It's best to pin, but I've gotten away with not pinning quite a bit. If you want to go beast heavy in Hordes, Trolls is potentially the worst faction to choose. Legion and Skorne both have ways to pull Fury off of warbeasts, which then reduces Frenzies. Trolls can do it, but I think they do best with a good mix of beasts and infantry. Trolls have access to a lot of infantry buffing effects with the Fell Caller and their warlocks. And all their infantry is Tough. And pick up Champs and a Fell Caller to follow them around giving out buffs.

The russian-looking dudes, Khador, are similar to Trolls but have more speed boosts. I think the Warmachine factions, due to the number and variety of warcasters, are all pretty 'well-rounded'. You might want to play something with a different style than your Hordes faction for more variety.

I'd pick an army that you want to paint and play it.

I had a gander at the models.
I like Cygnar and Khador for Warmachine. Not totally sure which to go for. Technoknights are cool, but so is the whole feel of the Khador guys. I like their Jacks too.
Looking at the Trolls I was disappointed. the dire trolls are wonderful, but the other trolls and troll bloods are too much like my orks and orcs, and I don't feel like doing another army like that at the moment. Legion has some nifty looking beasties, but also some really manky looking ones that I'll be avoiding. Skorne is interesting.
I miiiiiight go for Legion of Everblight. lots of cool looking bone plates to paint. Skorne are a bit "technobeastie" for me, I think I'd prefer the more feral looking everblight monsters.

Sorry about that, got DotNetNuked.

I play Everblight, and talk about aggressive....

I would definately play around with a few factions before you dive deep into the game. Ask for some people around the shop to help teach you and show you their faction, before you really decide what you want to play.

Otherwise there is a good chance you may get frustrated with the game and dump the minis. You really have to find something that clicks for you for it to work well. I have been in and out of this game many a time, but finally have found fun in Everblight. They are quick and hard hitting, while requiring a lot of finesse. I also found I just don't like playing WM, the style didn't suit me. Hordes is a lot more fun, and I like stomping around on Warjacks.

But definately get some people to let you play different factions. It's the easiest way to see what might be like your play style.

Yeah. Those three aspects (nice looking miniatures, a theme that grabs my imagination, and a play style I enjoy) are pretty important to me.
I'm leaning towards Cygnar as my Warhmachine faction if I start that game. I like the look of the models, and it's been a while since I tried painting anything that "good guy" looking. Could be fun.
Everblight looks attractive. From looking at them, they have some very nice units and a good playstyle.
Very tyranid looking though, aren't they? With proper looking maws and claws though.
I suppose I could get into painting the Nyss too, although wishy washy elven looking things wouldn't normally be my cup of tea, I'm sure I can come up with a nice paint scheme for them. The ogrun look pretty cool, and the only silly looking warbeasts are the shredders, which look a bit too comedic for my tastes. Like the big fella you get with the box and the really big guy with the stinger tail, as well as the new thingy on four legs.

I've been bitten by the new game bug. Oh dear.

Most of what you said is true. I don't have many of the blighted Nyss models. The casters are relatively nice, the Warmongers are good, the new Raptors are nice, but the blighted Nyss models overall don't do much for me. I field mostly the big beasties with support from the figs I like.

Champions, Kriel Stone Bearer and maybe a Fell Caller to start.

Hoarluk is the master of the Dire Trolls. The new Earthborn is supposed to be first rate, along with the Mauler.

Should be a few Hordes players in the shop friday night for league night, Da Boss, if you're interested in seeing some assorted armies.

I'm not sure about the techno-beastie thing with Skorne? They're just elephants covered in some harnesses and armour, rather like barding (sp?) on horses.

I think he prefers the more visceral beast beasts to the more
"civil" armored ones.

Yeah, I love the Skorne minis but they're a bit too close to my orcs and goblins for fantasy or chaos. I want something I've never done before, or at least haven't done in a long long time.
I like the Trollbloods, but I just don't feel like more teched up guys that look a bit like orks. (3000 points of Orks in 40K and 2500 points of Orcs in fantasy makes me want to paint something different)
Circle, well, the wolvie things are cool but the druids and treant things don't do it for me. Everblight looks pretty good though.
And Cygnar for Warmachine. Oh yeah.

We got our rulebook today. Looking forward to reading the background over the weekend.

Cool.

Sounds like you might be interested in Legion, so. If you want to see more of the models I'll be playing a guy in there around 7:30 tonight with my circle, if you want to pop in. My name's Greg. Come in and say hi, or just have a wander around and check out the armies.

Sadly my army and my opponents aren't painted. It was a major feat for me to get a Tyranid army painted for the Irish GT, and without something like that to make me, my Circle is growing faster than I'm painting them.

There'll also be a nicely painted SKorne army, and a 2nd Legion player. There should be lots of others hopefully, but those are the 4 I know will be there.

I can't make it tonight unfortunately- I'm at Warcon in Maynooth.
I'll definitely call in to ye in the shop soon though, to pick up my force and get a few games in.
I'm John.
Skinny bloke with glasses and a silly haircut.

I too am bitten and am starting Hordes. Specifically Legion.

It makes me want to quit 40K forever.

Well, maybe not forever, but definatly sell a bunch of my armies I am not ever going to paint.

Too many games out there nowadays. Soo much cool stuff.

I've managed to hook two of my other housemates with the game, so now we've got a nice little 4 strong group out in Maynooth who can easily pop into Dublin for games.

Looking at Cygnar, I'm probably going to grab the starter box, some Stormblades and maybe some Trenchers and a Journeyman Warcaster.
That'll do me for the next while.
Everblight, I'm not sure. I'll have to give the Hordes book a read.

I got my miniatures today. Cygnar. Got some Trenchers and the Journeyman, as well as the battlebgroup. The primer is drying as I type. We're gonna run some demo games this week at our club. My housemate got himself a mariner, deck gun and captain shae. He ordered a bucaneer and another light mercinary jack too.

Be carefull about selling off your 40K completely because you will regret it later. It gives you variety like playing checkers (40K) simple but fun or chess (Hordes/WM) when you want to think deeply about every move.

Painted my trenchers. They look awesome. Painting my charger tonight.

Um...maybe you should wait for the wreck markers to be released before you paint your
charger...

I kid!

? It is pretty fragile looking. Still haven't played my first game.
Painted the charger, it was suprisingly easy to get looking nice enough.