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I was thinking of starting hordes,I know they are re-writing the warmachine rules.Firstly are the hordes rules due for an update?
Secondly if the answer to the first question was yes then,is it a good time to start playing hordes?

As I do not want to but lots of minis and a rulebook and such,here they are more expensive than GW minis(like 645 rand a box of minis)I know this is because most of them are metal.And after paying so much the minis then being useless.

Thanks for you're help in advance.

(corrected spelling)

The Hordes rules will be updated after Warmachine's. WM MkII is set to release in January, and around that time PP will start the Hordes Field Test. Sometime after that, Hordes MkII will be released, probably at Gencon Indy 2010.

If I were to answer your second question truthfully, no, this is not a good time to start Hordes. However, there is still a way to start without shelling out for a rulebook that you'll just have to repurchase in a year. The starter boxes include a set of Quick Start rules (also found here). They should be all you need to get familiar with the game system. Since the QS rules don't include infantry or solos, you'll be restricted to warlocks and warbeasts (They call these Tooth and Claw armies), but you can still expand by purchasing more of either if you choose.

A couple of notes about WM/H and the upcoming rules changes:

1) Remember, the rules for each model are included when you purchase said model. You won't need Primal unless you want to use infantry and solos. You'll be restricted to Tooth and Claw until you pick up Primal or they release the MkII Field Test rules.

2) Most of the core rules are NOT changing in MkII. In fact, most of the changes will be made with the models' rules themselves. In 40k terms, this is nothing like the jump from 2nd to 3rd edition. It's more like going from 3rd to 4th with all factions getting a new codex at once.

3) No models will be made obsolete! All models in the current range will be represented somehow in MkII and they will fill a similar combat role. The balance might shift on a few things, making some of your models sucky (or awesome), but everything will have rules.

Thanks you're reply has be most helpful.

I think it's fine to pick up hordes, just don't get into any extreme lists.

Stop yourself before you buy duplicates of anything.

Have a second or third warlocke on hand in case you want to mix things up.

Stick to 500 point games until the reboot.

One change that's nice to look forward to:

Epic Warlocks can be used in all points sizes. Currently they can only be used in 750 point games.

malfred wrote:I think it's fine to pick up hordes, just don't get into any extreme lists.

Stop yourself before you buy duplicates of anything.

I concur with this advice...

...2 Pureblood Warpwolves sounded like a good idea at the time...

I've found that another benefit of not getting duplicates is that it makes it more varied and fun to play your army. Not only does it give you more variety in your games, but it also adds a dimension of flexibility in that you have a host of different tools to use in a given game.

The other benefit as others have mentioned is that you guard against version changes. Your entire army will be highly unlikely to lose a lot of power if you have a variety of models. Since some may get slightly better, while others slightly worse. On net, your army will perform about the same.

There have been people on the Privateer forums lamenting the loss in effectiveness due to the new Mk II rules, but more often than not this is because they had a slanted/extreme list. Lots of arc nodes, lots of bane knights, no warjacks, etc. So when a model gets nerfed, and it makes up 90% of your army, you'll be in a lot of pain. Likewise for a model that is buffed but makes up 0% of your army.

Having a balanced model list to draw your armies from is like diversifying your investment portfolio. You minimize any risks of any positive or negative changes going from version to version.

Overall, Hordes is less likely to get as much alteration as Warmachine got. Most of the reasons for things being altered doesn't really exist in Hordes- at least not to the same extent. Hordes has always been the better balanced of the two, so it will need a lot less rebalancing.


The trouble with Hordes right now is that there are no faction decks. You'll have to buy the minis to see what they do if you do not get any of the books. I'd suggest you get a battle box for your faction (all of them are very handy, and the quick start rules are great) and have someone else at your LGS teach you how the infantry rules work.

In January, the Hordes Mark II playtesting will start. At that point, you will want to download the complete document, and check out all of the cards for your faction. No one will be playing Mark I anymore, and you'll be able to play Mark II completely. The book will be released a little while after that.