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So I'm getting my Khador back into gear, and if I field everything I've got (minus one caster), it's 585 points. I get the sense that either 350 or 500 points is the 'benchmark' size for an army (like 1500/1850 for 40k or 2000/2250 for WHFB), but is that really the case? Do people play 400-600 point games, or is the next one up really 750? How unwieldy does the game get at 500+ points (it's been a while since I've played)?

Just for reference, my list is:

Sorcha (regular version)
Destroyer
Juggernaut
Eiyriss
Widowmaker Squad
Mechanik and 3 Assistants
6 Winter Guard w/Sgt.
6 Ironfangs w/Sgt.
3 Man O'War w/Sgt.

Probably not the most efficient or effective list, and woefully out of date (I don't think any of these figs are more recent than 2004), but it's what I've got (I also have a Vlad that I can sub in for Sorcha)

Thanks in advance!

500 points is fairly standard, but then again, you can just decide to go to 600 points without a problem.

For larger games : You got more firepower, so units tend to die faster .
So for me, those games dont last that much longer.

Anymore the standard size would be 750 points to allow use of the epic warcasters.

500/750/1000

That is the usual game point breaks. But you can do whatever you like of course!

so, should I bump my list up to 750? Any recommendations (I'd like to stay in Prime, if at all possible)?

Why do you want to stay in Prime?

No particular reason, but mostly because that's the book I have, and until I get some more people interested locally, I don't feel like buying any of the other books (yet)

I don't think you have to buy the book yet, really. Just
look at the unit card or ask for clarification on some of the
expansion cards here and we could probably explain.

Get 2 x Destroyers and 2 x Mortars if you're planning on sticking with Sorcha. With arcing fire all four of these will pound the face of any warcaster into the ground once they've been icy gazed.

Oh, and a Kovnik for your 2 of your destroyers. Sorcha needs her focus.

See, this is what I'm talking about. I have no idea what a kovnik (this is the man o' war kovnik?) does. And I'm assuming you're talking about getting rid of the juggy and putting in another Destroyer?

What about things like Greylords, Doom Reavers (who, iirc, were rather easily shot up), and the manhunter?

Mortars sound good, though. I'll look into that...

My 500 point list is Sorcha, A devastator, A Juugernaught, A Kodiak (Escalation Jack) A Greylord Ternion, A full unit of Mechaniks and Reinholdt. You don't really need the Escalation Book if you by the Deck of Cards, it will provide all the necessary unit descriptions. As I raise my list I amgoing to get another Caster. As said Before Sorcha Needs her Focus and there is no real reason to have more than 3 jacks per Caster with Khador. If you added a Kodiak to your List you would be at 702, A greylord ternion would put you at 745 and give you more chances to Freeze your enemies solid.

Kovnik will Jack Marshall 2 of your destoyers to save you focus. THen you've only got a single Juggy for Sorcha to make run and a total of 5 arcing fire shots in the army with 2 Mortars. That's a LOT of hurt that can easily blast a warcaster to pieces once you icy gaze him.

Yeah.  I agree with the above.  You do not need Escalation to play any of the units from them.  Escalation is a great book and a great read but its not like trying to play 40k without the codex.  All the rules you need are in Prime and your cards.  (There is one page of extra rules in Escalation.  The rest is fluff).  So far I have played about 10 games all with 300 points.  I love it and do not feel the need to have more.  I do WANT more and have more, but not because the game needs it.

Where you need to get more players in, just have them buy and play around that 300 point level.  All my friends are 40k people and it is hard to convince them at first that 300 points is fun, but they see after they try it for a while. 

To me, I know we 40k players try to explain warmachine in 40k language, but WM really is just a different game, as you know, with the strategy and fun in faction and force choice, focus allocation, and pulling off cool moves.  At least that is how it is for me.

Have fun.

I guess I'll just invest in the card set, then? I know, I must sound like a junkie on withdrawl ("I...I don't need the book? Um, so I should get just the book? Book?")

I reactivated my account at the Privateer Press forums and started hunting-and-pecking and playing around with lists. Looks like I'm going to try something like this at 750:

Sorscha
Juggernaught
Kovnik
Destroyer
Full IFP w/UA
8 WG + Sgt.
2 WG mortars
Greylords
Manhunter
Eiyriss

Something like that. I'll save the MOW for a 500 point list or something.

I HATE assembling Man o Wars...Kovniks too.

Going back to the original post, I don't think the game becomes unwieldy at battles of up to 1,000 points. Since that's the largest size I regularly play (only done a couple 1500 point games), I won't comment beyond that level.

I think 500 point games are still the most common, although 750 is on the rise. I personally find 1,000 point games to be the most fun, but they do take about half again as long as a 500 pointer.

From what you've mentioned about your player community, I'd stick with the smaller format, unless you're planning on taking a road-trip. Doesn't do you much good to have 30 lbs of pewter if you're the only one playing.

Maybe instead start a second faction, so you can run demos, and get others interested?

Malf--Yeah, I'm really not looking forward. I'm hoping the Kovnic's a little better on the hands, but someone just posted over at the PP site that it takes "at least 4 pins". Shudder.

Brasidas: good to know. I'm going to get to one of my LFGS and they're clearing out some Warmachine stuff, and I think they have either a lot of cygnar or mercs. Maybe I'll load up a small (300 pt) force or something...I'll probably do the same when I start confrontation (Griffons, Lions, Kelts...Elves...yeah).

On another note, anyone know a good alternative manhunter?

My friends hold together fine with glue sandwiches of either
toilet paper+ krazy or greystuff + krazy, but they get kind of
messy and visible. Also I DID pin the hands on those jerks, but
drilled right through the tiny tiny hand of one so the pin is
visible but he claims is fine because "it looks much cooler that
way"

I think he's being nice.

Malf: how was that supposed to make me feel better?

Oh, because watching me suffer makes you happy?

Do you REALLY want me to answer that

Actually, someone posted a nice MOW assembly method at Brushthralls:

http://www.brushthralls.com/MOW/index.php

I'll probably use that method, though greenstuff scares me.