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Some guys I play 40k with are checking out this game and I am simply looking for opinions on it before I get involved...

It's a pretty solid game. The setting is definitely unique, and it's cheap to get into (about 40-75 bucks for a full scrap-level warband).

Having a hand of cards helps offset much of the game-breaking randomness that happens in a lot of skirmish games, so you're never completely boned by a random card.

The fluff is interesting, and the artwork (both aesthetic and technical skill) is pretty strong.

The rules part of the core book is pretty poorly laid out, unfortunately, and it's often hard to find rules definitions and the like (there's an index/glossary, but it's far from complete).

All in all, I really like the game and it's a great diversion from the other stuff I play. I'd give it an 8/10.

If you have any questions that you'd like answered in greater detail, just ask away. I tried to be general here.


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I won't say much about models. I think they're dynamic and interesting, but I know a lot of people that don't like the style Wyrd took. I'll let you be the judge

How good are Miners and steamfitters?

If you have even come into contact with them...

In fact, the M&SU is my chosen faction, so I know a good deal about them. First, a note about power levels: while there are definitely some factions that end up being stronger or weaker than others (Pandora Neverborn and Marcus's Arcanists, respectively, come to mind), the gap is much less substantial than the gap in 40k or WHFB. Basically, you can't really go wrong with choosing any particular warband, provided you're competent.

That being said, some basics about the M&SU crew:

You can run a swarm strategy of many insignificant, weak models that nickel-and-dime your enemies to death, or an elite strategy of few models that hit really hard and can take tons of punishment, or something in between.

Ramos is one of the weaker masters in the game when it comes to a straight fight, but he's an excellent supporting character. He has abysmal defense, poor combat skill, and a small soulstone cache. His advantage comes from the fact that he can cast a lot of spells per turn, has great armor, and has abilities that do really well with supporting/summoning his construct minions. You can use him to make your big constructs more survivable, or to turn your weaker ones into walking bombs.

All in all, the Miners and Steamfitters Union has worked really well for me. They can be kind of difficult to keep track of (what with all the summoning and everything), but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them for a beginner.

Played my first game last night, me and a friend (also a total newb to malifaux) muddled through an encounter mistakes were made; but after playing the rulebook makes a lot more sense.

I guess, since the original thread seems to have stalled, I'll open the floor. Any questions about the rules or the factions or anything? I'll definitely answer whatever.


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I love the game and definitely want to share it with others.

Malifaux is loads of fun, great to get some quick games in between 40k, and the models are sweet too, just picked up my second faction

I've been trying to convince myself to go outside my normal game (40K) and get into Malifaux.

I've been a fan of their minis from the beginning and, two weeks ago, I managed to watch a game of it. Pretty solid mechanics and seems to have a nice, easy flow to it. I'm also fond of the startup cost. $100 will get you about half of a decent starting 40K army, but it'll get you a GIANT warband for Malifaux (or a couple reasonable ones). Add in that Miniaturemarket is my "FLGS," and that $100 just went a bit farther!

The problem I'm having is that, to find opponents, I'll have to go outside my current gaming group (they're 40K only - no desire for anything else). We have a hard enough time getting together lately, so I don't really know that I want to get too heavily invested. So, I'm trying to trade for some minis first and paint them up. That way, at least I'll have a start up force.


What I'd really like to know, though, is just how quickly you become ready to "move on" from your initial force. I mean, with 40K, an average sized force can see a LOT of hours against varying opponents and builds without losing interest, whereas this game has such a small amount of minis that I'd worry about getting bored with playing the same combo over and over again.

Thoughts?

Eric

One of the interesting parts of malifaux which I've now discovered is that you choose your crew (army list) AFTER you draw your mission and that list can draw from all your factions models and up to two mercenaries from the outcasts faction at +1 premium. Each Faction has quite a large selection of models (and gaining more rapidly) so the combos are many and varied.

MagickalMemories wrote:I've been trying to convince myself to go outside my normal game (40K) and get into Malifaux.

I've been a fan of their minis from the beginning and, two weeks ago, I managed to watch a game of it. Pretty solid mechanics and seems to have a nice, easy flow to it. I'm also fond of the startup cost. $100 will get you about half of a decent starting 40K army, but it'll get you a GIANT warband for Malifaux (or a couple reasonable ones). Add in that Miniaturemarket is my "FLGS," and that $100 just went a bit farther!

The problem I'm having is that, to find opponents, I'll have to go outside my current gaming group (they're 40K only - no desire for anything else). We have a hard enough time getting together lately, so I don't really know that I want to get too heavily invested. So, I'm trying to trade for some minis first and paint them up. That way, at least I'll have a start up force.


What I'd really like to know, though, is just how quickly you become ready to "move on" from your initial force. I mean, with 40K, an average sized force can see a LOT of hours against varying opponents and builds without losing interest, whereas this game has such a small amount of minis that I'd worry about getting bored with playing the same combo over and over again.

Thoughts?

Eric

Unfortunately, I can't really answer that. You and I are different people after all, and we probably get tired, so to speak, of factions at different rates. I'll try to the best of my ability, though.

Admittedly, there are fewer units per faction (and factions, overall) in Malifaux than 40k or WHFB, but there's still a decent amount of diversity available. Usually, the 30-soulstone battles I've been playing allow me to use a little more than half of the models available to my specific subset of the Arcanists at a time, and different lists will play quite differently. For example, a list focusing on Joss and Johan is going to play very differently from a steampunk arachnid/executioner list, even with the same master and points value. That being said, a fully fleshed-out Malifaux warband is not going to hold one's interest (at least with the current book and model range, though expansions are almost definitely to follow) as long as a full 40k army, all other things being equal, simply by virtue of the fact that Malifaux has fewer models in its range and available to each faction.

Knowing that, picking up a second (or third) faction/warband is actually rewarded by the system. Larger games require the use of 2 masters, so having 2 full Arcanist warbands or a Guild warband with Outcast support, etc. is not only recommended, but necessary. The total cost ofMalifaux warbands is cheaper than 40k armies, as well, so you could easily get 2 or 3 warbands for half the price of most GW armies.

Since that was a lot of text, I'll sum it up as best I can: if you're the kind of person that really likes to get married to one faction/aesthetic/list type in a game, then Malifaux probably isn't the best game for you. If you're the kind of gamer that likes having a few (or lots) of different armies/looks/list types to choose from and wants to combine them, then Malifaux lends itself to that greatly.

I think you did a GREAT job of addressing it.

Thanks!

Eric

If you have 2 starting forces, it'll allow you to demo in games with potential other players.

I am looking into getting into the game, but i dont know where to go as far as a crew.

lending from other games, i strongly prefer sturdy models that can dish it out in CC and take it as well. im not to concerned with speed, defense or "dirty tricks".

i also dont want to play the guild becuase humans are boring to paint for me.

so can someone recommend something for me? my choices of interests are outcasts, then the arcanists and then the ressurectionists. neverborn seem cool, but one local guy has them already so i would like to vary up the player pool in my area. also the second player in my store plays the hatter, so he is out as well.

thanks

I would go for Rasputina and the Cult of December. You can then expand into the Arcanists. While the Masters are less combat centered and more support (especially Ramos) in nature.

I say Rasputina over Marcus because Marcus's beasts are a little more "trickys" or fast in nature versus the Cult of December, which are straight up tough guys with add ons.

Then if you open up the other Masters and crews from the Arcanists you'll still be getting tough fighters that have different feels to them. (Steamborg Executioner is a beast)

I would shy away from the Outcasts only because they are either human (Viktorias), really "dirty trick oriented" (S'omer Teeth) or just plain confusing (Leviticus). None of them bring stand up fighters, even Levi's Desolate Engine is strange in its uses.

@dave: as each faction has 3 sub-factions, if you like Neverborn, play one of the sub-factions that the other guy doesn't.

Otherwise, go with beasts / clockworks / golems for non-humans.

JohnHwangDD wrote:@dave: as each faction has 3 sub-factions, if you like Neverborn, play one of the sub-factions that the other guy doesn't.

Otherwise, go with beasts / clockworks / golems for non-humans.

@John

You play Malifaux?
If so, would love to hear what you have to say about the game (impressions, strategies, whatever) in here of via PM.


Eric

I very much like the look of the Neverborn (Pandora) and Arcanist (clockwork) factions, so I'm going to be buying some models, just for the models. I think that Wyrd has some of the most original character designs out there.

I have no idea how they play. None, whatsoever. I imagine I may end up playing at some point, but that's not a priority at all. The deck of cards thing seems a bit hokey to me, but whatever - it's just mechanics.

I suppose if I'm going to play, I'm going to have to hunt down a deck of filthily scandalous Victorian-era cards, each showing a hint of ankle...


And if I can get a good price on Infinity, I'll probably start buying those for painting, too.

i picked up the pandora starter box and teddy. its not as slice and dice as im used to but i really dig the models. even if i dont like how they play they look really cool, and i can just start another faction since the startup pirces are really cheap.

Received my first models in the mail today. Seamus crew and Copy Cat Killer. Trader's one of their "henchmen" (playtesters), so he VERY KINDLY included a Malifaux tape measure (only 38" long) and a couple art cards.
@ JHDD
I've seen ONE game played. The card mechanic is pretty cool. While it's random, it's far more controlled.

I'm looking forward to playing enough to be comfortable with teaching it.


Eric

Thanks, Eric!

I've recently fallen into the story of Malifaux, and along with the models, I love it. I just can't decide between going with the resurrectionists or neverborn first (I'm likely to do both eventually). The sinister nature of the neverborn fluf just sounds fun ... and the giant hungry teddy bear... what's not to love?

As far as mechanics go, the fate deck provides a very welcome change of pace from praying to dice gods. Hopefully i can pick up plenty of games at MiniatureMarket (my FLGS too) soon. Perhaps I'll see you there, Eric

Alex

My local group in Santa Monica is picking this game up and while I only have one game in so far (with Seamus and his zombie prostitutes) I have to say it is an absolute blast to play. The first few games seem like they will be pretty slow as the players learn everything that their models can do (each on, even the lowliest can do multiple cool things).

It's the first game I have played in a long long time that I didn't say immediately afterward "It is pretty cool, but I don't really want to get into another game right now"

I am watching some ebay postings currently to pick up another crew or two.

Ok, this seals it. I'm getting my gaming group to play this game!

Through some well timed trades (2, actually), I've managed to pick up 6 crew boxes, 4 fate decks and the rulebook.
Being a "good boy," I'm taking the time to read the rulebook and familiarize myself with the rules (so far, VERY easy). Once that happens, I'll know which crew to start working on first.

Heck, I even joined the Wyrd forums.

I can't recommend this game enough. Everything's pretty intuitive, no tons of dice to roll around (and knock into your models) and, just as great, the setting is ORIGINAL. It's not some generic fantasy or sci-fi world/setting.

Best of all, there are short stories (a couple pages long, tops) smattered throughout the rulebook. They're VERY well written and really give you a good idea of what the "flavor" of the setting's all about.

I sincerely doubt that you'll be disappointed in the game, itself.

My only gripe are the minis. While they're BEAUTIFULLY sculpted, they are often glued together at VERY tiny joins (seriously.. gluing a hand to a wrist is a torturous feat). I had to go on feebay and buy some 1/32 drill bits & brass rod to pin these little things.

Eric

Hello. Did not really want to start a new thread so thought i`d ask in here. What fate deck colour do you need for the Red Chappel gang boxed set and the Cult of December boxed set? As I will shortly be buying them the rules and the fate deck if I know the colour?

Motograter wrote:Hello. Did not really want to start a new thread so thought i`d ask in here. What fate deck colour do you need for the Red Chappel gang boxed set and the Cult of December boxed set? As I will shortly be buying them the rules and the fate deck if I know the colour?

The colors associated with each faction are:

Guild- Red
Arcanists- Blue
Resurrectionists- Green
Neverborn- Purple
Outcasts- Yellow

So, for Redchappel you'd buy a green fate deck, and a blue one for the Cult of December.

NOTE: There is NO difference between the fate decks other than the color on the back. So you aren't disadvantaged by using the 'wrong' fate deck. It's just for aesthetic purposes.

You can also just play with a normal deck of cards... if you're lazy or cheap.

I ended up with like four fate decks just because I got so much second hand...

Achilles wrote:You can also just play with a normal deck of cards... if you're lazy or cheap.

I ended up with like four fate decks just because I got so much second hand...

Very true, but I have to recommend buying a fate deck. I've played with both regular cards and fate decks, and the fate decks are much better. Aside from having awesome artwork, it's also a pain to have to remember which suites go with their Malifaux equivalents. Nothing like missing a trigger because you forgot whether Rams were spades or clubs (only to find out later in the thread that they're actually hearts).

My order is now in. Rulebook, fate deck and Redchappel crew.

As for playing with normal playing cards. How do you work out whats what. If that at all makes sense

It's in the rulebook but, Rams = Hearts, Masks = Diamonds, Crows = spades, and Tomes = Clubs. I might have crows and tomes backwards.

My recomendation to anyone playing their first game: Use 1 master and two minions. Forget magic completely and you'll have the game picked up in about 15 minutes. Once you get familiar with the card mechanic, it's pretty easy. We had trouble with twists of fate at first, but even that gets pretty simple after a while.

I only own a guild crew (Lady Justice) but I really want about five other crews already.