Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hello all!

So I'm very new to Warmachine. In fact, I've never played it! A buddy told me about it about 2 weeks ago and ever since then I've become obsessed. I've bought the rule book and the Cygnar force book, I've watched videos, read strategies, and as soon as my next paycheck comes I'll be starting a Cygnar army! I like their lore and unit choices the most. To be honest, I like being the good guys

I come to you, oh dakka dakka forum posters, to ask your advice on building my first army and getting into 15pt games at my local game store. (I sure hope someone is willing to do 15pt games with me!)
I figured that I will buy the battlebox - I've found it for as low as $30 online, and for a caster and 3 jacks [I plan to magnetize the ironclad so I can turn him into a defender] that price is hard to beat.
So all that being said, I've done some thinking and crafted up a 15pt list that I will expand into, with a few variations. I'll also go through the strategies I'm thinking about, and would love some advice on that as well.

ARMY LIST
pStryker (+6)
- Charger 4
- Ironclad 7
Black 13th 4
Sword Knights 4/6
[UA/Squire/10 man unit]
15pts

Once I get to the Sword Knights I have some flexibility. Should I go for a unit of 6 with the UA? Should I go for the unit of 10? Should I go for the unit of 6 and then get a squire for pStryker?
I'm thinking that the unit of 10 would probably be the best choice. The UA doesn't seem that beneficial, and pStryker has enough focus to handle the Ironclad and the Charger. (I think!)

So here's my strategy that I've been thinking through:

Deploy with Sword Knights and Ironclad front and center, with pStryker and Charger off to one flank, and B13 on the other. Advance forward, cast blur and arcane shield and snipe to get them into upkeep - snipe on the Charger, blur on Sword Knights, and arcane shield on the Ironclad. Since the Sword Knights will be in B2B they'll have ARM 16 so I think that's okay. I could switch the Ironclad and Sword Knight spells to get the SK ARM to 19. That would be sweet too.

Anyways, the SK's move up with the Ironclad into melee and try and take out s***, whilst the B13 advances opposite flank to pStryker and the Charger, picking off infantry and maybe trying to get into position for an assassination. pStryker stays behind the Charger, and when in position, gives him 3 focus as often as he can to get 2 fully boosted shots off. These would focus towards the enemy jacks and other highly dangerous enemies. Eventually when in position, and if it's possible, Stryker drops the buffs, casts earthquake in the path to the enemy caster, and the Charger takes 2 fully boosted shots into the caster's face. Hopefully the B13 would also be in a position to take them out as well. This whole time the Ironclad and SK's have just been tearing it up in the middle of the battlefield, doing what they can.

What do you guys think? Keep in mind I've never actually played a game, so if this is all wrong excuse my lack of experience. I really can't wait to start playing!

I also have another army list I've been thinking about that uses a Defender, a Lancer, and either a unit of SK's or Stormblades, with maybe Rheinholdt to make a point up.

Thanks for reading guys, and I welcome your advice and criticism!

Hiya! Welcome to the game, I started with Cygnar and they're a great army. Check out this website http://volunteers.privateerpress.com/location/users and see if there is a Press Ganger in your area, they'll teach you the game and help set you up with beginner games.

For your army list; Id go with the min unit of Sword Knights, but instead of picking up the UA grab either the Journeyman Warcaster or Rhupert Carvolo. Sword Knights have a tendancy to die to a stiff breeze like most Cygnar infantry, so taking models like the Journeyman Warcaster to give them Arcane Shield or Rhupert to give them Tough, greatly improves their board presence.

Now as you're just getting into Cygnar the consensus is the first three models you buy after the battle box are Squire, Jr., and the Black 13th. Those three model/units are staples of the Cygnar army and at least one of those three will show up in 90% of all cygnar lists.

Another note, Cygnar is not a melee faction. All of their troops are highly specialized in one thing and have a tendency to not be very survivable. Though to make up for this Cygnar has access to more Mercenary units than any other army, and can take the Mercenary units which are specialized in taking a hit aka Greygore Boomhowler and Co.

It is a pretty standard 15 point starter list.

Though I'd lean towards getting some other melee unit myself. I like precursors or stormblades.

Though a unit of Boomhowlers would be considered the top choice by most Cygnar players. The min unit costs 6 points and will work fine for small games. When you get to larger games they are only 9 points.

And, IMO, work on getting a full unit of whatever you choose with the UA, etc. You may use a min unit right now, but you will be going up to 25 and 35 points after a few more games. And then you will probably want the max units.

You will also want to get the support solos at some point, but there is very little you can add in at 15 or even 25 points without compromising the power of your list.

I hadn't even looked at Boomhowler - that seems like a pretty killer deal for 6 points. I mean the SK's would have ARM 19 from arcane shield from Styker, and they do get Flank from being close to the Ironclad, but tough on a 4+ is hard to beat from Boomhowler and Co.

To look into the future, what about this 25 pt list?

pStryker (+6)
- Charger 4
- Ironclad 7
Black 13th 4
Boomhowler and Co. 9
Jr. Warcaster 3
-Charger 4
25 pts.

Cpt Jello wrote:
To look into the future, what about this 25 pt list?

pStryker (+6)
- Charger 4
- Ironclad 7
Black 13th 4
Boomhowler and Co. 9
Jr. Warcaster 3
-Charger 4
25 pts.

Looks pretty standard for Cygnar. Lots of ranged elements, a support caster, and a tarpit. One thing you may consider is switch the first Charger over to Jr., the Charger only really needs 1 focus imho. Where as if it was on Stryker you'll have a very difficult time of giving it even just that one focus as you'll have 2-3 upkeep spells, at least 1 to the Ironclad, and you'll likely want to cast Earthquake starting Turn 2.

Technically the Charger needs 3 to function at full capacity at range (Powerful Attack, Buy, Powerful Attack). I'm not really a fan of a jack that is basically 2 boosted hand cannon attacks. Probably sacrilege as a Cygnar player, but hey. I would prefer to drop both Chargers, take a Hunter/Lancer, and bump the Ironclad to Ol' Rowdy.

I also reckon you will be hard pressed, unless Stryker is at the tip of your spear, to be casting earthquake effectively Turn 2 without the Lancer.

I wouldn't get a second charger.If spend those two points on a squire and upgrade the Ironclad to rowdy.

But again, 25 points is still practice and learning. But I would still look to spend your Money on things you will actually use later on.

Personally the easiest way to get to 15pts from the Battle Box is just add the Black 13th. A very good toolbox of a unit

If you want to expand to 15pts outside of using all the Battle box pieces then you could go

pStryker +6
Ironclad 7
Lancer 6
Black 13th 4
Jnr 3
Reinhodlt 1

The Ironclad is a pretty good beatsick, the Lancer helps with the Earthquake threat range and in a pinch he can be loaded up with Focus to cortex smash an opponents jack. Black 13th are awesome, get pStryker to cast snipe on them and they have a better threat range for their Brutal Damage shots. Jnr as you now have a 2nd Arcane Shield which means both Jacks can be sat at ARM21 (ARM26 under feat). Reinholdt can re-load pStryker for the 2nd Disruption shot and Lucky Charm for when you need to get Earthquake off.

As for 25pts expanding from the list above here are a couple of options.

Stormblades & UA and Rhupert. Stormblades for some Heavy Hitting Infantry, Stryker has the tools to get them their with Blur or Arcane Shield and his Feat. Rhupert gives them access to Pathfinder, a Def Buff or Tough.

Max Sword Knights, Rhupert upgrade Ironclad to Ol'Rowdy. Sword Knights are good cheap infantry and with the Lancer there are more options to get Flank off. Rhupert as above, and Ol' Rowdy is pStryker's Jack and has higher MAT, ARM, Counter Charge, Aggressive which makes him focus efficient and a couple of other nice rules.

I'd say that the previously mention top 3 must buys are good, and I adhered to all but the journeyman. I highly recommend buying it before much else because after that you start to see all this other cool stuff and think gee, I don't need a journeyman. Don't let yourself suffer from Journeyman/Arcane Shield deficiency and buy one soon. Squire can be taken with most casters and be useful somehow, and the b13 are an excellent toolbox that you should try to use to put AOE's down every turn.