by Felix Flauta / malfred
"Your kung fu is improving, but you need to focus on fewer styles."
Warmachine and its sister game Hordes are my favorite tabletop miniatures games from the company Privateer Press. However, as my collection of miniatures grows, I find that the number of styles of play that they offer me outstrip the number of times that I actually get to play the game. So I've decided to write the Warmachine Kung Fu series as a review of the many options that I've already painted in order to try to figure out which style I should go forward with.
Each article will focus on a specific character or game concept and score it on the basis of its effectiveness in:
- leading Troops
- fielding Warjacks or Warbeasts
- fighting in Combat
- casting Spells and using other special abilities
- overall Background and Theme.
I will not pretend to be objective, or very good at the game, but will try to limit the overall "tilt" to the fifth category.
Background
I started collecting Warmachine figures early on. I still have an unfinished Lieutenant Allister Caine figure to show for my trouble (and despite the kung fu title of this article series, I'm not talking about David Carradine).
However, I eventually settled on the Protectorate of Menoth for its religious crazies and robed figures throwing holy hand grenades. Long before I played the game, I worked on a good sized force that included the Grand Scrutator Severius. When I finally began playing, it took me six months to win a game.
What followed that beginning was a kind of madness. I'd see an interesting concept used against me, or read about a new character in a rulebook and I'd immediately want to paint it . You can guess what happened next.
Here is a picture of the aftermath:
Warcasters from the Protectorate of Menoth, Cygnar, even the Talion Charter. There are warlocks from the Legion of Everblight, Circle Orboros, and Skorne.
The savvy among you may notice that not all the models in the picture above are warlocks or warcasters. Indeed, there are at least two character dragoons that have lead me to start a new army or force. Thus you can see that I have quite a bit of work ahead of me.
Rating the Characters
Troops
The warlock's or warcaster's ability to directly affect the performance of her troops through spells, feats, or special abilities. I was originally drawn to the Iron Kingdoms by the distinct character of its soldiers, and so I suspect that this category will be important to me.
Warjacks or Warbeasts
The warlock's or warcaster's ability to directly affect the performance of her warjacks or warbeasts through spells, feats or special abilities. High or low Focus or Fury stats may increase or lower the final number by 1, as high Focus/Fury can help warcasters fuel more warjacks or give a warlock the ability to mitigate more fury and thereby take more risks.
Combat Ability
The warlock's or warcaster's ability to fight in combat due to their combat stats, spells, feats, special abilities, and weapon abilities. Commanders in the Iron Kingdoms have to choose their battles wisely as their death indicates the end of the game. However, Privateer Press has seen it fit to equip some commanders with fighting abilities that rival their 'jacks and 'beasts!
Spells and Whistles
The warlock's or warcaster's spells, feats, abilities, etc. This can be less obvious than Combat Ability, but spells, feats and special abilities sometimes apply to more situations than just troops or warjacks/warbeasts. There is an inherent coolness tilt in this category, as well.
Background and Theme
Included in judgments about the writing behind the model (sometimes referring to a cleverly named ability, such as Dog Pile) will be a model's look, feel and my self-assessment of the model's paint job. Of the scores, this will be the MOST subjective.
Scoring method
Starting with a baseline three, positive or negative assessments will adjust the score accordingly. The upper limit is five and the lower limit is one.
Composite
The composite score will be the average of the five scores taken to the first decimal.
Other goals of the series
- Take pretty pictures of my models in action, demonstrating some of the ideas represented by the articles.
- Develop article stubs for future use, sticking to proper names of the game.
- Learn more about my own playstyle and the models in my possession.
- Guide others in some of the strengths and weaknesses presented by characters in the Iron Kingdoms
Completed articles in this series
- Warmachine Kung Fu 02 - Fire it up! Feora, Priestess of the Flame
- Warmachine Kung Fu 01 - The Curse of Amon Ad-Raza
- Warmachine Hordes Kung Fu 03: Resurrection of Silence with the High Reclaimer
- Warmachine Hordes Kung Fu 04- Born to be Kaya the Wildborn
