Warmachine--How Do I Get Started?

[Amaril]

Hey all,

So, lately I've been thinking about getting into the game of Warmachine. A while back, I tried getting interested in Warhammer 40k, but that didn't work out so well for a few reasons:

1: I don't like the setting or tone of the game. It's so unbelievable and divorced from reality that I couldn't connect to any of the characters or factions in the lore (except possibly the Tau, the one I played), and it had way more grimdark than I like in my fiction.

2: It was too expensive. The game only really seemed fun if you played with really big armies, which I didn't have the money to build.

3: It was too time-consuming. I don't have the energy or the skill to spend hours assembling and painting my minis, which I pretty much had to do myself because I wanted to use a color scheme that I'd designed from scratch.

However, Warmachine doesn't seem to have any of these problems--I love the lore for it, I'm pretty sure it's played with smaller numbers of models, and I actually like the standard color scheme for Cygnar, meaning I could just pay someone else to paint my units for me.

But before I make any kind of decision, I have two questions about the game.

First, am I correct in the statement I made above about the number of models required to play? I've usually seen Warmachine played with small armies, but I could be wrong about this.

Second, does anyone with some experience with the game have any advice on building a basic starting Cygnar force that's cheap, easy to use, and preferably focused mostly on Warjacks? (Because giant steampunk robots, that's why).

If anyone can help me out, that would be fantastic.

[Renegade Paladin]

Warmachine is generally played with smaller armies, and Privateer Press' miniatures are slightly (very slightly) easier on the wallet to boot. You can play large Warmachine games, but it's less common.

Building an army is a more difficult question. The warcaster you choose has a huge effect on the overall way your army plays, even if you choose all the same units otherwise.

[Amaril]

That's reassuring. I'm glad to hear the models are a bit cheaper--that'll leave me some extra money to pay to get them painted.

My second question was the slightly more important one, though. As I said, I'm looking for the best balance of economy and ease of use in a small, basic force for Cygnar, just to get a feel for the game so I can decide what direction I want to build my forces from there. Assuming, for now, that I bought the Cygnar starter set (which, I believe, includes Cdr. Coleman Stryker as the caster, plus one heavy 'jack and two light ones), what would be a couple of other good investments to make something playable?

[ShadowFighter15]

That's reassuring. I'm glad to hear the models are a bit cheaper--that'll leave me some extra money to pay to get them painted.

My second question was the slightly more important one, though. As I said, I'm looking for the best balance of economy and ease of use in a small, basic force for Cygnar, just to get a feel for the game so I can decide what direction I want to build my forces from there. Assuming, for now, that I bought the Cygnar starter set (which, I believe, includes Cdr. Coleman Stryker as the caster, plus one heavy 'jack and two light ones), what would be a couple of other good investments to make something playable?

Well just about any Cygnar player will suggest your first addition to the starter box being the Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiBlack+13th) - a trio of black-ops gun mages who many (non-Cygnar players, in particular) do a bit too much for just four points. I know a mate of mine hates fighting them. Adding them to what you get in the starter box gets you a nice 15-point force to begin with.

Beyond those two, there are two more units that a lot of Cygnar lists use: the Squire (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiisquire), who basically acts as a mobile Focus battery for the warcaster, and the Journeyman Warcaster (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiJourneyman), who might not be too bad an addition to the starter box as he can run one of the 'jacks (probably the Charger) and free up more of Stryker's focus for the other 'jacks and for using his spells.

You might want a good melee unit to back them up (it's not always a good idea to rely on your 'jacks for melee combat - even with a full load of focus, they can't make as many attacks as a whole infantry unit) and the Stormblades (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiStormblades) are a nice choice, although we all wish we could speed them up a little somehow. Actually a good time to get them now that they've been re-sculpted and re-cast in resin-plastic - the old metal ones pictured through that link were hell to build (not to mention how ridiculous the one on the far-right of the picture looks). New version also includes three Storm Gunner (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiStormGunner) weapon attachments - additional soldiers you add to the unit who carry special weapons.

Afraid I can't help much with your 'jack-heavy ideas - I've never looked too far into which warcasters work well running large numbers of 'jacks beyond any version of Sebastian Nemo (Commander Adept Nemo (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiNemo), General Adept Nemo (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiNemo2) and Artificer General Nemo (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/ArtificerGeneralNemo)). You might be able to do something with Major Victoria Haley (http://battlecollege.wikispaces.com/mkiiHaley2); she has the highest Focus stat of any Cygnaran warcaster but with her spell list you're going to have trouble deciding whether to run her 'jack-heavy or keep it light and concentrate on augmenting her army with her spells.

[Eldonauran]

I just got started playing Warmachine and already dropped $200. This doesn't include the books (we are sharing between a group of 4 of us, so no reason to buy everything individually).

I got 1 warcaster, 3 warjacks and bought a 4th seperately that can be used in 3 different configurations. Also, bought a pack of tiny rare earth magnets for easy swapping of parts. Paint supplies too.

I still need to pick up a squad and a solo character to reach tier two for my warcaster and reach that 25 point level for skirmishes.

Fun note: I'm learning how to paint the figurines! Apparently I'm pretty good at it. Undiscovered talent FTW. :smallbiggrin:

[Renegade Paladin]

I just got started playing Warmachine and already dropped $200. This doesn't include the books (we are sharing between a group of 4 of us, so no reason to buy everything individually).
Well yeah, nobody said it was cheap. I've spent a couple grand on my Imperial Guard army in 40k, so there. :smalltongue:

[Jenfrag]

I just got started playing Warmachine and already dropped $200. This doesn't include the books (we are sharing between a group of 4 of us, so no reason to buy everything individually).



WOW! That's pretty expensive. But I can tell, it's worth all your fortune. :P

[Amaril]

Thanks for the advice guys :smallbiggrin: I'm thinking I'll go with the starter set and the Black Squad Gunmages to start with, and add in a journeyman 'caster later. After a few games with that, I'll hopefully know enough of the game to make army-building decisions for myself.

[ShadowFighter15]

Thanks for the advice guys :smallbiggrin: I'm thinking I'll go with the starter set and the Black Squad Gunmages to start with, and add in a journeyman 'caster later. After a few games with that, I'll hopefully know enough of the game to make army-building decisions for myself.

Don't forget to check Battle College (the site I kept putting links to in my last post) if a model catches your eye and you want to see how it works in-game. Only two Cygnar models that don't have much info on there yet are the Tempest Blazers (who only came out a week or so ago) and the Stormblade Infantry Captain (who isn't out yet).