A Hobby And A Game - Go WARMACHINE!
WARMACHINE (yes, the name is supposed to be in all caps) is a table top miniatures war game made by Privateer Press. With anywhere from half a dozen to maybe 40 models in a typical game, this is primarily a skirmish-level game. You can also have more models in a game if you wish. The game centers around a powerful leader called a Warcaster who can empower and manipulate the hulking Warjack steam-punk mecha. A wide array of troops, from fire bomb chucking zealots to disciplined riflemen or even undead pirates, help out this core battlegroup.
The Rules
Game rules are well-written to be very clear and concise. Most of the rules you need are in the main rulebook, called Prime: Remix. Stat cards come with each model that give a rundown on all of their special rules and how they work. That makes it easy to keep tabs on all your (and your opponent’s) cool tricks mid-battle. One good thing is the fact Privateer Press has avoided doing one edition after another. Since you aren’t forced to buy and re-buy a half-dozen rulebooks every few years, this makes it a very friendly game for your pocketbook. You’ll also never be left in the cold for years waiting and hoping for an army update since the new books are released annually with a little something for every faction.
Gameplay itself is very fast-paced and in-your-face, and definitely favors the aggressor. That fact makes the game much more interesting as you don’t wind up with two sides facing off too scared to make a move all game. The sequential unit activation setup of the game also allows you to execute a myriad display of nasty combos to bring ULTIMATE PAIN to your unfortunate foes. It’s okay, because they can do the same to you, keeping each battle fresh and exciting. Victory can be, and often is, snatched from the jaws of defeat should the apparent victor leave an opening for the beleaguered underdog.
The focus on the game is also a lot less on list-building and more on mid-battle tactics. Since each model’s abilities are set in stone, that leaves list construction to be simply putting the building blocks together. This doesn’t mean it’s simplistic though, since you need to account for each unit’s special abilities and how they’ll work with the rest of the army on the field. Even changing nothing more then the single warcaster model you have leading the army can change it’s entire dynamic, making it a simple matter to liven up your game with something new.
Hobby-wise you don’t see as much model conversion as in a lot of other games, mostly because anything you might need a model for either already has one, or will have one released within the year. Painting is big. There are lots of pro tips in the various source books. Terrain building, of course, is ever present as it is with any table top minatures war game.
WARMACHINE In A Nutshell
WARMACHINE is a fast-paced, in-your-face style game with a quirky steam punk / magical setting where you can pull off insanely broken moves of ULTIMATE PAIN on your opponent. Look out though! Cause he can do the same to you when you least expect it, keeping the game fresh and fun to the climactic end.
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