Amarel

Well there are many Skirmish games out there that use 30mm figures, and while Wyrd's use of cards is really very good, they're not the first to try it (although possibly the first to succeed with them). I wouldn't damn a game purely because it sounds like it might be similar to something else, I'd at least want to see it in action first .

Fine but awkward, would be my summary. I'm not a fan of having to leaf through the book all the time, and having to use a proxy card to represent it for confirming its activated and having its health tokens beside.

Oh, now that's a very good idea. Could just grey them out as per 'inherent suits' on the triggers.

For whatever it's worth the most popular crews around here are Pandora (3) and Perdita (2). Everyone else is binary. (Actually I think there are two Rasputina crews, too, but I haven't seen one of the players for at least a couple of months).

Would love to be doing that but, of recent fights; Seamus keeps his distance, shields himself with Punk Zombies and then lures me in with Belles - with Hard to Kill and Necrotic Ministrations I hate leaving anyone hanging nearby if he doesn't die, because then he's two hits away from death again; Pandora zips in, PEP's, zips out again (which a Vik may, but likely won't, live through; Lillith is far less tricksy, but disappear can make killing her in one lunge suitably tricky. Do you generally grit your teeth for the inevitable counter-attack (after the master kill) and hope your Stones see you through or let the over-extended Vik die and hope to re-summon later? I'm in the habit now of hiding, hiding, hiding and then launching a concerted attack before dropping back into cover again. Seems to suit Vik (+Ronin) the best.

I'm not sure anything too complicated would be added, for fear of upsetting the core mechanics too much, but it's an interesting discussion. Perhaps something as simple as future triggers requiring matching suits or subsequent numbers on the duel and damage flips?

Thanks again for the quick bat reps. I find it very interesting that neither of you seem to have the same issue as me keeping Vik alive. I play Seamus quite often and if I don't kill him, you can write off anyone that is within 10", or so, of him. Also, I always take Hamelin (Height1 avoidance, removing corpse counters and forcing insignificant), yet neither of you do. Is this a case of preference, or simply that you like what you have and see no need to change?

It was just a little suggestion, as it's been mentioned that the cards are going to be re-printed sooner rather than later and many of them will require some updates. Still, if you, as a non-Viktoria player, see no issue with the Viktoria card then there can't be one there, eh?

Bumping this as new people to the board are missing it (and it's got some useful stuff in it). :bump:

Johan is not terrible, he's like a Taelor-lite, but he doesn't really offer much that the Ronin don't do at least as well, if not better; and in terms of hit and run tactics (something that the Viks work well around), the Ronin have him beat all ends up. I'm happy to have him, though, particularly as he can be used with Ramos as well, but I probably wouldn't buy him purely to join a Vik crew. Bishop, imo, isn't really worth it. He's a bit of toolbox, but doesn't really do anything well enough to warrant his inclusion, let alone at the expense of Misaki or Hamelin. He can charge for 1AP, but doesn't get much of a better range than Misaki when she's casting Wind, and she's a better fighter. His damage is very poor, too, which is partly, I guess, so as you can use him on your own crew to move them about without hurting them too much but why would you bother when Hamelin is better at it and so many other things. Even internally he's a conundrum to himself with Adaptive Fighter and Cage Fighter sometimes doing the same thing, but worse. Some people on these boards have a more positive opinion of him, though, so don't write him off purely because I don't rate him . I believe his name crops up in the Outcast Primer mail, which is definitely worth a read. People are friendly here, I don't think this sort of thing is particularly frowned on .

Great write-ups, thanks. Sounds like there were some well played battles there. Interesting to note that my default list is quite similar to yours (listed elsewhere but... Viks, Gunslinger, 3 x Ronin, Hamelin) in 35pts and it also is doing a rather good turn in the competitive stakes. I've finally finished painting Misaki so will likely give her a run out soon (was planning to swap her in for a Ronin, though, which seems at odds with your general view, but will give it a go). I'll definitely get a Student of Conflict as soon as they're out though, he certainly seems to give a good edge.

Just to address this point quickly. It really isn't an important rule to have on the cards - I have two cards (with different Viks on them and different rules pertaining to that particular Vik) and two models (each of them the same model as one of the cards). I really don't need both of these cards to then have a rule inside it saying that I must select one Vik and that that Vik's Masamune gains Paired weapon but that she loses her Clockwork Pistol. And that the models I use must accurately reflect this. It's important for this to be in the rule book as there's only one entry for Viktoria, but not to be on each card which already details the changes on a per card basis. Anyway (again), I go on too much. Apologies.

Exactly, hence me just wishing some of it gone from the card or, at least, filtered differently (Of course, I realise that the issue might only apply to me, while the solution would affect everyone, but just in case I'm not alone... ). To clarify the issue, as it pertains to the Viks, for those who don't have the cards (the problem can't really be seen in the rulebook); Almost all of the left hand side of each Vik card is a large block of text within which there are eight rules. Of those eight rules, five of them are games rules while three are 'set-up' rules (my definition, not Wyrds). However, the three 'set-up' rules take up 12 of the 20 lines text which means (for me) that I often actually forget rules such as 'Body Count' due to them being lost amongst rules that I never need to reference in game. I should caveat all this with the fact that I'm well aware that the issue might just apply to me, and that I really should assign important and applicable rules to my memory better but if '"Sisters"', 'For Money' and 'Weapon Selection' were all at the top of the list and the other rules were below them (separated by a line) things would look neater (to me). Anyway, I just thought I'd mention it .

I've assumed rulebook purchase, so was thinking that neither the "For Money" nor "Weapon Selection" rules would need to be on the card. If they had to be on there, I'd really like to have pre-game / set-up rules separated from the in-game rules (even if they just appear first in their own alphabetical order). Having them mixed in amongst "Body Count" and "Fates Entwined" just seems a little weird.

Nice (and two Desolation Engines, I see - no half measures then ).

Is there any chance that abilities relating to hiring crews and the like can either be left off, or at least segregated from the regularly checked in-game rules? I think Viktoria is the most confused on this count as half of her card seems to be taken up with pre-game rules and regs smothering her actual in-game abilities .

Congrats. What was your list(s)? Any quick battle reports?

I think it was due to the amount of packs they were having to create (i.e. one for each new Warcaster) which was expensive for them and for players (who probably didn't want to factor in a $10 token set on top of the cost of the new figure). Now they're still geared towards the particular factions but are much less specific (handy for us).

Yup he is a skinny little wretch. I used a scenic base so as he didn't look so lonely on the 50mm - Hamelin and his dog are on the lower level and then I used the spare rat on the upper level to make it feel more like a scenario. In fact, if you'll excuse the tabletop quality, I might as well put up a pic...

I just picked up some Warcogs to solve the worst of the issues (or, at least, the ones we find most confusing to recall). Should work quite well for effects (spiral for Harmless, skull for Poison, etc) and seem to be about the right size for counters if needs must (although I haven't got a 30mm base on me to check).

Very good write-up, one tiny thing, though... WeirdSketch has confirmed that Pandora can't cast Incite / Pacify on herself.

In a Merc force it's fine. I never use Growing Influence and get a lot of good use out of Hamelin. My favourite Vik Crew is: Viktorias 3 x Ronin Convict Gunslinger Hamelin

I was pondering, the other day, what little change I could make to the Viktorias to give them that little something extra I'd like them to have (I'm a greedy fellow like that ). And I decided on the following: Wrong One: When a Viktoria is killed or sacrified, if there is another Viktora in play, gain two Soul Stones. It's just enough to let her cast 'Another One', or to help the other Viktoria out if needs be. And as she starts with 0 Soul Stones, and 'Another One' also requires other high requirements, it's not (or certainly doesn't seem to be) overpowering. So it got me to wondering what little tweaks to their own Masters (let's not start bagging on each other's ) people would make / suggest if they could? The floor is yours...

That'll teach me to reply when I don't have the book in front of me. :spank:

Would that not hobble (heh) the SPA's, that rely on linking to each other to get a decent move? It could be a rule just for the Sorrows. "Incorporeal: A Sorrow can use the (0)Link ability on another Sorrow."