Writer@Large

A few months ago I played my first real games of Malifaux, many of them with Kaeris. While she's fairly straightforward for a newbie to play, let me warn you: you WILL feel underpowered with her. You'll feel like everything else is broken, and you will get frustrated by that feeling. It will make the victories sweeter, but fewer. I'm not saying you made the wrong choice; but I know that, as a newbie, it sometimes made it hard to want to play the next game and I was always wishing I'd invested elsewhere ...

I suspected the Viks would be the answer, but I didn't know Outcasts well enough to say for sure. So, assuming I want to pick up the Viks (it would be my first non-Arcanist crew), how would this lot (minus Alyce) play with them? Any advice?

Through random purchase and a recent league raffle, I find myself owning a fair number of Outcasts, but no Master. So, a question: given the following models, what master (perhaps with a small additional purchase) would be a good choice? Hans Rusty Alyce (probably a non-consideration) Johann student of Conflict Convict Gunslinger Jack Daw Misaki Thanks in advance!

So, conceivably, the Coryphee could strike multiple targets in one 9" move, without spending an AP? EDIT: Nevermind. As I read it, after reading the fix page, there's one interruption allowed, one free strike given. But, one use of SD allows,for the strike in all three potential moves, yes? So: Sword Dance, move w/ free strike, move w/ free strike, move w/ free strike?

This came up last night in one of my first Colette outings. When a Coryphee Duet interrupts their action to attack, is it a "free" strike or must they spend an AP for it?

No, because they've already declared the spending on the Flurry. No taksies-backsies, I'm afraid. Bet they won't do it a second time, though.

I've been thinking about Angelica, too. I'm just learning Colette, so I want to learn with her in the mix. I think the idea of her as an alpha strike setter-upper is about accurate. As her name implies, she's the one who introduces the show; she triggers first to paralyze and push and otherwise prepare the stage, then sends in the next act to do the damage. Not sure how good she will be, but I plan on trying her out.

Thanks, Ebonstar, very helpful!

I started malifaux because of the Colette box, but between wanting to model her crew first (wood plank bases) and being scared off by her complexity, I ended up buying other Arcanist masters and basically being all scatterbrained about it. I think it's time to just focus on Colette and make it happen. Any and all Colette tactica appreciated.

Not your fault. I should have paid more attention to my cards. Don't pay this thread too much heed. I was just venting after a rough game or two. Kinda feel silly at this point for even starting it. Just frustrated.

Sure, I can offer my collection. I actually bought quite heavily into Arcanists ... Ramos Box Rasputina Box Colette Box Kaeris Box 3 Additional arachnids (small) Large Steampunk Arachnid Electrical Creation Mobile Toolkit SS Miner Silent One December Acolyte Snowstorm Wendigo Essence of Power Coryphee Duet Mechanical Doves Angelica (on order) Joss Johan Rusty Alyce Hans Lest you think me weird for buying so heavily before playing much, know that I'm a modeller as much as a player, and I tend to dive headfirst into games like this. Maybe I'm too unfocused. I dunno.

So, I just got through a "learning league" at my FLGS. I had fun, but got my butt handed to me every. Single. Game. Here are some of the crazier things I witnessed in the league: * Zorida voodoo-ing my Gunsmith from nearly THREE FEET AWAY. No resist flip, no willpower duel, no Defense flip; just "I SEE YOU, now take two damage a turn until you DIE!" * Zorida, in general, with her negative flips to everything and her never dying and stuff. * LCB dropping his entire crew into an enemy deployment zone in turn one. [Actually, I think it might have been the first MOVE of the game.] * Papa Loco getting close to my Master and then exploding for 6 damage to everything in range; and then, after I'd exhausted my high cards saving models from damage, DOING IT AGAIN THAT ROUND because he has 8 damage and the ability isn't a "sacrifice" effect. * Lady Justice and her nasty, high-hitting, multiple-swinging greatsword. * McMournung and his whole Body Parts thing -- gets them on EVERY HIT HE MAKES, spends them for Fast and more killy on you, then gets more body parts and summons crazy three-headed things to EAT YOUR FACE. * Nurses getting 3 actions to hand out ungodly bonuses to things. * Gremlins being ... well, gremlins. Fast, exploding, high-damaging nonsense. * Necropunks leaping nearly a foot across the table. I basically spent an entire league with my Arcanists feeling outgunned, outclassed, and generally out the money I spent on Malifaux. I definitely began to wish I'd gone Neverborn more than once. I know Colette has some fast-tricky play in her, but she takes a LOT of getting used to. And meanwhile I'm getting face-smashed by every other faction out there. I've bought into Arcanists enough where I don't feel like starting over; but I'm just struggling to see the upside. My question is: where's out crazy broken stuff? I want other people to sit across from ME and be like "It does that? That's ridiculous!" Because I got sick of being that guy during the league. And please, don't chime in if your response will be "The factions are all balanced, you pair master-to-master", etc. I'm not looking for that kind of answer. I've seen enough to know it's not strictly true. I just want to see where Arcanists aren't underpowered ...

Actually, I just meant in terms of $$$$. Mech Rider, aRamos, and 2 SS Miners make that one pricey list. I am committed to the Kaeris list w/ the Soulstone Miner. Purchased the Miner yesterday, and he's already glued up. I shall let Kaeris be my Malifaux tutor.

LOL, W/Mechanical Rider, I think that's the most expensive Ramos list you can field at the 25ss level. I need to get Mechanical Rider someday ...

Thanks for the feedbacks. @TheOneWhoFell: I agree. 5 models plus Master seems to be the best I can manage and still have a competitive list at the 25ss level. I could do Ramos and 8 Steampunk Arachnids, but they're all Insignificant ... @Guild Monkee: Yeah, I'm liking the SSMiner more and more as I think about it. Especially in light of TheOneWhoFell's point above: burrowing will allow it to get further without taking damage. It could definitely be my go-to objective model.

Got a chance to use the Joss list last night. (1) I did feel light on Soulstones, especially late in the game when I really wanted to Immolate things. 3ss may not be enough. (2) At 25ss, there are fewer models on the opponent's side, and so the third Gamin felt a bit superfluous. (3) Joss seemed to die easily. He certainly didn't kill his points cost before he died (to be fair, I didn't pop Armor when I should have, given the circumstances). I think I'm definitely going Kaeris for this thing, though. I'm toying with three possible tweaks. Kaeris [5ss pool] Fire Gamin x2 Gunsmith x2 Large Steampunk Arachnid --OR-- Kaeris [5ss pool] Fire Gamin x3 Gunsmith Renagade Steamfitter Johan --OR-- Kaeris [4ss pool] Fire Gamin x2 Gunsmith x2 Soulstone Miner [which I'd need to purchase] Building a multiweek, all-comers list for Malifaux is proving to be trickier than I thought.

So the thread about this topic (linked in the OP) kind of died off in May, and I don't see any "official clarification" over on the Rules webpage. Thus the contribution of Keltheos early in the thread is the most official ruling, right?

So, okay. In playing around with lists, I came up with the following for a Kaeris list ... Kaeris (3ss pool) Joss Gunsmith Fire Gamin x3 Did this mainly because I wanted a melee hitter in the list. But, is 3ss too few for Kaeris? Advice appreciated.

Ah. Not terribly well-versed in her Avatar form.

Right there with you -- I'm a Raspy newbie trying to figure her out. A couple things I've read / noticed ... 1) The December Acolyte is generally considered an inferior choice. For the same points, Raspy can take Gunsmith -- a much better ranged option overall, more versatile and survivable. 2) Having one Ice Gamin with Tina is usually a good thing. 3) Tina likes to have Moar Soulstones. So something like ... Rasputina + Avatar Essence of Power Gunsmith Silent One Ice Gamin x2 Sabertooth Cerebus ... would leave her with 3 unspent stones, or 7ss total at start of game. Use the Gamin for things like exploding shenannigans, cast through the Silent One, etc.

There's a strategy out there (I've read but never employed) involving using Disappearing Act to shuttle Johan and his hard-hitting hammer where you need him, quickly and efficiently.

So, one thing that seems to be in Malifaux's design is the ability to swap casters to meet the needs of the scenario & opponent. Flexibility & adaptation are part of playing the game. But, at my FLGS, the henchman there is trying out something different -- a "learning league" meant to help a bunch of us new players get into the game. The game's just getting off the ground in the store, and many people have only invested in limited masters / models (i.e. one box, a couple blisters), so the "league" will have somewhat restrictive rules: 25ss, one master & list used throughout. It is, I think, to prevent some folks from "tailoring" lists while others lack the resources to do so and thus lose not because they're bad players, but constantly suffering bad matchups. I'm one of those noobs. I have two games under my belt . But, Christmastime allowed me to buy rather heavily into the Arcanists anyway. I actually have four of the masters -- Ramos, Kaeris, Rasputina, and Colette -- and three of them will be ready for potential use in the league (Colette is more of an art project right now and won't be done in time). I'm trying to devise a rounded 25ss list with one of them that will be able to play a variety of scenarios and schemes. Here's the schedule: WEEK 1 -- Shared Plant Evidence, standard deployment, Shared Distract [declared] WEEK 2 -- Shared Destroy Evidence, corner deployment, Shared Kill Protege [declared] WEEK 3 -- Shared Escape and Survive, diagonal deployment, Shared Breakthrough [declared] Ramos is the one Master I have games with, but he seems far too slow for many of these and brings too many insignificant models. I'm thinking Rasputina may be my best option. I also like the Kaeris box, in theory. But I just don't know for sure. Would something like this be a good 'all comers' list? Rasputina [6ss pool] --Essence of Power --Snowstorm --Silent One --Ice gamin Opinions appreciated.

I think part of my problem is training myself to think outside of the boxset. I brought a Spider Swarm last night, and even though I regretted it, I just felt like it ... had to be there. You know? Gotta think more metafaction. Like Warmachine.

Well, I had a bad Ramos experience last night. Got my butt handed to me by an Ophilia Gremlin list. It was only my second game, but still, the loss stung. Their ability to buy extra actions and do double damage is ree-donk-ulous. I need a 25ss Ramos list ... I'm having trouble. Ramos feels like he needs 35ss at least ...

I see the rule now. Drat. Sad panda. I still like Joss. I need some sort of heavy hitter for my list. I've considered Coryphee Duet, but I'm still trying to figure them out. In any case, I think I might go the brass arachnid out for that Stoke. I see Reactivate as a valuable ability for any heavy hitter to have. Why do so many people favor the Toolkit?