AverageBoss

Using pre-existing models and sprues will help greatly to keep the price of any potential starter box lower. The only manufacturing costs should be the design of the box and beginners rules. The models, mini book, and fate decks are already done. Any new models, or modifications to existing models / sprues, would increase the price of the box for Wyrd and by extension the consumer.

The problem with 2 defined masters in a single starter box is that there are 39 in the game, very different and very varied. Basically, a Lady J vs Seamus starter, will it be really that appealing if people are interested in other concepts? And like stated before, the cost of entry is already pretty low. As I see it a vs box of 2 defined masters would just end up taking shelf space because most players will probably pay a bit more to get the box they want.

 

It's the reason I favor a lot more the "starter pack" that basically includes simplified rules and a couple of decks or 3 different starters with new stuff to appeal to the old players while also giving a varied starting point to the new ones which doesn't instantly commit them to a master, just maybe a faction.

The same could be said about the Warmachine starters. They have well over 39 Casters/Locks and only two starter sets each with two different sets. But you get SO much for the price that even players not interested in those characters / factions long term, see them as a great starting point  short term. They can easily trade away if they like the game but not those models.

A tutorial scenario booklet with incremental rules would be a must for new players.

I can see good and bad for doing (new) Henchman lead crews - full crews is better for new players, henchmen crews adds appeal for existing players. 

 

I also like the idea of adding a pair of Merc figures (one for each side) with hiring rules in Scenario "2.5", and don't "assign" either of them in the scenario.  Use high-contrast mercs, such as a Convict Gunslinger (range-oriented) and a Ronin (melee-oriented) (and a new Ronin sculpt that's more thematic would be liked in general).

 

I wonder how well Transmortis has done for them?  It's sort of a starter set, although a very odd way of doing one.  I must admit that I haven't broken down and bought the set yet, myself - there always seems to be something ahead of it in the purchase queue.

Doing full pre-existing crews is also cheaper for Wyrd. They would not even have to cut sprews any differently. If Wyrd had to make new models just for the starter, it would instantly drive up the price of it. I also know that as a new player, I would skip a starter box that did not have a master and just go for a crew box that looked cool to have a more complete force.

I think you would be better off with a 'starter kit' containing all the extra bits needing to play and then you add a crew but I'm honestly not really sure it would work. With the Warmachine ones if you are going to play one of those factions you are going to want some of the stuff in the starters. Maybe not all of it but it will go into many lists. On the other hand if I'm doing Arcanists and there is a Raspy box in the starter bit I really want to do Colette and Kaeris odds are good I'm not going to want any of it. You would have to think quite hard about offering all-purpose utility models and double so if its supposed to be narratively based. In addition to that it would have to, IMO, not be redundant with buying anything else. So no including half the content of a crew box and then force them to buy the whole box anyway. That's just going to annoy people.

Ultimately though, you can get rules, cards, card deck and a crew for £40-50. And that gives you everything you need and a force close to standard size. Its going to be really hard to improve on that in a sensible way.

Doing specific crews and forces in a starter may create limited appeal, however that is why starter sets tend to have much more value than their price tag would suggest. For example if you played only one of the factions in the Warmachine starter, and had so little interest in the other that you threw it in the trash, you still come out spending less money than you would have. As a bonus you have an extra $100 worth of models you can give to a friend or trade for something else.

In other words, you make the starter seem like too good of a deal to pass up, even for those who might not be interested in its full contents.

Well the thing about starter boxes, is that they are usually cheaper than the sum of their parts, even GW gives a discount on the models bought through its starter box. The Warmachine starter I mntioned before is composed of 2x $45 boxes, 2x $50 boxes, templates, dice, and mini rule book. All these things (save the mini rule book) can be bought seperately for $200+. The starter set however costs $99.99.

Given this, and several other reasons, I would much rather see full crew boxes in a potential Malifaux 2 player starter box, rather than just a Henchman and 3 minions. Doing so also means that Wyrd would not have to make new models or even cut sprews any differently than they do now, thus saving some expenses.

Now it should also be pointed out that Privateer did not create their 2P starter kit until well into their 2nd Edition.

I...don't think this is feasible at all, really.

Agreed. Different crew boxes cost different amounts of money. so this would not work.

Looking at Warmachine (the other big skirmish game), thier starter set is 2 (crew?) boxes, 1 add on box for each group, 2 sets of game components (dice/templates), and 1 mini rule book. They have two different such boxes.

It's an easy formula to copy and can encourage players starting the game to invest in more than one faction/leader. Sonnia/Raspy works. I would not mind seeing a Lynch vs. ??? box though (I really like Lynch ).

Just a reminder to everyone that the tournament is this weekend. Hope to see you there.

Given your background in Neverborn, I would recommend you take a look at the Jacob Lynch crew box (provided you do not have him already). Illuminated are amazing in any crew (even Misaki), and with Jacob and friends being dual faction 10T/NB he will act as a bridge between your existing neverborn stuff and your (hopefully) soon to expand 10T stuff.

Coliseum of Comics August Malifaux tournament is fast approaching. Here is the tournament info:

August 2nd, 2014
50 SS. Fixed Master / Fixed Faction.
$5 Entrance Fee.
3 Rounds.
11 AM start time.

There will be prize support, the more players the better the prizes.

If time permits there will also be demos.

Hope to see you there.

Coliseum of Comics

3159 W. Vine St. (US Hwy. 192)

Kissimmee, FL   34741

407-870-5322

Just a reminder to everyone about the tournament this weekend. Hope to see you there.

I have used them successfully as flankers several times with Shenlong and once with Lynch. I tend to run a pair and send them to opposite sides of my opponents forces. Whenever a lone or otherwise vulnerable target presents itself, I have them move in. Thanks to Wander, thier threat range is as big as an Iluminated, but they can strike from odd angles. If you have saved up some tombs in your hand, each can dish out 3 damage and 6 burning on minimum flips.

July marks the start of Coliseum of Comics Kissimmee location new gaming schedule. Starting in July, our monthly Malifaux events will be held on the 1st Saturday of each month. The 5th will be the first of such days, so here is the tournament info:

July 5th, 2014
50 SS. Fixed Master / Fixed Faction.
$5 Entrance Fee.
3 Rounds.
11 AM start time.

There will be prize support, the more players the better the prizes.

If time permits there will also be demos.

July 5th is also my birthday, so everyone must attend .

Coliseum of Comics

3159 W. Vine St. (US Hwy. 192)

Kissimmee, FL   34741

407-870-5322

Its time for Coliseum of Comics monthly Malifaux tournament. Here are the details:

May 17th, 2014

50 SS. Fixed Master / Fixed Faction.

$5 Entrance Fee.

3 Rounds.

11 AM start time.

There will be prize support, the more players the better the prizes.

If time permits there will also be demos.

Coliseum of Comics

3159 W. Vine St. (US Hwy. 192)

Kissimmee, FL   34741

407-870-5322

Hope to see you there.

I started just getting Kirai and all of her themed models. Then I decided I wanted somethign more straightforward and so picked up Jacob Lynch and all his themed models. Then I got Misaki because she looked neat. Then Yan Lo for the same reason. I decided I was going to do Brewmaster and Shenlong when they were released. I recently realised I was doing 5 of 7 TT and so just picked up Mei and Lucas. I now at least 1 of every TT set / model in print. I am currently waiting for the release of Lucious. So paint me however you will.

That sprew picture is helpful. Mine is missing the retainers head in the corner .

Just a reminder to everyone that our tournament is tommorow. Also thamks for the compliment Nagash.

Its that time again. Time for Coliseum of Comics monthly Malifaux tournament. Here are the details:

April 19th, 2014

50 SS. Fixed Master / Fixed Faction.

$5 Entrance Fee.

3 Rounds.

11 AM start time.

There will be prize support, the more players the better the prizes.

Coliseum of Comics

3159 W. Vine St. (US Hwy. 192)

Kissimmee, FL   34741

407-870-5322

Hope to see you there.

So that second line should say 'only DECLARING a Walk Action provokes..."?

 

That's the hang up on all this? Really?

More or less. Classic RAW vs. RAI arguement.

There's no time paradox here, people. Pre-emptive actions that interrupt are a thing in lots of games. 

 

My opinion: Declaring a Walk is what prompts the Disenaging Strike. If it hits, you don't take a Walk action. You declared one, but you never got to take it. You thus do not end a Walk action in range and do not have to take a Horror Check. 

I agree that this is how it should be played.

However the last sentence of the first parapraph says "Only Walk Action provoke Disengaging Strikes...". This contradicts the declarative remark of the first sentance (as it specificaly says walk action and not the declaration of a walk action), and creates a problem with the third paragraph. It is the whole reason there is an opposing view.

As it appears to be the only sentence creating multiple conflicts, I think feel it is the outlier.

The conflict comes from these two sentances in succession:

"Only Walk Action provoke Disengaging Strikes..."

"...model may not perform the Walk Action..."

So the strike prevents the action that is nessecary to trigger it in the first place implying that it happened before but can't happen after at the same time.

This is the source of all the conflict.

I see that now myself. No wonder there is disagreement.

Specifically the last sentance of paragraph 1 and the first sentance of paragraph 3 are what conflict with each other.

I'm confused as to how you got to take a disengaging strike if they didn't take a walk action. 

The rulebook does say that A disengaging strike can only occur from a walk action. 

So either you walked they took a disengaging strike to keep you from moving or they didn't take a walk action and you never took a disengaging strike. 

 

Seems simple enough. 

You declare that you want to perform a walk action first. If the disengaging strike hits you, you may not perform the walk action and instead simply spend an AP on you wasted efforts. Says so right on page 44, column 2, of the big rule book.

Performing the walk action is moving the model. To nor perform the action is not moving the model. But a walk action was taken nonetheless

How do you take a walk action and not take a walk action at the same time? You can declare a Walk Action and not move. In this case you have still performed a Walk Action. That is not the case with Disengaging Strikes as in that case the model is barred from taking the action entirely.

The rules for successful for disengaging strikes do not say "the model may not walk", the rule says "the model does not perform the walk action".

Yay same thing argued a week ago. Schodingers walk action. Did you spend ap. Did you declare the action you are doing. Then the end result is that you took a walk action. And did that walk action end in a terrifying models engagement range? Golly gee wilikers batman it did. I must take a test now.

Except the rule book specifically says: "The model may NOT perform the "Walk Action"... "

If the Walk Action cannot be performed, then you cannot perform a walk action. If no walk action is performed, you have not performed a walk action. Terror only happens when model end Walk Actions (which cannot be performed if hit by a disengaging strike) within engagement. No Terror Test is taken, because no action was performed. You just spend one AP to do nothing.

I saw this exact same LoS argument pop up on the Warma/Hordes forums with the exact same arguments on both sides (that game and Malifaux have very similar LoS rules at their core). In the end, it came down to a moderator ruling, followed by an FAQ.

Of course their ruling directly contradicted a LoS example in their main rulebook that has yet to be amended, which technically makes both right at the same time for them .

I will second Lynch. He is fun and pretty easy to get a grip on. Get him, a box of Beckoners, and another 10T or Neverborn model that you like and you will be golden.

I would say Seamus is a bit easier to use than Yan Lo, although the later is not too bad. I find Yan Lo to be more fun to play truthfully, plus if she picks him and you go with Lynch, the two of you will be able to use most of each others models in your crews (they are both 10 Thunders masters).

If she goes with Yan Lo, get the Master of the Path box, Izamu, Yin, and Izamu, and you will have a solid force with all his theme models.

When we have done 2v1, we have given the 1 two masters (since the two have two masters). Additionally, the 2 share a single deck of cards, hand, and SS pool. On their turn, they decide together what is going to activate with the owning player handling the chosen models turn.