Machiavelli

Hey guys, I'm after the Malifaux 1.5 Core Rulebook and Storm of Shadows. Condition doesn't have to be new, just good, no pages missing/major stains/rips/tears etc. If you have either for sale, please reply or message me. Thanks.

I like the look of this, so I've tried my hand and given it my first go. Link: http://wyrd-games.net/community/topic/105154-iron-quill-the-message-doubt-and-conviction/

Evening! My first entry for the Iron Quill. 1702 words and three ingredients used, theme, line and location, though I've used my interpretation of them. Wanted to get a little creative while keeping to format. I'm a fan of of noir and hardboiled fiction, so that's what you'll get below. I hope you enjoy. Iron Quill - The Message - Doubt and Conviction. The body lay face down in the alley. Skirt and blouse torn, she looked little more than a teen. Her hands and nails were coated with flecks of dried blood mixed with dirt. She’d put up a struggle, but the crushed skull told the unhappy ending. A loose cobblestone laid nearby, carelessly discarded. One side was coated dark red. The amount of blood meant it’d been brought down more than once. As the body was loaded onto the carriage Captain Probert tipped his hat to the Guild men. They responded likewise, recognising his distinctive bulk and knowing enough of his reputation not to engage him in conversation when faced with a murder. They reined their horses to life and the click-clacking of the wheels gently faded as the vehicle made its way down the uneven street. ‘Captain’ said Jameson, gaze vacant as he watched the corpse being taken. ‘D’ya ever think we’re fighting a losing battle?’ Standing where the teen had experienced her final moments in terror Probert considered those words. Years of dealing with the worst Malifaux had to offer had forced a numbness on the man. A veteran of violence and hard living long before crossing the breach had, he thought, rid him capable of feeling shock. Yet hearing such simple words uttered from his partner at the very site of a murder sent a tremor through him that could only be described as… shock. Not as indifferent as you thought are you, old man. In his younger companion Probert had discovered a man truly driven by ideals; that was rare on either side of breach. Jameson was sharp, resolute, and most importantly, a survivor. He knew how to ask the right questions and kept himself alive to do it again. A man, if Probert was being honest, much like himself. He’d seen enough friends die to know that intelligence and determination count for sweet nothing if you don’t live to use them. Yet, for Jameson to question his purpose so brazenly…? Stoic features that resembled hewn rock hid the Captain’s surprise. ‘What you mean lad?’ Probert’s voice was level as they considered the murder scene: just another girl dead in another alley, just another day in Malifaux. Jameson remained silent as he stepped forward and bent to inspect the pool of congealing blood on the cobblestones, all that remained of a poor girl trying to live a life. He dipped his fingers to test its consistency. There was a lot of it – head wounds bleed and bleed – but it was cool to the touch, already thick and darkening. Already clotting… she’s been here a while. It had been a dry morning in Malifaux, despite the heavy clouds overhead that blanketed the city in a haze of mystery and silence the rain hadn’t yet washed the crime away as it did so many daily. So many, Jameson thought as he wiped his hand on his pant leg. So very many. He rose to face his superior. ‘This is the fourth girl in as many days, right?’ Angular features, usually defined by a subtle wryness that gave the impression Jameson knew more than was letting on had been twisted by a mixture of anger and helplessness. ‘But first, we gotta deal with Rezzers bringing corpses back. Then the ‘Born. And after all that, and only after all that, we have the scum that lives here anyways.’ He shook his head. ‘We’re not wanted, are we? We’ve just put one bastard in the ground. Another’s taken his place.’ Probert thought back to the last case they’d worked: a local miner had taken to moonlighting as a serial killer with his work pick. They’d put him down not two weeks gone, shot him point blank when he’d rushed them after being back into a corner. He held his eyes at the troubled guild guard and waited for his companion to finish. ‘…And then you got the absolute nutters, ones like Seamus strutting about making a mockery of everything we try to accomplish. I don’t know Captain. It feels pointless. Let Malifaux take care of itself. You can’t save what don’t want saving.’ Tasting the reply on his tongue, Probert held back his rebuke. The man was having a true crisis of faith – a man he’d put his own faith in, the faith that there were others like himself who would carry on the fight after he was gone. Now wasn’t the time to knock him down. This was bloodletting. Bleed the insecurities out, then steel the conviction. ‘Something on your mind? Speak plainly.’ Probert fumbled in his pocket and lit a pre-rolled smoke that tasted like dirt. ‘Molly gave birth today.’ The doubt and internal conflict was plain to see. ‘Ah. Boy or girl?’ ‘Baby girl. Anne we’re calling her.’ ‘That kinda thing makes you re-evaluate life.’ ‘Yeah, it does. I’d like to get ‘em back Earthside Captain. I don’t want her growing up in this city. It ain’t fair. And it kills Molly you know, what we do. She worries a lot.’ Probert thought of his own family Earthside. He hadn’t seen them in twelve months, his yearly holiday cancelled with the latest string of murders. ‘Not everyone can do what we do, that’s true.’ He blew out a lungful of smoke as he considered this. ‘You ever thought about speaking to the higher ups? They could get them back across you know, special dispensation for a new born. Guild looks after its own.’ ‘Aye, I have. Molly won’t go without me though. Already had that conversation.’ ‘So you all go, or none, right?’ ‘That’s it.’ Jameson was making his rounds of the scene as they conversed, inspecting the various marks and remains in the street. He knew his business and went about it with ruthless efficiency. It was difficult in these situations, making sense of a public murder, as so much crime and underground activity went through these alleys that trying to separate what was related from what wasn’t was a job that took intuition. You couldn’t teach it. You had it or you didn’t. Jameson had it. Probert had it. Probert didn’t want to lose Jameson’s ability to doubts, not now, not even for a second. Not with another girl dead. ‘Think you’d make it back Earthside?’ Proberts voice was gravel. Compassion mixed with a blunt honesty made for a hard accent and now it was Jameson’s turn to be surprised. He didn’t hide it as well as Probert could. His eyes flashed a brief giveaway as he looked up from studying a torn piece of clothing. Guess the years have taught you something, old man. Poker faced to the end. ‘You’ve been in Malifaux, what, three years now?’ ‘Three years, two months, one week and a day.’ Probert nodded. ‘Right. And there’s no place back on Earth like this city. No place. I know. So what’d you do if you got back Earthside? Strong-arm for a law firm? Deal with basic crime and forget the ‘Born? Maybe guard the breach and watch the rich and famous trundle through in their gilded carriages?’ ‘Lot safer Captain.’ ‘Lot more pointless. Lad, you’re pushing thirty with a new born and a wife and you see things daily most men don’t see in their nightmares. ‘Course you’re worried. It’s natural, hell, I’d be more concerned about you if you weren’t worried. But you listen to me now. Your life’s just irrevocably changed, and your mind is in a cold, hard, unfamiliar place. After years of service suddenly you’re torn between what’s right for your family and what’s the right thing to do. Think I ain’t been there before? You forgot I got family to? Fact is, there ain’t a lot of work for guys like us. No one wants reminding of the bad things that happen. And they are reminded, when they see us. That’s all they see. They don’t see two guys trying to make a living, men with families to. No, they see The Guild. They see two men who scrape blood and organs off streets. The see two guys who go face to face with walking corpses. They see two killers. What we do, it changes you lad. Marks your skin. Marks your soul. You can see it a mile off.’ Jameson was silent as he considered his superior’s words. Probert dropped the spent smoke and crushed it underfoot. ‘You got a chance to do something here. You really gonna go back through the breach, knowing you got some bastard out there killing these poor girls? And yes, you’re right. We put one down, another one gets up. But what do we do then?’ Jameson’s face formed a shadow of his signature wry smile. ‘Put him down to.’ ‘Right. Him to. And the next one, because there will be a next one. And all the sick bastards who step up. And why do we do it? We do it because we have to. Because no one else will. Because there’s nothing else for men like you and me. Because you don’t want your girl Anne growing up in a world where the twisted soul that drove a stone a girls head, over and over until she stopped moving, gets away. Now you can go back Earthside, but you’ll only find yourself doing the same there, doing the work others can’t. You know it and I know it. And Molly knows it to – that’s why she sticks with you. Sure she worries, as any good woman does. Don’t know how my wife does it. All she gets is a cruddy letter weekly. We could get killed tomorrow, aye. But so could anyone. Least you’re doing something with your life lad. You’re doing what very few people can. That means something.’ Jameson nodded, the message reaching home. ‘Beware the honeyed words of a silver tongue my mother would say right about now, you smooth-talking bastard.’ ‘Hmm. Trusting woman was your mother?’ ‘Not really, no. Now shut up, or help me.’ Probert inwardly smiled as he heard the steel back in Jameson’s voice.

Thank you very much for the clarification

Hey guys. So part of my query may be due to my lack of experience with the game so far, but how do players feel about models being off-center? While it's never been a problem in 40K or Fantasy, in a skirmish game every model counts and I want to make sure I'm being fair. The model in particular is Candy. She's tiny, and the base I've got for her is surrounded by skulls. She's going to be really off-center, but when you measure distances you use the edge of the base etc, so I'm wondering would her not being in the middle affect gameplay at all for LOS/Cover? All answers appreciated. Cheers.

I'll have to have a listen. I'm currently plowing through the above suggestions so far, the response has been fantastic. Currently Diablo Swing Orchestra are on repeat. Man they're fun.

Ill also back the prices as a huge draw. When you look at £10 for a box of three Walgeist, you cannot complain. New to Malifaux? £30 for a crew and you can start straight away. It's a huge difference from paying £40 for a box of ten witch elves. I know they're completely different games (and I am a fan of GW) and different model counts, but Malifaux's prices are just right for me. Not cheap for big collectors, but they're not expensive either, and that makes a very nice entry for new players.

Lord Chompy Bits and the nightmare teddy are quite stunning pieces of work; you can certainly see the green glow on the eyes. I particularly like the different shades on teddy's patches/parts, it has a real put-together effect and goes well with the overall colour and theme but stands out nevertheless.

I think I'm on the same path as you, just behind I agree with your entire post, having had a very similar experience. Everything about this has been an incredible breath of fresh air. I can't say how long it's been since I've just been so excited to paint a figure, to game and play with it. Not just happy to do so, but actually blowing off plans just to get home and paint/model. I've always enjoyed the hobby but somewhere along the way - lack of development, rules changing, the simplification of my factions (Chaos/Dark Elves) - I lost a bit of love for Warhammer. Still a huge fan, but there was something missing. Malifaux has rekindled my love for tabletop gaming.

According to the website I shop at 'PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY OUR SUPPLIER THAT THIS ITEM IS TEMPORARILY OUT OF PRINT AS THE MOLD FOR THE MODELS HAS BROKEN.' Forgive the caps, I didn't want to write all that out.

All very nice work, would be great to play on, but that Hillside board is an absolute work of art.

While I've only been involved in Malifaux since M2E, I can say for myself and my friends who have gotten into it, the aesthetics of the new figures have been a huge draw. The first edition figures range from excellent to kind of weird (but you can see the concept), but the new crew boxes like The Guild's Judgement, No Shelter Here, The Thunder were all picked up by ourselves after going 'wow, they look awesome'. I know it's not a rules or gameplay appreciation, but it is something that we really like here. The style of the models are heading in a great direction

I second that with the Lynch. The purple waistcost and flourishes on the suit really make him stand out from other Lynch's. Give some good character to an already characterful model.

The first building may have taken 6+ hours but damn.... that is a fine looking piece of terrain. The curved roof is what makes it, I feel. Interesting to see where you're going. MDF laser cut terrain has been brilliant for myself. Quite cheap, lots of various shapes and sizes and ideas out there, easy to transport, and quite durable.

I'm presuming you meant wouldn't but I agree. As long as you are consistent your opponents know what the proxy is. Sorted! It's only frustrating when a proxy continually changes and you have to keep checking "so what does that represent?" Slows down the game.

Are you thinking re-skin, or changing mechanics which (ultimately) may change the essence of the game? Re-skin is a matter of conversions and some fluff change, but if you were to have different mechanics/weapons e.g. grenades, automatic weapons, or magic as you suggested, then they would have a domino knock-on effect to all other aspects of the game, as a major change would mean a redesign of what balances against what. Introducing or changing a core mechanic means redesigning the game. That's why new editions of anything take a huge time and have a big launch. You could make it a fan spin-off, but really as Malifaux is only in it's second edition and still realising figures for that, I'd say you need the main game to be 'finished' in a sense before taking it in a new direction. Malifaux is really still in it's infancy. I think GW's Fantasy was in edition 3 or 4 before 40K came out? It's a nice idea. I think I can see where you're going and it never hurts to think 'what if', but my two major concerns are: 1) Necromunda rip-off. Before you mentioned Necromunda, that's straight away what sprung to mind. First thing. I know it's not what you're after, and you could argue there are different mechanics to separate it, but really: gang wars in a city under fascist rule with sci-fi/magical aspects? Necromunda. It's going to be forever compared to that and forever judged by that. It lessens the appeal of the game, especially to new players who will just think if it's a rip off why not play the original? It's very difficult to come out of that shadow without serious advertising capital. 2) Generic. This is my main concern. For me, as a gamer who came from GW and 40K/Fantasy/Necromunda/Mordheim and others such as MTG (magic), there is nothing quite like Malifaux out there. And that is what grabbed me. I am aware of things like Hell Dorado, Mordheim, and weird-west like Shadows of Brimstone, but Malifaux's steampunk-meets-gothic-meets-horror-meets-wild west etc was so unique in it's approach, I couldn't help but love it. It took some awesome inspiration and fashioned out of these numerous genres a city and world that is just dripping with atmosphere and stories waiting to be told. I'd heard about the game gaining some traction on various sites, decided to check it out myself... and the artwork instantly grabbed me. I read the fluff, and that appealed. Then finally, the aesthetics of the figures made me buy. Fell in love. There was nothing like Malifaux out there, and couple that with the card mechanics and the idea of cheating fate? Very nice. Very, very nice. It's fresh and new and exciting. Why change that already? The fluff also would be in danger of becoming so-so. Currently the various factions have very different playstyles, designs, characters and so on, and variety is the spice of life. I know your idea isn't fully worked out as you said, but making the Ortega's just another gang... and Lillith just another territorial gang... they already begin to sound the same, just different models. See where I'm going? The masters and crews have no over-arching objective which creates the fiction of the world, no goal that drives them. They lose their appeal to players. Malifaux has filled a niche market but what a niche it is. It was the kind of thing that satisfied for me something I'd been waiting for but didn't know it until I saw it. The appeal of Malifaux for myself is the dark, dirty underbelly of the city, the time and era coupled with the magic of soulstones and the monsters through the breach. I worry if you add technology, or a modern day setting, you're going to lose that wonderful appeal and aesthetic and become just another sci-fi game with an interesting card mechanic. There's a lot of other games out there like that. There's nothing like Malifaux, and for me, that's it's major strength. Everything else, which is the art and design, just taps into that strength to further inspire the players and visitors to its unique world.

Feel free to link dump! Especially when it's quality. Music so far has been brilliant, I'm building a whole playlist and it's also reminding me of other songs I've since forgotten that suit the theme. When I hear music like Justin Cross (which is right up my street Malifaux or not) I always wonder how I've never come across that artist before, even more so when they have that many thousand views. Collide - Dreamsleep was quite spooky, much more industrial theme but with the atmosphere I felt it'd suit a dual Arncanist-Neverborn master once/if we get one.

It depends on what you're after. If it's gaming to win tournaments and the the like, then you are probably better off going purely for what is best and works well regardless of theme. However if its a combination of winning plus fluff/themes (much like myself) then I'd say stick with the themes. I much prefer gaming with a fluff-acceptable crew as to me, the tabletop game is just another type of story, one with dice that we're making as we go, and that is always more fun for me when the premise of the battle is believable. But as always, that is just my opinion and how I play. It doesn't bother me what my opponent brings so long as we both enjoy and get a fine game. As mentioned, Malifaux does a good job of combining theme-incentive crews with enough freedom to customize and tailor your lists. Edit: also, there's almost always a reason why a master can bring others. E.g. Lady J, as leader of the Death Marshalls, would be able to deputise or command most guild minions as who would defy her? Same with Lucius, and while we don't know his relationship with the Neverborn yet we do know he has some kind of control-and-or-deal with them which justifies their use in his crews.

Hello sir! While I cannot offer any advice directly as I have very limited experience with the Dreamer and tournaments also, I can however direct you to: http://pullmyfinger.wikispaces.com/M2E+Dreamer That's a very very good website, fan wiki I believe, which contains some good advice for all crews and masters, as well as general tactics and other advice such as terrain amounts, crew synergy, schemes and so on. Covers all aspects of the game. I've used it quite extensively myself for my first crew and what I bought afterwards. I'm sure there's far more qualified users here who will help you, but I hope that's a start

Another bookmark added for the playlist great shout, I'm a big fan of the dark/haunting vocals dripping atmosphere. It reminded me off this one which makes me think of Jacob Lynch and the Hungering Darkness, all their victims going 'down the rabbit hole' so to speak. 'In the dark with the rambling dice / the rats scratching through the walls / the shape in the darkened door' and other lines suit them.

Very nice looking table and lovely paintjob all round; the colours are nice and bold. Especially, Nicodem is brilliant. Love the half buried zombie but his blue cloak is what steals it for me. Very rich and royal colour, really makes him stand out, which is exactly what you want from your leader!

Ecstasy of Gold is one of my favourite pieces of music Thank you for the big response guys. Got a very nice list of new music to go through - The Builders and the Butcher's I've just picked up after listening to youtube but Earth, wow, that is helluva atmospheric. Math Mathonwy, you're not wrong about the Malifaux vibe going on there. Doom/Drone is a genre I've never touched on before but Earth are changing that. Back to painting... crankin' up da tunes.

Think you nailed the skull bandannas, the one on the right particularly flows nicely with the cloth folds.

I never even thought of Red Dead. That had some fantastic music, the first time you go to Mexico being a standout moment. I'm already looking for it, great shout.

When painting or gaming, what (if at all) do you guys listen to? For painting I've recently been playing the Danse Macabre, the ominous overtones but also kind of fun sets the mood for painting kinda nicely! That being said, when gaming, Metallica for whom the Bell Tolls seems to be a favourite. Though we do play that for most wargames... such a badass song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg92QpjRcJk I was wondering if anyone has got any suggestions for music that suits the eerie and dark gothic atmosphere of the game whether for painting or gaming, or even any recommendations at all? I could do with some fresh input Cheers!