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I'm not a Wyrd official, or even a henchman myself, but I believe the point is to have two 50ss crews painted, so you have one for you and a spare if you're demoing. That way it's much more professional. doubt it matters if your witchling stalkers are running around with orderlies, as long as they're sporting a coat or two.

Just wanted to let you know your models are amazing, I love everything so far and look forward to more! Keep it up!

I heard someone somewhere musing on "X River Dropouts" for Outcasts, and I wonder if that's what these new three are? If so, I could see it, and would be very happy with it. But my only problem would be with them only having three, not four... Maybe they have upgrades that would allow them to be dropouts from any specific river? Unfortunately, that's a lot of upgrade work for minions, so not likely I guess, but would still be cool.

I listen on Podbean, and have it set to auto download new episodes because THEY ARE THE BEST. Never stop being awesome, Wyrd! 

Well with the use of keywords, I can forgive catch-all terms on any model. But yes, an oni river monk would be sweet (although I suppose we already have some oni monks ish, just not river).

36 minutes ago, D_acolyte said:

Ah then it is just the void river comment through me off.

That's what I figured, although I do sugguest reading the entire thread, as some peopld have had some great ideas for Breachside-rivers, like Oni Monks.

1 hour ago, D_acolyte said:

If that is the case then it sounds almost like this topic answered itself.

That's not what this topic is about. Please read above, the topic was asking people's favorite of the four released river monks, both looks and rules wise. And as others have pointed out, it's possible that even though there are only 5 rivers earthside, Malifaux could offer new rivers and styles. Thus we were speculating what those new styles might look like.

17 hours ago, D_acolyte said:

Random thought and I am not sure some one mentioned it. Perhaps the fifth river is a combination of 2 other rivers, I am just thinking back to the story in cross road with the tournament and how people moved from one temple to another. Could be neat for a monk enforcer model.

According to Yu in that same Crossroads story, the fifth element is combining all the elements. Since he just finished equating each river to an element, it can be assumed the fifth river is the fifth element, aka the fifth river is combing all 4 styles, not just two, which is more than just an enforcer, it's a henchman and master, in the form of Yu and Shenlong, respectively.

Interesting point! I don't really know much about L5R but that picture is telling. I'd love to see more monks, especially if they give me more of a reason to field my current ones. I'd really just be happy if they gave us new monks that I can proxy with my High Rivers, because I love the models but like most, feel their presence on the board is lackluster.

3 minutes ago, Nukemouse said:

Well, just because only five styles existed on earth doesn't mean new styles can't appear on Malifaux! The discovery of soulstones, non-humans like neverborn, gremlins and constructs, the way TT tend to interact with the other factions often and other general weirdness in Malifaux could easily inspire a new martial arts style.

In many ways I'd be less interested in seeing "new styles" and more interested in seeing new models for the existing styles! Low River Nephilim that take advantage of black blood whilst healing themselves and using disengaging strikes to keep foes near. Perhaps a Fermented River Monk who has moved on from alcohol to the harder stuff, Brilliance!

Hmmm.... Brilliant River Monks? Nice. I'd like to see that, and with Lynch it could work.

As for new Malifaux inspired styles, you're right, I can see that happening. Maybe if we do see Oni Monks they'll be from Breach River?

Oni monks could be cool. Wyrd usually does a good job of not locking themselves in a corner creatively. Matbe we'll see the "Tranquil River Monks" as the masters of all styles, and then "Forgotten River Monks" as Oni monks? That is something I would buy!

Hm. Well, I'm new to Malifaux, but here's my two scrip.

The Guild is easy to play, and is a good and somewhat obvious choice for new players. So the majority of Guild players out there are newbies like me, causing many people to think Guild is bad (either because they play a lot of newbies, or new players, who inevitibly lose a lot starting out, are losing a lot with Guild).

This also lends itself in another way, that as these players get better and branch out, they look back on Guild and it's 'simple' playstyle, they can forget that while Guild is easy to learn it is hard to master. That's why I like the faction so much. There are very often 'easy' moves with Guild, wherein when you don't know what else to do, those options are always solid.

But while there are always those options available, there are other, more subtle approaches. Tricksy things people don't expect from the faction so lovingly thought of as "shooty-shooty stab-stab", aka the guys who beat things until scheme markers drop. This faction is a lot more versatile than people think, and a lot more complex than some may have you believe.

In summary; Simple enough for beginners, powerful enough for veterans, and versatile enough for professionals.

This is also Yu's explaining of why Shenlong can mix up his styles mid-game. He was only worthy of being Dragonhost because he mastered the Void between the elements, the fifth style. Essentially, Shenlong and Yu ARE void river monks.

@Rathnard he says it in Crossroads. "Heart of the Dawn" is the story. It's not explicitly stated that the fifth river is void, but he refers to high river as fire, low as water and wandering as air. We can assume fermented is earth, although again this is not actually stated. Since he refers to mastering the five elements, we can assume the final river style is actually mixing the other four as Yu does. He says "To become truly skilled, one must harness all the elements. Then one can learn the final element between the others, and understand how to balance the four. This mastery of the void between elements is the mark of someone truly worthy of becoming Dragonhost."                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Since he refers to it as the void, most likely the river is not called the void river (like fire is called high, not fire). Still, it would appear that the fifth river is not a unique style, but a blend.

So, with all the monks out, technically speaking, which ones do you guys like best? To recap, there is:

High River: These guys bring the heat, literally. Their place in the five rivers is that of the element of fire, and their stats reflect that.

Low River: You might know them as the first of the River monks to be released in M2E, they are the embodiment of water. Tar pit may be more like it, though, as these guys are difficult to destroy, can really keep you in place, and are also known as the pacifist monks.

Wandering River: The temple best known as the element of wind, these monks bring some scheming to the table, as well as moving themselves and enemy models into new, ideally advantageous positions. 

Fermented River: The drunken masters, and the bane of all poison-dealing models. Probably the closest we'll get to 'Earth', these guys rely on gaining and using the Poison condition to weave expertly - if not drunkenly - through the field.

So, With all these guys out (and the last of the models for them being released), which ones are your favorite aesthetically, and which ones are your favorite rules-wise?

I realize there is also the Void, but if I understand the fluff correctly I doubt we'll be seeing any monks of that river, as Yu explains that the void is simply using every style's strengths to cover the other style's weaknesses.

Wow, love it all. If I get Marcus, you can bet I'll be stealing some ideas. Though I have made a small promise to myself not to buy any new models until all of my current ones are painted... It's really got me working!

I will be going to Gencon, and I will be bringing my life savings. The mixed feelings I currently have for Wyrd are... Complex...

As a player who started out using the starter to teach myself and friends, and then painted the starter because I wanted them to look better, then felt bad about leaving them painted but unplayed, then tried to run Grimwell as my master to make up for it... I wouldn't. But Honestly, he runs great as a hench for most people, and I've never been upset for taking orderlies. Fluff-wise, he really makes sense with McMourning, but his orderlies go amazing with anyone, as stated above, as zippy runners.

I'm not a rules expert or henchman or anything so official, but I'd say the overlapping rule is so you don't take two flips for the same exact inch. I would rule that you take it if you move "off" one, and then "onto" another. So, since the two markers are their own piece of hazardous terrain, the rules state each time you move into hazardous terrain you take the damage, but are then immune to that piece for the turn. If they overlap, you simply take the greater of the two, but that doesn't mean you can't go off the overlap and take the second pieces' damage. My two scrip.

7 hours ago, EnternalVoid said:

It is not even nearby sisters, it is any with LOS to her.

Ah yeah, I forgot. That's a pretty good point.

7 hours ago, EnternalVoid said:

The next problem stems from the fact to balance the model with the Viks, it might be a worthless option for any other outcast master.  So either they need to give it a very clear use and then balance it to being a Sister all with out ending up to good or pointless.

A fair enough example for me is Vanessa vs Librarian. They both accomplish a similar goal, but Vanessa is only the better choice for a Vik crew because of the Sister keyword (and y'know, fluffy). Without that, she can't even heal others. Granted she's only what, a single SS more? But that cost can weigh heavy depending on the field.

5 minutes ago, Kaptain_Konrad said:

Fury is the only problematic one I can really think of because a minion shouldn't be doing min 4 damage.

You're forgetting Vik'o'Ash has the ability to give nearby Sister models an extra AP used for melee, which can get pretty nasty if, say, you tossed out one or two ronin with the Sister keyword.

Well, I'm Zach. Been playing tabletop RPGs and board and card games since I was 8 or so, and did some mini war games starting last year. Found Malifaux this year and have been absolutely hooked! The models are absolutely gorgeous, and after buying a few sets based solely on looks I actually have a good Guild, Outcast and Neverborn crew set.

Just need to find more people to play with close to northern kentucky... The closest active Malifaux-ing to me is more than an hour away. Sad face.

Hm. I remember reading in an RPG book a varient on chess, very casually mentioned. But thinking now, you could do a very flavorful chess-like theme by simply calling it something else (tyrant clash or something?) and having December vs Cherufe or whatnot.

Alternatively, if you were up for a completely new game, anything using mainly cards with malifaux suits is obviously good. Honestly, I was immediately thinking of easy ways to add setting-based games to TtB campaigns.

Man... I didn't want to have to buy any archanists... but now... Dangit, wyrd, why? You know I will, god help me I will but WHY do you make me empty my wallet for you?

On 6/23/2016 at 9:27 AM, Jason13 said:

If  I  had to guess on a totem I'd  think a tripod and old fashioned accordion style camera but mechanized like ramos  spider bots. That'd  be  cool. Hoffmann  would be  jealous. 

Mechanized totem.... interesting. Peon as it may be, I can see a wonderful 2 no interact, or perhaps a "file the evidence" 3 that clears enemy scheme markers? Actually, it could just be a small file-room worker, or some such. Could be interesting.

On another note, after seeing the reporter girls and now Nellie herself, I am so psyched for this box! Definitely a must buy for me, even if my main wasn't Guild. Can't wait to paint them!