The Transcredible Exploits of four Malifaux Newbies

[Vaiuri]

You can't blame me for pointing out models for an early death - particularly dirty annoying resser ones...

[Swiglitz]

Photo's as promised.

 

Table set up.

 

 

Deployment

 

 

End of turn 1

 

 

End of Turn 2

 

 

End of Turn 3

 

http://themostexcellentandawesomeforumever-wyrd.com/community/gallery/image/2774-cat-fight/

 

End of turn 4 and the game

 

http://themostexcellentandawesomeforumever-wyrd.com/community/gallery/image/2775-end-of-turn-4/

[Swiglitz]

You can't blame me for pointing out models for an early death - particularly dirty annoying resser ones...

 

I can ... And will

[Vaiuri]

You haven't heard the last of me!!!

[Shadowfane]

She would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for those meddling kids!...

[Vaiuri]

She would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for those meddling kids Belles!...

 

Doesn't quite roll off the tongue in the same way does it...

[Swiglitz]

My belle's don't meddle.

 

Unless you pay extra for it.

 

Don't make me go upside your head.

[Suvalas]

In response to Swiglitz's summary above, I will add my own thoughts on Friday's story encounter.

Firstly, the list:

 

Von Schill (The Shirt Comes off / Scramble / Another which I forget...) Didn't make use of any of these due to how the game went.

Strong Arm Suit

Lazarus

Freikorpsman

Freikorps Specialist

Freikorps Librarian

Steam Trunk

 

Having Blind Deployment threw a proverbial spanner in the works. As such, I stuck to 2 schemes that I was familiar with. Protect Territory and Bodyguard. Bodyguard was an easy choice when Swiglitz commented that he didn't really need to kill my models to score. Score! With the deployment so irregular, I figured that there would be a deployment spot on it's own, which would lend itself to some easy Protect Territory scoring.

 

When the cards were flipped, having a single spot near my scoring marker, surrounded by enemy spots, and things weren't looking good. Also having never played with Von Schill, I was not fully aware of most of the models capabilities. My first mistake was probably sticking Von Schill relatively on his own. This would, as the game developed, cause him to be stuck, largely ineffectual. Moving the Steam Trunk out of his range was also much more of a (bad) game breaking decision that I first thought, as Von Schill was now stuck in combat with Izamu, and the Steam Trunk literally trundling round on its own. Lessons learned there!

 

From my view point, the game did occur as Swiglitz describes it, so I shall sumarise my thoughts on my crew.

I'm very happy with how the Librarian played out. She does appear as good as everyone raves about, and even managed to chastise Yan Lo himself with her cutting insults, causing the old dude an untimely finish. Perhaps her being the first Hired Gun that I painted helped?

The Specialist did ok. His placement was not ideal, and the Ashigaru was a tough duelist, especially given the close quarters fighting over the Mysterious Effigy. I picked him for his ability to remove Corpse Markers, which I didn't really need in this game. I forsee him being very useful in future matchups.

The Freikorpsman was also average. Did his job of scheme placement, but was left without much support and was severely outnumbered, end game.

Lazarus was his usual good self. Kept himself easily topped up on Health and did a bit of damage here and there. Being alone, in the thick of it, meant that he didn't get to use his Grenade Launcher quite as effectually as he has in previous games.

The Strongarm Suit, this being his Second outing for me, did better this time. He is quite beefy in melee and did manage to last a while. Hats off to Toshiro though, he's one tough nut to crack. Thought I had him at one point, alas, not. I think he might be better bouncing around, hunting the smaller, less defensive models.

The Steam Trunk was not utilised in any way, all game, apart from me moving him somewhere stupid. I will review him when I properly use him, lol.

Von Schill himself... fought valiantly, and managed to dispatch the Mighty Izamu, only to then die to the retaliatory strike. Oh well. He too would be much more useful, bouncing around the field, picking on lesser models I feel. Everything about him seems to help buff his crew after all. Getting Izamu down to Defence 1 was pretty easy, and I can only imagine how much that would help other models dispatch him more quickly.

 

Other than some ropey deployment and activation orders, I was quite happy with the game. I learned a lot about the crew (which I've long been waiting to play). I think one more ranged model would have helped me in the long run, and focussing a bit more on the main scheme. I originally toyed with the idea of taking either a Convict Gunslinger, Hans, and even the Trapper. I think they may have helped me more, but it's hard to say.

 

All in all though, another fun game, with plenty of learning to take on board. Perfect in preparation for our imminent Campaign.

 

Suvalas

[HowNot2Wargame]

How area you guys getting on? This use to be one of my favourite things to read on the forum and I had wondered what happened lol

[Swiglitz]

We're taking a little break for now. As we get closer to Christmas our real lives tend to get more and more prevalent in our spare time and we inevitably end up calling it quits on the gaming front for a few weeks.

 

Have no fear, we shall return in the New Year with more Transcredible Exploits.

 

Thanks for the interest though

[Shadowfane]

*short answer* as always, we got sidetracked

 

*long answer* - more like what Swig said above

[HowNot2Wargame]

Cool - look forward to the resumption when it comes.

[Spindle]

Nice outside? In Manchester? I'll believe that when I see it :-p. I'm part of a small Malifaux consortium in nearby Lancaster (Yay outcasts!) So we might well run into each other at nearby events and tournaments at some point. I actually braved the Manchester swarm last weekend to visit the Christmas markets (and pick up some spray primer from GW while I was at it)

[Shadowfane]

Dude.... Halfords grey primer..... it's the way forwards, I'm telling you!

Well, that and Vallejo surface primer...

[Swiglitz]

Behold our triumphant return!

 

Well … Not triumphant per se … Alright it’s more of a causal return, a nonchalant stroll back through the Breach to the city where Bad Things happen.

 

This update is just to say that normal service will resume this weekend, and although it is unlikely any actual gaming will take place due to various reasons, we will be gathering to discuss that most unlikely of events; the long awaited campaign!

 

I know, I know, I’ve promised this before and so far failed to deliver but I have actually written it now (more or less) and this Friday The Transcredible Minions that we are, shall be meeting to discuss the rules, determine plots and write up Conspiracies. Amongst other things.

 

I’m very much in the camp of giving games context and story and so I plan to begin an in-character diary of my progress through the campaign and very much hope my fellow minions will join me. In order to keep this thread from being side-tracked by my bewildering array of terrible prose, I shall constrain this to a blog and keep this thread free for battle reports and campaign discussion. With perhaps the occasional barbed insult or callow whine.

 

On a not entirely unrelated note, I am currently without my Malifaux rulebook and find myself in need of favour. If one of you kind souls could list the names of the Story encounters from the M2E Rulebook for me, I would be in your debt. I don't need any other details of the Encounters, just a list of the names. Either on here or in a PM would be awesome.

 

Anyway, I’ve prattled long enough, it feels good to be back and I shall update you all further after Friday.

 

Cheers,

[asrian]

Enjoy.

Story Strategies

Jail Break
Reconnoiter
Destroy Evidence
Arcane Ritual
Turf War
Theft
Stake a Claim
Escort
Search
Squatter's Rights
Treasure Hunt
Supply Wagon
Sabotage
Shindig

Faction Schemes

Guild - Roundup
Resurrectionists - Spread of Decay
Arcanist - Gathering Power
Neverborn - Exterminate
Outcast - For the Money
Gremlins - Fight Another Day
Ten Thunders - Watchful Eyes

CrossRoads Strategies

Guild:
- The Race Begins
- True Colors

Ressurectionist:
- Assault on the Gray Lord

Arcanist:
- A Bold Faced Lie
- Joint Task Force
- Disrupt the Ritual

Neverborn:
- Gallery of Nightmare
- The Music Carries On

Outcast:
- Frantic Search
- The Madness at Stranglehold
- The Next Move

Gremlin:
- Hog Wrastlin'
- Fight Night

- Dolly Makin' Time

Ten Thunders:
- Bloody Ties
- Ozmandias
- Transport Relic

[asrian]

Double Post. For some reason I'm getting horrible response time on the forums today.

[Swiglitz]

That's fantastic. Thank you very much

[Swiglitz]

Ahoy,

 

This week we bring you the start of the much-maligned and long awaited campaign! Holy sh*t! We’re actually starting this bad-boy.

 

So … As you may or may not have noticed, Malifaux is all about story as far as I’m concerned. The campaign, tentatively entitled ‘Conspiracies’, is all about story. Each player gets a plot, a list of nefarious actions they must complete, in and around the city, in order to win. Each plot is unique to each particular player, formed at least in part, by his or her fitting together of its disparate elements. There is also a communal locations pool that each player draws from. These locations are the places in Malifaux that each player must visit while following their plot.

 

We started our grand experiment by generating plots. I won’t bore you with the minutia of the mechanics just yet but our plots turned up some interesting stories. I’ll leave each of the other players to explain their plots and thinking, and focus mainly on mine.

 

My plot is all about Nicodem. Possessed by the idea of a grand summoning, one capable of awakening the numbers of the dead last seen during The Event, he enlists the aid of Dr. Douglas McMourning and convinces him to help. Nicodem has learned of the existence of one Professor Mordecai Shrubane, a noted astronomer and dabbler in the Arcane. The Professor’s work on astral alignment and planetary conjunctions has provided Nicodem with great insight into harnessing such power to better work his foul magics. Thus, Malifaux’s undertaker has decided to ‘acquire’ the Professor’s expertise for his own master-works.

 

First, Professor Shrubane’s own laboratory must be rendered inoperable. As the Professor lives in his laboratory its destruction will make his subsequent abduction that much easier. However, this simple act of sabotage is hindered by the various wards and magical defences Shrubane has in place to protect him during his experiments.

 

Once the Professor’s lab is demolished, Nicodem plans on sending his co-conspirator McMourning to abduct him, and bring him for an ‘interview’. The secrets gleaned from this meeting of academic minds should provide Nicodem with everything he needs to attempt his grand summoning. Although more than a little deranged McMourning should be capable of fetching the poor Professor, even if the route he has planned takes them past the Hanging Tree.

 

If all goes according to plan, Nicodem will then perform his ritual, from the comfort of his laboratory and in a final crowning moment of glory cast down the Governer-General and replace him as undisputed master of Malifaux. *insert megalomaniacal laughter*

 

At least that’s his plan.

 

In order for me to complete this endeavour, I will need a conspiracy of masters, minions and Soulstones worthy of the task. The campaign allows each player to field two masters and 100 ss to build a pool of models, upgrades and stones for the cache. This pool will be the only resources each player will have access to when designing crews for the various encounters ahead.

 

100 Soultones is no small sum. However, it rapidly runs out, as I found out. Following my plot, I know well in advance which encounters I will need to complete, but not whom I will be facing. This made for a tough call regarding my models. I know I’m going to need as flexible a force as I can manage, while still retaining enough specialisation to actually complete my objectives.

 

Hmmm.

 

After much deliberation I have decided on the following for my roster:

 

Nicodem.

Dr. Douglas McMourning.

Vulture.

Zombie Chihuahua.

Mortimer.

Sebastian.

2 x Punk Zombie.

2 x Necropunk.

2 x Rotten Belle.

2 x Canine Remains.

Flesh Construct.

Nurse.

Rafkin.

 

My pool of upgrades will be:

Love Thy Master.

Necrotic King.

Undertaker.

Corpse Bloat.

My Favourite Shovel.

Decaying Aura.

Moonlighting.

Plastic Surgery.

2 x Transfusion.

Those are not ours.

 

Leaving me 4 stones left to add to any caches as the game progresses.

 

On reflection I think this provides me with enough grunt, support and numbers to win my three plot encounters. I’m disappointed I couldn’t get Chiaki in the Conspiracy, but she doesn’t fit thematically right now. The campaign does allow players to hire new models as the stories progress, so she might show up later, as might the Rogue Necromancy and Bete Noir. One important consideration for me is only models in the conspiracy can be chosen for encounters, so any models I summon during a game will be discarded once the encounter ends.

 

All that remains is for me to list which three of the four locations we determined are the ones my conspiracy will take place in … But I’m not going to do that here. Locations are kept secret from the other players. Everyone knows roughly where you’re going, the location pool is the same for all players, but not the order you’ll visit them.

 

The campaign should kick off proper on Saturday, when we play our first turs, and hopefully get our first encounters.

 

I shall be back then with a further update. Look out for Vaiuri’s Shadowfane’s, and Suvavlas’ introductions in the coming days, and hopefully some fluff/stories too.

 

Cheers,

[asrian]

I have mixed feelings for you and your group. On the one hand I'm hoping for a great campaign and can't wait to hear about it, on the other...damn dirty ressers (And I say that while looking at my newly arrived crew that the postman just brought to me...sweet sweet McMourning, but I picked him up for play later this year as I just want the nurses for now for Jack Daw). Best of luck to you guys.

[Dante83]

This sounds like a lot of fun and I will be following your progress. Who knows I may be inspired to write the campaign I've been threatening for years!!

[Vaiuri]

It’s good to be back!

 

I’m hoping to start off the campaign with a little prose based prologue, so consider this to be a pre-prologue!  General musings follow over my selection of Masters, the conspiracy itself and the conspiracy members:

 

The Masters.  As the resident friendly Guild representative I plumped for Luscious Lucius, a Master I have no idea how to use; and Lucas McCabe, a Master who hates me.  Or my deck hates him.  Either way, he now has a reputation for throwing the most useless and unlikely items to his crew in an effort to spur them into action: a tin of mackerel, a used hankie, his shoe – all good choices when you repeatedly flip the Black Joker for ‘Take This’!

 

My thoughts on Master selection:  I’m not a very tactical player.  I pick things I think will suit the scenario I’m playing, or will take whatever Master I want to see on the table.  I picked these 2 Masters because I could weave them into the story I created to play though.  PLus, I really want to try out Lucius and need to 'get back on the horse' with McCabe!  With this in mind, let me share with you my conspiracy…

 

The Conspiracy.

 

When the Breach reopened, vast areas around Malifaux were snapped up in a frenzy of lad-grabs, usually by prospectors who were simply hoping to ‘strike it lucky’ and hit a soulstone vein on their patch.  Naturally, the majority of these hopefuls were disappointed, ending up destitute and indebted to the Guild, working to pay off land taxes they could never hope to afford.  Although deeds may pass through the family, sadly, so does the debt, a terrible burden to carry from such high hopes.

Imagine the surprise then, when whispers reach the ear of the Governor’s Secretary that a stubborn hopeful has in FACT found a source of soulstones on their land and has been quietly selling them to the Black Market, knowing they will get a far better price than selling to the Guild as a bondsman. 

The conspiracy begins with the destruction of evidence – the title deeds of the land belonging to Mr Harry Wainwright, followed swiftly by the apprehension of the unlucky prospector as he negotiates with a new buyer.  Finally, the Guild must work to secure the land and site for themselves before it is picked clean by those others ‘in the know’.

 

I hope I've peaked your interest!

 

I'll update later with my conspiracy members

[dancater]

Really looking forward to this one folks, seems a very interesting way of arranging a campaign.

[Swiglitz]

A very breif update to say I've started a blog where I'm going to talk about the mechanics of the campaign and how it evolves over the coming closed Beta-Test, er, I mean exciting and innovative debut!

 

Did I get away with that?

 

What do you mean no? Son of a bi-

 

*We are encountering some minor technical diffculties. Normal service will resume shortly. In the meantime please enjoy the blog, here:http://wyrd-games.net/community/blog/56/entry-81-in-the-beginning/

[Shadowfane]

So, a campaign..... another chance to show my total lack of any tactical aptitude!

 

First, my conspiracy - started off with great forethought, and then some models thrown in "because I like them and I want to use them"

 

Lilith

Zoraida

Bad Juju

2 Waldgeists

2 Silurids

2 Terror Tots

a Nurse (bewitched!)

Performer

Convict Gunslinger

Mature Nephilim

Mr. Graves

Primoridal Magic

 

Upgrades:

Animal Shape

Crystal Ball

Hex Bag

Hexed Among You

Fears given form

Beckon Malifaux

Living Blade

Wicked Mistress

Eternal Fiend

 

with 4ss left for cache and later upgrade purposes.

 

I will edit this post later with thoughts on plot and whatnot, since I'm posting this at work and its time to leave!