Some questions about factions in malifaux

[Liwee]

Hi all !!

First thing and the most important in my opinion : all my appologizes for my bad english ! Unfortunatly, i'm the result of french education for english and trust me, that's a disaster ^^ But the good new is i totaly can read and understand everything ^^ don't worry for answers

 

After this short, but essential presentation, that's time to explain why i create this new topic.

Several months ago, i tested malifaux and i admit, that's probably the better game i ever played. So, after this long period, that's time for me to realy start to play ! 
I buy and read all rules books and it's time for me to make my decision about the faction... and that's why i need your help.
Don't worry, i don't ask you to chose a faction for me, but i have some questions for dispel all my doubts.

Actualy, i know what faction i don't want play ( Ten thunders & Guild) !! 

So, time for my questions ^^ 

 

1/ What is the most popular faction in this game ? That's probably stupid but this is an important point for me, i love play underated or not representative faction !! That's not funny when we go in a tournement and see 75% of other player with the same faction ^^

2/ I make some research on internet but i don't find a good guide about the "personality" of faction. I explain what i mean. Master in factions are realy differant but it's possible to extract a type of gameplay for any faction (range attack/close combat/magic/alteration/buff ... ...) ? If the answer is "yes", i definitly appreciate if you can do a little resume of that.

3/ After reading many topic on forum, i realize some caster in this game are specialised on invocation ... and unfortunatly, i HATE invocations in all game >< I just want to know if all faction, one have the "invocation" part more representative (yes, that's answer add automatically on my list of faction i don't want play ahah)

4/ Last questions, i love to play... how tell that ... yes, i'm a bitch !! I love doing trap, move other models, machiavelic plans, hamper ... and hurt vry strong even i'm weak ! That's my favorite style to fight in game generaly. Like for the question N°=3,  one faction have this "profile" ?

 

So that's all for the moment. I hope my english don't make you cry blood tears so much and all be clear ... ok, not clear but comprehensible ^^

Thanks a lot for people who take time to answer at all this newby questions !

[Clockwork Top Hat]

2 minutes ago, Liwee said:

Hi all !!

First thing and the most important in my opinion : all my appologizes for my bad english ! Unfortunatly, i'm the result of french education for english and trust me, that's a disaster ^^ But the good new is i totaly can read and understand everything ^^ don't worry for answers

 

After this short, but essential presentation, that's time to explain why i create this new topic.

Several months ago, i tested malifaux and i admit, that's probably the better game i ever played. So, after this long period, that's time for me to realy start to play ! 
I buy and read all rules books and it's time for me to make my decision about the faction... and that's why i need your help.
Don't worry, i don't ask you to chose a faction for me, but i have some questions for dispel all my doubts.

Actualy, i know what faction i don't want play ( Ten thunders & Guild) !! 

So, time for my questions ^^ 

 

1/ What is the most popular faction in this game ? That's probably stupid but this is an important point for me, i love play underated or not representative faction !! That's not funny when we go in a tournement and see 75% of other player with the same faction ^^

2/ I make some research on internet but i don't find a good guide about the "personality" of faction. I explain what i mean. Master in factions are realy differant but it's possible to extract a type of gameplay for any faction (range attack/close combat/magic/alteration/buff ... ...) ? If the answer is "yes", i definitly appreciate if you can do a little resume of that.

3/ After reading many topic on forum, i realize some caster in this game are specialised on invocation ... and unfortunatly, i HATE invocations in all game >< I just want to know if all faction, one have the "invocation" part more representative (yes, that's answer add automatically on my list of faction i don't want play ahah)

4/ Last questions, i love to play... how tell that ... yes, i'm a bitch !! I love doing trap, move other models, machiavelic plans, hamper ... and hurt vry strong even i'm weak ! That's my favorite style to fight in game generaly. Like for the question N°=3,  one faction have this "profile" ?

 

So that's all for the moment. I hope my english don't make you cry blood tears so much and all be clear ... ok, not clear but comprehensible ^^

Thanks a lot for people who take time to answer at all this newby questions !

1) I can't say for certainty but I believe Guild or Resurrectionist may be most popular but not sure.

2) This is a quick summary of each faction:

Guild: The Guild are the law enforcement in Malifaux. They tend to eschew the trickery and subtlety of other factions in the form of brute force. That doesn't mean they can't play sneakily but they are capable of just putting down a bunch of guys and shooting at everything in sight if you so wish. They have little summoning, are slower at times than other factions and they usually prefer to have a smaller number of stronger models than lot's of weaker ones.

Arcanist: Do you like magic? Good because the arcanists have a lot of it. The arcanists contains several glass canons supported by various beasts and constructs. Magical attacks of various kind are something you should expect from this faction, and the factions as a whole has several models that hand out/benefit from burning. When it comes to defence most rely on having tricks to avoid being near danger or Armour to survive.

Resurrectionists: The faction that loves undead. Probably the strongest faction if you like summoning and/or horror duels. They can hand out poison from a variety of places and killing their models doesn't guarantee you'll stop the zombie horde as the corpses might just get back up. They tend to be easy to hit but have high wounds and various abilities that soak up damage. 

Neverborn: Neverborn crews tend to rely on trickery and deception, using their abilities to influence the flow of the game. Probably the quickest faction on the whole which is good for getting them into melee combat which they love - they have numerous ways of dealing a lot of damage in close combat but many of the models lack the resilience for drawn out combat and the faction has few ranged options. They also have numerous ways to target Wp.

Outcasts: Hard to define their playstyle really except they don't fit into the other factions of Malifaux. Many Outcasts are mercenaries so can be hired into other factions (for a price)

The 10 Thunders: The 10 Thunders have infiltrated all the other factions of Malifaux. Most of their masters are dual faction and can hire certain models regardless of which faction they are playing in. Because of this they can play most styles effectively depending on the individual master.

Gremlins: Gremlins are not smart, and are just as capable of hurting themselves as they are the opponent. They have several ways to mimic the abilities of other factions though usually at the risk of something going wrong. They have decent ranged and melee options.

More information here: https://pullmyfinger.wikispaces.com/Choosing+a+Master

 

3) By invocation do you mean in the Dungeons and Dragons sense? If so avoid Rasputina or Kaeris from the Arcanists or Sonnea Crid from The Guild. Overall Arcanists probably have the most blasters but it's not a huge number really compared to their other options.

4) Based of this I'd say Neverborn suit you. They have a variety of manipulative tricks from moving enemy models around, to stopping them moving all together to even making your opponent's models taking actions for you

 

If you have any more questions just say.

[vulky]

1- The players are well distributed usually, I suggest checking you local store or club (your potential group) and see for yourself what the players of your area are playing.

2- Theres are differences in styles, usually Guild is shooty, Ressers and Neverborn are melee, Arcanists have magic stuff... But every single faction has the exception to the rule tho so you can find everything on every faction.

3- The faction with the most summoning is Resurrectionists, I think every single master has summoning tricks.

4- I'd say that's Neverborn. Lilith ignores LoS and can swap one of your models with one of the enemy models, teleporting a big hitter into the enemy crew and bringing a weak enemy into her side. Pandora abuses the Willpower checks and hits enemies with their own damage, when someone tries to hit her, she most likely pushes into safety. Lynch can bring a free Henchman and collect Aces from the deck and then discard them at the end of his activation to do 2 damage for each Ace. Zoraida summons a Voodoo doll which gets bound to an enemy, and anything that happens to the doll happens to the bound enemy (5 burning and paralyze on the doll means 10 damage and no activation for the enemy model, then heal the doll and do it again.

I tried to find some examples of bullshit Neverborn tricks you might like, you won't like the Dreamer though as he is the summoner of the faction (he does have interesting mechanics though).

 

Or you can just play Colette, that is a bitch.

[Liwee]

Thx a lot for quick answer !! that's help for my decision.
Btw , i don't mention that on my first post but my 2 favorites factions just after reading books are Neverborn & outcast (neverborn in first place to be honest) and read you convince me more in that !!

Thx for the link btw, this wiki seem's rly interested, i'm going to read it now !!

 

If someone want answer too, all opinion are good for me

[Clockwork Top Hat]

For your first master I'd recommend Lilith. Not only does she seem to tick all your boxes she is (in my opinion) the easiest Neverborn master to start with and she has such a wide variety of options that you can go on from there. 

[Liwee]

actualy my favorite master in neverborn was  Pandora, Lynch and collodi (visual and why i imagine when i read cards)

 

I try to find some informations about lilith ! thx for advice

[Parker Barrows]

Yeah. I had the same list of Neverborn Masters when I started. I picked up Lilith's box because - at the time - it was the newest Neverborn plastic, and I was waiting for the others to be released. She's probably my favorite Neverborn, if not favorite Master (I at least dabble in all but Guild and own all the Masters for a few). She throws up forests, pushes everything around, manipulates terrain. She appears like a beatstick (because she is), but she has a solid control game. Plus, you'll get Terror Tots who happen to be one of these best scheme runners in the game. Barbaros (and his Challenge) are fun to annoy your opponent with.

On the scale of depth and complexity, I always found Lilith to have a huge amount of depth, but still be fairly simple (at least relative to other Masters) to play.

That's not to say Pandora, Lynch, and Collodi are not fun. They are. But if you're going for a faction not a specific Master, I always suggest Lilith to the new Neverborn player. Her box is full of great models you'll use with the others, and you can get the hang of her fairly quick but still be able to pull off a bunch of tricks on your opponent.

Finally, the Starter set has some great Neverborn models. They're Nephilim so they're "Lilith's" but they're solid in other crews too (plus, they'll give you some range models which you'll quickly notice the Neverborn lack).

[Liwee]

unfortunaly, i don't like at all nephilim models (i mean miniature and design) ... that's why lilith don't attract me because if i understand well, she play ony with this kind of models ?

Other stupid question, when a capacity tell "choose a friendly model ... ..." , the person who cast this capacity considering himself like a friendly model ? (i tell you, that's a stupid question, but i prefere asking :p)

[spielervier]

19 minutes ago, Liwee said:

when a capacity tell "choose a friendly model ... ..." , the person who cast this capacity considering himself like a friendly model ?

You can always draw LoS to yourself and you're always friendly to yourself.

[Liwee]

thanks a lot

[Bengt]

1 hour ago, Liwee said:

unfortunaly, i don't like at all nephilim models (i mean miniature and design) ... that's why lilith don't attract me because if i understand well, she play ony with this kind of models ?

Lilith can use any Neverborn models. While I guess some do play Nephilim lists I've gotten the impression that most people play her with mostly other stuff.

[Clockwork Top Hat]

I'm not a fan of Nephilim either. Angel Eyes, Tuco and Mr Graves are the only ones I use with her and most Neverborn models can work well with her. I usually run her with Waldergeists and Beckoners.

[Durza]

11 hours ago, spielervier said:

You can always draw LoS to yourself and you're always friendly to yourself.

Just so long as the wording doesn't say target other friendly model.

[spielervier]

1 hour ago, Durza said:

Just so long as the wording doesn't say target other friendly model.

Even then you have LoS to and are friendly to yourself. You just can't use the action because of additional requirements. Which is of course something that comes on top every time you want to do an action (e.g. "Minion Model" on an action executed by a master).

[Durza]

Hmm, not sure why I quoted you there, I thought I was just replying to the topic. I was just pointing out a lot of people miss when it says other, or assume it's there when is not, I've done it. 

[Liwee]

Thx a lot for all answer, i realy appreciate !

 

A last stupid question and i leave you after ^^ i almost finish to build my 3 lists but i have a little hesitation for the last with Lynch

 

So, stupid question is ==> when i play lynch and declare neverborn for crew, can i take all ten thunders charactere i want without restriction or only model with "darkened" characteristic ?

Second question if the answer at the first is "yes you can take what you want", i want take in my list "kang". Can i give him a neverborn upgrate even he's not or i can't give him any upgrate because he's only ten thunders and my crew is neverborn ?

 

Thx again for answer !!! I promise, i take a break after with begeeners asking

[Clockwork Top Hat]

1) If you take Lynch in Neverborn you can only hire ten thunders models with the darkened characteristic (and if memory serves your limited in number), are mercenaries (like the Oiran) or that are dual faction with Neverborn (such as Mr Graves)

2) Whenever you hire a model out of faction that can take upgrades (so a henchman or enforcer) they use the upgrades available to your declared faction.

 

So no sorry you can't take Kang with Neverborn Lynch though you could with 10 thunders Lynch.

[Liwee]

ok ok ok !! so, i need rework all my neverborn lynch and delete kang of it (i secretly cry, i admit) !! 

 

[Dogmantra]

The upgrade goes on your declared faction's emissary, so if you're playing Ten Thunders you can take the Shadow Emissary and attach Lynch's upgrade, but if you're playing Neverborn you can take the Mysterious Emissary and attach the same upgrade.

 

Basically to take a model in a faction it has to have that faction's icon on it, be a mercenary, or have some special rule that lets you take it, which will be listed on the master's card normally.

[Liwee]

ok ok, i understand everything now ^^ thx !!

 

finaly i finish on that =>

 

JAKOB LYNCHE : Woke up with a hand / the rising sun / wanna see a trick      5ss  
 * Hungering darkness : Addict                                                                    1ss
 * Beckoner                                                                                               7ss
 * Beckoner                                                                                               7ss
 * Illuminated                                                                                            7ss
 * Illuminated                                                                                            7ss
 * Doppleganger                                                                                        7ss  
 * Hans                                                                                                    9ss                                                                                 
                          

TOTAL                                                                                                    50SS

 

I don't know if it's effective or not, if hans & dopple are good choise or not but ... i need try

 

[Freman]

Doppleganger is always good. It's like having a second of any model whose ability she's copying.

Hans is a good shooter, and if Doppleganger copies his attack ability you don't have to worry about the opponent dumping cards to make her automatically fail the attack.

However, as in everything in Malifaux, schemes and strategies decide your crew, and those are what you play to. "Is a crew good?" isn't a question you can answer until you know what you want the crew to do. Of course you can always pick a crew you like and then pick strategies from the pool that suit them.

Yesterday I played my first game with Jack Daw, and because I wanted to try a bit of everything I took

Outcasts
50ss Crew

Jack Daw -- 5ss
 +Guillotine Injustice - 0ss
 +Twist And Turn - 2ss
 +Writing Torment - 2ss
 +Drowning Injustice - 0ss
 +Firing Squad Injustice - 0ss

Crooked Man - 5ss

Jaakuna Ubume - 6ss
 +The Creeping Terror - 1ss

Johan - 6ss

Nurse - 5ss

The Drowned - 6ss

The Guilty - 5ss

The Hanged - 9ss
 

We were playing in an asylum made by our local henchman, and I ended up facing Rasputina for the first time. Now despite the fact that I lost Jack, Jaakuna, and Johan, leaving me with just five minions, and only killed one Ice Gamin over the course of the game, because I completed the schemes and strats we both ended up with 10 points each. Killing models doesn't necessarily win games.

[Liwee]

i totaly understand what you mean with your conclusion.

I probably make 2 games tomorow, i test my list and a little modification (kick out hans and put 2 depleted) ^^

 

[-Loki-]

On 16 April 2016 at 3:33 AM, Liwee said:

unfortunaly, i don't like at all nephilim models (i mean miniature and design) ... that's why lilith don't attract me because if i understand well, she play ony with this kind of models ?

Lilith plays well with most Neverborn, but her box has some very useful models. Terror Tots are the factions go to scheme runners, especially with Lynch. They have an ability that lets them double walk for a single action as long as you flip/cheat a mask. This means they can move 20" in one turn, reliably with Lynch if you get an ace of masks.

While they have a box themselves, her crew box also includes Barbaros, a nice tanky henchman whose Challenge ability works great with Pandora, forcing lots of Willpower duels which will either cause Misery auras to cause damage, makes your opponent use more cards to cheat those duels, or keep damage off the squishier elements of the crew. Win/win, really.