Brasidas Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 As miniatures gamers, I think we tend to identify and stick with one team or faction. We have Guild players, Neverborn players, etc; even diehards who own multiple crews will, I think, primarily identify with one force over another--I know I did when I started. However, I've lately been pondering the merits of pan-factionism, i.e. playing everything. Since in Malifaux, we generate terrain, mission, and schemes first, and only then do we build crews, being unpredictable with one's list could (in addition to being fun) it could net you an advantage. Guild players can't optimize against Arcanists if they don't know that you'll be fielding Ramos. Marcus can't optimize against a beast list if he's not sure you're taking beasts, etc. Has anyone else tried this, or am I the only one stupid/crazy enough to consider it? I've branched out into a 2nd faction last weekend, and hope to add a crew per month until I get something from every faction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEiRD sKeTCH Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 I currently own all the releases. I guess that makes me a sucker! But, I do have a bias slant towards the Neverborn. I just like playing the bad guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasidas Posted November 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 I currently own all the releases. I guess that makes me a sucker! But, I do have a bias slant towards the Neverborn. I just like playing the bad guys. Lol, but have you ever switched crews on the fly, either for kicks, or to throw off an opponent? Or do you generally tell the other guy what you're bringing to the table? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricJ Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 It's actually purposefully built into the rules! A champion level Malifaux player is one who will likely be able to play every crew well, adapting to any situation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perplexiti Posted November 9, 2009 Report Share Posted November 9, 2009 (edited) Well I've got all the Guild stuff coming my way, so I guess I'm a Guild player. Although saying that, I do plan on getting some Ressurectionists in the not too distant future, and after that at least one crew from every faction. Edited November 9, 2009 by perplexiti apparently I can't spell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyBones Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 I've got the Ramos and Rasputina crews and just started assembling my Lady Justice box. I like the fact that the crews are cheap enough to afford multiples without having to make an entire "army". Here is to hoping Wyrd never decides to make this anything other than a small skirmish game! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEiRD sKeTCH Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Lol, but have you ever switched crews on the fly, either for kicks, or to throw off an opponent? Or do you generally tell the other guy what you're bringing to the table? Not yet. Actually, what I usually do is ask my opponent what they'd like to face. Perhaps one day I'll just break out a random crew to surprise myself as well as my opponent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nerdelemental Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 I've got a bit of everything going on, too. Like WS, I prefer Neverborn but also really enjoy my Vikkies. Guild when I'm feeling dirty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gregdorf Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 At what point would you decide what you are playing, after you know what your opponent is playing. If I played against people that did not decide what to bring till after they knew what I had, I would find that in poor taste. On the other hand I would find it very interesting if faction/master selection was random for both players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redstripe Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 I've got a bit of everything going on, too. Like WS, I prefer Neverborn but also really enjoy my Vikkies. One of the Vikkies is Neverborn... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasidas Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 At what point would you decide what you are playing? If & when I seriously start to change my crew from game to game, I would tell my opponent that I was building a list after terrain, mission, and schemes had been determined, and that he should act accordingly. As an aside, I appreciate the way a clever player could possibly deduce what faction an opponent is taking by the schemes announced. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goblyn13 Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 One of the Vikkies is Neverborn... Only by Birth, not by trade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AoM Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 If & when I seriously start to change my crew from game to game, I would tell my opponent that I was building a list after terrain, mission, and schemes had been determined, and that he should act accordingly. Technically, while the order in the book supports you, you'll need to have a faction picked out before you get to Schemes. Schemes are announced after crews are chosen. I have crews for every faction, and even if another crew doesn't personally float my boat, I make sure to know how to play it. Can't be a good Henchman without being able to give other players advice, after all. And, like you said, you can't know how to get the most out of your models until you know what the other guy can do/is afraid of. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasidas Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) Technically, while the order in the book supports you, you'll need to have a faction picked out before you get to Schemes. Not necessarily, at least, if I'm understanding correctly. True, if you select Kidnap as your scheme, you have to choose Neverborn. And if you announce something like Army of the Dead, well, you've just announced your faction. However, nothing's stopping you from picking Bodyguard or Breakthrough in the hopes that your opponent will reveal what he's playing... In other words, you don't choose your faction before scheme, but sometimes your scheme will choose the faction. Edited November 10, 2009 by Brasidas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AoM Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 (edited) We're saying the same thing, almost. Schemes are announced, if announcing them, before the first initiative flip of the game. Strategies have been flipped, schemes have been chosen secretly, crews have been hired, and models have been deployed on the table. Whether I announce Kidnap or not, my opponent will already know I'm playing Neverborn because I'll have the models on the table. If you've chosen a faction-only schemes, you have to have taken a crew from that faction (or have wasted a choice, I guess). You can choose a faction-neutral scheme. Either way, the schemes are chosen before crews are hired. You won't know what you're opponent is bringing until the models hit the table, and by then, it's too late to change anything. Scheme* announcement is the very last thing before the actual game begins. Edited November 10, 2009 by AoM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brasidas Posted November 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 Ah, I hadn't twigged to the fact that Schemes weren't declared until right before the start of the game. D'oh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WEiRD sKeTCH Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 SCHEME announcement is the very last thing before the actual game begins. Fixed that for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AoM Posted November 10, 2009 Report Share Posted November 10, 2009 gratz, WS! Ghost to the rescue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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