About
What Is Warmachine/Hordes?
Warmachine is a miniature wargame. Tabletop miniatures are both a game and a nerd hobby. They are played with small models on a table, with constructed obstacles (fake trees, buildings, walls). Each piece has stats like armor, attack power, defense, weapons and special moves that determine how they play. Pieces move around the table a distance equal to their speed number, which is equivalent to that same number in inches, measured with a ruler. It is essentially a strategy game like chess, except more complicated. To do well, one must first master the basic rules of the game, then memorize your army's stats, followed by the rest of the armies in the game. This way, you will always know what you can do, what the enemy can do to you and how to counter it.
Warmachine and Hordes are not two separate games but two parts of the same one. Warmachine consists of six different factions (Cygnar, Khador, Cryx, Menoth, Retribution, Mercenaries) that use warjacks - mechanical robot-like machines, as their heavy units. Hordes consists of five factions (Trollblods, Circle Orboros, Skorne, Legion of Everblight, Minions) that use beasts as their heavy units. Hordes has slightly different rules than Warmachine, but Hordes and Warmachine armies can play against or with each other in the same game. Thus, they are compatible. Each faction in both Warmachine and Hordes also has its own backstory called its "fluff," which is basically the story behind why that particular army is. See these links for Warmachine rules and Hordes rules, respectively.
So far, I've learned most of the basic rules of the game, and am in the process of memorizing my faction, Cygnar. My play of Warmachine is still at the "casual" level. I'm hoping to eventually devote more time to it, when my brain is less busy. However, to John (Zyrath), this game is the one he loves the most. He is considered to be a decent troll player in our meta (gaming community).
Difference from Warhammer 40k
Warmachine and Hordes differs from Warhammer in their use of castors. Castors are generals that control an army, and each has their own special rules which determine the strategy the entire army will use while playing. Switching out casters completely changes the game play of an army, even if the units are the same. Warhammer does not have casters. This makes Warmachine/Hordes cheaper to play (have to purchase fewer units to start an army and to have several different play styles). Warmachine/Hordes is also significantly less expensive in unit cost. A basic battle box for a starter army costs fifty dollars.
The Hobby: Painting Models
The models themselves are purchased unpainted, and miniature wargamers either paint their own models or pay a professional to paint them. Painting a model well is more complicated than it appears, but can be quite fun. I've begun learning painting basics from Scotty, the resident professional painter at our favorite gaming store, The Tower Game Center.
Current News and Resources
The Warmachine weekend results are in! Check them out at this link. Atlanta once again made a good showing, and John thinks a Cygnar army may have won the day, with Keith Christianson winning the invitational. If so, it is one of its first major tournament wins.
Reference links
See Model Painting Workshop - for pictures of professionally painted models done by Scotty, a professional miniatures painter
Favorite Painting Videos
Cygnar Hunter, Light Warjack
The Beasts of War - Ironclad - Part 1: base coat of gold
The Beasts of War - Ironclad - Part 2: shadowing the gold
The Beasts of War - Ironclad - Part 3: highlighting the gold
The Beasts of War - Ironclad - Part 4: base blue
The Beasts of War - Ironclad - Part 5: finishing up and glowing eyes
Recommended Podcasts by Local Experts
1) Aug. 1, 2012 Walter and Mastershake Talk Retribution
2) Aug. 30, 2012 Team ATL Battle Report
3) Oct. 20, 2012 Team ATL Circle Cast - Walter and Steven, resident Warmachine/Hordes experts, discuss Circle.
See Privateer Press for information about the game
See The Tower Game Center for info about the workshop we typically play at
See Muse on Minis - an excellent podcasting and blogging page for Warmachine/Hordes and other tabletop miniature games
Photo Gallery
John's Mountain King - Trollblood Gargantuan
Tower Games Center - playing the game
Andrew (in gray) and John (Zyrath, in blue) playing Warmachine
Andrew is the Tower Game Center store owner, and friend of ours. He's a really nice guy! He gave John a birthday cake and me a birthday muffin for free for our birthdays.
These pictures show some of the models (unpainted) and obstacles. Each model comes with a stat card, for rule reference and to mark off health boxes with a sharpie when they get hit. |
Steven (in red) and John playing a game. Note the ruler, used for measuring unit movements. Steven is one of the best Warmachine players in Georgia, and the Southeast (Sept, 2012).
Walter Langendorg "the Dorf" (in yellow) playing against Frank (not seen). Walter is also one of the best Warmachine players in the Southeast (Sept, 2012).
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Our friends Daniel and Chip (left to right), brothers, with whom we play Warmachine and the Lord of the Rings card game frequently (Aug, 2012).
John, dealing out cards for The Lord of the Rings card game. It's a cooperative game, with players playing against the deck (monsters), and gets harder the more people play. Game also changes depending on the deck you play and the quest you play against (10-13-12).
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