Iron Kingdoms: Vassal Style
By Bobb Beauchamp– April 18, 2012
With TC’s addition of Privateer Press’ flagship game to the store, this seems like the perfect time to start up…a Warmachine/Hordes Vassal E-mail League!
The skinny is that I’ve been playing WM/H…or what I’m starting to think of as the Iron Kingdoms games, because WM/H is hard to say, and Warmahordes sounds almost dirty…on Vassal for a good while now. It’s probably passed Monpoc in terms of the time I spend playing these days. And lately, my regular opponents and I have been chatting, in between turns spent trying to kill each other’s caster, about expanding our one-off games into a league.
With some modifications, I think we’re ready to make a go of it. I’m planning on using the Journeyman setup and schedule the first time out, with the biggest difference being that I don’t intend to use hobby points, only battle points, and those might be capped to a certain number of games per week. Also, I don’t have any cool prizes to hand out, so this is strictly for fun, learning, and bragging rights. Which is why I don’t want to let points get too crazy out of hand.
So far, we have 4 total players expressing an interest to participate. I want at least 6, but more than 10 makes me a little leery. I’d like to avoid any duplicate factions, but at the same time I won’t stop anyone from picking something already selected.
So, here’s an open call to the TC community! Note, this is a Vassal e-mail league. That’s not saying that you can’t play your games on a real table and face-face with your opponent, but at some point, you’ll need access to e-mail, Vassal, and the time to play at least 2 games a week. Starting with Battle Box forces, games in the first 2 weeks should play fairly quickly, and even bumping up to 25 points, you still won’t have a ton of activations to run through in a turn.
Note, the new 4.2 Iron Kingdoms Vassal module was just released. There are some big enhancements over the 4.1 module, although I’m finding there are a couple things I’m missing as well, but overall it’s a step forward, and the 4.1 module wasn’t shabby to begin with.
So if you’re interested, PM me, or just post here!
Being one of the four who have already expressed interest, I figure I’d make that interest public. I’m certainly in for this, and very much looking forward to it. Now the hard part is picking a faction. I suppose I should pick something I haven’t played yet, which is still a good number of factions. But it’s hard to steer away from those I already have interest in and dabbled around with to some extent. And then, there is the faction that I actually have a good amount of real hardware for, which will be my IRL faction if I ever find some local games to head to. Decisions decisions!
I’m right there with you, Nick. Obviously, I’ve got Trolls irl, but I’ve been dabbling with Cygnar for a while and recently started playing with Protectorate.
I’m actually thinking that, for the purposes of the Journeyman, I may take a faction that I really dislike (fluff wise or because I think they’re OP or both!) just to learn them better.
Know your enemy, that sort of thing.
Then again, I may just stick with things I already enjoy. I don’t want to be stuck playing a faction I hate for weeks on end.
It won’t be weeks on end…since this is a trial run at an e-mail league, I thought we’d stick with the standard 6 week Journeyman force composition:
Week 1 Battlegroup box set only
Week 2 15 points: Battlegroup box set contents required
Week 3 25 points: Battlegroup box set contents required
Week 4 25 points: Battlegroup box set contents required (’caster swap allowed)
Week 5 35 points: Battlegroup box set contents required (original or swapped ‘caster allowed)
Week 6 35 points: No restrictions
If someone’s got a force they absolutely hate, I don’t see any point in forcing them to continue with that force…it’s about having fun, after all. At the same time, it’s only 6 weeks, and it may take a week or three before you start to see how the force you’ve chosen works.
Cryx is my IRL faction, and the one I’ve been playing the most with on Vassal. But I also have strong leanings towards the Retribution and the Protectorate, both of which I’ve played one or two games with. On the Hordes side, I’ve gotten in a game with Circle, who’s at the top of my interest on the fury end of things. I’ve also got a pair of factions I’m interested in trying out: Cygnar and Skorne (and to a lesser extent Khador), but both you and Bobb have those covered as well. I can’t say I’m all that interested in taking on of the ones I like the least to “learn how the enemy works”. I’ve found out enough of that first hand from being on the other end of the electronic table from them. Stupid Legion….
That’s funny, my Legion are often heard to mumble “stupid Cryx” all the time now.
I’d certainly like to either call dibs on Circle OR maybe fudge the “battlebox caster only til week 4″ part. Kaya is about the only battlebox caster I can stomach. I’m particular!
I can sacrifice Circle if it makes this league more likely to happen…
I’m happy to try the Cryx battlebox caster. 0=)
Honestly, I have several factions I’d be happy to try.
I prefer playing what I own. So that’s either Cryx or Legion.
Just running down:
Gary: Legion of Everblight
Nick: Skorne
Jeff: Circle Orboros
Phil: Cryx
Bobb: Four Star Syndicate (Magnus)
MrFroggies: Protectorate of Menoth
There’s a lot of options everyone has there
And there’s no rule that everyone plays something different. With only 5 or 6, though, that might be better overall.
I’ll go with Legion. I guess they call Hordes battle boxes, war packs. So, looks like Lylyth, 4 Shredders and Carni, right? (I didn’t start with a battle box).
Aye, that’s the Legion Battle Box.
Sweet idea. I’m getting my fair share of live games with the journeyman league here at the store so I won’t be able to join, but it’s sure to be a blast. I want to see logs!
Same here. Love the idea. Too many opportunities to play people in person to be sitting at a screen so sadly I’m out. Great for those without a solid LGS (or time to visit said LGS).
That’s the idea. Almost universally, people I speak to that have active groups are glad the Vassal module is around, but have little interest or time because they’re actually playing at the LGS or whatever venue. This really is for the rest of us, who either don’t live near an active venue, or just don’t have the time to devote to a local Journeyman event.
I would like to express interest, it will get me started into the game considering were getting a scene started in my hometown…
I’m also interested. I haven’t played yet so I’ll be an easy mark, but it’ll be a good way for me to learn the game. Any suggestions for a good starting force from the more experienced players? I’m looking for simple and easy to pick up on.
That’s actually the whole point of the Journeyman league. Everyone starts with the default “battle box” set which is typically 3 warnouns and a warcaster/lock. From that 10-13 points it gradually builds in more and more points of figures until you get up to 35 points, which seems to be a pretty typical level.
Everything’s simple to start, as Phil says. Khador may be the most direct, as the BB is just the caster and two heavy jacks. I think that’s the fewest models of all the starter boxes. Most have 4, caster, 2x lights, 1x heavy. Trollbloods come with 3x lights, but the caster is on a bigger base, so he kinda counts as another light. Legion has 6 figures, but 4 are lesser beasts.
Khador also has a more direct style of play, which Trollbloods do as well…be tough, get across the field, absorb insane amounts of damage, and still be able to deliver a crushing attack.
I’d actually say Menoth would be an easier Faction to play than Khador. They have somewhat similar play styles(Menoth is shootier, but not at the Battlebox) but you will really feel hampered by how slow Khador jacks are when you first start playing. Not to mention Kreoss is the battlebox caster who has probably one of the simplest and most effective Feats and spell lists. Just like my opinion.
Shhhhh, me no likey the mass prostrate feat!
Not to mention all the fire! Probably makes me freak out more than anything when my caster catches fire… and I play some pretty tough casters.
Yea, when all your undead minions catch fire there is no unjoy.
Stop, drop, and roll never really caught on in the Iron Kingdoms.
Heh, ja that drives me nuts. I can spend a Fury/Focus to stand up but I can’t spend one to put out the fire that’s one me? Even if I’m standing in a Swamp Pit?
Swamp pits are full of flammable gases….
We need a mercenary fire brigade.
My only comment on this is that a warmachine force will be simpler than a hordes force, due to the differences between the focus and fury mechanics. Although I’d say the hordes force will be more effective, particularly at the battle box level where it’s just a caster and a few jacks/beasts.
It sort of balances out at the battlebox level because as soon as the Warlock loses a beast they are down a Fury generator they can’t really afford to lose at that level. Warcasters get more powerful… the same trade off as usual but it’s magnified due to the lack of any other pieces.
So the hordes are sprinting even harder then. And it becomes even more important for the warmachine player to make sure he kills whatever beast he goes after.
It would be interesting to do a breakdown on fury/focus spent/available per turn of a game, to see where things start to drop off. Because even if they start losing beasts, they can sacrifice a few boxes of health to keep running full tilt. When do those few health levels become the tipping point between winning/losing….
Immediately. As soon as a warlock gets to where they are killing themselves just to have transfer fury, it’s so over.
By the time the Warlock is having to bleed for Fury the game is certainly to a point where it’s likely about to end one way or the other. The thing to remember is that just because they’re inflicting a little harm on themselves, it doesn’t mean they can’t harm the enemy ‘lock/’caster.
I was just in a game where the enemy warlock had to bleed for 5 Fury because of some problems with his beast activations. That same turn, my caster got completely annihilated.
Just don’t forget that they’re still carrying that sword they used to cut themselves for a little Fury… and it’s still very, very sharp.
Phil beat me to it, but I’ve had games where I’ve bled across several turns in order to get the most out of my caster. Smaller games, that’s more risky, because there’s less on the table to screen and protect your warlock.
The thing to remember is that your warlock, unlike your warnouns, does not lose effectiveness due to damage. Your caster is just as deadly at full health as they are at 1. I view each of those health points as a resource, and so long as I have even 1, I’m still in the game. And many casters are very capable of either scoring a single turn kill, or setting some other figure up for the single turn kill.
Overall, I’ve found that Focus allocation is more tricky than Fury forcing. You can be a bit more of a seat of the pants player running a Fury list. You’ll eventually run into Threshold checks, but you’ll rarely be short of resources to do what you want. Focus use takes a lot more pre-turn planing that I’m really not that good at. I’m more of a “Hulk Smash” player, than a complicated, orchestrated plan player.
Still you have to admit, death-knell situation. You might pull off something, but it’s a razor’s edge at the point you must bleed to get to full fury.
Focus is rough. You want to use your spells, but your ARM and good positioning is all that’s keeping you alive. Your jacks will half-ass it in the field if you don’t pay them. Arc-nodes to the rescue, maybe — and then at the end, when there are no jacks you have a similar bind to what warlocks are in…just not nearly as bad.
When you’re bleeding because all your beasts are dead, yes, that’s a grim situation. Not so much because you’re bleeding for that turn, but because you’ll have to bleed every turn from that point on. When you’re bleeding here and there because there’s a tactical reason to do so, or when it’s only for 1 turn, it’s less of the bell tolling for your caster than it is doing what needs to be done to win.
I was the other player in Phil’s example, and in my case, I had 2 heavies. I used my Bronzeback to screen, and intended to max my Gladiator, but I forgot to use Rush, so the charge it made was short…end of activation, no riling allowed. I ended my turn with zero Fury on both my beasts and my caster. I could have held my ground and generated Fury on my next turn, but I saw an assassination chance, and bled for 5 in order to pull it off.
Lucky for Xerxis that Tyrant Vorkesh is one mean Skorne.
If you are cutting for Fury you either messed up(which is dangerous in this game… even the slightest error) and you are about to die or you cut because your beasts have taken a beating and you are about to die. Very rarely do I score a victory if I’m cutting because I don’t have enough beasts to generate fury.
I need to play epic hexeris against you. See if you don’t cut on feat turn.
Well of course eHexy is a different story, or anyone that steal your Fury. I’m talking about outside those situations.
Yah, like ANYONE in Circle. One Feral Warpwolf can ruin your day, even if it is out of attack range.
Ok, ordered Primal MKII today. Realized why I didn’t have it, but thought I did. The LGS I asked to get it for me closed. Should have it about the time the league starts.
We have 6 interested! I’m not closing entry just yet, but I do want to start securing factions for everyone. So far Gary has locked down Legion. My first choice is Skorne or Cygnar, so unless Nick or Phil want to run either of those, I’ll take them, in that order.
I’ll pick last, as I’m not nearly as picky as I claim to be. Just let me know when it’s my turn!
I’m updating the list above as factions are announced. Gary and I so far are set.
We have our factions chosen:
Gary: Legion of Everblight
Nick: Skorne
Jeff: Circle Orboros
Phil: Cryx
Bobb: Four Star Syndicate (Magnus)
MrFroggies: Protectorate of Menoth
Nice mix, 3 Hordes, 3 Warmachine. There’s still room for more, but I want to start our first week on Monday, so I’m going to close entry on Sunday at let’s say noon, Central time.
I don’t know about any of the starters so I’ll trust you guys to randomize one for me…
No faction catching your eye yet? I started out liking Skorne’s construct soldiers and Circle’s golem beasts — and now find myself heavily favoring giant trolls. Wild ride on the way!
We’re now up to 7! Welcome aboard, Wesley
There’s a few hours yet today to throw your hat into the ring! We’re using the slow-grow Journeyman format to guide us through these 6 weeks.
New addition!
Gary: Legion of Everblight
Nick: Skorne
Jeff: Circle Orboros
Phil: Cryx
Bobb: Four Star Syndicate (Magnus)
MrFroggies: Protectorate of Menoth
Wesley: Cryx
I’ll send out a summary of format and list schedule later today! Games officially start tomorrow, but if you want to start getting setup and some early turns in today, go for it!
Kickoff league e-mail has gone out! We’ve got 7, so there’s still room for a few more if interested.
And the games are off! i’ve got games going against Skorne, Legion, and Cryx. Magnus so far hasn’t gotten too mad at me for the mistakes I’ve been making, but a failed charge with the Mangler is going to cost me.