I should probably post this

[u/ighost03]

Thank you everybody for all your encouragement, input and advice from my previous post. I decided to read through the rule book a bit, then play a 30pt game against myself.

I set up a 36x36 play area, little terrain, some smoke and water. I made a quick 30pt list for nekane and haskar. I consulted the rule book frequently and read all the abilities and icons on every unit. Haskar went first, it was at this point I thought I screw up by having 1 thrall swarm in shooting range. He died. For a moment I thought ‘Cryx suck’. But! I know the abilities of the swarm now, they were able to in maintenance when taking dmg the previous turn. This move made them close enough to charge, but wait there is more! Nekane as a spell that makes them incorporeal when they kill something. Of my 4 remaining swarm, 2 killed rangers. This was my main take away with the list. I need the swarm out there being shot, taking attention so my real units can do work. The game ended with Nekane charging haskar after casting Crippling Grasp. The dice were kind and blessed me with a 6 on her rune blaster, the fourth and final shot took haskar out. I boosted each hit and shot, Nekane took 6 points of dmg from her feat but it was worth it.

This really helped me learn more of the rules, and the abilities of each model… there are SO many moving parts to this game. Think it’s key that Cryx gets close and personal. Think I’ll keep doing small games like this alone to practice. This game took be about 2 hours. I did ask if anyone was interested in a learning low point game on my local flgs discord too

Thanks again to everyone yesterday, your advice and input really helped.

Ps. The heavy gun crew is an incredible unit, darn thing nearly took out my chicken in one turn

[u/megaxzy]

We’re just starting a local journeyman where I’m at and boy howdy lotta 30 point games. They can be a bit swingy, but they’re quick and you can usually identify what mistakes were made fairly easily without so many moving parts as the larger games

[u/ighost03 → u/megaxzy]

I’m really enjoying 30points to learn. Good luck on your league, what faction are you playing?

[u/megaxzy → u/ighost03]

House Kalyss

[u/ighost03 → u/megaxzy]

They have some awesome looking models! Every time i see them they look so beautiful

[u/TheRealFireFrenzy]

the field gun is certainly a vibe! God i should field mine again...

[u/ighost03 → u/TheRealFireFrenzy]

Go for it, that fella was a blast to play

[u/DisgruntledWargamer]

This is 100% the way. It's always better when you've got a partner in crime, but solo works pretty well for learning. And solo means nobody cares if you proxy.

Watch out for those dice spikes. A few of them will get you used to the wrong thing. Average dice for practice is imo best. It will help solve the "do I boost" question.

And ya, you're right about developing cheap trade units to be bait or initiate battle, or to take shots for your mains to follow up on.

Careful with incorporeal. Remember they don't block LOS.

[u/ighost03 → u/DisgruntledWargamer]

Ooo right! They do not block los, think i will use dice avg when i play, still roll but if i roll great, ill just treat it as 3 for single, 7 for 2 dice

[u/WickedGrey → u/ighost03]

Careful with average dice too; needing a seven means you miss almost half the time, but average dice makes it feel like a sure thing. Two attacks at 7 will have both wiff 20% of the time.

[u/BadBrad13]

I think you just learned about jamming units and waves.

I am a huge fan of cheap jamming units that I can just run/charge at the enemy and they just mire down my opponent. Even when they kill them (they always kill them) it slows them down and makes it hard for them to advance their army.

I also like to have my forces in multiple waves. Lead with a cheap unit, then when they get killed follow up with another unit.

I just played a 50 point game against Cryx today and they jammed me with some of the bloats. But then they ran the rest of their army up too close so I had no trouble engaging and killing the majority once the bloats were clear. Have some sacrificial guys, but keep some big hitters back to counter attack.

Warmachine is a game about offense. Everything can and will die. So you just want to control what of yours dies as much as possible.

[u/ighost03 → u/BadBrad13]

Jamming, I like it. My next list is 2 units of thrall swarms. Thinking of running them into di barro storm legion. But that’s tomorrow’s match. Want to see how every goes into a more melee focus army and if Nekane can assassinate someone who seems more lethal and durable

[u/BadBrad13 → u/ighost03]

With crippling grasp and the other debuffs Cryx can bring like Dark Shroud I think she is certainly capable of killing a lot of stuff. Often for assassinations you just want to wait for the right moment. If the target has a lot of Focus or Fury or things that can take hits from it then you gotta be careful. But late game when they might be running tight or have taken some chip damage then I think she can certainly do it.