I think my favorite thing in this is the sheer number of quality of life little functions here. Clamjacks being able to fire their back mounted weapons without opening up, Ruin's shield being a shield. Every faction has stuff like this that makes me smile.

All that aside, can we all stop for a moment and appreciate they gave Gundrun Rise. Absolutely no one is going to actually care, but this guy has spent a decade making himself useless and someone took the time to give him the stupid little rule he needed to make his existing rules actually function. I don't own the model and probably won't pick him up, but I just really appreciate someone cared enough to finally fix the guy.

I really do love all the rule changes, I just wish they would have gone the other direction with points.

Instead of making underperforming units cheaper, they should have made the units doing far more than they should more expensive. The size bloat of the game just gets worse with this.

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
I really do love all the rule changes, I just wish they would have gone the other direction with points.

Instead of making underperforming units cheaper, they should have made the units doing far more than they should more expensive. The size bloat of the game just gets worse with this.

Yeah, I definitely agree there. Once WarRoom is updated I'm looking forward to building some lists and seeing how bad it really is.

Yeap, that was my same line of thinking. A lot more on the table, especially for Cygnar.

Meanwhile, their reliance on CID shows that they're barely keeping up with any kind of balance changes. The more than goes on the table in any one game, the harder it is to balance.

No, I think despite how much is in this update, it's years late and may also be a way to hold the die hards back a bit while they take longer to figure out what to do with Warmachine.

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
I really do love all the rule changes, I just wish they would have gone the other direction with points.

Instead of making underperforming units cheaper, they should have made the units doing far more than they should more expensive. The size bloat of the game just gets worse with this.

These are exactly my thoughts. It was hard to notice in last years that getting even more bloated is NOT what the game needs, and yet, here we are...

Although im probably not going to get to play till after the new year (moving house, all my stuff is packed away) im really keen on what iv seen so far.

The bloat question is fair. But we have seen the community more open to playing different size games with Brawlmachine and 50pt options. 75pts may remain the standard for SR and major comps but if your playing at 25/30/50 pts then the bloat is less of an issue

I hope this opens up list building creativity and gives players lots of options to think about.

This is pretty rad, and has me looking at my endlessly re-shelved Cryx project once again. Re: playing at points below 75, my new 50 pt list has like 14 more points of stuff in it than my old 50 pt

Also shout-out to the changes to Morty2 (energizer is so much better for my big battlegroups), Naaresh (the not-very-fighty-fighter gets some sustain to help him actually do what he's supposed to do) and my girl Makeda2 (a battlegroup-based blood boon?? whoa). Props, PP.

EDIT: Also props LOS, the wiki is already updated!

I'm curious to see how much the point changes actually matter. On one hand, yes, points dropped, but on the other... less points coming in the form of free models and lets be clear, most of the stuff that dropped hasn't actually been on the table. One of the crippling mistakes in my mind of MK3 is that they launched a pretty solid edition, found out what the top tier competitive level was, and then kept picking one theme and cutting its points to that level. A lot of models just never got that cut and have been sitting in total uselessness back at start of MK3 levels until now.

Anny info if Conflict Chamber is going to be updated as well? I see that they keep adding new models, but for example the wrong cost for Cylena is still there. I'm not sure if I can rely on it and it used to be more accurate than Warroom

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/10/23/line-of-sight-episode-191-dynamic-transformation-reactions

On Episode 191 of Line of Sight, the gang are all here (mostly) to discuss the largest update to the game of Warmachine since the themepocalypse of 2018. Come get some extremely hot takes, some measured thoughts, and some reflection on what this update means for the future of Steamroller, Brawlmachine, and the game as a whole.

Note: Chandler's mic was the most uncooperative thing in the universe for the duration of the cast, and there are a couple of spots where there's missing audio from him before he cuts out completely.

Note 2: Jaden was in a mood. Spice incoming.

PSA: Warmachine players planning on attending LVO 2022? Get going on those ticket purchases dangit!

Las Vegas Open Registration Site (DON’T FORGET to get both the entrance badge and the passes for whichever events you want to play in). https://www.lasvegasopen.net/

Cyel wrote:
Anny info if Conflict Chamber is going to be updated as well? I see that they keep adding new models, but for example the wrong cost for Cylena is still there. I'm not sure if I can rely on it and it used to be more accurate than Warroom

This is why I’m always weary of fan builders. Even when they’re superior they depend entirely on the creator remaining invested and donating their time.

 LunarSol wrote:

Cyel wrote:
Anny info if Conflict Chamber is going to be updated as well? I see that they keep adding new models, but for example the wrong cost for Cylena is still there. I'm not sure if I can rely on it and it used to be more accurate than Warroom

This is why I’m always weary of fan builders. Even when they’re superior they depend entirely on the creator remaining invested and donating their time.

The changes aren't official until the 25th, so can imagine they will be live on Conflict Chamber at that point.

What was released was a preview document for the changes that take place on the 25th.

Having the variance in games sizes has helped alot thanks to LOS and PP doing the changes is bringing alot of interest into my area. Especially with new players who never wargamed or older players who bowed out of the hobby due to career, family, and kids. We even got Wacaster taking off. As the game has reached a SKU that rivals the likes of Battletech, I am pretty happy to see PP slowing down releases and rebalancing/retooling. BT already laid a pretty good template for companies the size of PP and I am interested in seeing where they are going to take things. https://www.instagram.com/p/CVbzG8GAslQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I definitely think the change itself wouldn't have really helped as much as the change coupled with solid 25 and 50 point scenario options!

Conflict Chamber is updated. Needn't have worried

They even fixed Cylena's cost finally!

PP's Card Database still has old cards, unfortunately. I hope they update it before I get a game, so that I can use updated cards (thankfully for most of them it's just points costs so I can update them with my pen )

Everything is live in Warroom now although Warroom is still full of day 1 bugs and allowing you to add things as requisitions that you shouldn't be able to.

The implementation of things like Sorscha3's MOW allotment or Thamarite Acolytes seems clumsy and leads to a lot of odd looking lists. They validate correctly from what I've tried, but are very confusing.

On Episode 192 of Line of Sight, Jaden and Bret sit down to give some perspective on the next phase for Brawlmachine and what to expect at the beginning of the next testing stage. Come find out the rationale for models on the epic list, models potentially coming off and going on the epic list, changes to scenarios, and a sneak peak of the Brawlmachine Championship Invitational soon to be hosted at the Las Vegas Open on this special episode of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/10/29/line-of-sight-episode-192-the-future-of-brawlmachine

We've got a fantastic double whammy today for everyone.

First, On Episode 193 of Line of Sight, Jaden takes the wheel for a solo episode chock full of tips and advice for the all important question - how do we get more people into playing Warmachine? This episode focuses on the individual level with ideas for making the introductory game flow as smoothly as possible, strategies for making your local meta more new player friendly, and more!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/11/7/line-of-sight-episode-193-bringing-new-players-into-warmachine

But the fun doesn't stop there!

On this special Bonus Episode of Line of Sight, Jaden gets to sit down and chat with the incredible Will Hungerford and discuss everything from their current hobby loves to tons of new information about the upcoming game Rivenstone and finally a lengthy discussion on miniature game design where Will gives advice gleaned from his many years in the industry. It's a fantastic episode, and a huge thanks to Will for coming on the show!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/11/7/line-of-sight-bonus-episode-rivenstone-and-game-design-with-william-hungerford

I was really interested in Rivenstone. I like the models that iv seen, the fluff and background sounded fun. The description/aim of the game, Terrain types, models types and the fact that the game is scenario driven, squad/warband level with 10-15 models really did it for me.

Sadly the description of the gameplay mechanics with all the special dice, cards, units respawning through gates/hole/entry points is a huge turn off. Feel like a overcomplicated mess to me.

But I will wait to see a good demo as I want it to be good.

Had my first game in ages, and even with taking rules rustyness into account the full 75pts seemed a bit of a slog as used to Xwing and GB at this point

Going to give Brawl a whirl next time I think

With the last update my 50 point brawl lists went down to 40-43 points. Adding a few more models makes this size feel just right.

Brawl feels way snappier overall and I highly enjoy it, but I do feel like 50 is the way to go right now for the full experience.

Yeah, I'm enjoying the third-party Brawlmachine rules. They do have a "Clashmachine" ruleset in testing right now, which is meant for 50.

Have PP mentioned if/when the card database is going to be updated, I'm in no rush but like to play the correct rules, I've got War Room but prefer luddite hard copies (plus fingers too fat to prod the spirls on screen, bingo dobber ftw !)

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Have PP mentioned if/when the card database is going to be updated, I'm in no rush but like to play the correct rules, I've got War Room but prefer luddite hard copies (plus fingers too fat to prod the spirls on screen, bingo dobber ftw !)

Don't try to touch the damage boxes directly, use the X to the Y tool at the bottom. It's far less irritating.

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Have PP mentioned if/when the card database is going to be updated

I mailed PP about this last Friday (as I can't play the game at all without cards) but no response from them yet.

 Arbitrator wrote:
Well, it seems the Protectorate is more or less gone in the Iron Kingdom 5e book. That sets up some... interesting implications for the future of Warmahordes, assuming the narrative continues past Oblivion.

The Protectorate is greatly diminished in Immoren and half of the people left too Zu. The Defiers are inhabiting Icthier and most of the world population is...greatly depopulated. Looks like Rhul made it out like bandits though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Have PP mentioned if/when the card database is going to be updated, I'm in no rush but like to play the correct rules, I've got War Room but prefer luddite hard copies (plus fingers too fat to prod the spirls on screen, bingo dobber ftw !)

Me too, hard copies of cards is great for demos.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Just reporting the state of Privateer Press gaming in my area generally. Spiking hard and growing across all product lines with Warmachine being #1 and MonPoc, Warcaster tied.

Keep showing up and finding ways to reach out to home groups.

Maybe you can write to them too about the card database - if they get enough info, maybe they'll do something about it...

Cyel wrote:
Maybe you can write to them too about the card database - if they get enough info, maybe they'll do something about it...

They're working on it dude. I think this has been pretty widely communicated on the LoS Discord and other places that have a more active WMH community (i.e., not dakka.)

Thanks for the info!

Join Bret, Chandler, Jaden, and Chandler’s gigantic pile of models for this wonderful rollicking recap of Warfaire Weekend 2021! We chat about Brawlmachine, conventions in general, and our plans for 2022 and more, as well as discuss a game that came onto our radar over the convention - Conquest. Bonus points, try to find the spot that was supposedly uneditable (Jaden’s rather proud of this). It’s a great time, so come listen along with this week’s episode of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/11/12/line-of-sight-episode-194-warfaire-weekend-2021-recap

On Episode 195 of Line of Sight the gang is all here to discuss a topic chosen by our wonderful patrons - Solos! How has the place of the solo shifted in the meta? Which solos have become absolute steals for their new point costs? Which ones have come off the shelf, and which are going to the shelf for the first time in a long while? Why did Han shoot first and why did Lukas retro that scene so many times? How are solos going to impact the meta going forward into 2022? We answer most of these questions (and more!) on this weeks episode of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/11/19/line-of-sight-episode-195-the-state-of-solos-post-update

Quick question for any UK based WMH fans, I've been made aware there is a Tanith model not made out of gak on the PP store, has anyone ordered anything and got stung by customs ?

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Quick question for any UK based WMH fans, I've been made aware there is a Tanith model not made out of gak on the PP store, has anyone ordered anything and got stung by customs ?

Ita ages ago at this point but yes, I've been repeatedly stung by customs when I ordered a couple of bits from the pp store for various projects.

Pre-brexit mind, so I doubt it's improved.

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Quick question for any UK based WMH fans, I've been made aware there is a Tanith model not made out of gak on the PP store, has anyone ordered anything and got stung by customs ?

It was meant to have been sorted for things like BAHI, but for general orders I have no idea. Iv seen people ask the question on FB ect but never seen a full answer.

All i know is last time i ordered something direct from PP, pre pandemic I got stung for import and postage so im not doing that again. Unless its "on the shelf" in a FLGS or ebay, im not getting it.

cheers, I'll give it a miss then

Have a Mierce proxy but she's kind of little compared the PP chunkier scale

On Episode 196, the gang is all here to talk about a subject that is near and dear to their hearts. How does the proliferation of social media affect Warmachine and Hordes? What are the pros and cons of the various platforms out there? How can you navigate the often confusing web of loud opinions and hot takes without going mildly insane? All of these questions answered - and more! - on this week's episode of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/11/25/line-of-sight-episode-196-how-social-media-affects-warmachine

Great discussion.

Kaptajn Congoboy wrote:
Great discussion.

Glad you enjoyed it!

Line of Sight is excited to open registration for the next Brawlmachine Update Wartable League! If you are interested in getting in a weekly game or want to try out some potential changes to Brawlmachine early, this is a perfect opportunity to do so in a low-stress way! Registration closes on December 5th at 11:59 PM Pacific Time with Round 1 kicking off on December 6th. Rounds will run from Monday to Sunday for four weeks testing two scenario changes and a host of epic list proposals. Come play some Brawlmachine, it’s fun!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/brawlmachine/2021/11/28/brawlmachine-update-league-2-sign-up

On Episode 197 of Line of Sight, the gang are all here to talk about our plans for 2022, the upcoming formats we’ve got cooking, and a bunch of extensions on our classic suggestions for Tournament Preparation and high impact practice. Come listen to Jaden talk way, way, WAY more than normal as we discuss the modifications he’s using to try and memorize two brand new lists in just under a week for an upcoming event, hear the hilarity that is Bret unleashed on Fallen Corvis, and much, much more on this episode of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/12/3/line-of-sight-episode-197-practicing-tricks-and-tournament-prep

@LoS_Jaden

I haven't had a chance to catch up on the recent podcasts, but what kind of changes to the banned/restricted list for Brawlmachine have you been looking at?

 NH Gunsmith wrote:
@LoS_Jaden

I haven't had a chance to catch up on the recent podcasts, but what kind of changes to the banned/restricted list for Brawlmachine have you been looking at?

We have an overview here: https://www.loswarmachine.com/brawlmachine/2021/11/28/brawlmachine-update-league-2-sign-up


For round one of the December Steamroller, Jaden drops Aurum Legate Lukas into Tanith on Bunkers 2!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/warmachine-hordes-battle-reports/2021/12/5/lukas-magnum-opus-vs-tanith-wild-hunt-warmachine-and-hordes-tournament-battle-report

On Episode 198 of Line of Sight, Chandler and Jaden sit down and unravel a slew of listener questions bridging the spectrum from fascinating to hilarious and sowing the seeds for a number of future podcast topics! We’ve got best Warmachine stories, best paint jobs, proudest moments and lowest of lows, and all on Episode 198 of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/12/10/line-of-sight-episode-198-listener-questions-galore

On Episode 199 of Line of Sight, the gang is all here to finish off the questions from listeners that we didn't get to last week, and then a deep dive into gunlines, their place in Warmachine, and what the game does well and does poorly as far as keeping them relevant, in check, or overwhelming with some poignant thoughts on how Steamroller interacts with the core rules as a whole!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/12/17/line-of-sight-episode-199-questions-pt-2-and-gunline-thoughts

On this special holiday episode of Line of Sight, Bret and Jaden are here to talk about….player psychology? What people want out of wargames? Wait did we get the memo that episode 200 was a holiday episode?
Apparently not. Have a parody Warmachine Christmas Carol Introduction as compensation, and come buckle in for some deep dives into what makes people tick when it comes to their favorite war games, how to identify if a war game is good for you, and then cap it off with a serious look at what makes Warmachine unique and why we love it as we do. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and thank you for 200 incredible episodes!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/12/25/line-of-sight-episode-200-bartles-taxonomy-of-players-and-what-we-love-about-warmachine

Congrats on the 200 folks

And no mention of the (mostly) dead Guildball ? Most likely the closest to WMH that a game has been for a while

 Turnip Jedi wrote:
Congrats on the 200 folks

And no mention of the (mostly) dead Guildball ? Most likely the closest to WMH that a game has been for a while

TBH, I didn't feel good about recommending a game with no further support to anyone at this point. Main reason we left it off the list.

On Episode 201 of Line of Sight, the three hosts are all here to chat about how they all got into Warmachine, how Line of Sight has been formed, and what impact it has had on each of their lives. We kick off with a surprisingly mellow singing duet from Chandler and Jaden and then touch on some of the best anecdotes, funniest recollections, and most sincere thoughts on the cast are here, so come check them out on episode 201 of Line of Sight!

https://www.loswarmachine.com/line-of-sight-podcast/2021/12/31/line-of-sight-episode-201-livestream-through-memory-lane

You can find the video version (sans sweet introduction) here - https://youtu.be/6wZzAW4pc4Y

Fair point regarding GB. still rather salty about it getting canned

And cheers for the clean up of the website

Wellp, Faye just announced that she has left Privateer Press - they can't seem to hold on to their devs. Not clear where shes going or if shes staying in the industry etc, assuming she is I'm assuming she was poached by Atomic Mass Games.

Her message said it was for family reasons so you have to respect that. But your right its still worrying.

Oh yeah, didn't mean to imply that it was related to workplace issues, etc. I have heard that (at least to some extent) PP has cleaned itself up a bit in that regard and her post made it pretty clear that she was not looking for other work and an opportunity was presented to her that was too good for her to say no to, etc.

Its all good.

Faye has gone to Broken Anvil Minis to work on Rivenstone with the Wills and other ex PP people. I will be watching that game with interests even though the mechanics are not quite to my liking (from what iv seen so far)

That was my second guess as to where she might have gone, but I didn't seriously believe that a basically no-name 3d printing company could successfully poach *another* game designer from what is ostensibly a well established company. Must be some really deep pockets behind the company to pull that off.

I wouldn't be surprised if Broken Anvil had also grabbed a few sculptors who worked or freelanced at PP. The few models we have seen are nice and chunky and i can see some links in the style between BAM and PPs more recent plastic/resin offerings

https://www.brokenanvilminis.com/blogs/bam-news look at the faction overviews for some of the previews. The company is making a serious play in the skirmish wargames market and unlike PP, it has a constant stream of revenue to fall back on with its monthly STL files etc. Wait and see.

chaos0xomega wrote:
That was my second guess as to where she might have gone, but I didn't seriously believe that a basically no-name 3d printing company could successfully poach *another* game designer from what is ostensibly a well established company. Must be some really deep pockets behind the company to pull that off.

Well, my somewhat anecdotal knowledge (via some former PP employees that I'm friends with) is that it wouldn't really take very deep pockets to match or exceed wages at PP. It is interesting to see Broken Anvil branch into game dev as well, and I'll be curious to follow whatever they come up with.

Sunno wrote:
Its all good.

Faye has gone to Broken Anvil Minis to work on Rivenstone with the Wills and other ex PP people.

It is just Hungerford. Oz left and went back to SJG.

SJG as in Steve Jackson Games?? o.O

And yeah, I know PP doesn't pay fantastically well, but it would still be more than I would imagine what is currently a small 3d modeling outfit would be able to pay. Looking at their site they also have a half dozen openings posted - based on their current product offering that is not a company I would imagine is generating cash flows that can sustain apparently competitive healthy full time salaries for around a dozen or so employees total without some outside investment.

chaos0xomega wrote:
SJG as in Steve Jackson Games?? o.O

And yeah, I know PP doesn't pay fantastically well, but it would still be more than I would imagine what is currently a small 3d modeling outfit would be able to pay. Looking at their site they also have a half dozen openings posted - based on their current product offering that is not a company I would imagine is generating cash flows that can sustain apparently competitive healthy full time salaries for around a dozen or so employees total without some outside investment.

Yeah, I suspect some investment backing from somewhere, though they do also have a Patreon with 1332 patrons currently, which isn't terrible (no clue what the actual income is, since it doesn't give you the levels breakdown). Also not sure what kind of income they have off of MyMinifactory. I don't see that covering the pay for all the positions they have listed, though, so again, yeah, must have some other investment in the background.

And "fantastically well" is hardly close to what PP paid: I have friends who made more going to work in fast food or retail after leaving PP (and not from just warehouse positions, but other roles as well). For this area, PP paid on the very low end.

Edited to add: And I don't mean to be bashing or negative here or anything like that. I just know that in general, the tabletop games industry pays pretty low (a lot lower than some would expect), and within that band from everything I've heard (again, somewhat anecdotal), PP was on the low end of that. No clue where Broken Anvil falls in there, but given their office location I would guess their expenses are a little lower (also, likely nowhere near as large as PP's space), and it isn't always about the pay when someone makes a move. It could very well be something like commute time, flexibility, etc.

A big part of the problem with PPs pay is that they're also located in a city with a very high cost of living. Broken Anvil is far enough out of Seattle that you can afford to live off what they pay without moving to a different part of the country.

chaos0xomega wrote:
SJG as in Steve Jackson Games?? o.O

Yeah.

Broken Anvil is a sub-company of Level 52, so there is that cash flow/licensing contracts to make things more interesting.

This is totally a left-field question but not one that I think warrants it's own thread: how are the PP plastics? Is it the right stuff for model cement or does it still require superglue?

The Newman wrote:
This is totally a left-field question but not one that I think warrants it's own thread: how are the PP plastics? Is it the right stuff for model cement or does it still require superglue?

Most of their plastics require super glue. There's a VERY small range of kits that come on sprue that take plastic cement.

 LunarSol wrote:
A big part of the problem with PPs pay is that they're also located in a city with a very high cost of living. Broken Anvil is far enough out of Seattle that you can afford to live off what they pay without moving to a different part of the country.

Well, PP hasn't been in Seattle proper for, well, since inception. They were over in Bellevue for a while, which does have a higher cost than Seattle city limits, actually, then moved to Kirkland I think it was. Either way, Woodinville, Seattle, Auburn, Bellevue, even Tacoma aren't really that far apart, and it isn't uncommon for people to work in, say, Everett and live in Seattle, or even Tacoma. Even more common for folks to live in Seattle and work in Bellevue, or vice versa. Auburn does have a lower cost of living (if you live there rent is cheaper, everything else is about the same), but it's also no guarantee that employees live in the same city as the HQ around here; that's only like a 40 minute commute.

Thank you for the quick response. I figured that would be the case because Polystyrene is kind of a high-volume product, but I've been out of the game for a while.