Just a quick shoutout to all mothers out there! Have a good Mother’s Day! You’ve managed to raise your monstrous little tots into strong, healthy monsters, through your use of care, love, and lots and lots of blood.
Okay, so maybe just the first two. Unless you’re Lilith.
It’s no secret I love Malifaux. We’ve gone there. But now it’s time to bring those who love Malifaux together!
THIS Saturday, January 11th, we’re throwing a big Malifaux bash! We’ll have sales, gameplay, painting sessions, snacks, and more! It’s time for us to kickstart a whole new season of Malifaux adventure! We’ll be having our weekly Malifaux days every Thursday and Saturday as well, so we can get tons of gameplay going on!
I really hope to see you here, if you’re able!
Here’s our event page for more info! https://www.facebook.com/events/240739729435503/
I don’t have a particular topic today for everyone, just a little update on some of the projects I’m working on, so you can see that I’ve got a pretty busy hobby life here.
At current, I’m assembling the M2E Nephilim box! I love the new sculpts! The Mature Nephilim is huge and meaty, and the Young Nephilim are much more dynamic than the first ones. I’m having a lot of fun working on Lilith and friends in general.
Kids these days, always stealing people’s heads…..
Then there’s Warhammer 40k. In lieu of jumping on the new Tyranid bandwagon, I’m getting started with Space Wolves! I promised I’d never fall into the dark void of Space Marines, but…Space Vikings! Seriously, it’s too cool to ignore. So it’s off to get a battleforce box this week. Anybody know what a good HQ choice is to start with?
Real men ride wolves. And they don’t care how silly they look.
I’ve also got a small cadre of Gatormen to paint up for Hordes. Because Voodoo gators are kind of a weak spot of mine. I hope to get them on a table at some point in the future. Along with a sizable amount of Cryx I’ve been working on.
It would take nothing less than swamp magic to get me to be able to paint that well.
On the CCG front, I’ve been playing and learning the intricacies of the My Little Pony Collectible Card Game. There’s actually a lot of game here, and it’s way too advanced for some of the younger kids that might pick it up. I’ve still got some learning to do, and I’ll give you all a review on it when I finally get the hang of it all! My Fluttershy deck is on its way to completion!
That’s right. Beastmaster. Be afraid.
And on top of that, I’m still waiting for the new shipment of Indie RPGs to come into the store. They’re really interesting, unique, and cheap! I’ll give you all a heads up when I get the chance to check them out!
That’s all from me for now. Didn’t want to leave our readers with nothing to read. You can expect something more meaty next time, when we delve into the awesome world of Indie RPGs!
Hey all! Happy New Year!
Today, in our final installment, we’ll be covering the last two factions of Malifaux. We’ve got the Gremlins, Malifaux’s homegrown little green bayou dwellers, and the Ten Thunders, a mysterious group undermining all of the other factions! Let’s dive right in!
GREMLINS!
There are currently only two crews out there for Gremlins, but M2E is changing that with a bevy of new masters on the way, such as Mah Tucket and Wong! Gremlins used to fall under the banner of the Outcasts, but as of M2E, they’ve gained their own faction!
Som’Er Teeth Jones
The Gremlin with the biggest hat in Malifaux, Som’Er Teeth is an imposing figure, at least for a Gremlin. His hordes have ransacked all sorts of people, earning him infamy with the Guild. He brings a varied horde of little green bodies to the table, including inept but hilarious Bayou Gremlins, massive Warpigs, and even giant swamp mosquitos that act as his totems. What the Gremlins lack in power is more than made up for in tenacity and numbers. Further additions to Som’Er’s crew can include the Pigapult, a huge contraption that flings pigs at enemies, Hog Whisperers, Slop Haulers, and a variety of other swamp denizens.
As far as Gremlins go, Som’Er is a good starting point for a new player. He can be played a variety of ways, and that versatility can go a long way. You can run pigs, swarms of Bayou Gremlins, or fill up his roster with mosquitos who can spread his gift of um…flatulence.
Ophelia LaCroix
The Guild has their Perdita Ortega, a tough no-nonsense gun slinger, and her family to fight the Guild’s enemies. So Ophelia figured “Why can’t we do the same?” Ophelia fashioned herself after the gunslinger, and brought her own family along for the ride. They’re more organized and daring than the average gremlins, gaining her a bit of influence and fame among her kin. Ophelia herself is a skilled gunslinger, Francois brings the muscle, Raphael gets more dangerous the more injured he gets, and Rami is best suited for sitting back and sniping. As for Pere Ravage, well let’s just say he has an EXPLOSIVE personality. Boom.
Ophelia is another good choice for a new Gremlin player. (I mean, you only have two options right now.) Her crew is basically the Gremlin version of the Guild’s Ortega family, which means lots of gun toting fun for everyone!
Zoraida, the Hag
The big Z herself, Zoraida is an ancient Neverborn that was once a human being. She lives in the swamps of Malifaux, using her powers of divination to see the road that lies ahead for her world. When forced into combat, Z can be a master manipulator, messing with your opponent’s head. She can take control of enemies and force them to do her bidding, and even turn into a raven for more battlefield mobility. She brings a variety of minions with her, like the slimy and sharp-clawed Silurids, or voodoo dolls. Bad Juju is also seen with her, and he’s a huge mass of swamp goo and garbage come to life, and is a tough monster to take down.
Zoraida has also been rallying the Gremlins to action, and has gained Gremlins as a faction choice as well, making her another dual faction master. You can play with her little swamp monsters, or her little green friends!
Zoraida is a fun and efficient master to play. If screwing with fate itself is your cup of tea, she’s a great choice for a master.
TEN THUNDERS
The mysterious organization run out of the shadows, the Ten Thunders are working towards their own goals, and are undermining every other faction in the pursuit of their goals. Their eyes are EVERYWHERE. As a whole, they bring a unique asian flavor to the game, with Samurai, Geisha, Ninjas, and many other tropes. As of right now, all the Ten Thunders masters are dual-factioned, and we’ve covered each of them before. But we’ll review for those who might not have caught the other articles.
Lucas McCabe
Lucas McCabe is an adventurer, simply put. He takes gangs of ne’er do wells out into the reaches of Malifaux with the promise of treasure. McCabe is a unique master in that he can be mounted or dismounted, allowing him interesting ways to play. He can also take a variety of equipment into battle, allowing you to customize his loadout before a battle. The Wastrels are thugs through and through, and Sidir is a large man with a machine gun. What more needs to be said about him? His totem is his trusty mastiff, Luna.
While Lucas is a part of the Guild, he truly swears his fealty to the Ten Thunders, and works to secure their interests from within the Guild. What this means to you is that he can be played as a Guild Master or a Ten Thunders master, giving you access to all sorts of models! He’s a good choice if you like flexibility!
Mei Feng
The Kung Fu rail queen herself, Mei Feng leads the rail workers in a thankless and lethal job for the Arcanists. Mei Feng herself is strong and agile, able to leap around the battlefield like a pinball, hitting opponents and triggering all kinds of deadly effects with each strike. She’s not the toughest master out there, but she more than makes up for it with speed and flexibility. Her Rail Workers are good at just swinging at opponents with their tools and mechanical replacement limbs.And then there’s Kang, who inspires the other workers when things are tough. He’s huge, strong, and resilient. He can beat you to death with his sledgehammer, or even fling hot coals in your face. And the Emberling is Mei Feng’s fiery little totem!
Mei Feng may be an Arcanist, but her true alliance lies with the Ten Thunders faction. This means you can play her as a master of either faction, giving you a lot of options for running her. If you’re a fan of the Kung Fu, and want to fly around busting jaws while pulling off crazy fighting combos, Mei Feng’s your girl.
Jakob Lynch
Jakob is the consummate gambler. He takes big risks, and often loses just as big. He is the owner of the prosperous Honeypot Casino in Malifaux, and that prosperity is a huge change of pace for him. He joined forces with an ancient Neverborn monster called the Hungering Darkness, and uses the casino as a feeding ground for his new friend. His crew spreads a substance called Brilliance, and it’s highly addictive and corrupting. The Beckoners are employees of the casino, and they also spread Brilliance to their victims, setting them up for devouring by their hungry master. The Illuminated are Brilliance junkies that have hardened the substance into deadly weapons. Mr. Graves and Mr. Tannen are two employees that don’t come in the box, but are perfect for his crew. Graves is a large angry bald man who acts as the Casino’s bouncer, and he really enjoys his job. Mr. Tannen is a creepy little weasel of a man, who seems to carry a streak of infectious bad luck with him. But both of them are really Neverborn in clever disguises.
Lynch can be a tricky crew to play. His main mechanic is spreading Brilliance to enemies, then causing them to suffer for it. He also has a lot of hand manipulation power, which is to be expected for a gambler. If you want to be a cheatin’ bastard, Lynch might be your guy.
Yan Lo
Another Ten Thunders agent, Yan Lo is the master of his house’s ancestral spirits. Being a Resurrectionist as well, some might draw parallels between him and Kirai. But his spirits are hardy, and upon their deaths, Yan Lo can find himself wielding some of their powers. His unique mechanic revolves around “Paths” which allow him to walk down a variety of different paths, letting him become a more fearsome caster, or even a melee wrecking ball. the Ashigaru are the loyal house guard, using their spears to keep enemies away from objectives. Chiaki is there to provide backup, and is also good with ancestors. While not in the box, there are many awesome models to work with, such as Yin, a flying horror that is a mass of entrails, and Izamu, a massive suit of armor that hits like a beast.
Yan Lo is a good crew to take, especially if you love the flavor of ancestral spirits and undead! He’s also a Ten Thunders Master, meaning you can run him in that faction as well!
Misaki
Misaki is the leader of the Ten Thunders: A secretive faction that is new to Malifaux. It’s agents are EVERYWHERE, and have successfully infiltrated all of Malifaux’s other factions. Misaki is their leader here in Malifaux, and is a force to be reckoned with. She’s strong and fast, able to dodge blows with ease and hit hard in return. She can swoop in on enemies for the kill, and even steal resources from her opponents. The Torakage are ninja, capable of throwing up smoke screens as well as shurikens. Ototo is a large angry force of destruction, able to crush enemies to pieces with his tetsubo. There are a variety of good models that you can add to this force, such as the Ten Thunders Archers and Yamaziko, Misaki’s very own teacher.
Misaki is dual faction Outcast/Ten Thunders, allowing her to be played in either faction!
If you want another good pick up and play master, Misaki is a good one. She can pick off a lot of models on her own, and use her other models for cover or quick escapes. If you want to strike like a ninja, Misaki is an awesome choice!
Hello all!
Today we’re going to hit the Outcasts! They’re a group of mercenaries and other folks who don’t quite fit in to the other factions, so they have one of their own! A lot of them have the Mercenary trait, which allows any faction to hire them for an additional cost, but they are a great faction on their own as well!
Leveticus
We’ll start with Leviticus, one of the trickiest masters ever! Levi’s skills lie in steampunk necromancy, and he comes with a horde of terrible little Steampunk Abominations to back him up. And he can make more! But Levi’s true power lies in his ability to cheat death to the extreme. If he dies, all you have to do is get rid of a Hollow Waif, and he’s back on the battlefield! He takes advantage of this by gaining advantages even by injuring himself. Rusty Alyce is a sharpshooter, and good backup for Levi.
As I’ve said, Levi is a difficult master to get a grip on. It can be tough to watch the damage rack up on him, but that’s pretty much what you want. But you really have to know how to use their abilities. But if you do, he’s really good!
The Viktorias
Say hello to the Viktorias! These sisters are sword wielding mercenaries with a secret: One of them is a Neverborn copy of the other. Yep. Most people don’t know which one is the real Viktoria, and that works to their advantage. Both are adept at sword slinging though. Their crew is made up of other “sisters” such as the tough and useful Ronin, who can even be sacrificed to bring back a Viktoria! Taelor is a tough hammer wielding beatstick, and the Student of Conflict is the Vikkis totem. She can speed your sisters up, helping them get around the battlefield to wreak havoc with their blades. While not in the box, Vanessa is another good option. She is Viktorias ACTUAL sister, and brings a bit of magical support to this melee heavy crew.
Viktoria is a good master for any new player to start with. She’s fast and strong, and has plenty of ways of cutting through your enemies. She’s also a lot of fun! If you’re looking for girl power, look no further!
Von Schill
Von Schill leads the Freikorps, a unit of specialized mercenaries that work with Military precision. The Freikorps are close knit, and are happy to work under Von Schills leadership. Von Schill himself is a tough old man, adept at both guns and blades, and is a master tactician. The Freikorps themselves fill a variety of roles: The Librarian is an adept healer and magic user, the Specialist can clear areas out with his huge flamethrower, the trapper lies in wait and snipes enemies, and the Freikorpsmen themselves are tough and resilient. If you want to expand past here, you can always grab Lazarus, who is now a Freikorps model in m2e, and he’s a huge grenade launching robot!
The Freikorps are another good choice for a player new to Malifaux. The models all have their strengths, and fill in a variety of roles well, be it up close and personal damage, or sniper shots. If that appeals to you, pick him up!
Hamelin the Plagued
Hamelin is one scary mofo. He used to be a sewer dwelling murderer, but he was infused with the powers of a Tyrant, the scariest of the scary in Malifaux. He is now little more than a shell for this Tyrant, and is full of disease and death. Hamelin spreads disease through Malifaux, infecting its citizens and thinning the population. He uses his pipes to lure victims into his grasp, making them his thralls. His trusty dog Nyx is still with him, protecting its master as loyally in death as life. The Stolen are children infected by Hamelin, and they follow him around spreading his disease and even being sacrificial pawns to keep their master alive. And Hamelin is adept at summoning swarms of rats, who while weak, add up quickly and further spread his deadly diseases.
Hamelin is a tricky master, and was even previously considered to be horribly broken. Rats pile up, making it hard to even get to him, and insignificant models can’t even touch him. And his game play is all about making models insignificant! But if you like his flavor, and the prospect of spreading disease, he’s a good master to play!
Misaki
Misaki is the leader of the Ten Thunders: A secretive faction that is new to Malifaux. It’s agents are EVERYWHERE, and have successfully infiltrated all of Malifaux’s other factions. Misaki is their leader here in Malifaux, and is a force to be reckoned with. She’s strong and fast, able to dodge blows with ease and hit hard in return. She can swoop in on enemies for the kill, and even steal resources from her opponents. The Torakage are ninja, capable of throwing up smoke screens as well as shurikens. Ototo is a large angry force of destruction, able to crush enemies to pieces with his tetsubo. There are a variety of good models that you can add to this force, such as the Ten Thunders Archers and Yamaziko, Misaki’s very own teacher.
Misaki is dual faction Outcast/Ten Thunders, allowing her to be played in either faction!
If you want another good pick up and play master, Misaki is a good one. She can pick off a lot of models on her own, and use her other models for cover or quick escapes. If you want to strike like a ninja, Misaki is an awesome choice!
Tara
Another dual-faction Master, Tara straddles the line between Resurrectionist and Outcast. A mercenary, Tara got herself into a bit of a fix when she became trapped in a cave with an insane woman named Karina, a budding Resurrectionist. They eventually met Obliteration, an ancient monster looking for a host. Tara became that host. As she and Karina left to confront their new fates, Tara took a sniper bullet to the chest. Karina’s magic revived her, and now Tara is essentially a zombie. She wields the powers of Obliteration, which allow her power of the fabric of space and time. She can remove people from existence, and even take their powers for her own. The Void Wretches are hungry little monsters, and the Nothing Beast is a huge Cthulhu-ish monster. Karina is there too, providing backup for Tara as usual.
Tara is a bit tricky, but a lot of fun to play, with very unique mechanics. And being a Resurrectionist and Outcast master, you get access to two crew styles!
We’re almost there folks! Next time we’ll cover the Gremlins, a faction full of little green men who love their pigs and moonshine! Join us next time as we head to the Bayou!
Hello folks, and I hope you had a happy holiday!
Anyway, today we’re going to cover the Neverborn. A group of monsters and nightmarish horrors that inhabited Malifaux long before people, and isn’t too fond of them on their turf.
Lilith, Mother of Monsters
First, we come to the poster child of the Neverborn. Lilith is the resident nature spirit of Malifaux, and is keen on removing the human population from her world as fast as possible. She wields a wicked sword, and has control over Malifaux itself, causing vines to twist and the very ground to move. Following her are her nephilim, horrible bloodthirsty monsters. The Terror Tots are small and fragile, but can shred a man to pieces quickly. They can even gorge on the blood of their victims and grow into bigger and more horrifying forms. Barbaros is a Nephilim warrior, who wields a mean weapon and savage attacks. And don’t be fooled by the Malifaux Cherub, it’s a nasty little bow wielding monster!
Lilith is a pretty good choice for players new to the Neverborn. She’s strong and resilient, and the Tots are capable of good damage, even if they can’t take much themselves. If you like monsters, and playing with nature itself, Lilith is a fun choice. She can even summon trees!
Pandora
Pandora might seem innocent enough, but she’s there to drive you crazy. No really. Pandora is the avatar of insanity, and leaving people in quivering, babbling heaps is what she does best. She’ll scare you witless, she’ll make people have to use their willpower just to attack her, and when they can’t, the madness racks up, eventually killing her foes. Candy is also adept at causing hesitation and madness, and is just as quick to offer sweets from her basket as she is to stab you with a pair of scissors. Baby Kade is a knife wielding baby, and it doesnt get much scarier than that. As for the Sorrows, they’re Pandora’s best friends, and are there to add further torment.
Pandora is a very unique master. She excels at forcing enemies into various tests of willpower, and forces them to take damage when they fail. These tests can add up quickly and overwhelm enemies. She is rather fragile though. But very powerful. A good choice if you’re slightly more advanced, or want to learn a really unique style!
The Dreamer
A young boy that doesn’t reside in Malifaux. The Dreamer projects himself into Malifaux, and believes that the strange world is simply a dream. He’s childish, and is as cruel as kids can be, treating his victims as mere figments of his imagination. He’s accompanied by Lord Chompy Bits, a huge purple monster from Malifaux itself. Chompy is adept at tearing enemies to pieces with his claws and teeth, while the Dreamer himself can summon other nightmares to the battle. One of his favorites is Teddy, a gigantic teddy bear with huge claws and fangs. He has also been seen in the company of the Stitched Together, horrible puppets made of sacks of meat and bugs. They can dig their hooks into enemies, and exude a creepy fog to protect their crew.
The Dreamer is another slightly tricky crew. His style is all about burying his nightmares, and having them reappear in key positions to wreak havoc on the enemy, by either killing them or inflicting statuses on them. As such, he might not the first choice for a new player, but he’s cool and fun, so maybe he can be a good first pick.
Collodi
The puppet master himself, Collodi run a travelling puppet show out of his wagon. His minions are various dolls and puppets, each armed with tiny claws that are surprisingly good at rending flesh. Collodi himself has an extra set of arms and claws himself, but is more likely to hang back, pulling tje strings of his tiny minions and making them flit around the battlefield, or performing a variety of other useful tasks to support them. His key minions are Mannequins, who can even keep Collodi from taking damage, and Wicked Dolls, who are there to attack anyone who dares get near. There are a variety of other puppets in Malifaux that he can take as well, from the Stitched Together to the mysterious Effigies. He can even get support from the Widow Weaver, a horrifying spider woman who is adept at sewing and making dolls of her own.
Collodi is a good choice for the player who wants to play with dolls. Dolls are super creepy. And Collodi can be an overwhelming force when used correctly.
Zoraida
The big Z herself, Zoraida is an ancient Neverborn that was once a human being. She lives in the swamps of Malifaux, using her powers of divination to see the road that lies ahead for her world. When forced into combat, Z can be a master manipulator, messing with your opponent’s head. She can take control of enemies and force them to do her bidding, and even turn into a raven for more battlefield mobility. She brings a variety of minions with her, like the slimy and sharp-clawed Silurids, or voodoo dolls. Bad Juju is also seen with her, and he’s a huge mass of swamp goo and garbage come to life, and is a tough monster to take down.
Zoraida has also been rallying the Gremlins to action, and has gained Gremlins as a faction choice as well, making her another dual faction master. You can play with her little swamp monsters, or her little green friends!
Zoraida is a fun and efficient master to play. If screwing with fate itself is your cup of tea, she’s a great choice for a master.
Jakob Lynch
Jakob is the consummate gambler. He takes big risks, and often loses just as big. He is the owner of the prosperous Honeypot Casino in Malifaux, and that prosperity is a huge change of pace for him. He joined forces with an ancient Neverborn monster called the Hungering Darkness, and uses the casino as a feeding ground for his new friend. His crew spreads a substance called Brilliance, and it’s highly addictive and corrupting. The Beckoners are employees of the casino, and they also spread Brilliance to their victims, setting them up for devouring by their hungry master. The Illuminated are Brilliance junkies that have hardened the substance into deadly weapons. Mr. Graves and Mr. Tannen are two employees that don’t come in the box, but are perfect for his crew. Graves is a large angry bald man who acts as the Casino’s bouncer, and he really enjoys his job. Mr. Tannen is a creepy little weasel of a man, who seems to carry a streak of infectious bad luck with him. But both of them are really Neverborn in clever disguises.
Lynch can be a tricky crew to play. His main mechanic is spreading Brilliance to enemies, then causing them to suffer for it. He also has a lot of hand manipulation power, which is to be expected for a gambler. If you want to be a cheatin’ bastard, Lynch might be your guy.
Lucius
The right hand to the most powerful man in Malifaux. Lucius has his thumbs in everyone’s pies, and knows more than you think he does. He’s a masked man of many secrets, and has all of the Guild’s substantial power behind him. On the battlefield, Lucius hangs back, delivering orders to his men. He can get them in gear, and allow them to get in extra shots. He recently became a Master in Malifaux 2nd Edition, which expanded his options greatly. Also, he now counts as both a Guild AND Neverborn Master, allowing you to play him with either faction!
If you like setting up strings of extra attacks, and allowing your Guild force to move around with impunity, Lucius is a good fit.
A couple of days ago, we covered the first of many factions in Malifaux: The Guild. Today, we’re going to take a look at the Arcanists! If you like tricky plays, magic, and constructs, the Arcanists are your go-to guys!
What this is: A brief overview of each crew in Malifaux!
What this ISN’T: A comprehensive guide to how to play said crews. Strategies can differ based on your style and model selections, so everything here is painted in broad strokes.
So without further ado, THE ARCANISTS!
Ramos
The leader of the Miners and Steamfitters union, Ramos runs a legitimate enterprise on the surface, but is also the leader of the Arcanists. And he’s a very adept spellcaster. But where he really shines is summoning constructs into battle! Be it explosive contstructs, or swarms of robotic spiders, He’s always got something up his sleeve. Even if its just a nasty electric shock to the opponent’s face. Joss is there to be the muscle, a fierce warrior with robotic implants and electric axes. Howard Langston, the Steamborg Executioner, is exactly what you’d expect him to be: A scissor clawed monster that will wreck anyone in its way.
If robotic arachnid swarms are your thing, and you love summoning tons of little guys, Ramos is right up your alley!
Rasputina
Rasputina is one cold woman. And is arguably the best spellcaster in the Arcanists. She can keep at a distance, and plug away with a variety of icy spells, nuking anyone who gets caught in their range. She can do all sorts of other tricks, like throwing up huge pillars of ice to impede enemies. And her Gamin are little icy footsoldiers, who have a habit of shattering when they get taken down, which will hurt anyone nearby! Then there’s the Ice Golem, a massive bruiser who is capable of hitting like a runaway freezer truck!
If you want to keep your distance and blast enemies, Rasputina is a good choice, and is pretty good for beginning players!
Marcus
Marcus is the master of beasts, pure and simple. Look at that image! Huge gorillas, snakes, and three headed sabertooth cats? Yeah, it’s wild in here. Marcus also has the bonus of being able to hire any beast he wants out of ANY faction, giving you a lot of fun options. And his abilities are geared towards supporting and strengthening his pets. Myranda is a skilled shapeshifter, and is a very useful addition to the team. Of course, the big animals are bruisers, and the Jackalope is obnoxious and doesn’t like to stay dead once he’s down.
If you want to explore your wild side, and play with a bunch of big furry threats, Marcus is right up your alley.
Colette DuBois
Probably the trickiest of Arcanist masters, Colette is a master of misdirection and deception. She can perform a variety of tricks to hinder or stump her opponents, and her crew is incredibly mobile and able to dart around the battlefield with impunity. Being the owner of the famous Star Theater, Colette brings along her performers for the ride. They each come with mannequins that follow them into battle and support them. Cassandra is skilled with both a blade and a nasty fire breath attack, and Colette frequently runs Coryphee, a duo of nimble dancing mannequins with scythes for arms, that are fast, strong, and hard to take down.
If you like outmaneuvering your opponent, and hitting your objectives fast, then Colette is the master for you. She can be tricky to learn, but just as tricky to deal with.
Kaeris
The Arcanists’ resident firecracker, Kaeris is good at lighting things up! She has a host of fire magic at her disposal, and she can flit around the battlefield with ease thanks to her mechanical wings. She recently became a master under Malifaux 2nd edition rules, which allows her a full compliment of arcanist backup! Gunsmiths can lay down hails of bullets, and Fire Gamin are little fireballs with legs. Being a member of the Miners and Steamfitters union, Kaeris is right at home with some of the more loyal employees, such as Union Miners, Rail Workers, and a lot more!
Kaeris is a mobile, fiery caster. She’s good for anyone who just wants to watch the world burn.
Mei Feng
The Kung Fu rail queen herself, Mei Feng leads the rail workers in a thankless and lethal job for the Arcanists. Mei Feng herself is strong and agile, able to leap around the battlefield like a pinball, hitting opponents and triggering all kinds of deadly effects with each strike. She’s not the toughest master out there, but she more than makes up for it with speed and flexibility. Her Rail Workers are good at just swinging at opponents with their tools and mechanical replacement limbs.And then there’s Kang, who inspires the other workers when things are tough. He’s huge, strong, and resilient. He can beat you to death with his sledgehammer, or even fling hot coals in your face.
Mei Feng may be an Arcanist, but her true alliance lies with the Ten Thunders faction. This means you can play her as a master of either faction, giving you a lot of options for running her. If you’re a fan of the Kung Fu, and want to fly around busting jaws while pulling off crazy fighting combos, Mei Feng’s your girl.
That’s it for today! Next up is the Resurrectionists, notorious spiritcrafters, serial killers, and necromancers. Till next time!
In an attempt to familiarize folks with some of the crews and characters of Malifaux, I’m going to briefly introduce you to each of them! This is by no means a guide to playing them, or anything of the sort, but a way to say “Howdy!” to the movers and shakers of Malifaux, and maybe have you say “Ooh! that one is cool! I’m totally interested in that one!”
So today we’ll start with the Guild. Simply put: The Guild is the Law. Always on the lookout for their interests and the betterment of life in Malifaux (kind of.) The guild is full of cowboy hats, guns, and all the things that make lawmen great!
Now, let’s meet the masters!
Lady Justice
The blind sword wielder of justice, Lady Justice is a force to be reckoned with. She and her Death Marshals are more than equipped to handle the threats of Malifaux. They specialize in killing undead abominations, and have a particular hatred of Resurrectionists. (Like the entire guild really.) The Death Marshals lug around coffins, using them to imprison their prey, and the Judge is a mysterious masked figure who is as fearsome as he is skilled. Lady Justice makes a good entry point into the world of Malifaux, bringing a balanced force to the table.
Sonnia Criid
Sonnia and her crew are witch hunters. They excel in fighting magic users, and have a variety of ways to deal with them. Sonnia has the ability to kill magic users and turn them into mindless Witchling Stalkers, which are completely under her control. She is an adept user of fire magic, and can really light up her enemies. And Sammael Hopkins is a feared and adept hunter in his own right, and is her right hand.
Sonnia is another good choice for the beginning player. Especially if you want to play a spellcaster in the Guild.
Lucas McCabe
Lucas McCabe is an adventurer, simply put. He takes gangs of ne’er do wells out into the reaches of Malifaux with the promise of treasure. McCabe is a unique master in that he can be mounted or dismounted, allowing him interesting ways to play. He can also take a variety of equipment into battle, allowing you to customize his loadout before a battle. The Wastrels are thugs through and through, and Sidir is a large man with a machine gun. What more needs to be said about him>
While Lucas is a part of the Guild, he truly swears his fealty to the Ten Thunders, and works to secure their interests from within the Guild. What this means to you is that he can be played as a Guild Master or a Ten Thunders master, giving you access to all sorts of models! He’s a good choice if you like flexibility!
Perdita Ortega
Guns. Many guns. Shoot, then shoot some more. Get the posse together and shoot all the bad guys. Perdita is the master of the pistol. She is the most feared gunslingers in Malifaux, and leads a family of fighters that excel at hunting down Neverborn monsters. Papa Loco is the family Patriarch, and is crazy like a bag of cats. And he’s prone to explode. Santiago is a tough nut to crack, And Nino is a master of ranged combat.
Play Perdita if you want to shoot your way to victory. Literally. With lots of guns.
Lucius: Governer’s Secretary
The right hand to the most powerful man in Malifaux. Lucius has his thumbs in everyone’s pies, and knows more than you think he does. He’s a masked man of many secrets, and has all of the Guild’s substantial power behind him. On the battlefield, Lucius hangs back, delivering orders to his men. He can get them in gear, and allow them to get in extra shots. He recently became a Master in Malifaux 2nd Edition, which expanded his options greatly. Also, he now counts as both a Guild AND Neverborn Master, allowing you to play him with either faction!
If you like setting up strings of extra attacks, and allowing your Guild force to move around with impunity, Lucius is a good fit.
Douglas McMourning
The mad doctor himself, McMourning is the Guild’s chief coroner. The bodies that pass through his morgue are usually used for grotesque experiments, their parts fused into huge fleshy undead beings. McMourning plays a dangerous game, being a Resurrectionist using the Guild as a cover, but he’s managed to avoid being discovered so far. His minions are usually of the undead variety, with horrors like zombie dogs, and giant flesh constructs. He’s got a crew of broken and deranged nurses in his employ, and his trusty assistant Sebastian is always there to assist with his bone saw. Of course, being both a Resurrectionist and a Guild Member, you can play him in either faction, though you might find him more potent with his fellow Ressers.
McMourning used to be a Melee monster. He still is to some degree. But his crew is now all about poisoning your opponents, and reaping the rewards. Play him if you love laying down sicknesses everywhere you go before closing in for “surgery.”
C.Hoffman
Robots. C. Hoffman is all about the robots. He’s got a brilliant mind for constructs, and even uses a rig to walk around. (This is mostly because he has the Polio.) he can follow them as they move around, get extra duty out of them, and even use their abilities. If you’re opponent is playing constructs, he knows how to take control of them or dismantle them. He’s got observant Watchers that flit around the battlefield scoping out targets, the Hunter, a feline beast that can hunt down and kill its targets with its claws or drag them in with a harpoon. And the sturdy Guardian can keep him alive while he does his thing.
If you want to play a slightly more complex master with a lot of synergy, look no further than Hoffman. He can be tough to learn, but potent once you learn his tricks
That’s it! Next time we’ll tackle the Arcanists! They’re a faction full of Magic, Constructs, and a Rail Union! Till next time!
So I talked about Malifaux a few days ago, and mentioned how much I love it. I have a few painted models I felt like sharing for everyone.
I’m not an expert painter by any means, but hey, I try.
We’ve got Nightmare Teddy and Avatar Rasputina!
Ten Thunders Archers: I HAD three of them, but one is missing a head. And I have NO idea how to get another head without buying a whole new box. I’m kind of upset about it really.
Ten Thunders Brothers. I’ve had these guys for ages, but then when we got Ten Thunders as a faction, they finally saw play!
Torakage, Ten Thunders Ninja at large. Fun Fact: I’m also a Naruto fan, so at the time, I patterned the one on the right with the colors of Tobi’s mask. (which was orange at the time.)
Misaki, my crew’s master (middle), Shang, her nine tailed totem, and Yamaziko, an old lady with a spear. Painting Misaki orange is what pretty much started my whole color scheme for the crew.
Ototo and Yin, the Penanggalan. If you don’t know what a Penanggalan is, it’s essentially a floating head and entrails that separate from their bodies at night and fly around looking for victims. And Ototo there? He’s just a guy. Smashing his tetsubo down on some poor Guardsman.
Now we jump to Tara, Herald of Oblivion, master of another crew. That’s her pal Karina on the right. I wanted to go with a sort of Arrancar theme for them. And bonus points if you know what that is. Problem is, I can’t paint skin. It always comes out terrible. >_<
The Nothing Beast. Tara’s best pal, and one huge dude.
Void Wretches: Cute little monsters from Tara’s crew. I regret not green stuffing that line down the middle of the center one, but I like the color scheme anyway.
So there you have it, a couple of my crews. They’re not the best paint jobs out there, but I kind of like them. I guess. I’m also working on Lilith and Seamus, so those may be up soon too. :p
Thanks for reading, as always!
Gaming Grounds 