Iron Kingdoms: Full Metal Fantasy Roleplaying Game

Iron Kingdoms is the setting for the Hordes and Warmachine games so it made sense that we would start playing in it.

As a role playing game it's nifty.  The two career systems gives direction but lets you create pretty much any character you could think of.  There's lots of variety and no one class seems to outshine the others.

The game itself seems more focused on combat than anything else (and miniatures of course).  It takes a good game master to remember that his or her players have skills outside of combat.

As a book it's very well laid out.  Things are easy to find, good descriptions and the art is appropriate and good to look at.  Everyone who saw me reading it had to ask about it.  It doesn't fall into the trap that so many first edition rulebooks do in assuming that the reader has never played a role playing game.  Unlike Call of Cthlulu I never felt that the authors looked down on other role playing experiences.

The economics could use a bit of an overhaul.  Pretty much everything is too expensive because, although copper and silver exist, only gold crowns are used.

It could have used a sample adventure here too.  A thread through the whole book, from character creation to adventure, would have added a unifying theme.

Forces of Warmachine: Protectorate of Menoth

The Protectorate doesn't grab me the same way Khador and Cygnar do.  The Harbinger is a beautiful model but I have a hard time coming up with something to support her.  They're just not my style.

Forces of Warmachine: Khador

When I finished the Forces of Warmachine: Cygnar I had visions of an eHaley, or Caine army.  Finishing this book gave me ideas about Vlad and eVlad.  These Forces books could be bad for me.  I'm still not playing often enough to justify another army, but I can play on iBodger.

Forces of Warmachine: Cygnar

Only a year or so behind, I'm getting around to reading the Mark II Warmachine books.  I started with Cygnar because they're the first covered in the main rule book.  The fluff from the main book made me want to play them.  That's not much different here.  I still like Caine, but an epic Haley trencher army seems like it could hold lots of potential.  If I actually played more often I'd be tempted to try one out with borrowed models but I don't even play my own army often enough.

Warmachine Prime Mark II

I finally got around to reading the new rules for Warmachine. They are cleaner and easier to follow.

The fluff makes me want to play Cygnar though. I like the way some of the warcasters are written. The spell lists make me want Cryx. Luckily, I have plenty of Retribution (and don't really like the Cryx models).

Forces of Warmachine: Retribution of Scyrah

If all the Forces of Warmachine books are going to be like The Retribution of Scyrah the next year is going to be a long wait! The background in this book is incredible. There's so much detail, from the origin of the Iosans and their gods to why they are joining the war in Immoren. The faction really seems like it belongs, that it's been created out of whole cloth and not just thrown together.

The army itself shows the advantage of creating something all at the same time. It seems to have loads of symmetry and tricks to get it to work together. I can't wait to start fielding this on the tabletop.

Hordes: Metamorphosis

Hordes: Metamorphosis is the latest expansion of Privateer Press' Hordes line of miniature battle. The story progresses (although I wish Circle's role was a little more than the faction to get beat around) and I'm intrigued as to where it's headed. I understand what Kreuger was thinking when he went to see Blighterghast but I don't think he really thought out the consequences.

Skorne was the big winner in Metamorphosis. Pretty much everything they got was full of win. The other factions got nifty stuff too, but Skorne got the best.

The Minion warlocks are an interesting idea. I like the variety and that they can't command their own faction. I think it maintains the flavour of Hordes.

The only real complaint I have about Metamorphosis is that it came out too close to Mark II. Morraig, Circle's dragoon, will be out for all of a month before he undergoes rule changes with the field test. I'm excited for the changes that Mark II will bring. I just wish I had more time to play with him before he changes.

I'll give this one a 3.

Hordes: Evolution

Evolution is the first expansion of the Hordes system from Privateer Press. It's adds a couple of new warlocks for each faction, unit attachments, cavalry and weapon crews. It added things that I use for nearly every build. I still think Primal has the better 'locks but there are some things in this book that I hate to leave out due to lack of points.

I'll give it a 4.

Hordes: Primal

My husband had been trying to get me into Privateer Press' Warmachine for a while. We play miniature war games together but mostly just those from Games Workshop. I have no interest in giant robots. I just don't like them, they're in the same category as power armour. Monsters on the other hand... As soon as I saw the Warpwolf I was hooked.

Hordes: Primal is the first book released for Hordes. There's been two more at this point but I think Primal still has some of the best stuff for the game. It details the four factions: Skorne, Trollbloods, Circle Orboros and Legion of Everblight. My faction is Circle. I just like the druid background and all the models.

It's a great game. Most of the time you can get a game finished in about an hour or two, sometimes even faster. The rules are fast and brutal and reward those willing to take a chance. The background is deep and interesting. I find myself reading the rule book and wondering what's going to happen next.

I'll give this one a 5.