Difference between revisions of "LPG - Theme Forces"

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[[File: PTbox.jpg|thumb|[[Primal Terrors]] box set]]
 
[[File: PTbox.jpg|thumb|[[Primal Terrors]] box set]]
 
[[File: Northkinbox.jpg|thumb|[[Storm of the North]] box set]]
 
[[File: Northkinbox.jpg|thumb|[[Storm of the North]] box set]]
[[File: Blindwaterbox.jpg|thumb|[[Blindwater Congregation]] box set]]
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====Are Theme Forces compulsory?====
 
====Are Theme Forces compulsory?====
 
Technically No, but realistically Yes.
 
Technically No, but realistically Yes.
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Lastly, it's worth noting that many of these boxsets only contain units and solos - they don't contain warcasters/warjacks or warlocks/warbeasts. As such, these boxsets are meant to be an add-on to the faction's battlegroup starter box.  
 
Lastly, it's worth noting that many of these boxsets only contain units and solos - they don't contain warcasters/warjacks or warlocks/warbeasts. As such, these boxsets are meant to be an add-on to the faction's battlegroup starter box.  
  
At the time of writing (2019.07) there are 8 boxsets available:
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At the time of writing (2019.08) there are 7 boxsets available:
  
 
* [[Cryx]] - [[Scourge of the Broken Coast]] (formerly known as Slaughter Fleet Raiders)
 
* [[Cryx]] - [[Scourge of the Broken Coast]] (formerly known as Slaughter Fleet Raiders)
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* [[Legion]] - [[Primal Terrors]]
 
* [[Legion]] - [[Primal Terrors]]
 
* [[Trollblood]] - [[Storm of the North]]
 
* [[Trollblood]] - [[Storm of the North]]
* [[Minions]] - [[Blindwater Congregation]]
 
  
 
====Should I buy a Theme right away?====
 
====Should I buy a Theme right away?====

Revision as of 20:36, 8 August 2019


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This article is part of Warmachine University's Learning to Play the Game (LPG) series, which is "Intermediate Training" aimed at new players who are still learning the core rules.
(See also Basic Training and Advanced Training.)


Theme Forces are rules for creating your army. Theme Forces are considered the default way to play Warmachine and Hordes in the current edition, by both the players that use theme forces and also the developers that design the game.


Theme Forces restrict which models you have access to, but give you bonuses in return. The restrictions are normally fluff-driven, and the models you get are thematically tied together (such as "all the Man-o-War models" or "all the Satyxis models"). The bonuses vary from theme to theme, but are normally along these lines:

  • All themes get to add models to your army free of cost. The bigger the game, the more free models you get.
  • Most themes get a deployment benefit (such as getting to reroll the dice that determine who goes first; a unit gains Ambush; etcetera)
  • Most themes get an in-game benefit (such as all warrior models gaining Tough; or all warjacks gaining Hyper-Aggressive; etcetera).
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For a list of all the theme forces currently in the game, refer to Category:Theme Force and/or the Game Rules section of PP's website.

2019 Theme Remix

In 2019.06 PP announced that all themes would be fundamentally changing with regards to how "free models" get added to the theme force. At the same time, there would be a general review of what theme benefits each theme has, what models they have access to, etc. Some themes were merged together. The new version will be available in 2019.08 and compulsory by 2019.10.

To get free models in the old system you had to spend army points on specific model types. For instance spend 20 points on Bane models to get one free solo, 40 points to get two free solos, etc.

In the new system everything works on "Requisition Points" instead. For every 25 points of game size, you get one RP (so 3 RP in a standard 75 point game). No matter what you put in the army, you get those RP. They're then spent on free solos, command attachments, etc.

<Note to editors: This section will eventually be further down the page, but for now it's front and centre>

What a New Player needs to know

Gravediggers box set
Scourge of the Broken Coast box set (formerly known as Slaughter Fleet Raiders)

Are Theme Forces compulsory?

Technically No, but realistically Yes.

No because there is no rule in the game saying you must play in a theme force. So if you don't want to, you don't have to.
Yes because if you play a non-theme army vs a theme army, you've got slim odds of winning. You miss out on all the extra benefits, and in a small 25 point game you'll have a 6 point handicap. In a full-size 75 point game you'll have an 18 point handicap!

When you first start out don't worry about it too much. At smaller point levels, and versus other new players, whether you're in or out of theme won't make much difference.

Are all Theme Forces equally powerful?

There used to be a lot of disparity in power level, but with the 2019 theme remix hopefully we'll see less "dud" themes. At the time of writing (2019.07) this remains to be seen.

Are there Theme Force boxsets you can buy?

Yes.

If you're just starting out, they're okay-to-good value for money (depending on which one you get). If you already have a collection though, there's a chance you'll get extras of models you already own.

Another reason they're a good purchase choice is because they are all for themes that have been expanded during the current edition of the ruleset. After the expansion, those themes have become interesting, diverse, and (mostly) balanced theme forces. Un-expanded themes, on the other hand, sometimes have a very limited pool of existing models and strategies to choose from.

Lastly, it's worth noting that many of these boxsets only contain units and solos - they don't contain warcasters/warjacks or warlocks/warbeasts. As such, these boxsets are meant to be an add-on to the faction's battlegroup starter box.

At the time of writing (2019.08) there are 7 boxsets available:

Should I buy a Theme right away?

Yes and No.

  • Yes, because everyone plays in themes and you will want to, too.
  • No, because until you play a bit with a theme you won't know if you like that theme.

As a compromise, I suggest you start with a 25 point list in a theme force; I suggest one theme-specific unit, one theme-specific solo, and spend the rest of your points on warjacks/warbeasts or support models that can be used in more than one theme. This will give you a taste of how the theme plays without requiring a huge money investment in models.

If you want to play a bigger game you can either proxy the theme-specific models that you don't own yet, or fill out your points on more warjacks/warbeasts, mercenaries, and support models. The later option will probably cause you to have an uncompetitive force, though.

Other tips:

  • Take a good look at the Mercenaries and/or Minions that will work for your Faction (refer to the Who Works for Whom article).
    • The logic here is, that (almost) every theme allows you to take at least one Mercenary/Minion unit and one solo; so once you've purchased a Merc/Minion you can re-use them in every other theme you want to try out.
    • Of particular note are the Partisan models that can work for your Faction.
  • Take a look at the non-character warjacks/warbeasts in your Faction.
    • Once again, (almost) all themes allow unrestricted use of non-character warjacks/warbeasts, so your purchases can be re-used in multiple themes.

If you do go down the route of buying lots of non-character warjacks/warbeasts (and why wouldn't you, they're cool and what attracted most of us to this game to begin with), there's a few things to be aware of:

  • Most themes only need a couple of warjacks/warbeasts in the army, so any extras you buy are "wasted".
  • However every faction has at least one theme that rewards you for fielding a buttload of warjacks/warbeasts, so your extras are "not wasted" if you use that theme.
  • Most warcasters/warlocks can't manage a large battlegroup - their resources get spread too thin. What you can do about that is:

Brief History

Theme Forces didn't exist at all in Mk1 (2003 to 2010), and functioned differently in Mk2 (2010 to 2016). In Mk3, however, Theme Forces were redesigned from the ground up to be an integral part of how players play the game. The reason PP did this is really quite simple - the game was getting too big. After 13 years of constant releases all of the core factions were well fleshed-out, and it was becoming difficult to add new and interesting models to the line-up without it stepping on the toes of something already available in-faction, and/or blurring the lines that define one faction from another. Also it was harder to identify a potentially broken combination of rules.

Pros & Cons of the Theme System

With Warmachine & Hordes now in a place where everyone is expected to be playing "In-Theme", there are several advantages to the overall game system:

  • Unit duplication
    • Consider the scenario where PP want to give a Faction a new unit which is a bit different to an existing unit, but which fundamentally just does the same task. Before themes, players would work out which of those two units did the task better for its points cost and then never touch the losing unit ever again. After themes, these two units are placed in different themes and the comparison is not so straight forward. Sometimes you'll want to take the "losing" unit because it is in a "better" theme.
    • Some players will say unit duplication can go too far (the most egregious example being Long Gunners vs Trencher Long Gunners) to which I counter: Yeah you're probably right. I'm glad we haven't seen a repeat of such blatant duplication since those Trenchers, though.
  • Narrow scope for testing purposes
    • Consider the scenario where PP want to release a new model with a new special rule, but it might be overpowered if it can be taken with a specific 2nd model. Before themes, you'd have to check it vs 75-ish other models in the same Faction. After themes, you only need to check it vs the 30-ish models in the same Theme. This greatly reduces the chance of an undesirable, unforeseen, overpowered combination accidentally making it out of playtests and into the final rules.
    • Some players will say that this happens anyway (for example Lord of the Feast) but in counter I say: in a theme-less world, more Feast-like mistakes would be made.


However, it's not all sunshine and roses. There are several disadvantages too:

  • It's harder for a player to 'dabble' in a new Faction, new players especially.
    • If you play out of theme, you're at a disadvantage.
    • But to play in theme you have to invest heavily in one style of aesthetic & playstyle that they may not like in the long run.
      Remember how hard it was to pick your first Faction? Imagine that, multiplied by 10.
  • It can stagnate list-building creativity.
    • Some themes have very few choices, and everyones lists start looking the same because there's simply no other option.
    • Themes reward players with free models for every 20-or-so points of [X, Y, and Z] models that you take, and some players just spam [X, X, and more X].
  • Some of the Theme Forces released at the beginning of Mk3 were rushed out the door, as it were, and can be significantly more or less powerful than their competition.

Theme Rules & Rules Clarifications

  • Models allowed
    • A theme force can include only the models and units described in its entry.
    • If a theme force can include a given unit, you can add any attachments to the unit that are available to it, subject to normal FA restrictions.
      • Ranking Officer command attachments, however, cannot be included in theme force armies unless the rules of the theme force specifically allow for the Mercenary/Minion unit it attaches to.
  • Character warjacks/warbeasts
    • Character warjacks/warbeasts with a Bond can always be taken in a theme force whether or not that theme normally allows them, but only if they're in their bonded model's battlegroup.
  • Mercenary/Minion models
    • Mercenary/Minion models are not allowed in theme forces by default, but most themes allow "Up to one Mercenary solo and one Mercenary unit". Some themes allow zero, some allow infinite. But most only allow one of each.
    • Mercenary warcasters with the Partisan special rule can be included in the theme forces of the Faction(s) they are partisan to.
    • If a Mercenary/Minion model that can control warjacks or warbeasts is included in an army made using a theme force, the army can include non-character warjacks or warbeasts controlled by that model.
    • If a Mercenary/Minion model has a companion character, that companion can always be included in the same army.
  • Requistion Points
    • You earn one RP for each 25 points of game size. Your warjack points / warbeast points don't count towards the game size.
    • You can spend each RP on one of the entries given in the theme's rules.
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Rules Clarification: Theme Forces     (Edit)

Themes that change a model's Faction   [Show/Hide]
  • Many themes swap which Faction a model counts as. They're slightly inconsistent with how exactly this is worded. Despite this inconsistency - whenever a model is considered a different faction to normal, it will not be its original faction. (Infernal Ruling)
For instance Lukas stops being a Crucible Guard model when taken in an Infernal army, and as a consequence he cannot take Toros or Vanguards in Infernals. (Infernal Ruling)
Rerolling the starting roll   [Show/Hide]
  • You cannot use the theme benefit to reroll if it is a draw. Instead both players reroll until there is a loser, and then the loser can use their reroll benefit (if they have it). (Infernal Ruling)
  • If both players have a reroll, first the original loser uses their reroll.
    • If the original loser still loses, fine.
    • If the original loser now wins, the other player can use their reroll.
    • If it is now a draw, both players reroll until there is a loser. Then the player that hasn't used their theme benefit reroll can still use it, if they want.
Warjacks/Warbeasts with bonds   [Show/Hide]
  • A warjack/warbeast with a bond can always be included in a theme force, whether or not they're in the list of allowed models, but only if they're controlled by that bonded model.
  • This applies even if that bonded model isn't a full warcaster/warlock (changed as of 2018.06).
Including Mercenaries   [Show/Hide]

Number of Mercenaries

  • If your "up to one Merc" ...
    • ... can take warbeasts/warjacks, then you can add warbeast(s)/warjack(s) (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance)
    • ... comes with a Companion model, then you'll get that Companion (without exceeding your "up to one" allowance)
  • There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to not only take one Merc solo/unit, but the entire FA of that Merc solo/unit. It's a bug.

Mercenaries and Ranking Officers

  • Adding a Ranking Officer to a Merc unit doesn't increase the number of Merc units you can take.

Other

  • See also the section on Partisans
Including Partisan Mercenaries   [Show/Hide]

Partisans & Theme Forces (Edit)

  • Partisans are Mercenary/Minion models, so there are two ways you can add them to a theme force:
    1. Freely: If the Partisan is on the list of allowed models, then you can take as many as you want plus another Mercenary unit/solo. (Infernal Ruling)
      They can be explicitly allowed (for example Jaws of the Wolf allows "Kayazy models/units" so Partisan Kayayz can be used freely).
      They can be implicitly allowed (for example Scourge of the Broken Coast allows "living Cryx models/units" and Partisan Cephalyx fit that criteria, so they can be used freely). (Infernal Ruling)
    2. Limited: If the Partisan isn't on the list of allowed models, it does use up your "Up to one Mercenary/Minion" slot, so you can only have the one.
  • Whether you used option 1 or 2 above, once they're in your theme force they count as a Faction model and so:
    • They can be taken as a Requistion Option (if they fit the Requistion description).
    For example Lanyssa can be taken as a free solo in the Legion of Dawn theme. (Infernal Ruling)
    • They will get any theme benefit that they fit the description for.
    For example Storm Division gives all Cygnar models Immunity Electricity, so Partisan Mercs in that theme get immunity too.
    For example Nemo4's Mechaniks get Reposition [3] in Heavy Metal. (Infernal Ruling)
Requisition Points   [Show/Hide]
  • You can choose the same Requisition option as many times as you like, as long as it doesn't put you over a FA limit.
  • You can't mix and match models from different options. Say one option allows 3 Machine Wraiths and another allows 3 Necrotechs. You can't use your Requisition Point to get 2 Wraiths and 1 Necrotech.
  • If you have an option that allows one other solo, you can't use it to get something already on the list. For instance, Ghost Fleet allows 3 Misery Cages (which are FA 4) for one Requistion Point, and it allows 1 other solo. That "other solo" can't be a 4th Cage.
  • If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread)
  • Models with the Man-Sized rule count as small-based models for the purposes of being a Requistion Option. (Locked Thread)
Free models and Specialists (ADR)    [Show/Hide]
  • If your theme only allows one merc solo, you can't have one in your main list and a different one in your specialists.
Unit Attachments   [Show/Hide]
  • If a unit is allowed in a theme, any-and-all of its attachments are allowed too. Exception: Ranking Officers are not allowed unless explicitily mentioned.
  • If the theme force gives a benefit to a specific unit, any-and-all attachments to that unit will benefit too. Even if it is a "generic" attachment like the Void Leech. (Infernal Ruling)
    For example, a Trollkin Sorcerer will gain Serenity if its attached to a Dhunian Knot unit in a Power of Dhunia theme force.
  • If your theme allows "3 weapon attachments" as a Requistion Option, you can spread them into different units. (Locked Thread)
  • A non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli) still counts as a non-character unit. (Infernal Ruling)
When to apply theme benefits   [Show/Hide]
  • With reference to special abilities that themes give to models, Ranking Officers, adding new models, and/or taking control of models:
    1. Theme force benefits are applied when you construct your list or put a new model into play. A model already in play will not lose or gain any theme benefits mid-game based on any changes of faction status or otherwise. (Infernal Ruling)
    2. However, if the theme gives a benefit to models "at the beginning of the game" (such as Devourer's Host letting models begin the game with 1 corpse token) then this benefit does not apply to new models that are put into play mid-game. (Locked Thread)
    • Example 1: Sons of the Tempest says "ATGM units in this army gain Pistoleer". If your opponent takes control of one of them, it keeps Pistoleer while under their control even though it's currently not "in the army".
    • Example 2: Storm Division gives Immunity:Electricity to "Cygnar models in the army." If you include a Mercenary unit with a Ranking Officer, they will get the theme benefit and also keep it even after the Ranking Officer dies.
    • Example 3: Stange Bedfellows gives solos Swift Vengeance. If Nemo4 creates a new solo mid-game, that solo will have Swift Vengeance.

See also these Theme-Specific Rulings   [Show/Hide]
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Rules Clarification : Black Industries      (Edit)

  • The entry which allows "Cephalyx models/units" only applies to Partisan Cephalyx. That's because the theme's rules start off with "this army can only include the following Cryx models"​. Partisan Cephalyx are the only ones that fill that condition.
  • The Cephalyx Agitator also works for Cryx and can go in Black Industries but, because it is not a Partisan, it will use up your Mercenary solo slot.
  • (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Creator's Might      (Edit)

  • ​Elias Gade is allowed in Creator's Might. (Infernal Ruling)
  • You can spend the "Two Vassal solos" requistion option on one Vassal Mechanik and one Vassal of Menoth. Warroom has a bug and tells you that you can't. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Flame in the Darkness      (Edit)

  • You can take any number of Mercenary jacks. You can also select two additional jacks from Khador and Cygnar in any combination you like. Character warjacks with a bond don't count against this limit of 2. (Infernal Ruling)
  • There is a bug in Warroom that allows you to take two Cygnar and two Khador jacks.
  • Morrowan Battle Priest:
    • If your warcaster is a Cygnar model that makes every unit you take a Cygnar unit, and Battle Priests can be attached to any unit.
      Warroom has a known bug where it doesn't allow this interaction.
    • If your warcaster is a Mercenary or Khador model, though, the only units the Battle Priest can attach to are the Morrow ones.
    • If you attach the Battle Priest to The Devil's Shadows Mutineers then it can be returned via Blood Bound. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Llaelese Resistance      (Edit)

  • It is 2 Cruicible or 2 Cygnar or 2 Menoth.
    You can't take more than 2, and you can't mix and match from multiple Factions. (Infernal Ruling)
  • You can have a non-character unit with a character attachment (i.e. Captain Karli). (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Talion Charter      (Edit)

  • The 3rd benefit is "Sac Pawn [Sea Dog trooper]", not just any Sea Dog. (Infernal ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Bones of Orboros      (Edit)

  • Una1 cannot be taken in this theme (yet) due to the conflict between the theme's "Only Construct warbeasts allowed" and Una1's "Must take warbeasts with flight". There are no construct warbeasts with flight (yet). But if/when there is, then Una1 can be taken in this theme. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : The Devourer's Host      (Edit)

  • Bradigus1 is not legal in this theme. The theme only allows living warbeasts, his rules only allow construct warbeasts, and you can't just 'skip' his battlegroup - you have to spend your warbeast points.
  • If you create a new model mid-game (ie with the Well of Orboros and that model can have corpse tokens, that model does not enter play with a corpse. Because it's not the beginning of the game. (Locked thread)
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Rules Clarification : The Wild Hunt      (Edit)

  • The animus benefit doesn't apply to enemy warbeasts. (Infernal Ruling)
  • The animus benefit doesn't stack with the Druid Wilder's Herding ability. (Infernal Ruling)
  • When it comes to other things that alter COST (such as Lamentation), follow basic maths: Double/halve first, then add/subtract.
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Rules Clarification : Oracles of Annihilation      (Edit)

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Rules Clarification : The Exalted      (Edit)

  • If a Construct model loses the Construct advantage mid-game, it keeps the theme benefit anyway. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Band of Heroes      (Edit)

  • Boomhowler2 uses up your Minion slot. His Fell Calls ability is not enough to make him a "Fell Caller model/unit". (Infernal Ruling)
  • Boomhowler3 does not use up your minion slot on account of having the Champion keyword.
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Rules Clarification : The Blindwater Congregation      (Edit)

  • Void Leeches attached to a Gatorman Posse will gain Snacking, but they won't gain extra hitpoints. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Magnum Opus      (Edit)

  • If Mosby is attached to a Mercenary weapon crew unit, they would gain 3" reposition and would not lose it if Mosby is no longer in the unit. (Infernal Ruling)
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Rules Clarification : Hearts of Darkness      (Edit)


List of All Theme Forces