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Getting started with Malifaux.
#1
Malifaux is described as a Character driven skirmish game, played on quite a small playing surface (3'sq) between "crews" consisting of about 6-7 models.

To play Malifaux you will require a copy of the rules manual, a deck of playing cards (52 + Jokers,) or a fate deck, and a crew. All the rules for the miniatures come with the models, so there is no army books to buy. Throw in a smattering of terrain and you are set to go.

The game system will be 3 years old in August, and so far it has seen 4 books be released.
  • [1] Malifaux - A character driven skirmish game
    Contained the core rules, 15 masters and a relevant minions for all the factions. It is referred to as book 1, and is no longer in print.
    [2] Malifaux - Rising Powers
    Contains more scenarios and schemes, rules for henchmen and special forces. Also contains 5 new masters, 6 henchmen and again relevant minions. I understand this is also now out of print, but is somewhat easier to find, and is referred to as book 2.
    [3] Malifaux - Rules Manual
    A refining and clearer set of rules, from the two previous books. It is in a handier A5 size, but it sacrifices all of the model stats and the background stories of the previous two books.
    [4] Malifaux - Twisting Fates
    Introduces the rules for Avatars, as well as the stat lines for all 20 Avatars. It also once again contains more minions, although the number of these is severely reduced on books 1 and 2. Referred to as Book 3
If you are not after back ground fluff, or desperate for some of the stat lines, only the manual is required. Book 3 does contain Avatar rules, but these are described with the models stat cards. Also stats from book 1 (often) and book 2 have changed, and it is regarded in the community that a models official rules, are those that come with the model rather than in the book. However when it comes to proxies, only an idiot would ban you from using a book stat line, in a casual game. So the rules manual is really the only book you need, but book 3 can be of help.

Malifaux 'armies' are decided roughly into six 'factions'
  • [1] The Guild, who are the defenders of the Human residents of Malifaux. They work for the evil Govenor, and you have the following masters and henchman to choose from.
  • Lady Justice - Anti Ressurectionist master, and close combat specialist.
  • Sonnia Crid - Anti Arcanist master, strong mage and has some good anti magic abilities. Likes fire......a lot.
  • Perdita Ortega - Anti Neverborn master, who works with her family. They tend to be a ranged force, and know what each other is thinking ahead of time.
  • C. Hoffman - Guild mechanical and robotics specialist, Hoffman was recruited by Ramos, but may have his own agenda.
  • Luscious (Henchman) - The governors right hand, and leads the non-specialist Guild Guards.

    [2] The Ressurectionists - The games undead faction, who have a nasty habit of finishing a game with more models then it started with. Again their list is
  • Nicodem - A guild funeral director, who tends to command waves of Zombies
  • Douglas McMorning - A guild morgue master, and tends to act like Dr. Frankenstein
  • Seamus - Unhinged lunatic, who has shades of Jack the Ripper, the Mad Hatter and in avatar form Mr Hyde. Likes his ladies, but only when they are dead, and leads a force of Zombified Hookers.
  • Kirai - An almost possessed young girl, who uses powerful spirits and ghosts rather than more corporeal undead like her predecessors.
  • Molly Squidpidge (Henchwoman) - Killed, raised and constantly re-killed by Seamus, Molly holds a secret to Malifaux.

    [3] The Arcanists - An underground faction that have their own agenda. Their public front is the Miners and Steamfitters union, the representatives of the common folk of Malifaux, but deep down they have a plan.
  • Victor Ramos - The head of the Arcanists, Ramos is a master of robotics.
  • Marcus - Marcus has a feral side, and is a master of the many forms of wild beast found this side of the breach.
  • Rasputina - Raspy is a pawn of the Malifaux Tyrant (think god,) December. She is in a constant battle for control of herself, and is the Ice Witch of the game.
  • Colette Du Bois - Colette runs the Star, the premier bar in Malifaux. She and her troupe of showgirls are masters at the art of deception, and are more akin to modern era magicians, vanishing in a cloud of smoke.
  • Kearis (Henchwoman) - Kearis works for Ramos, and has a natural affinity with fire.

    [4] The Neverborn. The previous occupiers of Malifaux, before humans came, and they fight to protect their homelands.
  • Lilith - Lilith is regarded as the Master of Malifaux, and the head of the Neverborn, although keeping them in line, is another matter. She tends to command her Nephilim and can transform the land itself to her advantage.
  • Pandora - Pandora has a box, which when she opens, releases sorrow upon the world. She mentally assaults her opposition, bringing despair and anguish, until they can no longer pose a threat.
  • Zorada - Zorada is not Neverborn, although she has been accepted into their fold. One of the original humans to cross the breach before it was sealed, Zorada is a fortune teller, and master of Voodoo.
  • The Dreamer - A young boy and his pet monster, Nyt Mare. The Dreamer is not actually in Malifaux, but when he dreams, his consciousness crosses the breach. Here he plays games, with his monstrous friends, and controls his many nightmares to kill.
  • Collodi (Henchmen) - Collodi is a demonic puppet, and along with his marionettes, they slice you with immense speed.

    [5] The outcasts. Along with being a faction to themselves, many of their minions can be hired into other factions. These are the mercenaries and fame-seekers of Malifaux.
  • The Victorias - One Human and her doppelgänger, the Victorias, fight as one, with their razor sharp swords.
  • Leviticus - Levi has truly mastered the art of self-resurrection. So much so, that he has eradicated his soul, and finds it very hard to survive, which he has turned to his advantage.
  • Hamelin the Plagued - Once a gutter dwelling tramp, the Tyrant Plague, possessed Hamelin, and turned him into a great threat. Using his pipes, he has a natural affinity to control Rats, and overcomes his foes with disease.
  • Von Schill (Henchman) - Leader of the Freikorps, a crack team of commandos and specialists, that have atool for every job.

    [6] The Gremlins. Technically Outcast models (well they hide in the yellow section of the book,) but they work amongst themselves. Actually the Gremlins are Neverborn, but are so beneath the others, are considered vermin. They have fun, making things go boom, and playing with pigs.
  • Somer Teeth Jones - The biggest badest Gremlin around. Drinks a lot, passes wind even more, and has a habit of sending a pig, to do a Gremlins job.
  • Orphelia La'Croix (Henchgremlin) - A more tactically sound leader, after years of being hunted by the Ortegas, decided is you cannot beat them, join them, or at least mimic them.

Additional tactics and information can be found at Malifaux.com, official Wyrd forums, Pull my Finger (player run wiki)

F.A.Q.

So then thats the core of whats required and a background of the Masters and Henchmen, if there are any questions or comments, feel free to ask, and I will update this post.
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#2
looking at figs, might give it a go. Was thinking of Outcasts, either the Viktorias or gremlins!!they ok for a beginner?
Flames of War- Irish Guards    Bloodbowl- Orcs, Humans
Cutlass- Teddy Bear Pirates     Warhammer- Bretonnia, Ogres
6mm WW2- XXX Corps            28mm WW2- Rules of Engagement, Bolt Action, Chain of Command
28mm Zulu War- Still painting !!  SAGA Normans, Saracens
Bolt Action - German and British Infantry
Malifaux - Gremlins
Guildball - Butchers,Hunters, Farmers
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#3
(18-07-2012, 08:52 PM)Noisysteve Wrote: looking at figs, might give it a go. Was thinking of Outcasts, either the Viktorias or gremlins!!they ok for a beginner?

You're welcome to borrow my Viktorias crew if you fancy trying them.
Figures painted in 2016: 4 Blush
"What this game needs is a panda with a chaingun."
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#4
Might just take the plunge !!
Flames of War- Irish Guards    Bloodbowl- Orcs, Humans
Cutlass- Teddy Bear Pirates     Warhammer- Bretonnia, Ogres
6mm WW2- XXX Corps            28mm WW2- Rules of Engagement, Bolt Action, Chain of Command
28mm Zulu War- Still painting !!  SAGA Normans, Saracens
Bolt Action - German and British Infantry
Malifaux - Gremlins
Guildball - Butchers,Hunters, Farmers
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#5
Sorry Steve missed this. Yes either are perfectly fine.
Gremlins are going to give you a bit of the typical GW Greenskin feel. When it works, boy it does, however normally you end up shooting yourself.
The Victorias though are very point and click, mêlée monsters. Either allow you to get use to the core game mechanics, without introducing more of the tricky stuff (Dreamer bury, Hamelin rat swarms, Colette movement shenanigans, and Kirai summoning, and Leviticus reincarnation tricks.)
The main thing is to look at the faction on the whole, and pick what you like. Most things are interchangeable in faction, and you will find that when you switch between crews, a few models will overlap each time.
Star Wars Legion - Rebels
Guildball - Alchemists
Blood Bowl - Lizardmen
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#6
Gremlins sound like how I usually end up playing most games !! So rules wise, do i just need the players manual?
Flames of War- Irish Guards    Bloodbowl- Orcs, Humans
Cutlass- Teddy Bear Pirates     Warhammer- Bretonnia, Ogres
6mm WW2- XXX Corps            28mm WW2- Rules of Engagement, Bolt Action, Chain of Command
28mm Zulu War- Still painting !!  SAGA Normans, Saracens
Bolt Action - German and British Infantry
Malifaux - Gremlins
Guildball - Butchers,Hunters, Farmers
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#7
OK, I plunged !! Gremlins, cards and manual !!
Flames of War- Irish Guards    Bloodbowl- Orcs, Humans
Cutlass- Teddy Bear Pirates     Warhammer- Bretonnia, Ogres
6mm WW2- XXX Corps            28mm WW2- Rules of Engagement, Bolt Action, Chain of Command
28mm Zulu War- Still painting !!  SAGA Normans, Saracens
Bolt Action - German and British Infantry
Malifaux - Gremlins
Guildball - Butchers,Hunters, Farmers
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#8
I'm gonna post it in here as seems the place to put it, but what was eastern influenced faction that you mentioned that was coming out Gaz?
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#9
(02-08-2012, 08:48 PM)manrogue Wrote: I'm gonna post it in here as seems the place to put it, but what was eastern influenced faction that you mentioned that was coming out Gaz?

Ten Thunders?
Figures painted in 2016: 4 Blush
"What this game needs is a panda with a chaingun."
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#10
That would be the one, cheers Stu.
After a bit of google searching, ten thunders look nice models, so they will be most likely my way into Malifaux when they are released in november. I'm sure Gaz will come back with some nice pics from Gencon to help me decide.
40k- Space marines(5000 pts) Imperial guard (3000 pts) Tau (3000 pts)
Epic 40k-Space marines/Imperial Guard(2000 pts)
Infinity Yu jing (Aprox 1000 pts)
Necromunda Escher Mad capsules Avalanche
Blood bowl Skaven
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