This past week I’ve been taking a second look at Privateer Press. Well, to be more accurate it’s probably a fourth or fifth or tenth look. Privateer Press’s games have long held no appeal for me, in spite of me really really wanting to support them. After all, they were one of the first companies to achieve the herculean goal of being a viable competitor to Games Workshop, which was a competitive check that was desperately needed. Plus, they are based in Seattle, and as someone who grew up in the Northwest, I have a bit of pride in that.
It’s always been about the models.
For the longest time I just couldn’t wrap my head around the appeal of warjacks, and frankly the Warmachine factions that I saw most frequently, Khador and Menoth, just looked tragically lame to me. In spite of Mantic being a slightly worse offender in the past with regards to shamelessly pillaging Games Workshop’s ideas, Warmachine just looked like ugly second rate 40k to me. I was slightly more drawn to Hordes, but even then the Circle and Everblight just didn’t quite click with me.
I have to say though, lately I’ve been coming around. Big time. For starters, I’m somewhat staggered by the sheer range of the miniatures they have apparently pumped out over the past few years. But I think that most of the change has been internal–the aesthetic appeal of what they are trying to do has just started to click with me.
It’s a cartoony, steam-punky world they are creating, and it’s really starting to look amazing and distinctive. They also don’t seem to have the creative constipation that has plagued Games Workshop for so long (and is only recently improving), with each faction getting a steady and exciting stream of new figures constantly, which keeps things fresh for everyone, regardless of what army you play.
There are two factions, one from Warmachine and one from Hordes, that I have recently been really drawn to: Trollbloods
…and Seaforge Dwarfs.
Now, given some of my recent posts, the Dwarfs probably won’t surprise anyone, but I really love the character of the Trollbloods as well!
The thing that has kept me from completely writing off PP and thus continuously returning to check them out is that I have heard consistently that the game rules are Grade-A Excellent. I also like that the model count for games seems to be relatively low, and that the basic rules are FREE. That’s how to do it.
Anyways, I haven’t picked up any models yet, but I intend to get some of both of those factions in the near future. I’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, if you’ve been like me and just assuming that Privateer Press doesn’t have anything to offer in terms of gaming or simply painting, go give them another look. Maybe I’m the last one to this party, but who knows.