So, a lot to take in on the future of Warmachine.
A lot of this stuff is from some early release videos and what not. So here are the first changes mentioned.
Ill add comments in italics text.
What has changed? - [3:50]
- We have rebalanced every model in the game.
Good. PP does this well, nothing like having some armies/models operating under old rules to mess up a game
- Each warcaster has a unique, flavorful spell/ability. Some casters already had, some had to be added.
Excellent. Some casters did feel a bit dry, especially some of the Battlebox ones. I also think that each caster needs that signature effect to stand out. Keen to see how some casters who are a little dull get unique effects.
- Doubled the point scale.
This is a small one, but at low points some models were annoying to point out. The difference between 2 and 3 point solos was a great example.
- Addresses difference between Focus and Fury.
Not sure what this means, I do like that the systems are currently different. I hope these changes keep the flavour.
- New Mechanics:
- Power Up = Warjack are allocated a focus for starting in the caster's battlegroup.
- Upped warjack/warbeast points. 28-30 points now.
Anything that makes jacks more integral to the game and useful is great for me. This is a game about giant robots and beasts, not infantry swarms after all.
- Spirit Bonds: As warbeasts die, Warlocks can gain fury "from the grave"
I don't know how this will work, but this could be a real game changer. As kill the beasts, then kill the warlock was a key strategy against hordes. Curious how this works.
- Games are still similar sized.
Good, game bloat, like what has happened to 40k and other games is awful. Keep it skirmish level where possible.
Why MK III vs MK 2.5?
- "Felt like the right time."
- "MKII got to a point where it was a time to readdress [interactions and power level]."
- "Look at the whole picture."
6 years of MK2 is a long time really. And personally, I was starting to have issues with the game, ever since collosals came out.
What were some lessons from MKII?
- "Punctuated by "setting huge base models free in the wild."
- "Played huge base models conservatively in places. Push them more in places"
Colossals are a nightmare for balance in a skirmish scale game. Too easy to throw the game into skew one way or the other. I hope they address this well.
- Global reset of the rules. Smooth things outs.
- Rework presentation. Organization to (hopefully) make information more accessible.
- Differences in Fury and Focus are addressed (in a meaningful way)
ok, comments above address most of this
PREMEASURING- "It already exists, felt like a loophole."
- No more 'Gotchas'
Premeasuring exists if you are good enough with trig and can measure things using your control area.
All making it permissible openly does is help level the playing field. An excellent inclusion, my experience with Armada shows that pre-measuring can actually add to a game, not distract from it.
No more Fear/Terror
Ok? does this mean they are rolling them into one, or getting rid of the effect all together?
Change with Huge-Base Models [15:00]
- They feel like the monsters of the battlefield like they should.
I'm not sure about this. I know they said they will push them more in big battles and less in smaller ones, but the issue with skew is still a big one for me.
Presentation of Story
- Time-skip! Two-year jump.
- Flash-Point. First installment in a trilogy.
- Story line stuff. Resolutions and new things
Two year jump means that the prediction that the journeymen casters will be full-blown heroes in the story. That's ok for me.
- No favorite character is safe. Plot armor is off!
I simply cannot stand the plot armour of the fiction to date. It kills all tension and suspense when a character is in danger. And I could get a few characters having plot armour, but every single damn one of them? For a world at war, no one seems to have actually been fighting and dying. This is a necessary change, and for me, as important as any rule balance.
New Hordes Faction [Preview - LnL 2017] [29:00]
- Unlike anything they have ever done. "Weird stuff"
- "Things you have never been able to do before."
- Built from the ground-up under MKIII rules.
- "Feels like a complete little ecosystem as a faction, interesting reason for being in existence."
Personally, I want to see the "dragon alliance" as a faction. With each of the different dragons contributing units of their own fashioning and style. I'm unlikely to buy a new faction anyway, but I am intersted to see where they go with this. All I hope is that they don't "jump the shark" and introduce something idiotic like aliens.
CONCLUSION
As said above, looks good, but lets wait and see.
Even more changes are noted here