Why is HoMachine becoming so popular?

Not quite as well known as some logo's, but still...

Note: I know the convention is to call Warmachine and Hordes WarmaHordes but I’m trying to shift that to the far funnier HoMachine, so that’s what I’ll always refer to it as!!!

Right I think its pretty clear that both Warmachine and Hordes are experiencing quite a bit of a surge in popularity, especially when Privateer Press put out statements like this:

• Privateer Press we can't cope!!!

Any company that has to take a pause to catch their collective breath to try and catch up with demand, is clearly experiencing some serious demand for their product. And there have been other similar statements since. So why now and will the popularity continue?

Most of you will recognise this logo, and that's down to hard work and effective arketing

In my local gaming circle I think it is quite fair to say the Warmachine MKI wasn’t the most popular of games, not because it wasn't very good (it was good fun) but because we just didn't play it, and part of the reason was almost certainly down to the MKI monicker. Let me explain before you think I'm bonkers. Here in the UK it's pretty difficult to have a discussion about wargaming without bringing in Games Workshop into it, in fact perversely a fair few people refer to none Games Workshop games as ‘alternative wargaming’ it is almost like Games Workshop wargaming IS wargaming!!! I might have mentioned before how this riles me. For those of you not living in the UK that might seem odd, but for those of you living in pretty much any town in the UK you will have a Games Workshop store that pretty much has an iron grip monopoly on our hobby, although that is sliding and slipping a bit.


This monopoly does make it difficult for other game systems to get noticed or get a foothold. The reasons for people not taking up ‘other wargames’ are mainly as follows:

• ‘There’s no where to play them’
• ‘They’re not supported properly'
• ‘Nobody plays them’
• ‘The models / rules aren’t as good as GW’s’

All of which, can be traced back to Games Workshops monopoly, in short us UK wargamers have become pretty lazy, and if we're honest us humans will normally take the path of least resistance. Games Workshop is that path of least resistance for many, in pretty much every town in the UK their is a Games Workshop store, and they are somewhere you can play their games easily. They provide tables and scenery and because of that a ready supply of opponents with whom to hobby with. This creates a ‘safe bubble’ in which to feel comfortable within your hobby, it’s easy, and a damn fine and until now effective business model to boot. Conversely though this approach also makes people worried about trying other game systems that are out there, because you could spend a significant amount of your hard earned dosh on a game system that dies. It's not an idle or unfounded fear either, as I'm sure there are a lot of you out there right now who have done it, and most recently there are people who are currently mourning the sad loss of AT-43 and Rackham, it does happen. So peoples reticence to try something new is an very understandable reaction.

However, people are starting to play other games systems now, chief amongst these are the two Privateer Press games, or HoMachine as I call it. What are the reasons for this shifting attitude amongst us wargamers then? It could be a perfect storm of things, a blend that has finally meant people are willing to look elsewhere for their wargaming fix. Have Games Workshop dropped the ball? Yeah sure, they've pissed lots of people off in Australia and New Zealand, as well as messing up a few other things. But, truth is it's not like they haven't done this in the past now is it, and I've never seen the migration levels I'm witnessing today. Has it been a slow build up? Yes and no, sure for some of you you've put up with what you perceive as slights for years, others have just quit the hobby altogether. That's always happened and I've always seen it, but now those apathy quitters are becoming rage quitters and they're going to other game systems.

Maybe it's not as recognisable as its stablemate, but it's not far off

So why or how has Warmachine and Hordes seemingly got around this here in the UK and maybe other parts of the world? It might sound odd but I think the phrase MKII just might have helped. If I had a pound for every time I’ve heard or read the following on message boards or somebody has said it to me in person I’d probably have at least a tenner, ‘Well it’s onto the second edition now so it’s established’. That phrase or words to that effect show that some gamers are concerned about games becoming established. None of us want to get burned by games that disappear as soon as they're released do we? So having witnessed that Privateer Press have kept Warmachine going since 2003, and released a second edition in 2010 that looked successful, I think they've convinced many that they're here to stay. It's starting to happen with Infinity now as well. What a game needs to do to reach that tipping point. that critical mass,  to attract enough early adopters or pioneers to keep a game ticking over nicely and allow it to develop.

Much of the artistic output in support of HoMachine is easily comparable to the market leader

HoMachine clearly achieved that, I knew of at least 4 people who played MKI HoMachine and swore by it, I have to be honest, at first the game didn’t appeal to me but slowly and surely as the model range expanded I started to feel more comfortable with the idea of taking the plunge. However, this wasn’t achieved by accident, Privateer Press had their Press Gangers, and these hardy individuals did the hard work of encouraging people to get into the game in the States. The fact that it happened in the States though isn’t a surprise, the size of the country means that unlike here in the UK companies like Games Workshop just simply can’t have a store in every town. This coupled with the often quite ridiculous price of Games Workshop products in the USA means that it was always likely to be the furtive breeding ground for the ‘next big thing’ in wargaming. The fact the USA is also giving us Malifaux and others bares this out. As for me I took the plunge for good the second time around, when they finally released the Angry Elves, the Retribution of Scyrah.

Getting the game established or sustainable was clearly a big effort but it's clearly paying off big time now for them and I’m chuffed to bits. However, hard work isn’t the only reason HoMachine has taken off; lets put it bluntly if their product was rubbish it wouldn’t have sold in the first place. You can argue about whether or not the Iron Kingdoms miniatures aesthetic is your cup of tea or not. But honestly you can’t argue that for detail and quality of product it's at the very least the equal of Games Workshops product. I personally love the 'American football' feel of the Warjacks with their 80’s shoulder pads, and its clear that they’re getting into their stride more and more as sculptors like Ben Misenar, Edgar Ramos, Todd Harris and Benoit Cosse (sorry if I’ve missed some of you out) learn their trade. They're starting to set the Privateer Press ‘look’ they’re getting better and better, yes its ‘heroic scale’ but it looks fundamentally different in style to Games Workshops product and has its own ‘vibe’.

Look it's a core game... familiar tactic no?

Obviously for me the important part of the hobby is getting those miniatures right, as it’s really the painting that’s the main part of the hobby for me. However, the rules aren’t too shabby either if any of you have played the games you’ll all know about page 5, I’m not going to write it down here, but if you haven’t yet read page 5 then I’d urge you to go read it. Page 5 encapsulates what the Games Workshop is trying to achieve with its 8th edition Fantasy, and has tried to achieve with 40k over the last few iterations. To cut it short HoMachine is designed for competitive fun and if played in that spirit (and given the rules it's hard not to) it’s a quick fun game that’s easy to play and have fun with. It is though still tactical enough to provide a challenge for those hardcore tournament gamers we all know, and love (well maybe love), I’m no tournament gamer really and others will have to tell you whether it makes a good tournament game, but I think the ingredients are all there.

So they’ve got a fine miniature range and a great solid rule set, which if any game wants to be successful is the most vitally important thing! I still don’t think you can under estimate all that hard work and effort Privateer Press and their Press Gangers put into promoting the game, Warmachine is now the first game many people think of if asked for a none Games Workshop wargame and that’s down to their hard work promoting their products. They had a clear plan and they new what they wanted to achieve, and they went out there and did it in an enthusiastic and effective manner, did they mess up? Yeah sure some things could've been done better, but they learned quick and kept their eye on the prize. One part of that plan actually seems to be mirroring some of Games Workshops methods, primarily with army books, it's a simple yet very familiar concept to Games Workshop customers. Its this familiarity which I think makes many comfortable in taking the plunge with HoMachine. Other great games have come and gone, but right now it feels as though HoMchine really is here to stay. There are enough people playing it to keep it going and there are plenty of people I know who are looking to get into the game to keep it growing.

I personally think Warjacks look super cool

The final piece of the jigsaw for me though is the Internet. Yeah I know, I know the last time I mentioned the Internet and a games company I wasn't very flattering. But, I think the Internet has helped Privateer Press as they've embraced it. Firstly their official website has an official forum, they even allow voices of dissent and answer them in a calm and rational manner. Their website also makes it easy for others to find out about HoMachine without the need for their to be a local branded Privateer Press store in their local town, or indeed an independent game store. After you've found out about there product then there are a number of routes you can take to get hold of their stuff, but yet again here the Internet helps out, online retail! No question it's easier to get other companies product now than it has ever been, that's the Internet effect. Privateer Press have embraced that change.

Look it's an angry elf! Grrrrrrr!!!

Much of this growth here in the UK is arguably less down to the work and effort of Privateer Press and their Press Gangers, but is probably more clearly linked with some of the online stores that there are now here in the UK who have made their product more accessible:

• Maelstrom Games
• Wayland Games
• Firestorm Games

Religious people are always trouble...

and there are now way more Local Game Stores (LGSs) popping up all over the UK, and dedicated (possibly mad) gamers like myself who had forgotten that the hobby used to take some effort, and that Games Workshop have just made us lazy. Well we've all found HoMachine for ourselves and built up little gaming groups to get our hobby moving in a more pleasing direction.

This is where many other companies might owe Privateer Press a debt of gratitude. Privateer Presses hard work has driven a wedge nice and deep into enemy territory. They've created a beach head in which others can follow in their wake. They have got gaming clubs willing to play other games, they've convinced people like me to build their own 8' by 4' gaming table, and have a dedicated gaming room so I can play the games I want. We're self sufficient because Privateer Press have weened many of us off of our Games Workshops dependency. I can now pretty much start whatever game I want, I have my own resources I can call upon, and because I have my own gaming table my friends have been more willing to try new things. Many have followed suit and gone and built their own gaming tables and I'm hearing of others doing the same almost on a weekly basis now. There has been a shift and I don't think Games Workshop will get that genie back in the bottle.

Whatever the actual truth behind the rise in popularity of HoMachine, it is a great little game system with pretty cool miniatures, and if you haven’t yet tried it I urge you to take the plunge. It might take more effort to wargame outside of the Games Workshops comfort blanket, but all that effort is more than worth it. So what does the future hold? Well in June Warmachine got its Wrath expansion that had lots of new toys for every faction and kept the game fresh for us all, and we've just had Domination for Hordes. It’s a clever system that I discussed at length in my first ever Sunday Sermon, it's a system that keeps us interested and gives Privateer Press the opportunity to readdress any imbalance between factions that may have occurred (Games Workshop take note). It also means your faction doesn't get left behind and maintains your interest in them, clever and sustainable. Peace out!