MoFaux second edition!!!

This was actually the article I was planning on posting up yesterday... but you know me. I can't resist a good whinge. The news that Wyrd are about to launch the second edition of Malifaux upon us though is actually quite exciting news for me. You see I've been with MoFaux from the start, right at the very start when they were just releasing nifty looking 'Wyrd' miniatures, but of late I've somewhat struggled with how they've 'developed' the game and their product line. I've definitely been critical of rules bloat and the distinct lack of streamlining within their ruleset. There are also massive issues with power creep. I know fans of Games Workshop grumble about the new sickness syndrome that often afflict their releases, but trust me they've got nothing on Wyrd Miniatures and what they've done for Malifaux.

So for me a fun little game that my other half and I often enjoyed together became something neither of us were really willing to invest the time in anymore to keep on top of. Partly because the exceptional Freebooter's Fate arrived in our household and was more fun, but mainly because I think Wyrd let Malifaux get out of hand. In essence I think Wyrd have been a victim of their own success. From a standing start they have shot from being absolute nobodies to actually being a very recognisable and highly popular brand within our hobby. I guess growing pains were inevitable for them as a company. Those pains though seem to have finally resulted in them looking to release a fully realised second editions, thank God we're not going to have to suffer another ver1.9999999 or whatever.

Through the Breach up on Kickstarter

           

              

Well Wyrd have plonked their Through the Breach RPG up on Kickstarter. Now I'm sure I've mentioned on here before that I'm not exactly the worlds biggest fan of RPGs, well maybe that's not fair. I just have never found an RPG group, or game I found sufficiently engaging for me to want to invest the time necessary to get the best out of the experience. However, I have had a number of people ask me if I'd look at some RPG's, namely the FFG's 40k based stuff, their Star Wards RPG and the Iron Kingdoms RPG from Privateer Press. I'm not sure I'm the best person to be talking about RPG's, but it is under consideration. I guess although I'm not an RPG aficionado I would be able to write up stuff from the point of view of a wargamer dipping their toes into the RPG water as it were.

Does Malifaux need to take a pause for the cause?

One of my favourites - Seamus

Malifaux is a good solid fun little game. I quite enjoy playing it with my friends when I can, and you can squeeze quite happily a few games into an evenings gaming session. It's a cheap game to get into in terms of what you need for a faction i.e. miniature count is low, way low. The miniatures themselves aren't too bad either with some interesting subjects, although a lot of them are posed in very 2D stances and are quite static, but I like the quirky nature of many of them. The world of Malifaux is certainly characterful, and no matter what you're into there is bound to be something that is to your taste. Some people hate that Malifaux doesn't really have a unified feel to it, in fluff terms. Then there are others, like me who just accept it and take it on board as just another layer of strangeness to the package.

However, lately I've started to wander whether Wyrd need to step back and take a pause for the cause. You see they've released a lot of 'core' rule books now, we're up to three complete and hefty tomes. If Rising Powers didn't add enough new things into the already tricky mix, they've recently added Twisting Fates, which changes things massively yet again. We also have the pocket rulebook, and although it's claimed it wasn't a re-write of the rules, I think there were significant tweaks from errata and FAQs to call it version 1.5. But that's OK, it was cheap, and to be honest made the game easier to sell to people. No the biggest issue is that they continue to add more and more options to each faction... it is hard to keep up with it all unless you're willing to devote significant hobby time to it and I think Malifaux might be at risk of losing its unique selling proposition (USP), market position and advantage.

Review: Sarissa Precision Livery Stables

Yeah I know, but it really is that good!!!

I think the first thing I need to hold my hands up and say right here, is that this was a very kind donation to my own scenery cupboard from the lovely chaps at Sarissa Precision. However, I was clearly a confirmed admirer of their own particular brand of wonderful HDF scenery before they gave me any freebies. I've tried to judge this piece as I would judge any other product I've purchased or indeed received for review. I think what follows is my honest judgement about it, and yes I know I've given it one of my coveted 'Approved by Cats' seal of approvals, but honestly hand on heart it deserves it.

Some of the larger components

Product Description

This is another fine piece of HDF scenery from Sarissa Precision and is from their Oldwest range of scenery. When they first started producing their Oldwest scenery, I thought that what was really missing from their range was a Church and a Livery Stables. Well I reviewed the Church last month and a fine piece of scenery it is too, and so now we get the Livery Stables. I have to say It's a very fine piece, and is a little bit more complex in it's construction and composition as a shape than their usual 'box' like construction of their other pieces. As always it is precision laser cut HDF, and the detail is also etched into its surface using those lasers too. As with some of their other bigger pieces the door frames and window frames come detached from the walls so you can paint them separately and attach them at a latter date. The doors also come part cut, and can be punched out and re-arranged to be partly open, closed or whatever. The entire kit is comprised of some 60 pieces, or thereabouts.

The rest of the pieces

I love blogging

A wonderful box full of free!!!

You know what, I started this blog to let people know what I think about this awesome hobby of ours and you know, listen to what you guys have to say about things too. Because without an opponent to play with all we're really doing is collecting unpainted toys. However, my blog has had a totally unexpected and totally awesome consequence. People send me free stuff! I know it's totally awesome. It started with an Ika Squid and rapidly escalated to the awesomely generous donation by Mike McVey of Studio McVey with a literal box load of sexy Sedition Wars miniatures. Just to be clear I didn't start my blog so I'd get free stuff, although if someone wants to pay my mortgage off...

So are Sarissa Precision buildings suitable for Malifaux?

 Lady Justice clearing out a small saloon!

So then what do I think of Sarissa Precisions buildings and their suitability for Malifaux? I mean after all that is the reason I got the buildings to review in the first place! It was the incessant nagging of Malifaux players that got me to do the reviews. I have now had a chance to see a pretty good range of the Oldwest products Sarissa Precision produce, so I really do think I'm in a pretty good position to judge whether or not the various buildings are 'right' for Malifaux players. This isn't going to be a review as such, more an article looking at the range and why it is I think it's suitable for Malifaux, my reviews can be found here:

• Oldwest Jailhouse
• Oldwest Shack
• Oldwest Church . School house
• Oldwest Hotel

But, there are a number of factors at play that I want to look at with regards to suitability for Malifaux specifically.

Review: Sarissa Precision Oldwest Hotel

 Sarissa Precisions Promo shot

Well, before I took any photographs of the Hotel put together, there was quite a bit more assembly required than there was with either the Jailhouse or the Shack. There was significantly more assembly required than even the Church. Nothing overly taxing, if you know what you're doing, just a bit of PVA glue on a few window and door frames here and there, oh yeah and a feck load of rubber bands to hold everything together while it dries. Don't worry I'll explain...

Product Description

This is by far and away the largest Sarissa Precision Oldwest building I've brought to date. It's also easily the fiddliest to put together. As well as the 36 pieces in the picture above and the 9 wall parts and balcony, there are two floors and a roof. That's 48 pieces of HDF laser cut and etched wood in total. Fixing the normal window and door frames on is as easy as it was on the church, indeed the ground floor and balcony is as simple to put together as some of the smaller single story buildings they do. It was the second floor that caused all the problems. You see, rather than the walls clipping 'into' the floor, they sort of rest on it with a few tabs. Holding this all together without gluing it is impossible, and holding it all together while gluing it requires the worlds biggest elastic bands. That's my top tip for the day if you do decide to go for this piece.

Review: Sarissa Precision Oldwest Church / School House

 

Sarissa Precision Official Promo Shot

This is the third of the Sarissa Precision Oldwest building that I have reviewed. This one can be made into either a School or a Church. Unlike the previous two buildings from Sarissa, this one actually required assembly with PVA glue. This was because it wasn't able to stay together without the aid of glue, as it's panels were too big, and the walls didn't 'clip' into the floor like the other buildings I own from Sarissa.

Product Description

The larger panels to the kit, without those widow & door frames

There are a lot more pieces to this kit than either the Shack or the Jailhouse. All in all there are 46 pieces to this scenery kit, that's a significant step up in complexity over the others. Another key difference, over the other kits I've reviewed from Sarissa, is the fact that the details, like door and window frames, don't come pre-attached. This means this kit will require you to glue them on yourself, but this also means if you wish to paint them a different colour to the main panels, it will make it easier. It isn't a major hassle, but it is something to be aware of. I found using very slightly watered down PVA glue worked really well. Just remember to have some clean cotton wool pads, with some clean water handy to wipe away any excess PVA glue, mainly around the joints.

Review: Sarissa Precision Oldwest Shack

The completed shack, sans banjo playing hick!!!

Well late last night my first review of a Sarissa Precision piece of scenery went live Here. This review will be another short review, as I have a lot of buildings to get through...

Product Description

This is another laser cut, and etched HDF scenery kit. It comes 11 pieces as you can see from my excellent piece of photograph... ahem... yes well, moving on. Most of the pieces are big and chunky, but the two porch stanchions, towards the top of the picture and center right, are very fine and a bit delicate. Be very careful with them, they will break if forced.

Review: Sarissa Precision Oldwest Jailhouse

A nice size comparison shot for you Malifaux nuts!!!

Right, this is the first of the Sarissa Precision Oldwest buildings I am going to be reviewing. It's also actually the first complete scenery product review I've ever done. So while writing this article I noticed that there needed to be both a usefulness AND a character section in this review, as opposed to one or the other. So these reviews will have slightly more sections (one more, to be precise). However, as I'm reviewing a fair few of these I'm going to deliberately try and keep these reviews short.

Product Description

 

All of the pieces that come in the kit

The Jailhouse came sealed in a nice thick plastic bag with bubble wrap. The building itself is made out of laser cut HDF and it gives off a lovely burnt wood smell. There is a base, 4 wall pieces, 2 small jail bars and 1 large bar section. There is also a top section, that also does a nice job of of providing some nice external detailing, a bit of rigidity and also a handy place to rest the roof section on.

Sarissa Precision Wild West Scenery

Well, I went to Derby World Wargames event last Saturday, held at Derby University, and bumped into Jake Thornton. Or Quirkworthy as he's known in blogging land. And I had a pretty good time wandering around the halls doing geeky things. You can read Jake's write up on the event Here. However, apart from struggling to resist buying an entire fleet of Ainsty Castings pirate ships, to build a pirate board (no I don't know what I'd use it for either), I was pretty much OK with being skint. This made keeping my wallet in my pocket relatively easy and not at all painful. However a fair few Malifaux players have been on at me to review the Wild West buildings from Sarissa Precision. Mainly for suitability for Malifaux but also any quality issues. As it so happened I did have a little bit of 'scenery fund' on me, so when I saw they were at the show I thought I would go and take a look at what they had to offer.

This can be used as a Church or a school

Well, turns out they have quite a bit to offer. You can take a look at Sarissa Precisions website for yourselves and see the full range of stuff they manufacture, it's all pretty nice stuff. However I was mainly interested in their Oldwest Range of buildings, as I'm not too sure playing Malifaux on a WWII inspired board would go down too well with those I know at the club! I had looked at Sarissa Precision stuff a fair few months back, but had held off mainly because I wanted to see some other sorts of buildings they released first. Like a church, a jailhouse and a proper Wild West looking Hotel / Brothel. Well guess what? They've released all of those things now and the only buildings missing off of my tick list would be a barn / stables, and maybe a train station. Turns out they're working on those too. It's almost like they having a cunning plan.

The Hotel is the current cream of the crop, its BIG!!!

Things that I play: Malifaux

Website ( Wyrd Games )

What can I say about Malifaux? Well I think it is fair to say it has rapidly become the 'other game' of choice for many hobbyists and gamers regardless of their first game of choice. Why is that? Well its a very small game played on average between gangs of roughly 5 or 6 models each, although this can be scaled up to include more quite easily if you so choose. Its a really quick system and a fun game with wonderfully quirky rules and even quirkier miniatures. Its ace (excuse the pun) up its sleeve though is that rather than using dice to determine the outcome of your actions, Malifaux uses a deck of cards. This could easily have been a gimmick  but its not, it is an integral part of the character of the game, with an ability to hold cards to one side and 'cheat fate' when you make a bad draw, safe in the knowledge the card you put down afterwards will do the job required as opposed to the one you may have randomly drawn. 

It is however a very different sort of a game system because of the cards and some of the terminology can take some serious getting used to, just as much as the rules can with flips being negative flips or positive flips... I know, it takes some getting used to no question. However as with most things in life its worth the perseverance in the end, as the game becomes a really fast paced little blast. Now I'm certainly no expert at Malifaux and I probably won't ever play it enough to truly ever become a master of it, but it seems to me as though there are hidden depths to it and it obviously has its own set of skills to learn... not least of which is learning to have a p-p-p-poker face p-p-poker face... sorry. But the cards do kind of add an element of poker to the game with bluffs counter bluffs or just being honest and saying yeah I've got the black joker in my hand so no worries about that cropping up matey!!! I also think because of the cards Malfaux has a Texas hold 'em, yehaw, undeniably wild west American feel to it and that really does make it unique in today's crowded market place.