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A rogue with a badge isn’t supposed to be this effective. We open the case file on Allister Caine and the Hellslinger Starter Cadre.  How a rule-breaking gun mage, a rebuilt Black Thirteenth, and a purpose-built warjack named Deuce became Cygnar’s sharpest scalpel on the modern battlefield. From the stolen skyship that saved his daughter to a promotion earned by the spymaster who once hunted him, Caine’s story is messy, human, and surprisingly tactical.

We connect the dots from early gun mage education to the Arcane Tempest’s formal training, mage lock firearms, and the doctrine that made precision fire a strategic pillar. Dixon Lynch’s innovations, the myth of the Hellslinger Phantom, and the recommissioned Black Thirteenth give this cadre real lineage. On the table, that history turns into tools: Caine’s witchmark into calamity sequencing, smart rack picks like Snipe or Deceleration, and Teleport that rescues overreach. Deuce backs the plan with true sight through clouds and stealth, arcane munitions that flex into blast or decrepitation, and focus economy near gun mages that keeps the damage rolling.

Bastian Falk holds the center with leadership that grants Reciprocate—miss us and you get punished—and a rune-forged scattergun that sets models ablaze or breaks armor where it counts. The Black Thirteenth—Ryan, Watts, and Glover—bring brutal damage, Pathfinder, Reposition, and chain attack control that forces your opponent to respect every lane. We share what clicks, what needs finesse, and where lore and balance meet in a cadre that feels fast, surgical, and dangerously fun.

If you love sharp lore, tighter lists, and hobby energy that spills into organized play, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with your local meta, and drop a review with your two must-pick rack spells for Caine.  What combos are you riding into your next game?

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Some messages can’t wait for Monday. Tony sits down on Thanksgiving to share a sincere thank-you to the listeners who turned a casual creative outlet into a lively tabletop community where families, friends, and new faces feel at home.

We talk about why consistency matters during the busiest season of the year and how we’re recording ahead to keep your weekly mental reset on track. Between turkey, paint pots, and dice, we reflect on the simple rituals that hold a hobby together: showing up, sharing wins, and welcoming people in. You’ll hear how bringing kids into the scene deepens the joy of the game, passes on good habits, and keeps the table open to fresh ideas.

There’s practical value here too. We’ve teamed up with TorstenandHarvester.com to offer a time-limited 20% discount for Warmachine, including pre-orders where possible, running from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. If a product you want isn’t listed, message us and we’ll help connect the dots. The bigger picture: partnerships work best when they lower the barriers of entry and make it easier to grow armies, leagues, and friendships.

We’re entering the holidays energized, organized, and optimistic. Expect steady episodes, more listener spotlights, and a continued focus on community-led growth. If you’ve been part of this journey by downloading, sharing, commenting, or teaching a new player, we thank you. Subscribe, leave a quick review, and tell us what would make your local scene stronger; your ideas shape what we build next.

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A thriving miniatures community doesn’t appear out of thin air instead it’s built by people who share tools, swap armies, teach kids, and keep the table welcoming. That’s the heartbeat of this conversation, where we announce a new partnership with Torsten & Harvester, share listener discount codes, and unpack how a small Indiana group turned casual game nights into a supportive Warmachine hub. We dive into favorite factions and talk about what Kithguard’s trapdoors and ambush rules could mean for balance, counterplay, and the health of your local meta.

If you love the hobby side, you’ll find plenty here: FDM and resin printers, speed paints with layered highlights, and a standout kitbash that turns a Gravedigger field gun into a mobile platform without breaking rules. We explore terrain that elevates strategy with forests and rough ground as a base, then thematic features like trenches, moving trains, and hazards that force smarter movement. We also share practical guardrails: avoid complex elevation until rules comfort is high, run Steamroller scenarios casually to learn scoring, and keep table state clear for newer players.

Rules talk matters too. Removing the spell rack brings back distinctive casters and better list diversity, while January’s update might curb auto-picks and give underplayed options room to breathe. Most of all, we celebrate family-friendly play with kids leveling up from 30 to 50 points, painting their warjacks, and discovering the joy of a good plan executed well. Grab the codes, share a photo of your latest game, and tell us how your group is growing. If this episode helped, follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review so more players can find the table.

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A keynote that actually moves the needle deserves more than a hot take, so we sat down and unpacked every change that will shape your next army choice and your next turn. From Kithguard’s midturn ambushes and trapdoor mind games to Crucible Guard’s unshakable status pressure and doubled status damage, there’s real meta movement ahead and a big skill ceiling for players who love sequencing.

We also get practical. Physical rulebooks vs app convenience isn’t a meme when you’re on the clock; clear indexing, fast links, and fewer crashes decide how smoothly games run. The plan to bring in a new app partner, split legacy and prime to reduce load, and focus on performance is exactly the kind of fix that helps every match. Forgefire cards are delayed, but the team’s message is quality over speed, which we support when physical tools need to be fast, durable, and readable.

Model reveals brought equal parts nostalgia and ambition. Deathjack scales up into true menace, the Orgoth “Turkey Dragon” stomps into the spotlight, and Thunderhead crackles with drones and an energy field that demands board respect. Old Umbrey Vilkul stirs debate on aesthetics, while Kithguard lands as a mechanics-forward faction that rewards foresight. The January rules update removes the spell rack and rebalances underplayed casters, aiming to reduce pregame paralysis and center identity-driven lists. And yes, Menoth is back on the horizon, with details locked for Adepticon, plus a narrative campaign that rolls out a tank-riding general ready to be the caster of old, while we hold our breath for the results of Admiral Boomhowler.

If you care about faster tools, sharper rules, and factions that make every inch matter, this conversation is for you. Hit play, tell us what shocked you most, and if you enjoy the show, follow, share it with a friend who plays, and leave a quick rating—what reveal changes your list first?

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A chicken jack shouldn’t decide a heavyweight brawl—but today it did, and that surprise set the tone for a fast, funny, and insight-packed round table session. I sit down with Angus and Chris to relive a 50-point Mark IV clash, admit we forgot objectives on a four-by-six battlefield, and extract the real lessons: how the new unit movement reshapes threat ranges, why precise timing turns “safe” distances into traps, and what it takes to keep games welcoming for returning and brand-new players.

We zoom out from the table to the scene. Chris walks through running Marvel Crisis Protocol events and what local stores are doing with Warmachine formats.  A listener review from someone returning after Mark II sparks a broader look at why the game’s lore and community matter: the best experiences happen when models, stories, and mechanics click. That’s where faction chatter lands—Kithguard anticipation and Cryx efficiency.

Hobby time gets practical. We lay out time-saving techniques that actually work: makeup sponges for textured layers, speed paints for leather and fur, acrylic markers for rivets and edge highlights, and the case for switching from rattle cans to an airbrush to prime year-round. Transport and storage come under the microscope too—magnets over foam for dynamic sculpts, fewer broken bits, faster setup. We even trade assembly war stories and explain why better instructions and more plastic kits are a quiet revolution. Add the promise of a consolidated rulebook with maps and timelines, plus improving event streams, and the future looks bright.

If you love sharp gameplay, strong hobby advice, and a community that laughs through the misplays, you’ll feel at home here. Hit play, then tell us your MVP model and one tip that helped you teach a new player. If this episode helped or made you smile, subscribe, share it with a friend at your local store, and leave a review so more players can find the show.

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Souls, maps, and a 2 a.m. finals—this one has it all. We kick off with our leap into Crix for Mark IV and plans for a 2v2 that finally uses full objectives and scenario play, then rewind to a bleary-eyed but uplifting Worlds recap. England’s 5–0 run and Team USA’s podium weren’t just results; they were a reminder that the Warmachine community is buzzing with encouragement, humor, and a fresh willingness to help new players get in the game.

From there we get practical. An apology for a potential misunderstanding, then we talk about a kid-friendly on-ramp: quick-start rules that actually teach, inexpensive minis (hello, 3D prints) for demos. We also cover small upgrades with big impact—why mouse pad mats beat vinyl for stability, how map themes set the mood, and where pricing makes it easier to scale a club night.

Then it’s time to open the crypt. Our Graveborn deep dive tracks the Deathless from sealed tombs to uneasy alliances, with Infernal factions playing both sides for souls. Anathia, the Imperishable Desolation, rises through a blend of vanity, provocation, and promise, bringing Execrators, Barrow Ghouls, and Charnel Hounds to the field. Even at journeyman levels, the rules nod to the narrative: soul denial, control tools, and stalwart protectors that make leadership matter. We weigh aesthetic debates with a smile—oversized armor and tiny heads are practically a Warmachine rite of passage—and look ahead to how subfactions might power up on full release.

All of this loops back to why we play: we want tables that welcome, teach, and challenge. Whether you’re chasing podiums or painting with your kids, there’s room here to grow. If you’re curious about Cryx, Graveborn lore, or how to build a healthier local meta, hit play and join the conversation. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves a good undead story, and tell us: is your scene chill hobby nights, or tournament grind?

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The Nightmare Empire doesn’t want your land. It wants your aftermath. We take you from Toruk’s centuries-long hunt for dragon heartstones to the brutal bargain that delivered Blighterghast’s heartstone and tipped the Dragon War. Along the way, we map how Cryx weaponizes time, turns necrotite into industry, and uses espionage to bend entire campaigns toward harvest.

We also get practical. With Angus from our local group, we dig into the Command Starter to show how the lore becomes pressure on the table. Wraithbinder Nekane hardens spectral lines and punishes exposed models with Hellspike’s incorporeal payoff. Hades steals the spotlight as a soul-fueled artillery platform that ignores cover, interposing models, and math you thought was safe. The Furies arrive as fading executioners, their wails eroding flesh and armor alike. If you’ve wondered what “soul economy” really means in play, this breakdown makes it click.

Then we zoom in on two standout casters. Eviscerus, a six-century necrotech, plays like a scrapyard genius—repair lines, recycle engines, and steady pressure that grows as the battlefield falls apart. Mortenebra is the cold mind of the faction, a Convergence defector whose Necrogenesis blends machine logic with Cryxian deathcraft. Her rise under Deneghra’s shadow and against Dekathus’ blunt mandate shows how Cryx advances: not just with might, but with method. Finally, we share hopes for where Cryx goes next—faster thrall units, deeper spectral control, and casters who expand the faction’s identity without losing its ruthless efficiency.

Whether you’re lore-hungry or list-building, this is a tour through Cryx that connects story to strategy. If you enjoyed the episode, follow the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend who’s eyeing the Nightmare Empire. What Cryx model or caster would you build around next?

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The wind turns cold, and that’s your only warning. We pull back the curtain on the Nyss—winter elves who traded the hunt for food into a hunt for purpose—and why their legend as “winter devils” still shakes supply lines and command tents across the Iron Kingdoms. From the Shard Spires to black ice shores, we trace the breakpoints: Everblight’s corruption, refugee years, the deal with sorrow after the lossof Nyssor, and the choice to fight with precision instead of numbers.

Lanyssa anchors the story. Scarred but unbroken, she shapes grief into strategy and raises Sasha and Benkei—ferocious ice lions born of brutal cold—to strike at exactly the right second. We walk through how that lore becomes gameplay: ambush over attrition, angles over armor, timing windows over raw volume of attacks.

We also spotlight the cadre around her: Aelyth's unwavering guard, and the last Ryssovass warriors whose great swords carve intent into battlefields. Their stories expand the Dusk canvas without drowning you in rules text, since journeyman profiles will evolve. 

If this journey through frost and resolve hits home, queue up the full episode, share it with a friend who loves sharp tactics and sharper stories, and drop a review so more players find our table. Subscribe for the upcoming Cryx and Orgoth deep dives, and tell us which faction you want covered next.

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A meta surprise beats the hype cycle: Khymaera tops Worlds representation while Old Umbrey lands outside the podium. We dig into 160 players factions to map the Worlds landscape.  Along the way, we zoom in on Brine Bloods with an audit of caster usage, model picks, and why Madame Moriarty quickly became an auto-include that might tempt balance updates.

We also share a tight 50-point report—Brine Bloods VS Orgoth—where terrain tricks, solo removal, and a clutch charge close a game that looked unwinnable on paper, proving that activation order and scenario geometry still beat raw stats.

Then the human side: a new Cryx player learns more in one match than in months, thanks to a patient opponent who demystifies feat timing and threat ranges, hands over a measuring widget, and makes the table feel welcoming. That’s the throughline of our show—strong communities make better metas. If you want sharper list pairs for anti-range and decisive kill turns, cleaner activation plans, and practical insights grounded in real games, this one will earn a spot in your prep.

If this breakdown sharpened your thinking, follow the show, share it with your local group, and drop a review with the faction you think is most undervalued right now.

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Tony and Joe go over the new time release schedule, updated info on Iosan calendar, the rest of Dusk lore, and looking into potential challenges of information gathering while shouting out fan mail and comments.

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