New Player - Is dreamer a mistake?

[BillyGB]

Hi,

I am completely new to the game, not played (or even watched a full game) but i like the miniatures and fluff of the game.

So i picked up the dreamer box set as i believe the teddy bear can go with him and I like having a model called lord chompy bits (and i like the model).

But is the dreamer a bad choice for a new player? If no, any advice?

If yes, any advice out of these which is a good choice: McMourning, Somer (the goblin dude), Kaeris (the lady with wings) or the dude in the top hat (forgotten his name).

Bearing in mind i would like a box set that play without other models (in case i dont like the play style or the wife kills me)

Thanks for any help.

[Ratty]

The Dreamer is a bit of a steep learning curve, but if you've played other Wargames I wouldn't worry too much. The first couple of games might be a bit tough but there are some excellent guides to playing him online (See Pull My Finger Wiki). If you like the Models and the evil Teddies it won't feel so bad. I started with Kirai which is an equally complex Master and it didn't bother me losing a bit because the models are lovely.

One thing I will say is make sure you read the FAQ and Errata's on the Malifaux.com site, the models in the Dreamer crew have had a few changes and Bury which is one of your main tools has been altered (If you have Malifaux 1.5 it's incorporated in those rules)

Also I would pick up a pack of Day Dreams.

[Vagabond]

I haven't played The Dreamer before but from what I hear he is pretty difficult to learn the game with. I'd recommend the dude in the top hat (Seamus) as he is very easy to learn the game with, is still pretty competitive, and comes with a great box set full of models that you will always want to use.

[Adanedhel]

The guy in the Top Hat is called Seamus, and a pretty solid choice for new person, easier to learn the The Dreamer at the very least.

McMourning suffers from a bad box set, he's a good master, but his box set is pretty meh.

Som'er is ubercool, but needs lots and lots of other stuff to be playable.

Kaeris is a Henchwoman, which means she can lead a crew with a couple hiring restrictions, or tag along a Master (for the Arcanist, every master except Raspie can easily pull it off).

As far as stand alone boxes go, Perdita and the Vikkies come the highest, both bein capable to go to 30SS at themselves, though their choices are not always optimal, they remain playable at that level :)

With the possible inclusion of totems (denoted T) for their Masters, the following Masters get playable at 25SS, though they aren't always as easy (hard masters are denoted with H)

Perdita
Lady Justice (T)
Sonnia (TH)

Seamus (T)

Raspie (T)
Colette (TH)

Pandora (H)
Zoraida (TH)
Dreamer (TH)

Viktorias
Von Shill
Ophelia (T) (she's the Gremlin girl)

[Ozz]

One of my first masters was the Dreamer (i bought two at once, the other being Colette who is possibly even harder) and i had a few games being un sure of how things work and how to do stuff, but friends were helping me to learn so it was relatively simple. He is a very strong master though, so be warned your opponents may struggle to beat you if they are not strong players :)

For Dreamer, the box set, A pack of daydreams and a Teddy is a nice way to go, and you can play a 35 SS game (standard size) with those models.

McMourning, his box has its uses, but Nurses need to go with the right models with are not in the box set, so in general people say his box set is not great to start off with. (needs a bigger investment to expand from the box.)

Som'er as said just needs a lot of models as the gremlins/pigs are mostly cheap :) Although the Ophelia box set + Some Young Lacroix is a good way into the gremlins i am told. Again, potentially a big investment compared to other masters in the game (still small compared to other systems though)

Kaeris, i can not comment on her to well, as i have never used the gamin from her box but the gunsmiths are amazing :)

The dude in the top hat (Seamus) His box set for him and any resurectionist master is great, it works for small games Upto 25ss at max. It is very thematic, and Belles are awesome in game :D

[BillyGB]

Thanks for all the replies.

If i can get to the shop this week i will get a seamus box but if not will give the dreamer a go.

I do like the models, i have been a painter for a long time (though not a very good one) but only actually started playing any games (warmachine) in the last 2 months or so. So i am not too worried if i dont get to play them too often.

I looked on pull my finger but the tactics for dreamer seem to be suggested before the errata.

[Gruesome]

Not having started with Dreamer, its hard for me to understand how I would have felt.

I would say this though. I started with Nicodem... Who is notoriously SLOW. But he is what I got used to.

Then I tried Seamus and thought, its nice to be moving faster, and he makes his crew go faster.
Then McMourning and I thought, THIS IS AWESOME. I fly!!! His scalpel sling is so much fun!

Finally... Kirai! ZOMG!

So, for me, its more like I view the world from the bottom of the heap of speed and think there are models that break the posted speed limit and are a really fun change on occasion.

Were I to have started with Kirai, I am not sure how I would have felt about the "walking in molasses" that is Nicodem.... :)

Rather than being "enabled" by occasionally playing fast masters, I might feel "crippled" (Literally, with Nicodem's leg) when NOT playing the fast models...

That's my perspective on it, anyway...

For simply starting the game... I throw my hat in the Seamus ring too... He is fun and comparatively easier to learn the basics than the Dreamer by a decent margin.

[011121]

My son started with the dreamer and picked it up quickly, although he doesn't have the hang of the worst shenanigans you could pull he still annihilated my gremlins at every turn.

[Ozz]

It is not to bad going backwards on the speed tables, as i said i started with the Dreamer (Pre errata) and Colette and have been fine with other masters Nicodem, and such, but it does make every master feel slow afterwards it is just to be expected :)

[Victoria]

I strongly believe that people should start out with whatever appeals to them the most, for whatever reason.

Its why I didn't talk my best friend out of buying Collette when she decided she wanted to play Malifaux. The appearance of the models matters more to her than gameplay.

It might take a bit longer to learn how to play, and you might get your butt kicked repeatedly, but once it all clicks, it will be rewarding and you will have the crew that you wanted.

[Bunny_Avenger]

You'll be alright. He's not the easiest guy to learn to play, but as long as you're patient with it, it'll work out. He's the master that really got me into the game. I know a few people have already mentioned these, but if you keep going forward with him you will want a pack of daydreams. Teddy and a pack of Alps could be useful to you as well. The Alps are mostly for use if you want to keep using Coppelius, as he can create them with his eye counters.

[BillyGB]

Thanks for all the responses. I bought a pack of day dreams to go with him. I plan to have my first game on tuesday night and i have been offered a Viktoria crew to have a game with so i can get the basics before using the dreamer.

[notmikehill]

Thanks for all the responses. I bought a pack of day dreams to go with him. I plan to have my first game on tuesday night and i have been offered a Viktoria crew to have a game with so i can get the basics before using the dreamer.

Very good to hear. Viks are a little more striaght forward yet their schemes that can be used against them work similar to how they work other 2 master crews.

[TedPro]

The first time I ever played was The Dreamer (borrowed from a friend). I lost very badly, but had a lot of fun.

There's a lot to learn, playing The Dreamer, but it's a really interesting and fun set. I don't think you made a mistake at all. But do pick up some Daydreams.

[BillyGB]

I had my first game last night. Enjoyed it.

I used a borrowed Viktoria crew, plain boxset. My opponent was using Marcus boxset plus a bunny. We got the slaughter encounter and then left it at that so that i could get the basics. I am not sure how much this suited one crew over the other.

I won without losing a model. Those ladies (and their friends) do hit hard .

I enjoyed it though my oponent had only played 6 or so games before so there was a fair amount of stopping and looking up rules.

A question my oponent had, if someone could help: he has a bunny that has magical extension (it says he can cast 1 (1) spell that Marcus has on his list). Can he also cast spells (0) action ones instead of the (1)? or is it just (1) action spells?

[Ozz]

Just the one spells.

And the Vicks are mean :D