so... what're the benefits of being a minion?

[Ebutchftw]

Pretty simple question. I play Khador some (hard when you have to drive an hour just to get to a wargaming store) and also do a leetle teeny bit of trollbloods. However, the medium-based models really add up in cash, especially or someone like me who might not have the most to spend. And so I've been looking through the factions, and minions caught my eye.

Now, I like models that can put down a good beating. So, I'll probably end up going farrow with a lord carver list. My real question is, what will I be able to bring to the table? Are there any advantages to playing minions, or are the other factions at a clear advantage over the pigs and crocs?

any answers are much appreciated, thanks.

[Rotfell]

Hm... difficult, let me try to explain: If you just play one pact, Minions aren't that compettive in tournaments, since with the few options per pact, you'll end up with 2 similiar lists for now.
Both pacts are quite different in playstyle and some match-ups aren't good for a pact (like farrow, who have serious trouble with Cygnar). And the bigger the game, the more you'll feel the options, we're still missing (especially support). So 50pts games are a lot harder than 35pts.
These are the demerites, but I think that's only for the moment, since both pacts are getting more releases and options, so the missing parts will be filled.


Now the farrow (since you've taken some interests): You can be sure, that high-ARM will never be a problem for farrow, they're tough and make a lot of damage. Carver makes the War Hogs to true monsters. The problem so far: high-DEF, we have some ways to give a small buff, but to deal with a high-DEF infantry will be pain.
Without the support, most of the pieces are quite direct in their abilities, it's not bad, but predictable.

Playing with Minions often means, that you're playing in hardmode (for now!). So you need a lot of skills to make-up the "easy-buttons" other factions have, but it's real fun and most of the problems should be solved after a few more releases.

[TheLoki]

The biggest benefit of Minions is being part of the best community on the boards. As for tabletop applications quite a few actually. None of them come out as tabletop power so much as unique options.


1. Incredibly versitile base units. Farrow Brigands and Gatorman posse both use a very amazing ruleset called prayers. They do not take an action and add some insane options to said units. Read hogwild. Then read it again, after that have a mate read it. Then come here and ask us if its really as messed up as it seems and we will tell you no. Its EVER BETTER then you thought.

2.Ungodly powerful warlocks. In a vacuum minions have arguably the most powerfull warlocks in the game at face value. If you want to feel like all the power comes from your caster then this is the correct faction

3. Zombie Fish People. what more can be said?

4.Its like playing 2 factions at once.

[Hoyled]

We're probably the best faction for completionists as well. A few units for each side , a hand full of solos, 6 locks, 7 warbeasts. Congrats you own everything.

We are also an evolving faction. When I started playing gators, I never really expected the whole undead thing would take off like it seems to be. Each new release season is a far bigger event for us then the established factions.

[ColdYinTiger]

Having an extreme model as a normal model (War-Hog), extremely characterful locks, very different styles of gameplay

[PG_Dmark]

The biggest benefit is probably the fact that we aren't entirely fleshed out as a faction yet. But that's also our greatest weakness, honestly. However, as it has already been said, some of the minion 'locks are more powerful than most other warlocks and warcasters in the entire game, but out limitations really limit them. As we grow, however, I'm sure that the minion faction will become just as powerful as the main factions, if not even more powerful, actually. Check out some of the guides on both the Farrow and the Gators, they are a really good start.

[Der Tod]

In terms of what we have so far ... if you don't like fielding multiple units of the same type Minions are kinda a bad choice. But then, you WANT multiple War Hogs or Gatormen Posses anyways because their are just that awesome. Taking the Posse ... in some other Armies they are taken over the initial heavy infantry that faction has (see Skorne with Raseth, Legion which takes them over Tharns or Legion which likes them over Warmongers sometimes).
Minions are fun to play but have some bad match-ups which come from the limited choices they have so far. I don't know that much about the Farrows but the Gators do have some problems with high armour (when not using Calaban).

One of the main issues Minions seem to have that, as their stuff is available to all the Hordes factions, they need to be balanced within the overall gameplay which just seems to take some time.

[eLdritch]

For me the great thing about Minions is that they are a growing faction... That's what I loved about Cygnar when Warmachine was fresh and what I loved about Circle when Hordes was fresh =) now Minions are fresh and it's an exciting time Every time a new book hits it's like Chtistmas, Hannuka, Mid Winter and all other big holidays rolled into one for Minion players while everyone else is like "meh another weapon master unit" :P

[Fenrisulfr]

What they said, Plus as farrow you get the self styled Lord Carver, Bringer of Most Massive Destruction, Esquire the Third. if that title doesn't convince you to start playing farrow i don't know what will.

[TheLoki]

What they said, Plus as farrow you get the self styled Lord Carver, Bringer of Most Massive Destruction, Esquire the Third. if that title doesn't convince you to start playing farrow i don't know what will.

Not to mention he is one of the best looking models in PP's range

[MagnustheJust]

Also, the health care package can be pretty substantial, depending on the generosity of your Overlord to his minions.

Oh... wait. Wrong minion benefit.

[MagnustheJust]

Seriously though...

Playing Minions gives you options you do not get in the mamby-pamby cake eater factions!!

Your defeats will be more humorous, while your victories that much sweeter because you earn them every time.

[Benejeseret]

Shenanigans

The farrow are becoming the masters of out-of-activation actions or unusual actions/movement. Counterblast, Sprint, TK, Hog Wild, Monster Mayhem, Targ's Ancillary, Goad, Overtake, Mobility, Full Boar, and a few ways to get pathfinder.

This means even our slowest heavy with Carver could charge for free with PF 9" + 1" overtake + 1" Massacre + (free attack) + 1" overtake + (2nd initial) +1" overtake + (3rd initial) + 1" overtake + (bought #1) + 1" overtake + (bought #2) + 1" overtake + (bought #3) + 1" overtake + (bought #4) + 1" overtake + 6" sprint = up to 24" and 8 dead infantry.

[PG_Trevy the Great]

The Gatorman Flying Circus.
I used it for the first time last week. pSorscha never saw Barnabus coming.

Until he landed.

[TheLoki]

Shenanigans

The farrow are becoming the masters of out-of-activation actions or unusual actions/movement. Counterblast, Sprint, TK, Hog Wild, Monster Mayhem, Targ's Ancillary, Goad, Overtake, Mobility, Full Boar, and a few ways to get pathfinder.

This means even our slowest heavy with Carver could charge for free with PF 9" + 1" overtake + 1" Massacre + (free attack) + 1" overtake + (2nd initial) +1" overtake + (3rd initial) + 1" overtake + (bought #1) + 1" overtake + (bought #2) + 1" overtake + (bought #3) + 1" overtake + (bought #4) + 1" overtake + 6" sprint = up to 24" and 8 dead infantry.

Does not quite work with the warhog. Impossible to have both Massacre and lighting strike on one.

[Azahul]

Have Carver cast one of the animii as a spell Not something he'll typically want to do, but the situation can work.

[TheLoki]

No it wont. An animus cast by a warlock counts as an Animus and a spell at the same time. Still overwrites.

[Benejeseret]

Huh, you're right (p79 of primal). I had not considered the whole, it's a spell except it's still an animus stack.

Since it can cast its own animus at anytime it is possible to have Massacre on, then charge+free move/attack, then cast its own Lightning strike, and proceed from there. However, that would still loose 2" of overtake from 2 bought attacks so my numbers are a bit off either way.

Learn something new every day. None-the-less: Shenanigans

[TheLoki]

Agreed
hiphopopotamus my lyrics are bottomless (10chars)