Looking at getting into the game wanted some advice

[KarlPedder]

So my son and I are probably going to give the game a shot and I'm pretty set on Trollbloods so i intend to grab one of the new plastic Trollblood warpacks but I dislike how it lacks a heavy WB so I was going to grab a Dire Troll Bomber which brings the build total up to 20 points. My son is less certain his only real preference at this stage being Warjacks over Warbeasts.

So my question is which of the 4 WM battlepacks along with 1-2 preferably only 1 and plastic if possible extra units would give a reasonably balanced but still interesting enough for repeatable play opponent?

Cheers

[paddyalexander]

If your heart is set on plastic only then you will be drasticly narrowing your available choices. Most of PPs' metal kits are well fitting & very easy to assemble so don't be turned off of them based on experience with other companies. There are some exceptions that are difficult to assemble so I will try to avoid them.

All of the Battleboxs are reasonably balanced between each other to begin with. So it really depends on what models or units you add afterwards. Again the the factions are pretty well balanced against each other but at low oints you can easily end up with a rock-paper-scissors match up. Here are some of my suggestions.

Cryx
Deneghra, Defiler, Deathripper x 2, Slayer, Mechanithralls (Leader + 9 Grunts) + 1 Brute Thrall UA.

The unit and attachment added is all metal but almost all are single piece models. The unit is flexible, hitting with either two P+S 11 attacks or one P+S 15 attack. The UA brings either two P+S 14 attacks or one P+S 19 attack. They are a lot of bodies for cheep points but are also are squishy and will be vunrable to the Bombers AoEs. If they hit a target, especialy one debuffed by Deneghra, then they can put a lot of damage on it.

An alternitive would be to take a minimum unit of Mechanithralls + 1 Brute Thrall and a Necrosurgeon Unit to follow behind. The Necrosurgeon can return up to 3 destroyed Mechanithralls to their unit per turn and also has the option of healing either the Brute Thrall or Deneghra.

Khador
Sorscha, Destroyer, Juggernaught, Devestator

The Devestator brings Arm 25 and a special attack that auto-hits anything in base to base with it with a POW 18 and everything within 3" of it with a POW 9 blast damage attack. Its armour falls to Arm 17 after making an attack or action so it is not invincable. The metal model is very easy to assemble (I own 2) but there is a plastic kit coming soon.

Cygnar
Stryker, Charger, Lancer, Ironclad, Long Gunners (Leader and 5 Grunts), Journeyman Warcaster.

Long Gunners can potentually put out two Pow 16 shots per turn. The Journeyman can run either the Charger or Ironclad very well and brings another Arcane Shield to the table.

Menoth
Kreoss, Repenter, Revenger, Crusader, Knights Exemplar (Leader and 5 Grunts), Chior (Leader and 3 Grunts), Paladin of the Wall.

Knights Exemplar are hard hitting weapon masters that get stronger and tougher as members of the unit get killed. The Chior is a must have and make warjacks awesome. Paladin of the Wall is a hard hitting weapon master solo with a solid defensive ability.

Mercs
Magnus, Renegade, Talon, Mangler, Steelhead Halberdiers (Leader and 9 Grunts), Rupert Carvolo the Piper of Ord.

Steelheads are a good cheep melee unit that can hit hard. The Piper gives them tough or pathfinder every turn.

Retribution
Kaelyssa, Chimera, Griffon, Manticore, Housegaurd Halberdiers (Leader and 9 Grunts) + Officer and Standard Bearer UA.

The Halberdiers are a hard hitting melee unit with shield wall. The UA brings extra manuverability and a once per game ability that allows them to hit harder and more accuratly for a turn.

Hope this helps.

[Havock]

Sorscha has trouble running two warjacks, let alone three. Adding the devastator just puts more load on her. pSorscha is a supersolo, not a 'jack caster. Instead of the Devvy, get a nice unit if you want to continue using her.

Alternatively, if you prefer something warjack-ish, get the Drakhun.

Also: pMagnus really wants that second Renegade

[Malorian]

Find a thrid person to play and get the 2 player battle box.

[Tort]

I see you're in Adelaide. There's a big adelaide warmahordes community particularly at Infinity games. I don't know if that is anywhere near you but if it is it's worth talking to them. The press gangers there are happy to new people learn the rules (and Terry's Cygnar are very pretty).

As for what you should take I'm going to have to say the Cryx battlebox, the others all kind of struggle. They go all right matched up against each other but when you try to expand you find that they are lacking in synergies, if you want to get the most out of your caster you end up not using most of the battlebox. There are no weak factions in warmachine but for the other factions I would recommend not starting with the battlebox. Mercs are a little harder to play than Cryx but the Merc battlebox with the plastic jack kit will give you 20 points and it's a good 20 points for Magnus.

[Grentain]

Find a thrid person to play and get the 2 player battle box.

This. It comes with two 20-ish point armies at a ridiculously low price, dice, rules, you name it. Plus, the more, the merrier!