What are WM player views on 'non-official' minis for characters?

[iamfanboy]

So, yes. I've been plotting a WM force for a little bit because I've fallen in with a group of players who like the game. I personally can take or leave it, but that's more because so few of the warcasters in the game have stories and personalities that actually interest me - that being one of the prerequisites for having a WM force after all!

But with some reading, I've finally settled on Ashlynn D'Elyse; mostly because of the 'tragic princess' angle, partly because I really do despise Khador from all the fiction in the books. But I dislike the model entirely too much.

So what I was pondering was buying Ashlynn's gun arm (or maybe using a Malifaux handgun) in concert with this model from Reaper Miniatures:

Kassandra of the Blade

To make an Ashlynn I could stand using.

I was also thinking about making a group of Precursor Knights out of Chaos Warriors, but that'd wait til like 35pts anyway.

That being said, what is the average group's stance on non-official WM models? The guys I've talked to around here are comfortable with it, but I'll be moving soon and I don't much care for the idea of having put a lot of work into converting a model only to be sneered at by whomever I end up playing against.

[Jerrus]

I wouldn't mind it personally, and I don't think most players would either. Ashlynn is probably the warcaster most people use alternate models for.

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[ICLRK625]

If you're playing with friends, I can't imagine they'd care, I certainly wouldn't have a problem with it. You obviously can't play in tournaments with it, but that's probably not a deal breaker for most people. Another thing you might want to consider is checking out the new Iron Kingdoms RPG, which is releasing at Gencon. That looks like it's gonna play an awful lot like Warmachine and Hordes, while giving you all the freedoms of an RPG.

[Deadnight]

phew, i thought this was a thread about a home-brew warcaster!

id be perfectly cool with it. id actually shake your hand - its a nice model. you might have issues at tourneys but chat to the TO and you might be able to get through with it. i do with my axe wielding doomreavers make sure its on the right sized base though. WM "small" bases are slightly different in terms of size to GWs or other companies. thats where my issues would revolve for the most part, as a quarter of an inch can be the difference between a win and a loss.

in fairness though, ashlyn is a notoriously terrible model. when i made mine, i converted the female cygnaran journeyman warcaster and used her as a base for ash. you're not the first to do it, nor will you be the last, and all i can say is best of luck!

[iamfanboy]

Thanks for the replies already, I changed the title to reflect it.

I dunno how much in the way of 'official' tournaments I'd be playing in anyway, so having the restriction wouldn't phase me much. I'll try to post pictures of my conversion once I get it done, which means getting the right bit - I'm using several other bits and bobs to make the backpack, so not a big obstacle there.

But the more I think about it, the more converting some GW Chaos Warriors to Precursor Knights appeals to me... the PP models are a little, well, plain.

For my build I'm gonna get Gallant for Ashlynn, have Precursor Knights nearby to give some free Focus to Gallant (with an Officer to heal Ashlynn should she get hurt), and pick up a pack of Gun Mages with a Captain and a Mule marshaled to them.

Would it be necessary to get a full pack of Precursor Knights (10+the Officer & Standard Bearer), or would 6 with the attachment be enough?

[Jerrus]

Rocinante synergizes with Ashlyn thanks to his Guard Dog.

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[Dais]

I have seen so many reaper Ashlynns.. My own Ashlynn is a conversion from cygnar's maj. Laddermore dismounted model with a pistol and a sword. Nobody likes her head sculpt or odd pose.
For precursors, I would go with the full unit if you are adding the officer & standard, it makes the benefits to the unit spread out more and gives you more for the points.

[New Cult King]

Hey, in WM, all I'm bothered about is WYSIWYYG. If the gear is the same (and easily identifiable), I don't care what the mini looks like. I know someone who wanted to play Sorscha as a male. His mini packed a big scythe. I was down with that

[Keravin]

The ashlynn's a nice model, but I much prefer the Precursors to Chaos warriors. Far more in character as religious warriors for a start.

[Havock]

Precursors are pretty decent models.

[paddyalexander]

As a general rule unless you are playing in one of the few tournies that PP run themselves (Gencon, Adepticon, Lock & Load etc.) then you can use whatever you want as long as the models are WYSIWYG and on the correct base size. If playing in tournies contact the organisers and let them know that you are bringing alt models. The Steam Roller packs advise bringing a stock version of the model you are proxying just in case you do come across a player that objects or finds the alt. models confusing.

[Wishing]

Related to this topic, there is a thread on the PP boards currently about a big european team tournament coming up. Their rules pack says "no proxies allowed", but a group of french players that really like proxies (using alt models for Ashlynn would be an example of such) asked if they couldn't relax their stance and judge each case individually, and the organisers accepted and agreed to review proxies beforehand and possibly allow them depending on each individual case. So the "obviously you can't use it in tournaments" clause isn't always as obvious as it seems.

As others have mentioned, Ashlynn especially is probably the most proxied model in WM, so most players and TOs will have sympathy. The Precursors might be a different case since they are very nice models and I've never heard of anyone proxying them, so this will probably be viewed with more hesitation. But they're your models, you should do what feels right to you.

[Keravin]

Any Tournament Organiser has the right to accept or refuse proxies. That's in Steamroller, but it's down to the individual organiser.

[loveless]

Hey, in WM, all I'm bothered about is WYSIWYYG. If the gear is the same (and easily identifiable), I don't care what the mini looks like. I know someone who wanted to play Sorscha as a male. His mini packed a big scythe. I was down with that

This. So long as you've got the appropriate weapons on the model (and I know what it's representing), I'm fine with it. Tournament mileage may vary.

I think I've only seen one Ashlynn army that used Ashlynn's official model. I've seen several conversions that use her arms, though.

[Gop]

As long as it looks kinda like the original I'd be cool with it. Most PP tournaments wouldn't though.

[toxic_wisdom]

Just a noteworthy heads up = Privateer Press just released pics / info for the new exclusive Ashlynn model...looks really good !

[HRM]

Truth be told, WYSIWYG isn't even relevant in WM/H. It's not like the equipment the model carries ever changes. You don't have "options". I'm not big on proxies but honestly, if you're gonna go there, I don't care what you use as long as it's on the correct base. You could put Theoden, King of Rohan on a huge-sized base and call it a Gun Carriage for all I care. It's not like I have to try and keep track of what "this" Gun Carriage is equipped with. Know what I mean?

[Keravin]

Apart from those things like Reach and Shields. Mark II revisions sorted out most of the anomalies on models that should have had reach but didn't.

[Darwin_green]

well, you could actually use the new Ashlynn mini? http://privateerpress.com/warmachine...ashlynn-delyse

[yukisaiko]

I happen to like the Ashlynn model, and am mostly finished painting mine. Just decided today to drop my mercs after reading the restrictions for contracts on what can be attached to the casters I have, so I'm switching to Menoth.

That said I have a Feora I built a couple years ago when I was going to use her as a Canoness for a Sisters army. I used the alternate model for Feora, a SoB Canoness arm with the book, and the left arm has a Canoness pistol converted to a Plasma pistol, but may swap that plasma tip out with a Forge World retro flamer one; and I used the head from Freebooter's Future Widow. Only primed and based in gold at this point, but may start work on her again since we started WM again after a few years off.