Thoughts of a (semi-newbie) wargamer

[Beorning]

As some of you guys know, a few years ago I got sucked into the madness that is miniature wargaming.    I (kind of) tried my hands at WH40K, then I switched to Infinity. I'm also playing Dragon Rampant. And I'm eager to try out more games (because I have, obviously, tons of free time and money to burn *sarcastic snicker*) - I'm currently looking at Age of Sigmar, I've been looking at other games, too...

And you know what? After all this looking, I'm starting to realize that some types of games I'd like to play basically... don't exist.

Oh, Infinity is a fantastic game - for when I'm in the mood for cyberpunk / sci-fi / anime mecha stuff. But I'd like to play a fantasy game, too... and I just can't find anything that would fit my tastes. Age of Sigmar is interesting, but it's a bit too cartoony - as are other fantasy games I've looked into. Also, I'd love to see wargames in some other genres...

Here's what I'd like to see:

1. A fantasy game that is a bit more serious (style-wise) than AoS or the various clones of Warhammer Fantasy. Something that would look as mature as Infinity, but in a fantasy universe. It might be a skirmish game or a unit-based game, it doesn't really matter. But the style should be something like... I don't know, Conan?

2. A horror skirmish game. There's this board game by CMON called The Others, about a team of monster hunters fighting demons... now, imagine something like that, but as an Infinity-style wargame. With a few distinct factions, cool monsters etc. I'd love that.

3. A superhero skirmish! There is one wargame like that I know of, Pulp City. But it seems to be in a semi-limbo right now... Also, it's a bit too cartoony in style - and the miniatures aren't just that good. I'd like to see something with good minis and a bit more mature in tone...

Gah! If I was a sculptor and had some knowledge of game design, I'd create these games myself    Alas, I don't have these skills, unfortunately...

So, any thoughts, guys? For instance, maybe I missed some games that would fit with what I'd like to play..?

[Trilobite]

I suppose this is a bit of a non-sequitur, but if you're looking for something a bit different I might recommend X-Wing miniatures.  I like it a lot and it's pretty cheap (at least at first) compared to most Games Workshop stuff.  The fact that it's a squadron skirmish game rather than an infantry game means that the gameplay is completely different.

Aside from that I haven't played many wargames.

[Beorning]

I've heard good things about the game! That said, I'm just not into spaceship combat right now...

Anyway, thanks for a recommendation :)

[HairyHeretic]

Here's a few you could have a look over.

Warmachine and Hordes
https://privateerpress.com/warmachine/welcome-to-warmachine
https://privateerpress.com/hordes/monstrous-miniatures-combat

Kings of War
http://www.manticgames.com/mantic-shop/kings-of-war.html

Saga
https://www.grippingbeast.co.uk/SAGA.html

And if WW2 interested you, this
https://store.warlordgames.com/collections/bolt-action

[Beorning]

Thanks!

I knew of Warmahordes before. I don't think I'd be picking it up, but I stole some of their models for my Dragon Rampant fantasy army. :) When it comes to KoW, I'm actually considering picking up their new skirmish game, Vanguard. I actually already have the rulebook (got it cheaply as a promotion last year).

One other game I'm considering is Wild West Exodus, as it already has an established community at the LGS I'm playing. Although... I'm not sure. I'm not that big on steampunk and western. But again, considering it.

When I was looking at various games, CMON's Dark Age kind of caught my interest. The problem with this game is, though, the question of the game's future: it's one of the games that seem to be in limbo / possibly abandoned. Not official statements from CMON, though... Also, the game's visual style is *weird*. I really do like some of the newer miniatures for their Kukulkani and Dragyri factions - very cool stuff! But other factions are quite off-putting (Skarrd and Forsaken, bleh). So, I'll be skipping on this one, I think... but drat! The Kukulkani are awesome. Again, I wish there was a whole game made in their style (a game that was *alive*, of course)...

BTW. A general observation on wargaming: I don't know what it's like in other countries, but back here the community really does need some female players. I admit I have this problem that I don't socialize with men as good as with women - so, playing with guys is a bit frustrating for me...

[HairyHeretic]

Wargaming is generally a male hobby, in my experience. You'll come across the rare girl, but not many, certainly compared to one's playing RPGs or board games.

[Beorning]

I wonder why is that... We need to spread that #MarsNeedsWomen :)

[Hawkwood]

In my experience (Warhammer mostly, but with some Infinity too), the wargaming community is horribly toxic, and the manufacturers cater to their biases. I mean, when the only female army I could field came in corsetry and high-heels, or armourkinis? No thank you. From what I understand, GeeDubs is making an effort to make the new Sisters look like they're ready for combat rather than the Moulin Rouge.

[wander]

They're also all ugly as sin now. Well it's 2015+4 and god help us to have nice looking female models in games. At least the based boys of Corvus Belli can do combat-ready ladies that don't look like they have botched plastic surgery with man-cuts.

Anyways, outside of the other games recommended (I can't go for Warmahordes anymore, Privateer Press fucked their fanbase hard and the games are dead because of it), I'm going to mention Malifaux as a gothic horror fantasy skirmish game that may be up OP's street. It's recently just began it's 3rd edition and from what I gather in reports on it, it's got rid of a lot of the play issues from the 2nd edition. The main issue from it is the CAD models have lots of unneccessary tiny pieces to assemble, though they are plastic not resin, so not completely a no-go for a hobbylet to make up the kits.

You can learn more on wyrd games website, wyrd-games.net (you download the basic rules of the game for free to see what you think), also a general thread on /tg/ occassionally pops up where it gets supported too.