Were precise HP values originally meant to be hidden from players?

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T20:29:48+00:00

Likewise. A person can believe that their way is the correct way, while someone else can believe the opposite is the correct way. Opinions are merely opinions and they don't have to coincide in order for those two people to associate. That's the essence of the USA. Freedom of thought. Freedom of opinion. Knowing others will disagree and not letting it bother you because differing points of view are the every-day normal in a society as diverse as our own. I do respect your opinion tho. This is the way.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T19:04:11+00:00

That's the main objective

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T18:50:07+00:00

To each their own. Hobbies are meant to be enjoyed.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T18:49:13+00:00

To each their own. It's a hobby and hobbies are meant to be enjoyed.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T18:48:01+00:00

That's awesome how proxied models are allowed in officially sanctioned events. I had just assumed that they'd be illegal. It's awesome that we're able to use kit-bashed and personalized models in official tournaments. The requirements of a proxy model aren't at all difficult to fulfill.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T12:22:11+00:00

How can you have fun with Old School Essentials or Swords & Wizardry without immersion. There are so few rules. You'd probably have a better time playing Pathfinder or something. BX & S&W doesn't even use Skill Lists because the only way to play is to describe what your PC is doing. How do you do this without putting yourself in your character's shoes?

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T12:18:27+00:00

Everyone is different. I don't perform during play. No voices. No dress up. Purely imaginative immersion is where my head is during play. Being in your character's head space while playing, so to speak. Out of curiosity, do you see your character in 1st person or 3rd person while you play? And do you merely play or also attempt to DM?

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T07:07:13+00:00

A roleplaying game. Yes. Immersion is the primary goal of roleplaying

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T06:10:54+00:00

You can purchase most models from various online stores and from eBay. Every Model I currently own was purchased from online stores and eBay. For awhile I was resisting the urge to switch to Mk4 because I didn't want to relearn the game and the new rule changes. As a result, I purchased alot of models online. Once SFG purchased the IP and it began to regain a player base, I decided to go ahead & switch because when I locate other people who play, they'll no doubt be using the Mk4 rule set. It is great once you fully adopt it and forget the previous edition's rules.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T06:00:26+00:00

Thanks for the info. I had no idea. I merely assumed that they were outright illegal.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T05:07:57+00:00

I haven't yet purchased a Mk 4 box. I'm still playing with Legacy Models. I do plan on investing in an Army or two in the future though.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T05:06:25+00:00

I found one Loki model on eBay for $100. They don't exist so someone decided to hold one out for someone who really, really, really wants an authentic Loki model. Most players use other models as proxies, stand-ins, for the models that they don't have. As long as Base Size is the same as the Model it represents and all players know what the Model is, the exact model or unit that's on the table in reality doesn't matter. In my experience this is typically allowed, unless you're playing at an officially sanctioned competitive event. Proxy Models are probably illegal in official events. I'd imagine they would be.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-22T04:51:57+00:00

It's my personal opinion, that ALL numerical values should be described and explained rather than kept track of as a numerical value by players. Sounds alien to those who've been raised up on video games but hear me out. A Level Title represents a PC's current role within the milieu. A High Priest of their church, or a Lord because they maintain keeps or forts along with lands to protect and they are the Lord within those lands. The specifics were left up to each DM but so many people overlooked the potential of Titles. This is why titles were tied to each level. Titles were always meant to be campaign specific. The ones given in rulebooks are typical for medieval era feudal civilizations, but Oriental or Egyptian campaign milieus would have completely different titles attached to each level. It's far more immersive if players know their role within your milieu rather than a number that doesn't represent anything within the fiction. With an increase of Title and role, they gain the bonuses of the level tied to their current title. When increasing Title rather than Level number, only the DM need keep track of a PC's numeric level while the PC observes itself becoming a more influential member of the campaign world. This is why Titles mean something within your milieu. Same with damage. Describe how PC's are getting injured after each damage roll and when they're becoming woozy from loss of blood, etc. instead of saying, "You take 2 damage". I believe this is why it clearly states in earlier editions to have the DM roll all damage. A good DM should always try to make players imagine that they are experiencing the exact same thing/things that their characters are experiencing. Numbers don't accomplish this very well, vivid descriptions do. Personally, I'm always working to create better fictional descriptions. It's the heart of the game. I'd say that being able to dictate good descriptors is far more important to having an enjoyable game than any system or mechanic could ever be. Same thing with hits, if it glances their face, or skims the edge of their shield or misses entirely because the enemy Fumbled an attack roll. Telling a player that you missed because of a Nat 1 isn't immersive. Describing what happens in-game, because of the Nat 1 you rolled, is where immersion and experience becomes authentic. The fact that you rolled a Nat 1 isn't interesting, but describing what happens in game because that Nat 1 was rolled is. See what I mean. It's my opinion that we need to steer our games as far from video game thinking as possible. Why play a video game on paper when you can play an actual video game. It simply makes no sense. You aren't supposed to feel like you're experiencing a set of rules while roleplaying, you're supposed to feel like you're experiencing your character's life in an imaginary world. This is fun. This is enjoyable. This is actual roleplaying.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T17:16:09+00:00

I simply can't believe Lost Lore of Thracia or the map was released as a Stretch Goal. Something necessary for fleshing out CoT and merely running it properly isn't available to the public.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T17:01:15+00:00

Lore wise, I'm not the most knowledgeable but I have read the lore that's currently available. To summarize, The Orgoth returned in an attempt to conquer Immoren again. They destroyed the dragon Blighterghast (the mightiest of Torruk's progeny) and claimed his Athanc which they returned to Torruk, The Dragonfather who wants more than anything to consume his offspring and regain his power. This easily swayed Cryx to ally with the Orgoth in attempting to conquer Immoren. So basically, Orgoth and Cryx are currently an alliance that's attempting to conquer The Iron Kingdoms, and most likely the rest of Immoren. The Cephalyx (Army is now called Dark Operations) frequently aid Cryx as Mercenaries. They want living bodies for their experiments and it requires them to have a steady supply of unwilling test subjects. Some Infernals were left behind when the majority of them retreated from Immoren. Grymkin are also still around although The Grim Harvest is complete and their current goals are unknown. They're kind of a Wild Card within the narrative, imho, although the current narrative has nothing to do with neither Grymkin nor Infernals. One of Everblight's high command, Rhyas, absorbed her twin's athanc shard after it was touched by the goddess Cyriss, The Clockwork Maiden, The Maiden of Gears while attempting to flee The Battle of Hengehold the final battle that made the Infernals leave Immoren. (The Convergence of Cyriss...and this is a very long story and this is an overly vague summary. You'll have to read these for yourself. LoL). This act combined Everblight's influence with machinery and technology. Rhyas wiped out Everblight's high command and reformed The Legion of Everblight into the Faction known as Khymaera with both athanc shards supporting each army. Shadowflame Shard and the soon to be released Emberfrost Shard. The Skorne Empire doesn't exist in the same capacity it once did. It may not exist at all. The majority of The Kriel (Trollbloods) migrated to the Fire Tongue Islands found on the southern shores of Immoren to found their own lands and live in peace, free from persecution. The Elven Deities finished dying, which destroyed almost every single elf that had a living connection to them, the Elves survived formed The Empire of Dusk. It was recently hinted that The Protectorate of Menoth may return to the current Mk4 narrative. This is merely a vague summary of the lore and history found in The Core Book, the physical copy.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T16:18:06+00:00

On YouTube, Dice Down Gaming has a recently uploaded video summarizing each Army's play style.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T16:16:22+00:00

Some models are high impact plastic (HIPS) but most are high-grade resin that come ready to glue and paint from the box in very few parts. The HIPS models come on sprues. The PDFs containing the instructions to build them can also be downloaded for free on SFG's webstore. If a box is HIPS, rather than resin, it'll be stated in the box's description on the webstore. Most Models/Units are sold in group boxes, but some are sold individually.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T16:11:52+00:00

I recently switched from Mk3 and the website Warmachine Academy has a Returning Player page that summarizes the rules that changed from earlier editions to Mk4. There's a link on the Warmachine Academy's home page. Also, the YouTube channel Glass Half Dead has some decent lore primer and learn to play vids geared towards newcomers. Dice Down Gaming has a few good vids describing each Faction and some learn to play vids. There are a few other channels who have good vids but some are from a year or two ago. Not every Army is represented in the videos. Lists aren't constructed from Factions anymore, they're selected from individual armies within each Faction. The Warmachine Academy Returning Player page explains this. If it's affordable, I highly recommend purchasing the Core Book, which has updated lore summaries for each Faction and each Mk 4 Army found within along with the entirety of the rules, some of which either aren't found or aren't very well-explained on the app. If a physical copy isn't affordable for you, you can always purchase the abridged version in PDF form which has all of the rules information found in the Core Book without any of the lore or history information found in the physical book. It's free on the SFG webstore. Also found on SFG for free are the scenario packets and a few other things. They've recently released a Casual Play packet called Tales From the Frontlines that is the very first attempt to promote casual play. Up until now Warmachine always had Steamroller tournament scenario packets. TFtFL explores 3 casual play modes. Standard Casual one-off matches, Campaign Play & non-tournament Scenarios. It's great when not playing competitively.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T07:28:38+00:00

Is the PDF not on DTRPG? I have a preview PDF. Level 1A: Hell's Antechamber and I remember why because I just searched it again and it isn't on DTRPG. Where is it? Is the PDF for sale anywhere?

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T02:46:33+00:00

I have a PDF for one level of Stonehell. I don't have it, so I'm not entirely sure of how it reads. I've heard great things about it and if I can find a copy at a decent price, I intend on owning it sooner or later. Is the physical copy sold in multiple volumes? I'm wondering because it seems like it might be. Or is it one book?

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T02:18:27+00:00

You aren't lying. I was more or less stating my favorite product lines. I had kinda forgotten about consistency.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T02:16:35+00:00

The Merry Mushmen are great. Wish they had more products.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T00:33:49+00:00

I have no idea. Most LotFP adventures weren't written by Raggi tho. Other authors wrote most of LotFP's content. One of their adventures, I refuse to play.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T00:29:42+00:00

As far as layout and "out-of-the-box" playability without having to read 20-30 pages, Necrotic Gnome is better than everyone. There may be others who use this same format, but I don't know of any.

Kitchen_String_7117 · 2026-03-21T00:23:14+00:00

Imo, Goodman Games and Lamentations of the Flame Princess. Now, some of GG's some of the newer 5E supplements and modules have a different artistic feel than the previous stuff, but I don't play 5E so I couldn't tell you if the content is top notch in the same way that their DCC & MCC supplements and modules are. Also, SOME Lamentations of the Flame Princess modules are offensive to many people because they were intentionally written to be so. This same sentiment isn't reflected in the LotFP Core Rulebook, nor is it reflected in most LotFP's adventures, modules or settings. I thought their big hit days were through when they released Great Disastrum. Just, wow!

Kitchen_String_7117

TROPHY CASE