Warcasters, Warlocks and Feats; Oh My: Tombstone Format

I've been thinking about making my own Warmahordes format for a long time, even though I very much so enjoy the game the way it is intended to be played. After playing the tabletop skirmish game MERCS, which features a very small model count (five); I came up with a little something new. I first asked myself what I liked about MERCS the most, which was time. You can crack a game out in roughly 30 minutes giving even someone who is strapped for time (or on a lunch break) ample time to get a game in. I also love games with small model counts.

I am a huge fan of the Highlander format especially when trying to get someone past that initial "I can only handle a battle box stage" and I have read about but have yet to try out Thunderdome. So, I thought how could I do almost a MERCS style format using Warmahordes' rules? Then BOOM, it all came together. I finished my bowl of Cheerios and the Tombstone format was born!

The Earp Brothers

Tombstone Format

Lists:
-Choose a Warcaster or Warlock: Your total points to create you list are equal to 5 + WJ/WB points
-You may only select Faction solos; Partisans still come into play. No Warjacks/Warbeasts, unless they are companion models.
-Warcasters/Warlocks that come with Jacks/Beasts/Companions may use them in that their bonus points are reflective of having them.
-Lesser Warlocks that come with Beasts may use them in that their point costs are reflective of having them.

Gameplay:
-Warcasters and Warlocks alike use the rules for Warcasters. Warlocks generate Focus equal to their Fury stat every turn.
-Warbeasts act like Warjacks; they no longer use the Fury mechanic, can be allocated Focus up to their Fury stat and spend it like a Warjack. They no longer Frenzy and lose any unspent focus during the Maintenance phase. Any rule that would necessitate a Warbeast to be forced cost 1 Focus instead but the Warbeast must still be in CTRL range of its Warlock to do so. Animi may be cast; pay their cost in Focus rather than Fury.
-Models that may create other models (i.e. eAlexia, eThagrosh) may still do so.

-Use the Scenario: Grab 'n' Smash

Scenario: Grab 'n' Smash

-Place a single flag in the center of the table.
-Players all deploy up to 10" off of their respective board edge.

Special Rules
While B2B with the flag, a warrior model may forfeit either its movement or action to pick the flag up. When picked up, remove the flag from play; the model that picked it up is now the Flag Carrier. Flag Carries may not run, charge, make a slam, make a light cavalry move or be placed during their activation and lose the effects of Stealth and Incorporeal while carrying the flag. If the Flag Carrier becomes dismounted(dragoon models), stationary or knocked down, they drop the flag; place the flag back on the table B2B with the model that dropped it using the Least Disturbance rules (pg 64, Prime mkII). If the Flag Carrier is destroyed, replace its model with the flag like you would a wreck marker on a boxed warjack.

Victory Conditions
The first player to have a friendly Flag Carrier in their deployment zone immediately wins the game.

If you are wondering why I named the format Tombstone: it reminded a close friend and collaborator of mine of a western. You have a posse of the best and ready to deal out some justice; it is reminiscent of the Earp brothers and Doc Holliday. Thus, Tombstone.


Now this is the Beta; I need to play test it and get conclusive data to determine if I need to tweak things a bit or not. If you read this, try it out and have feedback for me; I would be more than grateful for it. The more I get; the more I can polish this thing. I am very interested in hearing your list ideas, so don't hesitate to share! Please, don't knock it before you try it. I want to hear why it didn't work out for you, not why you think it won't work. Help meh, help meh, please!!!

Thanks!

Preemptive FAQ

List Construction:
What types models can be in my list?
A single warcaster/warlock and Faction solos only. You don't build a battlegroup in this format.

So I spend WJ/WB points on Solos and not Warjacks/Warbeasts?
Yes!!!

Warcasters/Warlocks:
Can Warcasters/Warlocks use their feats?

Yes

Can Warlocks who come with Warbeasts still cast their Warbeast's Animus as a spell?

Yes

Are caster kills still a viable way to win?
Yes

Can pGoreshade still use his feat to summon a minimum unit of Banes?

As of right now, yes. I still need play testing to see if certain rules break the format. These can always be adjusted after seeing how things go.

[Insert Warlock/Warcaster Name] has only a Jack or Beast-centric spell list and/or feat. Doesn't that mean they will be terrible in this format?

Calaban doesn't have access to any kind of useful Arc Node that won't most likely get him killed but I still play him in normal format. Pick a different Caster/Lock if you really feel this way.

If I choose a Cygnar Warcaster can I use Mercenary models in my list?

Despite the fact that Mercenary models practically are Cygnar models, No, you must select solos only from the same Faction as the caster or ones that have the partisan rule for your chosen Faction.

If I choose a Mercenary or Minion warcaster/warlock, do I have to choose a charter or pact?
Yes, I will not tolerate the mixing of Bacon and Scales!

If I could somehow manage it; could I use a theme force?

Yes, for now. If you do, please give feedback!

Flag Carriers:
Can Flag Carriers still attack or make an actions on their activation?
Yes

Can a model forfeit its action to pick up the flag and then make a full advance?
Yes

If my dragoon is dismounted, he/she drops the flag?
Yes, your dragoon will drop the flag and need to once again forfeit movement or action to pick it up once more if you want to do so.

Can a Flag Carrier voluntarily drop the flag?
No, this may change depending on how play testing goes.

Other Questions:
How much terrain should I use?
As much as you want but personally I would use two forests and two walls total to try it out. Set it up so each player has a forest and a wall on their side of the flag. The game was designed to not take forever; too much terrain could bog it down. Here is an example I threw together in Vassal:

If I wanted to play a timed game because I have friends who take forever on their turns; how much time should be used?
As of right now, 15 minutes per player. This might change after play testing.

Will you be updating this format beyond this?
Yes, like I said this is basically the Beta of this format. The more feedback I get the better I can sculpt the guidelines.

Will you come out with new scenarios for this format?
I will give a tentative Yes. If the format is generally enjoyed by people, I will definitely try to cook up new scenarios for it.