Warmachine-Hordes

Warmachine & Hordes News, Reviews, Editorials & Unboxings.

Warmachine is a tabletop steampunk wargame originally produced by Privateer Press but currently under the ownership of Steamforged Games. It is played with white metal, plastic, and resin miniatures representing military characters from the Iron Kingdoms setting. Battles are fought between warcasters from rival nations, hulking steam-powered warjacks, and troops consisting of humans and fantasy races.

A compatible companion game involving the savage factions named Hordes was released in 2006. The Hordes branding has been retired with the launch of the game's MKIV edition.

Warmachine's most distinctive feature is the inclusion of Warcasters and Warjacks. Warjacks, or 'jacks' for short, are techno-steam powered constructs designed for warfare. They are powered by a coal-burning steam engine and guided by an arcane "brain" called a cortex. Heavily armored and often carrying oversized weaponry, Warjacks fill a role similar to traditional military armor such as tanks and artillery. They are several times more durable and powerful than normal troops, but are costly and more rare.

Warcasters are the pivotal characters of Warmachine. These are powerful generals and spellcasters who control warjacks as well as serve multiple other battlefield roles. In addition to guiding the Warjacks' destructive power, Warcasters are army commanders, potent combatants, and powerful spellcasters. Each Warcaster has a special "feat" that can be used once per battle; their effects range from subtle to extreme, and properly-timed, can change the tide of battle.