To our players:

We have decided to do something radical. We’ve been paying a lot of attention to our forums and talking with our players at the conventions this summer and it’s clear that the anticipation for MkII is driving everyone a little batty. Many are excited, some of you are a little afraid, but the suspense is killing everyone and the speculation is killing us! So after a great deal of deliberation we have decided that the best thing we can do for the mental well-being of our community is to completely change our plans and do what we said we wouldn’t: we’re going to put all of the MkII rules and model information online as PDF downloads, because four more months is just too damn long for everyone to be holding their breath.

There are some disclaimers and explanations that need to accompany this.

First, the rules and stat info are final. While the books and cards are still in layout and will be for the next few weeks before they go to press, this is the final form this information will take. So you can be confident that nothing you see here will change between now and when the rules come out in book form unless we find an editing mistake at the last moment that needs to be corrected. But our development on this is locked. You have the final data.

Second, as the book and cards are still in layout, and because we want to give this information to you now, you’re getting the no-frills version. The rules PDF is the book layout but does not include any backgrounds, art or diagrams. And in several places, you’ll note that icons are displayed by name rather than their graphic (these are waiting to be plugged in) and there are many instances of ‘see page XXX’, which is a placeholder for a page number that gets filled in as the very last thing we do in the layout process once we know that nothing is shifting around in the layout anymore. As well, the model info is being taken directly from our development files, so they’re not nice, neat little cards. Each model’s stat info is on a separate page as just the data with no graphical layout or whatnot.

So while this is an unpolished, un-beautiful version of what will be found in the final product, and while you’ll have to read around the ‘XXX’ and icon names, it IS the final information, and we know that’s what everyone is dying for right now anyway. Think of it as seeing a movie before all the special effects, color correction, sound track and sound editing take place. It’s the movie, just not how it’s meant to be presented.

A few final notes; once again, we want to thank our community, all of you players, for your involvement and feedback in shaping the MkII rules. While we know that this has been an inconvenient transition, we do believe that all of the changes made in MkII will improve the play experience for the community as a whole, and we also believe that this process has yielded the best possible final product. We hope that you will see the impact and the influence that your feedback has had on what MkII has become.

While you will no doubt be eager to take everything for a spin, please be aware that our ‘official’ events will continue to be supported with MkI rules for the remainder of the year. Naturally, what you do in the privacy of your own game store is up to you and your opponent and the event organizer, but as far as we’re concerned, MkII will not be supported in organized play by Privateer until January when the book comes out.

And a final word to our Hordes players who still have a much longer wait ahead of them; please know that we are working very hard to put out the Hordes MkII field test as soon as possible. Because of what we have learned through the MkII field test, we believe our first public draft of the Hordes MkII rules will much more closely resemble what the final rules will look like. Because of that, it is our intention to make the Hordes MkII Field Test rules official upon posting so that Hordes players can continue to participate in our organized play events alongside WARMACHINE players until the Hordes MkII book comes out next summer. The caveat of course is that things WILL change, but probably much less dramatically than some of the WARMACHINE changes that we observed.

Thank you all for your patience, your feedback, and your continued support.

And play like you’ve got MkII…

Matt Wilson
Privateer Press
Chief Creative Officer

*To download the files, right-click, then save as.

Here is the link.

The hosts of the Iron Agenda invite everyone to come out and join us at Privateer Weekend at DieCon 9, organized but the  St. Louis Riverdogs.  This will be the premiere event for the Midwest prior to Gen Con 2009.  Privateer Weekend contains 3 days of spine crushing, cortex smashing fun over more than 8 events.  The terrain is amazing and includes specialized scenario tables.  The competitors are top tier in both skill and personality.  The gaming will be second to none.  Featured events over the weekend include three steamroller competitions, an ongoing Tide of War competition, Iron Kingdom knowledge tests hosted by Capt. Saulty Dog, and our main event, an official Hardcore tournament on Saturday.  If this wasn’t enough, monsters will also be running loose throughout the city as we host 3 Monsterpocalypse events over the weekend.

Check out http://diecon.gamestlouis.com for our complete event schedule and follow the link to DieCon 9 to see other convention activities and pre-register.  Or check out http://www.diecon.com for a summary of all convention events and to preregister.  Preregistration can be done by paypal for $20 for the entire weekend!  Those wishing to participate in our Saturday’s official Hardcore tournament should select PP Hardcore under the list of Sat Events. There is an additional $5 fee for the Hardcore event that will be paid on site but those who play in hardcore will receive a specialized dog tag for participation.  A summary of the event schedule is below the cut.

Friday, June 5th

2:00pm – 750-point Warmachine Steamroller 4: Our first series of events for Friday will allow the factions of Warmachine to assault one another in various Steamroller scenarios.  Two lists from the same faction are allowed for each participant.  Steamroller prize kit coins will be awarded to the victors.  Also a set of old Warmachine Steamroller faction coins will be on hand and the top player in each faction will receive their faction coin.  Gold cards will also be awarded to the overall victor. This event will run concurrent with the 750 point Hordes Steamroller event and the Monsterpocalypse event

2:00pm – 750-point Hordes Steamroller 4: Our second event for Friday will allow the factions of Hordes to assail one another in various Steamroller scenarios.  Two lists from the same faction are allowed for each participant.  Steamroller prize kit coins will be awarded to the victors.  Also a set of old Hordes Steamroller faction coins will be on hand and the top player in each faction will receive their faction coin.  Gold cards will also be awarded to the overall victor.  This event will run concurrently with the 750 point Warmachine Steamroller event and Monsterpocalypse event

2:00pm – Open Constructed Monsterpocalypse Tournament: Single Monster Event: Warmachine and Hordes not your thing?  Take part in our first Monsterpocalypse event of the weekend. This event will run concurrent of the Warmachine and Hordes steamroller events.  Players are to bring everything they need to play, which includes 1 map, dice, their city and their force that adhere to the printed force organization rules.  Figures from any set may be used. Prizes to be announced. This event will run concurrent with the Warmachine and Hordes Steamroller events

350-point Mangled Metal/Tooth and Claw Hardcore (following the SR 4 events):  Our first day of Privateer events finishes off with just the casters, their beasts, and jacks.  Warcasters and warlocks will direct their jacks and beasts against each other in flesh ripping, metal sundering action.  One list per participant is allowed.  Each turn will be 3 minutes and games will last only 30 minutes so you gotta be quick.  Remember, this is a mangled metal/tooth and claw event so not only does assassination win the game but eliminating all the jacks or beast does too.  Also remember, this is Hardcore so all models must be painted and based.  Will the machinations of men win out?  Or will the unbridled fury of beasts reign supreme?  Gold cards will be awarded to the overall victor. Other prizes TBA. This event will follow the Hordes and Warmachine Steamroller events

Saturday, June 6th

9:00am – 750-point Hardcore: This is the big one, boys and girls.  This is the pinnacle of Warmachine and Hordes gaming.  It is a rare honor that Privateer Weekend attendees will have.  Bring your best 750 point Warmachine or Hordes list and throw down with the best of the best.  Each player is allowed a single 750 point Warmachine or Hordes list and the army must be fully painted and based to participate.  There is only one victory condition, the utter destruction of the opposing warcaster.  All games are timed and players are limited to 7 minute turns.  If time runs out, put down your dice and let your opponent rip into you.  In order to survive in this intense combat you had better not only know your army but your opponent’s army as well.  However, with a unique intense format also come unique prizes.  Medals will be awarded to the overall victor, fastest caster kill, best painted army, and most VP’s accrued.  There is a 5 dollar fee to participate in Hardcore which will be paid on site.  All participants who preregister for Hardcore will receive a specialized dog tag for playing in the event.

9:00am – 750-point Warmachine/Hordes Random Caster event: Hardcore not your cup of tea?  Then bring your beat down against other players in this 750 point random caster match.  Each player constructs a 750 point list from 1 faction without a caster.  They then select 4 casters from that faction they wish to use.  Each round, a caster from their list will be randomly assigned to their force.  Once a caster is used it will be removed until all 4 have been played.  All games are won by assassination.  If the event goes more than 4 rounds, all the casters will be put back in the pool for round 5.  Prizes to be announced.  This event will run concurrent to the Hardcore event

Open Constructed Monsterpocalypse Tournament: Single Monster Event (following Hardcore): Warmachine and Hordes not your thing.  Take part in our second Monsterpocalypse event of the weekend.  Players are to bring everything they need to play, which includes 1 map, dice, their city and their force that adhere to the printed force organization rules.  Figures from any set may be used.  Prizes to be announced.

350-point Warmachine/Hordes 1:1:1:1 event (following Hardcore): As our second day of Privateer Weekend draws to a close, we finish our tournament day with a 350 1:1:1:1 event.  What’s a 1:1:1:1 event?  You only get 1 of each thing, 1 caster, 1 beast or jack, 1 solo and 1 unit with unit attachment if you wish.  Now, if a model carries another category with it then it can fill just one spot on the list and the other models it brings are yours to use without taking a spot.  So for instance, a lesser warlock fills the solo spot and bring their beast along for free.  Alexia would fill the solo spot but brings along a unit of risen for free.  But it all has to fit within 350 points.  All games are assassination.  If a game goes to time winners are determined by VPs.  Each turn is 6 minutes and match length is 55 minutes + D6.  Prizes to be announced.

Capt. Saulty Dog’s Iron Kingdom Trivia Challenge (following the 1:1:1:1 event): Know how many damage boxes a Helldiver has?  Can you identify a warbeast by the slightest of clues?  Do you have the Iron Kingdom history committed to memory?  Here’s your chance to prove it. Come compete against others as Capt. Saulty Dog quizzes participants about the Iron Kingdoms.  Prizes will go out to those with the most comprehensive Iron Kingdom knowledge.  These prizes will be announced at a later date.

Sunday, June 7th

9:00am – 750-point Mixed Steamroller 4 event: Here’s one last chance to play in a Steamroller 4 event before the weekend ends.  Two lists from the same faction are allowed for each participant.  Steamroller trophies will be awarded to the victors.  Gold cards will also be awarded to the overall victor.

9:00am – 350 to 1000 point Escalation Tournament: Want to do something a bit different than a standard Steamroller event?  The escalation tournament is designed to test players by making their casters excel in various army lists.  Each player designs four lists from a single faction.  The first list is a 350 point Mangled Metal or Tooth and Claw list.  The second list is 500 points and is built off the first list.  However, the second list may add troops and solos in addition to more jacks and beasts.  The 3rd list increases the point total to 750 points and is constructed off the second list with additional troops, jacks, and beasts.  The 3rd list has an additional twist though.  If your caster from the first and second list has an epic form, it must go epic at this time.  The final list is 1000 points and is constructed off the 750 point list but final 250 points is dedicated to an additional caster and their battle group.  The 350 point list will be played in round 1, the 500 point list in round 2, and the 750 point list in round 3 and the 1000 point in round 4.  If there are more than 4 rounds either the 500 or the 750 round will be doubled.  Take note, you can only ever add onto a list, never take away.  For instance, a Drakhun can be played without the dismount option in round 2 and then pay for the option in round three, but the converse is not true.  Gold cards for the 1000 point force will be awarded to the overall victor.

9:00am – Open Constructed Monsterpocalypse Tournament: Double Monster Event: Our final Monsterpocalypse event for the weekend will be our biggest.  Monsters have the chance to tag team together to wreak havoc across the bi-state area!  Players are to bring everything they need to play, which includes 1 map, dice, their city and their force that adhere to the printed force organization rules for Double Monster battles.  Figures from any set may be used.  Prizes TBA.

Weekend Long Events:

Capt. Saulty Dog’s Brainteasers: At various tournaments, participants will have the opportunity to win door prizes based off their Iron Kingdoms trivia knowledge.  People currently participating in an event that has one of Capt. Saulty’s Brainteasers may submit their answer anytime during the tournament.  At the end of each tournament, Capt. Saulty will draw answers and the first correct answer will be awarded the door prize for that event.  Prizes for answering the brainteasers correctly will include our newly updated and painted battle boxes.

Tide of War: During the course of Privateer Weekend, participants will have the chance to earn Tide of War points to compete for the Privateer Weekend Champion award.  War points are awarded based on the size of the game played and whether or not the player was victorious.  These games include both tournament games and friendly games played outside the tournament scene, but yet on the Diecon premises.  A player does not need to play the same faction each game unless he/she is in a tournament. Games may range between 350 and 1000 points.  A player may not play the same opponent back to back.  When the game is not a tournament game, both participants are responsible for notifying judges before the game begins, where it is being played, and the outcome of that game.  If the players do not notify a judge, then the game will not be counted.  So what goes to our overall War Champion?  Well, we’re keeping that hush, hush for now but the prize is absolutely huge.  Let’s just say it will be something large and fully playable.

Hopefully the list of unique and exciting events has piqued your interest into attending Privateer Weekend at Diecon 9. So what’s the cost to participate in all these events other than Hardcore?  Just the cost of admission to Diecon 9!  That means it’s just $25 for the entire weekend if you pre-register by April 15th.  Afterward the cost increases to 30 dollars.  There is a $1 fee for registration through paypal.  There’s a benefit to pre-registration. Everyone who pre-registers for the Hardcore event will receive a unique Hardcore dog tag.  Pre-registration can be done at http://www.diecon.com through paypal.  Just enter your information and you’re set.  Those wishing to participate in hardcore need to select the PP Hardcore option under the Sat. events.  Once again there is a $5 fee for participating in Hardcore but this is paid on site.  Please check out http://diecon.gamestlouis.com or http://www.diecon.com for more information or PM PG D.Vader, PG Xanathon, or PG AslainKheog.  Hope to see you there!

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a message on our forums.