So, after careful perusal of the various models in Warmachine and Hordes, I decided I liked the look of the Cygnar models the best. They seem to match my interests.

a) Blue. My favorite color.
b) Lightning. My favorite natural disaster (I was very tempted by Khador and its ice, but lightning is slighty more awesome).
c) Guns. Lots of guns.

So in that vein, I started looking at the available models. Now, I don't have a rulebook, so that's the first thing to get. I have read the Quickstart rules and I've seen the sample cards from the Privateer Press website. The obvious choice would be the starter box with Stryker, the Ironclad, Lancer, and Charger. But...that seems more focused on setting up combinations with Earthquake and the Quake Hammer. Sounds tactically decent, but that's not what I want. I want guns and lightning.

So I looked at other models. Nemo looks interesting, he's got some sort of staff. The Thunderhead looks fun, it has more of those staff bits and mentions using lighting to destroy it's foes. That's what I want. Now, the Lancer and Charger are fine. So, the plan is to get the Cygnar box, Nemo, a Thunderhead, the rulebook, and probably the card deck so I can decide what troops match my dream of lightning and guns. I'm guessing Stormblades, Stormlances, Stormguard, Stormsmiths....and Gun Mages. Of course, this will all have to wait a few more weeks till I get back to the US.

Does this seem like a solid plan to build a respectable army? Or at least a shockingly average one? :)

it sounds like the general theme of cygnar, and it rocks.

cygnar presents the "elite" faction in warmachine with a wide range of specialised and powerful troops ranging from the mighty stormblades to the thunderous long gunners.

as far as jacks go we have a solid choice, but i personally don't recommend the thunderhead so soon. in small 500 point games it will take up almost a third of your points and it requires a fair understanding of the rules to use to its full potential (as with most lightning units in cygnar).

if you are truely deadset on a lightning jack might i propose the Stormclad. sporting a wonderful synergy with stormblades and having the single most powerful weapon in the cygnar army its a solid choice if a bits point heavy and... chaotic at times. it zaps infantry with chain lightning too, can't argue with that can we? ;)

for a lightning themed force you want to go with either nemo or haley. most other warcasters fall into the guns and hammers theme of cygnar.

welcome to the jewel of the iron kingdoms :happy:

Stormclad...ok. I also went ahead and added a Gun Mage Capt. Adept, a Journeyman Warcaster, and Lt. Aleister Caine to round out my order, so I can see if I might want to do a more run-n'-gun army as well.