I can't wait for the lore to deepen and have more varied units that verge away from the more stereotypical core units that are required. For example swamp elves, are they a thing? They should be a thing.

When I take a look at how many factions there were in Disk Wars, there's no way they abandon their lore to mere 4 factions. I mean in the beginning, yes but then there are so many possibilities. I have nearly all descent boxes (just the Chain that rust and two lieutenants) and well... it's an awesome universe....badly structured (in that game at least.) So yeah, great expactations from the lore book and the rest. Less generic units also but you can't indefinitely re-create the wheel... stinky fogs or walking W.C....no...Sorry, I didn't say anything...

11 hours ago, Iceeagle85 said:

I know that, i was sadly too late for that. And about Elfs and mercenaries, well WHF had a Dark Elf Mercenary unit so Dark Elfs could probably use that. In most settings i can't see them using non elves but what about elven mercenaries, they could exist.

Wait the Retribution of Scyrah in Warmachine is an elven faction, does anyone know if they can use non elvish mercs?

Off the top of my head, I can only think of "two": Corbeau and Holt. Of course with Holt you have to by Aiyana too. I don't really play mark 3 but I have a few of the books for reading time. I do still want to try something with the universe because I actually like it but I have so many other miniature games to keep track of.

The fellowship of the ring is literally Elrond and Gandalf forming a band of mercenaries.
Eldar conscript races to fight battles for them by engineering events to delay their doom.
Retribution of Scyrah is the most extreme elf faction out of any fantasy setting, as they want to magicide every single other magic user as *revenge* for their dead gods. Literal scorched earth policy, they know they are going to die and want to take down every one else they can.

It's not a matter of Elves using mercenaries it is a matter of framing it.
Elves wouldn't use your service because they need it, they would use you because it's not worth their effort to do the task. I could easily see the elves buying the service of a front line fighting unit because that type of dirty fighting is beneath them. They would definitely reinforce the fact that they could do this task better then you.
Elves would use mercenaries to protect their own lives in a risky situation because a single elf life is worth a X human/dwarf/orc lives.
Elves would literally be the most ungrateful employer, and would probably remind you after the battle that you didn't do it as good as an elf could have.
IMO

If Kari is anything to go on, we might get something that allows the elves to use another faction in it's list. Add in the idea that the elves are pretty good at diplomacy (Runewars) to the mix and we have some easy possibilities.

Swamps were mostly the Mahkim. They're like four armed lizard/teenage mutant ninja turtles looking guys

Who have things like mind controlling swamp grubs that will burrow into your body...

6 hours ago, Waywardpaladin said:

Swamps were mostly the Mahkim. They're like four armed lizard/teenage mutant ninja turtles looking guys

Who have things like mind controlling swamp grubs that will burrow into your body...

Ooooh I like those. Mind-controlling lizardmen sound great to me

On 2/19/2017 at 8:09 PM, Obscene said:

Retribution of Scyrah is the most extreme elf faction out of any fantasy setting, as they want to magicide every single other magic user as *revenge* for their dead gods. Literal scorched earth policy, they know they are going to die and want to take down every one else they can.

Ahh Retribution...bunch of racist poofy pantsed space elves...but boy are they fun to play!

On 2/19/2017 at 9:53 PM, Kubernes said:

If Kari is anything to go on, we might get something that allows the elves to use another faction in it's list. Add in the idea that the elves are pretty good at diplomacy (Runewars) to the mix and we have some easy possibilities.

this is a good line of reasoning. what if factions could take a unit that allowed you to take 1 unit of certain mercenaries. like a wizardy type to mind control some razorwings or beatmen. if they did this i think it would be a very interesting take on mercenaries.

18 minutes ago, Klaxas said:

this is a good line of reasoning. what if factions could take a unit that allowed you to take 1 unit of certain mercenaries. like a wizardy type to mind control some razorwings or beatmen. if they did this i think it would be a very interesting take on mercenaries.

If you stick the ability to "hire" another faction or use mercenaries on a hero, you can potentially limit the problems. Fore example, Kari only lets you get 1 non-unique elf unit.

You could also do something like Banners in AGoT where there's a benefit and a penalty.