"1) Any advice in terms of list building (preferably with Tanith rather than Kaya
)? I quite like Circle's pseudo-werewolves, so I'd like to use the two Warpwolves and the Skinwalkers if possible, but I've no idea how practical this is. I'm also a little bewildered when it comes to themes, if anyone could explain those."
The Themes narrow down your choices to one of the thematic parts of the faction (Tharn, Constructs, Wolf Sworn, Living Warbeasts and Druids). You get free Cards (aka Models) in return and Theme benefits. Competetively speaking this means that everyone plays in Theme. Themes also make it easier to start collecting a faction, because you don't have to just buy everything at one, but you can limit yourself.
In Circle you will hear that the only "viable" choice right now. But I do not think that this is strictly the case. There was a lot of depression in Circle and right now there is an Update in Work. After this the Tharn Theme and the Living Warbeasts Theme should also be a good choice.
If you are beginning the game, it is not necessary to play in theme, just pick what you want and play that. I will give you advice for 2 Themes that fit your models best non the less. I would advice to start with 1 or 2 Themes to collect miniatures and get familiar with the game. You can then later expand to other themes, like Bones of Orboros.
"2) Any advice in terms of other purchases I should make when I can afford them? In terms of models, I'm most interested in Loki and Woldwyrds, but I don't know whether these can work together (or whether Loki would make my army too Warpwolf-heavy)."
The themes that make sense for you right now are Call of the Wild and The Wild hunt. Call of the Wild is pretty much just a lot of Wolves, some Satyrs and a few light Warbeasts. Loki will not be too Warpwolf heavy in this theme. There you would build something like this:
conflictchamber.com/#c8201b_-0Wg14O4BgZ4McI5l4z5A5g5gc95f2NCircle Army - 74 / 75 points
[Theme] Call of the Wild
[Tanith 1] Tanith the Feral Song [+31]
- Feral Warpwolf [18]
- Gorax Rager [7]
- Loki [19]
- Pureblood Warpwolf [17]
- Rip Horn Satyr [14]
- Warpwolf Stalker [19]
- Wild Argus [7]
- Druid Wilder [0(4)]
Blackclad Wayfarer [0(4)]
Blackclad Wayfarer [0(4)]
Gallows Grove [2]
Shifting Stones [0(3)]
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]
I used a Wild Argus, because you already own one and a Rip Horn Satyr altough a Shadowhorn might be better with Tanith. The better set-Up is this (but this includes more purchases):
conflictchamber.com/#c8201b_-0Wg14O4BgZ4M5H4K5l5A5g5gc9c95f2NCircle Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] Call of the Wild
[Tanith 1] Tanith the Feral Song [+31]
- Feral Warpwolf [18]
- Gorax Rager [7]
- Loki [19]
- Pureblood Warpwolf [17]
- Scarsfell Griffon [8]
- Shadowhorn Satyr [12]
- Warpwolf Stalker [19]
- Druid Wilder [0(4)]
Blackclad Wayfarer [0(4)]
Blackclad Wayfarer [0(4)]
Gallows Grove [2]
Gallows Grove [2]
Shifting Stones [0(3)]
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]
This is something solid to buy in the long term.
You also mentioned Wyrds and they are very good with Tanith as well as Sinwalkers (who are also well supported by tanith). It would make sense to look into Wild Hunt. This is kind of a combined Arms List that should include Wolves (the big ones) and containts Wolf Sworn units (Skinwalkers are Wolfsworn). You can take Wolds here, so Wyrds are an option as well!
It is kind of weird to get free Cards in this Theme - cou cna't really get 3 and then also get something you want as a free card - but the Units are for the most concidered good. I would build for 2 free Cards.
conflictchamber.com/#c8201b_-0qg14O4M4H4Hc94S5s5f2N5ocp4U4WCircle Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] The Wild Hunt
[Tanith 1] Tanith the Feral Song [+31]
- Feral Warpwolf [18]
- Pureblood Warpwolf [17]
- Woldwyrd [9]
- Woldwyrd [9]
Gallows Grove [2]
Reeves of Orboros (max) [16]
- Reeve of Orboros Chieftain & Standard [0(4)]
Shifting Stones [3]
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]
Warpborn Skinwalkers (max) [15]
- Warpborn Skinwalker Alpha [0(4)]
Wolves of Orboros (max) [11]
- Wolves of Orboros Chieftain & Standard [4]
For Starters, do not play on this point level. I think most things up there are viable. Many grumpy old veterans might say that the Wolf Sworn are not Worth it. This is however nothing to really worry about if you are just beginning to play the game.
What I would start with in short term is getting a Warpwolf box and magnetizing it to get a Stalker/Feral or Pureblood on choice. Then some standard thing for Circle are Shifting Stones, the druid Wilder and Blackclad Wayfarer. With this it is possible to play Call of the wild in small games and test how Circle works.
conflictchamber.com/#c8200z_-0Wg14O4M5l4z5A5gc95fCircle Army - 35 / 35 points
[Theme] Call of the Wild
[Tanith 1] Tanith the Feral Song [+31]
- Feral Warpwolf [18]
- Pureblood Warpwolf [17]
- Warpwolf Stalker or Loki [19]
- Wild Argus [7]
- Druid Wilder [0(4)]
Blackclad Wayfarer [0(4)]
Gallows Grove [2]
Shifting Stones [3]
Wild hunt alternative:
conflictchamber.com/#c8200z_-0qg14O4Mc95f5ocp4T4WCircle Army - 35 / 35 points
[Theme] The Wild Hunt
[Tanith 1] Tanith the Feral Song [+31]
- Feral Warpwolf [18]
- Pureblood Warpwolf [17]
Gallows Grove [2]
Shifting Stones [3]
Warpborn Skinwalkers (max) [15]
- Warpborn Skinwalker Alpha [0(4)]
Wolves of Orboros (min) [7]
- Wolves of Orboros Chieftain & Standard [4]
3) I like the look of Tanith, but I'm also interested in Kaya the Moonhunter and in both Kreugers. Are any of those good with the models I've got?
I think kaya should be, Kruger 1 is maybe better with Tharn and Krueger 2 really wants to play Bones of Orbors.
4) Any other advice for a starting player?
Just play the game. You will have to learn playing the game for a while before you even need to worry about all the optimal list builds! Learn from your mistakes and become a better player! Have fun!
The grumeling and complaining on the net does not really reflect how the game is right now. In circle it might be espcecially salty right now. The game is however in a very good state. Many people try to "solve" the game at the list building step, but the great thing about Wm/H is that this does not work!
Watch Arcane Assist and learn, I think they do very good analysis and play many differend factions:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP4cPHUFCesI pretty much stole the call of the Wild build from Tim Banky there
Read about all the Models:
warmachineuniversity.com/mw/index.php/Main_PageUse the Warroom 2 App and buy the Circle Deck. It is a very good tool to learn your own factions!
)? I quite like Circle's pseudo-werewolves, so I'd like to use the two Warpwolves and the Skinwalkers if possible, but I've no idea how practical this is. I'm also a little bewildered when it comes to themes, if anyone could explain those.
