Warmachine: Interviewing Jeremy Miller, The 2011 Templecon Warmachine/Hordes Champ

Templecon is one of the largest and most respected Warmachine/Hordes tournaments in the US.  We’ve got an interview with this years’ champion: Jeremy Miller.

Jeremy took home first prize at this years’ Templecon in early February using a number of ‘unconventional’ infantry-heavy Legion of Everblight lists.  He was kind enough to talk to us about the experience…

1) How long have you been playing Warmachine/Hordes?  When did you start Legion?
I started playing Warmachine/ Hordes when Apotheosis was released, which would be around six years ago. The Protectorate of Menoth is my first faction, but after trying out the Hordes mechanics, I’ve been drawn almost exclusively to Hordes. I started playing Legion when Primal was released in 2006. 


2) There are literally thousands of different combinations of casters and units to keep track of.  How do you go about prepping for a big tournament like Templecon?  What does it take to win?
For any level of tournament,  the familiarity of model rules, both your own and your opponent’s, is crucial to succeed competitively. By knowing the rules, you eliminate the “gotcha” strategies that opponents will try to employ to end games quickly. Once you eliminate the alpha strikes, knowing the rules of each model on the table allows you to set up favorable match-ups, taking advantage of the enemy’s weaknesses while defending your own. I’m fortunate enough to be part of a large and diverse gaming community, the NJSOBs [ed- New Jersey SOB’s], that allows me to experience every faction and just about every caster, which makes tournament prep fun and easy.


3) How does prepping for that tournament format differ from prepping for your standard steamroller tournament at the LGS?
The championship format presented a unique challenge: four lists each with different character casters and each list could only be used once. Because each list could only be used once, every list had to be able to handle a wide range of army compositions and still be able to achieve a scenario win if caster kill simply wasn’t an option. Were you build lists to assassinate or win scenarios or simply include the one caster you’re comfortable with in a LGS tournament setting, this format forced you to play a faction instead of a single caster or list. I really enjoyed the format because of the unusual matchups that came up over the course of the event, some of which made me cringe, yet turned out to be really tight games.


4) You took lists and casters who aren’t often considered “top tier” based upon the ‘internet wisdom’.  IE: you ran a lot of infantry, the Spawning Vessel, didn’t run Thagrosh or Bethayne, etc.  Talk about that.
I can’t comment too much on what is said on the internet because of the few times I have visited the forums, but from what others tell me I can guess what is considered good or bad on the forums. However, I take models based on the roles I need filled in a particular list. In my experience, you always need at least one unit of meat shields to keep the beasts and support from being engaged and reduced in effectiveness. Legionnaires fit the bill perfectly: they have reach, vengeance, fearless, and they’re cheap. If 80% of the unit isn’t dead by the end of the game, they simply didn’t do their job. And if I expect them to die, why not take advantage of their corpses and make free lesser Warbeasts with a Spawning Vessel? By the end of a game, if the supply of corpses has been plentiful, you’re playing with a 56 or 58 pt army while your opponent is still playing with his original 50 pt force.

I try to take a toolbox of different models that allows me to deal with most army compositions, but it also comes down to personal preference and style. I’m personally not the hugest fan of Typhon or Saeryn. I know that they are competitive models, and I am comfortable enough with their rules to use them when necessary, but I don’t enjoy playing them. However, there are certain combinations that are too obvious to pass up because of personal taste, and I realize that as well.


5) Who is your favorite Legion caster?  Favorite beast/unit?  Why?
My favorite Legion caster is Absylonia. She is the epitome of a toolbox caster that is often overlooked for some reason. When using her, I rarely find myself in a situation that Absylonia can’t solve. She has tanked Deathjack for two rounds, assassinated casters, and wrecked infantry all while effectively supporting her beasts and/or units.

6) Any future plans?
The next task is growing my desert-themed Circle army. The release of Mohsar a few years back sparked my interest in Circle and resulted in a small army. Now I’m using it for a distraction from Legion and a chance to improve my experience and gameplay by picking up a new faction.


7) The floor is yours.
I just wanted to take the time to thank the organizers of Templecon, and the Privateer Press events that were held there, for running such an awesome event. It takes a lot of work and effort to pull in all together, and I greatly appreciated their efforts. I also want to thank my opponents for the excellent games and sportsmanship that I experienced over the course of the weekend. Finally, I want to give a shout out to my fellow SOB’s for all of their help, especially to my fellow members of team “PANTS OFF! DANCE OFF!”, who helped get me into the final tournament. You guys sure don’t run fast!