Weekly Waffle #374 – I counted them all out
12th April 2025
So, for this week’s weekly waffle I have decided to start with a quote from what was probably the first major world event I can remember growing up. Or at least the first that I flowed as it was unfolding. The quote is from the reporter Brian Hanrahan and it was a way for him to get around some very strict reporting restrictions imposed on him during the Falkland’s conflict. He was embedded on HMS Hermes as part of the Task Force that was despatched to the South Atlantic in response to the Argentinian invasion of the Falklands.
He was reporting on an early air strike conducted by Sea Harriers operating from HMS Hermes. To work around the restrictions regarding disclosure of classified military information he came out with this line on the news. “I’m not allowed to say how many planes joined the raid, but I counted them all out, and I counted them all back”. His way of reporting that every plane made it safely back to the carrier. The quote became so synonymous with him it later became the title of a boo he co-authored about the conflict. And it has stuck with me all these years.
Whilst that is an interesting little bit of history what does it have to do with this week’s weekly waffle and the hobby in general. Well that is easy. It gives me a very tenuous link to the Warcor or War Correspondent unit type of Infinity.
This is a mini that I like the look of, and I like the older version with his drone even better. But I have never been sure, outside of a narrative reason, why you take one in any list. Points are always tight so spending them on a Warcor seems like a bit of waste of those points. But I’ve been doing some digging and trawling of the inter webs to come up with some reasons to take one. Or more accurately I’m sharing the work others have done as to why you should think about taking one.
One of the simplest and most effective uses of a Warcor is as a cheap Regular Order generator. Even if they don’t do much else, they add another activation to your turn. In ARO, their Flash Pulse can be surprisingly annoying, especially against high-PH, low-WIP opponents. A stunned enemy loses the ability to attack, which can throw off your opponent’s plans.
Next up have a bit of area denial by placing a Warcor in an elevated position or covering a key approach forces your opponent to deal with them. The threat of a WIP 13-15 Flash Pulse (depending on faction bonuses) means enemy troopers may have to waste orders dealing with a 3-point model. If your opponent ignores them, a well-placed Stun could disrupt their attack run.
I’m not going to ignore the thematic reason for why a Warcor’s presence in a list can add a lot of flavour to your force. Imagine a PanOceanian army using a Warcor as a corporate media operative embedded in elite troops, or a Nomad list featuring a rogue journalist broadcasting from the front lines. This thematic integration can enhance the storytelling element of the game.
For me I’ve been looking at ways of using them with my Yu Jing. As a faction that thrives on flexible combined-arms tactics, they don’t always lean on Warcors as heavily as other factions, but they do still have some excellent uses for them.
First of all they can support heavy infantry lists. Yu Jing’s reliance on Heavy Infantry like the Hac Tao or Yan Huo means their lists can become order-hungry. A Warcor is a cheap way to squeeze in a few extra Regular Order to support some of the expensive power units.
Next up they can be used to disrupt enemy attack runs. Against factions that rely on alpha strikes (such as Combined Army or Aleph), a Warcor positioned near a key fire lane can slow down an aggressive push. With Flash Pulse and WIP 13, they have a reasonable chance to Stun an approaching attacker, potentially saving your key defensive pieces. And it doesn’t hurt as much if you are only loosing a Warcor.
There are also a few thematic ways to include a Warcor in a Yu Jing list. First up we have State-Run Media: The Warcor represents an official Yu Jing news correspondent, reporting on the glorious victories of the StateEmpire. They might be accompanied by ISS forces, ensuring their coverage remains “accurate.”
Another option could be an undercover Agent: Instead of a journalist, the Warcor could be a covert government observer, keeping tabs on Yu Jing’s own forces or reporting on enemy movements.
Or you could down the Corporate Spy route. In a game featuring mercenaries and shadow wars, a Warcor could be an embedded reporter with ties to a Yu Jing megacorporation, gathering intelligence on the battlefield.
For such a low cost, Warcors provide an efficient way to generate extra orders, disrupt enemy attacks, and add a unique thematic element to your list. While they won’t win a game on their own, their ability to cause unexpected roadblocks or force opponents to waste orders can make a surprising impact. If you’re running a Yu Jing army—or any faction that can take them—consider giving a Warcor a chance in your next game. You might just find them to be an indispensable part of your list!
For my Warcor I’ve tried to keep things simple and just went with my take on the colours used on the box art. It’s not the best job I’ve ever done but I’m reasonably happy with it. There are bit’s that could be better but I’ve been working on this to keep the mojo flowing. And I am happy enough with it to use it in a game.
Using the colours from the box art will make it stand out from the rest of my Yu Jing forces whatever I put it with. There is a little bit of a colour clash with it having a basic green colour but then having its high vis press jacket. As if that will save it from being shot to pieces if it finds itself in the wrong place on the battle field.
But that’s enough of me waffling on what do you think of it.
You can see more Infinity miniatures at my gallery here
That’s all I have for you this week. I’m not sure what’s going to find its way onto my desk this week but I will have something for you again next week. My mojo is back to a nice level and I’m feeling quite good about my painting at the moment. I’ve got quite a few things lined up so it will just be a matter of making a decision and getting started. But to find out what that might be you will need pop back here again next week. But until then I hope you all keep safe and have fun whatever you have planned for the week ahead.
