Alright, so you purchased your codex and you think you have a pretty good well-rounded list, check, you have developed some strategies which play into the strengths and avoid the weaknesses of that list, check. Now for the fun part, PLAYING. But.. wait… there’s a problem. You haven’t purchased any models yet, and you don’t have the $400+ to drop on our entire list plus paint. Guess you’ll have to get that extra part time job, save every penny, or forgo that vacation this year; just to play the game? That’s ludicrous. I know many gaming clubs only allow you to participate if you have a fully modeled force. Sometimes they even need to be painted. At Lancashire Wargaming we understand the importance of experience and that money should never be a hindrance to your ability to play. That is why we allow new players to use all sorts of alternative means to play the game. This also has the added benefit of trial and error with list building. Players will learn what combinations work and which ones do not. All the while, not spending money and time on models they will not use. We recommend building slowly, setting a monthly budget for expenditures and allow your experience to shape how you construct your force. Below I will go through a few alternate solutions I have used before obtaining my models, you will need to check with your local club to see which of these they will accept, or… just find a friend who won’t mind playing with less than a fully painted force. Without further adieu…
1. cardboard or construction paper cutouts. These work great for very new players. Simply draw out on colored construction paper or cardboard the base sizes for your units you have chosen in your list. Write on these cutouts what the unit is, what weapons they are carrying, and any other important information to help remind yourself of what it is. It will look a bit silly on the board, all these paper discs, but trust me, this is a fantastic way to start and learn the game.
2. Proxies A proxy is basically any model representing another on the board. This may take many forms. You could borrow models from a friend. Who cares if they are even the right army? So you use your friends elder guardians as tacts in your army, it will begin to give you a feel for the scale of the game, sight lines, etc. If you did happen to order some models that you aren’t currently using in your list, substitute. For instance, you bought a command squad, and then later you decide, you really needed a scout squad to supplement your army. Use the models you have until you can afford to buy, model, and paint the scouts. Use household objects with similar sizes. My example is soap boxes as tanks, you will be amazed just how similar the size of a normal soap box is to the size of a rhino or pred. Go ahead, measure it, its certainly close enough to allow a new player to use.
3. Paper Hammer I stumbled upon this fantastic website recently. Paper Hammer. Its just amazing. Full paper models of many of the models from warhammer 40k. I don’t need to discuss this too much because I think the website certainly speaks for itself. I’ve attached an image of a paper drop pod I constructed in very little time. They have the templates and instructions all on the site. Simply download, print, cut, and glue. You’re done. You can even color the models if you like. This is my favorite place holder until you are able to purchase the models.
4. Other helpful tips: Split sets or battleforces with a friend. Here is an example. The prophet and I recently split an assault on black reach set. 35 dollars each, this was a great way for both of us to get some of the pieces we needed for our armies, at minimal cost. A single box of terms costs 50 bucks. For 35 I received a term squad, dread, and 10 tacts, and a captain model which would be great to use as a proxy for an HQ or sarge. EBAY – for used models, painted models, sets and sprues that people have simply bought and never used, got bored with, or just wanting to make a profit. Since it is an auction site, it can be very hit or miss, so be vigilante and careful. For example, I just recently I saw 2 ravenwing battleforce boxes for $100. they normally sell for $90 on GW. Can’t beat that with a stick.
In conclusion, having a built army on the board completely changes the look and feel of the game. It is well worth putting in the time and effort it takes to assemble your forces. However, and more importantly, is to expand the community and provide players with gameplay experience. (at least that is the viewpoint of Lancashire Wargaming) which is why we allow our members to play regardless of the built status of their army. We realize this will make us less appealing to the more hardcore gamers out there but we feel the investment in the new players is worth it.
questions? flames? comments? what model alternatives did you use when you first started playing warhammer 40k?
I've recently been pondering how best to help our new members. and I decided to share some of my own experiences from learning to play the game. So.. you purchased a codex and you started to create a list. aka, you picked some really cool guys you think will help you win the match. that's great, most important thing is that you should be playing the army and the units you like; Since there really is no wrong way to start an army.
Now that you have your list, schedule a match. An important thing to do when first starting out is to play matches. Lots of matches. At the club, we allow the new players to use cardboard cutouts to represent their forces for educational purposes. We do not want to turn anyone away from learning the game just because they can't drop the money for all the models right away. We are all about growing and learning as a community, focusing on the teaching side of the game, instead of merely hardcore beat downs. Club members will be more than willing to take you under their wing and play some practice matches till you get the hang of things.
Having said that, we will not go easy on you. Just because you are not playing with a fully painted, modeled army does not mean you can slouch for strategy and sound tactics. Use this as an opportunity to try out units and strategies so you aren't wasting money and time one models you won't field in the end; all along developing your skill and experience in the world of 40k.
(there will another article in the near future detailing how to start an army on a small budget)
Now, the point of all this introduction...
You need to develop strategies for your list. As a player you need to consider all the possibilities you army has and develop a few strategies to use depending what your opponent may field. Some units can outflank, infiltrate, scout, deepstrike, etc. How will those special abilities play into your decisions as the field commander. How many units do you leave in reserve? Do you leave any? Do you leave them all? These decisions are important to think about well before you take the field in a match. As Moros talked about in an article last week, the first 20 matches should be treated as teaching tools. So, I encourage all the new players to use that time wisely, have some strategies to try out, take notes on things that worked and things that failed. Always take into consideration the wrath of the dice gods when hind sight analyzing. (attached above you will find a photo of some of the sketches I used when developing the strategies for my army. I encourage everyone to do something similar. Have a game plan, execute, don't go in blindly, trial and error is the key, but simply throwing units on the field is not going to help you become a better player.
And don't be afraid to ask LOTS of questions to the more experienced players.
With all the new people we’ve been getting at the club that have no idea what 40k is about, I thought I would write up some tips on how to make war in the 41st millennium!
So, you’ve been introduced to the world of Games Workshop’s Warhammer 40k, where to start? At first glace the world of 40k can seem huge and menacing! It looks so complicated that you may be overwhelmed. Well don’t be! The truth is, Warhammer 40k is a very simple game, its very user friendly and easy to wrap your head around. However, I will acknowledge the fact that there is a ton of stuff to learn. This is why it might seem like its complicated on the surface, but when you explore it more you will realize that you already know everything you need to know! It’s just a matter of details.
First, you need to understand how the game works! At this point, don’t worry about the rules or the details of armies or anything too complicated. The first thing you should do is attend a club meeting or watch some battles being fought by somebody you know! Just get an idea of how things work! This will be your first look into the world of 40k and it should be something that sets your mind at ease. While there are lots of rules and details yet to learn the first thing you’ll notice is that it’s a lot like real life. Your soldiers move, run for cover, fire on the enemy and then charge into combat! These things are very basic and pretty much anybody that’s played a video game or played with action figures as a kid knows how this works. In the most basic way, all Warhammer 40k really does is translate fighting into dice rolls!
Now that you’ve watch your friends play a few games, you are ready to take the next step! It’s time to look into what kind of army you might be interested in playing. Now, there are a few ways to go about this. I will refer you to this article on the Games Workshop site (It has some great pictures). Depending on what kind of player you are there are some different things to consider first while deciding on an army.
Are you into the lore and history? Do you really like RPG kind of games? 40k has a very deep and rich back story that you will enjoy! When deciding on your army do some research and reading about the history of each race. Find a story you can relate to, so that when you are destroying your enemies on the table top you know why!
Are you a hobbyist? Did you like making model airplanes or cars when you were a k id? 40k is more than just a wargame, it is a deep and expansive hobby! There are some really great looking models out there! So check out pictures of the armies! Look online, there are tons of other hobbyists out there that can you give you a really good idea of what is possible! So pick the army that you think looks cool! It’s that simple! Then get to work bringing your gloriously painted army to bear on your enemy! Shame him in victory or defeat, because you look that much cooler!
Are you competitive? Do you play to win? There is an army for you in the worl d of 40k. When picking an army you need to do some research on the capabilities of each army. Do you like shooting heavy weapons downrange and blasting your opponent to pieces? Do you like the glory and honor of hand to hand combat and seeing the blood of your enemy stained on your sword? The armies of Warhammer 40k won’t let you down and each army can specialize in a variety of ways. However, some are better suited to one thing or another! Make sure you figure out which one fits you best and that will help you enjoy them more!
Taking this into consideration, choose your army! You should run it past your friends that already play 40k and let them know why you chose what you did. They will help you confirm your choice! Now you need to pick up your CODEX! Each army has a codex that explains all the units and special rules for that army. Once you have this, you are well on your way to playing!
Next you need to build your army list! Your army list is the roster of the soldiers and weapons and upgrades that you will be brining into battle. Your codex contains all the information you will need to build your list. You will need to build an army for a specific point value. Games of 40k are usually 2000 point games. Another common value, usually used for tournaments and official functions is 1750. At Lancashire Wargaming we play 2000 point games most of the time. Occasionally we will have special games with multiple players and these will introduce different point values. But you can deal with that when it arises. For now, get to work designing a 2000 point army!
There are some things to remember when designing your list. This is where the strategy portion of the game comes into play. You need to make sure you cover all the bases, and make sure you can handle everything that’s going to be thrown at you. Don’t just arbitrarily choose units. When you choose things for your list make sure you have a purpose in mind for that unit. Is it an anti-infantry unit? Is it an anti-vehicle unit? Is it a swarm that’s meant to just soak up damage type of unit? You will have to consider this when building your army because you want to make sure that you cross all the Ts and dot all the Is when it comes to your army.
This is the point at which you will be delving into your codex and talking with your 40k friends a lot. Remember, while some lists are better than others, you must remember to play something that is FUN for you. That’s the whole point. Even if its not the super-duper effective army list that you read about from all the tournament players, if you like it, you play it. The thing about Warhammer 40k is that the list is only half the battle, it’s your tactical skill that really makes your list shine.
Basically, you want to make sure you have these angles covered in your army list.
HQ or commander unit – Most armies may take up to 2, but that can get pricy!
1 troop choice for every 500 points the game is being played at.
Make sure each unit has a defined purpose, jack of all trade units don’t work as well as you’d think. Have a way to deal with vehicles / monsters – This usually takes the form of strength 8 plus weapons. So make sure you have some!
Have a way to deal with hordes – Usually this means flamethrowers or ordinance weapons! BOOM!
Have a general plan or idea for how you will use your army! For example, are you t he kin d that likes melee combat? Then you will want to load up all your guys in transports and rush them at the enemy! Doesn’t matter what you field, a good plan is the best way to win!
Is your army “FUN” to you? If you don’t like what’s in your army or how it plays, keep working till you find something you like!
Make sure you consult your codex for the ‘Force Organization Chart’ that’s usually found before the listing of all your units and upgrades. This will show you what you are required to take for your army. Most armies in 40k must take a required 1 HQ unit and 2 Troop choices. There is usually a limit of 3 squads from the Elite, Heavy Support, and Fast Attack sections. Remember, this isn’t a limit of 3 units, it’s a limit of 3 squads. Vehicles may sometimes be taken in squads, but usually they come solo filling up an a slot by themselves. Some vehicles can be taken as a ‘dedicated transport’ by troops and elite squads. These don’t take up any room on the force organization chart, so you can get more vehicles than you normally would be able to. Put some thought into it and play around with your calculator! See what kind of combinations you can come up with!
Next you will want to familiarize yourself with the rules as much as possible. I suggest focusing on the basics, the rulebook itself can be frightening. It is filled with lots of information. It will take time to understand it fully and to remember what you need to. But rest assured, just like the rest of 40k, the rules too are simple grasp there are just lots of them! You will find that conversing with your friends and reading forums and blogs (maybe even posting some questions too) will help you master the rules in no time. It’s fun to talk about the rules and argue some of the intricacies while you’re at it!
Here is the basic idea, so that you don’t feel so overwhelmed. In Warhammer 40k your soldiers can basically do what YOU would do if you were in their shoes. It takes some imagination, but really try to get yourself into the battle! If you were a trooper, what would you do in that situation? Would you duck for cover? Would you unload a clip of bolter fire into the enemy? Would you loose your chainsword and charge forth? The choice is yours and that is basically how the rules work. They allow you to do what your models would be doing if they were really at battle! I find that Warhammer 40k stands out from all other games I have played. You really can do whatever you want! (Within reason of course) and the rules will guide you through how to translate doing what you want into a 6 sided dice! So just relax and give it some time, soon you will be a master of
the rules of war!
I honestly think that just playing matches with some more experienced players is the fastest way to learn the rules and how to use your list, be prepared to be destroyed! But, every defeat will makes you that much stronger!
Speaking of playing matches, you’re basically ready to start playing! Now, officially you’ll need to purchase models and get to the hobby side of things. Once you have your list its easy to see what models you will need. However, 40k can be a bit of an expensive hobby if you just go out and buy your entire list at once! In order to ease the transition and allow you to practice with your army before you go buy models we at Lancashire Wargamming suggest that you play with paper cut-out. Yes, it will be a little bit weird pretending your fielding a brutal army when it looks like colored paper circles, however, this is the wisest way to find out if you’re truly going to want to invest into Warhammer 40k.
We use the circles for training purposes and to allow you to test out army lists and units to see what you really like before you go out and purchase models. By now you’ve probably taken a gander at some of the models and packages for sale over at Games Workshop. You’re probably saying to yourself, “Geeze, this looks like an expensive hobby!” I won’t lie to you, there is a commitment involved with 40k, but with some patience and wise tactics such as the circles, the cost can start to look more manageable.
When you’re talking about getting into 40k for the first time, there is going to be some more upfront cost than after you are into it for a bit. Buying paint and tools to work on your models is definitely pricey at first. Once you have a supply built up, its really just maintenance from there. The models themselves can get up there too but don’t worry; The key here is to realize that you don’t need to buy your entire army at once, you can budget it out and only spend as much as you want. Taking the collecting and modeling side of 40k slowly is the key to success in this hobby.
Personally, I only allow myself $30 a month. If I need something more than that, I just wait. I haven’t lost any interest and, in fact, I even find myself more excited when its time to order some models. So my advice is take it slow and don’t be turned off by the money side. I am confident that anybody can afford this hobby with smart planning.
You’re all ready to play! Remember, this is a hobby, not a sport. The point of 40k is having fun with your friends. You can get a tremendous sense of accomplishment from a fully painted army. You will win some and you will lose some! It’s a game that takes practice and tactics to win!
The most important thing to remember when making the decision to get into Warhammer 40k is to make sure you really get into the game. Delve into the lore for your faction. Let your imagination fly! Put time and energy into your models! Do the best you can! It’s like when you were a kid and your imagination was going non-stopped. So do whatever you can to have some fun! You won’t be disappointed!
