Bolt Action - A Beginner's Guide

[Mikball]

Evening gents,

After a few weeks of chopping and changing, I've finally made a decision and just about to purchase my first BA army - Was edging towards German Grenadiers, but looks like there's a of those getting around already so... Waffen SS it is.

But, just before I click 'Buy' - any feedback would be appreciated.

At present I have in my shopping basket

1x Waffen SS box set which includes:
*(6-man Command Squad: 1x Officer, 1x NCO with MP40 SMG, 1x 2-man radio team with rifles, 1x Medic, 1x rifleman)
* 9-man squad: 2x NCOs with MP40 SMGs, 1x 2-man MG42 LMG team, 5x riflemen
*1x 81mm mortar with 3 crew
*2x soldats with StG44 assault rifles

Plus
1x 10man Waffen SS Squad
1x MG42
1x Pak 40
1x BA Dice set

Cheers

[Mikball]

Also, I was looking at the selection of BA books on bookdepository.com and they seem to have 2nd edition BA rulebook pre-order listed for Sept 2016 and German Army book for December 2016

[job]

Also, I was looking at the selection of BA books on bookdepository.com and they seem to have 2nd edition BA rulebook pre-order listed for Sept 2016 and German Army book for December 2016

Nice research man. Well done and bravo!

[Primarch]

Also, I was looking at the selection of BA books on bookdepository.com and they seem to have 2nd edition BA rulebook pre-order listed for Sept 2016 and German Army book for December 2016

According to the Warlord forum, those dates are very much a target rather than a fact.

Amazon keeps trying to sell me books I haven't written yet.

However, if you don't feel like you need a copy of the rules to play a couple of games, you may want to hold off buying until the new edition is released be it in September or otherwise.

Waffen-SS eh? I can say from experience that their camo is a pain to paint.

With that lot, I think you have a good selection, but the PaK 40 might be something you should think about picking up later. It's a really good AT gun, but it's also quite expensive and the Germans get a fair selection of troop portable AT with Panzerfausts as well as really good AT guns in most of their vehicles.
I would suggest either this lot for more versatility in your list, or maybe the Charlemagne box, combined with what you already have on your list, that would cover you for 3 full infantry squads with a lot of optional gear. (I filed the tricolor shoulder badges off mine to use them as regular SS).

[The Other Dave]

As someone looking at making some purchases for his first army, are there any well-known list construction pitfalls? Or will a more-or-less historical list be more-or-less effective?

[Primarch]

As someone looking at making some purchases for his first army, are there any well-known list construction pitfalls? Or will a more-or-less historical list be more-or-less effective?

There aren't really any pitfalls, but it' worth remembering that Infantry>Tanks. Taking the bare minimum of other units so that you can squeeze in a Tiger II is probably going to cost you the game. As a rule of thumb, you want roughly 1 order dice (ie 1 unit) per 100 points. Historical lists are pretty much the standard round here, so you can't go far wrong with that.

[job]

Some generalized points to keep in mind might be:

- More units in a list means more chances to activate before your opponent.
- Have things to pile pin markers on a target: MMGs, LMGs in squads, etc.
- Have some HE with D6 or 2D6 and so on is nice. These weapons can devastate units and mortars are good for blasting out fixed weapons.
- Assault weapons are useful, but they are generally more effective on veterans.
- Tanks have varying ability. Generally lots of machine guns with good penetration and HE is good.
- conversely it is generally good to have AT defenses: other tanks, AT guns, some artillery, rocket launchers or other devices. My suggestion is to have a few options in a list. Also sometimes neutralizing a tank or any unit in BA is just putting plenty of pin markers on it.
- Recon cars and units are a lot of fun. Their ability to recce move can be nifty.
- Flamers are good. Most players stay away from the vehicle flame throwers because they are apparently very good. At least I haven't seen anyone play one yet.

Otherwise, play with what you like. You might base something around a historical unit, a movie or your whimsy.

[The Other Dave]

There aren't really any pitfalls, but it' worth remembering that Infantry>Tanks. Taking the bare minimum of other units so that you can squeeze in a Tiger II is probably going to cost you the game. As a rule of thumb, you want roughly 1 order dice (ie 1 unit) per 100 points. Historical lists are pretty much the standard round here, so you can't go far wrong with that.

Ah, good. I like taking lots of infantry in my wargames when I can anyway.