rethinking fantasy

[Colonel Voss]

I'll fully admit it, I like fantasy more than I like 40k. Nothing wrong with 40k, cool armies, fun games with options to play other cool games (planet strike, apoc), great painting challenges (Minotaurs) and lots of room for creativity. But fantasy has an element to it that just always grabs my attention (very strange given how much of a sci-fi nut I am). Maybe it is the gritty feeling of it, or maybe it is the view of the armies arrayed against each other, spears and shields glimmering in the sun. And of course the smell of beer from dwarfs everywhere

With the coming of 8th edition I've been putting a lot of thought into my armies, how I came into them and where I want to go with them. It's actually been quite depressing actually as I've yet to play a game since 6th edition started and I've had so many set backs.

Lizardmen; started to collect an army before I found any other players in Japan and just wanted to paint, but stopped when the special rules I was going to rely on were completely removed from the new book and the book took it in ways I didn't want to go (i.e. steggizilla).

High Elves: originally selected as an army that was versitile and could go on any tactical role (offense, defence, infantry, cavalry). Had a nasty dose of reality when I found out what armies I would be playing against (demons, dark elves, vampire counts) and caused me to begin to revise my army list. With the coming of 8th, I'd have to re-revise my list and I have yet to even get a game in!

Warriors of Chaos: Wanted an offensive army and a bad guy army but originally shelved it due to the weakness of the infantry. My original concept has come to life with the 8th edition rules and it is now my primary army with almost 2,250 pnts purchased and assembled. Only down side is that the fluff of chaos just isn't as much fun as it was 4th and 5th edition with the warriors, demons, and beastmen all separated.

Skaven: With the 7th ed crash of chaos, I looked to the rats to take over as my evil army. With 8th and the new horde concepts, I'm not sure I could handle having another horde army (IG and 'nids in 40k) out of the starting gate.

Wood Elves: OK, not really a playing army, but a painting and modeling army (great miniatures, will take a long to time paint), the new rules have made them even harder to use thus guaranteeing that they won't be fielded as an army until their new army book comes out.

So out of 5 armies started, one is a viable force in the making, one is an ad-hoc nightmare, and 2 aren't even out of the starting gates, and 1 is just for painting mostly anyways. Not a good way to start 8th edition, not in the least.

So it's time to clean house and refocus my attention in fantasy. I've got too many uncomplete projects cluttering up my closet. So here is what I am going to do;

High Elves and lizardmen are definitely going to be put up for trade (look for it in September). Warriors of Chaos will stay but they aren't going to be my primary army, I want something else to be my primary army in fantasy. Wood elves will stick around in a box until I can get the time to paint them or their new army book comes out (and isn't a stinker), which ever comes first. But skaven, I'm not sure about and that's where I am going to ask for you opinion.

As I see it, I have three options;

1) add skaven to the trade list and start fresh with a new primary army
2) keep skaven and not worry about the numbers. This would in effect make them my primary fantasy army
3) shelve them and revist when I have more time.

So what sagely advice do you, my fellow gamers and competitors, have for me; be it which option I should choose or which what I plan on doing.

[Primarch]

First off,
Dont worry about the rules or whether you think the army will be competitive or not. That only matters to certain ork admirals. Play an army which meets the following guidelines
1) It will be fun to put together (3000 clan rats might appeal to some but not everyone)
2) It will be fun to paint (see above)
3) You like the idea and concept of the army (hence dropping steggzilla)
My main army is High Elves. They aren't top tier but they're reasonably reliable. I have played about 15 games with them so far and won maybe 8. I like the models, I like the fluff and they were reasonably fun to paint (the strict deadline was a stress causer though).
It really sounds like you aren't that keen on any of the armies you have so:

I would suggest option D for your skaven.
Think about the three points above. From your 5 armies, find the one which best fits the 3 points above.

PLAY some games of Fantasy. Dont fret about what is posted on forums. A lot of stuff posted over on the US and UK forums doesnt apply as people dont always play the same way here as they do there. Get a few games under your belt with one army. It doesnt matter if its 1000 or 3000 points. Try a different army and play a couple of games with it as well. Don't play Daemons or Vampire Counts as it will be demoralising. Play rob's zards, or my elves, or pikey's beastmen. A decent mid-tier list is best.

Then, and only then think about whether or not you want to trade or sell your forces. Depending on what you have and what you're asking for I would be interested in any or all of your armies (you know what I'm like for buying stuff ), and I am sure you would get interest from others too.

[Colonel Voss]

Well the high elves and lizzies are going no matter what. I might keep a few minis from both just because I like them, but I'd rather focus on something besides these two.

As for the WoC, I actually do like them and am looking forward to seeing them smash their way through some armies. But I don't like them so much that I want to focus on them as the army I reach to first and foremost. Think of it this way, no matter how much I play with bugs or marines, I will always identify with the guard and I will always continue to expand my range.

The skaven are at about the same level of enthusiasm as WoC. I like the army, the background, and the models. But the horde feel is worrisome given the armies I already posses and right now I don't have much to speak (40 rats, a weapon team and a doomwheel) of so it would be close to starting from scratch.

[Lovejoy]

In terms of what armies to play or keep, absolutely, definitely, go by background and play what you connect to and feel passionate about. You probably know which army that is already (and maybe own it). I wouldn't factor in competitiveness at all. At the end of the day I think the concept should be the only concern really and should override everything else. I would win more playing Daemons, but I would be bored to tears. I just don't like the idea of them, they have nothing to say to me. Ditto VC and DE, the power would be nice but I don't really connect with the fluff.
If you aren't sure whether to keep the skaven, then chances are you are not that sold on them, right? Maybe they aren't your bag.
I chose Brets as my first Army because they spoke to me more than any other army. They aren't the best by a long chalk - they have been so-so for me in 7th and look to be potentially dire in 8th. But I will never get rid of them, because I've always had a thing for Arthurian legends, L'Morte D'Arthur, John Boorman's Excalibur and all that palaver.

[Primarch]

Well the high elves and lizzies are going no matter what. I might keep a few minis from both just because I like them, but I'd rather focus on something besides these two.

Fair enough, but I still recommend you play through a few games with what you have before you decide on your core army.

I am DEFINITELY interested in the High Elves, so email me directly when you want to get rid of them

[Admiral-Badruck]

First off,
Dont worry about the rules or whether you think the army will be competitive or not. That only matters to certain ork admirals. .

What a kick in the guts... I have started every one of my armies with out even looking at the rules for them if I love a model I will get it... not my fault Bloodletters look cool...

[Primarch]

...with out even looking at the rules...

You know, I can almost believe you....

[Mike the Pike]

We all know Badruck never reads the rules, codex or man rulebook

Instead, our favourite salty, old sea dog gets Roger the cabin boy, to surf the net for him, report back on what is the flavour of the month and picks his armies based on that.

[Spevna]

I've only played one game against Prim and he brought Space Puppies with Ragnar. I don't recall the Admiral bringing any such cheese to the games we have played.

I think I see a pot. The pot is saying something about the kettle. Maybe something about the kettle being black?

[Primarch]

I've only played one game against Prim and he brought Space Puppies with Ragnar. I don't recall the Admiral bringing any such cheese to the games we have played.

I think I see a pot. The pot is saying something about the kettle. Maybe something about the kettle being black?

Are you calling me a racist sir?

And here is a quote from The Ruck-star himself, taken from the thread I posted with that list on it:

This list has a very clear objective drive over and maul the opposition in close combat I do not see any cheese here

1st line of the 2nd page of that thread if you want to check it out.

And didnt you win the second game against that army?