Warhammer Fantasy comparable to 40k?

[Chaosrocks]

How different/similar is Warhammer Fantasy to 40k? Do games take a lot longer? What are the big differences between the two? I noticed you seem to get more models in a box than 40k, do most models cost less points? I have always thought about starting a Vampire Counts army. Can anybody tell me about them? Thanks in advance I know it's a lot of questions.

[kenshin620]

Well for one thing, there are formations (tats why they use square bases). They move in formations and that might take a while to move all your troops. The Movement is very long with moving, charging, falling back ect ect. I suggest getting the rulebook anfd reading from there (helped me alot)

[Lord Erak Grimnar]

The moving can be a lot shorter than 40k with those plastic movement trays. I jst bought the battle of skull pass helps to get into it.

[Chaosrocks]

Is there generally more models for the amount of points than 40k? Aka, would usually be more model in a fantasy 1500 point game than a 40k 1500 point game? Oh, and again anyone know about Vampire Counts?

[Krom_stormbrow]

I believe this thread calls for our resident Fantasy expert *shuffles Drax into the conversation... pulls the cord, dropping the shimmering foil drape*

Ta Da... our resident Warhammer Fantasy Battle Nerd.


As for my take on Fantasy, well I had a bad experience getting experimental at Conflict North '07.

Drax is hoping I will get excited about it again and start. It seems a lot more involved with the phases and how formations operate though

[Drax]

its a totally different ball game. fantasy is more about strategic movement, outflanking etc than 40k is. yes there are likely to be more models in equal points games from 40k and fantasy, but it is a bit more complicated than a straight forward comparison. also, as with 40k, model numbers fluctuate from army to army.

for instance, there is whats known to chaos players as the Tzeentch 3 model army which i beleive is 2,000 points

personally i prefer fantasy to 40k for many reasons - but as krom has already told you, its difficult for me to get an opponent round here.

what do you want to know about the counts? thats my main army

[Torquemada Coteaz]

Warhammer FB has a technically more "detailed" and "difficult" set of rules.
FB simulates old style combat, with formations and such, so it's allowed.
40k no longer has things like armour save mods and such, and is meant to be streamlined dynamic "modern" combat.
(before you say "but its future combat" I say NAY. "modern" in the sense of the way armies operate. if you just look at how general structure is, and how the squad combat works and such, you'll realise its not so much different from the USMC slogging it out over eastways)

[Chaosrocks]

Originally Posted by Celephus Drax

its a totally different ball game. fantasy is more about strategic movement, outflanking etc than 40k is. yes there are likely to be more models in equal points games from 40k and fantasy, but it is a bit more complicated than a straight forward comparison. also, as with 40k, model numbers fluctuate from army to army.

for instance, there is whats known to chaos players as the Tzeentch 3 model army which i beleive is 2,000 points

personally i prefer fantasy to 40k for many reasons - but as krom has already told you, its difficult for me to get an opponent round here.

what do you want to know about the counts? thats my main army

Well, how good are they compared to other armies? How newb/vet friendly are they? Are they a horde type army? My fave army in 40k is nids. Oh, and what are their advantages and disadvantages? Thanks a lot guys. I'm seriously considering starting fantasy.

[Drax]

advantages - very hard hitting characters, cheap troops, fear causing, at present your army can increase in size during the battle - in the new book, you can't increase the size beyond the original for any troops other than zombies
disadvantages - magic reliant, troops are weak and for the most part lightly armoured, slow, take excess wounds if they lose a combat and are all but destroyed if the general dies.

the new book is out march 8th and gw stores have a 'staff copy' now which usually they will let you look at if you pre-order the book.

as for whether they are newb friendly army, they have there good points for a newb - such as your enemy's army will gradually dwindle down whereas yours wont (if you are lucky) but on the flipside you are going to need to learn the magic rules straight away - something that can normally be avoided initially unless you play Tomb Kings or Tzeentch Chaos.

i would say that as well as my main army, the counts were my first army, and i got my head around them fairly early on, so you should be ok.

as for 'compared to other armies', its the same as 40k - get the balance right and you could slaughter any opposition, but be prepared to take a few losses initially.

[Chaosrocks]

Well I think I'm gonna get the battle for skull pass after I finish my nid army and I'll probably be counts if I find I like fantasy enough. Thanks a lot Drax.

[Zeb[edee]]

Just to add to the Vampire Counts character discussion.

It is very true that they are INCREDIBLY dependant on their characters, but with a Vampire Lord being able to take down a demon in one or two rounds of combat I think it is well worth the trade off.

Plus against most armys (pathetic leadership unless a character is near) dwarves being the exception. The fear rule can wreak havoc. It is incredibly effective to charge a small unit of skellys into a large unit with low leadership and then so satisfying to see them flee before your 10 man squad which could barely scratch that unit.

Also with the magic thing, you will have to read and then re-read that section several times as magic can be a pain in the neck to get your head around. As opposed to a leadership check and then rolling to hit, wound in 40k. There are a myriad of factors which could influence how badly wrong, or how amazingly right magic can go.

Either way good luck with your army and whatever you do, do NOT field your army without movement trays as it can be an incredibly long and painstaking process...

[kenshin620]

Originally Posted by Zeb[edee]

Just to add to the Vampire Counts character discussion.

It is very true that they are INCREDIBLY dependant on their characters, but with a Vampire Lord being able to take down a demon in one or two rounds of combat I think it is well worth the trade off.

Plus against most armys (pathetic leadership unless a character is near) dwarves being the exception. The fear rule can wreak havoc. It is incredibly effective to charge a small unit of skellys into a large unit with low leadership and then so satisfying to see them flee before your 10 man squad which could barely scratch that unit.

Also with the magic thing, you will have to read and then re-read that section several times as magic can be a pain in the neck to get your head around. As opposed to a leadership check and then rolling to hit, wound in 40k. There are a myriad of factors which could influence how badly wrong, or how amazingly right magic can go.

Either way good luck with your army and whatever you do, do NOT field your army without movement trays as it can be an incredibly long and painstaking process...

Oh god magic I know! It took me at least half an hour to understand the basics but miscasting sound fun for the opposing player!

[Chaosrocks]

Well, it sounds like a very interesting army. Just the way I like it. It's slightly discouraging magic is so complicated, but probably fun once you've got it down in your head. I'll remember to get movement trays too. Thanks again guys.

[Drax]

just think about it this way - if you learn the magic rules early on, then you won't get to the point where all the other rules have sunk in, but then you have to go back and learn the rules for a phase you previously ignored.