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It's not a big deal, but I thought I'd see how widespread this was. My first game back, my opponent was running VC. His BSB was just another hero model, which was fine, though harder to keep track of. It'd be one thing if this was a temporary proxy, but the claim was that the VC book didn't require a BSB to carry a standard. He wasn't using Walking Death, but was an honest to goodness BSB. Anyone else get this?

It's not the worst thing ever, but it's a bit of a WYSIWYG issue- and it doesn't seem to make sense that a Battle Standard Bearer doesn't have to bear a battle standard.

Just interested in thoughts.

RZ

The only time I can think of when I've seen anything even vaguely similar is Slann- which can be upgraded to be BSB on top of the regular model, but I don't think they generally carry a big flag.

The battle standard bearer, definitionally, is carrying the army's standard.

While WH has fairly loose WYSIWYG rules, and traditionally characters get a lot of leeway to allow for customizing magic item loadouts and such, this seems a bit much, to my taste.

If I were ever going to field a model as my BSB without him actually having a visible standard, I'd consider it might obligation to mark him some other way or repeatedly remind my opponent of his location throughout the game.

A Battle Standard Bearer is someone who bears the Battle Standard. While WHFB does have pretty loose WYSIWYG rules, a giant flag/symbol on a pole is still that: a big marker that the army rallies behind and is inspired by.

On a random game it's not a big deal, but it's quite easy to convert a BSB version of most models in some form or fashion, even just a big flag pole glued onto a base next to the model.

As above, the slaan is a common piece that does have a bsb. I've seen a lot of conversion to represent a bsb, but usually like to hope an opponent physically has the model represented. Interesting ideas were

-overly dramatically posed hero. opponent was a Orc/gobo player, the orc was modelled scaling rocks, and clearly stood out from his army.
-my skaven bsb was modelled on a rat ogre for a while. opponents loved it as he was screaming in the air. gw issued a bone breaker moutn so i removed this as I didn't want to cause confusion.
-vs opponent had the hero on a massive pile of bones. again clear looked different from the rest of the army.

As above, the slaan is a common piece that does have a bsb. I've seen a lot of conversion to represent a bsb, but usually like to hope an opponent physically has the model represented. Interesting ideas were

-overly dramatically posed hero. opponent was a Orc/gobo player, the orc was modelled scaling rocks, and clearly stood out from his army.
-my skaven bsb was modelled on a rat ogre for a while. opponents loved it as he was screaming in the air. gw issued a bone breaker moutn so i removed this as I didn't want to cause confusion.
-vc opponent had the hero on a massive pile of bones. again clear looked different from the rest of the army.

Not in all cases does a BSB carry a standard. A BSB could be a heroe of renown that the army rallies around. In many cases the BSB mere presence on the battlefield could be enough to rally a fleeing regiment or make a regiment fight on against unwinnable odds. Gorbad Ironclaw is a prime example of this.

I'm all for counts as and inventive modeling, but I would ask for some distinctive marker in the case of a BSB. This could be a stand alone token type thing - a banner on a separate base, let's say, or the aforementioned pile of bones, etc. Confusion should never be the end result of awesome modeling

- Salvage

I would complain a bit if someone's BsB was not easy to spot. Also the Slann does come with a standard bit- it's the stone that goes on top of the palanquin.

The BSB carries a Standard.

He does not have to carry a MAGIC standard.

Having not played a lot but having read the rulebook quite a bit lately, the wording is pretty darn clear:

"carrying either the General's personal banner or the battle standard of the army itself"

"An army's battle standard is usually carried by a character model who cannot normally be the General model itself"

I would be confused/irked if it was not very clearly shown.

- Blackbone

The battle standard bearer is usually a good spot to show off some of your hard learned freehand designs.
The only defense i could see about not having a BSB model without a banner is if the army just doesn't have a BSB model and your terrible at conversions.
I know with WoC i had a blast failing to find the actual model and then mounting the biggest flag i could find on a chosen.

my daemons army i just modeled a flag out of some WoC bits, and add it to my herald via magnets whenever i need a bsb.

I wouldn't mind if someone pointed out a model who was easy to pick out from his unit and said "this is my BSB", no matter what he looked like. The problem, I think, is that all of your characters might look really different and unique, so it might get difficult to tell them apart. But even then, it's four models. As long as I can tell them apart from the rest of the army, I don't think I need to see physical evidence of a standard. I mean, with that logic, people could technically complain about your general not looking "general-y" enough, or about your wizards appearing too mundane.

Warpsolution wrote:I mean, with that logic, people could technically complain about your general not looking "general-y" enough, or about your wizards appearing too mundane.

I have to disagree here. The army's battle standard is an object of pride and power. It is something the army can see and be inspired by, and something your enemy can see and possibly fear!

Imo your BSB should carry a banner, or some form of object (for beastmen, say a large totem).

and for wizards looking mundane.... DE's would be screwed. All our sorcs are half naked anyway... and well Morathi is topless... soooo