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I've been playing the usual 40k, fantasy, battlefleet gothic, infinity, warmahordes for many years now. I'm trying to convert fully into FoW as it seems a much more noble game. Plus loving all things ww2. (especially when I sat on a tiger on a field trip many years ago. I'm going with Germany as it's in my bloodline, and love tanks. My questions are: 1) Do I have to build a list from one of the other books or can I just make my own from the 3rd rulebook (all I've got)? 2)Where do I find rules for all the different kind of infantry choices and are they just a matter of conversion or different paint schemes? 3)I bought these before the rulebook (1xJU-88 Bomber, 1xTiger 1, 1xStug 3 F8/G, 8 Panzer 4s, 5xStug 3s AUSF B, 5xPanthers, 130xInfantrymen) All PSC, Are there rules for the bomber? and is there any kind of list there? 4)Final question is that in order to play I need to make a 2nd army so my friends can use. If there is a valid list there, what would be an equally powered Allied army list to shoot for? I really appreciate any and all help. Don't really know anyone around me to teach me so gotta bug everyone here :-)
If it helps any, I'm trying to stick with PSC models due to $$ since in a family of 4 I'm the sole provider. Sorry, that was long winded. Lol
-Josh

Archangel52886 wrote:
1) Do I have to build a list from one of the other books or can I just make my own from the 3rd rulebook (all I've got)?

If you're referring to the like the mini-army list book that came with the hardback rulebook yes, you can build lists from it. The lists are pretty vanilla and if you start playing regularly you might find the armies don't perform well because the lists in the other books have different unit selections and special rules. BF has started an online service for books and lists that you could look into. There is another service out there too called EasyArmy, but they are going away in a year or so I think once BF online stuff is solid.

Archangel52886 wrote:
I2)Where do I find rules for all the different kind of infantry choices and are they just a matter of conversion or different paint schemes?

Not real sure what you're driving at here... in most cases a platoon of German infantry is German infantry and can be used for whatever you want. The German uniform changed throughout the war so if you're a purest you'll want different figures, but 90% people aren't going to notice or care.

Archangel52886 wrote:
3)I bought these before the rulebook (1xJU-88 Bomber, 1xTiger 1, 1xStug 3 F8/G, 8 Panzer 4s, 5xStug 3s AUSF B, 5xPanthers, 130xInfantrymen) All PSC, Are there rules for the bomber? and is there any kind of list there?

Not specifically for the bomber, there are rules for aircraft, but not that airplane specifically. I'm sure you could proxy it for a different one. Most of the FoW crowd I've met are pretty laid back, even at tournaments. As to the rest of it, you could probably build some kind of Infantry Company with armor support or a Panzer company.

Archangel52886 wrote:
I4)Final question is that in order to play I need to make a 2nd army so my friends can use. If there is a valid list there, what would be an equally powered Allied army list to shoot for?

Unless you build some kind of scenario the game is point-based and balanced. When I stated playing with 1st Edition I bought Germans and buddy bought Russians because we were fans of Eastern Front. Since then I've picked up lots of stuff.

Hope this helps and welcome to FoW.
Jeremey

Hi.
I am no way an expert on F.O.W or WWII.
However, I have been having fun playing F.O.W for a while now.

1) As long as the list you use is from the same time period, eg Early Mid or Late War the lists you use should be reasonably balanced for fun pick up games.
(That is my experience anyway.) The forces lists included with the big rule book are more generic than those found in the 'campaign lists ' in the books for specific WWII battles /operations.

There are free to use PDF lists on the Battlefront website, under Hobby, and listed as Briefings .
You can use the army list writer at http://www.easyarmy.com to help you build your lists.The forces lists and free PDF lists will still be free to access after the overhaul by Battlefront.

2)Specific rules for infantry would be in the Briefings.(How many infantry to a base,base sizes, how many bases in a platoon , equipment options, and special rules.)
There are differences in uniform and equipment .But our player group tends to 'squint a bit' and accept units as correct to army list.
Some players prefer lists to be modeled completely accuratey , so check first.

3)The rules for aircraft are in the rule book.There is limited availablity for aircraft in late war German lists though.
As terms of lists, an armoured company is probably the easiest way to start.
The Tiger and Panthers are expensive and quite hard to use effectively until you have gained a bit more experience, IMO.The stug 3b is an early mid war tank.
For late war lots of German lists list use Panzer IV G or H for the backbone. And can use Stug 3 G s too.

I would suggest a basic layout of.
HQ 2 tanks.

3 platoons of 4 tanks.
(Tanks either Panzer IV H, or Stug 3 G.)

I would buy some Sdkfz 251 half tracks to use your infantry as a amoured infantry platoon.

Get some armoured cars for Recce.(Armored companies NEED recon to lower the risk of ambushes.IMO.)

And then buy some artillery support.(Nerblewefers are popular for cheap arty options.)

4) Use the Forces lists or PDF Briefings on the Battle front website to find an opposing late war army list.(I would recommend using an armoured company list to start with.)

Hopefully between the two of us we set him on the right course....

Wow! Thank you guys! Im not use to such detailed answers. Its nice to know the games so balance that points actually matter unlike some of my other games where someonw could get beat by an army with half the points. Yeah i meant the different colors for troops. Sorry sometimes my thoughts just take off. The bomber was just too cool a mini to pass up. Glad to hear it wont be wasted, and very glad to hear that the FoW community seems pretty laid back on proxing. Illhave to check out the sites for some lists. Didnt even know they had lists for free. Haha. Thank you guys again for all the help! Very much appreciated!

Flames of war website have painting guides that will help with colour.

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=3555

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=289

Archangel52886 wrote:
Wow! Thank you guys! Im not use to such detailed answers. Its nice to know the games so balance that points actually matter unlike some of my other games where someonw could get beat by an army with half the points. Yeah i meant the different colors for troops. Sorry sometimes my thoughts just take off. The bomber was just too cool a mini to pass up. Glad to hear it wont be wasted, and very glad to hear that the FoW community seems pretty laid back on proxing. Illhave to check out the sites for some lists. Didnt even know they had lists for free. Haha. Thank you guys again for all the help! Very much appreciated!

As to painting, I picked up a number of Osprey books, they have really nice color pages and of course the online painting guides are nice too. A number of army books also have color guides in them.

If you're able to attend a tournament or two those are great learning experiences. Lots of games packed into one day or two, the trick for you is to just start playing!

 Fireflyjmh wrote:

Archangel52886 wrote:
1) Do I have to build a list from one of the other books or can I just make my own from the 3rd rulebook (all I've got)?

If you're referring to the like the mini-army list book that came with the hardback rulebook yes, you can build lists from it. The lists are pretty vanilla and if you start playing regularly you might find the armies don't perform well because the lists in the other books have different unit selections and special rules. BF has started an online service for books and lists that you could look into. There is another service out there too called EasyArmy, but they are going away in a year or so I think once BF online stuff is solid.

EasyArmy is not really a replacement for the appropriate book, nor is it an option for new players since they will NOT be able to unlock any lists and will be restricted to PDF lists and some always unlocked book lists.

 Ghaz wrote:

 Fireflyjmh wrote:

Archangel52886 wrote:
1) Do I have to build a list from one of the other books or can I just make my own from the 3rd rulebook (all I've got)?

If you're referring to the like the mini-army list book that came with the hardback rulebook yes, you can build lists from it. The lists are pretty vanilla and if you start playing regularly you might find the armies don't perform well because the lists in the other books have different unit selections and special rules. BF has started an online service for books and lists that you could look into. There is another service out there too called EasyArmy, but they are going away in a year or so I think once BF online stuff is solid.

EasyArmy is not really a replacement for the appropriate book, nor is it an option for new players since they will NOT be able to unlock any lists and will be restricted to PDF lists and some always unlocked book lists.

Good looking out, I've not been on the BF forums for a while and haven't followed the news/rumors associated with new digital stuff.

That note is on the EasyArmy home page.

For the first few games we did not restricted our list even to a free pdf just had some models we liked anyway and started to play.
It was very unbalanced, but we don't care about who won, just learning the game to see if we like it or not.

Welcome to Flames of War! I have some vids on my Youtube channel....Crazie German that will help. I am planning some more vids specifically geared for new players like yourself and building a good game board. Cheers!

Archangel52886 wrote:
I've been playing the usual 40k, fantasy, battlefleet gothic, infinity, warmahordes for many years now. I'm trying to convert fully into FoW as it seems a much more noble game. Plus loving all things ww2. (especially when I sat on a tiger on a field trip many years ago. I'm going with Germany as it's in my bloodline, and love tanks. My questions are: 1) Do I have to build a list from one of the other books or can I just make my own from the 3rd rulebook (all I've got)? 2)Where do I find rules for all the different kind of infantry choices and are they just a matter of conversion or different paint schemes? 3)I bought these before the rulebook
(1xJU-88 Bomber,
1xTiger 1,
1xStug 3 F8/G,
8 Panzer 4s,
5xStug 3s AUSF B,
5xPanthers,
130xInfantrymen) All PSC, Are there rules for the bomber? and is there any kind of list there? 4)Final question is that in order to play I need to make a 2nd army so my friends can use. If there is a valid list there, what would be an equally powered Allied army list to shoot for? I really appreciate any and all help. Don't really know anyone around me to teach me so gotta bug everyone here :-)
If it helps any, I'm trying to stick with PSC models due to $$ since in a family of 4 I'm the sole provider. Sorry, that was long winded. Lol
-Josh

I recommend getting the German Heavy Weapons platoon set as well, it is quite a bargain, as well as one blister of NW41 rocket launchers.

you need a couple packs of bases to mount the infantry on, though I have made my own at times. Generic infantry come 4-5 per base, with 6 bases plus a command team of 3 on a small base per platoon. 30 guys per platoon. Three platoons is 90 men, plus 2 command teams for the infantry company (6 more). That leaves you guys for a infantry scout platoon (~19 on four medium bases and one small base) That leaves 15 men for use as observers or command for the heavy weapons platoons.

You can use the JU-88 as a generic aircraft for Airsup, but I believe only the Finns can have it specifically.
The StuGIII-Bs are Mid-war only, not for late war, so if you were planning on using the figures for late war you may want to try to take them back and exchange them. for a box of StuG-Gs. You need more then one anyway.

What kind of PzIVs did you get? short barrel? Long Barrel? w Shurzen? The short barrel ones are again mid-war only.

This is a list you could build using most of what you already have, using the Estonian forces PDF, and the heavy weapons box and the NW41 blister.
http://fowlists.blogspot.com/2013/01/pdf-estonian-forces-1944-german.html
http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=1288
Infantry Company, from pdf - Estonian Forces 1944, page 12
SS Freiwilligen Fusilierkompanie HQ (p.13) - 1x CinC SMG, 1x 2iC SMG (55 pts)
- 2x 8cm GW34 mortar (60 pts)

Compulsory SS Freiwilligen Fusilier Platoon (p.13) - 1x Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG (185 pts)
- 1x Replace Command Rifle/MG with Command Panzerfaust SMG (10 pts)

Compulsory SS Freiwilligen Fusilier Platoon (p.13) - 1x Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG (185 pts)
- 1x Replace Command Rifle/MG with Command Panzerfaust SMG (10 pts)

Compulsory SS Freiwilligen Fusilier Platoon (p.13) - 1x Command Rifle/MG, 6x Rifle/MG (185 pts)
- 1x Replace Command Rifle/MG with Command Panzerfaust SMG (10 pts)

Heer Heavy Tank Platoon (p.17) - 1x Command Tiger I E (215 pts)

SS-Panzer Platoon (p.17) - 1x Command Panther D, 2x Panther D (610 pts)

SS-Heavy Mortar Platoon (p.10) - 1x Command SMG, 2x Observer Rifle, 4x 12cm sGW43 mortar (140 pts)

SS-Rocket Launcher Battery (p.20) - 1x Command SMG, 1x Observer Rifle, 1x Kubelwagen, 3x 15cm NW41 rocket launcher (115 pts)

1780 Points, 7 Platoons



Here's an easy way to get a US Army list built right out of the boxes w nothing left over
Book Blood Guts & Glory
1 box of M4A3 (76)
1 box of M4A3 (late)
1 box Armored Rifle Platoon- BF plastic
1 box Armored Field Artillery Battery w 3 M7s and Observer Sherman -or- 1 105mm Field Artillery box set w 4 105mm howitzers
1 Box Tank Destroyers (M18 or M10)
1 Blister Tank Destroyer Security Section
1 Blister Cav Recon
AOP

2 boxes of PSC M4A3 Shermans will also get you the 5 75mms and 5 76mms, and save you about $20 a box. The BF plastic ARP can't be beat though.
The Hellcats are 5pts more then the M10s so I am using them as a placeholder though you can use M10s if preferred.
Replacing the AFAB with a 105mm Field Artillery box set puts it at 1750pts

Split the Tanks so there are two 76s and two 75s in each platoon, with the 1iC and 2iC the left over tanks

7th Armored Tank Company (Trained)
Compulsory Tank Company HQ - 1x CinC M4A3(Late), 1x 2iC M4A3(76) (190 pts)
Compulsory Tank Platoon - 1x Command M4A3 (Late), 1 M4A3(late), 2x M4A3(76) (375pts)
Compulsory Tank Platoon - 1x Command M4A3 (Late), 1 M4A3(late), 2x M4A3(76) (375pts)
Trained Corps Tank Destroyer Platoon - 1x Command .50cal Recon Jeep, 2x M20, 4x M18 Hellcat GMC (late) (315 pts)
Armored Rifle Platoon - 1x Command Rifle, 5x Rifle, 5x Bazooka, 2x LMG, 1x 60mm Mortar, 2x M3 with .50cal AA MG, 3x M3 with AA MG (225 pts)
Veteran Cavalry Recon Platoon - 1x Command M8 Armoured Car, 1x Mortar Jeep, 1x Recon Jeep (90 pts)
Trained Armored Field Artillery Battery - 1x Command Carbine, 1x Staff, 1x M4 Sherman OP, 3x M7 Priest HMC (170 pts)
Air Observation Post - L4 Grasshopper AOP (40 pts)

1780 Points, 6 Platoons