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How exactly are the conversion rules worded for models? How much non-Games workshop stuff can I use on the model? Can I use Lord of the Rings stuff on them? -cause I heard about the Golden Damon Award guy who got disqualified for the elf head). Our house rule is that as long as it LOOKS legit it doesn't matter if part of the arm is actually a Lego Bionicle. What's the rules?

Something like 50% games workshop bits or something, I'm not entirely sure. Just make sure MOST of the model is GW and I'm sure you'll be fine.

By RAW no conversions are allowed as there are no rules regarding conversions.

Use whatever houserule you like.

Then, more specifically, the Tournament rules so I can use the models elsewhere than just home?

Varies between tournaments. If it's a GW model with bits from other sources then it's probably okay. A non-GW model with GW bits, less so.

I was once told that if the model is in any part GW parts, it must be 50% GW parts. Otherwise, go wild. I believe the model still has to be recognisable as what it's trying to be though. It seems to me this is to avoid quashing scratchbuilders.

From the 2008 Games Day and Grand tourney rules:

• Conversions, WYSIWYG, and “Counts As”
Non-Citadel miniatures are not allowed in the Games Day
Tournaments and will be removed in the same way as unpainted
miniatures.
Conversions must begin as Citadel miniatures and contain a
majority of Citadel components. All other models will be removed
from the table. They must be of the appropriate type for the
troops they represent and comply with the “Counts As” rule
below.
ForgeWorld miniatures may be used to represent models or
options from the Codexes and Army Books allowed. This means
you could use a ForgeWorld Demolisher turret or Death Korps of
Krieg troopers in your Imperial Guard army but would not be
allowed to use Heavy Mortars or Centaurs.
The army must be WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get).
This means that weapons, armor options, and upgrades chosen
from the army list must be shown on characters and a majority of
the models in a unit or squad.
Should you wish to field certain models in your army that “count
as” something different in your list than the model that was
originally intended you need to follow these basic rules: the
models must be roughly the same size as those you are
substituting them for (eg. you could not use Imperial Guard Ogryn
to represent Imperial Guard Conscripts), you must be consistent
throughout your army (eg. if both of your Space Marine
Dreadnoughts have twin-linked heavy bolters - an option no
longer allowed - you could field them both as assault cannons,
but not one of them as an assault cannon and the other as twinlinked
lascannons), and finally you must be very clear with your
opponent prior to the game, going over anything that may cause
confusion. It may be appropriate to create a “cheat sheet” for
your opponent that has pictures of the units accompanied by a
description of the units and it’s equipment.
• Scratch Building
Games Workshop and Citadel Miniatures has an extensive range
of figures to represent almost anything in their games. There are
times when the rules are not represented by a current (or
previous edition) model or figure from Citadel Miniatures.
Therefore, the Games Day Tournament will use the following
guidelines to handle the lack of a current model.
Models may be scratch built for purposes of representing models
that do not have a current (or previous edition) model. If the
scratch build is for a figure then the figure must follow the
guidelines laid out for conversions. If the model is a vehicle then
participants will be allowed to scratch build the vehicle. A scratch
built vehicle will either be a heavily modified current model, or a
model that is built from the ground up. The scratch built model
must represent the vehicle with all options. Judges will be the
ultimate authority if a scratch build will be usable.

Wall of text makes eyes bleed

I have a further question about WYSIWYG.
Howe visible does it need to be?

My friend (who plays IG infantry) uses normal guardsmen models to represent all of his command squads, because we're all cheap and buying 10 metal command squads is/was expensive.
He's also taken the anti-bald-and-screaming approach: ie, it's an army and everyone with half a brain is wearing their helmet (otherwise they end up with only half a brain very quickly).

This makes it VERY difficult to tell which units are command squads, sergeants etc. However if you look up very (very) close, they do have golden chevrons/stars painted on their armour.
Is that "WYSIWYG" enough for a tournament? It is represented, just not (IMO) in an obvious enough way and this has led to a lot of arguments between us in the past.

Trasvi wrote:I have a further question about WYSIWYG.
Howe visible does it need to be?

My friend (who plays IG infantry) uses normal guardsmen models to represent all of his command squads, because we're all cheap and buying 10 metal command squads is/was expensive.
He's also taken the anti-bald-and-screaming approach: ie, it's an army and everyone with half a brain is wearing their helmet (otherwise they end up with only half a brain very quickly).

This makes it VERY difficult to tell which units are command squads, sergeants etc. However if you look up very (very) close, they do have golden chevrons/stars painted on their armour.
Is that "WYSIWYG" enough for a tournament? It is represented, just not (IMO) in an obvious enough way and this has led to a lot of arguments between us in the past.

If they are marked clearly then I would say they are fine. I am pretty sure the rules don't say anything about the markings having to be obvious. When it comes to WYSIWYG I think most people are concerned with weapon and wargear display on the model.

- add in: officially, No LOTR/Warhammer crosses. The further away it goes from Bitz+Plasticard+Greenstuff, the better it has to look to be accepted

Gwar! wrote:Wall of text makes eyes bleed

Considering it's the relevant info from GW for Games Days, in direct response to the OP's question, and it looks like a cut and paste, I'm sure we can forgive.

Unless your playing in a RTT, GT or some other tournament I wouldnt be concerned with it. If you are then follow the rules listed above. In general if you use non-GW parts its not legal (aside from crafting your own bits). So in a GW tournament a dreadnaught with a lego arm would not be legal. However...if you take parts from other models and can disguise them in such a manor that it looks scratch built youll most likely not have any problems and may actuall score more points for conversions.

Ok thanx all of ya. this takes a lot of weight off my back.

Even GW bits plus plasticard gets some folks' backs up.

I was playing a friendly game with a buddy at a FLGS last week and my IG have heavily custom tanks made from Chimera, Basilisk, and Hammerhead bits with a main hull and turret of plastic sheeting. One of the random jamokes who's apparently playing hardboyz went out of his way to point out to me that my models wouldn't be legal in that this year. I don't even know if he's right but really its a bit rude in any case.

Jack

If you need help woopen some army debunker just let me know

Are these rules the same for WHFB? What about custom built models like these for tree kin such as these ones? http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n222/laidlaw01/wood%20elf/Picture003-1.jpg

What is it that is so hard to understand?

There are no RULES for conversions (which essentially means that we are not allowed to make conversions). Every tournament have to make their own.

Asking the Intwebz as a whole is pointless. Contact the TO for the tournament in question about the rules for that given tournament. Any answers/guidelines will be for that tournament only.