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is it ok to change your list based on who you are facing, on a game to game basis?

Yeah, everyone I know does it.

Actually it is quite frowned upon and seen somewhat as cheating. You are supposed to bring an all comers list to play others. You cant expect to go to a tournament and have more than one list. That is why the best thing to do is play test lists against other armies to best decide what works. Last if you ask other gamers advice most are more than happy to give it.

It really is something that differs group by group.

Some people like the "face all comers" style games where you never really know who you are fighting. Making your list first then finding out who you are fighting. Since this is how most tournaments run things, this is how most people end up playing. Also a popular way of playing since all you need to buy is the stuff on your list and nothing much else. Other people like creating a custom list every time they play so they can bring out the most specialized units and such. Makes sense fluff-wise since most of the time you would know who you are fighting. However when it comes to making a new list before every game you may want to be careful. Some people can't handle being "counter-gamed" and it really hurts those that don't have all those extra units to take advantage of.

Personally, my group makes a new list before every game however we are more of a casual style group so things are usually alright.

Quick Edit: Also should note that the two styles do NOT mix. If your group uses static lists then you should too. However if everyone else makes a list before every game feel free to do the same yourself.

There is nothing wrong with tailoring your list against an opponent, but in the long run you don't get much out of it. Are you surprised you beat SM when all you had was S6 AP3 or better in your army?

In our gaming group we enjoy making all-comers. It requires more effort but the rewards are greater. Not only are you able to beat multiple opponents with the same list (with time), but you also become a better general. The first point is also handy for when you take part in tournaments and the like. Learning how to use units instead of playing on "autopilot" is also a very satisfying feeling.

I suggest playing with well-rounded lists. There's a lot more to be gained and a victory will feel like YOU earned it instead of the units on the table.

Generally frowned on.

I dont do such a thing. I ussually always use the same general list everygame. If things are changed up its always before hand before I leave the house 9 times out or 10.

I tailor my lists to all-comers. Best of both worlds!

pops101 wrote:is it ok to change your list based on who you are facing, on a game to game basis?

Only if your opponent is doing the same thing.

Where I play most people have an 'all - comers' list, but you get a couple of people ho will say arrange a game and take a very specific list.

I think if you both do it, thats fine, but if it's just one of you, i think it's bad sportsmanship

Poo-poo. You change the task org to reflect the mission and enemy, the terrian and (if any) weather for each mission.

I think the key variable here is tournament vs casual play. In a tournament you generally have a fixed list. In casual play, many people change their lists.

Personally, I have no interest in tournaments and I play in a small group of friends. We always pick the mission and scenario first and then go off and make our army lists (super easy using Army Builder). So our lists are constantly changing for each game and objective.

well previously my group has been using semi-static lists- changing the lists constantly, but not tailoring them to the opponent, as we were trying to develop our lists for our first tournement (which, may i add, we came 2nd in *manly arm pump*) but recently we've been changing it a hell of a lot more as we're trying out higher points levels than we've ever played previously, and we're still trying out new tactics etc.

i think it really depends on the group in question; against friends i wouldn't mind it as i also know their lists days in advance. against a total stranger i'd probably see it as slightly impolite, but i wouldn't make too big a thing of it.

When playing our planetary empires campaign, we know each week who is playing whom and tailer our lists accordingly (chaos, tau, black templar, IG, and eldar).

For pick-up games, I prefer an all-comers list.

For fun, there's nothing wrong with bringing an anti-marine list to play your marine buddy. Just give him a heads up so that he can do the same.

40k rule #2: Don't be a dick.

Usually frowned upon, I know my group of gamerz doesnt do it! This isn't like certain card games that allows a sideboard (as it were).
Best to make and playtest armys to ensure they can compete well against all comers!

Dutch508 wrote:Poo-poo. You change the task org to reflect the mission and enemy, the terrian and (if any) weather for each mission.

And quite often, you don't know what the enemy is. If you and I are going to play a game, and we agree on 1850, I'm going to build an 1850 list on the spot. You're going to do the same, and if you ask me what army I'm playing, I'm going to tell you, "You'll find out in a minute."

Frowned on in my neck of the woods, to the point that there are certain players we will not play due to it.

Frowned upon over here too. We really don't do it, unless agreed beforehand that its a test game or something.

Basically I think its unfair to do it, as there are races that can tailor better against other races. Makes the game unbalanced.

For example, generic SM against Necrons.
The SM guy can focus on the Necrons weaknesses, whilst the Necron can..... bring more immortals/destroyers? Oh wait, he already maxed out on those ;P

Man that would put necrons to a whole new level of suckyness.

This doesn't only apply to necrons, but many many other armies that have trouble 'tailoring' against a specific enemy.

I mostly play among a group of friends, and we all know each other's armies pretty well. Games are planned up to a week in advance and we all tailor to some extent. There are limits, of course, if your opponent has a limited range of models you shouldn't go about taking stuff you know he can't counter.

I prefer it this way, building all comer lists tends to narrow lists down to the best units in each codex, but in tailored lists some of the less favoured units can find a nice specialised role.

At the end of the day, what matters is how you find a game, and how the people you play against prefer to play. If they all want to play general lists (as no-one knows who they're playing until they're about to play, or if they're preparing for a tournament or just because) then you'd be a jerk to tailor your army. On the other hand, if you're part of a group where everyone enjoys setting up games then writing a list to take on that person, then you'd be a jerk to insist everyone needs to take a general list.

SuperioR wrote:Frowned upon over here too. We really don't do it, unless agreed beforehand that its a test game or something.

Basically I think its unfair to do it, as there are races that can tailor better against other races. Makes the game unbalanced.

For example, generic SM against Necrons.
The SM guy can focus on the Necrons weaknesses, whilst the Necron can..... bring more immortals/destroyers? Oh wait, he already maxed out on those ;P

Man that would put necrons to a whole new level of suckyness.

This doesn't only apply to necrons, but many many other armies that have trouble 'tailoring' against a specific enemy.

Of course, it's always nice when they completely misinterpret your weaknesses though. I had an opponent take 500 points worth of sternguard intending to just phase me out, but all of my warriors were hidden behind a pair of monoliths and no reasonable amount of shooting was going to save them before I chewed them up with particle whips.

I guess the moral of the story is that if you're going to tailor against 'crons, take power weapons, not AP3 shooting.

Ostrakon wrote:

SuperioR wrote:Frowned upon over here too. We really don't do it, unless agreed beforehand that its a test game or something.

Basically I think its unfair to do it, as there are races that can tailor better against other races. Makes the game unbalanced.

For example, generic SM against Necrons.
The SM guy can focus on the Necrons weaknesses, whilst the Necron can..... bring more immortals/destroyers? Oh wait, he already maxed out on those ;P

Man that would put necrons to a whole new level of suckyness.

This doesn't only apply to necrons, but many many other armies that have trouble 'tailoring' against a specific enemy.

Of course, it's always nice when they completely misinterpret your weaknesses though. I had an opponent take 500 points worth of sternguard intending to just phase me out, but all of my warriors were hidden behind a pair of monoliths and no reasonable amount of shooting was going to save them before I chewed them up with particle whips.

I guess the moral of the story is that if you're going to tailor against 'crons, take power weapons, not AP3 shooting.

My favorite anti-necron list is actually Tau...and involves lots of railguns, sniper drones (STR6 AP3), and fusion/plasma guns. Bwah ha ha.

I'm waayy too lazy to tailor a list against an opponant, I might decide which box I pull out of the car that night but the list stays the same. The only time I change lists is when a particular unit consistantly underperforms in my army (looking at you Shadowsun!), so I adjust to a new version list. I don't really care if my opponant adjusts or not, just as long as it doesn't take all night and they don't interrogate me as to what I'm packing