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What method of army building do you use?
I use a laptop/desktop with a spreadsheet.
I use software on an Android mobile device.
I use software on an iOS mobile device
I use something else ( please list in a reply ).
I use pen/pencil and paper.

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Made in nl
Confessor Of Sins






 knas ser wrote:
I use http://www.epicroster.com/

Lovely piece of software, all web-based, produces incredibly convenient and complete outputs. Not sure how its escaping GW's hammer. Enjoy it while it lasts.



That site can't end well.. maybe it's based in China? So much GW artwork used.

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Made in us
Stealthy Dark Angels Scout with Shotgun





 Shandara wrote:
 knas ser wrote:
I use http://www.epicroster.com/

Lovely piece of software, all web-based, produces incredibly convenient and complete outputs. Not sure how its escaping GW's hammer. Enjoy it while it lasts.



That site can't end well.. maybe it's based in China? So much GW artwork used.


How does any of these sites/apps get away with anything? Shouldn't it all be banned by GW? I'm sure there are loop holes but I'm surprised any of this is out there. It's so nifty though - and GW should offer something FREE if you own the freaking codex. It could be controlled with registration codes...

I find it irritating that if you own a codex you have to buy a digital version too. F that.
   
Made in au
Ancient Chaos Terminator





'Straya... Mate.

Ianmr wrote:
I am looking to upgrade from my spreadsheets to something abit more modern.

I have logged into HQ Builder but i don't seem to allow me to add a Baneblade to my Guard list :(

That seems to be a bug, The Lord of War slot appears to be missing at the moment for Imperial guard, it is still there on my SM list.
   
Made in us
Regular Dakkanaut




Saint Louis Mo

I see a lot of people throwing support to battle scribe. I use to use it until I realized it was allowing me to build non-legal lists. My brief time with the DE it was letting me take weapon in raider squads I couldn't take as I looked into BS more I realized it was much like Wikipedia anyone could edit an army making me question the legitimacy of the army lists.

Pen and Paper for me


 
   
Made in gb
Sneaky Striking Scorpion




South West UK

 Shandara wrote:
 knas ser wrote:
I use http://www.epicroster.com/

Lovely piece of software, all web-based, produces incredibly convenient and complete outputs. Not sure how its escaping GW's hammer. Enjoy it while it lasts.



That site can't end well.. maybe it's based in China? So much GW artwork used.


It's beautifully done. And I don't mean the artwork or layout (which is grand, btw), but the effort and planning that has gone into making it so complete and so capable. Right down to the way I can choose to add Wraith Guard as troops rather than Elites (I have a Spirit Seer). And when done, I just hit print and get a lovely list containing all the stats, weapons and special rules.

Like you say, I have no idea how long it will escape GW's hammer. Given the amount of work that has obviously gone into it, my guesses are either based abroad as you suggest and the owner considers themselves safe. Which is unlikely as things can be banned at this end, domains seized, etc. Or my own theory - the author(s) hope to make something so good / popular that GW will choose to buy it, rather than launch the lawyers.

Like I said, enjoy it whilst it lasts.

What is best in life?
To wound enemy units, see them driven from the table, and hear the lamentations of their player. 
   
Made in us
Resolute Ultramarine Honor Guard






Peoria IL

I use AB and QM, love them both. Unfortunately your poll only allows for 1 of these 2 choices, and it isn't even represented well.

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Made in au
Ancient Chaos Terminator





'Straya... Mate.

 DarkWind wrote:
I see a lot of people throwing support to battle scribe. I use to use it until I realized it was allowing me to build non-legal lists. My brief time with the DE it was letting me take weapon in raider squads I couldn't take as I looked into BS more I realized it was much like Wikipedia anyone could edit an army making me question the legitimacy of the army lists.

Pen and Paper for me

To be honest, you should be using these programs and sites in conjunction with your codices. They are a tool to be used appropriately, not gods word on the rules.

 
   
Made in gb
Guardsman with Flashlight




 Rippy wrote:
 DarkWind wrote:
I see a lot of people throwing support to battle scribe. I use to use it until I realized it was allowing me to build non-legal lists. My brief time with the DE it was letting me take weapon in raider squads I couldn't take as I looked into BS more I realized it was much like Wikipedia anyone could edit an army making me question the legitimacy of the army lists.

Pen and Paper for me

To be honest, you should be using these programs and sites in conjunction with your codices. They are a tool to be used appropriately, not gods word on the rules.


To be honest, you should be using these programs and sites in conjunction with your codices. They are a tool to be used appropriately, not gods word on the rules.


I agree with this completely, I have just downloaded battlescribe and was adding a few of my lists for my Guard army and there is no option to add a Hellhound Tank.

The other thing to to note as well to enter a local tournament where i stay you need bring all relevant codexs etc with you (which I agree with as there will never be arguments on rules, or the 'small print').

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/03/10 01:58:35


 
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut





army builder.

Bought it years back.
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Vallejo, CA

I find it trivially easy to use my codex to look up the points costs of things, and after I use something a few times in a row, it's not that difficult to remember how much it costs, even if you're bad at memorization in general, like myself.

As such, it's pencil and paper for me. If I want to spare my opponent my handwriting, I'll type it up in notepad, or just email myself a list and then print it off somewhere.

The idea of paying money and undergoing hassle (maybe it doesn't work on my device, maybe it's out of date and hasn't been updated, etc.) for something I could easily do for free doesn't make much sense to me.

Also, I HATE WITH A BURNING PASSION how armybuilder lays out its lists, and would never want to inflict that on my friends. I haven't seen any other army-building software that has a reasonable format either.


This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/03/11 20:08:12


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Made in au
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'Straya... Mate.

 Ailaros wrote:
I find it trivially easy to use my codex to look up the points costs of things, and after I use something a few times in a row, it's not that difficult to remember how much it costs, even if you're bad at memorization in general, like myself.

As such, it's pencil and paper for me. If I want to spare my opponent my handwriting, I'll type it up in notepad, or just email myself a list and then print it off somewhere.

The idea of paying money and undergoing hassle (maybe it doesn't work on my device, maybe it's out of date and hasn't been updated, etc.) for something I could easily do for free doesn't make much sense to me.

Also, I HATE WITH A BURNING PASSION how armybuilder lays out its lists, and would never want to inflict that on my friends. I haven't seen any other army-building software that has a reasonable format either.



I use a spreadsheet as well, I just like the simplicity and quick easy changes you can make on the fly with hq-builder without having to rewrite a hole list or have a page with a ton of scribbles on it. Just my personal preference.

 
   
Made in fi
Boosting Space Marine Biker





OpenOffice Spreadsheet - free and handy.

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Made in us
Beast of Nurgle




I've like battlescribe ever since i found it. It's nice to be able to quickly edit lists for different points for pick-up games.
If I have all the time in the world I'll break out the codex and just write everything out, but BS on a small device saves a lot of time when you show up to games and your opponent brought a different point level, or "they forgot to make a list".

As with anything it's not perfect. Depending on where you get the catalogs thrre can be some strange content and format errors, If you have a littlle time, the catalogs are fairly easy to write yourself once you learn how.

As to content errors, nothing like this should ever be used to completely replace your codex. These kinds of programs are handy for list building, but seldom have all the codex info added to them (ie. al the special rules and such)

   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






New Orleans, LA

Spreadsheets. I work with them every day at work, and they're easy to pound out.

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Made in gb
[DCM]
Moustache-twirling Princeps





Gone-to-ground in the craters of Coventry

Army builder at home on my PC, and Battlescribe on my Android phone when out.
Otherwise, one of the web-based builder sites.

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Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut





I use battlescribe but you have to be careful with it because it has a fair amount of errors, and in some cases doesn't have the options for various things from codexes.

I used to actually use notecards, with the stats/points and some rules notes written out, would make them for common unit selections I had, so if I wanted to make an army I would just select various notecards of pre planned units and look up the total cost I had written on the top right corner, add them up to my points total. I kept all the units in a little plastic file, that way I would be able to make an army from standard units I play without needing any electronic help. This was before cell phones were really around, and there were no apps or tablets.

This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2014/03/12 16:03:34


 
   
Made in dk
Stormin' Stompa





Why isn't "I use software on a laptop" one of the options?

I use Army Builder on my PC.



....

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/03/12 16:09:23


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Made in gb
Space Marine Scout with Sniper Rifle





Ever since finding it out I used HQ builder. I did at one point try using army builder but even though I understand everything that is in front of me to do with my armies units, it still looks extremely complicated. I also didn't like that it was a pain to download the rosters etc.

HQ builder is also great because when I am just on a train I have an idea of something that could go together and I just wack it down quickly and simply on my phone browser. It syncs really well as my usual method is make a list an hour or 2 before my gaming night then head there and just log in on my phone (although it does leave me logged in) and check my roster though.

The only disadvantage I see with using hq builder is that it doesn't have a fancy table of model stats or special abilties which i noticed i really liked when I just downloaded battlescribe now. However I can live without it because I generally know all the special abilties off by heart. Except anytime I come to firing a thunderfire cannon i always get confused between that and the whirlwind.
   
 
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