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Now I may be missing some thing here but when did unit fillers happen?
Are there any rules alowing them to be used?
Is it something you can just do in friendly games?

Unit fillers are just that - models that you use to fill up large portions of infantry blocks, most commonly used in undead armies.

I don't think I've ever seen any rules specifically disallowing it and definitely know a lot of people who use them for their tournament armies. It's just a simple way of deploying big infantry blocks without having to take away lots of individual models.

Its similar to using a regimental stand for minis. The regimental stand is 20x100mm, the same size as 5 - 20x20mm. So, with 5 minis on it, it stands for five individual 20x20 bases.

Now, if instead of using 5 minis, you put 2-3 on there, and some other stuff appropriate to the regiment, you have a unit filler. Say, for handgunners you might use a stack of rifles and a keg of gunpowder. That sort of thing.

It isn't restricted to using a regimental stand either. I've seen some nice ones using 40x40 mm small monster bases (for, say, a fountain, or an appropriate monster to substitute for 4 troopers). So long as it is clear that it is a unit filler (don't put a Krox in a Skink unit; that would be easily confused with a mixed Krox/Skink unit), it is perfectly acceptable.

Thanks guys. Just one further question just to test the waters, before i start a thread in painting and modeling. If i had, for example, a steam powered doombul in a unit of gor/ungor it would be quite ok to make 40x60 base and having gor/ungor stoking its fire and pushing carts of coal? (I know its not really beastmen I just love the idea of them having a steam powered walker)

There are no rules allowing you to increase the size of your base, but if you have it 60mm deep this shouldnt be too much of an issue - but to play safe I would suggest not counting the two models the bull displaces (assuming ungor are 20x20mm) towards the rank bonus, if you can avoid it.

nosferatu1001 wrote:There are no rules allowing you to increase the size of your base, but if you have it 60mm deep this shouldnt be too much of an issue - but to play safe I would suggest not counting the two models the bull displaces (assuming ungor are 20x20mm) towards the rank bonus, if you can avoid it.

I think the idea is that this filler model would take the place of six models ranked as normal, so there's no difference (in-game) between it and six normal Ungor models.

Though I would not recommend taking a unit filler three models deep - it's too likely it might mess up ranking. One rank's worth definitely won't have that issue, and two ranks' worth is almost certain not to if you're even vaguely sensible, but three ranks' worth is quite likely to.

Well it wouldn't be too hard to make the above rank by rank. Three 40 by 20 mm wouldn't be much more bother to make then One 40 by 60 mm and i can cut it down rank by rank.

Sounds good to go - thats the main thing when doing anything "non standard" - make it pass the "rule of cool" and have as little impact on altering the game as possible. Then only REALLY annoying people are likely to have an issue!

So thats what those were in the skaven army i played against.

I find them very useful, especially when starting an army or experimenting with a list. Saves you some $$ in the long run as well.

One situation I can think of where they would be a good idea is when you get those 16 model box sets. Pop a 40x40 in the middle and suddenly you have 20 in your unit.

Yeah they can save some money. I've turned 20 ghouls into 50+ with unit fillers and it looks way better than just the models.