Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The one thing that attracted me to 40K over WFB was that I would no longer have to bother with ranking up. It was wearing on my patience, seriously. However, now I would like to get back into WFB, now that I've seen the fantastic new Skaven. However, I don't want to be driven insane by the requirements of squashing my troops into little squares. Here is a possible solution that I have come up with, and I would appreciate any feedback the people in Dakka-land might have.

First, all models would be mounted on round or oval bases. They would have a coherency distance based on their size. Most models would have a 1" distance, while models on 40mm bases would have a 2" distance.

The requirement for specific directional orientation that is the cornerstone of the "superior tactical depth" that so many WFB grognards claim may be preserved by painting marks on the bases to represent their front, side and rear facings. The entire unit would be required to have the same facing and movement would be considered for each model, so the same trade-off between movement and maneuvering is in effect.

Combat resolution would be based mostly on numbers, but if a unit makes majority contact with the side or rear facings of the enemy unit, the models in the attacking unit gain a bonus to their unit strength accordingly. (For side contact, models count as 2, for rear contact, models count as 3)

The only really serious effect I can see is that the separation of models would reduce the effect of artillery and breath weapons.

Any comments?

I think you just described Lord of the Rings.

you could have the "diorama" bases with like 5 guys on a long base so you can position them better I have seen several people at my LGS do that

RanTheCid wrote:I think you just described Lord of the Rings.

{Shudder} No, I'm not talking about a skirmish game system where you have to roll for every model separately. Just a less regimented feel to the game. Plus, WotR uses the horrible close combat resolution from second edition 40K.

Nah, sorry, i don't like the idea. It's fine just putting your models a little further back from the rank in front of them, this is fine imo especially if you're on a movement tray

Tray movement is so damn clean. 40K fights end up taking forever, especially if there's artillery around, because they move each individual model and try and keep them max distance apart. Other times they are just in a big pile, like they were all running and the first couple guys tripped.

Some of my first miniatures exposure was full scale modern warfare with tanks and infantry and such and each unit moved separately. But games took 6 hours.

I'm down with using my imagination and saying they aren't all moving in perfect lockstep. It's just to facilitate game speed, which positively flows IMHO.

I dun mind since I have mounted skirmishers that break up the mayham as I have 40pike men and 20 hvy spear men that need ranking I use trays most of the time made of card of plastic. Ranking helps in prep for a charge or if your gonna charge, pike men are more defencive so I tend to charge with hvy infantry more often. I got losta calvelry to stop a enemy charge as well as archers and cannon. Keep in mind that ranking 4-5 deep (5-man wide)is a scary thing no caverly wants to experiance, a 20 man unit is very scary so ranking is good for most units.

Think on how template weapons and blast markers would be affected if a packed unit of skaven were hit by a template weapon as compared to a spread up unit of skaven..