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Do you make a list and go buy those models? or do you just buy what you think is cool and throw it into a list. I ask because i cant decide what i want to do with my Dark Elves i have a list but i am constantly changing my mind on units or not sure i like that i just have to buy those models. But if i did do this i would save money by buying only what i need. On the other hand it is fun to be able to just pick from your men cause your have so many.. But the clearly isn't money effective.. What do you do? Becuase i really cant decide.

I wouldn't suggest using my method but so far it's just been find an army I like the looks of, buy a battalion or some sort of starter set then make the list look at what I can do then try to expand on it while not starting another army in the meantime. @.@

I proxie lists. With over 500 bfsp goblins, I can proxie just about any 20mm base army to see if I like their feel, and if I already know the army, I can see if I like how a unit works.

Though there is nothing wrong with just buying what looks cool! (That's how I started my 40k ork army)

I work on a list, but pretty often stray from it if theres anything decent released.

I generally convert like mad.
If i want a unit for its strength or great rules, ill make my own if its current model looks poor.

Once upon a time I bought what seemed cool, and now I'm a lot more calculated. I generally buy things that I think I'll tend to use universally; but when funds are a little more free I'll indulge in a cool monstrous creature that's a little less practical but fun to model and field on occasion

Well I have built armies in numerous ways:

1) Build as you go, - bought an army box a week and painted as I went.
2) Buying the cool stuff - buy the big cool things you want in the army and then fill in the gaps.
3) Build a list and buy everything you need an once - army is done.

Over time I have realized I do a mix of 1 and 3. I tend to buy chunks of an army (say 100ish dollars) and then add to the army over time. This allows for list tweaking and learning the army (i have proxied things in the past as long as I owned either the appropriate bases or the front rank of infantry). Once you have the list in mind you can then go out and buy the rest of the models you need. Once your list is done add in additional units for some variety and to give you more flexibility if you change what points level you play at.

I have done it a few different ways.

1) buy the entire army... This isnt that bad, however, it can be very tedious putting that many models together.
2) Buy an entire army off Ebay. If it isnt painted its normally less then retail, however, with a decent paint job it can get expensive.
3) Buy one unit, Assemble and paint it, repeat. Reward yourself with a centerpiece model ever 2-3 units.


3 is by far mine (and the wifes) favorite method. I dont drop 400ish dollars at the drop of a hat, but 30-40 a week depending on the unit. Also its really fun to see a painted army slowly assemble before your eyes!

I like your third method also, if I would have done that starting out with my OnG, maybe I wouldn't be putting so much gray (plastic) on the table.

I might try that for my next army (was thinking of starting ogres). Or use that strategy to finish off my other three armies.

So yeah, I'd recommend his third method, though the downside is you won't be playing right away, as it takes time to build up to a good force if you wait to paint each unit.

It starts with a battle force, and ends in completely random decisions. Whatever I think is cool or what I think will work well.

I've owned 6 armies in my time in the Hobby. My first one I bought a huge set of basic troops, and slowly bought extra's to bulk it out. I was 12-14 at the time, and had to pay my own way, so it was slow going. My next two, I bought while I wasn't playing. I'd shop around on ebay and just buy. I eventually built up large enough armies that by the time I found a group to play with again, I was able to field whatever type of force I wanted.

My 4th army was my fathers High Elf force. I bought it from him, and it was pretty much self contained. I've added a few models to it, to adapt it to my play style. My 5th was an IG army. I had a lot of IG tanks from my first army (2nd edition orks), so was I really needed was troops. I won a $500 shopping spree from my FGLS, and bought everything I needed for a good 2500pt force. When the new book came out, I didn't like them anymore, and decided to sell the army off.

I'm working on my 6th army now. Skaven. I got the IOB box set. I'll be buying a battalion to go with it, and a few more boxes of the basic infantry force. I'll get a feel for the army with that, and then branch out for some of the specials and rare army selections.