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Reading the Blood for Kittens article on Adepticon, I found they used a "Army Builder" format for the army lists. What do you guys think of this program? Where does it come from? How does it not violate Games Workshop's copyright?

Army Builder:

http://www.wolflair.com/

It doesn't violate Copyrights as the files(which are free) for GW games are written by fans, the program has nothing to do with any game set itself.

thunderingjove wrote:Reading the Blood for Kittens article on Adepticon, I found they used a "Army Builder" format for the army lists. What do you guys think of this program? Where does it come from? How does it not violate Games Workshop's copyright?

My only assumption is that they either have a license from GW, or they are using it under fair use guidelines, but it seems odd on the fair use side since they have almost everything a codex does so it would seem to violate copyright.

The answer is very simple. Army Builder has nothing to do with GW or it's rules. It's a generic database program and that's it.

The actual datafiles are made by independent fans, and Lone Wolf has as much responsibility for what they do with the program as Microsoft does for people making editable army lists via excel.

Gotcha. Thanks, all.

The actual Army Builder program contains ZERO data about the GW game systems. The only function of the program is to interpret data files, serve as an interface to access and display that data, and to let you view it in a usable format.

The game data itself for GW, and most of the other game systems, is maintained 100% by fans, on a separate server. The company that makes Army Builder has zero control over the content of the GW data files, they are maintained and shared by fans. Which is also the reason they sometimes include mistakes.

Many of the editors of the data files are also careful to not make a codex/armybook obsolete. They include stats and point costs, but many of the files will include the names of the special rules without explaining what the special rules do. That means if you want to use all the information provided on an army builder list, you still need a codex/armybook & the BRB to interpret it.

The legality of the actual data files could still be questionable, but the program itself is 100% legit. If the people that make the data files are violating IP, then it is not the fault of the company that their product is being used to display that information. iTunes is not liable if you decide to play pirated MP3's, Army Builder is not liable if you decide to use a pirated game system.

If you need an army Builder Software, Galaxy Gobbo had a deal on them - however 2 people changed their minds. We have 2x on hand just let us know.

AB is a great program.
You'll run into occasional errors, but they're usually pretty good about getting them fixed.

Never build an AB army without double checking everything in your codex.

Eric

Never build an AB army without double checking everything in your codex.

Exactly, I have an old army builder prog and found once that the system allowed me to give my exarchs under 4th edition rules both of thier abilities when their only supposed to be allowed one. Best bet is to build the list and double check for unit size, weapons options, and so on to make sure that it is all correct, and then photocopy the reference sheet at the back of the codex, to use for weapon ranges, str, etc, then you'll never go wrong.

edited for typos