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Hey guys. I don't play WHFB, but have played 40K for a while.

I really can't stand Fantasy, but I've got my eyes opened to the Skaven army. Firstly because they've got so much twisted technology, but also because they're just downright funny. Pretty much the two reasons why I started the 40K Ork waagh!. I won't mind Fantasy so much if it means I can use technology to kick the living daylight out of the fairies and midgets. I have three questions though:

1. Do they have an updated armybook?
2. Are they competitive compared to the armies most people play?
3. Are they as fun to play as they are to read about?

Answering any of these questions would help tremendously.

Thanks for your time.

1. Yes. They had an army book released near the end of 2009, and it works really well together with the 8th edition basic rules.

2. Yes. They are one of the most all round competitive armies around. If you want to go for tournament play there are a fair amount of units that are top notch, and for more casual play you can get good use out of most units in the book.

3. I haven't played Skaven myself, but I've had a few matches against them. If you go for a mixed Skaven list, they are very fun to play against due to all the unexpected tricks, combined with the fact that you get to rack up plenty of kills even while losing against them. They can be a bit hard to deal with for unexperienced players, though, since you are so overwhelmed with rats it can be hard to know how to deal with everything at once.


If you're interested in Skaven, I would recommend trying to get hold of the Skaven half of the new starting set. The models are really well made for being so cheap, and it will give you some models to practice painting on. You'll be painting a LOT of rats.

Hey, thanks for that comprehensive answer. (I feel a bit silly for writing in english to you, but I guess that's the polite thing to do for everyone who's not scandinavian. )

I've considered the starting set, but I got really put off those boxes after getting Black Reach for 40K, since those models are really very dull. I'll have another look at the WHFB one.

Thanks again for answering.


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I'd like to hear from someone who plays Skaven actively too, though, great as it is to hear from someone who has played against them.

Melchior covered it pretty well, Skaven are probably the most competative army out there right now (and with lots of different builds as well, unlike some other armies), and from what i have read (i havent played them im afraid) the quirks and tribulations associated with Skaven gameplay almost always leads to something fun/funny happening.

Enjoy, now kill-kill!

To answer your questions in one word : YES!. They are fun to play against and probably even more fun to play.

Okay. That settles it. I want to say unfortunately, because that's yet another expense. I can't wait to get started, though. Going to go shopping tomorrow. Looking through the GW site now to find out what to get first.

Helpful hint for you:

Dont buy off GW if you can help it.
There are plenty of internet as well as brick-and-mortar stores that sell GW product at non-GW prices

Revenent Reiko wrote:Helpful hint for you:

Dont buy off GW if you can help it.
There are plenty of internet as well as brick-and-mortar stores that sell GW product at non-GW prices

Thanks for the tip. However. None of them are based in Norway. Buying from international stores means I have to pay VAT and import tax, plus shipping. All that adds up to more than I'll pay at the GW store...

Hmmm, that sucks, are there any bricks and mortar shops that sell GW products cheap? I know theres some over here, and there were elsewhere in the world till fairly recently (im looking at you GW overseas sales-stifling).

Unfortunately Google has failed me.

Skaven are indeed very good at the moment. Only downside is that you have to paint quite a lot of models. Unless you love to paint, of course -- then it shouldn't be a problem.

SgtSixkilla wrote:

Revenent Reiko wrote:Helpful hint for you:

Dont buy off GW if you can help it.
There are plenty of internet as well as brick-and-mortar stores that sell GW product at non-GW prices

Thanks for the tip. However. None of them are based in Norway. Buying from international stores means I have to pay VAT and import tax, plus shipping. All that adds up to more than I'll pay at the GW store...

Can you order from Maelstrom Games?
Thats one at least that i know is very cheap, in fact i just checked the Skaven Battalion and you save about £7 straight off the bat, so not all bad considering.

Wow, thanks for the help guys. I've said it before, and I'll happily say it again. The Dakka community is the friendliest and most helpful I've come across, regardless of the content matter.

I remember seeing GW products in a couple of the local hobby shops up until a couple of years ago, but that was before I started the hobby. Now there are only a couple of shops outside the GW ones which carry the products, and they're pretty much at the same price GW has, but with a lot less to choose from.

I can most likely order from Maelstrom Games, and I'll certainly try that out to see what the difference amounts to. Thanks for looking that up for me.


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Muppas wrote:Skaven are indeed very good at the moment. Only downside is that you have to paint quite a lot of models. Unless you love to paint, of course -- then it shouldn't be a problem.

I play IG and Orks already, so I'm used to painting a lot of rank and file. Plus, one of the minor reasons for picking skaven is that they look a lot of fun to paint.

I see having to paint a lot of models as a means to save some bucks.

Thanks for the reply.

No worries dude Hope it helps. There are others (including Wayland Games, which if you navigate to through the ad banners here on Dakka gives you a discount for being a Dakka member )

I find Dakka to be easily the most helpful place on these here internetz (and its the only forum that convinced me to join purely on the community spirit, check this monster thread for a proper look at a Dakka community effort )

Lol. That thread is like a community within the community. Great looking models too. I think I've skimmed that thread before, but then just to look at the awesome painting within.


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Oh, and another question. Do I have to choose between an "Engineer army" and a "plague army"? I will find out tomorrow when I buy the army book, but knowing up front will make it easier to choose what to get. There are awesome models from both camps, and I love the concept of both as well.

Read it man, it took me 2 whole weeks (although it was only 110 pages long at that point ) and is the reason i joined Dakka in the first place, its worth it.

Hopefully you find something here that does the same for you.

Lol. I don't think I have he stamina. It's, what? 190 pages now? If I started, I'm afraid it'd suck me into a hole in space-time, and then I'd be stuck in the warp fo' evah.

I just noticed that Maelstrom ships free worldwide on orders over £10. That's crazy. Shouldn't think they had anything that cost less than that. Just makes it that much more likely that it'll tip the scales below GW's prices. Awesome. Ordering a box of clanrats from there right now.


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Alright. Now it's just a matter of waiting for the mail.

Muppas wrote:Skaven are indeed very good at the moment. Only downside is that you have to paint quite a lot of models. Unless you love to paint, of course -- then it shouldn't be a problem.

I play IG and Orks already, so I'm used to painting a lot of rank and file. Plus, one of the minor reasons for picking skaven is that they look a lot of fun to paint.

I see having to paint a lot of models as a means to save some bucks.

Thanks for the reply.

Very well then, good luck with your army!

Thanks, bud. Can't wait to get started on the painting. I'm getting some scenic bases too, so I'll have to take my time with these ones. Not speed paint them like I do with the 40K models.

Skaven are as fun to play as space ork. Have played mostly w40k but started to play skaven now. And it is wort it. And the new starter box is good. Not grate but good enof to start whit

Alright, the rat swarm is officially underway. I bought the Island of Blood or whatever the box is called. The Skaven and Fairy box at any rate.

I'm stuck on a clan-name, though. The half decent names I've come up with myself are Clan Itchnscratch (as in Itchy and Scratchy from the Simpsons), or Clan Scratchnrun. I'm not all the way convinced by either, so if there are any suggestions, I'll happily consider any anyone will put forth.

If you have the cash and can find it, get the Uniforms and Heraldry Skaven book. Plenty of clans in there to give you ideas for schemes, names, and themes.

Good idea. I'll look into it.