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So a friend and I are both interested in Warhammer Fantasy OR Warhammer 40k. We are both in the Fargo, ND area and there is a nice group of players currently up there - so finding play will not be a problem for us. (For both Fantasy and 40k)

How do you recommend we start? Should we pick an individual army we like, each pick our own, and go with that? Or should we pick one of the starter boxes and each take one of the included armies? (Would arguably be a cheaper way to get started and we would just stick with and make that race as best as we can with other pieces as we keep at it.)

Also - I know there are differences in theme between the two - how different is the actual play? If there is a good summary already written would love to be pointed that way.

I appreciate any advice you can offer some newbs - we are both mid-thirties, been playing board games for years - but are just wanting to take that step into table top like Warhammer. (We have both played a good bit of the board game descent - so we are not worried about having to wade through a TON of rules and to have longer play games... which is why we think Warhammer will fit us well.)

Thanks!

Nice, When me and my friend started we got the AoBR set he got sm and i got orks. Its nice to have the start set because you get a rule book and dice and templates and 2 fair sized armies reletively cheap. But at the same time it's better to buy an Army you really want to paint and play with and grow with. If you don't like the army you play chances are you won't get motivated to paint or play. I really wanted to play Chaos it was my first choice but i got the orks, They kind of grew on me but it doesnt really fit my play style.
I would say Agree with you're friend out of the 2 starter sets which you perfer and then go from there.
Im not familiar with Fantasy i know its a little different with magic phase and movement and the like, i wouldn't mind getting into fantasy though my friends are more into 40K they both look and are very entertaining good luck hope this helped you decide = P

Thanks for the reply!

Yeah - we would still likely need to buy a set of templates and extra die...

How usable are the starter sets in a tournament? Are they such that we would need to purchase the extra units anyway? So would it be a wash in the long run and maybe just simpler to get our own armies?

Only buy the starter set it your hearts are set on marines and orks otherwise start off with some basic units from the armies you want, in most cases unfortunately the battalions tend not to be very good in building a competitive army. However it is way more fun to play for fun so basically choose the army your heart is at!

Anyone know of a good article that would highlight the differences between the two versions as far as gameplay goes?

Hi,

Welcome to Dakka

Well thank you!

Happy to have found the site!

Hello and welcome.

Welcome to Dakka and the game. You might want to ask around the gaming group in your area, as flavors will probably vary somewhat from place to place in casual play. Some armies are harder to play than others, and depending on your style (like if you enjoy charging in and stabbing style of games you may want one kind of army, but if you're tactical and/or shooty you might want another) some will be easier and more fun than others.

If you're like me and at least as interested in the look and story of your army as you are the stats, if not more, buy the main rulebook and read about the various factions. Being that there are two of you, maybe one could buy the WHFB core book and the other the 40k.

Welcome to Dakka! Definitely read up on the different factions before buying anything.

Hey
Welcome to Dakka!

Welcome to dakka.

Wow, I remember being "fresh meat". Great to start getting involved, and don't let the experienced gamers ignore you!

I'm leaning towards Warhammer Fantasy at the moment. Mostly because I think it will offer me more opportunities for actual play... There seems to be a great group up in Fargo, ND and I'm only about an hour from there.

I started reading the Rule book last night - still on the how to play sections... then I'll dive in to the factions.

But also - will it really be feasible to play both Fantasy and 40k? Or once I really start getting into and diving into my army for one I will not want to work on both? LOL - look at me... what a noob - I still haven't started painting my first and I'm talking about a second army.

Guitarquero wrote:Nice, When me and my friend started we got the AoBR set he got sm and i got orks. Its nice to have the start set because you get a rule book and dice and templates and 2 fair sized armies reletively cheap. P

Easily @300+ worth of stuff

Lol, not a bad thing! Good to see that you're so interested in the hobby!

What do you like about the armies now, visually? Is there 1 that appeals more? Do you want to field a lot of big units, huge monsters, or smaller elite forces that carry the best equipment?

What play style appeals most? Jump in mob handed and swamp 'em, hang back and snipe 'em, outmanouever 'em?

TechMarine1 wrote:Easily @300+ worth of stuff

Really? OK - I'll take a look at the armies more closely in it... see if the additional units might peak my interest in starting with one of those then... the Skaven look like they could actually be a bit of fun to play at a quick glance. I suppose when I really start looking at everything else I would have to get - that $90-100 box would really end up leading to some savings in the long run...


Automatically Appended Next Post:

kitch102 wrote:Lol, not a bad thing! Good to see that you're so interested in the hobby!

What do you like about the armies now, visually? Is there 1 that appeals more? Do you want to field a lot of big units, huge monsters, or smaller elite forces that carry the best equipment?

What play style appeals most? Jump in mob handed and swamp 'em, hang back and snipe 'em, outmanouever 'em?

Ya know - I'm not 100% sure on how I would want to play... I think I am flexible enough to really look at the strengths and weaknesses of about any race and try to make it my own... Which is maybe why I wouldn't mind the starter box... Play and really dig into the Skaven as my first army. It's not as though I will HAVE to stick with them forever... can change whenever I fell I am tired of them.

Awesome stuff, not a fantasy player myself so I can't really offer any advice, though I do know that Skaven would probably be the army that I'd go with in the end, there's just so much to them!

Anyway, welcome to the hobby, will be interested to see what you pick

kitch102 wrote:Awesome stuff, not a fantasy player myself so I can't really offer any advice, though I do know that Skaven would probably be the army that I'd go with in the end, there's just so much to them!

Anyway, welcome to the hobby, will be interested to see what you pick

Originally I was most interested in the 40k - simply cause I've played some of the video games in the 40k realm... but the 40k players meet Wednesday afternoon in Fargo... and yeah - I have to work!

The fantasy players meet on weekends twice a month... I won't be able to go every other weekend - but if even once a month it would be a lot of fun.

Absolutely, it's much better to have people helping drive you to finish a paint jojb or whatever, which I really struggle with. The fantasy game is, I think, much more tactically involving too which adds that extra level of detail to a game too. Always fun

Welcome!

Welcome to Dakka!

Have fun!

Iranna.

Welcome to Dakka!
Have fun!

Welcome to Dakka! Hope you enjoy being here

It would be very easy to play both games, a lot of players do. However, if you dont have much time to devote to painting, then you might want to consider focusing on one game or the other.

40k is more focused on shooting, and the rules, IMO, are easier. Your units move around in a loose organization, where as in Fantasy your units move around in strict regiments and the rules for moving them are a lot more intricate. I'm sure you would be fine with either game, but as far as playstyle goes, 40k is a lot more streamlined and fast, with less rules governing every aspect of play. I would go with whichever game interests you the most though, do futuristic firefights accentuated by large chaotic combats interest you, or is it regiments of fantasy warriors slamming into each other?

The starter sets are great deals, and can save you a lot of cash. Buying the rulebook outside of one of those sets is going to cost you a lot on its own, so getting the economy sized version with the set has it's merit. That's not including dice, templates, and the armies themselves. They are a great way to get started, but as other people have stated, I wouldn't buy them if you and your friend weren't interested in the armies included. As an alternative, you could always buy the starter set, take the army you wanted, and sell the other army on eBay or something. Even though you will have to buy some more stuff afterwards to fully flesh out your army, they save you a ton of money on the essentials.

I hope this helps.

well I can give you one piece of advice...dont do what I did, jump around from army to army until you end up having touched almost every army at least once...and spent a LOT of money. pick the army you love, and go with that, I suggest though for once youve picked one, buy the codex, and buy their basic unit. look at each army, decide on what sort of army style you want, and find an army that matches that playstyle, every army has a different play style.

imark789 wrote:It would be very easy to play both games, a lot of players do. However, if you dont have much time to devote to painting, then you might want to consider focusing on one game or the other.

40k is more focused on shooting, and the rules, IMO, are easier. Your units move around in a loose organization, where as in Fantasy your units move around in strict regiments and the rules for moving them are a lot more intricate. I'm sure you would be fine with either game, but as far as playstyle goes, 40k is a lot more streamlined and fast, with less rules governing every aspect of play. I would go with whichever game interests you the most though, do futuristic firefights accentuated by large chaotic combats interest you, or is it regiments of fantasy warriors slamming into each other?.

Yeah - I plan on focusing on just one - be it Fantasy or 40k. Leaning mostly towards Fantasy at the moment and the Skaven actually look like they could be a very fun starter army - figure I could start with them and in a year or two switch over to a new army if I get the Warhammer itch real badly.

I spoke to a person outta Grand Forks earlier today - he plays both (actually has an army for all but 1 or 2o of the races in Fantasy) and said that to him it's like comparing chess to checkers. Both have strategy - but Fantasy is much deeper in his option. That ring true to you guys?

SoylentGreen wrote:I spoke to a person outta Grand Forks earlier today - he plays both (actually has an army for all but 1 or 2o of the races in Fantasy) and said that to him it's like comparing chess to checkers. Both have strategy - but Fantasy is much deeper in his option. That ring true to you guys?

I hear (or rather, read) this comparison fairly often. I would say it's pretty inaccurate. They're both closer to checkers than chess, particularly when comparing to other systems with tighter and more competitive-directed rulesets.

Yes, there are more rules in WHFB, but I do not find it any more tactical. This is particularly true in 8th edition where things that prevented free movement have all but been done away with. It is mostly pushing about large blocks of wound markers in mostly straight lines while rolling for the biggest spell you can cast. This is obviously a little exaggerated, but only a little. As a Skaven player in particular you will likely have a few very large blocks of Slaves to tarpit your opponent's blocks, monsters, etc. and then proceed to shoot them with your warmachines. Your caster will hang back on a Screaming Bell and tossing out The Dreaded 13th to turn all those pesky enemy warriors into Clanrats ready to do your bidding.

The discussion about tactics, importance of movement, etc. was more back in the days of 7th edition where things like overrun direction, march blocking, terrain, frenzy checks, terror, fear, and various other failed leadership tests were potentially debilitating. There were a few armies that abused these and so change did need to happen, but now they're practically thrown out the window except in rare occasion that you toss 10+ on 2d6 twice in a row.

Now this isn't to say you won't enjoy the game. I just don't feel the checkers to chess comparison is fitting at all. If anything, either Warhammer iteration compared to Warmachine/Hordes is a closer approximation to checkers vs. chess due to the nature of their ruleset, but Warmahodes isn't everyone's cup of tea either.

Hello there! Welcome to DakkaDakka!

I recently moved back up here to Grand Forks, ND and I'm very pleased to see how large the community is here (20-30 players total in the area/UND campus). To be honest, there isn't much of a size difference from the stores I played at down in the Twin Cities. I'm primarily a Warhammer 40k player, but many of the players here are also play Fantasy. Between us, we've got every army in both games and some armies many times over. The store here in town is Grand Cities Games. Smaller place, but they are moving to a larger location here in the next month to accommodate how many of us there are! Most of the players up here are casual, but there are a few tournament players (myself included). So you'd be able to find help in that aspect if you desired it.

Anyway, comparing Fantasy to 40k is like comparing apples and oranges. They are completely different. Fantasy is more about formations, magic (which plays a HUGE part in games...much too big a part in my opinion), and moral. But it is also much more random, so even the most well thought out tactical plans can be devastated by a poor dice roll. 40k uses large armies as well, but its shooting and close combat system is much more streamlined. There are more standardized things, such as movement and charge ranges, so you can actually use strategy to win a game, rather than hoping the dice don't turn against you. Armor and vehicles are also much more prevalent/meaningful in 40k. Fantasy uses shooting and close combat too, but it takes a back seat to magic. Whoever can kill the other guy's mage first usually wins, as they are able to drop magic unhindered at that point. Which often makes for an unbalanced tournament games in my opinion, but nevertheless, fun for casual play.

The community up here just started a 40k escalation league (500 points) on this past Tuesday night (the 8th), so it might be a good time to jump in if you're looking to do so. The hour drive might kill it for you, but if you don't mind it, you're certainly welcome. Open Warhammer night is on Tuesdays @ about 5pm. Goes until people stop playing pretty much. lol! I think the store closes at like 7 or 8pm, but sounds like everyone is there til 9-10pm every week. There is also open play on Saturdays @ 12pm until close.

Gday!