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Hello, back in the day people I knew used the program called "army builder" to make their army lists (40k,WHF, ect.) Does anyone have another method (other than pen and paper) that they would suggest. Free options would be best, or extremely low cost.

Isn't Army Builder still around?
If not, you could always get one of the old versions and create your own batch files for it.

Open Office Calc is free.

battlescribe is still free. Have to google to find the army files though, or make your own for it.

The problem I have with army builder is that it's such an ugly GUI for such a high price.

Microsoft Word and a Keyboard.

You know, I'm a web developer and was toying with the idea of making a simple web-based army builder, but eh...I'm wondering if there's really enough demand for such a thing, or if people just use battlescribe or something.

Not to mention GW might adopt a Nazi-like approach to such a development.

The way the world is a huge vagina these days GW would flip out if that where to happen.


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I DLed battlescribe but am having a hell of a time figuring it out. All I've ever used was armybuilder.


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I'm confused as to how to get a 40k template in there. It is all blank and want's you to select a game type.


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Ok...after reading on their site, I know see you need to find a URL for the data. Anyone have any pointers, suggestions, flat out answers?

AB pricey and an ugly UI? Raelly?
To each their own but I've subbed to it for the last 3 years and never had a problem, its up to date, printable, adaptable and very easy to use imho.

Apart from that Vassal has an army builder program built in or just a calc and paper? /shrug

It seems like a great program I'm just technologically dumb. I'm at a lose as to acquiring the data for 40k so I can use BS.


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I used AB for yeeeears I just didn't know if it was still a program that people widely used. I'm DLing the demo as we speak. It's $39.99 to buy and I have literally $0.00 to my name until Thursday.


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Quick question about AB, is it a one time fee of $39.99 or is it a monthly thing?

AFAIK know mate its 39.99 for a year (maybe up to two) check the TS&CS : on Wolfslair.

I know I got mine in the day for 2 yearssubbed

Battlescribe is free, works for multiple games and the data files are one google search away.

Oh, and its nice and clean looking (Army Builder makes me want to cut my eyes out )

Ronin-Sage wrote:Not to mention GW might adopt a Nazi-like approach to such a development.

I'm confused by your use of the word "might".

SMC wrote:It seems like a great program I'm just technologically dumb. I'm at a lose as to acquiring the data for 40k so I can use BS.


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I used AB for yeeeears I just didn't know if it was still a program that people widely used. I'm DLing the demo as we speak. It's $39.99 to buy and I have literally $0.00 to my name until Thursday.


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Quick question about AB, is it a one time fee of $39.99 or is it a monthly thing?

The $40 fee is the one time fee for the software, and a one year subscription for automatic updates. After the one year you can either re up the subscription for auto updates, or you can just load them manually for free from the Army Builder website. So for me, it was a one time fee as I'm not so lazy as to need automatic updates. I can take the 2 minutes a month to manually update the files for WFB and 40k.

+ 1 for battlescribe, no need to pay for army builder when this one is better and free !!

+1 for Battlescribe. Although the Android version has just been updated and is full of bugs at the moment, but will be a big step forward once its all sorted.

I paid for the Pro version too, only about £2

I prefer Army Builder. However, I'm pretty good with excel and have made some spreadsheets in the past. It isn't that difficult.

Another one for Battlescribe.

I used to have multiple subs for AB in order to have it on work PC, work laptop, home PC and home laptop. Did this for about 5 years. Have been getting into Linux, was distraught to not find AB for linux. So, I looked around and found Battlescribe.

I now have Battlescribe installed on all my machines, both Windows and Ubuntu boxes, no issues. Love the software, very clean, well made and best of all FREE!

UPDATE: New version just out!

I just wish any of the programs would hurry up with an iPhone App

In my experience Army Builder beats ALL other programs hands down without any exceptions.

I really like Army Builder. It's got loads of options for display, outputs, and list formats.

It's also like a game unto itself. I think I spend more time playing around in Army Builder than I do actually playing 40k.

+1 for Battle Scribe. Finding the files for 40k and all that took a bit of work, but I can understand why they do it that way. Once you get the files for the game/army, it's pretty simple. And the mobile version was simple enough that I could work on my list while I was away from home.
Just be aware that they don't always update the armies to go with the erratas. I know my DA army list is +/- 15 points from the proper value.

darefsky wrote:I just wish any of the programs would hurry up with an iPhone App

In my (albiet limited) experience programming for an iPod and an Android, programming for an iOS device is more costly and a bit more difficult. I can see why a company would go for Android first.

Any text-editing program, a codex and your noggin'. Keeps your mental calculation skills up as well.

But really what is the great advantage to using one of these programs?

With what me and my brother spend on wargaming, shelling out the $40 for Army Builder was a drop in the ocean. You even get 2 license keys to install it to 2 computers.

I prefer Army Builder and to be honest, as others have said, the $40 is not a massive cost and is a pretty good investment overall.

It should also be noted (and apologies if it has already been said) but the $40 is not a license cost per year but is a price for the license in general. Once bought, you can operate the software for as many years as you care. The only thing is that if licensed and registered, you can use the Wolf Lair servers to automatically download data files and software updates; once you are out of the license period, you have to do it manually.

I have had my Army Builder program for a few years now; I get my data files manually from ab40k.org - they are very easy to apply.

TiB wrote:Any text-editing program, a codex and your noggin'. Keeps your mental calculation skills up as well.

But really what is the great advantage to using one of these programs?

Verification.

I know that if I build a list in Battlescribe that it should match one built in Army Builder and I won't forget to add in the cost of an upgrade, which is good for tournaments.
It allows me to build while away from my Codex so I don't have to memorize point costs.

And I don't need to keep my mental calculation skills up really. Technology works for a reason. It's not like it takes advanced math to add numbers up to 2000.

I absolutely swear by a combination of Excel & the army's codex.

I copied the base stats and options into excel then make lists in Excel.

I think they're pretty at least.

Inspired by the old Armies of the Imperium / Enemies of the Imperium lists.

For WHFB, Warband is pretty awesome.

1+ for Battlescribe. I think AB looks kinda... strange . While Battlescribe has a more simple look, it will make sure you list is legal just like AB. Battlescribe is also free so you can spend that $40 on models or something else.