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So, unit fillers. The way I understand it, these are used to fill up space in odd numbered units...So if I want to run 35 models on ranks of 10, I use a unit filler to fill up the last 5 space in the rear rank; the unit still counts as 35 strong as opposed to 40 even though its "4x10", and the unit filler plays no part in combat. It is NOT used if I just can't be bothered to get enough mini's for a unit.....

Right??

Errr no.

The way the are supposed to work is they count as X models appropriate for the space they occupy. Ie a 40mm by 40mm base would count as 4 20mm based models.

They are most commonly used to bulk units out without having to buy more models and to make using large units easier.

Really? Ok....

Should I ask an opponants permission before I use one?

not really.

You have a unit of people on 25mm bases.
Remove 4 models from the middle on the unit.
Replace those 4 models with 1 50mm base with something cool on it.
Then place the 4 models you removed in the back rank.




If you have a partial rank, you just only fill that rank halfway up with models

It is however bad from to have to much of your unit made up of fillers. No one wants to face a unit of 15 models posing as a unit of 30 with a few trees and rocks thrown on some bases.

Jubear wrote:It is however bad from to have to much of your unit made up of fillers. No one wants to face a unit of 15 models posing as a unit of 30 with a few trees and rocks thrown on some bases.

So, what, a ratio of 3:1 or something ??

if you have a unit a 40 models you could maybe have 2-3 unit fillers

Jubear wrote:It is however bad from to have to much of your unit made up of fillers. No one wants to face a unit of 15 models posing as a unit of 30 with a few trees and rocks thrown on some bases.

I depends on how it is done.

Mind I have had a few snarky comments about the rocks mixed in with my gnoblars

The best unit fillers I have seen were large pieces of ruins or other terrain with one or two models from the unit climbing over them, rather then just empty rocks

marielle wrote:

Jubear wrote:It is however bad from to have to much of your unit made up of fillers. No one wants to face a unit of 15 models posing as a unit of 30 with a few trees and rocks thrown on some bases.

I depends on how it is done.

Mind I have had a few snarky comments about the rocks mixed in with my gnoblars

Rock, gnoblar – same combat efficiency.

That said if it looks cool noone will complain, we call it the rule of cool and it reigns supreme

There are a couple of guidelines for unit fillers.

1) The rule of cool: If it looks cool then it works.

2) No more than 1/2 of the unit should be made of unit fillers; 1/3 or less is better. You still want to have enough loose models to 'make change' when the casualties start coming in.

3) You cannot go wrong with a four model unit filler replacing four loose models. You can go VERY wrong using a one-model unit filler to replace 20 loose models.

4) Have an idea when you start on a unit filler. Don't just throw a rock on a 40x40 base, put a goblin lookout on it. Don't just put a tree on a base; have a couple of dwarves using a goblin as a pinata as well. In short, make it look like you had a cool idea and wanted to model it, as opposed to just wanting to not buy the extra models.

Like a properly dressed ogre in an empire regiment

What are the exact troops you wish to use filler for?

Here are some examples I have seen over the years.

Gnoblars: A gnoblar arguing with a pack gnoblar(mine)

Skeletons: 40mm base with some arms poking out of the sand/beneath tomb stones as if the skeletons are just rising out of the earth.

Beastmen: Trees/bushes with a gor/ungor/whatever rushing around it as if springing an ambush.

Zombies: an undead ogre/troll/minotaur

Empire: a couple soldiers perching atop a pile of barrels(the powder monkey plus barrels makes a fluffy unit filler for Handgunners)



Make it look cool and it will generally be accepted.

Yeah there are no rules because it's not official....

the general idea is to create something that does not inhibit gameplay while providing some help, whether it be in making the unit look cooler or helping bulk out a large unit ect..

I use Irongut ogres inside my marauder hordes, the ogre represent four marauders. Now an Ogre doesn't actually have a base size equal to 4 25mm's, so i make sure they are within the unit and always surrounded by normal marauders. This means the unit size and shape is correct, and it's easy to see the space occupied by the ogres is 4 25mm bases. I also make sure at least 4 normal marauders will die prior to an ogre needing to be changed out, so i don't often put them in the back row.

The reason i did this is :
1. i use 2 Ogres in a 50 man block, this is 8 marauders i don't have to buy or paint. Sure i have to paint the ogres, but when your painting a unit of 42 like models, painting 2 different ones is a welcome change...
2. The ogres make the unit look cooler, they break it up and add that extra horde of chaos feel.
3. I can use the ogres as a unit of....ogres...any other time.

As others have said putting effort into the unit filler is key to success.

I'm currently working on a unit of Stormvermin and have 1 removing a head from a fallen dark elf and another of one Stormvermin assassinating another mid rank.

I have seen many more that I can share if you need more examples.

Not my blog but a good description on what it is, I believe the bloodletters or something similar in design was even posted on GWs website within the past year: http://the-tradingpost.blogspot.com/2011/05/unit-fillers.html

I personally use this in my unit of 40 bestigor which takes up what would be 8 bestigor, this was done pre snow and blood basing:

Not only does it look cool but when you are looking at those special choices that run $4+ per model it saves some cash.

For example I have a unit of Zombies.
I have one 40mm base with 3 grave stones and a signpost as well as a crawling zombie on a cavalry base, since it's a big unit and they rise and fall often.

Basically, its a way for you to say "suck it GW!" and have larger units than you've actually bought models for. It counts as a number of models in the unit equal to the space within the unit it occupies. My rule is always have at least as many models 'behind' the unit filler as the space that the unit filler occupies, that way if you suffer enough casualties that you would have to remove the filler, you can replace it with individual dudes.

Tempted to start doing this

HoverBoy wrote:Rock, gnoblar – same combat efficiency.

HoverBoy wrote:Like a properly dressed ogre in an empire regiment

My preferred unit fillers are 'big dudes' in units of normal, smaller dudes. 08ak1's ogres amongst marauders is a classic example of this, and quite a nice one as well. Adds some variety to a unit, giving more of a mob feeling which particularly suits greenskins, vampiric hordes, less disciplined humans and chaos of all flavors.

- Salvage

Boss Salvage wrote:

HoverBoy wrote:Rock, gnoblar – same combat efficiency.

HoverBoy wrote:Like a properly dressed ogre in an empire regiment

My preferred unit fillers are 'big dudes' in units of normal, smaller dudes. 08ak1's ogres amongst marauders is a classic example of this, and quite a nice one as well. Adds some variety to a unit, giving more of a mob feeling which particularly suits greenskins, vampiric hordes, less disciplined humans and chaos of all flavors.

- Salvage

Agreed I am working on some ubshati for my skeleton archer units.

Have to say some of my favorites are the Orcs all fighting each other



http://psychosispc-themadhouseworkshop.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/orc-fightin-progress.html

Awesome!

And if you want to actually save models you can do the same on a square base

Indeed - it is not the one that I remember and wanted a picture of, but thought I would include it