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Would it be wrong to make 40k unit fillers for a space orks?
I suppose I am asking would it effect your unit cohesion if you were to remove them, would you suffer under template weapons, would you be able to get them in to combat effectively, also would you easily be able to tell how many are in a group?
Has anyone else here done it and what was your experience?

The reason I am interested is that I want to run a Apoc formation of 100 boyz and the idea of moving them makes me want to cry, I also think that some nice unit fillers might be fun to make and make the entire unit look better.

What do you mean by "unit fillers"?

Let's take a step back.

Are you planning on putting your 40k orks in movement trays? This is okay in 40k. In fact, you can use any of a variety of methods to do this.

What are you planning to use as 'unit fillers'? In general, that kind of thing doesn't happen in 40k and I am concerned that you would be using something bigger or smaller, which is not okay.

Right the plan would be to use multiples of round 25mm standard bases that way it would be easy to calculate the number of models they represent.
Probably no more then multiples of 3 or 5.

Models wise, I would probably use orks with some squigs or gobbos or guard/marine/nids casualties or a combination of. I know this is much more a WFB thing where it is easier as everything fits in rank and file, i am kinda thinking why not for 40k. I am not a comp player so would only be for club/friendlies.


Movement trays are an option, though I really want to have physically less individual models on the table hence the creation of unit fillers.


EDIT:
Here is a pic of the base set ups I was thinking of...

Yeah, I don't like it and something feels a bit fishy. If you don't want to put that many models on the table, then don't field the formation.

If your problem is moving models, then movement trays shouldn't be the issue.

If your real problem is buying models, then that's a problem.

I would recommend using movement trays with the actual correct number of models.

I can understand that it may feel a bit fishy, but I am not trying to sneak around any rules. If it does openly violate rules that is something else and would rule it out.

I want to put cool models and cool stuff on the table that add to the ambience of the game and my enjoyment of the hobby. Here is a filler from my Empire/ECW army.


This both tells a story adds to the unit and looks cool IMHO. I want to do the same with my Orks. Working with a larger base allows for a more creative build, and would allow me to make some almost mini dioramas that can be used on the table top. some of the models out there almost lend themselves to it, like these.




Part of the fun of this hobby is to be creative and have fun. I think making unit fillers is both of those things.

I personally like the idea but am struggling with how to do it properly.

You will have issues when piling in for CC, removing part of the grouping (say 2 out of 5 die), etc.

The only way I would see this working is if you had your dioramma unit and then a single ork model for every base represented in the dioramma.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You will also have to have the extra models for the rare "You can't do that and I am not playing if you do" person.

On the whole though, most people in the community that I have seen are supportive of extra creativeness.

Yeah, there's a reason that unit fillers work in Fantasy and not 40k. Each individual model in 40k is important, whereas the unit is important in Fantasy.

The fact that your fillers will differ from the real models in LOS profile and base size just really clinches it for me as a bad idea.

All that being said, talk to the people you will play with and not us.

Personally, as long as the things use proper bases that can be covered by blasts and counted for casualties and suchlike as any other boy, I think it would be a winner. In apocalypse you;re more likely to be removing dozens of them at a time anyway, so having them grouped up make sa lot of sense. Just have a variety of base groupings such that you can always have the right number of boyz. LOS is probably not going to be that much of an issue, provided you ahve enough normal boyz around and don't try and use modelling for advantage. But again Apocalypse is such a weird endeavour anyway it should be fine.

It will be a disadvantage for you competitively and you are only going to use it for apoc or friendly games?

I say go ahead. It sounds like a cool idea, if somewhat harder to pull off in 40k than in fantasy. A little squiggoth, some orks brawling etc. would make a green tide more interesting to look at and would provide a nice place for your opponents to put their blast markers. Cool idea

Go for it! As long as the base sizes match up, LoS shouldn't be a big problem if there's enough of the original model to see what the correct size is.

If you want to do it really cheap, maybe make a couple blob shaped templates that can go in the middle of your mob and fill it with these plastic guys...


12 bucks for 50 minis ain't bad and weapon swaps are easy.
http://www.em4miniatures.com/acatalog/Copy_of_Fantasy.html

Also, 2nd edition orks are still available pretty cheaply on trading sites if you ask around.

Thanks everyone,

I think I will give this a go and report back.

Got a handful of cheap Orks and other fun bits so I will do a test with them and go from there!