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Evening all,

Apologies if this thread has been done recently(couldn't find anything) and I figured one topic would be better than starting a new thread in each games sub-board, but i'd like to get a general idea of what the cost would be to build a standard sized army for each game.

I've played 40k for a while and have built a few armies of varying size, but I think its time to broaden my horizons(the upcoming price hike definitely factors in). I think the ones that most catch my interest are Warmachine/Hordes, Infinity and Flames of War. I played a few games of Warmachine when it first came out and from what I remember, it was pretty fun. Infinity has some great models, which really appeal to me as i like the modeling/painting aspect almost as much as playing. And a WW2 wargame would be intriguing.

Don't limit it to those three though, i'm open to just about any game so i'd like to hear some recommendations and prices for other games as well, be they Mantic, Malifaux or what have you.

Thanks in advance!

warmachine or hordes wont incur a lot of cost.. Seeing most people play games from 15-35 point venue.. That range will be from $50 for the starter to around $120 for a decent sized army..

Malifaux:

Main rules manual, starter box, and fate deck is enough to get you started. $55 TO 70 USD. Additional minis are anywher from 9 to 20 (single, double, or triple minis per blister). Cheap game, fun to play. Minis look great too.

With GW about to increase prices, 75 for a land raider, I see my two 40K armies and one WHFB set being it from them. Might pick up the 6th editon starter box, but, that would be it.

Infinity gives you suggested armies and the costs....
http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/en/2011/access/infinity-getting-started/

I really love Corvus Bell

Infinity:
Rules: Free to download.
Army lists: Free to download.
Templates & markers: Free to download.

Miniatures: Starter+couple of blisters (150pts), $75 or so AUD (can get better prices if you shop around). Add another box and you'll add from 50-110 or so points for around $40-45AUD. 250-300 points is "tournament" standard.

Brushfire
Dakka Article
What is it? - Antropomorphic Skirmish Game with a Historical Fantasy setting. D10 based Alternating Activation system.
Standard Game Size - 100pts
QuickStart Rules - Free
Rulebook - $25 Printed | $1 PDF (Includes Skirmish Rules, Siege Rules, Campaign Rules, and 8 Factions worth of units with every Unit's Base size listed along with a 'photocopy this page' of base templates)
Starter Set - $35, Includes 25pts worth of Troops, a Hero, Quickstart Rules, and 3D10.
Additional Purchases - Squad Boxes of 25~50 pts are ~$25-$35, Blisters of 5~10pts are $10~$15
What are the models made of? - Mostly Metal, with some Resin releases. Nearly all models are multipart with a variety of options.

Saga is a Dark Age skirmish game from Gripping Beast. Book is $40 with a $19 expansion. Starter armies seem to be from roughly $50 to $100 from Architects of war, cheaper if you go with plastics

There's a sadly neglected sticky post at the top of this very forum called "Alternate games you might enjoy from the Dakka community."

It was started this time last year when every one was pissed about the latest price increase and seeking various alternatives.

Read through it - (the list hasn't been updated in a while, so some of the latest posts aren't in there).

Wow, amazing I had never seen that sticky! It needs to be changed to a brighter colour, and maybe be flashing or something!

Chromedog wrote:Infinity:
Rules: Free to download.
Army lists: Free to download.
Templates & markers: Free to download.

Miniatures: Starter+couple of blisters (150pts), $75 or so AUD (can get better prices if you shop around). Add another box and you'll add from 50-110 or so points for around $40-45AUD. 250-300 points is "tournament" standard.

Right, R3Con posted a link to the suggested starters for 300pt armies. But, it is generally recommended that you start with something smaller (perhaps a starter set and another blister pack or 2) and work your way up from there.

The great thing is there are no truly 'bad' units, the game is very well balanced and generally relies more on tactics used in the game rather than choosing the correct army list.

Starting Warmachine shoud be easy enough - assuming the factions appeal to you and a friend, you could pick up the Khador/Menoth two-player starter set (RRP £69.95).

Alternatively, you can start Hordes or Warmachine with a battlepack for the faction you like (excluding Retribution, Mercenaries and Minions) - going by Maelstrom, the RRP on any of them is £34.50.

If your into flames of war, you can go a late war German panzer company/division and get Panthers/Tigers for dirt cheap from plastic soldier company. Each tank is worth about 200 points in games terms. Five tanks for twenty bucks. Do the maths

Necromunda: £20 for most starting gangs, rules are free to download. Beats everything posted above.

Dust Warfare:
$80 USD for the Revised Core Set = 2 armies of about 100-150pts.
$40 for the rulebook
To build without the Core Set: between $15-25 per unit, 20-35 pts per unit and 300pts making a very decent army, so $200 for a full army. You'd be pretty silly to miss out on the core box though.

Any Spartan Game:
30 GBP for a starter kit
16 GBP for the rules

Schmapdi wrote:There's a sadly neglected sticky post at the top of this very forum called "Alternate games you might enjoy from the Dakka community."

It was started this time last year when every one was pissed about the latest price increase and seeking various alternatives.

Read through it - (the list hasn't been updated in a while, so some of the latest posts aren't in there).

This is dakka, very little people remember to read the stickies anywhere (especially at the army list forums!)

Ancients start up costs:

For this example, I will use a 2 division army from Hail Caesar which is roughly similar to a 2000 point WAB army. This army will have 2 units of cavalry, 4 units of infantry and 2 units of skirmishers which totals 20 cavalry figures and roughly 125 infantry figures.

Most metal historical figures will need to be equipped with a wooden base (11 cents from Litko) and a wire spear (20 cents from Northstar). Most plastic figures come with Renedra bases and do not require weapon replacements. Army values include base and spear (for metal figures) but do not include shipping, currency conversion or unit/army discounts .

Gripping Beast metal: $2.20 per infantry and $4.80 per cavalry. Army = $415.95
Gripping Beast & Conquest plastic: $.73 per infantry and $2.33 per cavalry. Army = $137.85
Perry Miniatures: $1.83 per infantry and $3.25 per cavalry. Army = $338.70
Aventine: $1.75 per infantry and $4.67 per cavalry. Army = $357.10
Musketeer: $2.34 per infantry and $4.67 per cavalry. Army = $430.85

I could keep going, but the trend is apparent. Metal figure armies run between $350 and $450 dollars. Plastic figure armies price in at less than $150!

Prices were accurate as of December 2011. The options for plastic armies have recently expanded to include Knights from FireForge, Phalangites from Warlord and Hoplites from Victrix.

RanTheCid wrote:Ancients start up costs:

For this example, I will use a 2 division army from Hail Caesar which is roughly similar to a 2000 point WAB army. This army will have 2 units of cavalry, 4 units of infantry and 2 units of skirmishers which totals 20 cavalry figures and roughly 125 infantry figures.

Most metal historical figures will need to be equipped with a wooden base (11 cents from Litko) and a wire spear (20 cents from Northstar). Most plastic figures come with Renedra bases and do not require weapon replacements. Army values include base and spear (for metal figures) but do not include shipping, currency conversion or unit/army discounts .

Gripping Beast metal: $2.20 per infantry and $4.80 per cavalry. Army = $415.95
Gripping Beast & Conquest plastic: $.73 per infantry and $2.33 per cavalry. Army = $137.85
Perry Miniatures: $1.83 per infantry and $3.25 per cavalry. Army = $338.70
Aventine: $1.75 per infantry and $4.67 per cavalry. Army = $357.10
Musketeer: $2.34 per infantry and $4.67 per cavalry. Army = $430.85

I could keep going, but the trend is apparent. Metal figure armies run between $350 and $450 dollars. Plastic figure armies price in at less than $150!

Prices were accurate as of December 2011. The options for plastic armies have recently expanded to include Knights from FireForge, Phalangites from Warlord and Hoplites from Victrix.

If you want even cheaper stuff you could use smaller scales. Plenty of inexpensive 20mm or 15mm options out there like Zvezda. Plus you can fit even more figures onto the boards for dramatic effect (and accurately simulating stuff like napoleonics can still get quite pricey in 28mm even with plastics!)

I thought that I would mention Heavy Gear Blitz and Atomic Cafe 1957.

Starting Heavy Gear is really easy, just pick up a starter army kit. It will set you back about $115. It contains full mini rulebooks, tape measure, dice, and a starting force. If you are into mecha, or just want a tactical miniature game, then it is definitely worth considering.

Atomic Cafe 1957 is much less known. It is a skirmish game set in an alternate history 1950s. It is best described as a cross between 1950s gangs and b movies. The setting is really great. It has everything from playmates to zombies, and space monkies to Elvis. The rule book will set you back $20, and a gang costs a measly $15. http://www.brigadegames.com/Atomic-Cafe_c_168.html

Do_I_Not_Like_That wrote:If your into flames of war, you can go a late war German panzer company/division and get Panthers/Tigers for dirt cheap from plastic soldier company. Each tank is worth about 200 points in games terms. Five tanks for twenty bucks. Do the maths

I can personally attest to this, as I have just started a LW Panzerkompanie. The total cost for me was about $130 for a full 2000 pt. army (the max points played in normal FoW).

This could also be much cheaper, as I use a mix of Panzer IV and Panther tanks, where you could cut off a good amount using only Panthers, or adding some Tigers.

Blackwater Gulch is a Wild West skirmish game that will get a retail release later this summer (for those that didn't get in on the Kickstarter)

$30-35 for a starter set with 5 figures, character cards and quickstart rules. That's all you need to start a gang. You can add more to men if you like, but alls you need is 1 starter and you're ready to fight.

Full rulesare on the site as a downloadable PDF for free, and we'll be doing a printed color rulebook (no idea on price yet).

To add to your gang, there will be 3-man add-on packs with characters not in the starter sets, guessing around $20ish (no idea yet, will come after initial launch). Plus you can add special Hired Guns to your gang, which are solo figures for probably $6-7 each. They will all come with cards too, so you don't have to spend half the game with your nose in the rulebook

Song of Blades and Heroes
8 dollar download for the rules
A warband consisting of 8-12 fantasy miniatures of your choice. will cost you:
$0 if you've already got miniatures you like
$10-18 bucks from any number of used dealers
$50 from reaper
$20-40 from various other dealers

Privateer Press has launched a Summer Sale ! http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/451647.page
The bundles look great (in actual content), about a mid-size army ; you get a ~10% discount on the models and a free rulebook for ~$120-140. This might be just what I needed.

kenshin620 wrote:This is an online forum, very little people remember to read the stickies anywhere

Fix'd it for ye