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Hi there, I have been wargaming for about 5-6 years now. My main game has been Warhammer 40k, but I have been reluctant in buying anything new due to prices, decline in quality of background and how silly and toy-like the miniatures have become. As a result of this I have been looking into collecting a different game instead. I have looked at many sci-fi and fantasy games but none of them really interested me. So I started thinking about getting into historicals instead. I am interested in WW2 era games and really like the look of Flames of war.

I was wondering...
What sort of prices am I looking at to have a decent sized force of Flames of War?
Do the rules differ drastically from 40k?
Has Flames of War got the biggest community among the historical genre? - (Easier to find games)
What is the average FoW gamer like?
Have you got any tips for for new people getting into FoW?

Thank you for reading and hopefully answering,

-MetalOxide-

Edit: I'm interested in collecting Soviets ☭

A: It depends on what force you want to start. BF is releasing a great new starter box in October. You get your pick of German Panzer Grenadiers, or US paratroopers. Here is a link to it http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=101&art_id=3438

B: Some of the rules are different, but many ares till the same. There is a move, shoot, assault phase, etc.

C: IMHO yes. Everyone where I have been from NYC, to the backwoods of Virginia has had some FoW community. Though the community is smaller than 40k/Warmachine/Hordes. YMMV

D: Haven't played enough people to comment

E You can buy 3rd party models if you want, also use easyarmy.com



Finally if you are into Soviets, your strength will be numbers. Massive amounts of tanks, and guys. If you have any familiarity with IG then you should have a good grip on how the Soviets run. Since a lot of IG stuff is based of the Soviets. Also keep in mind that if FoW isn't your thing you can always use your FoW models in other games such as Bolt Action.

 MetalOxide wrote:


I was wondering...
What sort of prices am I looking at to have a decent sized force of Flames of War?

Using a combination of Plastic Soldier Company, Zvezda, and Battlefront miniatures you can get a competitive army for £150 easly. That's 1750 points and take-all-comers tournament standard. Because you are interested in Soviets Zvezda and Plastic Soldier Company will be very useful for you.

 MetalOxide wrote:

Do the rules differ drastically from 40k?

Yes, but not so great from 5th edition 40k. The pace of gameplay is similar to 5th edition 40k

 MetalOxide wrote:

Has Flames of War got the biggest community among the historical genre? - (Easier to find games)

Yes.

 MetalOxide wrote:

What is the average FoW gamer like?

Tend to be more mature than the average 40k player.

 MetalOxide wrote:

Have you got any tips for for new people getting into FoW?

It's a great game. The official BF forum has a newbie section which is helpful.

Cool, thanks for the replies, I am definitely taking on board the advice you guys gave me. I found the awesome bootcamp section on FlamesofWar.com and have been learning some of the rules on tanks and I have to say, just from looking at the basics, it looks like a fun and tactically challenging game. After learning about the tanks I did a little googlefu and found some Soviet late war 1500 point lists and I would like your opinions on them. I did try to copy and paste it into this poster but it got all messed up, so here is a link to it...

http://www.flamesofwar.com/hobby.aspx?art_id=1888

Welcome onboard the FOW bandwagon!

What sort of prices am I looking at to have a decent sized force of Flames of War? -I just got into FOW myself and I got an infantry type "army" (in FOW basically a company) bought, painted and based for a total outlay of just under £100 (approx $140). Battlefront miniatures are very good and not overly pricey, but there are other manufacturers out there. As the Battlefront ranges are not totally complete, you may very well have to go to others anyway (especially for aircraft).

Do the rules differ drastically from 40k? - The basic idea, roll to hit, roll to save, roll to kill all using six sided dice is much the same (as it is in many wargames) but FOW is more logical, its faster playing, and (curiously) its rather more lethal!

Has Flames of War got the biggest community among the historical genre? - (Easier to find games) - In historical games the Ancients and Napoleonics periods are probably the biggest, with WW2 just behind. However, I can't think of any current historical game systems that have got as large a following as FOW. Certainly not in WW2 anyway.

What is the average FoW gamer like? - We're all mad No seriously, probably slightly older and more mature than the average 40K player.

Have you got any tips for for new people getting into FoW? - dive right in. You will not be disappointed. Try and find a local club or convention and watch a few games. They might even let you borrow an army.

I'm interested in collecting Soviets - mad impetuous fool! No seriously, Soviets are very good. There are plenty of Sov players around who can help you

@Vanders

Cool thanks for the reply. Something just drew me to the Soviets straight away, probably the fact that they have mass tanks and troops.

Word of warning.

In my experience, I can't speak for others, but when the word "mature" was put out there, I quickly learned it was in the context of "older, more senior and seasoned" rather than "behaves in an age appropriate manner."

For my own personal experience of my first FoW experience was of a couple gentlemen with at least a decade on my age (and I'm rapidly approaching 40) whose behavior was decidedly childlike. In fact, they were both acting in a way that had me profoundly embarrassed for them and if it had been my kid would haev elicited a humble apology on my part and an ear dragging outside for a serious "talking to".

Sadly, you are in "gaming" and no matter what system it is, you are going to run across those types of people.

I will add that when I picked up the game, I focused on Fearless Vets as it allowed for less cash getting more points on the table for me to start playing. Army possession being what it is, I still have those original forces, but can now branch into army lists requiring more units on the table. Though I do have a problem shaking me "Vet Cruch" as my gaming group calls it.

If you like Tankovy.
The Plastic Soldier Company do a batallion deal.
21 x T34 for £56.(These include the 76mm and 85mm turret versions!)

To put the above in perspective 21 T-34s satisfies your HQ requirement and 2x maxed out troop choices of medium tanks for a Tankovy Battalion (Soviet armies are known as batallions, German and Western Allies equivalent are company size to better represent the hordes from the east)

Some people complain Soviet armies are a little clunky to use and take up a large footprint on the battlefield but I wouldn't be put off. As a German player I can say the only stuff I really worry about that isn't a flier is Soviet stuff, whether it's hordes of fearless conscripts threatening to overwhelm me in a tide of flesh, or walls of medum tanks supported by frighteningly powerful heavy armour.

What sort of prices am I looking at to have a decent sized force of Flames of War?
Depends on where you get it, and whether you run a Infantry, Mechanized or Tank company. I bought all my models from Old Glory, and I have two 1750 armies. My Mech Germans cost me around $200 and my Soviet Heavy Tank battalion was about $90.

Do the rules differ drastically from 40k?
There are certainly some differences, yes. I wouldn't say they're too different though. Movement is much simpler, and assaults are a little different. The main difference with shooting is that you roll to hit based on your target's skill rating, rather than your own.

Has Flames of War got the biggest community among the historical genre? - (Easier to find games)
Maybe not the biggest, but pretty far up there, yes. Bolt Action is gaining popularity, but I think there are still more FoW players.

What is the average FoW gamer like?
Like just about most other averages I would think. However, the historical aspect seems to attract less kiddies than Spehss Mahreens.

Have you got any tips for for new people getting into FoW?
Don't be afraid to use proxies for a bit, or borrow models. Get some basic models, play, find out what you like, then get more. Take it slowly. Don't do what I did and order an entire army all at once.

Lanrak wrote:
If you like Tankovy.
The Plastic Soldier Company do a batallion deal.
21 x T34 for £56.(These include the 76mm and 85mm turret versions!)

If you do a Guards T-34/85 list the above 21 tanks are 1545 points.