Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

 Blndmage wrote:
What's BattleScribe?

An inaccurate and unreliable list building app filled with errors that everyone and their dog praises as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Basically it's a piece of gak.

Jeez, I think I'm going to get salt poisoning from this thread.

Battlescribe is fine and a preferable method to handwriting out lists - I can't begin to count the errors I've seen in hand-written lists, either with incomplete lists, transcribed errors, points miscounted or flat-out incorrect builds.

And I've used the stratagem cards perfectly well without the need of a codex, thank you very much. My models nor game imploded with only index + cards.

 Peregrine wrote:
Index = weak, stripped-down set of rules that were used for the first few games of 8th while you waited for a codex.

Meanwhile, Orks..........

 Kap'n Krump wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Index = weak, stripped-down set of rules that were used for the first few games of 8th while you waited for a codex.

Meanwhile, Orks..........

Also Genestealer Cults!

ValentineGames wrote:

 Blndmage wrote:
What's BattleScribe?

An inaccurate and unreliable list building app filled with errors that everyone and their dog praises as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Basically it's a piece of gak.

I can only assume you have some personal grudge against them. Who hurt you?

Battlescribe is great. Of course there are errors shortly after a new codex is released, but they are quickly ironed out. They rely on community feedback, so just give them a shout of you do find an error. Right now everything for all of my several main armies is damn well perfect. It's an incredible resource.

 Kap'n Krump wrote:

 Peregrine wrote:
Index = weak, stripped-down set of rules that were used for the first few games of 8th while you waited for a codex.

Meanwhile, Orks..........

:(


Automatically Appended Next Post:

Stux wrote:

ValentineGames wrote:

 Blndmage wrote:
What's BattleScribe?

An inaccurate and unreliable list building app filled with errors that everyone and their dog praises as the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Basically it's a piece of gak.

I can only assume you have some personal grudge against them. Who hurt you?

Battlescribe is great. Of course there are errors shortly after a new codex is released, but they are quickly ironed out. They rely on community feedback, so just give them a shout of you do find an error. Right now everything for all of my several main armies is damn well perfect. It's an incredible resource.

Agreed, I havnt had a problem with it. Its sorta unweidly to add detachments but its workable. Calculating CPs, determining dependencies and (especially) calculating points/wargear is significantly easier on Battlescribe than by hand. I still hate that the basic wargear a model comes with by default is not included in the base points cost of the model. Having to to back and forth between the unit entry and the back pages of the codex to look up the base wear gear and points cost would be a pain in the ass without BS

 Stormonu wrote:
J

And I've used the stratagem cards perfectly well without the need of a codex, thank you very much. My models nor game imploded with only index + cards.

Just as long as you admit that you're using house rules.

 Mmmpi wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
J

And I've used the stratagem cards perfectly well without the need of a codex, thank you very much. My models nor game imploded with only index + cards.

Just as long as you admit that you're using house rules.

Not sure what you mean? Is there a rule in the BRB or Codex that states you can't use the cards without the codex?

 Stormonu wrote:

 Mmmpi wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
J

And I've used the stratagem cards perfectly well without the need of a codex, thank you very much. My models nor game imploded with only index + cards.

Just as long as you admit that you're using house rules.

Not sure what you mean? Is there a rule in the BRB or Codex that states you can't use the cards without the codex?

The cards aren’t actually the source of your rules so they really shouldn’t be used like that ever. They are reference cards, not your rulebook. The actual rules won’t ever refer to them because of this.

meleti wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:

 Mmmpi wrote:

 Stormonu wrote:
J

And I've used the stratagem cards perfectly well without the need of a codex, thank you very much. My models nor game imploded with only index + cards.

Just as long as you admit that you're using house rules.

Not sure what you mean? Is there a rule in the BRB or Codex that states you can't use the cards without the codex?

The cards aren’t actually the source of your rules so they really shouldn’t be used like that ever. They are reference cards, not your rulebook. The actual rules won’t ever refer to them because of this.

Exactly this. The stratagems are part of the codex. The cards are just a reference tool.

Having said that, if his opponents have no issue with him doing it, then there's no reason he should stop. He just needs to remember that it's a house rule, in case he plays with other groups that may not agree with him.

Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

Again, if you show up to a tournament and just have the Index and cards for a Codex army, you'll be rightfully shown the door. But in a casual setting, who really cares? If you're just tossing dice with friends, and don't feel like shelling out for the Codex, what's the big deal?

 JNAProductions wrote:

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

Again, if you show up to a tournament and just have the Index and cards for a Codex army, you'll be rightfully shown the door. But in a casual setting, who really cares? If you're just tossing dice with friends, and don't feel like shelling out for the Codex, what's the big deal?

That’s just one error off the top of my head. I can’t say if there are no other errors for any other army’s cards, or if none of those errors result in an improvement on the stratagem or psychic power as compared to the actual rule in the codex.

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

Again, if you show up to a tournament and just have the Index and cards for a Codex army, you'll be rightfully shown the door. But in a casual setting, who really cares? If you're just tossing dice with friends, and don't feel like shelling out for the Codex, what's the big deal?

That’s just one error off the top of my head. I can’t say if there are no other errors for any other army’s cards, or if none of those errors result in an improvement on the stratagem or psychic power as compared to the actual rule in the codex.

Yeah, fair. Still-for a casual game, I doubt there are any errors so large as to matter that much, and if a stratagem seems out of whack, talk it out.

 JNAProductions wrote:

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

Again, if you show up to a tournament and just have the Index and cards for a Codex army, you'll be rightfully shown the door. But in a casual setting, who really cares? If you're just tossing dice with friends, and don't feel like shelling out for the Codex, what's the big deal?

The issue isn't that it's a self nerf. It's that it's a house rule. As I said earlier, if you're group doesn't care, don't stop. But it's still a house rule.

 Mmmpi wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:

meleti wrote:

 JNAProductions wrote:
Does the text on the cards differ from that of the stratagems in the book?

There are sometimes errors on the cards, yeah. The Tau Automated Repair System card says the stratagem can be used at the start of your turn, while the book says the stratagem can be used at the start of any turn. The book takes precedence of course because reference cards aren’t the rules.

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

Again, if you show up to a tournament and just have the Index and cards for a Codex army, you'll be rightfully shown the door. But in a casual setting, who really cares? If you're just tossing dice with friends, and don't feel like shelling out for the Codex, what's the big deal?

The issue isn't that it's a self nerf. It's that it's a house rule. As I said earlier, if you're group doesn't care, don't stop. But it's still a house rule.

I don't think anyone was saying it wasn't.

We all know that, officially, you're supposed to use the Codex. But in a friendly game... Who cares?

The cards are sold on their own, and are usable for the missions in the Rule book. Why can't they be used with the index?

In a friendly game there's no reason you can't use any combination of rules as long as both players agree. I use the codex for rules and BattleScribe for list building. I don't understand the hate for BattleScribe - it's a great app that encapsulates all of the errata and points updates to the codex.

+1 for BattleScribe being a great, useful tool. The bizarre hatred upthread is bizarre. No, it doesn’t replace needing to buy your rules and Codex. Yes, it is awesome if you also have those resources.

 JNAProductions wrote:

So, in other words, by not using the Codex, you nerf yourself.

And people are having fits over this because...?

I'm not having fits over it. I dunno, maybe others are. My objection though is that it's not really playing the intended rules of the game, it's playing outdated rules that fall outside current errata and FAQs.

As you say, for a casual game it's not that big a deal, and likely a big nerf compared to using the codex. All the same, it is houseruling and as such I would expect the courtesy of being asked if I am ok with it before the game begins.

I would also expect, if you are using the Stratagem cards, for you to be aware of any FAQ or errata to them, but that goes for using a codex too of course.