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Poll
How do you build a 40K list?
Battlescribe
Army Builder
Spreadsheet
Other Electronic
Paper - Detailed Breakdown (unit, model & options)
Paper - Abbreviated (unit cost only)
Mental - From Prior List or Manual Calculation
Mental - Rough Guess
Research - Use Netlist / Another's list
Someone Else - They Build My Lists, I Just Play
Other Option - Please Describe

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Made in us
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer





Mississippi

Variation on the "How do you build your lists" poll.

What method do you use to write up a list for a game? Multiple choice, but I'd prefer if you go with your most common (and current) options only.

Personally, I do all mine through Battlescribe, used to use Army Builder. Haven't built a list by hand since around RT/2E days.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/01/09 00:35:35


It never ends well 
   
Made in gb
Fixture of Dakka




I write the unit and its cost down on my phone. Document is titled after what the list is.

For AOS I use the warscroll builder on warhammer community site.

tremere47-fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate, leads to triple riptide spam  
   
Made in es
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain




Vigo. Spain.

I write all my information, even the rules for the Spells my spellcasters are using.

Heck, I even wrote names for the sargeants of all the squads (That have names too), and I break down points for every single model and then for the squad. Normally I do it in Word, then I print them.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/01/09 00:49:27


 Crimson Devil wrote:

Dakka does have White Knights and is also rather infamous for it's Black Knights. A new edition brings out the passionate and not all of them are good at expressing themselves in written form. There have been plenty of hysterical responses from both sides so far. So we descend into pointless bickering with neither side listening to each other. So posting here becomes more masturbation than conversation.

ERJAK wrote:
Forcing a 40k player to keep playing 7th is basically a hate crime.

 
   
Made in fr
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks





France

 Galas wrote:
I write all my information, even the rules for the Spells my spellcasters are using.

Heck, I even wrote names for the sargeants of all the squads (That have names too), and I break down points for every single model and then for the squad. Normally I do it in Word, then I print them.

You are a madman.
How much time do you spend ?

I usually start pen and paper, with the books, and when I get what looks like a list I like, I finish it using battlescribe.

   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka






I know the points of my armies for the most part and just write them down really quickly, i sometimes use Battlescribe if i wanted to do something odd

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/01/09 00:54:15


   
Made in us
Scarred Ultramarine Tyrannic War Veteran




McCragge

GW said they are going to release an app.

Bow down to Guilliman for he is our new God Emperor!

Martel - "Custodes are terrible in 8th. Good luck with them. They take all the problems of marines and multiply them."

"Lol, classic martel. 'I know it was strong enough to podium in the biggest tournament in the world but I refuse to acknowledge space marines are good because I can't win with them and it can't possibly be ME'."

DakkaDakka is really the place where you need anti-tank guns to kill basic dudes, because anything less isn't durable enough. 
   
Made in pl
Wicked Warp Spider





I voted "other electronic" and "paper detailed" as I do a classic "grocery list" style notes and manual calculations, just using digital notepad. But for the actual game I always do a battlescribe'esque PDF for my phone - I have a "master" document with nicely formatted tables with complete unit entries (including abbreviated rules) and space for options etc... Very handy, as I change my list entirely for pretty much every game (not minor tweaks, I just like my games as varied as possible), so there is always a stat or rule that I need to check mid game. I can't use any available listbuilders as I play heavily houseruled and rebalanced 7th ed.
   
Made in ie
Battleship Captain





Battlescribe. I tend to make them when I'm bored and should be doing more productive things.


 
   
Made in es
Grim Dark Angels Interrogator-Chaplain




Vigo. Spain.

 godardc wrote:
 Galas wrote:
I write all my information, even the rules for the Spells my spellcasters are using.

Heck, I even wrote names for the sargeants of all the squads (That have names too), and I break down points for every single model and then for the squad. Normally I do it in Word, then I print them.

You are a madman.
How much time do you spend ?

I usually start pen and paper, with the books, and when I get what looks like a list I like, I finish it using battlescribe.


Well, this are samples of the last list I wrote for a tournament this 13 day.

Spoiler:

I wrote the spells in the Librarian so I can check if for whatever reason I forgot mid game, so I don't need to check back the Codex

I spent 40-50 minutes doing this, mostly because I double checked all the point costs like 3-5 times because I did a sample version in HQbuilder first that had Index point costs for everything, so I had to check the codex for the new points costs, realize I was 100 points under and find a way to spend them.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/01/09 01:09:34


 Crimson Devil wrote:

Dakka does have White Knights and is also rather infamous for it's Black Knights. A new edition brings out the passionate and not all of them are good at expressing themselves in written form. There have been plenty of hysterical responses from both sides so far. So we descend into pointless bickering with neither side listening to each other. So posting here becomes more masturbation than conversation.

ERJAK wrote:
Forcing a 40k player to keep playing 7th is basically a hate crime.

 
   
Made in us
Steadfast Ultramarine Sergeant




I use Excel when building Tournament list for submitting to organizers
   
Made in us
Monster-Slaying Daemonhunter





For something big, or when I'm bored and testing options, I'll put things into Battlescribe, and sometimes work it out by hand.


But, in general, for like a pickup game, I know about how much each of my units costs as I have them loaded out, and then can quickly add them together in my head.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/01/09 02:54:20


Guardsmen, hear me! Cadia may lie in ruin, but her proud people do not! For each brother and sister who gave their lives to Him as martyrs, we will reap a vengeance fiftyfold! Cadia may be no more, but will never be forgotten; our foes shall tremble in fear at the name, for their doom shall come from the barrels of Cadian guns, fired by Cadian hands! Forward, for vengeance and retribution, in His name and the names of our fallen comrades! 
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut





My approach, i work on paper, with short hand, starting with 3 categories

troops 40% - monster/tanks 40% - objectives 20%

Then build to the point value of the game. This is an all comers template, creating a balanced list and pre assigns a model/unit role.

Once i am done run the list through battle scribe, to do a quick points check and create a print out.


In war there is poetry; in death, release. 
   
Made in pl
Horrific Howling Banshee




I enjoy listbuilding using Battlescibe. Both mobile and PC version.
But I despise lists that people post using this program. Especially when they're using more than 1 army/codex. It's such a mess. So much unnecessary information.

"I'm rather intrigued to discover that my opponent, who looks like a perfectly civilised person, is in fact mathematically capable" 
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Chaplain with Hate to Spare






Usually on paper, but sometimes I'll write it up in word and print it out all nice like.

And They Shall Not Fit Through Doors!!!

Tyranid Army Progress -- With Classic Warriors!:
https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/743240.page#9671598 
   
Made in ca
Regular Dakkanaut




Battlescribe at home, with occasional manual edits in html to reorder, correct, or edit for fluff/readability.

At work I use notepad, a calculator, and memory.

Rarely hand scribbled on paper for an on the fly pick up list. My handwriting is attrocious, though, so I try to avoid that for everyone's sake.
   
Made in gb
Sneaky Lictor






Whenever someone says "I made my list with battlescribe" I get nervous.

A Song of Ice and Fire - House Greyjoy.
AoS - Maggotkin of Nurgle, Ossiarch Bonereapers & Seraphon.
Bloodbowl - Lizardmen.
Horus Heresy - World Eaters.
Marvel Crisis Protocol - Avengers, Brotherhood of Mutants & Cabal. 
Middle Earth Strategy Battle game - Rivendell & The Easterlings. 
The Ninth Age - Beast Herds & Highborn Elves. 
Warhammer 40k  - Tyranids. 
 
   
Made in no
Stealthy Grot Snipa





Excel 4 life!

"The Emporer is a rouge trader."
- Charlie Chaplain. 
   
Made in de
Ladies Love the Vibro-Cannon Operator






Hamburg

Paper, detailled breakdown, research.
Net lists are partially useful. Looking for useful comments at Dakka.

Former moderator 40kOnline

Lanchester's square law - please obey in list building!

Illumini: "And thank you for not finishing your post with a "" I'm sorry, but after 7200 's that has to be the most annoying sign-off ever."

Armies: Eldar, Necrons, Blood Angels, Grey Knights; World Eaters (30k); Bloodbound; Cryx, Circle, Cyriss 
   
Made in gb
Mighty Vampire Count






UK

Paper and/or Excel.

I AM A MARINE PLAYER

"Unimaginably ancient xenos artefact somewhere on the planet, hive fleet poised above our heads, hidden 'stealer broods making an early start....and now a bloody Chaos cult crawling out of the woodwork just in case we were bored. Welcome to my world, Ciaphas."
Inquisitor Amberley Vail, Ordo Xenos

"I will admit that some Primachs like Russ or Horus could have a chance against an unarmed 12 year old novice but, a full Battle Sister??!! One to one? In close combat? Perhaps three Primarchs fighting together... but just one Primarch?" da001

www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/528517.page

A Bloody Road - my Warhammer Fantasy Fiction 
   
Made in us
Inspiring SDF-1 Bridge Officer





Mississippi

 AaronWilson wrote:
Whenever someone says "I made my list with battlescribe" I get nervous.


Hand-written lists have that effect on me.

I'm a bit surprised so few folks use Army Builder - I thought it would it would at least be more common than Excel.

It never ends well 
   
Made in us
Longtime Dakkanaut




Central California

I actually build mine using Word and its table functions. I find Excel a bit wonky when I want to print etc, so stick with word. I kibitz a lot with my armies while watching sports or whatever, so have basically created blocks for each unit with cost. Building becomes easy using the old sum function.

Keeping the hobby side alive!

I never forget the Dakka unit scale is binary: Units are either OP or Garbage. 
   
Made in gb
Slaanesh Chosen Marine Riding a Fiend





Old fashioned pen and paper with the BRB and codex in front of me.

Once I have a list I am happy with then bob it into an .xls.

Please note, for those of you who play Chaos Daemons as a faction the term "Daemon" is potentially offensive. Instead, please play codex "Chaos: Mortally Challenged". Thank you. 
   
Made in no
Longtime Dakkanaut






new document + clalculator + codex.

darkswordminiatures.com
gamersgrass.com
Collects: Wild West Exodus, SW Armada/Legion. Adeptus Titanicus, Dust1947. 
   
Made in it
Waaagh! Ork Warboss




Italy

Mental, I remember all the points costs of the units/wargear of my armies by heart and it's not difficult to make some sums.

 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Springfield, VA

I use spreadsheets because it forces me to look at the book.

I find Battlescribe's "imagery" of how the world works (large detachment with sub detachments) is different than my "imagery" of how the world works (one army, consisting of multiple independent but important detachments), and so organizing my forces in a spreadsheet is much easier for me.

It's also easier for me to see names, power levels, points, etc all lined up in a column. If I want to save 4 points, I can scan through the column of points and look for one that says 4, and see right there what it is. With Battlescribe, I have to click on every unit and see if it brought a powersword or not, or whatever.

Also, I have known too many people who don't know their own rules using battlescribe. Using the books helps you learn your rules, so books + spreadsheet is golden. I recently played a Space Wolf player who had no idea about the "Designate target to re-roll 1s" ability that Long Fangs had, despite having played for months, because while battlescribe had the rule, he missed it looking at his tiny phone screen (I assume).
   
Made in ca
Insect-Infested Nurgle Chaos Lord






I'm an old fuddy duddy who still pen and paper it.

Back in my day you did everything on paper, terrain was made of styrofoam and dollar store aquarium bits, and only crazy people used airbrushes on their minis.

Gwar! wrote:Huh, I had no idea Graham McNeillm Dav Torpe and Pete Haines posted on Dakka. Hi Graham McNeillm Dav Torpe and Pete Haines!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can I have an Autograph!


Kanluwen wrote:
Hell, I'm not that bothered by the Stormraven. Why? Because, as it stands right now, it's "limited use".When it's shoehorned in to the Codex: Space Marines, then yeah. I'll be irked.


When I'm editing alot, you know I have a gakload of homework to (not) do. 
   
Made in pt
Fireknife Shas'el




Lisbon, Portugal

If I can prepare it beforehand: do it on Battlescribe, check costs with Codex/FAQs, paste on Word, format and print it.

Suprise pick-up game at FLGS: pen + paper + calculator with the Codex

AI & BFG: / BMG: Mr. Freeze, Deathstroke / Battletech: SR, OWA / HGB: Caprice / Malifaux: Arcanists, Guild, Outcasts / MCP: Mutants / SAGA: Ordensstaat / SW Legion & X-Wing: CIS / WWX: Union

 Unit1126PLL wrote:
"FW is unbalanced and going to ruin tournaments."
"Name one where it did that."
"IT JUST DOES OKAY!"

 Shadenuat wrote:
Voted Astra Militarum for a chance for them to get nerfed instead of my own army.
 
   
Made in ie
Norn Queen






Dublin, Ireland

Mental, I remember all the points costs of the units/wargear of my armies by heart and it's not difficult to make some sums.


Long gone are those days for me

Battlescribe.

Dman137 wrote:
goobs is all you guys will ever be

By 1-irt: Still as long as Hissy keeps showing up this is one of the most entertaining threads ever.

"Feelin' goods, good enough". 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut






Springfield, VA

The other reason I use spreadsheets is I can keep my TO&E consistent but highlight certain cells so I know where one company begins and the next ends.

This encourages me to still bring fluffy segments of the TO&E to battle without much confusion, as I just look at the highlighted info for, say, 1st Company, and then the info for the support groups that I want to bring, which are divided by role (maintenance, resupply, ISR, combat arms)
   
Made in kr
Inquisitorial Keeper of the Xenobanks






your mind

I put the models on the table and write down what they are.
So, I start with the models as modeled, and go from there.

   
 
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