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I saw some guys playing with these huge units that had graveyards and little houses in the unit and they called it "filler"...

Can someone enlighten me please?

 FarseerAndyMan wrote:
I saw some guys playing with these huge units that had graveyards and little houses in the unit and they called it "filler"...

Can someone enlighten me please?

Its called how to make your money go farther you take a large piece and put in the back of your unitto fill in and make a bigger unit if you can't or don't want to afford all the models.

Yeah, unit fillers are used to add a bit of variety to units as well as showing off your modelling skills and saving a bit of money in the process. With a few extra bits, you can mount, say, two model on a base for six, saving you some money, as well as meaning that your unit isn't the same model repeated over and over again, rank after rank. It's more aesthetically pleasing, and some look really good.

Common ones are graveyards and your unit stomping on banners/bodies of the enemy.

I'd recommend trying to use a few.

so what is the rule then...how much of my unit can be filler?

There are no official rules, but a general rule of thumb is that the majority of the unit should still be the generic rank and file. This is mainly to avoid anyone wondering just what that unit tray of scenery with 5 Skaven in front of it is.

My unit fillers usually take up 4 models 40mm x 40mm base.


Unit fillers are awesome.

Depending on the size of the unit I use 1 or 2


Also what army do you play OP?

 FarseerAndyMan wrote:
so what is the rule then...how much of my unit can be filler?

Unit fillers aren't even mentioned in the rules. Your entire unit could be filler. It would be legal, but very hard to show damage and annoying for your opponent.

So, make sure there are a number of models behind your unit filler, equal to however many places your unit filler takes up, minus one. So, if your unit filler takes up the space of six regular guys, make sure there are at least five guys further back in the unit that can be removed as casualties before the unit filler. That way, when the unit filler takes damage, you replace the six man unit filler with the five regular guys, which is one less "space" in your unit, hence one casualty.

Unit fillers are great although Idon't care for them if they break the theme of the arm or are done half assed.
Using six bases and putting 1 0r 2 tombstones on it is a bit of a cop out IMO.
That's not to say you cant do it, it's just my taste..kind of like when people just airbrush 3 colors on their models.
Modeling and painting is a large part of the hobby, if you're not going to make an effort just use cardboard squares.
Just my opinion.

Iwouldn't exceed 30 or 40% fillers though. Even that is almost too many IMO.

Check out the great skaven fillers from 'Kefas skaven'
Incredible work

I have some in my dwarf army, including a brain damaged ogre who thinks he's a dwarf (and dressed accordingly, including a fake beard) and a drunk who had to be dragged in his sleeping bag to the battle. They both fit nicely on a 40mm base, and take up the space of 4 men.

So, there's something I don't get here.

I've been told that 40k miniatures are great because you can make each one a work of art and, with 2" unit coherency, you've got plenty of space to show it off. WHFB armies are so crowded that you don't get much individual artwork, and that where fantasy armies really look great is when you have big blocks of models.

If that's true, then why is it a good thing to break up those big blocks with filler? Isn't that counterproductive? Isn't the point of a unit of spearmen looking cool is because they look like:



You know, the giant block of angry dudes?

No offense to the creator here, but it looks like things like this:



are running pretty much completely counter to what is supposed to be the aesthetic of the game.

Also, I would note that if you had a unit with this big rat stone or some tombstones, or whatever, well, certainly the guys wouldn't be carrying something like that around. Something with immobile unit fillers would only make sense on a unit that you have no intention of moving. Unless those zombies are picking that entire mausoleum up and moving it around...

Though perhaps this is all a problem with execution, rather than design.

The more GW jack up the prices, the more I approve of their use. 15-20% is about right.

Ailaros is right though, it's a bit of an art form.

Very true, Ailarios. Big blocks of models can be impressive, but they can be very repetitive and dull. Normally, they're fine as they are, but with certain models, or very large units, they can start to lose their appeal. In 40k, you'd convert a model to be unique. No-one else will have the model. Unit Fillers are the same in WHFB. They add a bit of variety to units, which is always nice. At the end of the day though, many people use them simply to save money.

Thanks for the feedback fellas!
@pitties2005 -- Im putting together a Roman themed Empire army.
My buddies play WFB alot and I want to get in, but the current rules really put me off...the magic is too much, the terrain rules are absurd and the dumb rule about being unbreakable if you have X amount of troops is kinda silly, but im sure they will get fixed. Anyway, I want to put together this army to play Ancients as well. My plan is to use Wargames Factory Romans for my rank and file and bring on Elephants..the roman list in ancients allows them!!
So with the unit filler, im trying to figure out what would be an appropriate filler....any ideas...Ive got one block of 16 centurion legionaires, one block of 36 regulars and a block of 16 cavalry to start the army. I want to get some bolt throwers..im thinking the High Elf BT would work, just replace the crew...

 Ailaros wrote:

Spoiler:

So, there's something I don't get here.

I've been told that 40k miniatures are great because you can make each one a work of art and, with 2" unit coherency, you've got plenty of space to show it off. WHFB armies are so crowded that you don't get much individual artwork, and that where fantasy armies really look great is when you have big blocks of models.

If that's true, then why is it a good thing to break up those big blocks with filler? Isn't that counterproductive? Isn't the point of a unit of spearmen looking cool is because they look like:



You know, the giant block of angry dudes?

No offense to the creator here, but it looks like things like this:



are running pretty much completely counter to what is supposed to be the aesthetic of the game.

Also, I would note that if you had a unit with this big rat stone or some tombstones, or whatever, well, certainly the guys wouldn't be carrying something like that around. Something with immobile unit fillers would only make sense on a unit that you have no intention of moving. Unless those zombies are picking that entire mausoleum up and moving it around...

Though perhaps this is all a problem with execution, rather than design.

Yeah, that is a problem with execution.

Fillers should at least make sense.


A unit of skeletons/zombies with a base of tombstones and a couple models clawing their way out of the graves = awesome

Tomb King Skeletons rising from the Desert Sands = awesome

A unit of Empire troops with a couple guys hauling around extra supplies = awesome

Some Beastigors running through some trees or shrubs = awesome

Skaven emerging from the sewers = awesome

A couple Orks/goblins going at it fisticuffs = very awesome

Some gnoblars squabbling over something shiny = awesome

Easy. Instead of buying 4 minatures, get 1 on a 50x50mm base (that takes up 4 25x25mm troops, throw it in the back or middle.... Builds big units with less miniatures, saves time & money!

My rules for unit fillers:

1) The rule of cool: If it looks cool, it's fine. If it looks like rubbish, don't bother.

2) You can't go wrong with 4 figures on a unit filler replacing 4 minis. You can go VERY wrong with one figure on a unit filler replacing ten minis.

3) Put some thought and effort into it. Don't just have a tree; have a goblin or two in that tree either hiding from the unit, or spotting for the unit.

My white lion unit for my HE army has a single lion (from the chariot kit) replacing 6 models in the block of 20 as a filler. It is a lion, it is painted white, and it is called "KIMBA".

It reminds my opponents that this block with +2s choppy weapons are white lions.

My spearmen don't have a filler as such I just have blocks of 5 troops for the most part (front and back ranks are singles, but the other ranks are in 5's. Makes removing casualties easier.)

after reading this thread ive decided to make some unit fillers for my Lizardmen using the snakes from the cold one riders and one Lizardmen on a 75/50mm base. what do you think?

go for it bro!!

Maybe throw a jungle tree or two on there?

The one hard and fast rule I personally go for in regards to unit fillers is that they be at least the same height for whatever they're representing.

Maybe take some of the banner glyphs and base them?

I did this mostly with my Vampire counts as the units are VERY boring to continue to paint. Skeletons stink to continue painting, especially when you're at 50 of them. I ended up using 3 seperate 40x40 bases with skeletons climbing out of the dirt. 2 - 3 skeletons cut down and smaller dragging themselves from the dirt.

My other filler was one using the statue that comes with the graveyard, this filler was large, but I've never had anyone complain, it takes up 16 spots of a 40 block of ghouls but I used the wraiths from the Mortis Engine to be spilling out of the cracks in the statue, and then there are blood covered ghouls crawling all around it with little blood footprints up the statue to where the ghouls stand. I really don't mind how big the filler is as long as it fits with the unit.

There are lots of folks that slap a filler together and roll with it, but I can't blame them on this, especially when you consider hoard armies with Goblins, Gnoblars, etc. I've also been putting together an idea for a Marauder block that has marauder Ogres, and a Marauding giant for my WoC. I never discourage creativity in model use for fillers. Some folks are better at it then others, and even in the skaven example, I'm not going to tell someone that their filler sucks and I'm not playing against it, for all you know that could have been made by a 12 year old kid.

ahh yeah i agree, having the same height would be better then to have a semi large hole in the unit. i was thinking of adding maybe one Lizardmen amungst them. If I added banners wouldn't that become confusing with the BSB/SB?
I'm sadly not that inspirational when it comes to creation. so my fillers might be dull. maybe a small Aztec pyramid with the snakes?

i was thinking of doing a similar thing with my WoC. but i only run 6/3 units of 18 so a unit filler might be a tad pointless. but i was thinking of throwing in a Knight? risen so he stands above the units? as if hes giving the orders?

thats all ive got in regards to ideas for Fillers

I'm pro unit filler. I play night goblins, working on about 12,000 points of them.. 700 goblins in my core alone + 22 fanatics or so.. I have a lot of unit fillers...

I use like 5-6 of those battle for skull pass shaman tents on screaming bell bases (takes up 15 goblins!)

few mushrooms sculpted from prescription pill bottles/foam half-balls. ( taking up 9 models)

shaman casting a spell turning a dwarf slayer into the heroquest squig with a mohawk with weapons dropped at his side and another slayer running up on shaman

screaming bell base with a nuclear mushroom cloud explosion

screaming bell base with cauldron/floating island above cauldron with magnetized slots for a prisoner and fanatic up on island with stink lines forming a cage around the 2

half of foam balls with squigs scuplted over popping through ground attacking goblins/goblins poking them in eyes (these take up 25 models and have a 3 measly goblins on them mwa hahaha!)

granted a couple of these are works in progress but idea is there solidly enough

I have so so so so many goblins to paint and am trying to keep a decent standard so to me, its only logical to use fillers... To break up monotony also. 700 BFSP goblins is booooooooring.

I also think its egregious some of the prices people are expected to pay to play certain units. How about a horde of 30 witch elves? Isn't that like $180 USD+ tax retail now? thats 1 unit of core, that doesn't even fulfill your entire core requirement for a 2500~ list right? (wants me to go on a squig rant but I won't... You try fielding hundreds of squigs at GW prices! ok maybe a little one)

I personally think that skaven filler is fine. It may not be the best looking or executed thing ever, but i would play against it happily, and compliment the person for their efforts. Their's doesn't look like anyone else's ya know?

as far as rules wise go, I know fantasy doesn't have a written rule to ignore basing elements etc, but some of my unit fillers could easily screen some stuff/block LOS so we always play them as if filler wasn't present and was just the height of the unit it is in

does anyone have any pictures of their unit fillers they'd be happy to share with the class?

if you go to this blog , you will be able to see some armies with fillers. The very first picture notably, a crazy and amazing project (took the guy 3 years) of a Fimir army, with some nice fillers
A large zombie horde on another picture has some fillers as well
A shame the gobbo army is not on here, had some crazy brawls and large Mushrooms (Night Goblins) within the unit as fillers

edit: for a closer look at the fimir army with fillers, click here!

If I got a WOC army I would want to use a warshrine as unit filler for chosen.

 sing your life wrote:
If I got a WOC army I would want to use a warshrine as unit filler for chosen.

If you have enough Chosen in a unit to even have room for a filler, I'd be astounded.

I ran a horde of Chosen once for Gits and Shiggles under the old book.

I got the 3+ ward and stubborn. Fun times were had.

I can't quite describe the sort of evil smile that gave me.

 Evertras wrote:

 sing your life wrote:
If I got a WOC army I would want to use a warshrine as unit filler for chosen.

If you have enough Chosen in a unit to even have room for a filler, I'd be astounded.

I just want to bring a single unit to a 1000pt game...