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What are the legalities of using forge world models and data in regards to 40k.

Ask your opponent.

The google-fu is weak with this one.

Honestly you can find dozens of threads spanning hundreds of posts of "discussion" (read as argument) regarding what can and can't be done.

In short, talk to your opponents do not force things one way or the other and simply play the game.

Oh how I love these debates.

Sounds good as my main opponent has the forgeworld riptide to fair is fair and above all I suppose it's a game.

 Baines4652 wrote:
What are the legalities of using forge world models and data in regards to 40k.

Everything (except a few Apocalypse formations) is legal in normal games just like any other thing GW publishes.

Some people refuse to play against FW stuff, just like some people refuse to play against flyers/orks/etc. If you're playing a pickup game with random strangers you should expect to be able to use your FW units, but you shouldn't be too surprised if you encounter one of those people. And honestly you should thank them for refusing to play against you, in my experience people with "no-FW" rules are the kind of winning-obsessed TFGs who aren't going to give you a very enjoyable game anyway.

It's legal. It even says on the FW downloads page that the rules they make are property of GW.

"Please note that we cannot send out rules for Imperial Armour models via e-mail. All PDF's featured are copyright Games Workshop 2000 - 2013"

As I understand it, it used to be that you had to get your opponent's permission, even though they were completely legal.

For a while now, they haven't been printing the part about needing your opponent's permission, although it's still considered good form.

It's a shame really. I read an article in WD by one of the rule creators and he pretty much said play the game in the spirit that it was intended.

I also concur with the 'ask your opponent,' as Forge World has released a few very broken units in the past. While these units are the rare occurrence, the vast majority of Forge World units are either nicely balanced or under-strengthen for their costs, they to tend to often be the center of any argument concerning the legality of Forge-world. The real curious thing is how motivated, how spirited, both sides of the debates are. The people whom deny Forge-World are terrorized to the point they simply do not want to even entertain the possibility that balanced units exist. The people whom want to force others to play with Forge-World seem to overlook the fact there are very broken units which can completely ruin someone else's enjoyment if they are just pulled out as a surprise.

Given that no one likes to be surprised, simply announce your intentions ahead of time.

Forgeworld is legal. Just as homebrew units are legal. However, purple can refuse to play them, just like they can refuse to play against an IG army with Necron allies.

JinxDragon wrote:
The people whom want to force others to play with Forge-World seem to overlook the fact there are very broken units which can completely ruin someone else's enjoyment if they are just pulled out as a surprise.

The people whom want to force others to play with codices seem to overlook the fact there are very broken codex units which can completely ruin someone else's enjoyment if they are just pulled out as a surprise.

Peregrine,
Very true, which is why I hold this mentality for Codex's as well. I will never, personally, pull out 'broken units' without first getting my opponents permission in a friendly game, or confirming with a tournament organizer if they have any rules concerning said units. I find it very bad form if a player wishes pulls out three Heldrake Units without announcing their attentions ahead of a friendly game. Players whom find no enjoyment facing so many broken units should be given the chance to find a game elsewhere.

 Happyjew wrote:
Forgeworld is legal. Just as homebrew units are legal. However, purple can refuse to play them, just like they can refuse to play against an IG army with Necron allies.

I hate purple! He's always refusing to let me use the cool stuff!

It's legal. I don't know of anyone who actually refuses to play FW.

Another of these threads? Do people just not get it?

Forgeworld is 100% legal, so someone doesn't have to Ask YOUR permission to use it, they can just field it.

This does NOT stop you from declining the game, as it is your right to play who you wish, nor does it stop you from asking them to not field it, whatever your reasons would be.

It is not a case of " not getting it " it is a case of spending an amount of money on something that people aren't going to want to play against or is not allowed. As I always play friendlies a bit of discussion ref legalities is sometimes on the tables. As for this walking away thing that people keep talking about some times this is not worth is as we don't have access to regular games.

The matter essentially boils down to the fact that an opponent can refuse a game for any reason, and Forge World units tend to have a greater proportion of the 'blame' for refused games than most codex units. It's best, if you only have a limited number of opponents, to just check with them before you buy anything. Most people love seeing interesting models but you'll probably get the odd grumbler who doesn't want to have to learn what the unit does or feels he has a god-given right to decide exactly what makes up your army.