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.

Hi, I dont have any idea what formations/detachments are in 40k. I see these lots on GW's site, but it looks nothing more than an expensive battleforce. Are these self contained armies? And if so, what value is there in that? Are these set to a specific point value? I mean how do you set up a game? My formation vs your formation? Do you play with more than one?

Where did the rules for these come out?

They are out of FoC formation of units that get special rules. Their rules always tell you what units you have to take to get the formation.

Do you take them alongside the rest of your army, or is that all you play?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Some of these formations are gigantic.

If you have read 7th, you can see that formations can be your entire army, if you wish.

Yes some are huge, especially the Green Tide which can be well over 300 models strong, but they dont have to be.

Theyre a trade off - you gain X benefit (special rules, usually) but at a cost - you have to take what is in there, with little flexibility.

Do they all have to stay together? Like the models a certain distance from each other? Or can they be broken up into their normal smaller unit sizes?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I havent read 7th yet.

Depends on the formation - for example the Steel Host need to be within 12" of the command tank to get the benefits but the Rampart Detachment always gets theirs.

So all these formations on the GW site, there are already published rules for them? Or do they come with the purchase of the formation?

I mean how would you know any particular one was good?

Some are in White Dwarf but most are either in Codex or supplements such as Sanctus Reach. You can also download several from Black Library (http://www.blacklibrary.com/games-workshop-digital-editions/Dataslates).

ah ok many thanks! Cleared things up.

Is there any comprehensible list with all formations?

 Sigvatr wrote:
Is there any comprehensible list with all formations?

That would be a) nice, and b) hell to keep updated