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Okay so I haven played Age of Sigmar yet since I like my hordes! But this weekend I was thinking about of playing a few games of AoS with a buddy to try it out.

I'm a little confused though. What is the big rulebook for Age of Sigmar for if all the rules are available free online? Is there special rules or different rules in the big book?

Same thing goes with the army books, why would you need the lizardmen (or whatever they are called now) book? I was trying to get some rules for skaven on the app but it said I had to buy something to get access to the rules?

Feels weird just getting into this now haha

Depending on what book you are talking about, you don't need them to play but they add fluff for those who want them. The $90 books have fluff, and scenarios that you don't get for free from GW. The 20-40 books have a bit of fluff but most of the war scrolls for that Alliance faction for those who want it on paper.

Books are only for fluff, scenarios and formations (which can be purchased on the app, they only add small extra abilities like being able to charge again once you destroy a unit once per game.That's probably what that Skaven purchase was, the GW site has the free to download compendiums so you don't have to download individual unit rules on the app.)

Just download the model and scenery rules you're planning to use, decide what will be a fun game (open play, comps, wounds) and have at it!

(I suggest a small game with lots of terrain for a start)

Hope you have fun!

Edit: Skaven and Lizardmen compendiums:
https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/AoS_Compendiums/warhammer-aos-skaven-en.pdf

https://www.games-workshop.com/resources/PDF/AoS_Compendiums/warhammer-aos-lizardmen-en.pdf

Okay perfect thanks! I was assuming it had some scenarios but just wanted to make sure!

What's the most common way to balance it out? I know there's some debate on this but should I go #of warscrolls or # of wounds or something? Ive watched some bat raps and they don't really go into detail how they balance it but was wondering what the most common semi balance is?
Or maybe I'll just take 3 warplightning cannons, 2 abombs, 3 wheels and maybe a plague furnace for fun haha

 chiefbigredman wrote:
Okay perfect thanks! I was assuming it had some scenarios but just wanted to make sure!

What's the most common way to balance it out? I know there's some debate on this but should I go #of warscrolls or # of wounds or something? Ive watched some bat raps and they don't really go into detail how they balance it but was wondering what the most common semi balance is?
Or maybe I'll just take 3 warplightning cannons, 2 abombs, 3 wheels and maybe a plague furnace for fun haha

What I usually recommend to new players seeking a rough-and-ready way to balance is SCGT's points which will only take a few minutes to work out. It's simple and works decently even without the accompanying house rules. After a few games you should have a better idea of what you want out of AoS, and you can look at different comps to find what you like. The major ones I hear about are Azyr, SCGT, and PPC). Azyr is simple and easiest to use, PPC is the most intricate and balanced, while SCGT is in-between.

For balance, we mostly eyeball it. Or use SCGT now and again for a change.

I strongly recommend using Battleplans rather than a straight deathmatch.

Download the free GW AoS app so you can add the units you want to your battle list.

 ShaneTB wrote:
I strongly recommend using Battleplans rather than a straight deathmatch.

Agreed; AoS lends itself well to scenarios.

Play a small game. There are many comps out there, IGNOERE THEM ALL. I have yet to see a comp that made any sense or are any good. IMO just play it as it says in the rules. IF you need to add some kind of balancing to it the single best comp system we have found and used was simply limiting the size of the box we bring.

Also using the books are optional the rules are free online and on the warhammer aos app which is really nice. If you want the additional scenarios or formations you can buy them on the app or buy the books. Its all up to you but like any game get the mechanics down first for a game or 2 then since this ruleset is so easy go all out and bring all kinds of stuff

 namiel wrote:
Play a small game. There are many comps out there, IGNOERE THEM ALL. I have yet to see a comp that made any sense or are any good. IMO just play it as it says in the rules. IF you need to add some kind of balancing to it the single best comp system we have found and used was simply limiting the size of the box we bring.

Disagree with this. Comps like SCGT or Clash take 5 mins to learn. Those comps are barely "comps" at all in that they have very limit impact on the game rules and are mostly a way of constructing two roughly balanced forced by assigning all warscrolls a pool (points) cost and limiting you to a single Grand Alliance.

Check them out.

Why limit to a single grand alliance

Champion of Slaanesh wrote:
Why limit to a single grand alliance

I mix death and order when I play "open" style games. For competetive play having no restrictions could let the synergies go nuts, it could also lead to some very unthematic combinations like Archaon, Nagash and the Celestant Prime in the same force as players want to build a strong build.

If you're playing relaxed games, lifting the Grand Alliance limit is easy to do. I suspect that even if the upcoming "matched play" has no restrictions (as my GW manager informed me) we'll likely still see it added back in for events.