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What is the policy on conversions? Adding or replacing stuff on the models with stuff 3rd party or other GW games. I've seen conversions of the Taurox with wheels and many people replace heads and similar stuff for 3rd part heads or from age of sigmar.

Depends on the group's policy on WYSIWYG.
Generally if the model is well presented and represents needed major elements you can get away with anything.

Personally I'd let opponents use a soda can to represent a Drop Pod in normal play but in a tournament that can better have fins and a great paintjob.

Usually, the only places that have problems with 3rd party models are GW owned places (FLGS, WHW, etc.), just your average wargaming club won't really care and neither will your average opponent.

GW have a pretty consistent "Conversions are HERESY and if you ever did one your models are now sub-optimal and/or illegal." policy in a post-Chapter House and post-Spots the Space Marine world.

That being said, outside of a GW store (aka a proper FLGS), it shouldn't be a problem unless the owner is an donkey-cave and has a "If you didn't buy it here you can't play with it" policy I have heard horror stories about.

Rule #1, the Rule of Cool

The cooler the conversion is, the more tolerance you get from other players.

Actually the Grey Knight Codex has a whole page dedicated to kitbashes of character models - the Brother-Captain, Librarian and Chaplain are all called out as conversions using Space Marine figures with Grey Knight accessories (although in the case of the Chaplain I think it's a lie to cover the fact that it's a LE model they no longer sell).

GW do plenty to support conversions; White Dwarf is full of them, they've just limited some legacy options for the more complete ranges.

 BaconCatBug wrote:
GW have a pretty consistent "Conversions are HERESY and if you ever did one your models are now sub-optimal and/or illegal." policy in a post-Chapter House and post-Spots the Space Marine world.

That being said, outside of a GW store (aka a proper FLGS), it shouldn't be a problem unless the owner is an donkey-cave and has a "If you didn't buy it here you can't play with it" policy I have heard horror stories about.

Looking round my GW, that's not the case at all. Plenty of conversions there. Same with Warhammer World.

 Hawky wrote:
Rule #1, the Rule of Cool

The cooler the conversion is, the more tolerance you get from other players.

And if it isn't cool, ignore it.

There are several things to consider:

1) Yes, at most GW stores or organized events, non-GW parts are frowned upon or not legal for use.
2) At some major tournament events, the organizers may require GW figures or at least "predominantly" GW figures (no My Little Pony dolls, but a head swap on a Space Marine is fine)

Outside of GW or a major tournament with specific rules, the sky is the limit. However, for less argument, stick to the following:

3) The model should be the size and general shape of the model you're replacing.
4) The model should be easily identifiable and have matching weaponry to what its replacing.

That's about all your need to be concerned about. And even the last two can be skipped if you're just playing with friends or family. Personally I like conversions, but I appreciate them when they fit with the lore/aesthetic of the game (and I mean any game, not just GW games). However I've little interest if you show up with centaurs armed with spears and say "these are my Space Marine terminators". Then I'm less inclined to want to play a game with ya.

I just realized I have an example of what I mean in my own army.

This is a Games Workshop Vindicator:


This is "my" version. The tank is kit-bashed from a Rhino and a Leman Russ and it uses a resin 3rd party turret. I added a magnetized dozer blade, etc. It's instantly recognizable by the players at my club as a Vindicator. It has the same weaponry, general shape/size, etc. It's 80% GW parts outside of the turret.

The old rule that I was told (by a GW manager) was the "60%" rule; it should consist of 60% of GW products. And by products he meant specifically the miniature kits they made.

However this was literally a decade ago.

Generally, if you use household items to make mundane or structural stuff (like banner poles, hammer heads, shoulderpad mounts, etc) then most GW stores would not have a problem. If you're clearly using it to avoid buying GW kits (like using a dollar store tank and then gluing "60%" bitz to the exterior) then people will start raising eyebrows.

That is only for GW stores though. For FLGS it depends entirely on the manager/owner. some can't give a toss if you wanna use a coke can as a drop pod, while others will ask that, even if you don't use GW models, it should at least look like what it's intended to be.

Rule of Cool. So long as it looks the part, is the correct size and is recognisable then go for it.
I have Marines that I have converted to resemble Fallout Power Armour units, and no one has a problem with them (beyond them still not being painted!)

I haven't had any trouble with minor conversions but using non GW models already got me flak from one person I played in a tournament. I've started buying the quick assemble 5 man cadian squads. If someone complains again I'll just toss a couple handfuls of those guys out to replace the non-standard guardsmen. I figure the threat of a having to play against the clone army will keep even the most rules lawyer-y players behaving.

90% of players just seem to care about WYSIWYG with the weapons. If it looks like a lasrifle and uses the rules of a lasrifle they are fine. Same for meltas, plasmas, etc.

BaconCatBug wrote:GW have a pretty consistent "Conversions are HERESY and if you ever did one your models are now sub-optimal and/or illegal." policy in a post-Chapter House and post-Spots the Space Marine world.

That being said, outside of a GW store (aka a proper FLGS), it shouldn't be a problem unless the owner is an donkey-cave and has a "If you didn't buy it here you can't play with it" policy I have heard horror stories about.

never once seen this and have played in a few GW stores with converted minis. Generally as long as there are some GW bits on it...

Hawky wrote:Rule #1, the Rule of Cool

The cooler the conversion is, the more tolerance you get from other players.

...this is ALWAYS the case.

Agreed on the people saying that:

1) It should look cool.
2) It should be the same size and shape, pretty much.
3) It should be recognizable as the appropriate model without effort.

Rule of cool need not always apply so long as the conversion is funny as hell.

 BaconCatBug wrote:
GW have a pretty consistent "Conversions are HERESY and if you ever did one your models are now sub-optimal and/or illegal." policy in a post-Chapter House and post-Spots the Space Marine world.

That being said, outside of a GW store (aka a proper FLGS), it shouldn't be a problem unless the owner is an donkey-cave and has a "If you didn't buy it here you can't play with it" policy I have heard horror stories about.

That's odd, my GW store greatly encourages conversions, even displays people's from time to time.

Generally, if you intend to play at tournaments, it's best to field official models, or at least *mostly* official. People don't want to be guessing what they're attacking, when there are prizes on the line. If they make a move, thinking you have bolters on your hull, and they turn out to be lascannons, they might get salty. Having to tell them at the start of the match and expect them to remember isn't very sporting.


I never play serious tournament-style games though, and in friendly games the rule of cool reigns supreme. If you come up with a cool diorama-style conversion for a model, even the most hardened TG is likely to accept it.

It's always a good idea to try and show wargear as best you can though, even if it's alternative unofficial versions.

I tend to own an official model to go along with my biggest conversions.

I own a converted draigo and a crappy finecast one. I will use the unpainted one who's sword will not stay unbent if my opponent's demands it.

 Kap'n Krump wrote:

 BaconCatBug wrote:
GW have a pretty consistent "Conversions are HERESY and if you ever did one your models are now sub-optimal and/or illegal." policy in a post-Chapter House and post-Spots the Space Marine world.

That being said, outside of a GW store (aka a proper FLGS), it shouldn't be a problem unless the owner is an donkey-cave and has a "If you didn't buy it here you can't play with it" policy I have heard horror stories about.

That's odd, my GW store greatly encourages conversions, even displays people's from time to time.

I meant Games Workshop Ltd, or at least the lawyers of said company overseeing the rules team. Individual stores will of course vary.

Even then, the legal department couldn't care less if you're converting miniatures.

Games Workshop's policy that they're only going to produce rules for miniatures they make has no bearing on whether they encourage you to convert your miniatures; in fact, articles in White Dwarf and videos on Warhammer TV encourage you do do kitbashes and head- and weapon-swaps.

Using other manufacturers' parts in a GW venue is a different issue, but my experience is that unless you're waving it about and saying "look at this bit I bought off the internet because GW are crap!" you'll be OK.