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Hello!

What options are out there to make army lists in? Best supported, kept up to date, constrains users to make legal lists with all the nuances of BRB, erratas, Chapter approved, etc.

I've re-read my DE Codex twice, and pored over the detachment rules in the rulebook, and I'm still scared to try building an army list, so I want to outsource some of that functionality to software.

Battlescribe is pretty much the One True Choice for this in terms of software. It stays up to date fairly consistently and errors are rare and tend to get remedied quickly. It's not perfect but as far as I'm aware there isn't a better choice out there currently.

The app codices 40k has quite a few more errors than BS but also has warlord traits, stratagems and psychic powers on a list. The main problem is the lack of chapter tactics but I use both of them together if I need to check what a certain model can do or what weapons a certain model has but can't be bothered to make another BS army list for it.

 kastelen wrote:
The app codices 40k has quite a few more errors than BS but also has warlord traits, stratagems and psychic powers on a list. The main problem is the lack of chapter tactics but I use both of them together if I need to check what a certain model can do or what weapons a certain model has but can't be bothered to make another BS army list for it.

This is an app? Called "Codices 40k?"




Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Arachnofiend wrote:
Battlescribe is pretty much the One True Choice for this in terms of software. It stays up to date fairly consistently and errors are rare and tend to get remedied quickly. It's not perfect but as far as I'm aware there isn't a better choice out there currently.

Sounds like BattleScribe has taken over Army Builder's market share then? o.O

I'll use Battlescribe until GW gets their gak together and puts out an official list builder worth using.

 Arachnofiend wrote:
Battlescribe is pretty much the One True Choice for this in terms of software. It stays up to date fairly consistently and errors are rare and tend to get remedied quickly. It's not perfect but as far as I'm aware there isn't a better choice out there currently.

Oof. I downloaded Battlescribe and loaded up the 40k data and ...figuring out how to use it is going to take some effort.

 kastelen wrote:
The app codices 40k has quite a few more errors than BS but also has warlord traits, stratagems and psychic powers on a list. The main problem is the lack of chapter tactics but I use both of them together if I need to check what a certain model can do or what weapons a certain model has but can't be bothered to make another BS army list for it.

The only feature Battlescribe doesn't have is Stragems. And I can't blame the 40k community for avoiding that.

 Dashofpepper wrote:

 Arachnofiend wrote:
Battlescribe is pretty much the One True Choice for this in terms of software. It stays up to date fairly consistently and errors are rare and tend to get remedied quickly. It's not perfect but as far as I'm aware there isn't a better choice out there currently.

Oof. I downloaded Battlescribe and loaded up the 40k data and ...figuring out how to use it is going to take some effort.

It's a steep learning curve but once you know how to use it it's a breeze. If you have any questions feel free to ask and I'll be happy to help

I've found that reading + Pen & Paper still works for me.

I make my army lists in a little spiral notepad with a pen and a calculator

I've got an Excel spreadsheet set up to calculate all of my points for me, I just input "number of models" and "value per model/upgrade" and it takes a lot of the guesswork out.

Battlescribe.

Mostly on my laptop. The tablet version is a little rough to use.

Head + pen and paper, or GW's Combat Roster.

Varies, about a 50-50 mix between a custom spreadsheet (and a very basic one at that, it just counts the unit types, points and power levels manually entered) and pencil & paper which works nicely when away from home.

do plan to write an army builder at some point, largely to test a few techniques I'm using at work around drag & drop and a database rules engine for building virtual products to simulate like lego blocks.

I mess around on Battlescribe and confirm it in army builder.

Battlescribe

I've written myself a spreadsheet to do it.

I use Battlescribe as a quick framework for planning out my army, and then proof it with the Codex to make sure it’s legal. Battlescribe is just too useful to not use.

SJ

A notebook.

I used to use books, a calculator and a Google Docs file. I've been using Battlescribe recently, and sure, it helps. I still hate it though. The interface is annoying and formatting is an utter disaster. It offends my aesthetic sensibilities. I really wish GW would make proper armybuilder which supports points.

I've been making my lists in Microsoft Excel or Google Docs for the last 10 years...

You just have to personally double check to make sure your points totals are right. I often find that my own lists are far easier to read than those I've seen from Battle Scribe. What I don't like about Battlescribe lists is how much space they take up, and how they list all of a unit's default wargear which can make it difficult to see what the actual upgrades are. Then you have the wonky interface and difficulty for people trying to add Imperial Armor units to their lists. Overall, I find 40K's list building to be easy enough with Excell

One Column for unit and upgrades, one column for points, one column is a sum forumula to figure out the total cost of the list. Its really easy to edit as well, because you enter the unit points like this:
=(model point cost * number of models + upgrade cost * number of upgrades) which means if you change the upgrades around on the unit you don't even have to recalculate the whole thing. Like changing Plasma for Melta would just change a 17 for a 13 in the above forumula.


I've used software for other games however. Easy Army is awesome for Bolt Action, and the Malifaux App has a really nice list builder in it. The Malifaux one is cute too because you can take pictures of your stat cards to view them from the App if you are so inclined. OFC it would be easier if they just included pictures of the Stat Cards, but I can see why they didn't so people would still need the stat and upgrade cards.

OpenOffice.

I made myself a simple excel sheet.

Pen and Paper for sure. Easier to show the opponent my list before we start deployment.

 Bellerophon wrote:
I've written myself a spreadsheet to do it.

Yep, a sheet in google docs with all of my units pre-configured and I just have to stick a qty next to each unit and watch the total building up.

All of the points come from lookups so when CA or any points errata come out I change the table of points and everything updates.

Battlescribe is reliable, and while not always elegant, it allows for a lot of options.

I found the output to be borderline unreadable, and I write up my lists in word once I have the points calculated.

ccs wrote:
I've found that reading + Pen & Paper still works for me.

This.

I mostly just use my head, since I've played so much of one army I've memorized the points values. (Also a calculator on my phone, just to make sure I get the numbers right.)

But if I'm playing a new army or if my brain is foggy for some reason, Codex and pencil/paper.

Excel document - seems to work fine and can reuse and tweek.

Pencil and paper. If there's a local tourney I'll often type it up and print it out.