Does anyone else build their models with "the rule of cool" over strategy?

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**TBD**

Yeah I think I’d prefer the higher strength & range and I like the look of the high-energy backsides better so I’ll just put those on.

**BlackLobster**

I go with what I want the unit to do, regardless of whether or not anyone else thinks a given option is viable or not. The game is meant to be fun not overly competitive, so go with what you want to field.

**Rikki_Sixx**

Since getting back into the hobby I tend to form a rough idea of what would be cool and in-character for the team / army I'm putting together, followed by long periods of waiting for bits / models to come up for sale on second hand groups.

I'm just picking up a few models at a time as I don't know when I'll ever get to play and my painting speed is super slow, so it's just enough to keep me entertained! My main focus is the cool factor though.

**Jammer87**

I tried to build according to some semblance of tactics or strategy and they(GW/Meta) always changed it to where my army sucks. So now I just go with rule of cool and find more enjoyment out of painting and friendly matches.

**Insectum7**

Powerfists look cooler than Thunder Hammers, so that's what my HQs usually wind up with.

**the_scotsman**

I usually go for a mix. Ironically, the army that I "rule of cool'd" the hardest on just magically became my strongest army. I started my Deathwatch as a KT collection, so I built 1 of pretty much every possible loadout (barring a couple combi-weapons or whatever) and then I did two boxes worth of vanvets where I built 5 for 40k purposes (Chainsword+Storm Shield) and 5 for kill team with varied stuff. Lastly I took the terminators from a box of Space Hulk and my one box of space wolf terminators and repainted them.

That list, just minimarines, terminators, vanvets and a couple HQs, is my strongest 2k list atm.

**Eadartri**

A friend advised me: "Buy what you want to paint." Given options in a box I think "Build what you want to paint" is nice advice. You can always add other less desirable models if you are going for a win. So yeah, "cool" is a rule. Hopefully, your opponents will do the same.

**Galas**

Rules come and go, models are eternal.

Thats why I spam double lighting claws in a ton of characters like my deathwing ancient or my Chaos Terminator Lord.

Is not like I put a ton of useless stuff. For example, I hate doing mixed weapon squads , they just look off to me, so by virtue of specializing I end up with things that work (Devastators squads with 4 of the same weapon, etc...) in some way or another.

**Melissia**

*eyes her Blood Angels terminators*

No. Not at all.

**Saturmorn Carvilli**

Insectum7 wrote:
Powerfists look cooler than Thunder Hammers, so that's what my HQs usually wind up with.

Only just barely. As awesome as the idea of smashing some daemon with a giant hammer crackling with lighting is, do the same thing as a punch is way cooler. The only thing I think could make powerfists cooler is if they were rocker-assisted given the wearer the ability to punch as supersonic speed.

**Galas**

I built my tartaros terminators with full lighting claws because they remind me of Knuckles from Sonic, specially the ones painted red in the GW webstore. I don't even know why.

**Gadzilla666**

My Night Lords have a LOT of plasma. I love the way it looks, painting the glow effect, and just the concept of a gun that fires blasts of energy as hot as a sun. So what if spending points on a combi-plasma is a waste on a chaos lord who just hides behind my fellblade so it can reroll 1s to hit? I also gave my contemptor double chainclaws instead of the more efficient deathclaws because he's a fething 15 foot tall Ash fething Williams that's why.

**FEARtheMoose**

I tend to only play friendly games so if my Leman russ has 2 plasma cannon sponsons but i decide i want to run it with 2 heavy bolter sponsons no one cares so long as you arent a dirty bastard and try to use this to somehow gain an advantage over the other player, but then that wouldnt be very friendly! Generally though ive found ive modeled units with more powerful weapons than i may actually use in any given game so this tends to make it easier on opponents that its not WYSIWYG.

When i build them i will have a general idea of how i want to equip them, but if that weapon looks gak i will use the cooler looking of them.