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So, how do you do it?

Game, I mean. What would you say is your playstyle. I'm not just talking on the field of battle, but the whole process from concept ideas of a new army, to the games you have once in the swing of it.

Me, I tend to be quite 'fluffy' as a Hobbyist. Models are converted to the theme where I feel it is appropriate, the theme is stuck to, even to the exclusion of units which could boost the armies effectiveness somewhat (Savage Orcs with no Spider Riders. If it ain't Frenzied, it ain't in!) right down to trying to suit my tactics around how the army might function (note the use of might, not should or would!).

This is where I find the real appeal of the Hobby. I try to make the entire process as fun as possible for myself, and pour my heart and soul into each new project, before I bound off in an opposite direction on the next. I am even slowly learning to enjoy the process of painting, helped immeasurably by figuring out the basic principles and often thinking 'what if I tried...'

To me, to win a game is just the cherry on the cake. Almost a reward for the hard work and money spent on the force to make it indelibly mine. I don't enjoy Tournaments, as at the one I did attend, I had 1 Cheat, 1 TFG, and 1 NooB, so I felt somewhat jaded from the off. Plus, I'm not sure those who attend Tournaments would necessarily appreciate my rather odd approach to the game. For example, when I finally field them for the first time (fingers crossed, tomorrow night) my Savage Orc Warboss, and his Wyvern, will be aimed squarely at the enemy General, and to hell with any risk. He's Frenzied, and strapped underneath his Wyvern to prevent him jumping off at height. This is how I see him fighting. The rest of the Boyz, in my mind, only follow him because he always seems to know where a good fight is to be had, than any tactical accumen he clearly doesn't posess.

To my opponents, this is to be expected from me, but a Tournament Attendee might feel I'm am throwing the game, which I can see why, and that would be disrespectful for me.

All this I do in order to get my own brand of satisfaction from the game. Sure, I might well never win with my Savage Orcs, but then, at least I know they will go down fighting, and look good doing so! What more could an Orc want?

Your turn now. Just explain the whys and wherefores of your own process and mindset. Nobody is wrong in this thread, it's just about exploring different approaches to the same game.

well with my renegades i did that. they are called Hammerites. they believe that the god of creation is the emperor, and since he is a giant hulking machine basically, they try to make themselves in his image. also every single sgt. or higher mini has to carry a massive hammer into combat. (usually its a thunder hammer which is really pricey to play) the rest of the army is shooty as all get out. its there thing, if they dont have a hammer they want more bullets in the air. so i rely on my hammer toating minis to take care of armor, so obviously if they die im screwed because the heavy weapons usualy have a ton of heavy bolters.
but for the Orks i havnt figured that one out yet. we'll see

Thats all fine. I hate people that bring fluff to a tournament then complain about others bringing "Hard" lists. Its a tournament. If somebody wants a fluff game they can do that on some other weekend or in thier friends garage. People that travel all over go to win, not to bring fluff. Maybe some do. Some can even do both, those are the well rounded players that likely often win tourneys. I just do not like whiners.

As far as my gaming goes, it depends on the situation. I'm a pretty open and friendly guy toward people I don't know, so new games are usually pretty fun.

Mostly it depends on my opponent. I try to find out what style they like to play. If someone is playing their army for the cinematic or thematic qualities, then I will try to accomodate unless the "theme" is me getting crushed merely for their satisfaction. Sorry, I'm nobody's straw man if I can help it.

However, if someone is looking to bring the pain, if they have a bloody, abusive, fair-only-in-the-most-technical-of-senses list they want to try out, then I'm game. I've done a lot of experimentation with my own and other peoples lists, trying to refine them to whatever goal.

My ideas on a fair game run more toward a couple other things. I try to set up my games easter egg style, as far as lists are concerned. People never know WHAT I'm bringing. Bugs? BA? IG? Sisters? Eldar? I like for them to make theire lists without knowing. I like to make MY lists without knowing. I love the look on their face when they build to my BA, and then see my wheel in my Guard. Shouldn't have assumed, my man. I think it's more fun that way, but I'm not a stickler for it or anything. I just believe that you don't build to an opponents list.

The Black Templar where fighting across a planet when the =][= showed up and started threatening the marshal on his battle barge for an accurate count of the marines on the ground.

knowing what this would do to the templar chapter he formed a new chapter the Templar hospitlar. Over night half the marines where white and red and drop pods littered the ground.

Ever since the vetren Hosplitlar have fought alongside the Templar taking care of the wounded and presserving the gene seed of both chapters.

on the field they specialize in drop pod assault, never fielding scouts and using the most ancient and powerful machines to serve their brothers.
(this has been since 4th mind you I didn't jump on the Pedro train until after I found out he was from a brother chapter as well)

I run drop pods with tac squads, termi's and anything from landspeeders (barely arriving to the sight) to predators and vindicators (holding a position to protect relics or the emperors champions remains)

The 'poster boy' of this army is my Landraider Ares wich i'm going to do fluff for later, I run honor guard when I can but them not having an invo save sucks horribly...
my knight paladin isn't done yet, but he'd be next on the list after the ares.

so yeah, the Templar Hospitlar of the Shadow Crusade.

also templar hospitlar existed during the crusades and took care of the wounded Knight's Templar.

Oh, god - stop torturing history wash-away!!!!!

The Poor Knights of the Temple of Solomon (Knights Templar) and The Knights Hospitaller of the Order of St John of Jerusalem (Knights Hospitaller) were two completely seperate and distinct organisations!

Knights Hospitaller were all trained medics and in some cases were highly skilled surgeons. Whilst they would have occasionally treated Knights Templar, it was on an equal basis with treating any other wounded/sick person who turned up on their door.

There was definately no such thing as a 'Templar Hospitaller'.


Back on topic -

I don't see an issue with being competetive and having a theme at the same time.
Foe example, my Dwarf army for fantasy has been very successful despite not having any thunderers.

I tend to build my army and my theme at the same time. I always start with the army book and a few ideas on colour scheme, backstory, etc and will generally go through 5 to 10 versions of a list before I finally get something I'm happy with - something that both fits the fluff and can hold its own in competition.

I like to have fluffy but competitive armies. I thought to myself, how can I take lots of lootas while not being called cheesy? Play as Deathskulls!

If it's just 1-5 dice, I just roll em wherever there is room.

Hmmm, how I roll...I usually count up the dice and if I can do it in equally divisable blocks of some sort, I do that. Otherwise I get as close as possible, then add the odd dice to the last set of rolls (23 attacks, a roll of 10 and a roll of 13 dice, counting up successes as I go).

I shake them in both hands and if the table is one of the better types that has a lip along the edge, I roll the dice so that they try to bounce off the lip, Vegas Craps style. If not, I head over to a large open area to roll that many dice at once.

If it's not 100% completely flat, it's "cocked" to me and needs a reroll. None of that hokey "lets see if I can balance another die on top" crap. Flat on the table or roll it again, period.

If I have a subsequent roll to do after the first (say, wounding after the to-hit roll), failures are picked up and the successes are left behind. I count up the successes then roll em up.

And that, ladies and gents, is how I roll

I choose a mixture of models I like and stuff from the Codex that appeals to me. As I always play either chaos marines or Orks, I don't have so much as plan as a general intention. In the past when I've been up against a hyper-competitive player who looked down upon me for not being equally humorless, I just give him my best 'Hey, so you beat me, but that's okay because beating me is so easy it really doesn't count as a victory' speech, which really infuriates them. That really makes my day. Aren't you all glad I don't play in tournaments?

I just pick an army (Seems like I get a new one every few months XD) and go through to codex and pick out the models that look the coolest and will piss off my opponent the most XD

3 units of 15 Necron warriors with lords+Orb and 3 units of 8 Scarabs Not going to win at all, but it will be fun to annoy your H2H for a few rounds and have my army stand back up all the time. Pluse with a shroud I can run a unit it to combat, then deep strike out right behind you and shoot a few things before deep striking out again ^^

I never play to win, because I never win, so I just play to have fun and watch my opponent get frustrated at my cut little scab army

HI all.
I sort of look at how its going to work as a finished force.
Usually pick my 'Key Units' that set the theme, then expand on this to get a finished themed force.(Hopefully.)

I tend to look at asthetics, after I have got the 'playstyle' sorted out.

If I do it the other way around I tend to lose focus.But that just me probably....

TTFN
Lanrak.

I always start off trying to do an assaulty army then end up with an almost exclusive shooting army. Getting stuck in is just too dangerous....

I bring usually one or two rather nasty units and then the rest is family friendly. I win roughly 2/3 of my games so I'm not really unhappy with myself over that.

In the end though one of us is usually tabled. I have only not had a game end in a table under 10 times.

How do I choose an Army? Choose models that I want to paint and play with Army Builder. It ain't gonna win much, but it's mine.

Play-style? I play to have fun. Don't play in tournies, I just wanna throw down and have some fun with my toys.

For me it's kind of half and half divided between fluff and cheese. I definately have 'friendly lists' and tourney lists.

When it's just me and the guys playing, the army is usually mostly fluff with a good balance of units. Lists are made alot of the time based on what models I like the look of provided it doesn't outright cripple the army.

If I go to tourney my lists tend towards the competitive side, but I keep them fluffy to within reason so I'm not accused of gorgonzola level cheese, especially if army composition and sportsmanship are factors in winning.

I always try and play for fun, but I always try to win. Unless I play against the eldar because I never win and subsequently is not fun, lol.

for me its 0% fluff, 100% evilness.
no point having a nice fluffy army if it just gets steamrolled on the table.

smart_alex wrote:Thats all fine. I hate people that bring fluff to a tournament then complain about others bringing "Hard" lists. Its a tournament. If somebody wants a fluff game they can do that on some other weekend or in thier friends garage. People that travel all over go to win, not to bring fluff. Maybe some do. Some can even do both, those are the well rounded players that likely often win tourneys. I just do not like whiners.

I dont like it when fluffy players(like myself) moan about hard lists at tourneys, i mean, thats where they belong, but I dont like it when the opponent brings a hard list and Is a complete ****(insert any word that takes your fancy), no matter what kind of list you bring you should always be nice about it.