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Hey everyone, I am currently on my way to starting FOW, but I am doing extensive research into the different aspects, before I go and buy any models, or really start anything for it.
So 1 aspect, that I have been pondering, and trying to discover more about, was the whole list building stuff, and how an army would fit together for FOW. I have read the FOW guide forum thing here on Dakka Dakka, but it didn't answer all the questions I had, so I thought I might as well, start a little thread, to gather the info, from people who know the game well. I have also heard that I would have to buy a 'source book' and when I looked at my local gaming store, I found about a zillion different types, for early war, mid war, etc, etc, and it still confuses me in multiple ways, but when I purchase the OPEN FIRE! set, I hope that will also help me in understanding more about FOW. THANKS!

Not quite sure what you're asking, but you don't necessarily have to buy a sourcebook to have an army list. The full rule book set includes a force guide that includes British, Soviet, American, and German force lists to build from, about two or three lists per faction. The sourcebooks give additional lists if you want to try certain periods of the war. Open Fire includes Late War armies that are built along the guidelines in the force guide, so you can take the Open Fire armies and the full force guide and make all kinds of forces without sourcebooks.

ok, yeah sorry about that, it does sound confusing, but you did actually answer the majority of my question. I guess I could have just asked how to make an army in FOW. So would the rulebook that comes in the OPEN FIRE! set, have the force guide? or would I have to buy the full rulebook?

The rule book in Open Fire is a small version (still with everything in it) of the rule book from the full set. The full set is about 40 USD and has a hardback full size rule book, the paperback force guide, and a small paperback hobby book. Way more value than the 40k rule book, any day. You'll have to get that for the full forces, though! The Open Fire set includes copies of the Armoured Squadron British list, and the Grenadierkompanie German list, from the force guide. So while you don't get all the lists, you can start building from one. Like getting a codex in the starter set.

Any other questions? I've just recently started FoW off of 40k, and I'm enjoying it ten times as much.

I suggest you to take a look at EasyArmy.com. This website is a really good help to build army without spending hundred of dollars in book. It is a little bit the "Army Builder" for Flames of War, except that (on my opinion) it is authorized by BattleFront. On the website, there is many army that are available for free and others that you can purchase the right for about 2-3$ a book. It is quite unexpensive when you are not sure which book to buy. The interface seem a bit strange and old, but once you see how to select troops and options it's getting really easy to set a compagnie in less than 5mins.

Also, there is different kind of army you can set (Tank Army, Mechanized Army, Infantry etc.). Depending on the forces, Open Fire offer a great deal for Tank, if you like the British/American. I suggest you to start with a Tank Compagny and add some troops to it later on. Tank are much easier to learn at the start.

I used the Open Fire set, added a company of Rifles and another platoon of British Tanks, and now I have the stuff to field both an Armoured Squadron and a Rifle Company.

Alternatively, if the Germans suit you more, some tanks would fill you out a Grenadierkompanie

I think its important to look around in your area and find a location where there are people playing FoW. Then ask them what time period: Early, mid war, or late. This will save you from buying models from a period noone plays. When I started I even asked what people were generally playing, then I looked at the FoW website and chose an army.

I think the starter is a great purchase for new players. The items you get for the Germans and the British can be used almost in any period of the war (and any front)...except the tanks won't work in early war. Even if you don't want to play British, those tanks could be used in a US army or even a Soviet army. Its extremely versatile. Also, you get dice, markers, a rulebook and cardboard terrain. It even has an even smaller rulebook to walk a beginner through how the fow rules operate.

This is a copy paste job, from the G plus community,it for a new player.
The periods are the timeline of ww2,ew is usually 1939 and 1941,mid war 1942-43,Lw is 44 -45. As for the books on pairings,all of them are complitions of the softbacks of that particular theatre.red bear-grey wolf,is operation Bagration,Turning tide-Earth and steel is d day. brige by bridge and Market garden are the MArket garden books.All of theese are late war.Which is the most popular timeline.i have played all of the eras and LW is are favorite.we like all of tanks.We even use some 45 experimental ones.Since you have open fire it is for market garden late war.But you can always branch off with that.a few people use the paras and start running para lists or the brit armor list.Market garden is the only book that allows you to field American paras with allied brit armor.but it is pretty much up to you on what you want use and of course your group. Are group we just use a open Lw style.As long as it is a LW list you can fild it.as over the weekend a couple of are players had lw Soviets red Bear list vs. American 101st. from nuts.but some prefer to just use the list from certain theathres,example all lists allowed must be from d day.
I hope this helps. feel free to ask anymore questions,i will try my best to answer them for you.

BF has a bunch of free PDFs here to build late war armies
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=108

and Mid War here
http://www.flamesofwar.com/Default.aspx?tabid=108&kb_cat_id=17

You can use those to get an idea as to what kinds of units each nation has available to it and see if anything catches your eye.

I too am using just the guide from the open fire set until the new source books are out for the d-day landings.

The points values in the starter set are nice and even. I am adding 1 unit to each force at a time to keep it even.

So far I have 1 british rifle platoons and a typhoon. Plus German hmg team and 88 anti air guns on the cards.

This will pretty much fill out the starrter set and be exactly the same points on each side

Buy what you like.....and learn as you go.

This isn't 40k where you will buy bad units and never use them.

I find a force you like, buy a Core of Units, either Infantry, Mech Infantry, Tanks or Assault guns and collect a Core of them.

Then add platoons here and there, like Artillery, AAA, Recce or Aircraft.

Don't hung up on buying a list and playing that list like in 40k. A mix and match will keep it fresh and interesting.

For Perspective, I have 4000+ of Germans pick 1750 out of that.

I have 4000+ of British Armour (11th AD)

I also Have about 2500+ of British Para's.

I mix and match my forces so sometimes I make some German Infantry Fallschirmjaegers or whatever depending on what we are fighting, or the period etc.

It's alot more open than 40k,... Generic German Armour can represent anyone.

Also sometimes finding an alternative list with the same models can be a new challenge, but like some German lists can be either fearless trained or confident vet

 orkkiller21 wrote:
Hey everyone, I am currently on my way to starting FOW, but I am doing extensive research into the different aspects, before I go and buy any models, or really start anything for it.
So 1 aspect, that I have been pondering, and trying to discover more about, was the whole list building stuff, and how an army would fit together for FOW. I have read the FOW guide forum thing here on Dakka Dakka, but it didn't answer all the questions I had, so I thought I might as well, start a little thread, to gather the info, from people who know the game well. I have also heard that I would have to buy a 'source book' and when I looked at my local gaming store, I found about a zillion different types, for early war, mid war, etc, etc, and it still confuses me in multiple ways, but when I purchase the OPEN FIRE! set, I hope that will also help me in understanding more about FOW. THANKS!

What you need to build an army:

First things first is determine what war period your local players a playing most often: Early War, Mid War or Late War. This will then tell you which forces are available to you. Once you have a war period, pick a campaign in that period that you like and pick up the campaign book. The lists in the campaign books tell you everything you need to know to build your army: Which units are compulsory to your force and which are optional; which units have different options that you can add to them; stats for all the units in the book, etc.

The main rulebook purchase also includes a selection of generic force lists for the big 4 (Germans, UK, Russia and the US). Not sure if the Open Fire! set includes any specific overall lists or not. Another source for armies is the website Easyarmy.com, which has posted up many of the currently available army lists for the game with all the details you would find for the list in the various campaign books. Some of the lists are free to all users, but others require you to "buy" access to the requisite book for a dollar or two which helps to support this awesome resource site.

Good luck on getting stuck in. Been playing FoW for some years now myself, coming in shortly after 2nd edition was released. The game is well written, decently balanced and well supported. I find when playing there are fewer arguements about the rules because they are written well enough that it is easy to get a solid consensus on the rules within the overall group, so if someone doesn't remember a rule or understand a rule there is not a lot of time wasted with half a dozen people offering up half a dozen different interpretations of a not too clearly written rule. There are also alternate mini manufacturers like Plastic Soldier Company who make 15mm WWII minis that can be used, some of much cheaper options than buying from Battlefront, while others are less cheap or roughly the same price. The primary caveat here being that the Battlefront kits are all set up specifically to match unit options/requirements in the FoW rulebooks while other manufacturers don't do that. I did recently acquire all of the models I needed for a 1750 Irish Guards Armored division in Late War from Plastic Soldier Company for under $100. Definitely very nice on the wallet. Definitely helps that the Second World War is not a unique fictional environment with highly specialized units and forces needing unique models. A Tiger I is a Tiger I no matter who makes the model.

Skriker

wow, thanks everyone! that was VERY informative, i might just have to print this all out so i can read it again when im not online,but also, what SHOULD i maybe add to the allied or german forces in the OPEN FIRE! set? maybe a british or american para rifle unit? or something else? Thanks again everyone!


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And i will definitely have to check up on what eras are played, and ask any other players at the store on how to start also, thanks!

If you add 2 Fireflys to the Brits and 5 PanzerIVs (get the PSC box) to the Germans both sides are exactly 1220 points.

ok....hmmmm..........and also, my first comment about not buying any FOW miniAtures, was actually false, sorry, i had forgotten that i had bought a little blister pack of metal soviet mortar teams, just to see how they would go together, and what kind of painting might have to be done, but thanks!


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otherwise, is there anything else i should do?

I purchased a British Rifle Company box and an Armoured Platoon box. Costs a little bit, but I can field an Armoured Squadron list using one of the Rifle Platoons, or use the full company to make a Rifle Company list accompanied by the armor.

Ok.....so hmmmm..... alright, im going to make a list of what im thinking about buying for FOW, and then people can comment on it, and i can make adjustments where needed., THANKS!

Alrighty, heres the list-
OPEN FIRE! set
full rulbook set
OP. Market Garden source book
Brit./Ameri. para rifle unit
ameri./brit. rifle company

Any suggestions?or ideas?

You'll need a second Para Rifle platoon and an HQ section.

That gives you your core infantry picks and support by 2 Brit Armored Platoons

You could get the Parachute Rifle Company box (UBX18) which has the command teams and two ParaRifle platoons. In MarketGarden I believe you can take PRPs with 9 R/MG teams. 3 PRPs can be used to form 2 with 9 R/MG teams.

Add mortars (US725) and recon (US405) and you have a 1750pt company

101st Parachute Rifle

Compulsory Parachute Rifle Company HQ (101st Airborne) - 1x CinC Carbine, 1x 2iC Carbine (30 pts)

Compulsory Parachute Rifle Platoon - 1x Command Rifle/MG, 9x Rifle/MG, 1x M2 60mm Mortar, 1x Bazooka (355 pts)

Compulsory Parachute Rifle Platoon - 1x Command Rifle/MG, 9x Rifle/MG, 1x M2 60mm Mortar, 1x Bazooka (355 pts)

Parachute Mortar Platoon - 1x Command Carbine, 4x M1 81mm Mortar (125 pts)

British Armoured Platoon - 1x Command Sherman V, 2x Sherman V, 1x Sherman Firefly (385 pts)

British Armoured Platoon - 1x Command Sherman V, 2x Sherman V, 1x Sherman Firefly (385 pts)

101st Airborne Divisional Recon Platoon - 1x Command .50cal Recon Jeep, 3x .50cal Recon Jeep (115 pts)

1750 Points, 6 Platoons

Ok, so everything else also? since i might not do the rifle company, and switch it to another para unit, and i'll look for an HQ, they can be either American and British HQ's right?

Not really.

The MG set comes with American Paras and Brit Shermans,
enough for a Brit Armored Sqdrn supported by the US Paras.

You can't form a Brit Para unit out of that. The unit's aren't interchangeable. Same with the rifle platoon. Do you want to play US Paras or Rifles or Brit Paras or Rifles, they will be completely different.

If you want to form a US Para company you need the US HQ and second Para rifle platoon at a minimum, so the US Para Company box is the best purchase.

The closest you can get to US Rifles in Market Garden is to play Glider Rifles.

ok, so does the us HQ come with the US para company? since i have seen a lot of the diagrams on the backs of the FOW boxes that say that you get 4 teams of whatever it is, 1 HQ,and 2 other teams of some other heavy wepons teams, or something like that. So if i bought just another para company, i would have an HQ?

A company has 1-2 HQ teams, the Company Commander and usually the 2nd in Command.

When a box set, such as the US Parachute Company says it has 4 command teams, they are including the CC, 2iC, and 2 platoon command teams.



Hmm, actually it shows you get 18 R/MG teams so that is 2 full platoons of 9 anyway.

You could turn the 6 plastic infantry teams into a Airborne Engineer squad with the extra bazookas from the Company HQ.

Just to be clear, a US Para Company would be two or Three (maybe more ) Platoons Commanded by a Captain.

The Company Box set will include the HQ, a Second Company Box set adds in further Platoons and you will have a Spare HQ.

If you are clever, you can use your spare HQ to create Platoon HQ's. For example buy some Forged in Battle Weapons Platoons...





Now these are nice and cheap and look great with your models.

Using the Spare Company HQ you can make Command Teams for these Platoons.

So for the Cost of 2 x Companies , 1 x FiB Para Mortars, 1 x FiB 30cal MG's. You get a massive 6 Platoons, Mortars and a HMG Platoon (You are Half-way to having a Battalion!!!!!) .....This is an extremely strong Core of infantry and will do you proud.

http://www.forgedinbattle.com/index.php?cPath=22_39_23

You can add AT Guns, armour, air and Artillery as you see fit.

Total Cost about £80 - $120 (although I am sure you could get it cheaper buying Plastic Open Fire Sets!!! And the US is usually much cheaper than UK).

If you're going to buy Open Fire, the best book to build out of is "Hell's Highway". You can either add Brit Armored HQ or an American Para HQ and then build your army either inf or armor playing support to the other.

EasterlyAnemone wrote:
If you're going to buy Open Fire, the best book to build out of is "Hell's Highway". You can either add Brit Armored HQ or an American Para HQ and then build your army either inf or armor playing support to the other.

hell's highway lists are now update in market garden

Thanks everyone, so all i need, is the HQ from the U.S. para unit, (maybe a 2nd) and the Operation Market Garden book, or the Hell's Highway book?

Hells Highway will be out of date for V3 BTW.

BF does not make a blister for a Para Company HQ. You could get a Rifle Company command blister but the uniforms will be off.
You would also need a Parachute Rifle Platoon blister since you can't build a Parachute Rifle company off just one platoon.

Ok, so no hells highway book, and Bf has no blister for a para HQ, but doesnt the para HQ come with the para company in the box? And yes, im going to have to make a very specific list once i get to the store again.