Sunday, September 6, 2009

Opinion: The Optimal 40k Game Size

So recently at my club, a few of the "painter" guys (like the golden demon guys who sit at the table all day and never play) carmelo (http://demonwinner.free.fr/usa/2009Baltimore/golden_demon_winner.php?categorie=11)
and yuri (http://demonwinner.free.fr/usa/2008Baltimore/golden_demon_winner.php?categorie=4) come to mind... Well they have been discussing building and painting 1000 point armies, the reason being that they want low model counts to paint but to be able to play games as well. Now I have always been a fan of the 1500-2000 point range, as it gives both players a chance to take enough units to have a balanced and complete army; however, after playing a few 1000 point games with my eldar, I think I might be in love. The reason I HATED 1000 point games is the lack of balance in armies that it forced, however upon playing a few games myself, I found that the lack of balance actually adds to my experience. I find that in 1000 points the army is really limited to compulsory choices and 1-2 "querky" units to do damage. This means that each army really only will have 1 way to hurt you (long range, short range, close combat etc...) And thus each game is far simpler, faster (less models = less time) and always more decisive, as an army will either kill the enemy's killy unit first, which = game over, they will avoid it, which = game over, or they will kill the enemy troops, which = game over. There is no trading units, decoys etc, so the game really is a very conservationist, tactical game, which fits my style completely. My list has 2 jetbike squads, a farseer and warlock retinue on bikes and a squad of vypers (i think) and this is an incredibly mobile, fun to play and versatile force in 1000 points. I think that playing smaller games will be my ultimate cure for the new codexes (spacemarines....cough) that have tons of expensive tricks begging for you to play 2000+ points to take them all. This points limit allows my wimpy eldar codex to shine with our overprices but awesome jetbikes and toned down but cheap tricks like vypers etc... So in conclusion, I think that from now on, 1000 point games may be the way to go for pickup gaming at least. I can't wait until i can see the shock on my opponent's face when I ask them to narrow their 2000 point marine list to 1000... "So if I drop vulkan, the redeemer, 2 iron clads, their drop pods and the 10 man vanguard squad I am at 1052." (Actual Quote) 

10 comments:

  1. I'm a fan of 1000 pt games for the same reasons listed. I'm also a fan of paragraph breaks.

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  2. I mostly play 1500 games myself, though have recently started moving towards larger point games. This is mostly due to my play style becoming faster, and suddenly 4 hours became an hour and a half, and I have a lot of time to kill.

    I generally only play smaller games if we are playing a team match up, where 750 or 1000 per player per side is the rule. Occasionally there is the odd 500 pt free for all with four people, but that is more of a once in a while deal.

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  3. 1500 points, that's where it's at. Although I'm not against 1000 either.

    Over 1500 and like you said... all the tricks come out.

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  4. Hmmmm..... 1500 sounds intriguing actually, It could add an extra facet to each army and make the games more interesting. I will give it a try. That could be my next opinion post....

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  5. Tough one.... i used to love 1000 pts games but recently i went to 1700 and actually started enjoying them

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  6. oberon.... lol cant get enough of eisenhorn references (see first post) but yea 1700 seems like its almost getting to be too many points for me, because in 1750 for me I can take a 5 man council, 2 farseers, 3 jetbike squads, 2 vyper groups and either some shining spears or a fire prism (approximately) which means that in codexes like space marines or guard we will see alot of querks at 1700 or 1750

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  7. You guys and your half-games. :)

    I suppose it's the environment I'm in, but 2K is the way here in Austin. I can't even remember the last game I played that wasn't 2K points. Oh, wait, yes I do, it was back in the beginning of the Macharian Crusade...oh no, that was 1.5K. So...no, I honestly don't remember.

    I am, however, scheduled to play 1,000 points next week, for the opening game of the Badab War (we're going for only all-painted armies for this one).

    I can see the fun in a 1K point game, I just like the "tricks" that come out (as do most of the people I play with). Plus, that's tournament size, and keeps you on your toes (and helps you learn how to play 2K points in 2 hours, too!).

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  8. Holy cow, 2000 points... I think I've only ever played one game at that point level.

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