I've been playing Epic:Armageddon for a while now, and remember liking WFB when I was younger. I'm considering getting back into it, but the main thing holding me back is the 'I move everything, you move everything, I shoot everything, you shoot everything' system. After E:A's system of 'I move and shoot with a unit then you do the same' I don't think I would be willing to go back - it gives a much better feel of everyone doing things at the same time.

So, my question: Would it work to simply use alternating activations in WFB, or would this break the game in some way?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

The problem is with combats. As they are not resolved in one 'activation' in many cases you will have to decide what happens if another formation enters the combat.

For example one formation (A) charges another (B) head-on, Wins the engagement but the B passes its moraled check. The second player now chargers A with C in the flank.

Does A now get to fight again?

It's not impossible to resolve, but would require a some rules tweaks.

The magic system would also need rewriting from scratch.

Also, the "whole side moves at once" system is quite appropriate for a system representing battle-lines and ranked formations of troops.

For example if alernating activations are used a single unit might step forward from the battle-line, intending to be followed by the others, but get singled out and flank charged for exposing itself, whereas in reality the whole battle-line would step forward together, with the flanks at no time exposed.

Unlike 40k fantasy does offer an interesting tactical challenge, mainly due to the bonuses for flank and rear charges, and the ability to flee from charges and set up favourable overruns etc to expose the enemy unit's flanks. Unfortunately over the last couple of years a major "codex-creep" has set in leading us back to the bad-old-days of "herohammer", where hugely powerful characters and monsters sweep ranked troops aside, and an overpowered magic phase being a game-winning rather than enhancing tactic, which has removed some of the tactical nuance of the game.

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Epic: Hive Development Thread

Although this dynamic occurs in warmaster with a failed command roll.
I would recommend warmaster as a way of getting back into fantasy.

I agree with everything Zombocom said.


If you're sensible with Warhammer Fantasy and have sensible opponents, you can have a fun and tactical game.

If you play against WAAC numpties, it'll be one of the most unenjoyable experiences possible, just slightly above being poked in the eyes with spiky things.

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