Dr. Z’s Fantasy Land: Changing It Up
This week we’re stepping out of the Warhammer 40k box and I’m going to pose the question why aren’t more 40k players at least dabbling in Warhammer Fantasy?
Doctor Z here from Doctor Z’s Laboratory,
There has been a longstanding and somewhat unspoken divide between those Games Workshop enthusiasts that play on Round bases and those who play on square ones. Only a small percentage of players seem to play both 40k and fantasy. But why is that? The most common reason I hear from people is that they simply can’t afford to spend the money on a second game. How true can that be when the people saying it are often in possession of 2 or more armies for the game they already play? I’ve also heard 40k players tell me that fantasy is too much of a beer and pretzels game for them, meaning that they think it lacks tactical depth or competitiveness. My favorite part of that reasoning is that I’ve heard the exact same thing come out of the mouths of fantasy players when describing 40k. As someone who plays both games I can say with some certainty that neither one is inherently more or less tactical than the other or for that matter better over all. That’s not to say you can’t have a preference for one game or the other but I think there is merit to playing both. I guess this is my confession…
I’m a polyamorous gamer, I can’t love just one!
Here are 5 reasons 40k players should give Fantasy a shot:
Sweet models
Warhammer Fantasy is roughly half of Games Workshops model range and Games Workshop has the best model Range of any miniatures game company in the world. That means if you’re not playing fantasy you’re missing out on half of the best model range in gaming. Seriously look at the Dark Elf Cauldron of Blood and Witch Elves, High Elf Dragons, or the Giant these are all amazing kits flooded with extra bits. In addition because of the way fantasy units are ranked up and moved in tight block it allows for fantastic basing opportunities and unit fillers(see above picture). For those of you who have never seen a unit filler the idea is that in a large ranked up unit you can place a huge centerpiece model or diorama in the center of the unit for decoration. This piece will have no in game effect other than to count as the number of models equal to however many it would displace but they can add a great deal of character to units.
Change of pace
We’ve all hit a 40k doldrums at one point or another, that week, month, or year when for whatever reason our hearts just not in it. Fine play some fantasy. This is the single biggest reason I keep my Orc and Goblin (Orcs with a c) army around I love the fact that I can shelve my Bolters and Splinter Cannons for a week, not worry about Adimantium Lances, Wave Serpents, or Drop Pod Centurion, and just run some Orcs carrying meat cleavers into a line of guys in pantaloons. Or zap someone with non-psychic non-space magic. It’s fun and it’s a good way to recharge my gaming batteries.
Races That Don’t Exist in 40k
Yes, the Daemon model lines are identical and people like to joke about Eldar being Space Elves or Necrons being Tomb Kings in space and yes there are similarities between some of the races in 40k and fantasy there are enough differences however to keep them feeling too much the same. The real difference comes in races that have no comp in 40k, armies like Lizard Men, Skaven, Beastmen, Ogres, and of course Dwarves(no, squats don’t count). These armies give fantasy a totally different tabletop esthetic and feel than 40k and give you as a player the option to collect an army radically different from anything you already own.
New Tactics
Much like being a great change of pace esthetically Warhammer Fantasy can be a great change of pace tactically as well. Sure the basic mechanics are similar, a S4 model attacking a T3 model still only needs to roll a 3 to wound but so much of the way the game is one and lost is different. Chaff units blocking up big blocks of infantry, redirecting charges wheeling and reforming units that have front side and rear facings, magical hexes and augments, that dramatically swing combats, the effect of a generals leadership bubble, etc. ect. etc. Just because you know how to win at 40k does not mean you have a clue when it comes to fantasy.
End Times Awesomeness
There has never been a better time to be involved with Warhammer Fantasy the last 6 months have been a whirl of activity and with 9th edition expected sooner than later it doesn’t look like that’s going to stop anytime soon. The End Times Campaign books have shaken up the landscape of the game in a huge way and the models that have accompanied them are some of the finest Games Workshop has ever produced. Every time a new book is released I get excited buy not just the new rules but the incredible fluff that is bound to accompany them. I’m hardly alone on this.
Fluff
The 6th of my 5 reasons (don’t judge me because I lack self control) is the fluff. Yes I know 40k has amazing fluff too but this isn’t about who’s better. At first glance Warhammer Fantasy’s fluff may not seem all that different from stand fantasy fair but when you dig a bit deeper you find the 25+ years of developing story is apparent. From the complex politics of the Empire, to the ancient grudges of the Dwarves, the complex interweaving of the different Elven societies, to dynasties of the undead races you could years trying to learn all there is to learn about the Old World.
All of these reasons why a 40k player should try Fantasy could easily be turned into reasons a fantasy player should try 40k. maybe it’s time we reached across the aisle a little more as gamers. Maybe this can be the beginning of a movement. Maybe X-Wing players will hold hand with Attack Wing Players, Maybe the D&D and Pathfinder people will share their dice in harmony, maybe Magic The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh players can… No, that one probably won’t happen.
Do you play fantasy as well as 40k? Are you a one game Kind of guy/gal?
