HOW MUCH is that army you're trying to sell me?

[shaggai]

   I always wanted to go through WD and actualy figure out just how much are those armies depicted in battle reports. I figured that it would be a good guide for the starting player just to see what sort of investment the game is right from the start. So without further ado here is the first installment of How much is that army you're trying to sell me?

2nd Company Strike Force, pg 25, US WD 373 - 2000 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Captain	20.00	13.80
Furioso Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Sanguinary Guard	33.00	20.50
Brother Corbulo	17.00	10.25
Sanguinary Priest	15.00	8.20
Tactical Squad	37.25	23.00
Assault Squad	59.50	37.00
Death Company	66.00	41.00
Death Company Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Storm Raven Gunship	66.00	41.00
Storm Raven Gunship	66.00	41.00
Total Cost	468.75	291.15

 Note on the above, two battleforce boxes would increase your US cost to +37.25, give you what you need for this force and have a spare tactical squad and two spare Rhinos - which all in all is a good thing since the tactical squad by itself would be equal to this increase with two "free" Rhinos nominally retailing at 66.00 for both...
 The UK "bonus cost" is +19.00 with the two battleforce option with an overall savings of 37.00 (the spare tactical squad would cost 23 nominally which would be +4.00 outlay against the 41.00 for the two rhinos).

Death From Above, pg 57, US WD 373 - 1750 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Astorath	17.00	10.25
Furioso Librarian Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Furioso Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Chaplain (with Power Fist)	15.00	8.20
Tactical Squad	37.25	23.00
Rhino	33.00	20.50
Assault Squad	59.50	37.00
Death Company	66.00	41.00
Death Company Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Storm Raven Gunship	66.00	41.00
Total Cost	427.25	264.05

   As with the previous army list, two battleforce boxes would increase your US cost to +4.25, give you what you need for this force and have a spare tactical squad and one spare Rhino - comparatively a bargain for the retail price of 70.25 for those two items.
   The UK keeps this trend with a meager +1.00 cost using two battleforces, and netting a savings of 44.50 for the unused tactical squad and rhino.

Seeing (Blood) Red, pg 59, US WD 373 - 1746 point Dark Eldar list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Archon	15.00	8.20
Incubi (6)	59.50	37.00
Raider	33.00	20.50
Kabelite Warriors (9)	24.75	15.50
Raider	33.00	20.50
Kabelite Warriors (10)	24.75	15.50
Wyches (10)	24.75	15.50
Wyches (10)	24.75	15.50
Hellions (9)	49.50	31.00
Reavers (6)	69.50	43.00
Ravager	49.50	30.75
Ravager	49.50	30.75
Total Cost	472.50	291.40

   Some caveats with all the above - note that in many cases that it takes multiple boxes of product to make what is listed with any extra amount not even considered in the final number. This is mainly why there is no point to currency comparasion. Also it does not count anything such as conversions, replacement, and/or wargear options - such as in the above Dark Eldar list the Archon was purchased. A wiley player could "pimp up" one of the unused Kabelite warriors and do a counts as and save himself 15.00 for the purchase...
   Well, so much for this first exercise. Feel free to comment, make suggestions on the above to see if it should continue or otherwise be expanded to perhaps be useful...

shaggai / Lead Maintainer AB40K files.

P.S. Many thanks to Spack for changing the text editor to a version which made tables possible...

[shaggai]

OK, new month of White Dwarf, new month of figuring the cost of what they're sell you on.

So, this month we return once again to Blood Angels with two more lists. Using the lists and the current pricing of the two GW websites, the cost of those army lists will be determined below.

Strike Force, "Blood Creed", pg 59, US WD 374 - 1500 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Reclusiarch (Commander)	20.00	13.80
Furioso Librarian Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Furioso Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Tactical Squad (10 models)	37.25	23.00
Assault Squad (5 models)	29.75	18.50
Death Company (9 models)	66.00	41.00
Death Company Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Death Company Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Total Cost	420.00	262.50

OK, it should serve notice that this list is within 2% of the cost of last months 1700 point list and for 10% more you have a 2000 point list. Also, due to the choices it does not seem like a battleforce box is that great help here as you still would need to spend 33.00 to fill the death company on top of the 100 for the battleforce box. However, when you look at it the single battlebox would give you a "free" rhino and two battleforce boxes would be +67 for two rhinos, 5 assault marines and a tactical squad (that is $133 for what you need separately vs. $200 for what you get in the battleforce boxes).
   Note that there is no Reclusiarch figure, I threw in the SM commander as there is always something that you can do with that. There are numerous other HQ characters which could be substituted as well which would probably hack off 5.00 of the cost.

Strike Force "Red Wind", pg 61, US WD 374 - 1490 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Captain (Commander)	20.00	13.80
Furioso Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Furioso Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Tactical Squad (10 models)	37.25	23.00
Tactical Squad (10 models)	37.25	23.00
Death Company (7 models)	66.00	41.00
Death Company Dreadnought	44.50	27.70
Stormraven Gunship	66.00	41.00
Stormraven Gunship	66.00	41.00
Total Cost	426.00	265.90

Since we'll always try to figure out where a battleforce box (or two) places us, what you need in models for the above list would total $140.50 vs. the $200 of the battleforce boxes. So this difference in price would give you +3 death company models, +10 assault marines and two rhinos for an additional 59.50 (oddly enough, the same cost as the 10 assault marines alone). 

Note that the point of these articles is really just to tally up the cost of the army if you decided to go and buy one off of these lists. Note that the high number of vehicles makes it hard for a model to cost ratio determination, although most certainly you can see that reflected in the $ cost of these lists vs. the other lists in the last issue. One other note for comparsion is that these lists are 1500 point lists, the previous 2000 point list would have a cost of 468.75 and the 1750 list has a cost of 427.25...

Actually, looking at the above, the previous article, and battleforce boxes - a great deal of the "cost" savings for the players is the Rhinos. That is, as long as you have constructed your army with the assistance of battleforce boxes, there should be no reason not to use them as they haven't cost you anything and you have them. Just thinking out loud here...

shaggai / Lead Maintainer AB40K files.

[shaggai]

   OK, just in time to highlight the new release of Orce & Goblins, we'll subject the new Fantasy Release to "How Much is that army you're trying to sell me?"

Waaagh! Wurrzag, pg 67, US WD 374 - 3997 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Wurrzag *	17.00	10.25
Arachnarok Spider	57.75	36.00
Savage Orc Shaman on Warboar*	20.00	12.30
Goblin Warboss on Gigantic Spider	30.00	18.50
Orc Big'uns (21 models)	87.00 (revised)	54.00 (revised)
Night Goblins (20 models)	30.00	18.50
Savage Orcs (29 models)	87.00	54.00
Goblin spider riders (30 models)	90.00	55.50
Savage Orc Boar Boyz (30 models)	148.50	93.00
Goblin Spear Chukka	22.50	15.50
Goblin Spear Chukka	22.50	15.50
River Trolls (3 models)	44.50	27.70
Arachnarok Spider	57.75	36.00
Arachnarok Spider	57.75	36.00
Doom Diver Catapult	35.0035	20.50
Total Cost	807.25 (revised)	503.25 (revised)

   Ok, some caveats starting with the items with the asterisk. We're using the price of the savage Ork Great Shaman as the Ork Shaman. You could use the mounted / non-mounted Ork Shaman model, increasing the cost by 9.75 but also could give you a suitable miniature for the Ork Battle Standard Bearer. Note that the same could be used for the Orc Warbosss replacing Wurrzag and the BSB, costing +5.25 but again adding the "needed" minature.
   Second, you need 21 Orcs for the unit listed, but are getting a total of 30. Maybe that can give you the BSB and eliminating the need for the mounted/unmounted choices and using what is given above.
   As currently listed on the GW Website, the Brigade would cost +60.00 on top of what would be required, but gives you +10 Black Orcs, 20 Night Goblins, 10 Wolf Riders and the Orc Boar chariot for that difference (the cost of the Wolf riders and night goblins would be 65).
   Note that there is a listing for the Battlalion box without a price, and assuming you could proxy or otherwise consider the Gobins to be equivalent to the Night Goblins needed and the Orc Boar Boyz being a replacement of the savage Orc Boar Boyz, two battlions could save 209.00 depending on the cost of the two battlions (I'm going to assume for the moment that it may be around 100.00 for a savings of $9.00)
   Lastly this should probably be considered to be a larger than nominal army as it is taking on two armies in the gaming article and I believe that 2250 is still the nominal Fantasy army. Pease note that Fantasy is not really one of the games played by the writer all that often.
     A future post may cover the other two armies from this article, since the highlight was all the new swag of Orcs and Goblins, it merited more immediate concern.

NOTE: Revision made to UK pricing for the website update to the repack of the Orc Boyz (10 models for 18).
NOTE: Revision made to US pricing for the website update to the repack of the Orc Boyz (10 models for 29).

shaggai / Lead Maintainer AB40K files.

[UltraPrime]

Second, you need 21 Orcs for the unit listed, but are getting a total of 38. Maybe that can give you the BSB and eliminating the need for the mounted/unmounted choices and using what is given above.

The Boyz have now been re-boxed. You get 10 instead of 19 now....

[shaggai]

Second, you need 21 Orcs for the unit listed, but are getting a total of 38. Maybe that can give you the BSB and eliminating the need for the mounted/unmounted choices and using what is given above.

The Boyz have now been re-boxed. You get 10 instead of 19 now....

That's what I have been reading on Warseer since the Orcs & Goblins went to advance orders from rumors. However I've been using the pricing (and model) data from the GW website and they still show the 19 for $35 box (as of yesterday since I tabulated the list). Once they do change the data, I'll revise the list appropriately - but since this is GW I don't think it may get any cheaper...

[UltraPrime]

I bought a couple of boxes a couple of weeks ago, anticipating the change. Imagine my shock when I received the 10-boyz sets.

[shaggai]

I bought a couple of boxes a couple of weeks ago, anticipating the change. Imagine my shock when I received the 10-boyz sets.

Looks like a slight conspiracy here - all of the english speaking GW areas have the old box in the website (AUS, CAN, USA and UK), the non-english speaking websites have the repack box.

[UltraPrime]

I'm in the UK.

[shaggai]

 Continuing on Fantasy and the current issue of WD (US 374), we'll tabulate the costs for the other two armies in the battle.

The Household of Karlosskson, pg 68, US WD 374 - 1995 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Dwarf King Alrik w/Shield Bearers*	30.00	18.50
Dwarf Lord w/ Great Weapon*	15.00	8.20
Runelord w/ Staff*	15.00	8.20
Dwarf Warriors (32 models)	70.00	37.00
Dwarf Thunderers (20 models)	70.00	37.00
Dwarf Miners (19 models)	49.50	31.00
Dwarf Ironbreakers (w/command) (20 models)	101.50	63.50
Cannon	22.50	15.50
Organ Gun	22.50	15.50
Total Cost	396.00	234.40

   Some caveats starting with the items with the asterisk. The only reason I use Alrik is for the Shield Bearers. Assuming that this is an unimportant item, then you could probably get away with the basic Dwarf Lord @ $15.00.The Thane in the list is represented above by the Lord w/ Great weapon. Again, assuming you could translate this into another Dwarf character, you could get away with as little as $13.50. The Runelord w/staff is representing the Runesmith and the same note that goes for the Thane applies here as well.
   The battalion box would save you one Cannon (or Organ gun), the Dwarf Warriors, and most of the Thunderers for a savings of $37.50.

The Army of the Red Dragon, pg 69, US WD 374 - 1996 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Bretonnian Lord w/ Lance	15.00	8.20
Bretonnian Damsel	17.00	10.25
Repanse De Lyonesse*	16.00	9.75
Damsel	**	**
Knights of the Realm (13 models)	70.00	37.00
Peasent Bowmen (20 models)	70.00	37.00
Men-at-Arms (20 models)	70.00	37.00
Pegasus Knights (3 models)	35.00	20.50
Grail Knights (8 models)*	94.50	59.10
Field Trebuchet	41.25	25.50
Total Cost	428.75	244.30

   Caveats starting with the items with the asterisk. The Repanse is being used to represent the paladin due to the standard carried. Note that other possible choices are only $1.00 less, so not that important. Note that the Damsel on the warhorse is being used as the prophetess and also saves you the need for a second damsel because of the non-mounted model. The Grail Knights were purchased as one unit of 5 and 3 blisters. I'm sure you could get away slightly cheaper with the purchse of two boxes but you would have a duplication of the command models. If that isn't important, you save possibly in the long run as you would have more Grail Knights for later.
   The battalion saves you one Pegasus Knight, 16 bowmen (35), 20 men-at-arms (70) and 8 knights of the Realm (35). This saves you about $50. Note that I am considering the pegasus knight as a wash since you would have to spend 30 to get the two required, and by spending the 35 you get three (not counting the battalion's one). So by buying the two models you would save $5 in the immediate, but have to spend 15 at a later time should you want to get one.

shaggai / Lead Maintainer AB40K files.

[shaggai]

Note that it looks like the UK website finally updated the Ork Boyz to the repack verison, and at the estimated cost it looks to cost the same as the Savage Orks in terms of the local currency. Once the US gets updated, we can see how much of a "surcharge" they place on an essential core unit of an Orc Army (the new Savage Orcs list for $29.00).

[shaggai]

Finally, 9 days after release, the Ork Box repack finally makes itself seen on the GW US website...

[shaggai]

OK, another issue of everybody's favorite fish-wrapper along with a brand new army. A perfect time to find out just how much is that army you're trying to sell me...

Strike Force Calern, pg 26, US WD 375 - 1998 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Brother-captain	20.00	12.30
Inquisitor (power weapon/inferno pistol)	15.00	8.20
5 Paladins	50.00	27.70
Jokaero Weaponsmith	12.25	10.25
2 Heavy Bolter servitors*	30.00	17.40
1 Multimelta servitor	15.00	8.70
Mystic* (warrior acolyte)	10.00	6.15
Chimera	35.00	20.50
Venerable Dreadnought	43.00	26.75
5 GK Terminators	50.00	27.70
10 GK Terminators	100.00	55.40
Stormraven gunship	66.00	41.00
5 Grey Knights	33.00	20.50
Rhino	33.00	20.50
Total Cost	512.25	302.55

In the above, we are using 2 packages of HB servitors as the basic blister comes with one HB and one servoarm servitor. Assuming you would proxy or "counts as" this can save you the cost of the second blister. Also we are using the warrior acolyte as the mystic, I'm sure that anyone with a sizable amount of minis and not just from 40K could do a counts as and at least save the 10.00 on that.

Knights of Crowe, pg 27, US WD 375 - 1497 point list

Model	Cost US	Cost UK
Castellan Crowe	16.50	10.25
5 GK Terminators	50.00	27.70
5 GK Terminators	50.00	27.70
10 Grey Knights	66.00	41.00
9 Purifiers (Grey Knights)	66.00	41.00
Nemesis Breadknight	53.75	33.00
Nemesis Breadknight	53.75	33.00
Total Cost	356.00	213.65

Will post the battle report list soon...

shaggai / Lead Maintainer AB40K files.