You represent a commander, with a god like view from the war fleet above, who plans the movements and actions of the forces below. Your armies action and failure to take action are represented by many things in the game, none more than the dice rolls that make and break the game.

The things you need to play: 2+ players, a bunch of dice (d6 or six sided dice), a ruler and miniatures. Any given army of miniatures is composed based on points. Each model represents a static point cost, the models are represented in a codex or book of rules with a dynamic point cost allowing each individual a completely customizable army.

A game is played in about two hours up to a solid weekend or longer. The average game is done in around three to four hours time. Though the game is represented by models on the board much of the game takes place in strategies and dice rolls. A good strategy can easily be wrecked by bad dice rolling, this is perhaps the most interesting part of the chaos effect represented in the game. The dice often decide the game being fun, good or just plain amazing.

The turn sequence starts with movement, followed by shooting, hand to hand combat and then the players turn ends and the next begins. This goes on for a random game length between 5 and 7 turns each. The movement phase is long and complicated only by the number of models. Though it often takes the longest it is most uniform as most models can only move 6 inches and all variances to this rule are few in number.

A shooting phase consists of declaring a shot, measuring for distance and then rolling to make the shot. Any hits are then rolled against the opponents toughness if this wounds, the model then can only be saved by his armor and a saving throw or a wound is suffered usually meaning death.

The hand to hand combat phase is slightly more complicated. All units attack in a single turn, the order of attack is by the highest initiative first. If a model suffers a wound and dies the model may only attack if its initiative is equal its opponents. Combat is otherwise resolved by rolling to hit, wound, and save much like in shooting.

This hardly shines lights on the complexity of the rules, but it does display the dynamic nature of the game. Everything is designed around an easy to learn yet imperceptibly complex system designed around giving you the best gaming experience. It’s all about the fun. Enjoy it!.

Check out my guide to choosing your first army or buying a new army as well as my articles for quick games and territory lists

Everything is possible beacuase of Games Workshop and their creation of Warhammer and Warhammer 40k!