Building your first army on a budget- Things to consider

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Answering some viewer questions
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[@Shanezkool]

I've never heard of this game before. I was searching for Budget Bolt Action Rifles and this popped up. Still interesting enough for me to watch the whole video. Good job sir.

[@WahooWarrior]

Shanezkool that is an awesome story lol thanks for taking the time to make the comment good luck finding a rifle!

[@felixjonas77]

i know im asking the wrong place but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I stupidly forgot the login password. I would appreciate any help you can give me.

[@lewiskamryn6813]

@Felix Jonas instablaster ;)

[@felixjonas77]

@Lewis Kamryn I really appreciate your reply. I found the site through google and I'm in the hacking process now. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@felixjonas77]

@Lewis Kamryn it worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much, you saved my account !

[@WahooWarrior]

I think I will be making a second video discussing the 500 point starter armies from warlord as well as there is a lot of value in these kits for adding to the firefight kit. and I should discuss the Normandy Box set as well. Thanks everyone for your comments, questions and input, the more we discuss things the more we learn and while the basics are very basic there is still so much to cover!

[@danbuman5726]

+WahooWarrior Great idea discussing the 500 point sets as well. When you first start looking at Bolt Action, it is difficult to know where to start. I actually picked up a new copy of the Assault on Normandy starter set on ebay for $50.00. This gives me 20 more troops for each side as well as another ruined farmhouse terrain piece. It also has the hardcover (full) rule book, which is nice. Seemed like a a bargain!

[@rcspaintservice]

I jumped in head first and bought everything with British and German stuff that I found interesting. Didn't notice the difference between Waffen SS, Wehrmach and so on.............never got around to understand the rules and sold the lot!!!!! One day I will get back!!

[@BigRed40TECH]

Hey, I'm just getting into Bolt Action, and I just wanna thank you a bunch for putting up this material. Its really helpful to give me an idea to where I'm expanding to after my starter box. Genuinely helpful, thanks a bunch.

[@WahooWarrior]

thank you sir! means a lot to me thanks for the nice comment

[@Oldf0x]

Great video mate. I've been playing a while, but you've helped me put more thought into my lists, while maintaining my theme. Cheers!

[@WahooWarrior]

Thanks fox. Glad it was helpful and got you thinking of maybe some new approaches to your list

[@satyanpatel6403]

Thank you for doing this. Really helps us getting started in the game.

[@WahooWarrior]

Satyan Patel no problem. Welcome to bolt action

[@daniele6477]

Very good break down, thanks for your time.

[@cloneorder6641]

beyond a fantastic video. can't wait to watch your one on building german army. I'm really surprised your channel doesn't have more traction. subscribed!

[@WahooWarrior]

much appreciated!

[@Mr_Chuckles]

Excellent video, thank you! :)

[@LarsLeonhard]

Enjoyed this video. Thanks. Very informative and helpful!

[@WahooWarrior]

thanks Lars, glad you liked it, I appreciate the feedback.

[@ssmarine5624]

Wow, I'm late to this channel. Glad I found it, good stuff!

[@WahooWarrior]

ssmarine welcome and thanks for the comment

[@stinkybins414]

thanks for mentioning squad leader. ive been trying to remember its name for over 15 years. used to sit in my room as a kid,recreating the battles of ww2. i quess somethings dont change. excellent channel , keep it up.

[@WahooWarrior]

thank you :)

[@peetelectronics9781]

I like 1/200 scale because it's much cheaper, and game play is more imported than detail. And with the today's 3d printer you can print 1/200 easily.

[@ColdWarShot]

I’m looking at 15mm scale myself, since I’m addition to playing a much larger scale battle, it allows me to teach Battalion and Regimental level tactics to fellow WWII reenactors.

[@dapperbrapper]

great stuff. happy i found this channel.

[@WahooWarrior]

Chaotic Neutral I am too!!

[@familiacastroconejofederic2016]

thank you, for the excelent advice

[@WahooWarrior]

you are more then Welcome! I need to do an update and talk about Second edition and how that relates to Army Building

[@e-4airman124]

Very good ideas.

[@lovelygrey]

This was really awesome. Thanks.

[@lovelygrey]

Also, am I understanding this correctly? US airborne are tough fighters?

[@WahooWarrior]

+Lovely Grey no :( Airborne are basically just Veteran Infantry which is kind of sad. other Nations have Paratroopers with Stubborn special rule (not all) I think if I wanted specialized airborne models I would use them as Veteran tough Fighters and use the Airborne model

[@boltactionbunker5276]

well done sir thanks

[@Ace-hx5px]

thanks for the information about building an amry as i am coming into the hobby

[@WahooWarrior]

welcome to Bolt Action! I think you will quite enjoy it

[@andrewscott3516]

Love the AH Squad Leader reference a well placed MG can cause a lot of grief to troops in the open !!

[@TheEccentricMan]

Very useful, all things I would have wanted to know before putting my models together. Squad leader made me smile, I have AH's Tobruk on my table atm, my first foray into serious wargaming when I was 17 in 1976!

[@WahooWarrior]

Nice. Yes I used to love the ah games. I have a few others on my shelf. Lost a few along the way. Used to love getting a new one home looking over the maps and rules and the counters

[@TheEccentricMan]

+WahooWarrior Yep, with you all the way there. One I really like is Flat Top not played it for years, just need a week to play it :(

[@WahooWarrior]

+Ken Baldock oh yes. Loved that game. Don't think ever finished a game though. We used to leave it set up in a friends old camper trailer so his parents wouldn't make us pick it up

[@TheFlyingRook]

Fantastic video! Answered a lot of questions for me. I really like how versitile the Bolt Action kits are - so many options. What do you think about self propelled artillery like the M7 Priest. I'd like to get one for my army. Or should I just pick up a 25 pdr? Loved seeing Squad Leader! Spent a large part of my youth playing that game.

[@WahooWarrior]

+Flying Rook the M-7 Priest model looks awesome. I would like to have one just for that reason! as far as in game Medium HE is pretty awesome. strong enough to make 9+ armor take pins and they are d3 pins at that and against infantry they are super. If I was going to run it I would look at a decent Armored car to screen it from enemy tanks and such though and for extra anti tank since it takes your tank slot. the ability for it to move and fire gives it a leg up to a regular howitzer.

[@AlphaGator9]

An excellent in depth review. I have tried to search to see if you have done any videos on the British, but so far... i am not seeing any...? If you have one... please let me know. ~7ohn

[@tomdesjardins6778]

Great video! i started playing about 8 month ago and found the box armies a great start for beginners. i would tell anyone new to bolt action game to start playing game at 500pt and get use to the rules and your armies play style. Also i use the MMG team in support of my sniper team both have 36" range so they work well together so give it a try

[@WahooWarrior]

Thanks tom. Yes that points level is fun to play at for sure. Interesting on the Mmg but doesn't your opponent just shoot the Mmg and kill it in one shot? If a sniper scores a wound on an infantry team like Mmg and mortar the whole team dies. The Mmg also is shooting back at a small team sniper if he's in hard cover long range your needing 7. I been thinking about a vet lt mortar to team with a vet sniper to hunt enemy snipers

[@tomdesjardins6778]

+WahooWarrior i use the sniper and the MMG team combo more for pinning infantry unit and remover it NCO. i can usually hide MMG from enemy snipers but for 102pt for both regular teams i have no problems slow down or staling 2 infantry units

[@WahooWarrior]

+Tom Desjardins oh ya combos are always good!

[@barriereid9244]

I game using historical company strengths, tactics, resupply as well as reinforcing units suffering casualties, timetables on repairing vehicles etc.

[@hazed1009]

wow I wish I had seen this before I bought pretty much one of every dang unit in the game only to find fielding it under 1000 points is impossible . I will however say I'm inclined to play a unit because it's cool looking rather than useful so it's not the end of the world ...great video tho I think you should make it your feature! really , I think you could expand on this and players would find it super useful as well as save us all a fortune in excess buying

[@MrPDoff]

Thinking of getting in to this. Are the figures and vehicles comparable with similar games

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

NICE BUDDY

[@BlackRazor54]

I picked up real cheap 2 box sets of 30 each of Wargames Factory 28mm German Late War Infantry (60 total) & 28mm USA Late War Infantry (60 total) just to go with my Bolt Action D-Day Firefight & Tank War Sets.

[@WahooWarrior]

Excellent Scott, I've heard good things about Wargames factory, how are thse models?

[@BlackRazor54]

WahooWarrior not bad, they tend to be a bit skinny compared to warlord games but the mix in well with them and my crusader ww2 line gives a mix of soldier types.

[@johnwayneeverett6263]

nice buddy

[@trayltank1015]

Where did you get the two storage Houses on the Backside of your tactical maps?

[@WahooWarrior]

Trayl Tank the white and terra cotta store front ones are sarissa precision

[@jvcpaints]

This came up on AutoPlay for me. I hope you do more of these and your "Turn 7" commentary videos once you're all moved in.

[@WahooWarrior]

thanks Jay. yes I need to sit and take some time going behind the curtain on what I'm building and working on. also my approach and strategy when I take a list and what I look at when I fight a different list and scenarios. also all the rules and such and how I feel they have affected the game

[@jvcpaints]

I've found that using redundant squads with the same equipment moving forward in tandem with one taking a 'Down' order to make them harder to hit first and then using the second to leapfrog up as my last order dice and fire on an advance, then having them alternate can get you real close to objectives with minimal casualties......sometimes.lol. There always seems to be a howitzer or a lucky mortar crew on the other side of the board.

[@danbuman5726]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video Sean! Your comments and insight are most helpful. I too grew up on Squad leader and similar games. I also built plastic WWII kits back when I was a kid and Bolt Action is a way for me to be a kid again, while actually getting to "play" with my toys after I build them!! It's the best of both worlds;) I did get the free Sherman with my purchase. NWS Online is where I ordered it from and their prices are the lowest I have seen and great service as well. I wonder if your suggestion to take make all my squads veteran and take two BARs is a little "over powered"? That seems really strong and I don't want to show poor sportsmanship. In your experience would that be the case? I mean I want to win but I mostly want to have fun. Does that make sense? I know that the Veteran and Regular infantry would look identical so the only modeling difference would be the two BARs per squad. Any thoughts about that? Originally I was going to make 4 ten man Regular squads but now I am not so sure... If I am not mistaken I believe you live near Wahoo Nebraska? I am not so far away. I live about 45 min east of Omaha just off of I80. I am hoping to spend a little time at Bugeater Con in Omaha this June for a day to learn more about Bolt Action. Maybe I will see you there! Thanks again for addressing my specific questions and keep making your great videos!

[@WahooWarrior]

+Dan Buman I am glad I am not alone Dan, yes Bolt action is indeed a multi dimensional hobby, the social interaction, the building of models, the tactics, the alone time planning your army list. love it. You get to buy the models and be excited to get them all over again. In regard to the veteran infantry I appreciate your concern about appearing OP But one of the wonderful things about BA is that it is actually really hard to be OP. the list I mentioned is pretty one dimensional and you will struggle in some missions due to that. I recommend the veterans mainly for the user friendly aspect of it as they just keep on going much longer and you get better results out of them even if you make tactical errors as you are learning the game. You could definitely just make the one BAR, that's totally fine and not a bad idea since you only have so many models to choose from that way you can easily do what you mentioned and use them as regulars. One of the other things about veterans is that you need less models as they cost more. as you continue to build your army you will likely add a sniper, a mortar, maybe an armored car, and you will have to start to make decisions on your troop quality. also you may find yourself playing in 600 or 750 point games a lot which I really like that point level and you may not want all veterans. 4 ten man squads and 4 bars is just fine. I think as far as composition of your army you will be fine, there is not a lot of nit picking at most events as almost every nationality has a comparable troop or item that they can take to match almost every other army. its when you see veteran infantry and a heavy inexperienced mortar together that people might raise an eyebrow or some such. but not much, unless you are competing in a bigger event, Yes I am right outside Omaha, that is great you are so close, I have played against Smitty M-14 (mark) he lives in atlantic Iowa, you should get with him and play, he is a great guy and it sounds like he is close to you. that is great you are coming to Omaha for the Bugeater. you should think about playing in it is it is not sold out. Bolt action tournaments are super casual and a great way to meet people just like you. it really doesn't matter at the end of it how many games you won or lost if you had 5 great matches. and there will be several new players and players who haven't been in a larger size event before. you wouldn't be alone.

[@WahooWarrior]

+WahooWarrior and if you don't play but come by make sure to say Hi!

[@danbuman5726]

+WahooWarrior Thanks for your input! I live just east of Harlan which is about 25 min from Atlantic. After I get my army assembled that would be a great option :) Looking forward to attending Bugeater in some fashion. I will be sure to say Hi! I will be interested to see your finished (hopefully) French force in person.

[@WahooWarrior]

+Dan Buman It will be finished. NOT best painted or anything but finished

[@danbuman5726]

+WahooWarrior Well in your video where you used them for a battle report, I thought they looked pretty good!

[@HistoricalConflict]

i’m not a tournament player and i don’t like pick up games i’m more into the story and look. what’s the best method to build an army anything goes with me

[@-Markus-]

The ”armies of” books for bolt action contains guidelines for building armies for different eras and theaters/battles of the war so if you are looking for a more historical army build you might wanna check those out. Should be great to build a narrative game.

[@gearsamp92]

Hello! I have spent some time putting together my "Band of Brothers" Starter set. I am pretty close to being finished. I did purchase a couple of sprues during the warlord sale so that I could get some extra arms and a couple extra guys to make a couple extra things. I played my first little demo match yesterday afternoon and it was awesome! I am now looking to expand much further with this. I am definitely on a tight budget so I went to the site you suggested in this video. Fortunately my birthday is coming up and I am suggesting visa gift cards to anyone who asks me if I want something. I want to keep the forces relatively balanced and I am also cool with playing with unpainted stuff until I get it painted. Sorry I am so long winded. So do you think that the "German Grenadier starter army" and the "1000pts american army starter set" would be good sets to go with for sort of a rapid expansion to the armies? You said that the army books aren't really needed when you get started. At what point should I try to pick them up if at all? I am the only one of my wargaming group that is willing to put money into this at least for now. They seem to like the rules enough but the Demo game wasn't really enough for veteran wargamers who have pre existing expectations. (we play warmachine and hordes) How do you go about introducing people to Bolt Action? As of right now and the projected future I wont be playing with anyone unless someone from my group is willing to play again. So It will mostly be games against myself for a while at least. (I in particular love WW2. I had a family member on every front. So it is pretty special to me.) Sorry for the super long post. Thank you for your time!

[@WahooWarrior]

Joseph Davis this is an awesome post. I'm going to sit down on my computer and respond tonight. Love it.

[@gearsamp92]

Awesome! I look forward to the response! I did have another question and I've seen some variances in answers and obviously it is to preference; but, how do you decide on the way your terrain is set out? Do have some terrain and take turns placing it or do you set it up completely measured out beforehand? Bolt Action has a much higher use for terrain than any that I have seen or played before, usually you can just throw out a couple things and bob's yer uncle but bolt action makes cover actually important.

[@WahooWarrior]

As far as Terrain goes I usually just set something up that looks cool. we do not have a huge collection yet so are a bit limited on what is available. when I first started setting up tables I found myself thinking very warhammer fantasy and focused on the terrain being my side your side. then as many games of bolt action end up going any direction I had to make conscious decisions to put some all over. I try to make a balanced table and if possible and always allow an opponent to reaarrange if he wants before we roll for sides or anything. having been to a couple bigger tournaments it helps for getting a feel for how much terrain would likely be on the table.

[@WahooWarrior]

as far as introducing people to bolt action local game stores usually are really good about having a demo night. If you had two 500 point armies and preset them up in the deployment on a 4 x 4 table and started going most gamers get the concepts very quickly and have a good time. then add a unit or two depending on your players experience. I love the starter armies if you can afford them. they basically give you everything you will need for dozens of lists and varied games depending on how you equip your guys. it gives you a Core the army. then as you get funds and ideas you can add a vehicle or other equipment as you go to change your core list.

[@WahooWarrior]

what part of the world are you in Joseph?

[@TWC_BullDog]

Hi there Total newb here just bought Band of Brothers and have no idea what to do with it or how to build and expand from here, is this video still relevant or will an update with 2nd edition be forthcoming

[@kanrakucheese]

“Until second [edition] comes out you don’t see a lot of medium machine guns [because they’re terrible]” 6 years later and 2E later, MMG squads are still terrible :( Vehicle MMGs cost less so there’s rarely a reason to use the on foot version. I like the one fanmade 2.5 rule idea infantry MMGs teams get two extra shots and no penalty for long range due to the stability of their tripod and quick change barrels. As for the question, there has been one major option since the video: 3D printed vehicles. The size makes them doable from cheap filament printers (would not recommend with infantry), and unless you’re playing a minor power with unique stuff there’s probably a free stl out there that can be easily printed at 1/56 scale. Material cost is minimal and it’s supposedly easy to find someone in wargaming groups with access to a printer. A few 2E notes on what is said here: Inexperienced mortars can’t use spotters in 2E, so the only reason to use an inexperienced mortar is a inexperienced light mortar with leftover points. Snipers LOVE to move and shoot in 2E since they ignore the penalty (inexperienced sniper also ignores the inexperienced penalty, but only Partisans get access to that).

[@mitchcowan1446]

what terrain line are the bldgs from in the background? I know the one up close is 4ground.

[@danbuman5726]

+Mitch Cowan I could be wrong but I believe they are Sarissa Precision. Sean can check me on that.

[@WahooWarrior]

+Dan Buman correct. Warlord sells them in their web store. I think that's where Alan ordered them from

[@BlackRazor54]

D-Day Firefight comes with a German Hannomag, not a Sherman.

[@bigremy4569]

You mentioned all the buffs you get having a group of 2 guys, and you said they would hit on 7, but you use d6 dice, I’m confused haha, how do you hit a 7 on d6 dice?

[@WahooWarrior]

Bigremy in bolt action anything needed over a 6 requires a 6 followed by another 6 to hit

[@Thebookbunker]

Is it worth starting bolt action now or waiting for mk2 that you mentioned? Loving the content

[@WahooWarrior]

Good question Chris. Yes it is worth starting now. The core rule changes are going to mainly be tweaks on rules that we're problematic and some changes for game balance. It's not going to reinvent the game or anything. I wouldn't buy the core rule no however or the German army books that is getting redone as well. Getting your minis and getting a couple games in would just help you along and probably appreciate the new book.

[@Thebookbunker]

+WahooWarrior Thank you for the reply I really appreciate it. Think il start with the two player set then and get painting and get a feel for it like you've suggested.

[@WahooWarrior]

+Chris Tomley that's awesome Chris. You will not be disappointed. Not sure where you live but Facebook bolt action groups are a great way to network for players local to you and to get inspiration and modeling tips as well. Best of luck to you! Stay in touch!

[@Thebookbunker]

+WahooWarrior my starter set is due to arrive tommorow rather excited. Do you have any advice on what load outs I should give each side to keep it even ?

[@WahooWarrior]

thats awesome Chris, I'm excited for you too. lol nothing more fun then being a kid again getting a new toy for a little bit. When you open your kit there are some quick start scenarios that encourage you to build your troops that way. it is up to each person but I would encourage you to build them how you want, then play the quick start scenario as if the models had what is in the scenario. you will be playing beyond the quick start set pretty quickly and hopefully your models will be used for years. I personally would make an NCO with a SMG just because its too cool not to make the smg spraying noise when playing. the americans I would put two BARs in as they have two squads. the Germans I would put two extra SMG on if they are included in the sprue. A german Grenadier squad can have NCO with SMG and up to two others with SMG. especially as your rocking a Half track I like to get in close and jump them out spraying. Find me on facebook Chris @wahoowarriors like the page and post your progress so I can live vicariously through you! now lets go look out the window for the postman.

[@Spacefrisian]

I just started with this game, but i was kind of amazed how easy it was to make a 500 pts army with just a 30 men infantry box, unless thats a Imperial Japan thing.

[@WahooWarrior]

I know right! you can actually make a workable army to play over and over again with just an infantry box set. add in one tank at a later date and you are looking at a 750 list. then you can be like me and keep buying stuff then change your list completely lol. I'm horrible at that

[@WahooWarrior]

I havent played Japanese but it is like with all the armies

[@tugboatsvideoemporium6476]

I got interested in joining the hobby a while ago, and recently bought my first Band of Brothers box. I literally have NO IDEA what I'm doing. Do you know of a decent guide to get a complete noobie to a functional state? I've got no idea how to get these things together in a meaningful way, and I'm a little daunted and spooked to try. Any thoughts? Resources are probably out there, but I haven't seen anything incredibly basic.

[@WahooWarrior]

Welcome to Bolt action. the models may seem a bit intimidating at first but they are much better then they used to be. the kit should have included at least a picture of what arms and such are for what. really just glue legs to base. put on a torso then attack two arms. then maybe a backpack. I will look and see if I can find a basic building guide.

[@WahooWarrior]

here is a building of commandos same concept kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKTOY2qOib6MgK8

[@WahooWarrior]

here is what you want. you do not have to do all the steps like pinning but this is what you are seeking kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5LNen1vpKZkbtU

[@tugboatsvideoemporium6476]

Hey! Thank you so much. I spent a large part of the afternoon getting some of the models together. At first it was a bit intimidating; however, they seem to go together pretty easily and are relatively interchangeable to a certain degree. Thank you so much for the information and resources.

[@danbuman5726]

I do not see in the rules where it talks about Veteran US Infantry have the "Tuff Fighter" ability. Am I missing something?

[@WahooWarrior]

Ah yes. It is on the warlords website with the faq and additional units pdf. It has veterans with tough fighters. That's not in the normal army book.

[@WahooWarrior]

+Dan Buman www.warlordgames.com/bolt-action-additional-units-pdf-and-errata/

[@danbuman5726]

+WahooWarrior Thanks for the link!

[@thekameleon9785]

Bolt action on a tight budget? ? Play in 1/72

[@richardmorris6425]

yhst-12000246778232.stores.yahoo.net/boacamarse.html

[@WahooWarrior]

Nice Richard thanks those are some good tips.

[@Nishe77]

28mm vs 32mm ? much difference?

[@raymondkisner9240]

28mm similar to 1/48 scale not 1/32

[@paulnaughton9923]

My suggestion. Don't buy the official miniatures for the game. Buy bases and so forth, but for the actual figures buy 1:72 scale infantry and vehicles. They are $10-15 bucks for a box of around ~50 figures or up to two tanks. Plus, they're more historically accurate anyway.

[@mr.topplyjidzo342]

I just use dollar store army men. They serve the same purpose and just look at the money you save for buying more games.

[@Reaperdeathpunch]

Normal MMGs get 5 shots, LMGs get 4 shots. Unless you're Germans, MMGs get 6 shots, and LMGs get 5 shots.

[@alangee7438]

WHO are you ???

[@weoooe3657]

Making own weapons is illegal