Getting Started in Bolt Action: Buyer's Guide

[@ZWIPPMANN]

It's also worth mentioning that bolt action is a ww2 miniature wargame using ww2 miniatures. That means your miniatures can be used for any number of other ww2 game rules. This is not the case with other games.

[@solidsnake8330]

Yeah I brought my Soviet army to play *pulls out Imperial Guard miniatures*

[@josdijkstra5937]

​@@solidsnake8330 bloody appropriate 😂

[@stevenschnepp576]

It's pretty easy to forgive the lack of order dice in starter sets considering you can just use a deck of cards to replace them. It's also fairly easy to forgive the bundles not having huge discounts because they're already priced fairly reasonably per model, especially for the plastic infantry that get you thirty or forty men per box, whereas the GW bundles offer a discount on their (artificially) high prices. It's like complaining about not getting 30% off when you're already getting 60% off.

[@gernwind9262]

If you're not plugged into an existing scene - only playing with your friends - the cheapest/smartest way to do BA is to go 15mm. The Flames of War starters (those with infantry like the Stalingrad box) give you two armies and various support options out of the gate for far less, especially when you shop around. Most of those boxes are 2+ years old now and regularly on sale at those places that still have copies.

[@matt6966]

Buy a painted army on ebay, get to play ASAP, see what you like and then start building (and painting) your own customized army in your own time . You can always sell your initial army again... done this and it is a great way to grow into the hobby.

[@ZSTE]

I just bought the Band of Brothers starter set and spray painted the airborne green and the germans grey. Great way to play it sooner and see if you like it, then you can paint them over time as well.

[@lesliebeilby-tipping6854]

Played Bolt Action for a few years, for a new player just start with 500 points a side and just play a game or two to get the rule system sorted out. And then build up your main platoon and then add the support options. Don't play BA as often as I did, started playing Chain of Command. It has a better activation system and makes you more aware of company structure. The on table move shoot and fight are very similar. Good video to get new players started.

[@juhaloukaja5078]

Played one game with a buddy of mine, borrowed his sons German army, then promptly went home and checked Warlord Games website for my own set. Now, I ended up going for the Japanese (which I have loved to play in Memoir '44), so I picked up the Banzai starter box set, 2nd ed. rulebook, armies of imperial japan book, paints, dice bag + dice and imperial japan HQ. Could not afford to get any vehicles and forgot to add order dice so I need to purchase them separately... not a cheap entry point by any means but I think it's still worth it - I like to paint minis so I get enjoyment out of the starter box already for that. The dice bag dice are just nice to haves of course, and the paint set I could have done without also probably, but it was cheap so I figured, why not. That's also something that should be considered in the entry price point I think - do you have basing stuff, brushes, paints, glue etc. While you CAN play with unpainted minis, I don't know many who does and they'll start to add up even if they are cheap individually. If you already have brushes and/or paints you can of course dismiss that part.

[@bonddizzle]

Part of what makes getting started difficult is that The website is also really badly organized. There is a US airborne starter for 80$ but it's not on their starter army page. You have to dig down to page 3 of the US product page to find it Also there is a tool to create your own bundle and you get a free tank? I guess? Idk becuase it says that on the getting started page but has no link and I cant find that page anywhere on the site..

[@HollywoodWargaming]

Yes very much so lol. Their old site was so much better IMO

[@mattyno964]

I just experienced this for myself, wow was it confusing what I needed

[@MunitionsDudTester]

I picked up the Band of Brothers set yesterday for $65. Seemed like a pretty good deal for something I could just take to a friend's house and see if we both enjoy it before getting "stuck in" :)

[@exteriorcobra1575]

Heads up that the starter sets that include the army book dice and spotters with the mini rule book are not available as of currently and doesn’t show on the website.

[@angelzapata3685]

Yeah I have been looking for starter sets that include everything, but seems that Band of Brothers would be somewhat beneficial now

[@kjv66]

From what I see the Get Started Bundles are sold out. How often do they replenish this type of deal? It also says they're $175 not $88...unless I'm looking at the wrong part of the website.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I found the same thing. I wonder if they're struggling with stock at the moment?

[@bonddizzle]

The website is also really badly organized. There is a US airborne starter for 80$ but it's not on their starter army page. Also there is a tool to create your own bundle and you get a free tank? I guess? Idk becuase it says that on the getting started page but has no link and I cant find that page anywhere on the site..

[@Blacklagoon003]

saddly warlord raised they prices since this viedo was released

[@furretthefuzzynoodle3896]

@@Blacklagoon003so they doubled their prices?

[@uaputte]

Army bocks is not a need to have, thats just for later when you start colect for real. The army lists in the rulebook is fine a long time and then you still can mix from the other lists to EX use japans L. mortar team rules to youre germans if you have them.

[@zanoscarthage7123]

The crown joke was very funny, sold 10/10 chuckle.

[@rikkiwazzerman3654]

I thank you for this education. I will save money and time. That helps to keep the motivation going.

[@mattcappelli5822]

This was perfect in getting started! I had no idea Warlord had these $88 bundles. I was considering the band of brothers set, but figured there would be a lot of other things I would need, not a plug and play set, so to speak.

[@thepiratepenguin4465]

The Army stater sets are really good value. Depending your list, you can have 1000 - 1500 pt army out of one box. Band of brothers is nice if you are looking to play 500pt US airborne or Late war Germans or planing on spiting a set with a friend & building up from there.

[@uaputte]

But what you need is a starter set on the one important easten front.

[@EdwardEast-x1j]

Nice video, have been looking at getting into Bolt action. Its played a lot in my local store! Have been looking at the British & Canadian starter set. But may get a box of soldiers first or so.

[@the_brick_films]

Thank you I feel dumb now I was going a round the website trying to see what I need and how to get started you helped me out a lot

[@SamsSideshow]

Thanks for the video, this was really helpful! Also, would you say that the Island Assault box is a worthwhile place to start on a budget?

[@taserrr]

I've seen a full 1500 point army starter army on wayland games for 71 GBP, which is so affordable. Seriously would like to play that instead of 40k but there's not many people playing and none of my friends play it either. So yeah...

[@lordravenblade]

Convince your friends to play by pointing out this is written by two ex-Games Workshop legends.

[@Flipflopskipskop]

What about starting off the the Korean War? Not just the KPA but having no models at and want to start off and play only using the Korean War.

[@Jake-hv5cy]

I find this interesting as I'm a 40k player but konflikt caught my eye so I've been digging into this. This is a neat video and I'll keep it in mind

[@thepiratepenguin4465]

I agree, army specific D6 help you stand out, as most people use the generic white D6.

[@Peter-ri9ie]

Man, this is perfect! Am just thinking about how to start collecting an army.

[@fainez]

are the "getting started with bolt action" bundles a thing of the past?

[@floppyori3262]

Can I use Tamia 1-35 models I have a Tamia panzer IV and it looks to scale Also can I use 1-35 infantry

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I'm getting ready to create a series on getting started in WWii wargaming in general and obviously BA will be one of the entry points i suggest. I will link to this video. Thank you.

[@HeadHunterSix]

I am looking to get into Bolt Action but I don't want the Band of Brothers 2-player starter. I'm not seeing these "Get Started" bundles anywhere. Were they a limited time release? Because that does have everything I am looking for.

[@9985cjham]

I dont see them either. Wonder if anyone has found them or if they were a old thing.

[@HeadHunterSix]

@@9985cjham They must have been for a limited time.

[@Bodkin_Ye_Pointy]

So by saying that you can put two guys next to a light machine gun you can proxy it as a medium. Knowing for a fact that a Bren Gun is in no way a medium gun. Are you also saying the Bolt Action is not WYSIWYG and there will be no problem with this in tournaments? Also, how did you transition so seamlessly from reinforcement sets to how they affect vehicle sets? Vehicles are included in the starter set yes, but they are not the only options. It is almost certain that anyone that takes the game further will buy additional vehicles for variation on their games. None of that is relevant to the Reinforcement set.

[@warmaster73]

There are getting started sets that the warlord website says are at 1000 pts. If I purchased those, would that create a mostly balanced game? I have a wargame friend flying in for vacation. I told him to leave his 40k at home so nothing bad happens. But we both want to get some gaming done.

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

I love the bundle concept but my search is failing me...Not seeing them on their site at the moment. Oh, wait, I see there's another comment along the same lines. This very thing is one reason I hesitate on getting too specific in my "How to begin series..." These videos live on and the deals don't. All that said, I still really like the video.

[@andraslibal]

My friend has the Band of Brothers set ... I am looking into something else. Maybe a Soviet Army. Since he already has the Americans and the Germans. What would a good Soviet starting setup be?

[@senint]

Huh... As I watch Warlord Games's webstore at starters available... They actually have now ( 2021 Fall/Autumn) army starter sets having what you recommended personally...! :rofl: Starting with content of single infantry box, having atleast one support unit, and between 1 to 2 vehicles... and some of those boxes state themselves as "1000 points starters"...! Dunno if this was a coincidence or what...?

[@angelzapata3685]

I was looking online for these starter bundles, and notice that they don’t carry any dice or tule books with them. Only the band of brothers or Africa bundle carry a quick start rule guide with dice.

[@278nikola]

Is it only me, or those starter sets with infantry+books+accesories are not longer in production? Thanks!

[@lordravenblade]

I want to get a used bingo cage from a thrift store or something and mark the balls to use for activations.

[@HollywoodWargaming]

Brilliant

[@TheYorkshireTankie]

Excellent video and guide mate, sure this will help a lot of people! As someone who already has the literature what would you make of the new community deals? Especially the Soviet and British ones

[@clarkcommando1983]

I’m so new I just bought the gemtlemans war set :) simce then I recently added 8th armyv

[@darkwar25]

While I was watching this vid I looked at there site a man did they raise their prices any idea when those deals come along?

[@The21stPanzer]

Do you think you could do a review on Operation Market Garden book

[@andraslibal]

I have a friend whom I play with regularly (weekly, 3 games so far) ... but I also have more friends I play other board games with from time to time. Can Bolt Action be played in a team vs team setup (2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3 players) enjoyably? What are your thoughts on that? Is that a good way to introduce people to the game?

[@HollywoodWargaming]

I play 2v2 all the time with 1k lists per player. It’s quite enjoyable. However, it does kind of undermine the dice economy meta and if its all you play it wont give you a realistic grasp on the game’s mechanics. In all, it plays very well, but the rules definitely arent fine tuned for it.

[@ME-hm7zm]

@@HollywoodWargaming How does it undermine the dice economy? I had wondered about this type of game myself (even if like 2v2, 500 pts per player).

[@crazyjack746]

For people in 2024 you can get the gentleman’s war pack which has 48 infantry, 2 vehicles and is only £70

[@Tewhill357]

Super useful information. A bit long winded through, could use some more pace.

[@Kaluvin]

Would you recommend the Battle of Berlin set as a starter as opposed to Band of Brothers?

[@HollywoodWargaming]

Honestly no. It’s not a true starter set as it doesn’t give you Order Dice, which you need to play the game and aren’t cheap. It also doesn’t give you enough infantry for either side, especially German. The building and statues are great terrain but I have those craters and they’re too small to really be used as good cover, more just scatter pieces. To top it off there’s not really any reason to own two IS-2’s. If there’s even a list where you can run them, t’s probably in a campaign book that’s not even included in the box. Honestly I have a lot of issues with Warlord’s big box sets. They drive me nuts with what they decide to include in them. Heck, this one doesn’t even give you templates or pin markers. If it had all the tools you needed to actually play a game at $400 I would say go for it, but I simply can’t recommend it when you have to go spend another $50 on utility items after the fact.

[@HollywoodWargaming]

On the topic of not giving you enough infantry, they do have enough soviets to play with, but you will want more for your collection as Soviets are an infantry heavy faction. The Germans have... enough, but barely so. You’ll have to build the Grenadiers as veterans and load them up with points to run them.

[@yotta_ow4720]

Where are the infantry box sets in 2022?

[@mikeg5616]

Are the kromlech models worth it?

[@HollywoodWargaming]

I don't think I've ever owned any Kromlech stuff. Though my old Taurox conversions for Astra Militarum may have been from them, idk. If so they're solid stuff.

[@markr2054]

Great content!

[@WARdROBEPlaysWWII]

and oh yeah, I've subbed

[@hellcat64]

Can u please do one for canadians? New models just came out

[@JOSEsanchez-bw6ox]

does anybody know when does the rule book goes on sale?

[@emilianomorado407]

How can i get a hold of you Hollywood?

[@HollywoodWargaming]

Shoot me an email at [e-mail]!

[@zioalecpov1815]

What should i do if i want to start with a faction like Italy who has no starter set ?

[@HollywoodWargaming]

Warlord teased a new Italian Infantry box set that should be coming out in the near future. I would wait to start collecting them until that comes out. Once that comes out, you will likely see a starter set

[@zioalecpov1815]

@@HollywoodWargaming Thank you very much

[@ME-hm7zm]

I've just been grabbing sets individually for my Italians. I started with the HQ pack and two infantry section packs and grew from there with whatever caught my fancy and was available (mostly ebay, some Amazon - LGS takes ages to get anything Warlord in and there's basically no Italian stuff). I'll probably pick up one of the plastic starter sets alongside the various other plastic kits when it comes out - probably to do up as a desert schemed force I suppose.

[@15mmGustavus]

RIP the El Alamein set

[@HollywoodWargaming]

oof is it really gone?

[@15mmGustavus]

@@HollywoodWargaming yeah got the dreaded 404... I hope they redo it was a great deal

[@HollywoodWargaming]

@@15mmGustavus Crap now I have to make a new video -.-

[@jacqueline6475]

@@HollywoodWargaming Looks like all of the "getting started with Bolt Action" sets are gone too, can't find them anywhere.

[@HollywoodWargaming]

@@jacqueline6475 so I’ve heard. Will have to update this video.

[@uebse]

Generic coment for the algorithm