How to Build a Basic List for Bolt Action!

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[@PitterPatter20]

An interesting follow-up video to your "advice to 40k players interested in Bolt Action" might be to do a video on "if you play [x] 40k faction, here's the Bolt Action nation with the most similar play style".

[@MordianGlory]

That is a great idea! :D

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

Great video, you’re definitely helping expand the BA player base and for that - thank you! Veteran 40k players (like myself, oh the woes of getting older) will see similarities to 3rd edition. Bolt Action is in its 2nd edition and has been for 5 years, with no sign of that changing anytime soon. The rules are very well balanced and imo, it doesn’t need any changes (maybe points changes for tanks but whatever). When you buy your Army/ Faction Book, it is really all you need, like actually. If you use EasyArmy, you don’t even need the book. There is no codex creep, subscriptions, or questionable business practices like with the “other” game. Also, you can build fun lists and not get absolutely wrecked in this game. It’s great for both competitive and thematic/narrative play. You can get a reasonably equipped 1000 point force with an army box +1 unit for variety and your rule/faction books for less than $200 on Amazon. So the investment is minimal if for some reason you hate it. You can also expand very easily into Konflikt 47, if you want/ need a Sci-fi vibe to your wargames. If you play 40k and have not tried Bolt Action, you’re missing out!

[@MordianGlory]

Im trying to do my part! :D

[@ethanklee9041]

Well the game is based on third edition warhammer 40k so the similarities are understandable

[@TheTobaccoman]

Hey bolt action players , late war German waffen ss player here. It’s a fine and fun system. Welcome aboard lads.

[@MordianGlory]

Couldnt say it better myself, it is such a great game!

[@dannyhalas9408]

Don't let anyone give you shit for playing waffen SS, I'm jewish and I have a waffen SS army too. They're sinister but an important part of the setting, sady the imperial Japanese army in China were bigger war criminals by body count, and now we've metal NKVD squads. It's a game of toy soldiers, someones got to be the bad guys.

[@camberleywarlords2171]

Joined bolt action after I got disheartened by 40k, and I love it. Every single game I have had is fun and always has some very "Hollywood moments" I have also never felt like I couldn't win a game, and also when I have lost games, I have still had a great time.

[@williaminnes6635]

BA is fun.

[@marzelp4480]

More bolt Action!

[@MordianGlory]

Its coming!

[@devangrey4376]

Just started bolt action with late war German grenadiers. Thanks for the content!

[@MordianGlory]

No problem, thanks for watching! :D

[@D.S.lawbrd]

Thanks for the help and informations 😀

[@MordianGlory]

No problem, thanks for watching! :D

[@kirestus]

i just got the bolt action rulebook last weekend, havent played yet but it looks amzing from a readthrough of the rules

[@chriswalls6275]

This is a great video. I am finally going to be pulling the trigger on an 8th Army and wanted to get a tank but not sure what. A Sherman III Medium it is!

[@mathisurien4031]

my advice would be to make sure that you have a backup, there is nothing wrong with a little redundancy, just don't go overboard with it.lets take anti-tank as an example. if you only have 1 and it gets taken out by a sniper or if it is deployed on the wrong side of the table, thats it game over your screwed, the enemy tank is now unopposed and will steam-roller your whole army. take a couple at teams and deploy them on either side of the table, that way there is always a backup solution to the issue. obviously dont go overboard and get 20 at teams, thats stupid, but having a few more than you need is a good idea.

[@MijMike]

What do you reckon to using BA infantry for Imperial Guard (as well as BA) ?

[@ecyor0]

Good to hear I can sorta get away with picking out a Matilda/Churchill and filling out a force around it :P

[@MordianGlory]

I love the Matilda and Churchill, both such iconic tanks!

[@ecyor0]

@@MordianGlory the slow infantry/fast scout tank doctrine might not have held up on the field but boy howdy did the Brits know how to pick names that communicated "absolute unit"

[@lucianaurelius2418]

Hey Mordian have you ever looked into Ultramodern Combat such as “Specter Operations”? There are modern combat rules for Bolt Action additionally

[@dannyhalas9408]

Sweet these look amazing. Cheers.

[@MordianGlory]

I am aware of them, but not played them... yet! :D

[@lucianaurelius2418]

@@MordianGlory o please Mordian u gotta try it out! U should really have a discord at your size btw, it wouldn’t be hard to manage as long as you have solid mods

[@ChrisS-fh7zt]

Yes I am just starting my 3rd force of Bolt Action and that is my home country US and building them as a very late/ mid war to late war timeframe where the Italian campaign was winding down and Overlord D-Day was starting up before the actual beach assaults. And so I just bought Rubicon Models M-10/36, M4A3 75/105mm Sherman, a 3D printed M-15A1 MGMC, and a twin bazooka armored jeep. Then about 4// 8-12 man squads with 2 BAR's 2 SMG's and anti tank grenades and maybe one being airborne with 2 SMG,s a LMG and a BAR. Then a medium mortar and MMG team for support and a Bazooka team and maybe a sniper to round it out with an air observer and artillery observer if I can fit them in point wise as the US air observ. is about the only one worth the points as you are able to call in 2 airstrikes while all the others can only get one for 75 points!!! But there is one reason I bought the M-10 kit and a M4A3 kit and that is to make the M-36B1 tank destroyer it was an emergancy act of putting the M-36 turret on a M4A3 hull to get more Jacksons to the ETO and so unlike all the other TD's that America built and used it has a hull MMG so I can have 3 weapons to use against multi targets, the super heavy AT cannon, MMG and the roof mounted HMG if I decide to take it. The M-15 is a real nasty vehicle that you do not see a lot of in this game which is sad as almost anyone that plays the Hungarians love the Nimrod, well it is sort of that but it also has twin HMG's to go with the heavy autocannon, and so it stands a good chance at taking down medium tanks if a side or rear shot presents itself.

[@MordianGlory]

Sounds like a great army! Just becareful of the air observer, I have seen him bomb his own side more then he has bombed the enemy!

[@dannyhalas9408]

@@MordianGlory I remember using some reddit house scatter rules for motars, an inexperienced mortar team manged to shell itself.

[@ChrisS-fh7zt]

@@MordianGlory Oh I know it, just that with my Soviets or Germans those 75 points can be taken for something else unit wise or even upgrades for a few units like my Dodge 3/4 ton truck with a DShK 12.7mm HMG or even for my IS-2 or JSU-152 with same pintle roof mounted weapon. But like I said with the Americans and the ability to have 2 that is the only way I can see the cost being anywhere close to justified for a forward air controller.

[@richardjohnson6849]

I want to try using light vehicals in group of three or more.

[@MordianGlory]

I love light vehicles in bolt action, they often spam loads of MMGs!

[@mattwright778]

I’m interested to know what the consensus is on 5 man LMG infantry sections. I’m going to experiment with a couple, and their role will be purely defensive and to support my bigger sections as they move forward. My thinking is they have more wounds than an MMG team and aren’t fixed, but I’m concerned they might be too small to achieve anything. Any input is appreciated!

[@MordianGlory]

I like them, always run 2 5 man LMg squads in my germans :)

[@mattwright778]

@@MordianGlory good to know, thanks! With Hitler’s buzzsaw I bet they are properly useful

[@jonathanroy3969]

They are very good but another alternative (if you play early war) is the panzer 1, you get a light tank with 7 armor and 2 mmg for 70 points

[@ChrisS-fh7zt]

Only thing is if another unit like Japanese, Soviet Veteran squad or Gerkhas can wreck them if they close within assault range, that is about the only thing that they would be weak against.

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

I usually make these 7 men squads, two rifles to take the first hits. Without loaders, those LMGs are at -1 to hit.

[@MegaMhope]

I just started an early war german mechanized force. The plan is to run 30 men in 3 trucks, a panzer II, a panzer III, a sniper team, and a flak 88. Any advice would be appreciated!

[@jonathanroy3969]

Sounds great but unless you're making an armored platoon, you can only take one tank

[@MordianGlory]

Sounds like a great force! You might only be able to take the 1 tank in a generic platoon but there are theatres that let you take more then 1. Also if you want, you could swap out the Panzer II for a 222 armoured car. It was used throughout the war and is a fantastic little vehicles that doesnt take up a tank slot (it goes in the armoured car slot)

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

If your group allows more than one platoon then you’ll have to take 2 in order to have the 2 tanks. Unless you pick a theatre selection that is 0-2 tanks/sp guns. The flak 88 is ok but situational at best. You’re better off taking more infantry with pazerfausts, and making one tank a Panzer iv. But if you want that list as an early war army fluff wise go for it. Remember to take something that can tow the flak 88 as it can’t move on its own.

[@scottgregory2954]

RE:MMGs At least for germans and selectors with the initiative training rule, MMGs can survive the sniper trap. Basically allows any crew to become the gunner... Snipers are deadly, but not foolproof.

[@MordianGlory]

Ah thats really good to know! Thank you :)

[@PitterPatter20]

Is "generic reinforced platoon" really the only formation option? Or just the most optimal?

[@ChrisS-fh7zt]

You got campaign books and various unit list in the National Army books (Germany, Soviet Union, Japan, US ect ect ect.)

[@MordianGlory]

There are dozens of formtion option, but it is the best basic starter formation. Kinda like a battalion in 40k

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

Its the generalist all comers/ non specific theatre selector. Tournaments typically use this selector as most specialized items are 0-1.

[@Oshnook]

way better game than warhammer

[@mattlevens6382]

Fr Warhammer is so fucked rn. It needs a complete rule refresh imo but gw will never do that because of money

[@MordianGlory]

Its certianly a refreshing game after playing 40k for so long

[@user-um1xo9ed1x]

@@mattlevens6382 Boy this comment aged well, in less than a couple of months as well.

[@ijsbeermeneer9952]

​@@user-um1xo9ed1x what happened?

[@redcorsair14]

Meh, I always bring LMGs in every squad unless its a true close range assault squad. Great for general purpose. Depending on the army I bring MMGs as well, especially if I brought a sniper. If the opponent has a sniper then they tend to go after each other instead of the MMG teams.

[@MordianGlory]

I love LMGs too, I always take them with my germans :)

[@Benniemilo]

Hmmm, having played BA for about 2 years (local community kind of died lately unfortunately) I have never seen anyone play with the generic reinforced platoons. We always played with a specific theater in mind.

[@MordianGlory]

Thats really interesting, I guess it all comes down to how you are introduced to the game :)

[@Benniemilo]

@@MordianGlory uwag, guess so. I’m really sad I don’t have people to play with though. I guess I’m gonna sell my 101 airborne :(.

[@repentia1]

sorry for the necro i just found this vid and im new to BA. but does any1 know how to delete unit entries on easyarmy? xD

[@repentia1]

ah! nvm i figured it out xD

[@chrismoraitis3160]

Can you do a video on the French army?

[@MordianGlory]

Can do!

[@chrismoraitis3160]

@@MordianGlory Looking forward to it!

[@EDSKaR]

The "12 order limit" needs to go away. It's unreasonable and doesn't scale, and is only used to deliberately gatekeep certain types of play. The game naturally ballences, if you take loads of small, low point units, they get taken out quickly, there's no need for this limit that isn't in the rulebook. There is a note about limiting to 12 orders IF YOU DON'T OWN 2 PACKS OF ORDER DICE. It's NOT meant to stop people playing with small teams, it's meant to help new players who haven't got multiple packs of order dice! /rant *deep breath* Good vid!

[@simone2095]

Obviously, the M14/41 is the best medium tank in the game!

[@dannyhalas9408]

I can't help but feel personally attacked with those comments at the end! I'm sure I recommended someone take a medic for a cheap dice in the bag. It's exactly the sort of thing I'd say. But I'm happy to disagree with most of your tactical advice even though I love the content. Veteran trucks... You're sticking with veteran trucks. I disagree with the idea that you could just list a load of units and objectively say each one is good or bad, it depends on the faction, your army build, and it depends on which slots are already filled. Almost every unit has its place. Apart from veteran trucks :) A medic might be a bit useless in a Soviet list with loads of cheap bodies, but great in a Japanese veteran assault orientated list because you know where you'll have loads of casualties and being able activate on a par with your opponent is still useful with more elite armies if all the cheaper slots are filled. But maybe I just rolled a whole has a handful of sixes in one game and my opinion's biased. I've run your elite Japanese veteran infantry army (three max vet squads and a first Lt), and I struggled on dice because it's so expensive to run all those vets in big 15 man squads. Adding a medic really helped me, you can even tool the Japanese ones up with SMG's and extra guys. Something I love doing. In reality yes you would take an anti-tank rifle over a medic, but that's not really the choice. It's really do I take the extra light machine gun or take a medic and an extra dice that comes with it? Because when you're considering a medic is because you've got almost no points left and taking an anti-tank rifle is a no-brainer.

[@MordianGlory]

Hahaha Im not gonna lie, I had you in mind when I was making that point! xD

[@dannyhalas9408]

@@MordianGlory I knew it! Right... I challenge you to a bolt action dual. Loser has his models die for real. No bringing metal figures and fishing them out of the bin afterwards!

[@dannyhalas9408]

Ho disagree about so much of the tactical advice at the end, but that's the beauty of bolt action. Everyone has a different opinion on what's good. I hear veteran MMG teams are worth taking, I think you're smoking crack! So many more efficient ways of getting 5 shots, like the Motorcycle with Machine-gun sidecar for 40pts. 80 pts for a one shot panzerschreck, then you typically need to buy it's transport... Really? How many fausts would that buy you? And what's wrong with bulking an elite list out with a medic? It's 24pts you can't even buy an anti tank rifle for that. I'd go for an anti tank rifle first but you'd assume that slot would be full anyway. If he gets shot at that's great! It leaves your heavy hitters alone, it's the guys he revives that'll contribute to the fight... Dear god.

[@MordianGlory]

You make some great points and I dont disagree, but this video was done in the conext of a basic/beginners list. Not sure how many starter sets come with a motorcycle, but I know pretty all of them come with an MMG team :)

[@dannyhalas9408]

@@MordianGlory Ok! five regular riflemen come in the starter boxes don't they? :) That's Five shots, five wounds, more mobility, can't be picked off by snipers, just lacking 12 inches of range. I think MMGs are cool as hell but I don't think taking them at vet is beginner friendly.

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

Veteran German MMG teams are 65 points, grant 6 shots at 36” and an extra order dice. They die on 6+ in a building. Put them in a window overlooking a crossroad and just deny the area. Not bad for someone starting out and looking to use the MMG team they get in their army box. They are also hilarious objective campers late game.

[@dannyhalas9408]

@@Tabletop_Hobbies HE turns buildings into death traps though. Great in a situation when you're just facing small arms. But I can think of so many better things to take if the new player's struggling to get that first win. Unfortunately the MMG would be the first unit I'd swap out for a second purchase. A medium artillary piece is only 10pts more.

[@Tabletop_Hobbies]

@@dannyhalas9408 Sure, if the enemy has a heavy howitzer rolling 3d6 on the building, but then they just wasted that on my MMG team. Medium guns need 10+ on 2d6 which isn’t all that common, so I still think they’re worth it. A medium arty team can still be one shotted by a sniper so I’m not sold on them. The only arty piece I run os the flak 88 in my germans with a 7 man crew and I direct fire it at buildings/ tanks… if for some reason I don’t have a Panzer IV doing the tank hunting. Usually I take 3 Regular/ or 2 Veteran MMG teams in my US army as I run mostly airborne and they lack fire support outside the Sherman/ Hellcat I take with them alongside the Jeepzooka team.

[@NemFX]

Our not-so-friendly game store effectively banned Germany from being playable.