8th Ed. Can WHF be learned by doing?

[Scalenex]

So my friend and I are trying to get another friend to play Warhammer. He said he might give it a try if his fiancé picks an army. She likes to do crafts and he’s a gamer who doesn’t like crafts, so if they do play she’ll paint and he’ll strategize.

I loaned him the BRB but he’s not gung ho about reading it. We came up with the idea that maybe playing an actual game will help him get more excited to read about the intricacies of the rules.

So a proposed plan is to set up an exhibition game. I’ll set up the two army lists and try to help him play against me with a minimum of spoon feeding orders to the other side. The goal is to make small and straight forward armies that nevertheless show a broad spectrum of what’s available in Warhammer Fantasy.

Is this a good approach, and do you think the following lists will work. In theory either one could be my friend’s army, but I’m thinking he’d like Empire more (and okay I’m more used to playing LM than anything else).

1500 point LM Exhibition Army
Skink Priest, L2 Lore of Heavens
Saurus Scar Veteran, Light Armor, Shield, BSB

20 Saurus Warriors with hand weapons and shields, FC
21 Cohort Skinks, FC
10 Skink Skirmishers, javelins and shields, Champion

Bastiladon with Solar Engine
20 Temple Guard, FC
5 Chamleon Skinks, Champion
Stegadon

Razordon Pack with Snack

1500 point Empire Exhibition Army

Arch Lector, Armor of Meteoric Armor (bestows Armor Save 1+), great weapon

Battle Wizard, L2 Lore of Fire
Engineer, light armor
Captain, Barded Warhorse Imperial Armor, Shield, Lance

5 Inner Circle Knights, FC
21 Swordsmen, FC
10 Crossbowmen, FC

22 Great Swords, FC
Cannon
Mortar

Hellblaster Volley Gun


My other friend whose been playing for a while could set up Orc and Goblin or Dwarf exhibition armies, but I think Dwarfs are a little one dimensional and greenskins are a bit overly random for a simple game. High Elves are another option though my prospective Warhammer playing friend dislikes elves and we don’t have as wide of assortment of HE models as the other four armies.

 

[JuQ]

I think that is the best way for learning Warhammer. You cannot just give someone a huge rulebook and expect him to read all the rulings and understand what the hell he is reading if they are not used to this kind of games.

You field 2 armies and then you help him play step by step. And after that he may understand easily the BRB.

 

[Crillaz]

My experience as a newbie is that it is possible.

Me and my friend had never played a game until a few weeks ago. We said to each other that we have to give it a try. Cant just paint and not play. Since we dont know any other people in the area that plays we had to learn it by our selves.
We played a 1500pts game and it took roughly 12 hours, but we did it. For sure we did a lot of wrongs but after this game we studied the rules a lil more and played a 800 pts game a few days later, this time it went smoother and we didnt have to check the rulebook all the time.

And since you and your friend (dwarf player) is experienced gamers I cant see that it would be a problem for him (new guy) to learn. And if you
play he might be more interested to check the rulebook afterwards to see why things went the way they did when playing.

Good luck,

/Crillaz

 

[Anton_S]

Learning at the table is the best way to get started. There's a reason GW stores have intro tables.

 

[Ondjage]

I agree with Anton S, reading the basic rule book is not a good way to get into the hobby!

If he is motivated to learn all the rules I would suggest you start with a smaller battle, perhaps 2 infantry blocks and one cavalry unit to get the basic combat rules down, and increase in the next battle, adding shooting, magic, warmachines etc

If he is more of the strategic type maybe a "proper" battle like the one you are proposing is better, but go easy on him

 

[Pinktaco]

I knew the rules 10+ years ago when I was younger, but never got around to play the game. Years later here I am and had forgotten most of the rules. luckily I havea couple of friends who knew them better and had played a few battles before me so they quickly learned me the rules on the go as we played.

One thing though - in my first game both my friends where there and they both knew the rules much better than I. This resulted in them sometimes talking over my head with some of the rules. Since I had to be told a lot of the rules the game took ages. Ultimately we ended stopping the game for that day halfway through. The next day we were just two and it was much easier to learn the rules since it was just me and the friend I was playing against. So in other words it's better to not have too many people around since the noob will be confused and easily left out.

I have obviously asked a lot of rules on this board, but that is because this game have A TON of rules, even some that might not be easily found in neither the army book nor the BRB.

IMO the best way of learning is by playing with someone who knows the game. Just mindlessly reading will not get you very far.

 

[ElectricPaladin]

Personally, I think doing is the only way to learn. I mean, sure. I'd advise a new player to give the rulebook a quick read-through. The game isn't really the rules, however. It's the behaviors of the game, which happen to be following the rules. Those behaviors are best learned by practice.

If you just read the rulebook and then sit down to play... well, that's when all the rules fall out of your head and you spend the entire game referring to the rulebook over and over again. And then you do it wrong anyway. At that point, what was the point of dedicatedly reading the rulebook? You aren't doing any better, really, than someone who skimmed it.

No. Read the rulebook just enough that you think you get the basics, then bring your rulebook to the table and bash the game out. You'll screw up a lot, but you'll have more fun, and at least you spent your time actually playing the game instead of reading a dry text.

Then reread the rules. And then do it again next week.

 

[Qupakoco]

That little "rule reference" section at the back of the book is a lot easier to digest than the walls of text in the main rules. I'd suggest sticking to that as much as you can for the first game.

 

[Fhanados]

I've only ever played fantasy in introductory games at GW (had a few HE vs Skaven Isle of Blood games) or supervised games at Gamesday, where the redshirts basically guide you through the game. It was a lot of fun and I got the general gist of things pretty well before reading the BRB. It's a nice change of pace since I'm the resident lord-of-the-rules for 40k in my gaming group.

Even with 40k I learned by playing in store. When I started out about 15 years ago I spent an entire weekend playing intro games of Space Marines vs Orks then went home and started playing with my friends who already knew the game.

I recommend starting with simple stuff - an even mix of BS based ranged and combat infantry with a side of skirmishers and/or cavalry. Put magic, magic items and special rule heavy stuff in the too-hard basket until they get a few games under their belt and then introduce things piecemeal.

 

[MHK Pathfinder]

Really I think this is the best way to learn. Give him the responsibility of learning (or at least reading-through) the special rules for the army he will be playing.

My first real experience playing was in an 800 pt tournament, and while I fully knew how my army worked tactically, I was less sure about the basic game rules and mechanics. Having friendly experienced players to help walk you though the game rules you don't know and clarify confusing rules is so great. I was able to feel like I was in charge of my decisions, tactically, while having the freedom to ask questions about general game rules. Also what I found useful was when the opponent would explain what he was doing, along with the special rules about his army.

Now I'm a pretty easy going guy, but I like to compete as well. That said, I know when I need help and can take advice. As long as the initial game is low stakes, I think you'll do fine.

Also, good job on the army selection, looks like you're showcasing a good range of combat scenarios between the two armies.