Army Builder by Lone Wolf

[NoobOrky2011]

I did a search, but couldn't find anything in the forums on this.

Does anyone have the Army Builder by Lone Wolf and is it worth the $40 price tag?

I saw a review and I was VERY impressed, but not quite sold on it yet.

Thanks!

[Architech]

Many people who have it, swear by it. But for $40 bucks...let me ask you this:

How hard is it to flip through a book, add up some numbers, and write the items/numbers down?

If the answer is anything but "impossible" I think that 40 bucks is a model kit

[daddy4count]

I dig it, and it's probably worth the $40

Download the trial and see for yourself... it only lets you choose 3 units total but gives you a feel for how it works.

I did not buy it... instead I use Alice40k's spreadsheet list makers. If you Google for "Alice40k" you'll find them... free to download and they work really well for the most part

[The Dark Pwner]

for the most part

?

[daddy4count]

There are occasionally issues... like when you build a GK list you have to manually add the points for weapon upgrades on a Razorback for your strike squad, for example

But those problems are rare

[NoobOrky2011]

Thanks for the input, I was thinking pretty much the same as $40=new model, and I am pretty handy with Excel, so I think I might pass for now.

[Architech]

if you are excel capable...you can certainly get by without it.

I've been making notebook and excel lists since I started...I see no reason to rely on another program

[Saint]

What I did took a lot of time. I went through each codex and wrote out in Excel all the point costs and options. Now I just plug in numbers and it gives me point totals.

[daddy4count]

This is where the Alice40k spreadsheets come in handy... all drop down menu's

[Matzaklr]

MYddy bought Army builder a while back and it came with 2 licenses so we split the cost. So it was only $20 and I have to say it has been one of the handiest tools. I really like the list printer function especially since it gives you all the effective rules for your particular list as well as weapons. That way you don't have to weed through a bunch of stuff that you aren't going to use. Super helpful for folks like me that can't memorize anything but useless information.

[SourImplant]

There are some hidden bonuses to using Army Builder. For one, it puts all of a units special rules and USRs in a single place. You also have the option of adding units and FOC selections from alternate sources, such as Imperial Armour or the Spearhead expansion along with their own special rules for units and formations.

That $40 also lets you build lists for a couple dozen other games, such as WFB, Warmachine, and Malifaux.

Value really depends on what you want to get out of it.

[daddy4count]

The printed lists alone are worth the price of admission if you play tournaments... the guys at Lone Wolf do a great job with the software. I don't know if they actually play... but they do design the software from a players perspective.

If you haven't tried it out, I highly recommend it...

[NoobOrky2011]

*sigh* So yeah, I downloaded the demo and now I am trying to figure out how budget it into this month's finances, lol.

[Architech]

Yeah the rules for your list printing with it is pretty worth the price if you are going for speedier games or competitive...not as necessary in a buddy's basement...

but If you play multiple games it supports it's certainly worth it...but for the rules...it's almost worth it alone especially for dual license

[NoobOrky2011]

So I broke down and bought the download and I must say I am very impressed. It's actually helped me understand the army organization rules more since I had to look up why something was legal/illegal. I was able to make multiple armies at all different point levels and can quickly see what I still need to get for my army.

Thanks for all the advice!

[Badarmies2]

I love it, bazillion times better than spreadsheets, worth every penny.

i like that on my laptop i can total up my opponents army real within about 60 seconds and figure out if he is strait up or cheating, also helps with victory point calcs as well.

The need to make an android version of it.

[Salag]

The need to make an android version of it.

I agree completely!
I use the Alice40k spreadsheets too and find them useful enough.
Pen and paper is great and I usually write out my lists but I find that it's a lot easier to tweak a list on the computer rather than scoring stuff out and meddling with points values on the fly. The important thing to remember is that you shouldn't rely on them to tell you what you can and can't take. I think it's much more valuable to understand that for yourself. But it sounds like it's helping you do that anyway so

[Baragash]

I don't know if they actually play... but they do design the software from a players perspective.

At least one of them does (IG as it happens, and he owns a buttload of FW which probably helps explain why all the supplements are included)

[Tbcrow]

Does the 40$ licence include constant updates for the evolving codexs/faqs? I guess what I'm asking is do you spend 40$ and get everything up to that date, or is it continual?

[daddy4count]

As I recall it gets you upgrades for one year... but it's been a while since I checked.

It is on their website I believe.