Pay someone to write you an OP army list, a new hobby low?

[Marshal Valkenhayn]

For $20 if they have a winning track record why not? I remember I sent a list to be vetted and he ended up using mine lol ... I got refunded

 

This was funnier than the original post.

 

But on a more serious note, as others have said, this service would do absolutely nothing if it didn't have a legitimate way to teach the interested party how to use their new list. Its strengths, synergies, and weaknesses, as well as how to apply those in various situations. And what if a key piece gets taken out? What do you do when half of the army is gone and you're neck and neck in turn 3?

 

It might help a bad player beat another bad player to have a stronger list initially, but it probably wouldn't do much to help a bad player beat a good one.

 

Also, I get the sense this is going to seem more attractive to people who are either very socially nervous, or who don't play a lot of games with varied opponents. A post match breakdown and list discussion is part of nearly every game I've had with people throughout 8th and 9th. Not as a lecture, but naturally between players and those watching while the table is cleaned up and armies squared away.

[MegaVolt87]

Man, if only there was a place where one could draw upon the collective experience of a wide demographic of experienced players, tournament winners etc that could analyze and give advice and opinions (even unwanted ones) for free on your armylist and faction in 40k. Crying shame nowhere like that exists so we must resort to services such as this. 

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

$20 meh

[Halandaar]

$20 meh

 

If you're unconcerned and just handing it out I'll take $20. I'll even send you an army list if you like.

[Magos Takatus]

After I got over the initial reaction to wasting money like this I was left wondering about the actual list building action. Someone earlier mentioned the "hollow" experience of using a list not of one's own devising. I partly agree with that statement but it leaves me with a conundrum. How much advice can I seek on this forum before the list is no longer my own?  

[Halandaar]

After I got over the initial reaction to wasting money like this I was left wondering about the actual list building action. Someone earlier mentioned the "hollow" experience of using a list not of one's own devising. I partly agree with that statement but it leaves me with a conundrum. How much advice can I seek on this forum before the list is no longer my own?

Infinite amount? Advice is just that and you don't have to accept any of it. If you did accept it, you still made that decision yourself based on the pros and cons. Its not been dictated to you.

[MasterDeath]

And the difference to netlisting is...?

[Dagoth Ur]

And the difference to netlisting is...?

This.

 

At the end of the day, life is like a sandwich - no matter which way you flip it, the bread gotta come first. Can't begrudge people in the hobby trying to make a buck or two in this economy.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

 

$20 meh

 

If you're unconcerned and just handing it out I'll take $20. I'll even send you an army list if you like.

 

.

how many majors has you won and which ones were they ?

[Rik Lightstar]

And the difference to netlisting is...?

 

The difference is $20, the ad is pretty clear 

 

Rik

[Scribe]

Lol.

 

I'm not against net lists, or optimization, or competitive play...

 

But you sure as hell don't need to pay for this.

 

Games not hard, especially with all the force feeding GW does with how units are built out.

 

Funny.

[Emurian]

Even if someone bites, and they do offer a decent list, it won't work for every person.

I am a firm believer that in Warhammer your list is not just picking the min/max efficient units. Another factor is that said units need to fit your playing style. 

If your style is defensive, your list will be different build then if you went for a mass melee approach. These people do not know you, they do not know your preferences. You can state your preferences but if your totally new to the hobby (Which I assume is the case because otherwise you have the brain cells to come up with your own list) then YOU wont know yet which style suits you. (This is something I picked up through Magic the Gathering where deciding which Legacy deck you play is not just picking a top tier deck, and even the top tier decks have 5 card slots that are based upon personal taste. I would slot in snapcasters in my BUG shell for utility and tricks, my mate will opt to throw in OKO in those slots to play better allround defense and establish a better board control)

This is also the reason why you should NOT buy multiple boxes at start and start with a single or 2 boxes of troops. 

There is also always a dude in a gaming group that gets dopamine released in his brain when theory crafting through list building. (We have one of our own) For these people making these lists can give as much satisfaction as playing out a game. Just offer these guys a small token of appreciation and ask them to theorycraft with you. These people tend to be the ones you play with, they know you better, and thus will try to come up with a list that has that unit your in love with, or try to craft a list around your playstyle. 

 

And as above mentioned, even if they would somehow '''guide you'' by explaining the list, it won't add much. You learn most through playing and then be open minded for feedback from your friends. You usseally only realise half your own mistakes in hindsight. Being open minded, admitting your not perfect and taking advice from your friends will improve you more in the longterm imo.

[Doghouse]

"Someone call the Arbites because this offer is so good it should be a crime!

 

Here at crazy Doghouse's Emporium*  we're selling left handed paint brushes and sky hooks, not for $99, not for $39, but for for this one time low, low price of $50!

 

To avoid disappoint act now! Even the Emperor wouldn't pass on this amazing deal, he told me himself in a vision**!"

 

*Not to be confused with the Holy Imperium of Man for legal reasons.

**Vision not valid beyond the reach of the light of Holy Terra.

 

Why not just give personal coaching on how to play instead like fornite players do?  They could use tabletop simulator. Eitehr way that sales pitch is comical.

[roryokane]

This is awesome. I can pay someone to design me a tournament-winning list. I can pay someone to paint me an award-winning army. Soon, I'm sure I'll be able to pay someone to go to the tournament and play in my name. Ahhh, the amazing efficiencies of the modern world -- we truly live in an age of wonders.

I mean, for those of us that are completely artistically challenged and despise painting, I'd be perfectly happy to have someone paint my army for money. I like gluing them together, and I like seeing them all in a giant collection. Painting would make them look better, but... effort. Bleurgh.

[Umbros]

 

This is awesome. I can pay someone to design me a tournament-winning list. I can pay someone to paint me an award-winning army. Soon, I'm sure I'll be able to pay someone to go to the tournament and play in my name. Ahhh, the amazing efficiencies of the modern world -- we truly live in an age of wonders.

I mean, for those of us that are completely artistically challenged and despise painting, I'd be perfectly happy to have someone paint my army for money. I like gluing them together, and I like seeing them all in a giant collection. Painting would make them look better, but... effort. Bleurgh.

 

 

Let's not also forget people with disabilities who are unable to paint.

[MARK0SIAN]

Yeah paying someone to paint your army definitely doesn’t fall into the same category as paying someone to write your list. An army painted to golden daemon standard gives you exactly the same advantage on the table as an army painted to battle ready standard. Lists on the other hand directly affect the outcome of the match.

[Reskin]

I feel like we aren't looking at the obvious though.

 

Who are the people paying someone else to write them a tournament list? And why are they purchasing this?

 

Competitive tournament players already know how to write their cost efficient list and, the most crucial part... Is actually, they know how to effectively use and command the units in said list.

 

The issue is when players purchase a list that's been created for them. They clearly don't have the brain capacity to form stratergies and understand the concepts of what is and isn't an efficient unit. So they won't be able to command the units under their control to the best of their ability. Nor will they know the intricate stratagems and tactics required to achieve victory with said list.

 

When you write and include units that you have chosen, logically in your head you've established some sort of value system (however flawed) and assigned the units a value. And you've reasoned with yourself as to why you've included it.

 

This situation simply doesn't happen when you are handed a list and an army. You are going in blind or more often then not fumbling around. Regardless of how overpowered the included units are.

 

In fact, if you listen to Nick Nanavati and some of the other top tier tournament players. They don't pick the "obvious OP unit" they pick units that potentially no one is using or isn't considered "meta" and try to leverage those units and apply as many buffs as they can to said units. Then these units generally break what is the current meta and become death stars and catch people by surprise.

[Rik Lightstar]

Commissioning an army to be painted isn't the same thing at all, as long as you don't win Best Painted and claim the accolade for yourself.

 

Rik

[DanPesci]

That sales chat is truly awful.

 

Also, you want to pay someone for advice on list building (and actually how to play better), theres numerous gaming channels out there that already do this, many have free vids, with a lot offering more paid for content at around £5 a month. Also, using these you get to see armies not yours and how they play - I often watch battle reports of armies I dont use for example, as for me its the fastest way to learn their (often new) rules. Knowing your own army is only half the battle (or even 1 10th of it with the amount of different opponent armies out there).

 

Or simply read a few discussions on this very board, and donate here lol

 

Also, you pay someone $20 for a list, cool, 1 month later when the meta in your area shifts or a new codex comes out, that list is probably no longer top tier - especially if you arent learning in any way how to play or WHY that list was a good choice in the first place.

 

I get some people need a hand (although really, if you are going to tournaments anyway, probably learn the game first - unless thats really the only outlet you have for playing)... but this stinks to me of some sort of sales junk, possibly put together by someone not even playing the game and simply grabbing the latest netlist/tournament winner off the net and selling that on. I get that people need to make a buck, but honestly, give your money to one of the hardworking channels putting out (usually) excellent and varied content.

 

 

Commissioning an army to be painted isn't the same thing at all, as long as you don't win Best Painted and claim the accolade for yourself.

Rik

 

100% agree. I have 2 (almost) fully painted armies after 15 years in the hobby. 15. Years. Right now starting another would kill me time/effort/mental wise, yet id happily pay someone to paint me up an army if i had that cash spare and wanted to play with something new as i hate using grey plastic on the table (and others have their own reasons for not being able to paint)