Playing by yourself?

[geektom]

Any tips out there for playing/practicing by yourself? Any simulators out there?

 

 Very hard for me to get local games in, but I really want to practice the rules.

[Grotsmasha]

Haven't tried it myself as I don't really game, but I've heard Table Top Simulator is a pretty good option.  

 

Edited May 8, 2021 by Grotsmasha

[Ishagu]

To me TTS is counterproductive to what the hobby is supposed to be.

 

A social game built around a love for the hobby and models.

 

For this reason I don't particularly want to ever invest any time into it.

[Doghouse]

Take a look at Say Hi Paul on youtube.

 

He plays solo 40k and puts out vids as battle reports, you could probably do the same with patrols.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmJCc4_yMMUZieLvarybxg

[Magos Takatus]

@Ishagu

 

That's one way to look at it, but in these current times being able to play games safely with friends or to try out unusual army builds TTS is invaluable. I haven't used it personally but I could well understand why somebody would find it a useful tool to make games more accessible. There might also be the simple fact that you don't know anyone in person who is in the hobby or they are unable to move their collection. I am lucky that I have a friend that can drive that has a game lined up when the lockdown is over. I can't see myself playing a decent sized game otherwise, my Admech takes up more than two toolboxes. Getting that on a bus in one piece sounds like the opposite of fun!

 

As an aside I own Blood Bowl 2 on my PC and have several Blood Bowl teams at my house. Would I prefer to play in person? Absolutely. Is playing the game online quicker and easier to organise on a whim? Of course.

Edited May 8, 2021 by Magos Takatus

[Kythnos]

To me TTS is counterproductive to what the hobby is supposed to be.

 

A social game built around a love for the hobby and models.

 

For this reason I don't particularly want to ever invest any time into it.

I understand your point, but on the one hand there is the current global situation which still imposes tight restrictions on the possibilities to meet in person.

 

And on the other hand, at least in my case, some of my best playing buddies have moved to other parts of the country and TTS and Vassal offer opportinities to still get games in with them.

 

But yes, in general, I also prefer games in person with real models by a mile!

[Warhead01]

Any tips out there for playing/practicing by yourself? Any simulators out there?

 

 Very hard for me to get local games in, but I really want to practice the rules.

I do have a few thoughts on this as I have recently attempted a solo 2000 points a side game Orks V Blood Angles. 

 

I learned a few things from that which I plan to help adjust my own solo 40K games. 

In no perticular order.

Set aside enough time, in my case mark off a whole day. 

Build your armies to a playable size. 2000 points was a bit much I'm planning to move down to 1500 point or lower for a few games until I am more proficient with both armies. 

Create a set of conditions. By which I mean something like a simple easy flow chart. Things these armies will do move, shoot charge unless the X. sort of chart.

Keep it simple and hopefully fulffy. Unless something more competitive is your jam.

Pre pic your stratagems and set them aside so you know to remember them. Or set them aside as part of your over all plan.

Try to write out a plan after you've picked your army and the mission is known. you can determine the mission ahead of time if it helps to get things moving.

I'm trying to play my armies in a fluffy yet balanced way no favoritism but if you need to beat up on one or the other because your excited about one more than the other do it, but not all the time.  Take notes shoot video take pictures. Seriously any or all of that will help you for the next game as you recall your mistakes in rules or play. 

I'm planning to buy a dry erase board as well something large enough for notes like CP balance during the game, score KP's and maybe even Secondary objective. 

Which leads me to.. secondary objectives. I'm a total noob for 9th so I will pass on secondary objective to keep the game playable until I am more competent with 9th. I really wish that GW had made a set of cards for all of their secondary's.  Would have been super helpful.  

Other than that just turn it into a really good time. I've been working on new terrain and this has helped me evaluate what I've made and how much. I'm already planning out how I will change my collection of terrain to be more playable. 

 

 

When in doubt skip any edition for an edition you are very familiar with as it's fun and because you can. it will also help move the game along with out having to go back and forth to the books too much. 

 

Hope this was helpful. 

[geektom]

 

Any tips out there for playing/practicing by yourself? Any simulators out there?

 

 Very hard for me to get local games in, but I really want to practice the rules.

I do have a few thoughts on this as I have recently attempted a solo 2000 points a side game Orks V Blood Angles. 

 

I learned a few things from that which I plan to help adjust my own solo 40K games. 

In no perticular order.

Set aside enough time, in my case mark off a whole day. 

Build your armies to a playable size. 2000 points was a bit much I'm planning to move down to 1500 point or lower for a few games until I am more proficient with both armies. 

Create a set of conditions. By which I mean something like a simple easy flow chart. Things these armies will do move, shoot charge unless the X. sort of chart.

Keep it simple and hopefully fulffy. Unless something more competitive is your jam.

Pre pic your stratagems and set them aside so you know to remember them. Or set them aside as part of your over all plan.

Try to write out a plan after you've picked your army and the mission is known. you can determine the mission ahead of time if it helps to get things moving.

I'm trying to play my armies in a fluffy yet balanced way no favoritism but if you need to beat up on one or the other because your excited about one more than the other do it, but not all the time.  Take notes shoot video take pictures. Seriously any or all of that will help you for the next game as you recall your mistakes in rules or play. 

I'm planning to buy a dry erase board as well something large enough for notes like CP balance during the game, score KP's and maybe even Secondary objective. 

Which leads me to.. secondary objectives. I'm a total noob for 9th so I will pass on secondary objective to keep the game playable until I am more competent with 9th. I really wish that GW had made a set of cards for all of their secondary's.  Would have been super helpful.  

Other than that just turn it into a really good time. I've been working on new terrain and this has helped me evaluate what I've made and how much. I'm already planning out how I will change my collection of terrain to be more playable. 

 

 

When in doubt skip any edition for an edition you are very familiar with as it's fun and because you can. it will also help move the game along with out having to go back and forth to the books too much. 

 

Hope this was helpful. 

 

All great tips, thanks! My whole reason for asking is to get more experience (ie *any* experience) with 9th before a tournament in late July.

[Warhead01]

 

All great tips, thanks! My whole reason for asking is to get more experience (ie *any* experience) with 9th before a tournament in late July.

 

 

I'm with you there. 

I might attend our club tournament in September. 

I found the game rules them selves are easy enough to get right after a few games. Objectives are key. When I am playing my friends, the few times I have, I've picked secondary objective that reward my army for my usual playstyle. I still play like it's an older edition so taking table quarters and moving to the enemy Deployment Zone are just how I usually play after so many years of developed habits. I don't know where your "weak point" is but just pushing models for repetition is probably a step in the right direction for everybody, myself included.  I guess figure out how to train how you fight is the end goal. But keep it fun for your self. I didn't pay attention to the fun while I was playing but after the fact I could defiantly recall cool stuff that happened. 

[Jings]

Take a look at Say Hi Paul on youtube.

 

He plays solo 40k and puts out vids as battle reports, you could probably do the same with patrols.

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYmJCc4_yMMUZieLvarybxg

 

Love me some Say Hi Paul, tho I'd like it if he stopped adjusting Chaos points to be more akin to the Loyalists. A CSM with 2A/W is far from the same value as an Intercessor with two faction abilities along with Doctrines. 

 

Giving his guys the "screw Chaos" tactics in a narrative campaign against Chaos just makes it all the more lopsided, tho more forgivable given his lore justification. I'd like his vids a lot more if the battles weren't already decided before they began. 

 

My larger point on topic of the thread is you want the forces to be as balanced as they can be, and you'll get more joy playing narrative-style games than competitive if you're playing yourself. 

Edited May 8, 2021 by Jings

[techsoldaten]

Hard to imagine what it must be like playing against yourself. Feel for the OP if that's the only option.

 

Very hard to play where I am. A lot of FLGSes went out of business. The stores that are still open are not letting people play. Tried setting up tables in a vacant commercial space, the backlash from local players was immense. When lockdowns do lift, it looks like there won't be much to return to.

 

40k is a social experience. What I'd say to the OP is don't try to play a full game against yourself, something gets lost in the mix. Instead, experiment with your main army, set up scenarios where you can explore unit combinations without having to simulate a full game. 

 

Just to get my head around 9th edition, I did this with DG, GK, CSM and Daemons. My goal was to understand things like the viability of Bloodletter Bombs, GMNDKs, Chaincannon Havocs, etc. Figured out a lot that I do like and don't like about this edition.

[Portman]

Due to work/family commitments (and being an old unsociable bugger), I'm a full time solo player.

 

Generally I play games like Space Hulk and Blackstone Fortress, that have specific rulesets for solo play but I've recently started playing a few games of 8th (because that's what I have) on my own.

 

The best way to play solo that I can come up with, is to always use Genestealers as an opponent, and use a modified version of the 1st edition Space Hulk solo rules found in the Deathwing expansion. This works pretty well, as Genestealers are a pretty single minded (i.e charging towards the nearest enemy and trying to rip their throats out) and are therefore good solo play opponents - as the AI is simple.  

 

I'm still learning 40K, as I haven't really played since 3rd, but so far I'm starting the stealers hidden - by placing a token for each unit behind cover, and then rolling a D6 to see if they appear or not each turn. I'll turn the counters over and shuffle them so I don't actually know what unit it is. Then, at the start of each turn, I roll another D6 (1-3,4-6) to see whether or not they'll stay in cover (until my forces are within 12 inches), or if they'll storm towards the nearest enemy unit. 

 

For characters like the MAGUS or PATRIARCH, I try to give them a degree of cleverness and thusly have them always direct their attacks at the highest ranking enemy - so Captains, Psykers, Squad leaders etc. 

 

For balance I also give the stealers a half again or double points advantage. 

 

I've also just ordered a set of objective cards etc. to add a bit of randomness. 

 

As I said - I'm still figuring it out but so far it's been fun. 

 

Hope that helps 

 

Cheers! 

Edited May 10, 2021 by Portman