=] EVENT: Call to Arms 2026 [=

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@Brother Argent, hopefully the following helps answer your questions:

 

1.  Characters are given a bump up (from what is usually 1 to 5 points) based on certain assumptions - that they are more highly detailed and that they will be painted to a higher standard than "basic" models.  Note, that bump up applies regardless of whether those assumptions are true - a character model (especially older models) may be less detailed than some basic models, and we don't adjust point values based on the quality of the paint job or the time and care taken in painting the model.

 

2.  To allow for kitbashing and conversions, whether a model is a "character" for the purposes of CtA is based on the models intended use (or for the many members who don't actually play, their appropriate use) in the game.  So if you are converting a chaos marine to be a chaos lord (aspiring champions are sergeant equivalents, so not characters), it would be valued as a character as that is what a chaos lord is.  Conversely, if you are using a lord model to be a champion in a squad, it would be valued as a basic model.  Note, similar issues also come up when character models are being used as statues as part of terrain pieces.

 

3.  I'm not familiar with the Limited Edition series, but I suspect the same thing occurs with many kill teams where they consist of more detailed and often updated versions of models.  Such models are not given any additional point value - old models are worth just as much as new models, despite many old character models being less detailed than some new "basic" models.  In other words, a fancy, detailed version of something that would be a basic trooper or squad sergeant (or other non-character model) in the game is still just valued as a basic trooper in CtA.  That said, some such models may have be characters if they do have an character role in game - for example, a guy with a flag might be a character, depending on the given faction's rules.

 

4.  When in doubt, contact me in thread or by message with a photo of the model and how you see it being used, and we can figure out what point value is most appropriate for it.

 

5.  The last note is that this is for fun and on an honour system.  So, as a rule I accept what a member says their intended purpose for a model is.  That said, if it appears that the rules are being used abusively (for example, painting a kill team and calling each member of it a character), I will adjust point values appropriately.  To date, I haven't needed to.

 

 

As an example, for the 2024 CtA I painted this chaos ogrynn model.  In the 40K chaos codex, he forms a unit with the character keyword with this chaos enforcer model.  Given that I wasn't certain whether the keyword applied to both models, I contacted the organizer Grotsmasha and asked what its point value should be.  He asked me if I intended to be using the ogrynn as a Neddog type equivalent (an epic hero type ogrynn character from the Astra Militatarum codex) and I said no.  The squad was therefore pointed at 5 for the enforcer as a character and the ogrynn as a squaddie (which for ogrynn sized models wast 2, I think).  Which was, IMHO, quite fair.

 

 

Edited Saturday at 05:43 PM by Dr_Ruminahui

[sitnam]

@Dr_Ruminahui How much do you think the recent character command squads will cost? I know my Dark commune last year was 9 points (5, for the leader, 4 for the retinue), and I assume something similar for Cadian/Krieg command squads.

 

But squads like the Masters of the Maelstrom and Wardens of Ultramarine really seem like a whole squad of characters.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Don't know about Wardens, but Masters, while all having the "Epic Hero" keyword, aren't characters so I would imagine they are all 1 point each.

 

And yes, the AM command squads would be 5 for the character and 1 each for the squaddies.  I would need to look at their rules to see how attaching commissars work before speaking as to their points.

[Hfran Morkai]

C'mon Artisans of Vaul and finish up your Sixth Legion Cataphractii bits so I can build my Terminators. 

[Lord_Ikka]

My goal is now to complete at least 5 points (one character) in each of the 5 Strongholds. I'm not normally a Heresy player, but I have a Belial count-as coming in (Marduk Sedras) who will be painted in HH-era DA colors anyway for my 40k army, so it all works out.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

The Strongholds are now up, but can't be posted in until June 15 when the event begins.

 

Astartes / Imperium / Chaos / Xenos / Heresy

 

More detailed point values for each subfaction are in the subfaction Rally Points.

 

In the meantime, if you have any questions please post them in a Rally Point or message me @Dr_Ruminahui.  Happy plotting and planning!
 

For those who haven't done so already and are able, please consider donating to Bolter and Chainsword, as the current fundraising drive has not yet met B+C's yearly financial needs.  All the mods and event organizers do their work out of love for the site, and the funds being raised are to keep the servers running and the software up to date.

Edited Tuesday at 03:00 AM by Dr_Ruminahui

[AvePicante]

Absolutely psyched to see this come back around, I have a few combat patrols worth of models from the Hachette series, so I'll bring them all for Xenos! Looking forward to it.

[drakheart]

This will be my 3rd year in a row, got plenty of contenders including probably the marine half of the Armageddon box. Any idea what forum a Zoat (the archivist) will go under?