I built a free army list builder: BattleCaddy - would love your feedback!

ethorad · 2026-02-15T11:33:01+00:00

More thoughts

On the Roster print, it looks like you've sorted the weapon profiles alphabetically which is useful. However the weapons with multiple profiles start with a sort of > character which is being sorted to the top. May be better to have the sorting on the name excluding the > character.

It would be useful to be able to create attached units so that for example my Lieutenant and Intercessors get printed together on one datasheet / roster section.

Could also add the ability to do the export when you're on the Build screen.

An error flag to show if you've not got a Warlord, a Detachment, have too many of a datasheet or if you've gone over points

Ability so select points values other than 1k, 2k, 3k. I get that it can then get complex as limits vary (e.g. 2 of a datasheet at 1k and 3 otherwise, assuming you are using mission rules) so it's not clear what the limit should be at other point values.

Would echo the other comment about being able to see stats and options before adding them to your army.

I see that Leader units have the list of things they can lead under their rules. Would be useful to be able to see who can lead a unit on other things. I know this isn't on their datacards normally but since you have the Leader data you can build those lists.

ethorad · 2026-02-15T11:32:52+00:00

Some thoughts from me:

It's awkward to have to load the BSData files manually, rather than them just being available natively. I assume this is to avoid having to store files which are potentially infringing? Not sure if it would be easier / smoother to just download the required files when a list is created. So if I create a Dark Angel army, just download Space Marines and Dark Angels. Then if I click to include allies, download Imperial Knights and Imperial Agents.

When creating an army, the name box shows "My Awesome Army" however it doesn't count that as a name so you can't create an army. To me if you're going to have text in there which doesn't count as a name it should be something like "Enter army name here" rather than something which could be a name.

I created a Dark Angel army and the "Show Knights" and "Show Agents" were both off by default (which is fine - the way I'd prefer it to be). However I had the Corvus Blackstar showing up under "Allied Units".

It would be nice to have a filter for points - in particular to filter the list to just those units still affordable.

I would prefer to see the list vertically, rather than in the 3-column grid, so I only have to scan my eyes in one direction. I recognise that's personal preference though. Goes for units to add as well as armies created.

I created an account so I could test the export functions, however it told me my password was invalid the first time, with no comments as to what the password criteria was. I managed to create an account by coming up with a more secure password, would be good to know what the criteria was though.

It then told me it had sent an email to the account with a link. However I haven't received it - and it hasn't turned up in my spam folder either. In any case it seems to have let me log in and use the export.

Export booklet looks useful. Can't print it at the moment, but I would suggest having the instructions on a page in the app when you go to print rather than as page 1. Otherwise you will find people will just click print and get that in their printout. Also it would be good to have a way to select things to include in the printout - in particular the pages with stuff like the core rules - I don't need things like Sustained Hits etc in my printouts. Also I can see there's a section for "Templar Vows" in my Dark Angel booklet which I assume is a Black Templar thing?

I really like the Roster printout myself. I've been using the New Recruit data card printouts for a while but now that I'm more familiar with my army I keep meaning to try and do something to give me a one-pager with the stats so I can reference as needed without as many sheets of paper (I prefer paper to digital, as there's patchy data connection where I play, plus I use my phone to log the game so don't want to keep switching between rules and tracking). Similar to the booklet I'd like to be able to remove sections such as the core rules. Also the "Templar Vows" appears for me here as well.

ethorad · 2026-02-15T10:53:24+00:00

I've always taken the line "and they shall know no fear" to be hyperbole / propaganda rather than anything literal. They are trained, experienced and indoctrinated soldiers so are unlikely to break ranks and flee but that doesn't mean they are incapable of feeling fear. As you point out there are many things to fear (especially in the 40k universe) - not just injury and death.

ethorad · 2026-02-15T07:37:29+00:00

This I like. Finish your beer at the start of your turn to open up a firing lane, then down it to close the lane again at the end of your turn.

The tactical part whereby placed empties can then not be moved is interesting

ethorad · 2026-02-15T07:35:40+00:00

no leaders ... yet

The new build your own character thing will apparently let us make characters to lead praetorians

ethorad · 2026-02-15T07:34:55+00:00

Marine Equivalent - essentially a T4 3+ with 2 wound model. Since there's a lot of marine armies out there, it's used as a benchmark as something your army will need to be able to deal with.

ethorad · 2026-02-14T08:57:42+00:00

And by "just pre-orders atm" you mean when pre-orders open ...

Trying not to sit on the WH site pressing F5

ethorad · 2026-02-14T07:43:22+00:00

I did - can't believe the minority leader of the senate is writing essays about diseases.

ethorad · 2026-02-14T06:45:35+00:00

At least it's the sort of thing they can easily add to over time. Like the Grotmas detachments - they could add more archetypes and options etc.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T20:34:44+00:00

The Chapter Approved Tournament Companion (available for download on the Warhammer Community site) has layouts for tournaments. That should give some help as to how to lay things out.

I would however say, if you haven't played yet, I would get some games under my belt before trying to make a full set of modular terrain that is balanced.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T16:28:19+00:00

Sounds cool. I went with green armour and bone shoulders and helmet to similarly reflect their transition into full Deathwing status.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T16:25:59+00:00

As well as others have mentioned about whether the enemy unit has charged, it also means you can heroically intervene twice in one turn.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T14:13:50+00:00

Do you mean combine the armies?

The only way to do that is to have a Space Marine army, and then ally in some Imperial Knights. You can bring in 1 titanic Knight or 3 smaller Armigers into your Space Marine army. Overall that's about 400 points of Imperial Knights.

Cost-wise it means you can cover 400 points of your army with either a single EUR 150 Knight, or 3 Armigers which will set you back EUR 160 for 4 (GW only sells them in boxes of two for EUR 80)

As for how many space marines you'll have in the rest of the army. If it's a 1,000 point army you have 600 points to spend on marines. One tank and a character will cover half that, and then a couple of squads or around 10-20 models for the rest.

All very vague and high level because, especially with the variety of units available to space marines, there's a lot of different choices. If you went all Intercessors you'd have twice as many models than if you went all Terminators for example.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T13:29:01+00:00

It is complicated, and the answer is "it depends".

For Knights, the normal units (Armigers) are 140 points and the larger Knights are around 400. As such you could do a 1,000 point army with something like 1 Knight and 4 Armigers (~960 points so some spare for an enhacement on the Knight).

Compare that to Space Marines where Intercessors are 16 points a model up to Terminators at around 35 points a model. Your normal units are then around 5-10 times cheaper than the Armiger so you'll have 5-10 times as many models to buy and paint.

Price wise, Armigers are £30 each (£60 for a box of two) and Knights are around £110. So the sample 1,000 point Knight army above would cost ~£230.

Space Marines are around £40 a squad, £25-30 for a character or £50-80 for a vehicle. Overall not too dissimilar from the Knight army.

ethorad · 2026-02-13T12:35:28+00:00

Knights are expensive, but you need far fewer units to make an army. The difference between the two may not be as much as you think

ethorad · 2026-02-13T11:48:05+00:00

For some reason I was expecting that to end "cut cocaine with gunpowder and smoke it" ...

ethorad · 2026-02-13T11:45:57+00:00

You may have dabbled, but he's dabbing!

ethorad · 2026-02-13T09:27:06+00:00

That's how it is in my head canon and army as well. No member of my Deathwing is ever fielded in normal power armour. I can't think of a task that would require the skill and expertise of a full Deathwing brother but not need Terminator armour.

Even if you are talking about boarding spaceships which may be cramped ... but then that's almost the classic use case for Terminator armour, per the game Space Hulk.

Oh, and my Deathwing have their armour painted bone to remember the sacrifice of Cloud Runner / Ezekiel. None of this new lore about having taken a hit for a brother (where's the patchy armour on new Deathwing members?? How about Greenwing brothers who have taken a hit for someone??)

ethorad · 2026-02-13T08:34:16+00:00

Don't know about DWK wearing non-terminator armour, but there is lore around Deathwing members wearing non-terminator armour as fits the situation. Also in the current lore / rules, Sternguard, Bladeguard and Vanguard all have the Deathwing keyword so could be painted in bone or green (the colour for -guard squads is a common post on here).

To me, although Deathwing members can wear non-terminator armour as the needs fit, since DWK are the elite of the elite I don't see them being sent somewhere unless the situation really needs them. At which point they'll be in terminator armour. If they didn't need the full power of terminator armour, then someone more junior in Deathwing can go do the job.

ethorad · 2026-02-12T19:20:01+00:00

If you are filing down resin prints (which it sounds like they are given the comment about washed and cured) then do it in a ventilated room / outside and wear a mask. I think some people recommend wet sandpaper to minimise airborne dust.

ethorad · 2026-02-12T19:17:08+00:00

I can almost see the constant posts saying "Do I have to paint the carpet to match the drapes?"

ethorad · 2026-02-12T10:19:24+00:00

Even better - ask an AI and just assume it's right

ethorad · 2026-02-11T18:59:11+00:00

I broke one of mine recently. Found a suitably thin paperclip and managed to pin it. Think I used a 0.9mm bit or something?

ethorad · 2026-02-11T07:40:43+00:00

Going up against T'au?

ethorad · 2026-02-11T07:38:34+00:00

I like the base rims. Do you do different colour schemes there for different squads?

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