We all know this is an expensive hobby. But we don't always add up the true costs of a competitive army, as most of us collect our forces over many years. I wrote an article last year that added up what my then-current 1500 point army would cost me if I had to replace it.
One of the questions I keep getting asked over and over again is how much the Emo-Wing costs compared to other armies. So I thought I'd figure it up for everyone and compare it to my IG.
First, let's figure out what my current 2K Imperial Guard army would cost in Cadian plastic. All prices assume you're ordering from the GW website and not through a discount retailer.
HQ
210 Company Command Squad w/4 x Melta, Kraks, Astro, Fleet, Chimera
Troops
155 Veteran Squad w/3 x Melta, Chimera
155 Veteran Squad w/3 x Melta, Chimera
170 Veteran Squad w/3 x Plasma, Chimera
170 Veteran Squad w/3 x Plasma, Chimera
130 Veteran Squad w/3 x Melta, Grenadiers
130 Veteran Squad w/3 x Melta, Grenadiers
Fast Attack
130 Vendetta Gunship
130 Vendetta Gunship
290 2 x Hellhound w/Hull Multi-Melta
Heavy Support
165 Leman Russ Demolisher w/Hull Heavy Flamer
165 Leman Russ Demolisher w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Total: 2000 pts.
Now to add up the cost of the models:
$49.50 2 x Cadian 10-Man Box
$41.25 5 x Cadian 5-Man Box
$24.00 2 x Space Marine Meltagun Bitz
$16.50 2 x Space Marine Plasmagun Bits
$17.25 IG Regimental Advisors Blister
$39.50 2 x Imperial Guard Storm Trooper Squad
$84.00 6 x Storm Trooper Melta/Plasma Blister
$124.00 2 x Valkyrie Box
$175.00 5 x IG Chimera Box
$50.00 2 x FW Vendetta Conversion Kit (with shipping)
$99.00 2 x IG Hellhound Box
$99.00 2 x IG Demolisher Box
Total: $819.00
That's a fair chunk of change, and is only for the Cadian plastics, which I don't like the look of much at all. Throw in some 2nd-Ed metal or Forge World minis, and you'll easily hit $1200.00 or so.
Now let's look at my Emo-Wing list:
HQ
225 Dante
250 Mephiston
Elites
90 Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack, Power Weapon
75 Sanguinary Priest w/Jump Pack
Troops
230 Sanguinary Guard Squad w/2 x Infernus Pistol, Powerfist
230 Sanguinary Guard Squad w/2 x Infernus Pistol, Powerfist
230 Sanguinary Guard Squad w/2 x Infernus Pistol, Powerfist
230 Sanguinary Guard Squad w/2 x Infernus Pistol, Powerfist
230 Sanguinary Guard Squad w/2 x Infernus Pistol, Powerfist
Fast Attack
70 LandSpeeder w/Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta
70 LandSpeeder w/Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta
70 LandSpeeder w/Heavy Flamer, Multi-Melta
Total: 2000 pts.
And the model cost for it:
$17.00 Dante
$20.00 Mephiston
$30.00 2 x Sanguinary Priest Blister
$165.00 5 x Sanguinary Guard Box
$17.00 4 Additional Infernus Pistols (eBay)
$8.00 Space Marine Jump Pack Bitz (for Priests/Dante)
$90.00 3 x Land Speeder Box
Total: $347.00
As you can see, my SangGuard army is only 43% of the cost of my IG army, while being somewhere around 75-80% as competitive.
If you look at StJohn's original Budget Scissors list, which inspired mine, it only costs $288.00. This is the list he took to the Nova Open and went 3-1 with. The most hilarious thing was that his transport case was some pick-foam in a shoebox!
Anybody else care to add up your army's replacement cost and share?
Loganwing is pretty cheap.
ReplyDeleteLogan
Rune Priest
AoBR Termies with cyclones
bp/ccw marines on foot
Chaos Knights as TWC
Long Fang missiles
I might do this, for the fun of it.
ReplyDeleteDid you see my 2nd Ed metals I posted earlier this week, perchance?
So how much Chumby?
ReplyDeleteYep, I did see them. Those are some old Cadians you've got there. :)
ReplyDeleteYou know what hasn't been cheap? My freaking 2,000 point Elysians. I think I'm in for over $1,200 at this point- a fact of which I am not proud
ReplyDeletePsshhh, foam is for sissies. I brought my Renaissance Man army in a shoebox with nothing but a hope and a dream to cushion them. And Vendettas wrapped in plastic bags from Rite Aid. No joke. (And no casualties!)
ReplyDeleteMy Dark Eldar, at cost, would be around $700. Though this leaves me with a few extra units to either play around with or ignore...
ReplyDeleteAt 2k, I'm leaving out a Reaver or two, and also the Reaver Lord (I go with a retinue'd lord at this level). The Scourges never make it in, and the Warp Beasts don't really have much of a chance either.
Given that I couldn't have bought them in stores if I had wanted to (by and large) I paid significantly less than retail value... got some really good deals, a couple things as presents, and even a box of warriors for free from that GW Trivia Challenge thing (said warriors are becoming Mandrakes, and I'll still have a few spares.. Heamonculi perhaps?).
Then I have three Ravens, which were, at least at the time, around $60 each. I, in true Dark Eldar fashion, paid for those by money earned by doing (part of) a classmate's project in school. It took me about an hour or two. Love it.
My Nids, on the other hand... the full collection spans well past the 2k mark, but has been going strong for at least a decade. Feel free to tally if you want, but...
4 Tyrants (2 2nd, 2 3rd)
3 Tyrant Guard
3 Lictors
3 Zoanthropes
3 Hive Guard
1 self-made spore pod
6 Warriors (one metal, 5 plastic)
60-70 termagants (got some spare from a friend, so the count is off)
48 hormagaunts
30 Genestealers (52 if I count Space Hulk guys)
Tervigon (okay, so it's a fex, but it's a game of imagination!)
6 Shrikes
32 *metal* gargoyles. Yeah, I went there.
3 Biovores
Trygon
Probably around the $1200 mark, plus some minor conversion work.
Just remember guys - if anyone ever looks at us funny for spending this much on plastic dollies, it's still cheaper than WoW.
Let's see:
ReplyDeleteLand Raider Crusader w/FW doors and spaced armor $100
2 Rhinos with FW doors and extra armor $150
2 Vindicators with FW doors $120
20 marines with metal CF shoulder pads $90
5 terminators with dreadnought leg armor for shoulder pads and Iron Warrior bits $90
Dreadnought made from epic Warlord Titan with FW icons $100
Emperor's Champion made from Pedro Kantor $15
2 attack bikes $50
So I sneak in at under $750 for a 1750 list. The army uses a lot of unnecessary upgrades that just look cool, so this army could be a lot cheaper.
The Deathwing uses 6 squads of AoBR terminators, 3 Dark Angels upgrades sprues, a metal Librarian and 5 close combat arms. I think I spent less than $100 on this army (I don't want to talk about how competitive it is)
ReplyDeleteNo one really wants to add up what this hobby has cost. Even if you are spending about 50 dollars a month after a year or 2 of building up your forces the dollar amount is getting up there. Let alone people who have been involved for 10-20 years.
ReplyDeleteJust stopping by to say I hate Danny Internets.
ReplyDeleteThe Renaissance Man.
About a year ago, I GAVE AWAY a 2k (or above) pt Ork Army (3rd Ed) which included a battle wagon and a whole metric crap ton of gretchin and snotlings. My husband gave away a couple thousand points worth of Termies, and a whole bunch of metal dudes were in the mix. We figure that was a good grand. I know we've spent way more than we have any right to, and we don't even own half of it any more.
ReplyDeleteFine, make me do work.
ReplyDelete10 SW Terminators = 100 (make Logan and a RP from this)
1 SW pack = 37.25
1 Tactical Squad = 37.25
3 Devastator Squads = 105 (mix and match SW bits to SW-ify them)
5 Chaos Knights = 24.75
304.25 with leftover weapon bits and a Terminator.
Then all you need is 5 cyclones. You can get these from the Warstore at 12 bucks a pop, or use Typhoon launchers instead at 6 bucks for 2. Missile Launchers go for 9 bucks a pop at the Warstore if you need those.
All told, the list as I run it would come up as 400.25 before tax and shipping.
My wife claims I've spent 5K on Warhammer over the last couple of years. Around a third of that just on paint and non-kit modeling materials/tools.
ReplyDeleteFortunately, she's into horses. So my hobby will never be anywhere near as expensive as hers. :)
@Sandwyrm- Horses are not cheap, no. 5K doesn't sound outrageous if that includes Forge, individual characters, metal, paint, tools, conversion crap, airbrush gun & alcohol ink (awesome effects), terrain/basing stuff, green stuff, CA and Plasti-weld, lights.... need I go on?
ReplyDeleteFor my 1750 IG list I have:
ReplyDelete1x Command Squad 15£
1x Officers 8£
1 x Regimental Advisors 10,5£
Inquisitor and retinue about 25£
Bits to make sanctioned psykers about 30£
Valkyrie + Vendetta pack 51£
3 x Cadian Shock Troops 45£
extra special weapons 35£
extra heavy weapons 20£
6 x chimeras 120£
1 x Hellhound 30£
2 x FW Medusa 100£
2 x FW Hydra 84£
1 x Manticore 30£
Total 603£ = 936$
Ouchie! Although I ve been collecting IG for 7 years now. My "budget" army would be my mech orks I guess and it would be:
5 x Battlewagon 185£
Custom Deffrollas 15£
Big Mek 12£
Thraka 20£
6 x Meganobs 72£ (although I got 5 of them used for 20£)
2 x Burnas 30£
4 x Boys 60£
Total 394£ = 612$
About 1/3 cheaper then but still pretty good on the battlefield.
my mech guard army was actually pretty cheap. this is because i bought all my chimeras (and hydras, manticores etc) from ebay for £10 (i live in England, so anywhere between $12-20 for you guys i guess). actually, they were all old bassies. i ripped the guns off and built the backs and turrets from plasticard. each one cost perhaps £15 ($19-$30).
ReplyDeletethe men were more expensive of course, but again, i bought many classics and cheap stuff of ebay (only good quality stuff). additionally, mech guard dont need a lot of men so the total cost was not high.
my point is, unless you are dead set on having a new set of models, there are often cheaper options out there. incidentally, my chimeras and other tanks look like new models after a lick of paint.
Lets see... White Scars at 2000 points
ReplyDeleteCommand Squad
2x bike squads 82.50
Command Squad 35.00
Bike Squad 8 man with Attack bike conversion
3x bike squads 123.75
Attack bike 25.00
Bike Squad 8 man with Attack bike conversion
3x bike squads 123.75
Attack bike 25.00
Bike Squad 6 man with Attack bike conversion
3x bike squads 123.75
Attack bike 25.00
Bike Squad 6 man with Attack bike conversion
3x bike squads 123.75
Attack bike 25.00
Attack Bikes with conversion work 2 man
Attack bikes 50.00
uses a spare bike from the extras in the troop squads
Attack Bikes with conversion work 2 man
Attack bikes 50.00
uses a spare bike from the extras in the troop squads
Land Speeder Typhoons 2 of them
2x Land speeders 60.00
Scout Bikes (6 man)
6x scout bikes 72.00
Total 795.75
The Sad part is that this does not include the resin bases they have, nor all of the extra bits for conversions such as melta guns plasma guns power claws and so forth. It also does not include all of the extra bits from other ranges such as kroot blades and ork heads. I could easily tack on another 150 in box sets to just get those parts.
Good thing I paid for the majority of this army using tournament winnings and commission work!
I've spent a couple of hundred on my still incomplete mechanised Black Templars. Mind you it is Aussie Dollars. Of course I've spent at least triple that on She Who Must Be Obeyed.
ReplyDeleteMessanger