From 40k to Fantasy Prologue

A lot of you have written off Fantasy.  According to common internet wisdom, the game is horribly broken and not practical as a competitive game.  I tend to agree with that sentiment to a large extent.  As I touched on in my article from last week, the main criticism is that the game is "too random."  I rejected that criticism when I concluded that it isn't particularly random, just swingy.  The game could be going one direction all game, and then do a complete 180 thanks to one spell, one miscast, one failed leadership roll.  Seasoned 40k players are not used to games taking big swings.  In 40k, comebacks do happen, but usually games either go one direction from start to finish, or if there is a comeback it's because the underdog slowly and methodically claws his way back over the course of several turns.  Experienced Fantasy players, on the other hand, expect the game to swing back and forth dramatically.

Fantasy armies are nothing if not aesthetically pleasing

I think competitive 40k players can enjoy Fantasy.  I know it's so, because I am a competitive 40k player who enjoys Fantasy.  If I can appreciate it, so can you.  Over the next few articles, I'll explore how a 40k player can start playing Fantasy and actually enjoy doing it.  Some of them will have to do with tactics, strategy, and list building.  A great many rules and laws of proper list building people take for granted in 40k don't apply to Fantasy, and if you try to force the round peg (40k tactics) into the square hole (Fantasy rules) you may get frustrated with the game.  I will try to explain the differences.  

On another vein, I will explore the idea of Fantasy as a semi-competitive game.  40k, with the advent of 5th Edition and frequent FAQ updates, and the adoption of the NOVA system nationwide became a competitive game.  When I argue that Fantasy is 'semi-competitive' what I'm saying is you can have a Fantasy tournament with cut-throat lists, but don't emotionally invest in the results.  Additionally, I will explain why I think Fantasy actually makes a better beer and pretzels game than 40k.  40k has changed, in my opinion for the better, from a beer and pretzels game that can be played competitively to a competitive game that can be played casually.  Fantasy is ideally beer and pretzels game that can be  played competitively occasionally.  I'll go into depth on how a competitive 40k player can take up Fantasy non-competitively.

Stick around.