Cult Of Games XLBS: How Do You Write Excellent Army Lists?
August 9, 2026 by crew
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I like my 1940s Underwood Typewriter. Always faithful, always accurate.
It’s a glorious piece of history.
Back in the 1990s I used to make army lists on paper with a book and manually add/calculate ratios. What a fun time.
Apps do it all now, honestly.
If people check out knightmare miniatures the goblin space rangers and orcs are definitely worth a look too.
it’s a lovely range of stuff isn’t it
Kev Adams stuff on there isn’t credited which is a bit odd.
thanks for the golden button! Yes the camo is the german tortoise shell, i saw it on hollow crown’s own instagram page and immediately liked it. I justified it by the fact that in the TC universe, both England and Germany/Prussia are faithful forces, so would be allies and would probably have mixed a bit….also it just looks cool, although dont know if i’de do it for all my heavy mechs for the cruciform order…was rather stressful
Well deserved
2 easy steps for list building. 1 create list. 2. Send it to Gerry.
I tend to make lists with figures I already own (not usually built), although I have ordered a Forces of the Abyss battalion box because I had a lack of core units (selling Chronos really cheap to a friend as I already have that model).
Thanks for the button. The scatter terrain is a mix of WA, Victrix, Dunkeldorf and Scotia Grendel.
Grats to the other buttoneers, fantastic projects both
Excellent show this week, thanks. Really liked the Indie, very tempting Chaos Dwarves which I wasn’t aware of. Duly noted.
The topic is absolutely on point as I continue to fumble my way towards a final list for my Ratkin Slaves in Kings of War. My approach is always cool miniatures first and then build in the direction the rules suggest. I’m not a cheesy, min/max sort of player so that’s not a factor. There is a play style I prefer so I tend to take the quicker/aggressive options when offered a choice.
@avernos I’m glad to hear it might be Halflings for our game. I think they look terrific and the new list has some cool looking units with some interesting play synergies, especially when you add Gastromancy into the mix 😀 I’m relieved it isn’t Forces of Nature. Nothing to do with the miniatures which are ace, it is the competitive stats. Of all of the match-ups recorded in the 4th Edition data Abyssal Dwarfs have a 0% success rate against FoN. That’s very unusual, very few other faction match-ups are nearly as bad. Not that I reckon my chances much against whatever you field being a bit too inexperienced to do well, but I’m looking forward to it immensely.
Congratulations to the Golden Button winners. Three very inspiring projects this week.
Corny Sunday
00:00 Is it GIF or pronounced GIF? I’d say GIF
02:20 It’s on https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/renegade-game-studios/dungeon-crawler-carl-rpg-unstoppable and went for $13,298,059 JEEEBUS!
05:55 Why are f-bombs bleeped out on XLBS anyway?!
07:50 Tell me you’re mad at someone without me telling that you’re mad… eh @johnlyons ? 😉
08:42 TV went “I’m out!”
09:20 Knigget female horses?
09:55 Smells fishy
11:11 I’ve got those 4 undead fellows. Lovely undead! Mine are sitting with the Frostgrave stuff.
12:00 Staaaaap John. I’m getting sea sick
21:45 You rang?
31:20 Hang on everybody! Story incoming
33:00 Wait? A harmless story? oO
38:55 Thank you. Now i’m scared.
42:15 List building? Fluff first, rest is secondary. Which won’t work for MAWM because it’s all fluffy! So that will be “what I like most” I guess. Maybe. Need to read rules first.
1:03:00 Scare your friendly mini maker
1:05:00 If only there was a way to ask.
Last Sunday of my holidays. Back to the mines tomorrow.
Didn’t we used to get the XLBS without bleeping? Perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me but I’m sure we did. I think we are all paying to be grown-ups here so I’m sure we can cope with a swear or two. That said, I think a few of us watch with the kids though so perhaps it is for the best?
My thoughts exactly. Front show bleeped because “available to all” and XLBS “as is” because it’s for paying people.
You forget that
7:03 @avernos condomplates to shoehorn his bunnies
8:32 @johnlyons breaks the internet with Justin and inserts Girls under Panzer (as he should)
11:58 conspiracy theory Justin engaged
19:07 Chaos Gods or irascibile Disney dwarves invoked
30:37 Slashing silks of Victor/Victoria (brought to you by Ed Wood)
33:45 baboon butt temperature measured by redness
38:52 Tim&Gerry celebrate their birthday
41:18 @brennon army build to fluff or function
59:52 @dignity, the mask WAS appropriate apparently
1:11:03 Treasure gobbo (see Resonance of Fate)
Thanks for this discussion guys, I’m terrible at list building this conversations are great
Anyone showing up at a club with an unannounced addition to their army is an a-hole.(period)
You are there to have fun with friends, not to start an arms race. And not everyone has the budget and time to participate in that kind of stupidity.
You want to win at any cost?
Go play with yourself or play a GW tournament so you can qualify for least sportsmanship conduct award.
Anyone claiming they don’t mind to get spanked has usually been the one handing out the spanking and is likely to be a sore loser.
Losing a game is only ever ‘fun’ when you at least managed to achieve your own objectives.
In a way it’s like painting miniatures and not comparing yourself to the golden demon winners, because that’s going to be depressing.
If your ‘friend’ is not helping you improve your game and teaching you then he’s a sadist and he’s only there to have fun at everyone else’s expense.
The list build for armies definitely is different than skirmish. The approach of visual fluff versus game mechanic function can also be a possible issue. Start from a core four unit composition and then run away with things from there seems like a solid plan for most games.
This subject came at the right time I’ve jumped back into old world for the first time since AOS turned up. I’m too fresh to jump into the Stilwell method just yet Jerry’s idea on the blocks has helped. I wanted to do a fluffy warriors of chaos army as siege masters with ranks and ranks of warriors backed up with a hellcannon or two but realised I’ve just remade my heresy iron warriors 😂