No longer playing WHFB, what to do with my old armies?

[Nord]

Hello guys,

First time post, thought I would dive in with a question that has been asked before, please don't groan.  

I have grown tired of the latest WHFB ruleset, the move towards bigger regiments, bigger monsters, bigger magic. Size is not everything! I played back in the days of fourth edition, when regiments were 4 wide and 12 or 16 was considered pretty big. When an army consisted of about 5 or 6 blocks and a couple of characters. It still seemed tactical enough and we had a load of fun. I feel that the current game doesn't do this for me any more so I am looking for an alternative.

I still love the fantasy background. I have several armies - High and Wood Elves, Chaos Warriors and Daemons, Vampire Counts, Dwarfs and Orcs and Goblins (though considering getting rid of the latter). The aesthetic appeal has lessened for me, I have started to collect more "realistic" figures from the LotR range, but after nearly 20 years of WHFB I don't want to give up on the collection.   I want a game that will let me play with all my old toys.

So I guess I am looking for a game that is:-

Fantasy - contains magic, artillery, psychology alongside the usual moving, shooting and combat.
Single based or multi - I can easily "multi base" for element based games. Some of my latest painting is element based anyway, so I am ready for both.
Detailed - I don't want a game that says an elf spear is the same as a orc spear is the same as any spear. I want the races to differ, either through stats or game rules that allows for such differences.  
Easier rules - having not played WHFB for months then coming back to it, I was amazed at how fiddly the rules are, and how easy it is to forget them. I would prefer more streamlined, more elegant if you like, but still allowing all the racial traits and such like.
Customisable armies - I am quite prepared to sit down with a system and convert all my old armies into the new world. If army lists for chaos warriors, dwarfs and vampires exist, even better, but I don't mind doing this myself. This means the new system must allow for (or simulate) as much as the weird and wacky as the old WHFB does. Stubborn dwarfs, martial elves, scary skeletons, all that kind of thing.
Hardcopy available - this is not a deal breaker, but I prefer paper to screen.

EDIT One other thing that would be a plus - alternating activation, rather than IGOUGO, though I realise this is mostly applicable to skirmish games. Anything that involves both players is best, one thing that has really bugged me recently has been the waiting/spectating when it's my opponent's turn in WHFB. Even something as simple as LotR, where players both move, then both shoot, etc would be preferable. Down time is dull.

That's it I think. Hope you can help.

[tomogui]

Try Kings of War by Mantic. Can't beat the price—it's free to download:

http://www.manticgames.com/games/kings-of-war/downloads.html

It may not be exactly what you're looking for in terms of detail, but I know a lot of people have resuscitated their Fantasy armies using it. And the allies rules are very free, so you could easily use several of your forces allied together in a single game, if you want.


 

[Torben]

God of Battles from Wargames Foundry comes highly recommended from me - it has completly reinvigorated my hobby and I've gotten a newfound love of Fantasy Wargaming as well, something that I never cared for until recently!

http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/gob/god-battle/

[TheBlackCrane]

"Mayhem" seems to have had a good reception on this forum - by Brent Spivey (VoodooInk on here). I have a copy of his 'Havoc' rules, which have some very nice mechanisms. Mayhem is a big battle variant which, though more 10-15mm, can be used with 28mm. There's a review thread here

http://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=53478.0

[magokiron]

ARMIES OF ARCANA.

Period.

When I quitted WHFB like 3 editions ago, I looked for an alternative and after considering some options, I choosed AoA and NEVER looked back.

Does AoA checks ALL of your statements?

Fantasy - contains magic, artillery, psychology alongside the usual moving, shooting and combat.
YES TO ALL, plus changing formations, an interesting morale resolution and much more.

Single based or multi - I can easily "multi base" for element based games. Some of my latest painting is element based anyway, so I am ready for both.
SINGLE BASED. Each model represents a soldier.

Detailed - I don't want a game that says an elf spear is the same as a orc spear is the same as any spear. I want the races to differ, either through stats or game rules that allows for such differences.
A spear IS a spear, but you have javelins, spears, poles, halberds, etc, each with their own rules.

Easier rules - having not played WHFB for months then coming back to it, I was amazed at how fiddly the rules are, and how easy it is to forget them. I would prefer more streamlined, more elegant if you like, but still allowing all the racial traits and such like.
In WHFB you need AT LEAST 3 rolls to kill a single model, maybe 4. In AoA is 1 roll, maybe 2. And that's it. Simple and elegant. And you REALLY don't loose detail in the proccess.

Customisable armies - I am quite prepared to sit down with a system and convert all my old armies into the new world. If army lists for chaos warriors, dwarfs and vampires exist, even better, but I don't mind doing this myself. This means the new system must allow for (or simulate) as much as the weird and wacky as the old WHFB does. Stubborn dwarfs, martial elves, scary skeletons, all that kind of thing.
The rulebook INCLUDES 10+ complete armies, but if that's not enough for you, there's a CREATURE CREATION FORMULA. You can create or adapt ANITHING your heart desires.

Hardcopy available - this is not a deal breaker, but I prefer paper to screen.
http://www.battlezone-miniatures.co.uk/shop/product/839

You didn't mention this, but the MAGIC SYSTEM of AoA is just GREAT. Wizards have to gather magic for several turns if they want to use the really powerful spells, and magic isn't near as umbalancing as in WHFB.

Need more info? You can check here:

http://www.armiesofarcana.com/default.aspx

There is a DOWNLOADS section where you can look at LOTS of armie lists.

I higly recommed this ruleset.

Hope that helps.

[Last Chancer]

Second Armies of Arcana. Really enjoy it and it has reinvigorated my love of fantasy battles

[beefcake]

Sell them... To me... Cheaply... 
I'd have to agree with the  mantic option. Basically warhammer with different rules.

[Gary Mitchell]

Yep, Mantic Kings of War

[Daeothar]

Here's something that will not cost you anything: WHFB 4th ed.!

Seriously; unless you insist on playing tournaments, why not revert back to the rules set you're comfortable with? My 'group' and I (read: one friend and me ) have basically decided to do the same because we're not thrilled by the new rules either. So we are going with 4th ed. WH40K and 7th ed. WHFB, since we are most familiar with those rules, we have the armies and we have the books...

[guitarheroandy]

Here's something that will not cost you anything: WHFB 4th ed.!

Seriously; unless you insist on playing tournaments, why not revert back to the rules set you're comfortable with? My 'group' and I (read: one friend and me ) have basically decided to do the same because we're not thrilled by the new rules either. So we are going with 4th ed. WH40K and 7th ed. WHFB, since we are most familiar with those rules, we have the armies and we have the books...

What he said! 

Me and some of my mates are going back to 5th Edition in January, as our armies were designeed with it (and 4th ed) and we still want to play...

We don't do tournaments, so it seems ideal really...

[dijit]

God of Battles from Wargames Foundry comes highly recommended from me - it has completly reinvigorated my hobby and I've gotten a newfound love of Fantasy Wargaming as well, something that I never cared for until recently!

http://www.wargamesfoundry.com/our-ranges/gob/god-battle/

I'd ditto Torben here and add that it ticks all the boxes. Jake Thornton seems to have produced a very good ruleset here. The rules aren't complex, but intuitive and the there is a lot of tactical depth possible. All the army lists are in the book, so a one time investment to boot. See Jake's blog for more details:
http://quirkworthy.com/god-of-battles/
Duncan

[joroas]

I sold off nearly all my 40K and my Dark Elves army a couple of months ago.  I kept the Dwarfs because I liked them, but not sure that I'll play the WHFB rules I have again.  I decided that I had enough Historical armies for them to fight.  I may sell them next year if I get the urge.  I also have two Warmaster armies and BotFA painted up, but as they form a gaming set I'll keep them for now.

[Nord]

Good stuff so far. I have added something else I thought about - maximising player participation. The long wait during an opponent's turn has been really noticeable recently - maybe it's just my opponent being super slow. So a move away from my turn, you just stand there, your turn, I just stand here, would be a definite plus.

[phreedh]

I would probably have a look at the following, in this order:
Mayhem
God of Battles
Armies of Arcana

I haven't played Kings of War myself, but have read the rules a few times and it feels terribly prescriptive and even less like a tactical game than WHFB. Then again, some people swear by it so it can't be all bad.

[Vermis]

The same question rattled around my head recently. I settled on Mayhem - element based, unit creation, interesting dice mechanics - but I'd let you know what I think better after I have a couple of wee armies and persuade people to tear themselves away from Warhammer 1.88K.  (AKA Malifaux)

I haven't played Kings of War myself, but have read the rules a few times and it feels terribly prescriptive and even less like a tactical game than WHFB. Then again, some people swear by it so it can't be all bad.

I heard a couple of things about KoW that made me veer away from it as my primary choice, although I haven't written it off yet. You wouldn't care to elaborate on your own misgivings...?