How many blast markers do I need to start? Do I really need "order dice"?

[Stormwind]

As the topic asks - I want to buy some nice looking blast markers but I don't want to break the bank or get too many.

In addition I'm confused about the old over priced "order dice" they used to sell at GW, are these really essential?

If I play a 3000 point game, of space marines / Eldar... how many markers do you vets think I'd need?

Thanks in advance.

[Dave]

I have small poker chips with 1BM on one side and 5BM on the other. I don't think I've used more than 25 in a 3k game.

For order dice, they are handy but really the only things you need to mark are: broken, activated, overwatch and marched. After that it's all down to preference. Again, I used tokens I made here, although they were with the order dice symbols.

You'll probably find these useful:

http://www.net-armageddon.org/page/game-aids

[Jimmy Zimms]

I just use dice on next to the formations (i've got oodles of various colors and types so YMMV).
I am not suggesting you buy these but if you've got a mate with a label maker this isn't a bad way to go actually=>
http://www.ebay.com/itm/221051881902?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

edit: yes I know that particular pic is for BFG but you get the general idea

[kyussinchains]

I would say that 20 blast markers including some big ones to use as 5 BMs would be enough, you can use almost anything, many people use glass beads, some use poker chips, or pennies and there are a large variety of more 'realistic' ones, I use the old GW card ones, I've seen some really spectactular clump foliage ones, you can get metal ones and laser cut acrylic ones from litko.....

Order dice aren't required, handy, but not required, until I got mine super cheap from an ex-GW employee, I used 20mm GW bases with symbols painted on them, I used an exclamation point to mark activated units, divergent arrows to mark broken stuff, crosshairs for overwatch, and one or two marked 'reloading' 'marched' and 're-roll' to put next to the supreme commander, I *think* I still have them somewhere, you can have them if you like

[CyberShadow]

If you use jelly beans for blast markers, rallying is tasty!

[Irisado]

I just use regular dice for blast markers, and turn them to face whichever side of the dice is relevant after a particular round of shooting, an assault, and so on.

You certainly don't need order dice.  You could make your own counters if you want to, or you can just remember what orders you've given to your formations.  You only really need counters of some description as a memory aid once you start playing larger games.

[Stormwind]

I *think* I still have them somewhere, you can have them if you like

Ha ha, that's very sweet - postage being what it is today that might make it impractical. :-<

[Happymcclap]

I always used 1p's as blast markers, theyre cheap    readily available and stackable, got some order dice but never used them thought they were pointless, homebrew counters or some laser etched MDF ones from warbases or similar would be better

[Aquahog]

If you use jelly beans for blast markers, rallying is tasty!

You crack me up CS!

Using blast markers that count for 5 is a really cost efficient way to do it. Personally I use Epic dice, but anything will work. Frankly, for me marking which units have activated and which are broken is the most important. And you can do that with two different colours of beads. Add another one for overwatch and you're good 9/10.

[David Wasilewski]

For blast markers, just use tiny dice behind formations - 5 blast markers are represented by a 5 on the die and so on. This is what I always used to use but then I bought a load of 6mm scale Litko "explosion" markers. You can find them by googling Litko and going on their web site. Expensive but very nice!

When specialist games was dying, I was lucky enough to be able to buy 3 packs of their order dice so I just use those green dice. If I didn't have them, I'd make my own using plain dice and the labels that are available.

Dave

[David Wasilewski]

Jimmy Zimms over on the Tac forum posted this link to some French dude who has made his own version of the old epic green dice and is selling them:

http://battlefleet.forum-actif.net/t1566-vente-abyssal-product


Dave

[Jimmy Zimms]

Ohhh nice one, Dave. I forgot yo cross post here. Cheers