Getting Started
Flames of War is massive in scope. To the new player the sheer number of sourcebooks and units available can be extremely daunting at first. Hopefully at the end of this section you will have a better understanding of how to build out your first company, and more importantly be able to expand it into one of the many specialist lists available in the numerous sourcebooks. If you’re looking for how to start a flames of war army, this is the right place.
Get the Rulebook
This is the most important book you’ll get for Flames of War. You really cannot get by without someone in your gaming group having it. You will be constantly referring to it even after you think you’ve got the rules down.
Pick a time period
Flames of war is fought over several time periods, each source book is set in either middle or late war. for more info see the time period article. Currently the game is on its second edition so the main army sourcebooks for the Mid War period are Ostfront and Afrika which cover the vast majority of armies. See the handbook page for more details.
Choose a country
This is perhaps the easiest step for many commanders. Having a country in mind that you want to play is likely what got you into the game in the first place. For more information on the various factions and their advantages and disadvantages see the country comparison article. Once you’ve picked a country to fight for its time for another slightly more difficult decision. You can go see country specific strategy for each country using the navigation at the right hand side of the page.
Choose a Force Type
There are 3 basic force types in flames of war. the tank company, the motor company and the infantry company. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages so picking the one that suits how you want to play is crucial. Some miniatures will be usable in all of the lists, for example each force type can take tanks, its just a matter of which ones they get access too and how many they are allowed to field. There are many specialist lists available in the source books but they usually fall under one of these three categories.
Build a Company
Once you’ve decided on the type of force you want to field, the real fun begins. There are some starter lists available to each faction for both 600 and 1500 point forces. If you are playing at 1500 points getting one of the boxed sets isn’t a bad way to go. They cover a lot of the base miniatures you’ll need for your force and give you room to discover what additional units you’ll need to match your play style.
Assemble and Paint
A huge part of the hobby is assembling, painting and basing your new miniatures. There are many guides around the net about how to paint flames of war and there are also many great tips in the rulebooks and source books. If you play at your local gaming store they likely have many boards suited to flames of war, but you can also make your own.
Play
Your force is ready, the enemy is nearby, its time to engage in the amazing game of Flames of War. Starting out small is the best way to learn what your units are good at, and more importantly, what their weaknesses are. Get your base force in place, figure out what you want to expand with. This way you won’t waste a lot of money on stuff that just sits off the table.
