My brother is hugely into this he works for a little independent shop here in the UK & spends thousands every year on the little plastic crack!!
Currently he's starting a Necron Army & has just finished an Orc army (He has more or less one army for every codex...he's freaking mental!!!)
So, wtf is this? You buy models, paint them, and they come to life and fight other people's?
..someone explain it to meh.
Right in simple terms as I understand it...
Table Top Battles you & your oppenent build an army based on a points system (Each Figure, Vehicle, Weapon etc. has a points value & are used to total the army...general armies are around 2000 points & that will be a pretty large force)
You have turns.
In each turn you...Move your army / Attack if in range / Close Combat if in range / any special rules
Your Turn Ends
Opponent does the same
Each take turns up to a turn limit (6 at most I think) or until objective reached (Kill enemy / capture target etc.)
Game over.
Thats my VERY basic understanding but I'm sure someone else will be able to explain in much more depht & point out where I'm totally wrong
The combat is where it gets difficult.
Every character has a weapon skill / Strength Rating / Armour Save / Amount of attacks
These are resolved with dice roles & then the opponent counters using his saving throws to see if his men take wounds / die / vehicle blows up etc.
It really can be bloody involved & really needs to be played to be understood.
Reading the rules makes absolutely no sense unless your playing it as you read it.
It can be fun but the whole building / painting process can take forever & the games can run for hours once you get proper tactical & take out huge armies.
Personally I always preferred Battle Fleet Gothic, Necromunda & Blood Bowl.
All are much easier & LOADS quicker
Neil