What rule book do you BFG:R-players use?

[Daemon_Primarch_Lorgar]

Hello all!

I've just started playing BFG with a couple of my friends and I have a question regarding the rules (big surprise !). We have decided that we want to play BFG:R as one of the players is playing Necrons and another is playing Eldar and the BFG:R rules seamed (to us) to be the most balanced and fun set to use. However, I'm a little confused as to which rule book to use... Currently we are using Plaxor's BFG:R rulebook and while this one doesn't seam to be completely finished yet (no critical/catastrophic chart etc) we do enjoy how some of the ordinance rules are handled.
But the more I read on these forums the more I get the impression that most of the players playing BFG:R are using the basic rule book but with the BFG:R fleets, is this correct? The reason I'm asking is that we would all like to play test and contribute to the development of BFG:R and thus use the rules the project is based on. 
So I guess my question is more or less this:
How do you play BFG:R ? Do you solely use the basic rule book (including the FAQ) or do you use some (if not all) of the rules from Plaxor's rule book? What combination of rules provides the best balance in your games ?

Thanks in advance for any response!

[blekinge]

I am also very interested in the answer to this question.

I believe that the 1.5 BFG:R rulebook is the most complete and non-surprising rulebook there is.

[AndrewChristlieb]

I use the V1.5 big blue book, armada, and the faq for the most part. There are things i dont use like the V1.5 blast marker rules.

[Khar]

In general, this particular BFG:R rulebook is not and will not be used, or even finished. We tend to use rulebook from GW's site + faq 2010 with BFG:R fleet lists. There will be compiled full BFG:R rulebook at some point, though - it's already being made and looks great.

[horizon]

For me at the moment:
standard rulebook from GW (1.5)
+ FAQ 2010 & Compendium

Other things:
* Blastmarker rules from rulebook v1.0
* Eldar MMS v1.9b
* No overlapping rules from FAQ2010 (yuckerd)

Regarding BFG:R:
Once all fleets are finished we will look into it. I see all fleets interacting, and thus taking 1 finished fleet into the ' old' versions doesn't work.
But surely see we will use the BFG:R fleets in addition to mentioned rules.

[Daemon_Primarch_Lorgar]

So would you consider this a good base of rules for five BFG beginners?

Standard rulebook + FAQ (no overlapping bases)
BFG:R Fleet lists (We like the changes made in these and all the armies we play have been more or less completed)

Just two more questions:
Where can I get hold of the blast marker rules from v1.0?
and
What documents are included in the Compendium and do you need it if you're using the BFG:R fleet lists?

Thanks again !

[horizon]

See sticky:
http://www.forum.specialist-arms.com/index.php?topic=5203.0

The FAQ2010/Compendium are different from the BFG:R fleet lists.
Both do not need eachother.

[Daemon_Primarch_Lorgar]

Thanks Horizon! I've been gathering documents and different pdfs from all over the internet by now, so I'm just having some trouble sorting it all out (different versions and different formats have a very confusing effect on my poor brain !...).

As I understand it, the BFG:R fleet lists will replace all of the points costs, stats, special rules etc for all the fleets and this is all good since I think I have (almost) the latest versions of all the BFG:R fleet lists. However, what core rules to use is what confuses me.
I apologize if you feel like you have to repeat yourself, I'm probably just overcomplicating things here (or maybe I'm just dumb haha!).

So, if I understood you right, the rules you'll have to have to play BFG:R like the majority of its community (and thus be able to playtest) are:

Standard rulebook v1.5 (with the addition of 2-hit escorts)

FAQ (For clarification on game mechanics ONLY, so NOT for points costs, fleet compositions etc, and ignoring the rules for overlapping bases)

BFG:R Fleet lists (For all fleet specific rules, points costs and fleet compositions)

Standard rulebook v1.0 (Used only for the rules on blastmarkers)

Is this correct?

I've looked through the sticky a couple of times, but still I'm not really sure which document is the v1.0 of the standard rulebook. Is it the BFG 2002 annual perhaps? It's listed under "Blast from the past" rules which seams appropriate for an old rulebook, but at first glance I just thought it was containing fleet specific rules (Necrons, Ramilies, Grand Cruisers). Again, I'm sorry if I'm being thick here.. All help is very appreciated!

[afterimagedan]

There were different rules for how blast markers worked in the original printed BFG rulebook. Some people prefer to use those rules. I would recommend getting started with the rules from the GW website and use FAQ 2010. If you like the BFG:R fleets, use them with those rules. There is a guy working on making one document that is the rulebook which includes the normal rules and 2010 integrated that we are all looking forward to. :-)

[horizon]

Glad the thread I linked to fulfilled its aim: clarity in pdf land.

Yeah, the blastmarker things is something our group uses, but I know Sigoroth uses them as well for sure. Others I am not entirely sure but I guess more.

As for 2 hits escorts, again something which some do and some don't use.

But for a starter, as Dan says:
GW website rules + FAQ/Compendium 2010

It is the most accepted and well known around I think. Twisting, changing, adding rules can always be done. Just pick what you and your opponents like best.

[Daemon_Primarch_Lorgar]

Allright! Thanks again guys, your help is invaluable for beginners like me and my gaming friends . Coming to think of it, I have a couple of tactical issues I'd like to discuss as well (how to beat 4 Tau battleships in 2000pts for example hehe..), but I should probably create a new thread for that.