Unit Fillers

Psychosis PC's Orc Unit Filler*

In this post I look at the options for padding out a unit; the so named Unit Fillers...

Before diving right into it, I thought it best to explain what a unit filler is and what its function is.  A unit filler simply how it sounds, it is a model(s) that is used in the middle of a Fantasy regiment as a supplement for a number of models.

In most cases a unit filler is used to represent a number of models, usually between four and six models - depending upon the size of the unit in question.  There is a bit of debate about unit filler sizes, but I shall get on to that later on.  The size of the unit filler depends upon the base type chosen.  Typically they started out as being about five in number, when GW produced the five wide rank bases.  Now days people tend to learn more towards the monster sized base (40mm), it is used to represent a total of four models.  Then there is the six model unit filler that requires a little bit of playing about, as they don't make one suitable.

Black Bard's Skaven Filler *

So we have discussed the size but what exactly what is actually on a unit filler?  A unit filler can in truth be anything, but most try to select something that works with the confines of the unit.  For example the above picture by Psychosis PC he has included a bunch of orcs on there, while in the picture to the right Black Bard has instead of four models has included a couple with a small amount of scenic items.  Many people see the opportunity of a unit filler to add a small diorama to the unit, it is here that I have heard some discussion on what should really be in a unit filler.  Two separate podcasts recently (the waagh cast and two gamer radio) have had discussions on the topic of unit fillers, both of them coming to a similar conclusion that they should suit the unit they're in. 

Ben Johnson's Filler*

In both cases the two 'casts thought that suitability was rather important, for example one of the presenters from the Waagh Cast has a large unit of night goblins with many ogre models being used as unit fillers.  He has had comments from people that are tantamount to disapproving.  One of the main points has been - why are the ogres there?  This seems to be the crux of the problem, what is suitable for the unit.  I see unit fillers as being something to add some background to the unit, and having something like an ogre there for no reason seems odd.  I would have no problem if the ogres were converted to look akin to the unit they are in (so as per the example give, ogres that look like Night Goblins).  That is not to say that they would always look out of place, if these larger model(s) are made to fit into the unit - say for example they are chained up by another model or two then they would work quite well.  But I think I am with these podcast's on this one and think that the unit fillers must suit the unit in a proper fashion, and that just adding a troll/ogre etc with little to no work done to them just smacks as laziness.  This is the opportunity to make the unit stand out and special, rather than just throwing in something on a bigger base.  For a great example of what I mean, the image below is of Ben Johnson's Skaven army.  In the middle of the unit his filler is a wrecked Dwarf Stone Thrower which has been overrun by giant rats.  This looks really good as it incorporated the models in the unit and looks like it could easily happen.  While his other picture (above) of the troll unit filler, just stands out as having a troll on it.

Ben Johnson's Skaven Filler*

The other side of the coin, almost is unit fillers that don't include models (or very few of them) but are rather take up a lot of room due to them being something akin to pieces of terrain.  These I disagree with as they are just plain lazy.  I have heard of people using the Arcane Ruins, Herd Stones and one story from Adepticon has a Bloodletter unit with a burnt down house acting as fifteen Bloodletters.  Now, while these things will all look extremely cool they are also quite impractical.  Looking at the extreme case of the house and 'Letters, how are you suppose to take wounds off of this?  It does not help your opponent or yourself to look at something and have to wonder - "is that ten left or ten killed?".  that sort of thing just complicates the game and makes it harder to communicate exactly what is going on.  For another example of this, look at the picture below - Dellamorte has made a Bloodletter unit filler that would pretty much replace (the larger ruins in the back) a total of eight models.  And there is no way to remove any such models from this filler, so you have to be precise on recording the kills. 

Dellamorte's Bloodletter Filler*

So aside from the idea that these fillers are hard to remove casualties from, there is also other factors to consider.  For example, going back to the podcasts again, Two Gamer Radio had the opinion that the unit filler should take up about the same amount of time and effort that it would take to paint the number of models it would take normally.

Kuffeh's Dwarf Filler

I hope this has helped to shed some light on the unit fillers, they can be quite a hot topic it depends on who it talking about them.  In the future, perhaps people will think more about them and avoid the lazy method.  A unit filler is a chance for you to put something special and unique into your army.  Think about it, then go do it!

* All photos used without the owner's permission and shall be removed upon request