Pendraken Miniatures Forum

Pendraken Rules! => Blitzkrieg Commander IV => Topic started by: Dave Knight on 12 August 2025, 09:51:44 AM

Title: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Dave Knight on 12 August 2025, 09:51:44 AM
I used the rules for a simple game of Polish - Soviet war yesterday and am looking to create some army lists.  Being lazy I wondered if there is an existing template I could use
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Leon on 12 August 2025, 10:21:49 PM
There's not really a template available but we do have the Army Builder software which allows you to customise any of the existing lists: https://armybuilder.pendraken.co.uk/
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Big Insect on 13 August 2025, 09:04:49 AM
I've tended to create my own landscape spreadsheet using the basic columns from the army lists.

What that wont do is automatically multiply up and then total the unit costs, but it keeps things orderly.
I suspect that somebody with better Excel spreadsheet skills than me could probably knock up a list calculator pretty easily - although you'd need to manually check any restrictions (such as X per ,000pts or no more than X per battlegroup restrictions), as that would require the spreadsheet to be directly linked into all the army lists, which would be (another) massive task  :D

Not much help, I know, but just a thought.
Cheers
Mark
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 13 August 2025, 09:15:29 AM
I have done, it's very simple.
 =Sum(points cost cell * amount of troops cell)
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: fred. on 13 August 2025, 11:22:24 AM

QuoteI've tended to create my own landscape spreadsheet using the basic columns from the army lists.

What that wont do is automatically multiply up and then total the unit costs, but it keeps things orderly.
I suspect that somebody with better Excel spreadsheet skills than me could probably knock up a list calculator pretty easily - although you'd need to manually check any restrictions (such as X per ,000pts or no more than X per battlegroup restrictions), as that would require the spreadsheet to be directly linked into all the army lists, which would be (another) massive task  :D

Not much help, I know, but just a thought.
Cheers
Mark
If you are going to that much trouble, I'd suggest just subscribing to the army builder. 


If you want a basic list for a game - then its a few mins work to type the details in 


QuoteI have done, it's very simple.
 =Sum(points cost cell * amount of troops cell)


The SUM is not needed here. And I'm interested to know where this approach comes from because I see it quite often in spreadsheets at work. 


Just =A1*B1 is all that is needed. Then =SUM(C1:C30) at the bottom of the column
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Duke Speedy of Leighton on 13 August 2025, 01:29:03 PM
Just habit of what I'm thinking sed to doing Forbes.
Google sheets uses sane
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: fred. on 13 August 2025, 05:18:31 PM
Ta

It does work - but it's odd to see lots of people doing the same unnecessary step - which made me ask about it. 

I suspect that the formula most people are first shown is SUM and then it's a subconscious belief that you always do SUM for a formula. As opposed to SUM being a formula to add up the values in a number of cells. 
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Leon on 14 August 2025, 11:44:20 PM
I always make the opposite mistake and just enter =C1:C30 and completely forget I need the 'SUM' prefix.
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 15 August 2025, 07:10:49 AM
I use the built in Sigma function. Means when you add or delete rows in column it will automatically fix it.
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: fred. on 15 August 2025, 11:26:08 AM
QuoteI always make the opposite mistake and just enter =C1:C30 and completely forget I need the 'SUM' prefix.
There is always one  ;)


QuoteI use the built in Sigma function. Means when you add or delete rows in column it will automatically fix it.

And Sigma (the Greek letter) in maths means sum!

I think versions of Excel for 20+ years have dealt with row deletion without issue in calculation ranges.
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Lord Kermit of Birkenhead on 15 August 2025, 11:52:21 AM
At least 20 years - nearer 30
Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: fred. on 15 August 2025, 02:58:59 PM
Probably- any time I mention a point in time I find I need to add at least 5 more years on. 

I now trying to remember the crappy DOS spreadsheets from the late 80s which were entirely keyboard driven. They were such hard work. But also kind of magical when they worked! 

Title: Re: Is there a template available for creating army lists?
Post by: Ithoriel on 16 August 2025, 09:46:41 AM
Ah! The joys of pivot tables and  hauling data from multiple sheets and bosses who went," Well this looks pretty simple, why did it take so long?"

Not to mention the use of grep, awk and sed to extract the data from the database in the first place.

So much fun that .... I'm glad I'm retired and never have to do it again!

Though I do now , though I say it myself, have a nifty Open Office spreadsheet that tracks my 5 Parsecs campaign. So it wasn't a total waste!!