Model List - Controlling model name
 

Is the unmodified unit name the only choice for model list? I'm using a dual unit name listing that is selectable based on options, like this:

Hive Tyrant / The Swarmlord (in model selection panel)

Hive Tyrant (unmodified, works in army list and most output)
The Swarmlord (option modified, works in army list and most output)

In either case , the model list name outputs as:

Hive Tyrant / The Swarmlord

Is there a tag or some other way to output the dynamic unit name in the model list?

Homer

Another model list question: can the equipment flag be set dynamically? or do I have to maintain duplicate equipment when one model has it as a default and another model can take it as an option?

Homer

You should be able to change the name of a model in the model list by using the "Model Name" field on an option, at the bottom-right of the ABCreator window. For example, if you have an option that turns the Hive Tyrant into "The Swarmlord", you would set the "model name" for that option to "The Swarmlord".

The equipment flag cannot be set dynamically. Generally, if one model has it as a default, you should keep the equipment flag on it anyway - after all, it's there on the model. For example, Bolters for space marines would be flagged as Equipment, even though almost every model has them; Frag Grenades would not, since they don't appear on the actual model.

Does that make sense?

I'll interject here...the thought is to have a model, when used in a model list view to be considered as a basic model with only non-standard equipment to be shown. So that you basic space marine would just output as Space Marine (it would be assumed that you know that he is equipped with Bolter, grenades, etc). If you added a missle launcher to him, then is would display that as equipment, thus "Space Marine - Missile Launcher" in the model list view.

The problem is that while for some units the Bolter would be standard, there are some units that the Bolter would be non-standard equipment. Thus the alternative would be to have two bolters as options, one being a "equipment" for use as an non-standard option and another bolter which would not be flagged as equipment and used when the bolter is considered standard equipment.

The name changes via unitname, however, the base name is what shows in the model listing. An example would be Hormagaunt Brood. The codex name for the unit is Hormagaunt Brood. Each model is a Hormagaunt. So... if you want it to show as a Hormagaunt Brood when picking the list and printing the full list, it would be useful for the model list to just have Hormagaunt.

The downside to having to have two Bolters to maintain is when the publisher changes it's effect, now you have to fix that twice rather than once. If the equipment flag could be set via tags, then you would only have to maintain one set of options and have the equipment status set dynamically. I guess this is a feature request, if it is possible...

Homer