TTS 40K

  1. What is TTS?
  2. Getting Setup.
  3. Playing a game.

1) What is TTS?

TTS stands for Tabletop Simulator and it is exactly that. It simulates tabletop environments and allows for games like 40K to be played online. Nothing beats the real thing, but this comes really close!

Community and Competitive Play

There is a active community of 40k payers from around the world who break geographic boundaries and play 40k games against each other everyday. Most of these players attend events in the "real world" and use TTS to try out new list ideas and gain experience.

Beyond that there is an established ITC league called Alpha League which for those competitively inclined I would highly recommend they check it out.

2) Getting Setup

What you will need

Basic Computer Skills: This might sound patronising but you will need to have a certain degree of computer literacy to play 40k on TTS. You must be able to download and install applications, configure your audio set-up, download and install assets into TTS directory then learn how to use TTS. If you are able to do this, the TTS40K Discord Server community will be there to help answer your questions and provide support on how to find assets etc.
Reasonable Computer: The game is not that intensive, however a reasonably decent PC and internet connection is recommended.
Mouse: The game requires dexterity to move models accurately on the simulated tabletop doing so with a laptop track-pad will be inadequate.
Headphones & Microphone: Highlight recommended as clear voice communication without audio feedback will make for a pleasant gaming experience - remember this is not just for you but for your oppenent to enjoy the experience and bad audio will ruin that for them.

Install Discord and Join Servers

Discord is a text and voice communications platforms ideal for online communities who play games together.
This is the platform of choice for those who play TTS 40k.

Download and install discord desktop application from: here

Join the TTS40K server: here and read the text in the #welcome_channel.

Take the time to setup your microphone and use headphones to ensure quality voice communication on discord. Please make a special effort on this front: Discord Audio setup Guide.

Install Tabletop Simulator

Purchase and download from the Steam store: here

At this time it might be worth your time familiarising yourself with TTS by watching the Tutorial Series they offer on Youtube which covers the basics of controls through to how to connect to a hosted game with your oppenent. For more experienced computer users you will find these come naturally as you interact with the system and this can be skipped.

Download 40k Assets

Follow the instructures detailed within the TTS40K Discord Server.

Assets such as models and terrain can also be acquired from the Steam Workshop for Tabletop Simulator.

3) Playing a Game

Once you have got everything setup, ask someone with experience to help show you the ropes and play a practice game and show you around TTS.

You can find people to do this on TTS40K Discord Server another options is to wtach the Video Guide to Setting up TTS to play 40K on Youtube to see how it comes together.

Building a List

You will create list by loading the models you have downloaded in TTS and saving groups of them as "Saved Objects".
When a game is loaded you will be able to open your "Saved Objects" and drag the list onto the table.

Measuring Distance

Tab is your Measuring Tape. You can also click on a model and hold Tab to get a measurement as you move the model.
It is as important as it is in the real world that you measure accurately as well as communicate with you opponent about intention as you play, again, like you should in the real tabletop.

Loading Maps

There are a wide range of pre-made tabletops with tarrain which comes as part of "The Archive 2" and that are available on the Steam Workshop.

For competitive play, Alpha League uses the 2019 LVO Top 100 Tables Terrain with the deployment specific layouts.

For this would will need the tabletop known as the Map Base:

Plus copy of the terrain sets which will be brought in through "Additive Load" which means you bring this into your current session rather than loading a whole new table.

Playing a Game

At this point you will have a table, with dice and you models ready to go.
From here you simply play 40K, all rules from the real tabletop apply in the virtual tabletop.

Futher Resources:

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Pub: 22 Mar 2020 12:00 UTC
Edit: 22 Mar 2020 13:32 UTC
Views: 795