Wargame Army Points Calculator (Units + Upgrades)
Army points: what this calculator does
Most tabletop wargames use a points system to keep games fair across factions, unit types, and playstyles. Your list is “legal” when its total points are at or under an agreed limit (for example, 500, 1,000, or 2,000 points), and it is “balanced” when it combines enough bodies, damage output, durability, and objective control for your mission pack.
This calculator is a quick single-line totaler for an army list entry where each unit has the same base cost and the same upgrade cost per unit. It gives you a total points value and a small breakdown so you can sanity-check the math while iterating on list ideas.
How to use the calculator (step-by-step)
- Enter “Number of Units” (how many copies of that unit you’re taking).
- Enter “Base Cost per Unit” (the printed points for one unit/model/squad, depending on your rules).
- Enter “Upgrade Points per Unit” (the extra points added to each unit for weapons/options/traits).
- Select Calculate Points to see the total and breakdown.
- Use Copy Result to paste the summary into your list document.
Formula (with a clear breakdown)
Let:
- n = number of units
- c = base cost per unit
- u = upgrade points per unit
Total points P are:
And the breakdown is:
- Base total = n × c
- Upgrade total = n × u
- Total = base total + upgrade total
Worked example (verify your intuition)
Imagine you’re building for a 1,000-point game and you want to test how multiple copies of a unit affect your list cap.
- Number of Units (n): 5
- Base Cost per Unit (c): 20
- Upgrade Points per Unit (u): 3
Compute:
- Base total = 5 × 20 = 100
- Upgrade total = 5 × 3 = 15
- Total P = 100 + 15 = 115 points
Interpretation: those five units consume 115 points of your cap. If your event limit is 1,000 points, you have 885 points left for other units and mandatory requirements.
Common list-building interpretations
- “Per unit” can mean different things: in some systems it’s per squad, in others per model, and in others it’s per card/entry. Use the same unit definition for both base and upgrades.
- Upgrades can be per unit or per model: if your upgrade is priced per model (e.g., +2 points each model) and your “unit” is a squad of 10 models, convert it before using this tool (example: 10 models × 2 = +20 upgrade points per squad).
- Rounding is ruleset-specific: most systems use whole points, but some use halves or other increments. Enter the exact numeric cost your rules provide.
Quick comparison table (what to enter)
| Scenario | Number of Units (n) | Base Cost per Unit (c) | Upgrade Points per Unit (u) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Multiple copies of the same squad | 3 | 85 | 10 | Use u for the squad’s chosen option package. |
| Single vehicle with a paid weapon swap | 1 | 140 | 25 | Great for quickly comparing loadouts. |
| Per-model upgrade converted to per-squad | 2 | 90 | 20 | If it’s +2 per model and 10 models: 2×10=20 per squad. |
| No upgrades | 6 | 45 | 0 | Use u=0 when there are no paid options. |
Assumptions & limitations (important)
Wargame points systems vary a lot. This calculator is intentionally simple, so please keep these constraints in mind:
- Flat per-unit pricing only: it assumes each unit costs the same base points and the same upgrade points for every copy. It does not handle tiered pricing (e.g., first copy costs more/less than the next) or bulk discounts.
- Single upgrade number: it supports one combined upgrade value per unit. If you have multiple upgrades, add them together first (u = upgrade A + upgrade B + ...).
- No roster constraints: it does not check detachment/formation requirements, battlefield roles, min/max counts, uniqueness limits, or ally caps.
- No variable squad sizes: if squad size changes the base cost (or if upgrades are per model), you must convert to an equivalent “per unit” cost before entering values.
- No faction rules modifiers: it doesn’t apply conditional discounts, free upgrades, campaign bonuses, or event-specific comp packs.
- Source of truth: always verify points against the latest official publication (codex/book/app/FAQ) for your ruleset and event pack.
FAQ
Does this calculator build a full army list?
No. It totals points for a repeated unit entry (n copies) with one base cost and one upgrade cost per unit. Use it to sanity-check parts of a list quickly.
My upgrades are per model, not per unit—what should I do?
Convert them to a per-unit number first. Example: +2 points per model in a 10-model squad becomes u = 20 points per squad.
Can I include multiple different upgrade types?
Yes—add them together and enter the combined value as “Upgrade Points per Unit.” If upgrades vary between unit copies, calculate those groups separately.
Why does it show a breakdown?
The breakdown helps you catch mistakes (for example, accidentally entering an upgrade cost as a total instead of per unit).
Does it round points?
No rounding is applied beyond normal decimal handling in the browser. Enter values exactly as your rules specify (often whole numbers).