NewRecruit (newrecruit.eu) is one of the most popular free army list builders for Warhammer 40,000. Echelon features a native NewRecruit JSON importer that connects your list building to your narrative Crusade campaign.
Automatic Unit Statline & Wargear Extraction
Upload a NewRecruit JSON export and each unit becomes a Crusade Card with its name, keywords, statline, wargear and points. The points include what any paid weapon option adds.
How to Import NewRecruit Files (Step-by-Step)
- 1
Build Your Army List in NewRecruit
Create your Warhammer 40,000 list on NewRecruit.eu with all detachment rules, character enhancements, and unit options. - 2
Export to JSON Format
Click Export in NewRecruit's header menu, select 'JSON', and download the exported file. - 3
Open the Import Dialog
Open Roster in your campaign, click Add Unit and choose Import an army list. On an empty Order of Battle, Import from NewRecruit in the middle of the page does the same. - 4
Review & Generate Digital Crusade Cards
Drop your JSON file onto the Import army dialog. It lists the faction, detachments and every unit with its points; untick any you do not want. Replace existing units starts switched on and deletes the cards already on your Order of Battle, so switch it off before clicking Import if you want to keep them.
What Information Gets Imported?
Echelon's parser maps the following fields from an imported export directly into your Order of Battle:
- Unit Name: The datasheet name, without the rank a Crusade export adds to it: Archon, not Archon (Battle-ready).
- Points Values: Each unit's points, including the weapon options your list pays for (a Ravager with three Dark Lances is 125 points, not 110), to tally against your campaign Supply Limit.
- Wargear & Upgrades: Weapon profiles and wargear options. A character's enhancement arrives as rules text on the unit; you give the enhancement itself, and its points, when you muster.
- Keywords & Role: Each unit's keywords, which sort it into its group on your Order of Battle: Character, Battleline, Infantry, Mounted, Vehicle, Monster and so on.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file formats does the importer support?
NewRecruit JSON exports (.json), and the BattleScribe roster format (.ros and .rosz). That second format is an interchange format rather than one app's file, so BattleScribe, NewRecruit and other list builders all write it. All three give the same unit names, points, wargear selections and detachments, because every one carries the same underlying roster data.
Does importing from NewRecruit overwrite existing unit XP or Battle Honours?
It can. The import dialog's Replace existing units switch starts on, and with it on, every Crusade Card already on your Order of Battle is deleted before the new units are added, along with its XP, Battle Honours and Battle Scars. Switch it off and the imported units are added alongside your existing cards instead. An import never updates a card that is already there.
Can I import army lists created in BattleScribe or another builder?
Yes, if the builder exports .ros or .rosz. Upload the file directly, with no conversion step. Anything else has to go through a builder that does: load the list into NewRecruit.eu and export it as JSON, .ros or .rosz.
Is the NewRecruit importer free in Echelon?
Yes. Importing from NewRecruit is free on every tier.