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Made in us
Been Around the Block




Hey guys, this is my first post on this forum and I'm just getting into warhammer 40k. I'm looking to see where to start. I've done research on all of the races and I want to start a space marine army, probably ultramarines because they have an Ancient Rome type feel. Now I don't know where to start, I was looking at the dark vengeance starter set since it comes with all the stuff to get me started and its pretty cheap but instead of blood angels can i just make them ultramarines? What are other options? I don't have a ton of money but my budget is probably around $150. Thanks for any help.
   
Made in us
Enigmatic Chaos Sorcerer




Tampa, FL

First, remember that you can make your own Chapter you aren't limited to the ones in the book; nothing is stopping you from making up your own with a Roman feel. In fact for many Space Marine players that's the best part

Honestly, I'd look at ebay see if you can find some good deals. Dark Vengeance has Dark Angels (not Blood :p) but they have icons molded onto them so you'd have to cut them off so they don't look like Dark Angels.

GW does have a "Space Marine Strikeforce" boxed army that has a good start but it comes in at $225 (not counting any discounts you might get via online retailers). I once managed to get one on eBay for like $175 though.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/14 14:17:14


- Wayne
Formerly WayneTheGame 
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Buffalo, NY

You'll also need the Space Marines Codex and a copy of the rulebook.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
You'll also need the Space Marines Codex and a copy of the rulebook.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/14 14:18:03


Greebo had spent an irritating two minutes in that box. Technically, a cat locked in a box may be alive or it may be dead. You never know until you look. In fact, the mere act of opening the box will determine the state of the cat, although in this case there were three determinate states the cat could be in: these being Alive, Dead, and Bloody Furious.
Orks always ride in single file to hide their strength and numbers.
Gozer the Gozerian, Gozer the Destructor, Volguus Zildrohar, Gozer the Traveler, and Lord of the Sebouillia 
   
Made in ru
Lone Wolf Sentinel Pilot





Room

SM strikeforce + centaurs + ravensomething (flying shooty transport)

Mordant 92nd 'Acid Dogs'
The Lost and Damned
Inquisition
 
   
Made in gr
Neophyte Undergoing Surgeries





Greece, Chalkida

Welcome to 40k! Dark vengeance is a really great starter pack since it has two well balanced armies, rulebook and since you are looking for space marines, dark vengeance has a good army list. I understand the fact that their are not ultra, so in that case, you can buy instead of that ,a set of space marines tactical and split them in two squads of 5. You will also need an Hq so i suggest a librarian or a chaplain. As for elites, the best option is a sternguard veteran squad since these guys are good against almost every army. You can also take some plastic cups and use them as dropods. (Though im not sure that every opponent will accept that)
So there you go, i think you will have a good start with these. Im also thinking of the paints price so it might cost you a little more.
If you want afterwards to expand your army, buy a transport ( rhino or razorback) or a fast attack ( assault mareens or bikes) and also a dreadnought is a good investment. Welcome to 40k and stay away from heresy !!

Cast out the traitor
Kill the xenos
BURN THE HERETIC
 
   
Made in gb
Mutated Chosen Chaos Marine





*bursts though room with axe* HEEEAAARRRS JHONNY!!!

Ok so you want to start ultramarines?

To start off the force:

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Space-Marine-Strikeforce

Includes all legal elements plus a few other toys

Then get this:

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Codex-Space-Marines-EN

Good book to use and will require for play.

Also will require this:

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Warhammer-40-000-EN-A

(I know this does feel expensive but you can get the smaller book for around a much, much cheaper price on Ebay which still have the full rules within)

Then for a good support after try this:

http://www.games-workshop.com/en-GB/Space-Marine-Strike-Force-Ultra

Lots more toys to get stuck into

After that then see where you want to go

I know this all probably sound expensive however you can get these for much, much cheaper prices on Waylandgames and other discount sites

Night Lords (40k): 3500pts
Klan Zaw Klan: 4000pts

 Grey Templar wrote:

Orks don't hate, they just love. Love to fight everyone.


Whatever you use.. It's Cheesy, broken and OP  
   
Made in us
The Marine Standing Behind Marneus Calgar





Upstate, New York

Welcome to Dakka and the hobby. (and the Ultramarines)

The Dark Vengeance set is a good set, but the marines contained are covered with Dark Angel iconography, so can be a little rough to use for other chapters. Depending on your skills with a hobby knife and green-stuff, you might be able to make the DA marines pass as Ultras, but it take some skill to get it right. It does however come with the rules, dice, and templates you need to play.

Do you have any friends who are looking to get into the game as well? Or who already play? The rulebook and codexes are going to eat a chunk of your budget. If you could borrow them to start, and focus your money on models, that would be optimal.

There is no generic starter set for marines, unfortunately. If you want Chaos or Dark Angels, the DV box is good. Orcs and Space Wolves have the recently OOP sanctus reach box, which may still be on the shelves of your FLGS (if lucky). For Ultramarines, there is nothing with the rules bundled. A box with a nice discount is the strikeforce, but that’s $225, with no rules.

Searching e-bay or online discounters is a good way to stretch your budget, just be careful.

What attracted you to the hobby? There are as many ways to build a marine army as there are players. What to pick up depends a lot on the type of list you want to play. The basic starting point of the game is a headquarters and two troop picks. It’s a good idea to think about where you want to end up when you start, so you don’t buy units you thought were cool, but don’t fit your playstyle later. I would borrow a codex, or do some research online, and figure out what catches your eye. Then build a army around that. Do you want marines standing shoulder to shoulder in a gunline, watching the waves of xenos crash against the bulwark of their firepower? Drop pods screaming down from orbit, disgorging the Emperor’s finest into the heart of the foe? A column of tanks punching into the heart of the enemy, supported by swift moving bikes and speeders? Marines are an incredibly flexible force, none more so then the Ultramarines. But you need to figure out which way you want to go.

My basic 500 point list tends to fit this pattern:

Cheep HQ (librarians are good, but others can work)
10 man Tactical squad (the bread and butter of a marine army)
5 man scout squad (often snipers)
One fun toy (a tank, assault squad, other specialist unit)

   
Made in us
Been Around the Block




I think I'm gonna go with the dark vengeance starter set, I've also been looking into the dark angels and I like them alot too. After a get dark vengeance ill probably sell the chaos units and buy a dreadnought and another squad of tactical marines. So would a dark angels army with 2 ten man tactical squads, 5 man deathwing termi squad, a dreadnought, and the hq that comes in dark vengeance be a good starter army? And roughly how many points would that be worth? Thanks for all the replies!
   
Made in nl
Wight Lord with the Sword of Kings






North of your position

Fonsio wrote:
I think I'm gonna go with the dark vengeance starter set, I've also been looking into the dark angels and I like them alot too. After a get dark vengeance ill probably sell the chaos units and buy a dreadnought and another squad of tactical marines. So would a dark angels army with 2 ten man tactical squads, 5 man deathwing termi squad, a dreadnought, and the hq that comes in dark vengeance be a good starter army? And roughly how many points would that be worth? Thanks for all the replies!

That's certainly a good starter army. As for points... I think that'd be +/- 750 points?

   
Made in gb
Member of a Lodge? I Can't Say



UK

I don't play space marines but I think the advise I'd generally give is to get a single basic squad (a tactical squad for SM) and any HQ of your choice and a codex.

You can split the tac squad into 2 squads of 5 and you have a basic FOC.

Go to your local gaming store and they should be kind enough to give you an intro game and if they're nice you might be able to get away with not buying a rulebook for a while like I did cause their really expensive.

When you've played a few games you'll start to get an idea for what you want your army to do and what to buy next.

Have fun with it!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/16 12:06:48



"That's how a Luna Wolf fights."
"If you can't keep up, go and join the Death Guard"
"It had often been said that Space Marines knew no fear, but when Angron charged, he ran" 
   
Made in gb
[DCM]
Moustache-twirling Princeps





Gone-to-ground in the craters of Coventry

Hi there. There's always room for one more, even SM players
This has all been said above, but just to be sure ...

Starting off, you'll need a codex. Grab either the Codex: Dark Angels book, or the bigger Codex:Space Marines. Me, I'd get the bigger of the 2, but if you really wanted to go with the robes, it's all good. C:SM has more choice, and as a first army, it'll do more for your gaming for longer.
Once you have worked out what kind of army you want to play, THEN get your models.
Space Marines have lots of choice, and there are many ways to run a SM army:
Drop pods, whether as a full army or just harassing the back lines.
Troops in Rhinos and Land Raiders,
Scouts in skimmers supporting snipers in the trees,
Terminator deep-striking into the midst of the enemy,
Bike armies,
Land-speeder strike-support,
Tanks, with Predators and the other Rhino variants,
Stormravens with Stormtalon escorts,
Jump troops dropping in from low-orbit,
etc.
Mix-and-match any of them, and you're pretty much good to go. Add a boss, whether a kick-ass captain or librarian, and a support squad or two.

As for what to buy, the Strikeforces are good, but often want something you don't need. If you can use all of it, it's the best place to start.
If you are OK with mixing models from other sets, the DV box is great. I made a Crimson Fists Sternguard box from the Dark Angels in robes, as it makes them stand out from the rest of the army. Use the DV robed models like that for your UM army, and no-one will care.
Either file the icons off, or use them to make a Ultramarine-like chapter with the DA symbol.

You're hard-pressed to go wrong with a squad of Tactical Marines and a captain, and the rest are just options to build off.

If you play at a GW store, ask whether they will split the box for you. If you make it clear you'll be starting an army and will be buying it all from them, they might be able to swing a deal and sell you just the parts of DV you want.

Oh, and leave some budget for tools and paints. Don't buy the tools from GW, if your local hardware/craft store has the same stuff. GW tools may be nice, but they cost far too much your first set.

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2014/09/15 14:00:53


6000 pts - 4000 pts - Harlies: 1000 pts - 1000 ptsDS:70+S+G++MB+IPw40k86/f+D++A++/cWD64R+T(T)DM+
IG/AM force nearly-finished pieces: http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-38888-41159_Armies%20-%20Imperial%20Guard.html
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw (probably)
Clubs around Coventry, UK 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka




$150 is what we have to go on. Will you buy new or used? I am Canadian, so prices are more expensive here. So for me I will think you have $200 to work with.

It's about $85 for rules. So that leaves us with $115. Then a codex. $60. Leaves us for $55. Not much for minis.

So get the DV box set. Use DA and CSM as your SM army for now and what doesn't work, use as "counts as" what ever you want.

Now this is about $100 or so, so will leave you enough to get the Space Marine codex so you have a lot of options if you don't want to go the Dark Angel or Chaos Space Marine, Space Wolf route. Blood Angles will be getting a new codex soon so don't get the BA codex.

By getting the DV box set, you are getting the Rules for 7th edition, and a lot of SM miniatures that can be used as "counts as" so you have a really good starting force. Practice with painting and when you are finally getting ready to buy minis that you want, then you will be better at painting. This way the DV are is your practice to painting and seeing what colour scheme you want so when you finally get those expensive minis you will be hopefully ready to do what you want.

Agies Grimm:The "Learn to play, bro" mentality is mostly just a way for someone to try to shame you by implying that their metaphorical nerd-wiener is bigger than yours. Which, ironically, I think nerds do even more vehemently than jocks.

Everything is made up and the points don't matter. 40K or Who's Line is it Anyway?

Auticus wrote: Or in summation: its ok to exploit shoddy points because those are rules and gamers exist to find rules loopholes (they are still "legal"), but if the same force can be composed without structure, it emotionally feels "wrong".  
   
Made in gb
Dispassionate Imperial Judge






HATE Club, East London

I'd thoroughly recommend checking out eBay - Space Marines are a very popular army, so there's always a lot of people swapping, trading and getting rid of their old force.

You should get a bargain on an army, and this way you get to at least try things out without spending a ton of money.

If you're unsure, feel free to post eBay links here and we'll tell you if it's a good deal or not.


   
Made in us
Been Around the Block




Thanks alot guys you've been great help, I'm gonna go with dark vengeance and start a small dark angels force, maybe add a dreadnought or another tac squad, and then ill save up and wait for the new DA codex to come out, thanks again.
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User





Good ol' tactical squad is probably the best place to start. Then you can paint them to whatever chapter you like best.

As like what everyone else has said the Dark Vengeance set come with Dark Angels, with their symbols molded on.

 
   
Made in us
Stalwart Space Marine





Welcome! My suggestion is read. Read every tidbit you can on the wiki and lexicanum. Get a feel for what you like and don't before dropping any cash. All advice above is very sound, but I'm always a fan of doing research first. Again just my input. I hope you enjoy the hobby as much as do.

FM Argos

Thunder Hammers and Melta weaponry solve everything... 
   
Made in gb
Dakka Veteran





I always say unless you are in love with the ultramarines paint scheme home brew your own chapter.

You can make them exactly as you want then and the. Have the benefit of being able to claim you are a successor of any and use their chapter tactics.

My army is a black paint scheme and I mostly play as imperial fists successors, it's nice to be able to play using the other tactics though and not feel a bit wierd that my bright yellow, fist icon'd marines are suddenly blood angels!

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/16 00:14:21


3000 Points - Right Hands of the Emperor, Imperial Fists Successor
1000 Points - Right Hands of the Emperor Elite PDF force
Bolt Action 1500 pts US Army
Bolt Action 1000 pts US Airborne
X Wing - Giant rebel fleet
Halo Fleet Battles - 1000 pt UNSC Force, 1000 pt Covenant Force

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Made in us
Tunneling Trygon






I'd keep the Dark Vengence Chaos set simply because you won't get much money for them. There are so many people selling them that the effort of getting rid of them isn't really worth the $12-30 you'll get for the bit. A better option would be to bring the entire set to a local gaming club and asking experienced players to play the other side till you get the hang of it.
   
Made in us
Veteran Knight Baron in a Crusader





If you go with dark angels, be prepared to lose a lot of games. If you have any desire to actually win a game here and there I would play them as ultramarines. DA are bottom tier, space marines are in the top 3 or 4 armies.
   
Made in us
Stoic Grail Knight





Raleigh, NC

Dark Angels were the fix army I ever bought a codex for, back in 3rd edition



They will always have a soft spot in my heart. As other have said though, playing Dark Angels doesn't necessitate the Dark Angels codex that much Codex: Dark Angels and Codex: Space marines function very similarly, the difference being the Space Marine codex has significantly more content that you can put to use in interesting ways (which to me is the main draws of 40k!).

If you *really* want the Dark Angels codex for fluff reasons, I would suggest looking up pdfs of any of the previous books. Most content gets recycled, so you won't be "missing-out" if you go the Codex: Space Marines route.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2014/09/16 02:09:12


 
   
Made in gb
[DCM]
Moustache-twirling Princeps





Gone-to-ground in the craters of Coventry

 Accolade wrote:
If you *really* want the Dark Angels codex for fluff reasons, I would suggest looking up pdfs of any of the previous books. Most content gets recycled, so you won't be "missing-out" if you go the Codex: Space Marines route.
Not that you're suggesting that anyone get hold of scanned copies at all. That's against Dakka rules to say so, but I'm sure you know that
There's a huge amount of stuff out there without downloading anything.

6000 pts - 4000 pts - Harlies: 1000 pts - 1000 ptsDS:70+S+G++MB+IPw40k86/f+D++A++/cWD64R+T(T)DM+
IG/AM force nearly-finished pieces: http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/images-38888-41159_Armies%20-%20Imperial%20Guard.html
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw (probably)
Clubs around Coventry, UK 
   
 
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