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I am looking to start a new army after quitting post-2nd ed.

The ideal army would be cheap to collect, allow me to field a varied list and still be able to compete with the current top tier lists. Based on the posts so far, it would need to be able to counter Mech Eldar and Nidzilla.

I am I correct in thinking that the new Chaos powerbuild would be rather weak against those 2 lists and that something like Tau would be better to collect since their power list looks reasonably varied?

 

I've worked out the cost for Tau before.

It's pretty cheap.

What to buy:

Battleforce, Commander, Crisis, Hammerhead. 175 USD.

Note: Stick a commander head on the crisis from the battleforce, the commander box comes with 2 commander heads.

The list:

Shas'o - plasma rifle, missile pod, multitracker, hwbsf 115
Shas'o - plasma rifle, missile pod, multitracker 112

Crisis - team leader, plasma rifle, missile pod, targeting arrays, hwmultitracker 77
3 Stealthsuits - targeting arrays 120

12 Fire Warriors - shas'ui - in Devilfish - decoys, multi, array, pod 235
12 Kroot 84

6 Gun Drones 72

Hammerhead - railgun, smart missiles, decoys, multi, lock, pod 185

1000

Expanding the force: 3 more Crisis, 2 Broadsides, Hammerhead. 170 USD

Note: Use the missile pods from the broadsides to make the deathrains (crisis with twin missiles).

Shas'el -plasma rifle, missile pod, targeting array, hwmultitracker 97
Shas'el -plasma rifle, missile pod, targeting array, hwmultitracker 97

2 Crisis - plasma rifle, missile pod, multitracker, team leader, targeting array 139
2 Crisis - twin missiles, arrays 106
3 Stealthsuits - targeting arrays 120

12 Fire Warriors - shas'ui - in Devilfish - decoys, multi, array 230
12 Kroot 84

6 Gun Drones 72

2 Broadsides - ASS, team leader, 2 shield drones 195
Hammerhead - railgun, smart missiles, decoys, multi, lock 180
Hammerhead - railgun, smart missiles, decoys, multi, lock 180

1500

I think most lists have powerful builds, so that's not too much of a factor. Honestly, I think marines offer the most variety, as they can be assaulty or shooty, and get plenty of support.

If you aren't set on a certain list, I'd say troll EBay and by the army on sale with the best deal. Use the savings to be the few models you need to tweak, and you're set.

GW's latest pricing antics have, after 13 years or whatever, finally priced me out of the hobby.

For this reason I suggest taking a good look at eBay. You can find some pretty amazing deals. Got myself a Necron Army Box (the original one) for half the original price just last week. Combine that with some spare 'Cron stuff a friend of mine has, I'm now a Necron player.

As far as the cheapest to start. Ignoring that fact that Zilla Nids and Stealer Shock are the only real ways to play 'Nids in 4th Ed, the Battleforce box is an excellent starting place for a proper Tyranid army (and by proper I mean a mix of small, medium and big bugs).

If you don't already play Marines, the Company Boxed set that GW is about to release a fantastic deal. Get that, and then bits order three more sets of Razorback turrets and the parts to make two of the Rhinos into Predators and you have a sweet army ready to go from almost a single box.

BYE

One of the primary reasons space marines are so popular is because they are great at low points costs. So when you start cheap they are still good.

Chaos will have some great capabilites against Nids especially with Slannesh. The slannesh demon weapon causes instant death against any creature that takes a wound regardless of toughness. I am not sure yet if this will apply to the nids under the effect of synapse or not (like a diresword or force weapon).

The all plastic Chaos army is a real possiblity.

Also eldar are very cheap to start as most of the boxes are only 30 bucks each. They can counter themselves pretty well and do a good job against the nids.

Orion

Necrons with 15 destroyers. Buy 3 battleforces then the rest of your destroyers.

I think the cheapest of the competative armies is the mech eldar list, esp with 3 boxed falcons comming out now.

Necrons are the cheapest way of building up a legal and viable army. Two battleforces provides a good core, you can save money by converting up a Lord from one of the warriors and lots of bits.

Nidzilla and Falcons Grav Tank armies are both quiet cheap, and very competitive. Especially with the Apocalypse boxed sets, giving you 3 Falcons or 5 Fexes at a knockdown price.  Why not fight fire with fire?  Or are those armies just too boring?

Both Zilla & Mech Eldar are relatively cheap army wise, though Tau can be cheap as well if you buy the right box sets (the mega-force is actually a decent value).

Codex Marines will be expensive because you need a lot of Assault Cannon terminators to really make the list shine, and unless you do what I did and hit eBay for 2nd Ed models and bitz order metal assault cannons to get squads on the cheap, prepare to pay out the yinyang for those 5 Termies/2Asscannon Squads.

And with the apocalypse sets coming out now, it's almost begging you to start a Mech Eldar or Nidzilla army. Oh and for Zilla - remember if you hit ebay or maybe the warstore is keeping it up, you can get Battle For Macragge spine gaunts & stealers for dirt cheap.

Hmm between Mech eldar and Zilla, am I correct in thinking that the Eldar list would be better for tailoring your list against a set opponent but suffers from a dependency on Falcons to be competitive?

Nids seem to win their games by a sheer mathematical advantage in shooting but I hear that they are pretty disadvantaged in escalation.

Am I right in thinking that Zilla lists sort of run themselves while Eldar require a slightly better understanding of the game?

Zilla lists don't actually run themselves. But relatively, yes it is a bit easier.

Two of your three statements are pretty true. Nids can be disadvantaged in escalation and Eldar do require some finess.

However, you do not need to rely on the Falcons for Eldar. I don't use any and I do very well.

The great thing about this 'ard boyz tourney is people now get a chance to put their money where their mouth is. If you don't mind waiting for a short time just wait until the first round is over and see who is going on to the semis.

Orion

What do you think about Necrons? Are they a fun army to play with? Are they competitive? I hear that they will be getting a revision soon.

Codex Marines can be both effective and cheap, even without going overboard on assault cannons. However, getting their assault cannons is not cheap, and it's difficult to field a really, really top-of-the-line list without 'em.

That said, you can assemble 1500 points of good and fairly effective Marines for just over $250.

Best place to start is with the Battleforce -- get two. This gives you thirty tactical marines (with up to two missile launchers and four special weapons and four sergeants), ten scouts, ten assault marines, and two Rhino chassis, for less than $200.

Next, figure out what direction you want to go. I would suggest doing a Bitz order to customize everything to your loadout, with perhaps one boxed set as well. Suggested bitz: 3-5x Lascannon Devastator Bitz, Predator and/or Razorback Bitz, Commander Sprue Bitz, Jump Packs. Suggested Boxes: Landspeeder Typhoon, Dread, or more Assault Marines.

This will set you up with a non-cheezy but competetive Marine army, with plenty of Lascannon/Plasmagun goodness available, and a large number of power-armored bodies to keep the enemy occupied. Assault Marines can provide plenty of objective-grabbing mobility and assault power, as can the Rhinos if you choose not to Bitz them into other tanks. I already have a list for 1250, no time to bring it up to 1500, but it should give you a good idea of what can be done with Codex Marines on the cheap.

HQ: (86)
Commander with power claw, combat shield, bolt pistol.

Troops

Squad Hunter (256)
10-Man Tac Squad in Rhino (Armor, Smoke) w/Flamer, Meltagun. Vet Sgt with Pwr Fst, Bolt Pistol.

Squad Hawkeye (185)
6-man Tac Squad in Razorback w/Plasma Gun, Lascannon

Squad Tolona (115)
6-man Tac Squad with Lascannon, Plasma Gun.

Squad Wingover (165)
10-man Scout Squad w/5 bolters, 5 bolt pistols. Vet Sgt. with pwrfist, storm shield.

Fast Attack

Squad Preydiver (265)
10-man Assault squad: Vet Sgt w/powerfist, combat shield, BP. 2 PlasmaPistols.

Heavy Support (160)

8-man Devastator Squad: 2 Missile Launchers

oo! Second note -- I forgot about the Dark Angels battleforce. It comes with Devastators and some Command sprues, but no assault marines. If you wanted to, that could make a substitute for one of the two Marine BForces or an extra boxset.

-Adso

Also you can get cheap marines and nids from e-bay from the battle for macragge box set.

Necrons are somewhat limited in play style but are a very solid entry into the game.

As for cost, on ebay you can chose any army and if you are patient get a complete army for $150 or less. I spent 136.01 for over 2400 points of space marines including a case.

If you decide you want all new models on your own you can still get the bits you need from various sources online.

Orion

Necrons are my vote. they are dead simple to paint, play and cheap to get your hands on.

i think they are the best begginer army too, they are easy as pie to play with.

You can paint the enitre army to a nice standard in a few weekends and you can get an army off of the warstore new cheap without messing with ebay.

Plus, Crons are a very powerful army as well.

Just max out on destroyers as they are cheaper than maxed immortals, throw in a deciver, some scarabs and warriors to fill out points and you have a fast, very powerful and tough army.

also, Phill Kelly at games day said the Crons would not be redone anytime soon.