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Hi there. I'm relatively new to the hobby and new to posting here. I've had the rule books/codex and some models for about a year, but only recently started seriously assembling/modeling/planning. At first I was mostly just buying based on the "that guy looks cool" philosophy, but now I'm trying to settle down and make something that actually works.

My army is going to be generally Tzeentch-themed, because I like Mr. Raven God, but not super-exclusively. I'm also going for a more shooty-type army. I don't intend (at this point) for this to be a tournament army, but rather just for fun play with my buds/at the local hobby store. My one bud I know I'll be playing against a lot has a frontline Tyranid army, so I'm keeping that in mind. His army is 1500 pts, so I'm looking to be around that limit as well.

Here are the models I own right now:

2 squad of CSM
1 squad Thousand Sons
3 Chaos Space Marine Bikers
1 Defiler
1 Chaos Sorcerer
1 Chaos Rhino
1 squad of 5 Chaos Terminators.

My tentative army list looks like this:

1x10 CSM w/plasma gun + heavy bolter, Aspiring Champ w/Powerfist, Mark of Tzeentch, Rhino
1x10 CSM w/plasma gun + heavy bolter, Aspiring Champ w/Powerfist, Mark of Tzeentch
1x9 Thousand Sons w/Aspiring Sorcerer(Doombolt), Rhino
1x5 Terminators w/Chainfist, 4xCombi-weapons, Reaper Autocannon (I took the autocannon because I really like how it looks on the model.. so sue me )
1x Defiler
1x3 Chaos Space Marine Bikers w/Icon of Chaos Glory, 2xmeltaguns
1x Chaos Sorcerer, Gift of Chaos, Mark of Tzeentch.

Total=1468 points.

This is based on the models I have right now. However, I'm open to suggestions for future purchases that might help me streamline/improve the army by swapping guys out. I know Obliterators are really good, and would like to fit some of them in. Dropping the Marks of Tzeentch for Chaos Glory would free up some points, although I do like the Tzeentch theme. Alternate ideas for equipment are also welcome, although what I've listed represents what I've already assembled. But I'm not opposed to buying more models in the future for that sort of variety/altering what I've done.

I'm also interested in suggestions for taking this army up to a 2000 pt variant. I would definitely include Obliterators then, and I understand a fourth unit of troops is good for 2000pt armies. I love tanks and such, and would like to get my hands on a Land Raider or Vindicator eventually. I've also been eyeing Ahriman as a second HQ, to go with the Tzeentch theme.

Anyway, sorry about the rambling post. Advice/suggestions welcome on everything mentioned above. Thanks!

Another Rhino could help, but dropping the IoT on to IoCG would free up enough to tack an Obliterator on. I'm worried about you fighting nids because he's likely to have a LOT more models than you will. You're on the right path with your heavy weapons, but the more templates or heavy weapons, the better really. I'd bulk up the bikers with 1 - 2 more even though they're expensive to make them a bit more viable. Gift of Chaos might not be as useful as Doombolt or some of the other psychic powers (I'm sure you've heard about Lash enough). As for bulking it out, you might enjoy throwing Icons on everything and getting lots of lesser Daemons and some Oblitz for the 2000 point level. Especially against nids you'll find them very useful, and they're the cheapest, swarmiest, assaultiest thing in the codex (plus they count as troops). Flamers could also be your friend. As it stands (depending on his list) he might be able just to run you over right now with lots of little models.

Well, I think the fact that he plays nids more or less means he's going to have a lot more models than me in any circumstance.

So, would you recommend swapping out some plasma guns/heavy bolters for flamers to take care of some of his slavering hordes at close range?

Is a single Obliterator viable? I thought about that, but know most people use them in teams of three and wondered if just having one by himself would be useful.

I have heard about Lash, but I was going for a Tzeentchy-theme, and its a Slaanesh power.

Your point about number of models is well-taken, though. I guess if I dropped all my Marks of Tzeentch and replaced Gift of Chaos with Doombolt, Id have enough points for another unit, whether it be a Rhino or Obliterator.

So, after reading up some more and thinking about it, I've made a couple changes to this list in order to be more effective against a Tyranid army. It now looks like this:

1x 10 csm w/flamer/heavy bolter, powerfist champ, Mark of Tzeentch
1x 10 CSM w/flamer, heavy bolter, powerfist champ, Icon of Chaos Glory, Rhino
1x 9 Thousand Sons, Doombolt, Rhino
1x Defiler
1x4 Terminators w/3x plasmacombis, powerfist, heavy flamer
1x Sorcerer, Gift of Chaos, Doombolt, Mark of Tzeentch
1x 3 Chaos Bikers w/Icon of Chaos Glory, 2x Melta guns
1338

The flamers ought to make it more effective vs. a horde of nids, plus the reductions in points now gives me room to add something else. I could add two Obliterators for a total of 1488. Other options would be a Vindicator or a Predator with lascannon sponsons. Or some summoned lesser daemons. Any suggestions?

Thanks all.