Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

A couple of weeks ago as I realised that I'd be on holiday from college soon for christmas I pondered what to collect next.For a few years I'd considered a Dark Angels army,so
decided I'd start one and so I've bought a few more units than planned,but hell,it'll give something to do over the holidays.Well I've got all the relevant upgrades and am currently constructing the troops.Only I've discovered something worrying.
The Angels are not very good!Is this true?The comments I've read say 'oh the codex is rubbish,use codex space marines instead',or'the units are overpriced'.Can somebody please clarify this for me?
On a point of principle I wont be using anything but the official codex for my army.I should also mention that I will not be adding Ravenwing or Deathwing at the moment as I've spent too much already!
So am I building what some see apparently as an lame duck army?

Welcome to Emo Marines, razor blades can be found in the bottom cabinet.

I've had good luck with mine, but they DO NOT play the same as a vanilla list. Keep this in mind, play to their strengths and not to their weaknesses, and above all, have fun with it. If nothing else, get yourself one of the new Fortress of Redemptions. Then, even if you get annihilated, you will still look WAYYYY cooler than anyone else! Happy Holidays & Good Luck!!!

Use Codex Space Marines. For the love of god use Codex Space Marines. The Dark Angels codex is absolute garbage unless you're running Deathwing or a combination of Deathwing and Ravenwing. For example:

A Codex: Space Marines tactical squad with powerfist, missile launcher, and flamer = 195

A Dark Angels tactical squad with powerfist, missile launcher, and flamer = 205

While at first it might not seem that big (10 points here, 10 points there) it adds up quickly. Also, Dark Angels HQ options are pretty sucky, and incredibly limited. While they have better chaplains, librarians have terrible powers, and masters have next to no wargear options. Meanwhile, Codex Space Marines have multiple special characters that completely change the way the army plays in all sorts of interesting ways - making Sternguard veterans troops, making your army stubborn, and so on.

Space Marine squads aren't limited to a hard 5/10 limit, and neither are Terminators. Terminators can actually be 10 man squads in codex Marines! Terminators also get updated wargear, like storm shields that grant a 3+ invulnerable and cyclone missile launchers that are heavy 2.

Save yourself a load of grief and play your Dark Angels as Codex: Space Marines. You'll have a lot more fun, and if being competitive is your thing, that's more doable as well.