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So what is it that makes you guys start a new army off? Is it boredom of your current army/game, some new thing which demands to be purchased, a long awaited release, or something else?

And how often do you find yourself embarking upon a new project?

Personaly, I tend to kick off a new army when something really grabs me by the Nads and demands to be bought, hence my Skaven and Tyranid spree after seeing the models. Not too fussed about the rules, as the models really appealed to me. These are the first armies I've started in 18 or so months, with the last one having been my Savage Orcs (wallett took a beating on that one!). And the Nids in particular are my first 40k army in some years. Bit of bandwagoning going on I suppose, but hey, sometimes I just can't say no to new models!

Seeing those amazing minis by Raging Heroes inspired me to start building a Slaanesh mortal army and return to WHFB, I've been missing it.

They are rather lovely aren't they. Shame my painting wouldn't do them justice!

For me, it has been a different process for each army.

I started on the skaven after picking up a couple of (granted, they were other company models) of skavenish gunners. Then over several years I picked up more and more until now, when I have about 6K points worth.

The Bretonnians were an impulse buy. The FLGS was getting out of WFB in favor of expanding their comic section. But the put their WFB stuff on sale at 50% discount, and they had a Bret battalion and a bunch of other Bret stuff... and I was getting sooooooo tired of painting rats...

The Dark Elves... well, I saw the newest version of the cold ones and I was hooked.

My next army: A monster-madness version of the lizardmen (A carnosuar, 4-6 Stegadons, maybe some cold one riders, salamaders, terradons, and just enough skinks to fill core). Because ever since I was a little kid I have been a little crazy about dinosaurs, and this would (in a strange sort of way) let me play with toy dinos again.

The models and fluff.

Next army, tomb kings as celtic barrow wights. Got the figures already, now need an 8 day week so I can start them. :-)

It's mostly a cash thing for me. I already know which armies I want to collect, and those are unlikely to change. I like to slog through one at a time though, so as not to get overwhelmed.

Once I finish one army, I'll start on the next one, once I find the capital. I tend to plan my armies out in advance, usually up to 1850-2000 points, although my vanilla Space marines will be able to do Apocolypse.

I'm not sure what my next army will be. I really like the idea of an 1850 point Razorback SW mech army, but I'm not sure I want to do another MEQ right away, so maybe Tau, but their codex is supposedly going to come out this year, and I'd like to wait for that. Regardless, once IA8 comes out, I'm going to be finishing my Elysians.

After that, its some blood for the blood god bezerker CSM army, and that'll be the last one, I think, barring any cool new releases.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:So what is it that makes you guys start a new army off? Is it boredom of your current army/game, some new thing which demands to be purchased, a long awaited release, or something else?

And how often do you find yourself embarking upon a new project?

Personaly, I tend to kick off a new army when something really grabs me by the Nads and demands to be bought, hence my Skaven and Tyranid spree after seeing the models. Not too fussed about the rules, as the models really appealed to me. These are the first armies I've started in 18 or so months, with the last one having been my Savage Orcs (wallett took a beating on that one!). And the Nids in particular are my first 40k army in some years. Bit of bandwagoning going on I suppose, but hey, sometimes I just can't say no to new models!

Generally two things:

I finish what I have, and I have a great idea. Sometimes those ideas dont pan out.

For example....my sisters army is done. Maybe another 6 models to do, but I really dont have anything left to do for it. 3 exorcists, 10 immolators, 3 squads of seraphim, multiple conversions of both rank and file and characters. There's nothing left to do.

So I had two ideas: one was an IW army, I have it mostly built, but frankly its not really that good at the moment. Not model wise, but frankly the chaos codex sucks. I considered doing it either under the marine book or space wolves book, as the latter has a warband feel to it, but I really am not feeling it as an army.

The next is orks, and there is a whole slew of ideas to run with and you cant go wrong modeling. Ever. And its coming along nicely.

So when people find that idea brewing, do you feel there is a certain 'lightbulb' moment that finally sets you on the path?

For example, I'd wanted to do a Savage Orc army for ages, as I really like the idea of sun addled nutters running around. But the final decision when I saw a fellow gamers Wyvern conversion based off the High Elf Dragon. At that point, I wanted to do my own, and have the Warboss strapped in, underslung on the beasts neck. Conversion done, I had to finish so I could field my turbo-nutter in a game.

Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:So when people find that idea brewing, do you feel there is a certain 'lightbulb' moment that finally sets you on the path?

For example, I'd wanted to do a Savage Orc army for ages, as I really like the idea of sun addled nutters running around. But the final decision when I saw a fellow gamers Wyvern conversion based off the High Elf Dragon. At that point, I wanted to do my own, and have the Warboss strapped in, underslung on the beasts neck. Conversion done, I had to finish so I could field my turbo-nutter in a game.

Not really. When I do an army, I do an army. Its not 1500 pt list or 2000pt list. Its got lots and lots of options. SO there's no lightbulb moment.

Right now, I have enough models to do either a green tide, kan wall or trukk or bike KoS army. Granted its not all painted yet, but its coming around.

And how often do you find yourself embarking upon a new project?

Once in two years.
One reason is that I usually play painted miniatures and WYSIWYG.

Well right now i am preparing for the new nid dex with by building up an ork force. I have a hard time going against nids with 1k sons or GKs so i am kinda taking a little bit of an easier way out in response to the update. So mostly i start an army kind of out of boredom and tournies.

Generally, its when they cycle back round to an army that really appeals to me like Skaven, Vampires, Imperial Guard or Eldar (odd mix, but there you go).

Occasionally, I go through phases of thinking I must do a Space Marine army, but rarely get past the first Tactical Squad for some reason.

I have to be forced into playing a new army. But if i get inspired i will start the army.

I started up Dark Angels because I liked the models. I started up Space Wolves because I liked the models and fluff, and enjoyed painting their scheme. I started up Crimson Fists because I had amassed tons of Rogue Trader figures and thought they'd look best in that scheme. I started up Orks when I got Black Reach - I figured I may as well, with all those cool new Ork toys. I dabbled with Guard briefly, but I didn't enjoy painting them quite so much.

EDIT: Long story short, they have to be something I'd enjoy painting.

For me, I am attracted to an army by the thing it does best. I took up the Dark Angels because of their fearlessness and heavy armor, and then the Imperial Guard because of the vast amount of firepower it can bring to the table, even with special weapons.

I don't stay with an army for much longer than 2 or 3000 points, but of course I keep the models so I can occasionally bring them out again [or in the Dark Angels' case, when they get another codex]. When I get bored of the Imperial Guard, and have built all the various tanks/units I like, I'll likely start up a CC-oriented army.

For me it depends on the army itself as to why I am drawn to it.

Wood Elves: I've always loved elves from all across the fantasy genre and Wood Elves are your typical representation of elves in the fantasy genre. The models are gorgeous which also helps but I just identify with elves and so will always play them.

High Elves: The new dragon model was the main motivator for this army, but since building a rather large HElf army I have come to respect the way the army play which is what attracts me to them most, everything must work in concert and support each other or else the army falls apart very quickly.

WoC: I'm going to admit this was one of those...ooohh the new army list looks good, oohh the new models look awesome. 2 minutes later im walking outa GW with an army.

Tomb Kings: Gotta say always liked them for their completely alien play style to alot of other armies. That and who doesnt like being able to field units of chariots?

My first army was IG, my second was CSM. I picked up the CSM to be the complete opposite of my guard: 3+ saves, the ability to win an assault, fewer models in a given point range, switch loyalist to renegade...

Kommandant56434 wrote:My first army was IG, my second was CSM. I picked up the CSM to be the complete opposite of my guard: 3+ saves, the ability to win an assault, fewer models in a given point range, switch loyalist to renegade...

Um yeah...what he said!

That and I needed a break from all the same paint scheme on a bajillion models just to flush out 2k...

Dwarves... liked fantasy, decided to start Warhammer. Played for about a year and a half, then got bored with their rather static playstyle.

Nids... They have 2. Wanted to start 40k, then ran into a bargain set ('bout $300 for $50). Have been going strong ever since. Considered starting a new army, and hadn't updated the list for a while, then I heard about the new 'dex coming out, which has sort of fired me off again.

Lizardmen... after getting bored with dwarves, I went with the army that had been number 2 on my list. The fact they were the new army on the block might of helped.

Also, I have several army "fragments" sitting around. Space orks, which I had fun building and converting, Skaven which I won in a best painted contest, a set of Black Reach marines, and an Orcs&Goblins Battalion I got for my Birthday.

I find that, while I pick up stray stuff easily, I don't stick with it long enough to make an army. Space orks came closest, with about 1000 points (Two Highly converted Black reach sets), and only missed because of the upcoming Tyranids.

On a similar note, due to my system of budgeting, I rarely keep interest in shiny new models long enough to go buy them (It takes me a month or two to change my plans).

Edited for spelling.

I used to play Chaos, but how small my army was and the lame dex ruined it for me, so I sold them off.

So I made a Guardsmen army. After all I liked the whole "army" apeal they have. Really it only took that Chaos didn't offer what I wanted. a Large army, with pretty much the same if not more firepower.


And dark eldar.. I like their style, and when I was made a deal for a small army. I took it. And now I'm saving up to buy a box of skaven for a fellow who want's to give me like 5 raiders and many other dark eldar models and bits.


Woo.....

Oh, and upon how much I enjoy 40k I wana try to get into fantasy. I liked Vampires because I wanted a eviler army, and the undead fit the bill, they are also a army that is more then hack and slash.

Currently their are no "new" armies I'm interested in,so asside from a few minor additions to my Death Guard and Orkz I don't belive I'll be buying to much any time soon.

Vulcan wrote:...My next army: A monster-madness version of the lizardmen (A carnosuar, 4-6 Stegadons, maybe some cold one riders, salamaders, terradons, and just enough skinks to fill core). Because ever since I was a little kid I have been a little crazy about dinosaurs, and this would (in a strange sort of way) let me play with toy dinos again.

If you want heaps of monsters, you can put Kroxigors in a unit of Skinks.

Back on topic, if I see a model I like, I might base an army around it. Just for show, not for games, so I can make it really crazy.

When I start armies, my mind always pictures the glory of Apocalypse. I don't usually want to 'stop' or 'finish' an army. I just keep convincing myself that it would be that much more awesome if I did/bought *blank* and so I do. Orks, theirs and army I don't think I'll ever be done with.

I recently started Daemons because I really enjoyed the codex, kinda like Eldar, each model has a certain role to play.

Tim the Biovore wrote:

Vulcan wrote:...My next army: A monster-madness version of the lizardmen (A carnosuar, 4-6 Stegadons, maybe some cold one riders, salamaders, terradons, and just enough skinks to fill core). Because ever since I was a little kid I have been a little crazy about dinosaurs, and this would (in a strange sort of way) let me play with toy dinos again.

If you want heaps of monsters, you can put Kroxigors in a unit of Skinks.

I don't even have the current Lizardman codex yet, this one is a ways off. But I was thinking of sticking to 'as cheap as possible' core to be able to afford more stegadons...

I basicly start a new army small. Either by a unit of thier basics, or I get a command squad and a troopers squad.

The I add to that.
Sometimes it pans out, like My Tau, Necrons, IG, and Ork armies, other times I find that I absolutly hate them, I take everything I got for them, and trade them out, never to be spoken of again (Eldar)


I need a basic idea of what I want to get into, then I jump in with both feet. If I don't like, or can't get into the army, why mess around and force a square peg through a round hole.

As of late, though, with GW's incessant BS, I've been letting them all take a break and am indulging in other systems, and looking at other alternatives for gaming.

REALLY digging Pulp City, Malifex, and The Incursion stuff, and am now investigating other alternative systems.

I normally think about an army with cool models, options for conversions etc, and how they play- I like to have an army that can be flexible - so CSM was my first army - 12,000 points this year from a mix of CSM, with some SM stuff mixed in for good fun, as well as some fantasy chaos bits etc. Also, I like the idea with SM/Chaos and some other sides that I can paint it how I like.

My second was Space Wolves - again, cool stories, flexible to play, etc, and lovely models.

Also, plastic helps so much!

For me it is about the models, no matter how well an army or individual unit performs, if it looks naff I wont buy it.

I was an imperial player for years and still have large guard and Black templar forces but when the new orks came out I couldn't resist them.

This is also why I have no problem buying miniatures for no other reason than the joy of painting them.

Yeah, the models being nice is a big one for me. Plus, I like CC oriented armies. That's what drew me to Orks - and is drawing me towards a Khorne Berzerker-style army at present.
I like the idea of playing Dark Eldar for the mobility and speed elements, but the miniatures fething suck. So that's out.

The models are a biggest reason when choosing an army. I don't build armies at a fast pace, so I tend to get an army done and play it for quite awhile. This allows for a lot of games and finding ways to effectively play the army. The only project I quit on were the Tau. I just didn't like painting the Crisis Suits. Thinking back since 3rd edition (around 2001), I've built the following:

Chaos (Word Bearers- sold them)
Eldar (Ulthwe)
Tau (never completed, sold them)
Orks

Each army minus the Tau I painted over 3000 points worth. My last project started in 2008 with the Orks. My next project started this month with the Tyranids.

Well im working on my stuff for adepticon, but namely I am trying to get my historicals up a little more for some great roman games.