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.

Having dabbled to some extent in every loyalist army under the Imperial Sky I've now set my sights beyond it, into the Stars.

A few mates of mine at the club already play this game. (One has a full Tau Armada, the other is expressing interests in a Chaos fleet.) I too would like to embark on this new venture into the lost realms of gaming (if only so that the loyalists are represented ) but I need your help!

I'm none to sure as to what to start with.

I know the rulebook is essential, as well as one battleship or another (I've got my eye on the Retribution class ) but this already takes me over $100 and beyond these choices I am lost. Do I go for cruisers? Or invest myself with frigates and other sorts of attack craft? Preferably I'd like a solid fleet for $100 give or take. (Excluding the Rulebook and Battleship)

Can anyone give me advice?

If you're being money conscious, keep the money from the Rulebook and DL it from GW's site for free(unless you really want an official hard copy, of course). Invest it in more Cruisers instead.

For Imperials, a good core of cruisers is a must. I prefer the Lunar and Dictators, backed up by Gothics and Tyrants.

Cruisers?

Got it. What should a starter Imperial use for Firgates? Or should he even go there?

BTW, the other two BFG players at my club collect Tau and Eldar. (And someone might be interested in a Chaos fleet.)

Okay, I've assembled a fair amount of ships now.

1 x Retribution Class Battleship
2 x Lunar Class Cruisers
3 x Sword Class Frigates

Any thoughts on what I could add to increase max efficiency? (I'll be versing mainly Eldar and Tau, with the possibility of some Chaos)

You will likely want a carrier of some sort to give your cruisers fighter cover.

The Dictator isn't bad, but it is a bit overpriced.

The Mars is a great flagship for smaller games as it comes with the nova cannon and launch bays.

The Eldar are going to be a bit of a problem, and the extra range on the Tyrant's weapon batteries will come in handy for shooting the pointy-ears

My advice, get another package of cruisers, magnetize the prow weapons on both ships so that they can change between a ram and a nova cannon. That way you can build a Mars/Dictator or a Tyrant/Dominator. That gives you good flexibility and rounds out your fleet.

Thanks! What should I look for in terms of escorts?