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I was thinking about how much more my Beastguard force was going to cost me to go up to 1500 points, and was wondering if I should instead size-down and start smaller, say 1000 points.

I don't really WANT to do this, but money is tight, and I still need to buy; 30 Guardsmen, 10 more for PCS, 9 more Heavy Weapon teams.

The guardsmen are no big deal, I can get them cheap, but the Heavy Weapon teams are a big hit, even on ebay, where nobody wants to sell them for under $12 >.<

Heres the actual question though: What force size did you start with? Do you feel having your first game at 1500 points is alright? The only game experience I've had was against my GF who has 5000-5500 points of S.O.B, with the little figures I have, just going over the phases in such with single uinits.

Aswell, what force did you start out with when you first played?

When I started 40k, I jumped in with well over 1500 pts of Eldar.

That said, if money is tight, play 1000 pts. It's a more fluid game, and a good game size.

I started with 600, could drag it up to 700 if I included every assembled and unit legal model I owed. I'm now up to 1100 if I'm at a comfortable level, 1350 if I really overstretch.

I'd like to eventually build to ~2000 points, with some flexibily to swap things out, especially choice of HQs and varying my heavy support choices. That's probably the point I'll start dabbling in a second army and getting more DE as the mood strikes me. New codex may or may not change those plans, if one decided to materialise in the next two years it'll take me to get there.

When I first started I had a 'Nid battleforce (4th edition) and tyrant. I think I stretched it out to 750 points using everything in the box for my first few games.
After about two months I got the Assault Brood (basically two battleforces w/ an extra 'fex) and a few metal models so I could play 1500 points with some choice and variation.
I did not add anything to this army until the new codex came out.

Instead of trying to buy individual weapons teams for under $12, why don't you just buy from a discounter like the war store or wayland games?

I started with AOBR, then 1500 points of Necrons (at once)

100000 be the best, 1000 if you're short on cash.

Meh, I'll just start with 1500.

I DO buy from Wayland Games, and 9 HW Teams cost around $100 dollars :/

The 3 Guardsmen boxes (I might actually need 4) will cost me around $47 dollars.

Oh, actually, buying 3 HW Squad boxes is cheaper, but I still need an extra $25 dollar-ish to afford it.

Well, I didn't give my GF that $2000 dollar ring I found on the street corner for nothing I suppose.

I appreciate everyones posts, it was really just me needing to speak my thoughts, my head is way too cluttered when I'm an intern in a hospital, studying, GF, AND 40k.

I always start in increments of 500pts, moving up to 1000pt, then 1500pt and so on. I feel the initial 500pt gives you your 'core' that allows you to get to grips with your army, while the incremental 500pt 'expansion' gives you time to adjust to your new additions/giving you time to paint and so on.

I started at around 750 points (AoBR, Lobbas and some Grots). I found the lack of options infuriating though. I got it up to about 1250 next time I got the chance.

I aim for 2000, and then I build and paint so slowly that by the time my list is complete, a new version comes out and I have to keep building.

ph34r wrote:I aim for 2000, and then I build and paint so slowly that by the time my list is complete, a new version comes out and I have to keep building.

This.

Ronin wrote:I always start in increments of 500pts, moving up to 1000pt, then 1500pt and so on. I feel the initial 500pt gives you your 'core' that allows you to get to grips with your army, while the incremental 500pt 'expansion' gives you time to adjust to your new additions/giving you time to paint and so on.

This. Always stuck with this formula over the years.