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I'm returning to 40K after giving it up in 2nd Edition and have decided to play an Ork army. I've been reading a bit on this forum and asking a few questions to get an idea of how to play and what to take for a relatively competitive army but I am posting this list to get some critique from my more experienced peers.

When I say relatively competitive I should really say that I'd prefer to win when playing, but if a game is close fought and rewarding and I lose or if I get my butt handed to me by a vastly better player an I learn something then I am still happy. I'm also quite keen on keeping things fluffy with regards to army composition.

That said, I've settled on a Goff horde list. I have purchased ten boxes of Ork Boyz – following the boyz before toyz adage – so have a lot of assembling and painting in front of me. Below is the beginning of the list. I'm aiming for points value of 1850 – 2000 as that seems to be the norm for most armies I see posted here and as this is only the “core” of the army, I'll need some advice and input.

1. 20 Ork Shoota Boyz
2 Big Shootas
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

2. 20 Ork Shoota Boyz
2 Big Shootas
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

3. 20 Ork Shoota Boyz
2 Big Shootas
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

4. 20 Ork Shoota Boyz
2 Big Shootas
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

5. 20 Ork Shoota Boyz
2 Big Shootas
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

6. 15 Lootas

7. 15 Lootas

8. 15 Stormboyz
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

9. 15 Stormboyz
Nob
Power klaw
Bosspole

Total points: 1740 (if I'm not mistaken)

Obviously this doesn't leave me much room for additions if I'm aiming for 1850 points but there is probably a lot of fat that can be trimmed from the above list. Also, I realise that Stormboy are not very popular and likely warned against with regards to competitive lists, but as this is a Goff horde list and I really like the models I see their inclusion as vital to fluff and theme. I would be willing to pare their numbers down however.

Anyway, thanks in advance for any comments and help. As I said, this is my first list since 2nd Edition so I'll need a lot of play testing and help from more experienced players.

Good amounts of Boyz but individually powerful units-good work.

You have a solid core of troops to work with. You've also given all the sloggers shootas, which is an improvement over boyz with sluggas and choppas.

You also have Lootas (2xunits capped) which is fine, but might be overdoing it. Split the 30 Lootas into 3 ten man squads, which will help when it comes to shooting different targets.

Next purchase you should make is an HQ option, which is required for all armies. I suggest a Big Mek with Kustom Force Field. Slogging with the boyz, he gives them all a +5 cover save. Really helpful in moving the boyz foward against a sheet of fire they will encounter in dakka armies.

Finally, think about removing a unit of Stormboyz, freeing up points for Deffkoptas. 2 one man suicide squads equipped with twin linked rokkit launchas and buzzsaws are your answer to enemies who pack their men in transports. You want to deny them these said transports, so a deffkopta scouts ahead of your army and picks off those transports so the enemy cannot engage you as quickly as it would want.

One thing you can do for the ork troop options is any remaining points should be invested into increasing their unit size. Consider maxing one shoota squad, turning it into a slugga and choppa squad and making them 'ard boyz. That will be your primary assault squad in which to ram a horde of ork boyz down the throat of an opponent.

A silly option would be to also add a second HQ, using Mad Dok Grotsnik to that 30 man squad, giving the unit Fearless, FNP, and a funny way for an opponent to screw with your troops as they much race as fast as they could towards the nearest enemy.

Cheers for the critique guys.

What if I were to reduce the Stormboyz unit to 10 models each which would free up some points for the Deffkopta? I quite like the idea of having two Stormboyz squads that can act as a pincer to the main body. If I was judicious with their movement and seek cover as the make their way up the board, I think they'd reach the enemy relatively intact. To be honest I'd likely point them at the relatively weak hand to hand target target down range, a target that was threatening my main horde.

Regarding the Lootas, I was working on the fire saturation theory regarding have two squads of fifteen. Also, if they were to be targeted their increased numbers would allow for survivability and would allow me another elite choice. However, I'm happy to bow to those more experienced.

Regarding the HQ I was thinking about the following. Warboss with PK, Cybork Body, Attack Squig and Bosspole (redundant?). Big Mek with KFF and PK and Cybork Body. I'm looking for value for points to be honest. Back in 2nd Edition I used to point my Characters at soft targets and let them run amok while my other units tar pitted the opposition Characters.

On to Heavy Support and I guess with a horde list I should really have some Dreads or Kans, but are they decent?