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I've played Tyranids and Thousand Sons since 3rd edition (I think? It was the edition right after the old Rogue Trader rules.). So pretty much fluff and appearance only. Although 'nids were a much more competitive force in 3rd and 4th edition.

Fluff fo' sho'.

Slang talk aside, after that comes looks. Power is at the bottom.

Hmmm....

"Some other reason"

This being that I choose based on the play style of the army. I played Marines as a kid (just as every plastic crack baby did) and then moved on to Tau. I really liked the idea of ranged combat, and they were top dogs. I then moved to Nids. I had played ranged, and now I wanted some CC beasts. Now I'm developing a Dark Eldar force. Evil, wicked fast, and the whole "glass cannon" concept sold me. I dunno what's next.... probably either orks or Necrons. Legions of Undead robots or fill the table with models??? Dunno yet....

Several armies, several reasons. Fluff, looks and how they work on the table to varying degrees.

Many armies, some started for how models look, some for fluff, some because of stories and some because of the type of army that can be built. Not in a power WAAC way, but I guess horde/elite style.

Oh and sometimes things are purchased just to paint because they look awesome to me and an army built around them.

I go with fluff because that aspect of the army grows with each win/loss. I like collecting the models in the theme of my force- just because something is new or powerful won't always get me to buy it. if I need it as part of the story in my head about the army, that is a sure thing.

Looks. If I can't decide based on looks; then fluff.

Also price is an important factor for me

I choose armies on the Backstory.

Mostly fluff, though looks helps as well. Fluff is what got me focused on my main (and only!) army, and fluff + painting is what I enjoy the most.

It depends. Typically appearance, because I have an easier time painting models if I like them a lot. Sometimes fluff. More often, partly fluff and partly appearance. Sometimes playstyle, although this often is post-rationalization (I love my Protectorate, building those bit synergic knots my opponent can then try to untie, but this playstyle came to me well after I had started playing). Seldom power (it is not necessary, seeing which systems I play).

Fluff, appearance, power, in that order.

I chose miniatures, as I can write custom fluff to fit my collection, and as long as you can play to the strengths of the models chosen then I see no reason why I can't have a good game. I can't make my own models though, and as such the cool factor is my driving force when choosing what to collect.

I pick based on looks first, then fluff. That's what drew me to skaven. Great models, fun background. If I start another army, it'll be wood elves, because the forest spirit models are just too cool. Power level is unimportant.

I play many armies for several reasons.

I chose Salamanders before the 5th ed codex because I like their color scheme and back story.

I chose Space Wolves for their back story and in 5th ed because of their power.

Orks because I got a bunch of them for cheap.

Blood Angels because I got the army for free by winning tournaments.

IG because I loved the idea of a Nurgle traitor Guard army and wanted to finish a project my friend had started so I traded him my fully painted Ork army for his unfinished Nurgle IG.

Tyranids because I was tired of PA and then they got nerfed and I lost interest. An army I play has to at least stand a chance...

Gery Knights see the reason for BA and Orks. I actually don't play this army currently because it is over played in our area.

I chose my first CSM army, Word Bearers, because I liked their story line. I sold them because I hated my paint job. My second CSM army is because sometimes I want to be the bad guy.

Templars (this army is long gone) because I wanted to paint SM that had a highly Medieval and Crusade style.

Tau (also long gone) because in 4th ed the Suit Spam list was nearly unbeatable in our area and I wanted to win some tournaments.

I play orks and imp. Guard and have played them for years. The main reasons are modeling options and appearance. I could care less how they play. Prior to 5th edition they both sucked on the table. They had their 15 minutes of fame with 5th and now they are back to being looked down upon. Necron will be the new big thing shortly and I can get back to making things look nice instead of trying to win.

I play Many armies, purley in different reasons, space marines due to fluff, but other armies due to the coolness of the minis! some mini's draw me into an army but hen again, i might see some nice models and not like the fluff so i don't play them, say DE

Fluff and models. Some power faction is important to me, but in the end the first ones are the most important.

Looks, Looks then fluff. I chose Space Marines based off of how the models looked and then i chose chapters based off of there paint schemes with the tie breaker being fluff.

I play gun-toting, six-legged space dinosaurs. Nothing else is half as cool.

Is there some reason why you can't value all three?

If I have to rank them then I'd say looks first, power second, then fluff. I try not to value fluff too highly considering how often and how drastically it can change. If fluff was the most important thing to me then I'd probably be dropping armies left and right because of GW's crap. I'd have quit Ultramarines in shame if I had an army of them when the fifth/fanboy edition came out, and the new Grey Knights fluff angered quite a few people, too.

Looks... mostly.

Started Skaven lo those many years ago, because I thought rats with big sniper rifles were hilarious.

Started Brrettonia because the FLGS was liquidating it's WFB stuff, and had a BUNCH of Bretts for cheap. And I was getting bored painting rats, with or without sniper rifles.

When I saw one of the new Dark Elf Cold One Knights painted on CMoN, I knew I had found my next army.

Then the Mantic Dwarves sucked me in as well.


So, three out of four on looks, with one and a partial (did I mention the Mantic Dwaves are nicely affordable?) for cheap models as well.

I got to like what my army stands for and I got to like how they look. Fluff first, looks second, then play ability, but I do take ALL these into account.

Fluff and appearance tied for me.

If you pick up an army you dislike the look of you're going to find it hard to get motivated to paint them and subsequently field them with any enjoyment.

Fluff is important because in the end I'm a casual gamer, and I like armies to have an interesting theme behind them.

I play my armies based on their concepts and styles of play. Dark Eldar for the fast and glass cannon approach, and my Tyranids for the endless horde of doom. Also, my Necrons might be getting dusted off and redone soon....

Fluff then I can convert to my likings.
But an army also needs to have convertion potential because that's what I really like.
I actually made my army to lose because they are mobs of unskilled traitors with flashlights but so far it only one because they are the luckiest unskilled traitors with flashlight, they're REALLY lucky.

The look. Orks make me laugh everytime I look at them.

Fluff.. oh not the kind of fluff my wife gives me. xD

Looks.

I was tied up between looks and fluff; I'm in the hobby for the modelling and painting, the artistic perpective, but I decided that the background actually is the most important part of choosing an army. I wouldn't collect an army with great models if I didn't like its fluff.

To be honest, when I battle, I usually pick stuff I've just painted because I like the look of it rather than the fact that it will crush all my enemies although I do try and combine these two factors where possible!