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Made in ca
Gargantuan Gargant






People have already stated some of the reasons why I really like Imperial Guard, being the underdog of having to face all the cosmic horrors of the galaxy with nothing but the humble lasgun, faith in the Emperor, and the sheer brass balls of normal humanity. In particular, I like that their regiments stand out a lot more visually and culturally than a lot of other subfactions do, and I really like both the DKoK and Steel legion aesthetic. It also helps that they scratch my WW1/2 buff itch with the fantasy in space setting that 40k is. The fact that they have "ALL THE TANKS" is just gravy on top given that I'm a treadhead.

On the other side of things, Orks are my one and true green love just because they really stand out as one of the few factions that is genuinely happy and thriving in the crapheap that is the 40k universe. Their unique perspective towards life, their self-sustaining eco-system of grots, squigs and Orks, as well as their unshakeable belief in might makes right and in Gork and Mork really makes them feel distinctly alien. I think the best part is that you can have the jovial and wacky side of the Ork's perspective like shooting hapless grots using a portable teleporter as a weapon, while also having the truly dark aspect of what you saw Orks doing during the Beast Arises series where they actively farmed humans to eat as livestock. Throw in the fact that they have some of the best visual designs and iconic characters like Wazdakka and Tuska, and they've been my sole 40k army for the last 13 years.

Honorable mentions go out to Black Templars, who are one of the few chapters to flip the bird at the codex and do what they want and have the numbers to actually make an impact across the Imperium. Nothing like angry crusade bois of Dorn getting stuff done like being the only ones ready for Abbadon's return and the 1st Black Crusade.

   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Orks, like Squats, are a firm favourite because They Enjoy Life, but in a way which is utterly alien to our mindset.

Orks of course don’t just love a fight, they thrive off it. To our eyes, it’s a brutal, punishing culture where you bully your way to the top. And….it absolutely is. But once you get your head round that every member of the Orkoid species, from Squigs to Warlords accept and endorse it? You see the joy they find in life.

Sure no Ork particularly enjoys getting beaten up. But they just…accept it, unquestioningly, because Might Making Right is hardwired into them.

Votann are almost a mirror of that. Like the Orks, they’re an engineered species. And at least some of that engineering appears to have been “ensure they’re good little workers”. They love their work, because they’re programmed to love their work. That they kind of don’t have a choice is…worrying. That the programming runs so deep that even if you could explain it to them, they wouldn’t care is seriously alien to us. And the result is a pretty happy, well unified society.

   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





While I like all the factions in 40k, even if some of those are factions I love to hate, my personal favourtie faction, or rather subfaction on a galactic scale is the Kroot.

You can see where most every faction in 40k drew their inspiration from, and while there's nothing wrong with that, the first thing that drew me to the Kroot where that I'd never seen anything like them before.

|They are this triablistic evolution based society that uses technology only when necessary and focuses on their physicial evolution through consumption more than anything. Yet, despite looking bestial, they have their own codes of honour, loyalty, and respect, just not necessarily in the ways that humans would understand them. While kinda humanoid, they do feel very alien and different on many levels. In the bits of lore that we do have, they walk this well written fine line of being just relatable enough to connect with, but alien enough to know you don't really understand them and I love it.

Second for me would be the Hrud, they are also just such a cool concept as a species that I'd love to somehow see on the table one day, even if it's just in a Kill Team release.


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Made in au
Regular Dakkanaut






Sydney

Setting aside that they're irredeemably evil - which normally would be an automatic swipe left, but it's 40k, until the Sensei come back we're kind of painted into a corner here morality-wise - I love that in a setting that's not really huge on representation, the Emperor's Children left heteronormativity in a smoking crater ten millennia ago and are now just the biggest loudest glitteriest pride parade imaginable. Whatever your personal truth they're 100% here for you to discover it and live it so godsdamned hard that your foes' brains explode just from looking at you, and I'm totally here for that energy.

   
Made in gb
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

I may need to have a side faction to round things out, maybe some sort of Xenos. Kroot?

   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





 Adeptekon wrote:
I may need to have a side faction to round things out, maybe some sort of Xenos. Kroot?


Yes! Join the hunt!

Seriously though, if you want any advice on building/running a straight Kroot army, I've been running them as my main army since eighth edition and have been doing quite well in my local leagues/tournaments. I'm always happy to share advice if you'd like.

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Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

 Tawnis wrote:
 Adeptekon wrote:
I may need to have a side faction to round things out, maybe some sort of Xenos. Kroot?


Yes! Join the hunt!

Seriously though, if you want any advice on building/running a straight Kroot army, I've been running them as my main army since eighth edition and have been doing quite well in my local leagues/tournaments. I'm always happy to share advice if you'd like.


Thanks, someone told me they were Avian, but I'm getting Predator vibes. I was hoping for Hawkmen or something, but they're kinda cool with the beast they ride. I will let you know if I end up going with them.

   
Made in us
Keeper of the Flame





Monticello, IN

The Tau. The Tau, as introduced in 3rd Edition, were a breath of fresh air and a bit of altruism in a sea of darkness which, quite frankly, is something the 40K universe needed. Without at least some light in the darkness it devolves into petulant morally bankrupt nihilism. That doesn't appeal to me at all.

The 4th Edition codex's insinuation that the Tau were mind-controlling their auxiliaries kind of cheapened the faction and lessened my drive in getting them again.

www.classichammer.com

For 4-6th WFB, 2-5th 40k, and similar timeframe gaming

Looking for dice from the new AOS boxed set and Dark Imperium on the cheap. Let me know if you can help.
 CthuluIsSpy wrote:
Its AoS, it doesn't have to make sense.
 
   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





 Adeptekon wrote:
 Tawnis wrote:
 Adeptekon wrote:
I may need to have a side faction to round things out, maybe some sort of Xenos. Kroot?


Yes! Join the hunt!

Seriously though, if you want any advice on building/running a straight Kroot army, I've been running them as my main army since eighth edition and have been doing quite well in my local leagues/tournaments. I'm always happy to share advice if you'd like.


Thanks, someone told me they were Avian, but I'm getting Predator vibes. I was hoping for Hawkmen or something, but they're kinda cool with the beast they ride. I will let you know if I end up going with them.


They are essentially both. They are very heavily implied to be descendant from an avian species, but they don't keep records the way humans do, so it's never specifically stated. They are kinda like the Predator, but a little more literal, and a little more broad. Because they gain part of the genetic information they consume, the Shapers will guide their kindred down a specific evolutionary path. In some cases, this is finding and eating the biggest strongest things, but if they subsist say mostly on Aeldari, Kroot can canonically develop psyker powers (still waiting for rules for this GW ). Ones that feed of Chaos or Drukhari become more aggressive and violent, orks become more physically stong. They also HATE the Tyranids, thinking they are abominable perversions of the Kroot way of life. It's not just the main races though, if there is a creature that can say, spit acid, they eat a bunch of those they can develop that trait, or become chameleons, or whatever you can possibly think of. This is actually where the Kroot Hounds, Krootox, and Knarlocs come from, they are dead end evolutionary paths that previous Kroot kindred went down. On a side note, I'd really be curious to see if they could consume the Hrud...

That's what I think is saddest about the Kroot. There is so much creative freedom to play around with them, enough to easily make them a faction on their own, but they are relegated to playing second fiddle in the Tau codex.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/03/21 15:30:23


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Made in pl
Horrific Hive Tyrant





 Tawnis wrote:
They also HATE the Tyranids, thinking they are abominable perversions of the Kroot way of life.

Nids are the only species that the Shapers call ''inedible'', which for the Kroot means much much more than for humans etc.
   
Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Further on the Krootox and Kroothounds, it’s not just an evolutionary dead end, but one they can’t come back from. Presumably because they lack Shaper equivalents to guide them back, and/or the necessary level of intelligence to Just Absorb The Good Bit when it comes to genetic coding.

If memory serves it was once explained that their DNA has “spare slots” which the Kroot, guided by a Shaper, can fill with strands taken from consumed foes. Krootox and Kroothounds lack those slots, as they’ve arguably over-specialised.

   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

 Tawnis wrote:
 Adeptekon wrote:
 Tawnis wrote:
 Adeptekon wrote:
I may need to have a side faction to round things out, maybe some sort of Xenos. Kroot?


Yes! Join the hunt!

Seriously though, if you want any advice on building/running a straight Kroot army, I've been running them as my main army since eighth edition and have been doing quite well in my local leagues/tournaments. I'm always happy to share advice if you'd like.


Thanks, someone told me they were Avian, but I'm getting Predator vibes. I was hoping for Hawkmen or something, but they're kinda cool with the beast they ride. I will let you know if I end up going with them.


They are essentially both. They are very heavily implied to be descendant from an avian species, but they don't keep records the way humans do, so it's never specifically stated. They are kinda like the Predator, but a little more literal, and a little more broad. Because they gain part of the genetic information they consume, the Shapers will guide their kindred down a specific evolutionary path. In some cases, this is finding and eating the biggest strongest things, but if they subsist say mostly on Aeldari, Kroot can canonically develop psyker powers (still waiting for rules for this GW ). Ones that feed of Chaos or Drukhari become more aggressive and violent, orks become more physically stong. They also HATE the Tyranids, thinking they are abominable perversions of the Kroot way of life. It's not just the main races though, if there is a creature that can say, spit acid, they eat a bunch of those they can develop that trait, or become chameleons, or whatever you can possibly think of. This is actually where the Kroot Hounds, Krootox, and Knarlocs come from, they are dead end evolutionary paths that previous Kroot kindred went down. On a side note, I'd really be curious to see if they could consume the Hrud...

That's what I think is saddest about the Kroot. There is so much creative freedom to play around with them, enough to easily make them a faction on their own, but they are relegated to playing second fiddle in the Tau codex.



Interesting, that makes for real fluffy opportunities. From what I can see they've got the underbite of an Ork and the hairdo of the Predator.

   
Made in us
Been Around the Block




I have many marines.

As a kid, I loved the Aliens game- the first person shooter with the semi rigid faux uzi.

Something about the marine aesthetic speaks to that to me. Entering a hulk, doing sweeps, firing bursts to drag out your ammo, slowly being overrun- I was sold
   
Made in us
Stealthy Sanctus Slipping in His Blade






1. The models. No rhyme or reason, if I find them cool I will start a force of them somehow.
2. The fluff. Same as above.
3. Deployment hi-jinks. Old school 5ed drop pods, daemons deploying a random half of their army, GSC deployment in all its variations. If its weird and flexible I will start a force of them somehow.


A ton of armies and a terrain habit...


 
   
Made in ca
Heroic Senior Officer





Krieg! What a hole...

 Shadow Walker wrote:
 Tawnis wrote:
They also HATE the Tyranids, thinking they are abominable perversions of the Kroot way of life.

Nids are the only species that the Shapers call ''inedible'', which for the Kroot means much much more than for humans etc.


Necrons, too, according to Kasrkin.

Member of 40k Montreal There is only war in Montreal
Primarchs are a mistake
DKoK Blog:http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/419263.page Have a look, I guarantee you will not see greyer armies, EVER! Now with at least 4 shades of grey

Savageconvoy wrote:
Snookie gives birth to Heavy Gun drone squad. Someone says they are overpowered. World ends.

 
   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





 Bobthehero wrote:
 Shadow Walker wrote:
 Tawnis wrote:
They also HATE the Tyranids, thinking they are abominable perversions of the Kroot way of life.

Nids are the only species that the Shapers call ''inedible'', which for the Kroot means much much more than for humans etc.


Necrons, too, according to Kasrkin.


976.M41 THE FEAST OF STEEL

The Sautekh Dynasty expands into Tau space and invades the Kroot-held world of Caroch. Though the Kroot win the first engagements, their attempt to dine upon the living metal of their victims has hideous results as a nano-scarab plague sweeps through their ranks.

-Necron Codex

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Made in ca
Heroic Senior Officer





Krieg! What a hole...

Or that. Seems to be the source for what was described in the novel, then.

Member of 40k Montreal There is only war in Montreal
Primarchs are a mistake
DKoK Blog:http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/419263.page Have a look, I guarantee you will not see greyer armies, EVER! Now with at least 4 shades of grey

Savageconvoy wrote:
Snookie gives birth to Heavy Gun drone squad. Someone says they are overpowered. World ends.

 
   
Made in ca
Longtime Dakkanaut





I like factions that have internal dynamics; generally these means armies that break down into distinctive sub-groups.

Even before the 8th/9th rules locking the separation between Kabals, Cults and Covens, I always saw them as distinct subgroups within the army.

Similarly, my SoB force was always been two distinct groups- the Holy Choir and the Penitent Legion.

My Tau and my Kroot.

My GSC with its Clawed Cohort and it's Infiltrators and Converts.

Amies that are more unified in behaviour and appearance are far less interesting to me; they offer opportunities to tell the stories of external conflict. But armies composed of distinct subgroups offer both internal and external stories.

   
Made in ca
Poisonous Kroot Headhunter





PenitentJake wrote:
I like factions that have internal dynamics; generally these means armies that break down into distinctive sub-groups.

Even before the 8th/9th rules locking the separation between Kabals, Cults and Covens, I always saw them as distinct subgroups within the army.

Similarly, my SoB force was always been two distinct groups- the Holy Choir and the Penitent Legion.

My Tau and my Kroot.

My GSC with its Clawed Cohort and it's Infiltrators and Converts.

Amies that are more unified in behaviour and appearance are far less interesting to me; they offer opportunities to tell the stories of external conflict. But armies composed of distinct subgroups offer both internal and external stories.

|

Yeah, exactly, this is lots of fun. I'm the same way with my Tau and Kroot.

Also, for Necrons I have my Canoptek force, my Destroyer force and my Royal force.

For custom Space Marine chapter the Void Rangers, I have each company modeled after the surviving loyalists of one of the Traitor Legions, so each fights and feels very different.

It's a lot of fun when you can take a single army and play it in such a variety of ways.

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Made in gb
Ridin' on a Snotling Pump Wagon






Flavours were sorely missed during t’dark days of 3rd and 4th. Particularly from Orks who were reduced from a riot of idiots to a single cohesive blob of boredom with no passions on display.

   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

I always thought the Tau were sorta cool in a MechWarrior kinda way.

   
Made in us
Banelord Titan Princeps of Khorne




Noctis Labyrinthus

Chaos Daemons because of the big muscle femboy Keepers of Secrets.
   
Made in gb
Mekboy Hammerin' Somethin'





United Kingdom

Orks look cool in a Mad Max kind of way, and they're just out there causing mayhem and having a good time.

I play to have fun, and a bunch of green football hooligan gorillas with loads of crude weapons and vehicles is ideal. Also, the conversion opportunities. I love converting and Orks by far have the best opportunities for kit bashing.

Every kit is an Ork kit.
   
Made in gb
Fresh-Faced New User




UK

Orks cause they are fun, like the background and if they get beaten they come back to have another go.

Dark Angels….. they have always appealed to me since Rogue Trader days but that might have been down to the black armour (easy To paint);


 
   
Made in de
Boom! Leman Russ Commander






For me:

Imperial Guard, for reasons that were stated by lots of posters above. I also like that when writing fluff for them barely surviving or even dying while achieving a minimal objective can still feel like a win. Things like a squad making their last stand and holding a helipad long enough for the last civilian to get out, before they blow themselves up to not suffer too long and take some enemies with them.
Compared to that I personally feel for a lot of the more elite factions, even winning a fight sometimes feels like underachieving. When a Space marine slashes through three hormagaunts, but needs a minute to do so... he is kind of doing to little to really make a change...


Orks: for their pure orkiness, their whole biology, tech and whaag-mechanics. It's just so inherintly weird and funny and there is some great fluff on them out there. I also really like concepts of species/cultures that are not above a little self irony.


AdMech: It's a bit narrower, but I find the whole "religious cult of machines" thing a really interesting take on this topic. Also the models look amazing (even though that was not the premise of the OP).

Last but not least: the general concept of the Tau with their client species and the Gue'Vesa is also pretty cool, even if I'm not that into their lore. But as others mentioned: a bit of optimism in the grim dark future is a nice bit of flavor.

~6550 build and painted
819 build and painted
830 
   
Made in ca
Twisted Trueborn with Blaster



Ottawa

In general, I like factions whose members have a degree of free will and individuality. They're especially refreshing in a setting where most factions try to enforce conformity and blind obedience.

What I find interesting about the Drukhari is that they're an entire race of bored rich people who expend vast resources just to stave off their existential ennui or satisfy their weird obsessions or hyperfixations. They have the kind of technology that the Imperium would kill for, yet they use it for utterly frivolous reasons. Their arrogance and hubris are so staggering as to be hilarious.

They steal suns. They create alternate dimensions. When they die, they can get resurrected. And despite all this potential, they are content with remaining on the sidelines while everyone else fights for dominance. Why try to rule the galaxy when it's so much easier to just feed off its scraps like vultures?

.

Cadians, Sisters of Battle (Argent Shroud), Drukhari (Obsidian Rose)

Read my Drukhari short stories: Chronicles of Commorragh 
   
Made in us
Ultramarine Terminator with Assault Cannon






The lore and model range are of equal importance to me.

The lore has to be compelling.
The model range has to be aesthetically pleasing.

Thats it.
   
Made in us
Perfect Shot Black Templar Predator Pilot





The Dark Imperium

Orks would be fun, I never could get over the green skin though. I think Green Goblin. I do like it when it's grim painted and not so bright.

Not sure what the yellow orks were all about, but that's even more tacky to me. I'd paint them greyish.

   
Made in mk
Spawn of Chaos




Warhammer 40K Universe

I'm going to make this as short as possible. I fell in love with CSM and Chaos with Dawn of War DC in 2006. Although my first cool impression of the Necrons and the Orks, Chaos swayed me away.

The WB were my first introduction to Chaos and Eliphas is the most bad ass WB post heresy.

Because I couldn't afford buying books at the time because I was a kid, and there were none in my country, I would read the 40K wiki and Lexicanum non stop in high school 2012-16.

Without Chaos and CSM the setting wouldn't be that interesting. I changed factions throughout the time, from WB early, to WE and later EC.

The picture that Chaos and CSM paint is that they're badass, evil characters, while honestly they're just mustache twirly villains and it pains me that they're like that.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/03/28 21:11:59


 
   
Made in us
Hellacious Havoc





Everywhere at once..

I collect and play Night Lords.

I just love that they haven't changed their approach to warfare in 10,000 years.

They like to terrify and murder and skin and scalp whom ever dares oppose them.. same as they did for the emperor.

Just now sometimes they have fun chaos toys to do it with, not that they want/need these deamon weapons but they wont turn down a weapon to use on the enemy.

But they do hold a particular distain for the more fanatical chaos followers.

I am changed . . . an outcast now.  
   
 
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