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.

I'm normally only a 40k player, but I've decided to start playing WFB with the release of 8th edition.
I need help choosing my first army, so I'm calling on experienced players who understand the changes in 8th that can give frank and informed decisions on how it affects the armies I'm considering.

Tomb Kings:
Easily my favourite based on look and fluff. I've always been fond of Egyptian mythology. A fairly easy colour scheme to paint.
I've heard this army is weak, but I'm really hoping it's not. I play Chaos in 40k, so I'm not afraid of playing an underdog army. But I would like having at least a chance of winning.

Warriors of Chaos:
As a Chaos player in 40k, I appreciate the influence of Chaos, but I'd also welcome a change.
I've heard WoC was a very strong army in 7th. How does it fare in 8th?

Dark Elves:
Drow were always a favourite of mine, so DE has a definite attraction.
I haven't done any research yet into DE, so I'm open to opinions.

Thanks for reading. Feel free to give any opinion you might have.

As a Dark Elf player, I'm of course going to recommend them. They are a very flexible force, but require a bit of skill to use effectively due to being squishy, easily-killed elves. Supposedly not as dominating as in 7th ed but still very competitive. Something a bit different from Chaos but still a fun evil army.

Thanks Noble. The irony is that I was going to choose Dark Eldar as my second 40k army since they rumoured to be getting a new codex this fall, but another friend beat me to the punch. This way I can have my Dark Elves AND Chaos for 40k.

Are you looking for an army to just have fun with or be competitive?

WoC is probably the most competitive out of the armies you listed but also has the least variety but they are rock hard in defense and hit devastatingly hard in melee but really lack in shooting and casting.

Tomb Kings are in desperate need of a new codex which is supposed to be forth coming, this being said they seem to be the least competitive of the armies you've listed. They have a lot of varied units and flexibility but fall apart if their general is killed. I agree though I love the models.

Dark Elves are interesting they have a ton of options and many very cool special and rare choices to take and people seem very divided as to where they stand with the new edition. Knowing the codex I would say DE are very strong as well and with a couple items from the magic item section form the new rule book. I think they can be absolutely abused, but I don't have the time or interest to test it.

My thoughts on Tomb Kings: They have quite truly, the most powerfull magic and very probably the best shooting phase through their unique brand of incantations, unfortunately, the 8th edition "nerf VC and Deamons" trend hits TK very hard untill their new book comes out (in october?) as they struggle to break units in combat, and are hampered by abysmal initiative on really, really, overpriced basic troops.

So, to summarize:
Movement, cant march, need magic
Magic, shores up other areas that are lacking and is basically unstoppable
Shooting, with magic, is second only to empire and possibly dwarfs
Combat, really, really, relies on charecters, because skeletons dont kill much usually, good thing they have amazing charecters.

EDIT: they also get the first book designed from the ground up for 8th (unless you count beasts)

Interested and informative analysis Sniper, Thanks! Tombs Kings appeal to me greatly, but nobody can have fun, even an underdog lover like myself, when you get hammered over and over. Perhaps I should concentrate on either DE or WoC for the time being until TK get a new codex.

I will also recomend DE, we may have been hurt in certain ways due to the new rule set but in others we have gotten stronger.

I've heard DE are excellent, but require a very high tactical mind to make them work, something I wouldn't really say I am.

Dark Elves by far. Tomb Kings players need all the help they can get in competitive play atm. That and the second wave Dark Elf is soon, with plastic Cold One Chariots, plastic Harpies, Dark Riders, Black Guard, etc.

Ahh, some time around the end of the year to coincide with the Dark Eldar release maybe?