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So, I've calculated that guard is one of the most expensive armies, dollars vs. Points value wise. This is because it doesn't have many expensive, elite units, which do not take very much plastic for the number of points they give you. How does one field Guard that is money efficient? MEQ, maybe?

You cannot field a "MEQ" Guard. You can field a "MECH" Guard. MEQ, as dakka will explain, is Marines and their Equivalents.

Mech is tanks and transports and stuff.

The simple answer is you cannot. I run guard and they are far more expensive than any race. But hell, you get what you pay for, and thats numbers and firepower.

Australian (only currency I know) it will cost you $410 dollars to get your 50 foot infantry, 100 to get a single valkyrie, and 55 for a single transport. Your going to be spending thousands.

Only answer is play a small points game, or dont play guard.

Hell even crap units like sentinels are expensive.

1) Go heavy on upgrades, especially things like CCS. You don't want to be stupid but feel free to attach a few Advisors or splurge on that Medic.
2) A Vet/Chimera squad will cost you around $60 for 1 troop slot. 2 Squads and PCS will set you back $75. Vet/Vendetta squads will be a whopping $87 bucks each. This means that Vet/Chimera is the cheapest way to fill your minimum requirements for troops.
3) All of the main Heavy Support options cost the same, so using the Demolisher-based tanks will get you the most points/$ followed by the standard LRBT. Both are far cheaper then Vendettas.

If allowed, using non GW models can help. Maybe filling up on plasma sponson executioner tanks can also eat a lot of points

I went one step further and bought metal Mordian models for my vet squads!

Leman Russes are decent point/cost value, considering Canadian dollars they're $60 a piece, and the cheapest variant is 150pts. Tooled up vet squads are somewhat cost effective (though buying special weapons for my Mordians jacks up the price even more!).

Overall, yes, Guard is ****ing expensive, but they're also ****ing awesome!

If you're looking for a cheaper army, try space marines; a Land Raider is 250pts and cost $75. Terminators are 200pts at $60...hell even Tac squads are 170pts at $42.

I just can't seem to get my terms straight today... Good advice, all. Thanks.

Guard aint cheap, no doubt.

A good guard army is even pricier.

However, if you want to save some money order online at www.thewarstore.com and get 20% off and no sales tax. You can also hit up ebay and get some crazy deals, although you don't always get nice models.

You can also scratch build stuff or kit bash if you have the skills to do that.

But yeah, Guard are expensive. But they are great and in this hobby just pretty much assume you're going to sink a lot of money into it.

Look at it in comparison to Golf or Scuba Diving or something and it honestly isn't that bad. It's just starting a new army that stings.

I like to buy small chunks of a new army, play them in small games, paint them, then expand. Not only does that give you a better idea of what you like and what works for you, but it also allows you to spread out the cost.

Either way, IG are a badass army. Fun, characterful and good.

I can't believe noone said "Try feEbay"!
just be careful. i've gotten some really great deals.

Again, if GW models are not required, the great-coat troopers from Wargames Factory seem like a viable alternative.

Valhallan42nd wrote:Again, if GW models are not required, the great-coat troopers from Wargames Factory seem like a viable alternative.

I'll second that idea. they'd make great IG standins.

Well for modelwise I'd argue for pretty much anything with a gun! Warlord models look wonderful. Prussians could be mordian stand ins while they have a growing WW2 section

Also, you've got to take a careful look at what you're getting with "cheap" armies. Generally speaking, lower your points:money cost ratio, the worse your army is. I mean, sure, you could probably save 33% by making a marine army with the CHEAPEST possible configuration, but it's going to get wiped off the field every game...

Really, if you're going to do any army right, you can't do it for as absolute cheap as possible. Doing guard right isn't ALL that much more expensive than doing any other army right