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My son wants to start his 40K Odyssey with Demonhunters-specifically Grey Knights as he likes the models.

I, on the other hand, am unsure if this is wise. For one thing, GK's are getting a codex in the new year, and for another, I'm not sure they are that easy to play. In WHFB he has a nice Lizardman army -unsure what that says about his preferred style of play (perhaps I should point out he doesn't live with me, so I've never watched him play). I was thinking just regular Marines would be a gentler start-but as I would start with Necrons or Tyranids , who am I to judge??

So, Demonhunters-starter or not??

Grey Knights are one of the hardest armies to play. Adding Inquisition to the list doesn't entirely make it that much easier, but at least you don't have to get PAGK.

OP: Why does he want to play?

Does he like the painting and modeling aspect as much as he likes the gameplay? Then go with DH. Hell, go with DH anyway. Don't let the armchair generals on the internet discourage you from playing the army that you want.

Better to get started now, really, than when the new Codex comes out and the demand for GKs goes through the roof.

To summarize, Daemonhunters have beautiful and characterful models with some pretty nifty options and fluff. It's a great army to start by any standard. That said: Is it the over-powered flavor of the month? No.

Son_Of _Deddog wrote:My son wants to start his 40K Odyssey with Demonhunters-specifically Grey Knights as he likes the models.

I, on the other hand, am unsure if this is wise. For one thing, GK's are getting a codex in the new year, and for another, I'm not sure they are that easy to play. In WHFB he has a nice Lizardman army -unsure what that says about his preferred style of play (perhaps I should point out he doesn't live with me, so I've never watched him play). I was thinking just regular Marines would be a gentler start-but as I would start with Necrons or Tyranids , who am I to judge??

If this is the case, I'd suggest saying "Well, there's supposed to be a new Codex for the Grey Knights coming out soon. Can you wait a little bit of time to start up the army, for the release of the plastic kits?". Important thing is not to flatout say "No", just bring up the two key facts of "plastic kits" and "a new Codex".

So, Demonhunters-starter or not??

As it stands currently? No, it's not really a good "starter" army. But if he's really just interested in the painting/modeling aspect...well, it's not even good for that, with the line-up being entirely metal.

I don't want to say "no"-he IS 15 after all!!

He is seduced by the models. I have to say, I think they are fantastic-as are the Witch Hunters IMO- and so I am pretty sure he wants them for how they look.

I never thought of it like that...see, here I am worrying about how they play as an army, when really, I guess he could just want to paint some figures that look cool.

I'm thinking now of getting him the Boxed set so we can play together when he comes over, then some GK figs for him to paint-I can download the current codex for free from GW-and THEN, when new codex comes out, go for it.

Sounds like a plan to me...
Thanks

I certainly have had far more victories with other armies than my daemon hunters but I agree that if he likes the painting and modelling aspect they are a great army to go for. Sure they are all metal just now but the high points cost means you don't need many. When the plastics do come out I don't suppose they will be an awful lot less in cost financially. The problem I would be wary of is that I fear the new plastics will not sit well along side the old metals and when he comes to expand the army he might find himself stuck with getting new figures that look weird with the old ones or scouring e-bay for the stuff he needs. It might be better to wait.

Son_Of _Deddog wrote:I don't want to say "no"-he IS 15 after all!!

He is seduced by the models. I have to say, I think they are fantastic-as are the Witch Hunters IMO- and so I am pretty sure he wants them for how they look.

I never thought of it like that...see, here I am worrying about how they play as an army, when really, I guess he could just want to paint some figures that look cool.

I'm thinking now of getting him the Boxed set so we can play together when he comes over, then some GK figs for him to paint-I can download the current codex for free from GW-and THEN, when new codex comes out, go for it.

Sounds like a plan to me...
Thanks

That's the way to do it!

And what's more, as it stands now? There is a few things you can get him that aren't metal but would be big centerpieces for the army once he gets it all started up with the new Codex. Forge World, for example, sells a really nice Grey Knights Mk. IV Dreadnought that would be a good project for the two of you to work on together(if either of you hasn't worked with resin that is).

It's always nice to see parents and their kids getting into the hobby. Kudos!

I generally choose my armies for the models, and try to build interesting armies.
Started a Witch Hunter force because of the Penetent Engine.
I think playing games is about having fun, enjoying it and letting the game become its own story (something I've found quite easy with GK)
What GW seem to be doing is slowly increasing the sizee of the models, my lovely modelled and painted space marine force commander is now considerably shorter than his veterans.
Great start point would be the center piece models. Have a land raider crusader and a psycannon armed FW Dread.