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Im about to finally start and finish a WarHammer Fantasy Army. I've narrowed it down to four armies I am particularly fond of, and for the life of me, I cannot decide on one. I want to start off this plog as my 100th poost, so if I stop responding after 2 replies, its because I've started the plog, and will be back here for lucky number 101.

So far, the choices are:


Warriors of Chaos

Pros: Im a huge Chaos junkie. I love chaos, I love the models, the fluff, the everything, Id eagerly build up a Chaos Horde of Tzeentch to lead me to war. The units can balance hard hitting with huge numbers and the warriors are nothing short of dynamite.

Cons: Im given to understand that mono god armies are not in vogue or are particularly good. The models also do not have very great variety, nor can I also seem to find an army build I particularly like. The clinching flaw for this army is that EVERYONE in my area plays Chaos, and I am loathe to play an overdone army. Its not enough to stop me, but a consideration point.

Skaven

Pros: This is a fun army. There is more variety than you can shake a stick at, fun arcane technology, and some downright beautiful models to boot. This army has character and personality and the Island of Blood Box is a great starting point.

Cons: The biggest con is more of a con with me than the army, but I have notoriously bad Army ADD, so keeping myself committed through hundreds of models will be tricky. Also, the unreliability of the weapons is a drawback to consider, and the fact that though I love Rat Ogresm I despise the GW kit(IoB notwithstanding). Again, this is probably the most popular army at my local GW, so being "just another skaven player" would get my knickers in such a twist.

Empire

Pros: This is another army that is simply spoiled for choice. There is no wrong or right way to build an Empire army, I absolutely love Greatswords, and I am a huge fan of artillery of all shapes and sizes. I love shooty armies, this is something I found appealing about Skaven. The numbers here are formidable as well.

Cons: The low toughness and weak armour makes these models far squshier than I like for such an elite army. I also am not fond of the potential model count and the commoness of the army.

Orcs and Goblins

Pros: As I've said before, I like characterful armies. And this army has that in spades. Id love to watch a horde of Gobboz and Orks charging across the field of battle to crump some 'eadz. I love these guys, and they're more uncommon than most armies.

Cons: Numbers to handle, also, the model range is pretty hit or miss with me. And Ani-freaking-mosity. I HATE this rule. Not only do I hate this, I hate it enough to stop me from playing potentially. I hate carefullt maneuvering my army into position only to have my entire carefully laid plan undone by two gitz foitin ova a sausage.

What do you guys think?

I would go with Warriors of Chaos. It sounds like you really like them and they can potentially have a low model count to get you through your Army ADD (I know the feeling ). I believe that a mono list can be plenty competitive with Slanesh being the least likely to compete. If you get tired of all the same models, maybe you can try using some empire or bretonnian models and adding your chaos conversions to it. That is the nice thing with Chaos.

I would agree with 'boogetman' and go with the WOC. They are really tough and, in my opinion, aren't used enough in some areas. (1 player at my FLGS)

Personally, I play Doc and HE, but out of those if it was going to only be one army it would be empire. They don't get kicked to the curb when meta changes due to what ever. They just go back and get another build that works for them. By far the most flexible army in the game.

I always recommend Empire to new fantasy players. They are rather straightforward when designing the lists, they are competitive in all phases, and can pull off most tactics fairly well.

Chaos lacks shooting and elite armies require more finesse to win with. Horde armies such as skaven and O&G I never recommend to new players due to model count and cost.
Horde tactics are another thing entirely, and the lists are more about the army performing as a whole rather than as separate parts.

The Empire has remained a viable tier 2 army for 10 years now. They aren't the BEST waac army, but they aren't meant to be. They are also imo the most balanced in cost and variety of units.

I would also probably recommend Empire if you like the models- they never get left waiting for an update, and they have at least one of every type of unit- sometimes more than one of each! They also get easy access to all spell lores, which is lots of fun, and they are flexible.
You've got cheap infantry, elite infantry, fast cav, heavy cav, skirmishers, war machines, missile troops, fighty lords, unique units, magic lords and all the rest.

Thanks for all of the feedback guys.

Allright, well I've definitely narrowed Orcs and Goblins out of the equation. That leaves me with Skaven, Empire and Warriors.

Im starting to become a little torn on the WoC. I love their models, fluff and hitting power and all, but I also really love shooty armies, and (being a huge fan of the total war games) find a little more draw in tactically diverse armies, so I can set up complex charges and counter charges supported by a hail of artillery.

Also, of the three, I find I have the least interest in The Empire at the moment. I do love the list, but for some reason the models fail to "get me" as much as the others do, and if Im going to be painting an arse load of models, that's important.

As for the Skaven, I considered starting them up a while ago, but other things stole that momentum, and with the downright beautiful models they have now, the little rat boys are hard contenders.

Ill do some long meditation on this matter today, and hopefully have my first regiment bought by sunday. Thanks again for all the advice guys!

And before I go

@Da Boss: Its quite ironic that someone with your name is steering me onto Empire

Oh hey man, tell me about it. I have what, 5000 points of Orcs and Gobbos? I love the look, I love the theme, I love the fluff. But I haaaate the rules. Animosity sucks the fun out of playing Orcs and Goblins for me, because like you, I enjoy thinking and playing tactically, and become frustrated when the dice take my choices away from me through no fault of mine. I very rarely play a game with Orcs and Gobbos anymore. I will say, they are supposed to be getting a new book soon enough, but I am in no way confident that GW would get rid of or tone down Animosity. I think many O&G players would rebel at the thought, anyway. (I've been told I'm not a "real" O&G player for not liking the rule.)

Skaven are gorgeous, and IOB does provide cheap access to their core units. I was really tempted by them for a while, but decided I didn't need another horde of detailed guys to paint. I'd recommend you go with the army that you like the look and feel of, because it's the best way to get stuff painted. I'm still painting Orcs and Gobbos because I love the army look and feel, even though I never play with them.
I have started WoC as well, though they are very much a side project. I think mono-tzeentch might be the strongest build, but I also think that many people would find it a bit frustrating to fight (all those Wards). Tzeentch/Khorne is a pretty common and effective combo. (Which I am going for).
Do you like Marauders? Apart from the mounted ones, I can't stand them.

I would have recommended O+G myself. They have a new book comming out in March, and so far their 7th ed book is VERY strong in 8th. Animosity is mitigatable with a few very cheap combat characters (Oh no! Don't make me take more combat!) If you can be patient, wait to see how the new book grabs you. Animosity is far from a big deal, you just have to make it work for you.

@Da Boss: I like the Marauders personally. I liked them enough to use them as my Blood Bowl Norse. I think if I used them, its be an all or nothing affair, and if I was mono-tzeentch, id give them more of a cultist look. Maybe I'll join you on Team Greenskin once I have a full army and pursue Da Boyz as a side projekt.

@Nagashek: I think I'll grab some Skaven now, maybe a regiment a month to start off with and if the O&G book grabs me, I have a copy of skull pass(I am obsessed with Chaos Dwarfs but couldn't do the conversions so they lay fallow right now) So Id have a good core for an Orc army as well. And if I don't like it, no harm, no foul, Ill keep trucking with Skaven. Thanks for the heads up though. And hints as to what's going into the new book?

EDIT:
This is my last post until lucky number 100 when I start the army blog. Sorry guys

I'd go themed mono - what you do is refluff the units... for my planned khorne army I was goign to take daemonettes w/ weapons as my 'possessed' refluffed to 'handmaidens of khorne' (or what witch elves aspire to be!)

Ironguts were chaos Ogres and so on..

Low model count is good.

HOWEVER : for large number armies (what GW seem to be pushing towwards with hordes and its not bad for sales either!) get some montana gold spray in your colour, and use army painter quickshade. (the shade is good... their sprays not so good!)

I think the OP should go with dwarfs. They have the artillery he likes. They have the tough armored warriors. They have the wild and crazy slayers. I think it would fit his needs.

Maybe he dosen't like the fluff or looks.
Lets face it GW dwarves are 90% beard, some people don't feel like fielding angry little fuzzballs.

HoverBoy wrote:angry little fuzzballs.

I ROFL'd.

Platuan4th wrote:

HoverBoy wrote:angry little fuzzballs.

A hilarious counts as army that'd be!

Skaven can play well with fairly low model counts.
If you're into special characters, Queek in a unit with the banner of discipline gives you a base LD9 general.
A single rank is Ld10.

That lets you run some small units of storm vermin for core (like 4 blocks of 15), with weapon teams, and then blow the rest of your points on Rat Ogres and rares.

It wouldn't be tough to have a skaven army with ~90 or so models; which is pretty "Elite" for skaven, and very fitting for a Queek led force. No slaves or clan rats, just the best of the best.

-Matt

I have both an Empire and Chaos force of Nurgle and even though Empire is my main army it sounds like you would enjoy a mono Chaos force more. Don't concern yourself with what is in vogue, it's you that has to overcome your ADD and get through all of those minis. Empire would really be rough on you...I have the same problem myself and much of my force is unpainted as a result. Also, a Chaos army devoted to a single god can definitely be competitive. In the end though it's a game and about having fun so do what appeals to you most. Take it as a challenge if you like to prove those wrong who speak against the might of your chosen Chaos god.