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If you were the person responsible for making the Warhammer 40000 starter set, what would you put in it?

Ghazgkull and Yarrick might be a bit high profile to put into a Starter set. I would switch them out for a generic IG Commissar (or Platoon) and Ork Warboss in Mega Armour. Vehicles, likewise, shouldnt be much bigger than bikes or small walkers (Killa Kanz). The amount of plastic that goes into a Battle Wagon and three Chimeras would drive the set's cost through the roof, as well as being very boring to have 3 of the exact same Chimera with no other options. Personally for Armageddon (I like the idea, just not quite the list) I would put in:

Steel Legion:
- Command Squad
- 2 Infantry Platoons
- 1 Armored Sentinel

Orks:
- Ork Warboss in Mega Armour
- 5 Nobz with normal weapons (but arms are interchangable with current Nobz kit)
- 30 Boyz with Sluggas and CHoppas, with 3 Big Shootas per 10 boyz.

This would be a good starting point for their respective armies.

Two hordeish armies is a bad idea.

I think it's best do 1 horde one elite. (granted genestealers didn't help.)

I was going to put down my idea for a War for Armageddon starter set, but I don't feasibly see how they could put in two Chimeras in one kit. Figure something closer to one platoon (two infantry, one command squad, possibly heavy weapons squad), a Commissar lord, and an armored sentinel or two. Orks would largely have what they have in Black Reach, but maybe a mega armored warboss instead.

Some historical battle between Imperial Guard and Tyranids. I'd try and give either side a vehicle and a MC.

*Sweeps SMs under the rug*

DKK VS Necrons like the Dead Men Walking book. It must happen!

or something out of the Damocles Crusade for a change of pace. Tau VS Orks or a SM chapter would also be good.

What about eldar vs IG? I don't know much about eldar, but they are an elite army, and certainly are cool looking. A good contrast to Imperial Guard.

Plastic Wraithguards would definately make me buy an Eldar VS anything starter set.

Well, Since it is a starter set, I would try to pack in as many elements of the game as possible. I would also try to use different forces to the current set, so vanilla SM and Orks are out. I would then try to choose armies that are fairly Iconic, yet do not require huge arrays of special rules to play. This eliminates Tyranids, Inquisition, Necrons and Demons.

So I am left with:
Imperial Guard
Eldar
Varient Marine Dex's
Dark Eldar
Chaos Marines
Tau

Eldar and Dark Eldar are rather unforgiving, so they are out. This leaves only Chaos Marines as the Villain Race, and because I do not want to have two power-armoured forces, I may eliminate marine varients. This leaves Tau and Guard as the potential protagonists. I choose Guard, because they are "army-men", which adds some sympathetic apeal.

Now I have to decide what units to include, keeping in mind the goal of maximizing variety and exposure. Large Vehicles are unfeasable, as they take up to much space, reducing the number of other units drastically. After a bit of consideration, I settle on the following list:

Chaos Marines:
Demon Prince of Tzeentch: adds both a monster and a Psyker to the box.
Chaos Marine Squad (10): for basic infantry
Raptor Squad (5): add in jump Infantry+deepstrike
Biker Squad (3): Add in bikes

Imperial Guard:
Lord Commissar
Infantry Platoon: adding an array of Heavy weapons and Infantry
-Platoon Command Squad(5)
-Infantry Squad(10)x2
-Heavy Weapons Squad (3)
Sentinal with Multilaser: Adds in a vehicle to the set, and allows for scout/outflank
Rough Riders (5): Add in some cavalry

So, the only unit types that have been missed are Jetbikes, transports, and other vehicles. Both armies are quite radically different in style, and both are fairly good starting forces.

Tyranids are still pretty straightforward to play, as well as being the iconic "Zerg of 40k" (yes I know the Zergs came from them. Still, that's how the general public sees it anyways). DE and Eldar might be a bit too much. The former has alot more special rules than Tyranids while the latter has a few unit combinations that might make it hard for beginners. Marines in general should be outed imo, give the other factions a chance.

MechaEmperor7000 wrote:Plastic Wraithguards would definately make me buy an Eldar VS anything starter set.

And this is one of the major issues with wishlisting and starter sets.

Their goal isn't to make current players buy the starter boxes to get one specific unit and then sell off everything else.

Their goal is to have a..y'know, starter set. They want you to be introduced to the various oddities of the rules

There's a big reason why Marines are always involved(and always will be. Sorry, but it's pretty much a fact that you're going to see Marines of some flavor involved. Likely, you'll never see Chaos Marines vs whatever in a box but you might at some point). That reason simply is that they've got an example of pretty much every unit type out there.

As much as I dislike that fact, I would have to agree. However Fantasy had limited success with their starter sets, which routinely change with each edition.

Because Fantasy really doesn't have any one iconic race like the Astartes.

The closest they've got is the Empire or High Elves.

I think that the Chaos Space Marines .vs. Imperial Guard would be a good starter type set.

Chaos:
Terminator lord
Demon Prince
1 squad of regular marines
1 group of Khorne berzerkers
1 group of Plague marines (in plastic!)

IG:
Lord Commisar
30 regular guardsmen
2 Heavy weapons team
1 Leman Russ, or basilisk

Gives a bit of all the basic situations to learn for new players

Guard are pretty much never going to happen, especially any build with any form of tank.

A Sentinel and some Stormtroopers? Maybe.
Ogryns? More likely.

But tanks are definitely out.

Too bad they got rid of promotions. I remember back when I started that if you got certain items (like a battle force, a few blisters and the core hardback rulebook) you got a discount on the items as a "starter force". While the current Set is better value than what you paid for, the older Battle for Macragg might have been a better format. In giving the player one or two troop choices, but not really any semblance of an army, it really helps to encourage them to go explore other possibilites. Giving them a full Ork and SM army pretty much commits them to these two forces, since who'd want to spend another 100 or so on more models when you've already gotten a good army in your hands?

Kanluen wrote:Guard are pretty much never going to happen, especially any build with any form of tank.

A Sentinel and some Stormtroopers? Maybe.
Ogryns? More likely.

But tanks are definitely out.

Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

Personaly I'd like to see an IG vs Nidz set.

Three Chimeras and a Battlewagon in the starter set?

No, I don't see that happening.

FITZZ wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:Guard are pretty much never going to happen, especially any build with any form of tank.

A Sentinel and some Stormtroopers? Maybe.
Ogryns? More likely.

But tanks are definitely out.

Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

Personally I'd like to see an IG vs Nidz set.

I like to function as a sort of ceiling fan to the balloons carrying the hopes and dreams of everyone in these wishlisting threads.

Plus, it gives me something to do while I put the finishing touches on my own idea for starter sets.

Kanluwen wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Kanluen wrote:Guard are pretty much never going to happen, especially any build with any form of tank.

A Sentinel and some Stormtroopers? Maybe.
Ogryns? More likely.

But tanks are definitely out.

Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

Personally I'd like to see an IG vs Nidz set.

I like to function as a sort of ceiling fan to the balloons carrying the hopes and dreams of everyone in these wishlisting threads.

Plus, it gives me something to do while I put the finishing touches on my own idea for starter sets.

So I've noticed.
Conversely,what are your own ideas for a starter set?

Battle for .............. (Whatever the name would be)

Space Marines (Sorry, but they're easy to learn):
1x Chaplain (100 Points)
10x Tactical Marines w/ ML and Flamer (170 Points)
5x Scouts w/ CCW (75 Points)
1x Rhino w/ Storm Bolter (40 Points)
5x Assault Marines (100 Points)
Total for Space Marines = 485 Points

Tau Empire
1x Crisis Suit Shas'el w/ PR and MP, Targeting Array (92 Points)
12x Fire Warriors (120 Points)
10x Kroot Carnivores (80 Points)
1x Piranha Skimmer (60 Points)
3x Stealth Suits (90 Points)
Total for Tau Empire = 442 Points

All of the models would be unique to the set and come like the AOBR models that are easier to put together.

FITZZ wrote:
Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

He's doing what I'm doing and figuring it out to be realistic - some of the ideas here would work, while some (like the post a few above mine which is basically two battleforces) probably would not. Oh, in a perfect world I would get half an armored company for $90 but I don't want to wishlist too hard here!

FITZZ wrote:

Kanluwen wrote:

FITZZ wrote:

Kanluen wrote:Guard are pretty much never going to happen, especially any build with any form of tank.

A Sentinel and some Stormtroopers? Maybe.
Ogryns? More likely.

But tanks are definitely out.

Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

Personally I'd like to see an IG vs Nidz set.

I like to function as a sort of ceiling fan to the balloons carrying the hopes and dreams of everyone in these wishlisting threads.

Plus, it gives me something to do while I put the finishing touches on my own idea for starter sets.

So I've noticed.
Conversely,what are your own ideas for a starter set?

Well, it would require a major reshuffling of GW ideas/behavior.
But...
Think of the old D&D "Adventure Modules".
Each starter set would be a self-contained "campaign"(namely: the preliminary stages before an actual pivotal moment in 40k/Fantasy lore. Like "The Nimbosan Infiltration" details the Raven Guard's preliminary efforts to sabotage and disrupt the Tau Empire's acquisition of Nimbosa).

But it doesn't just end there. Oh no. The starter sets each detail a series of 'historical' battles, and use the forces that are included within the box.
Going back to "The Nimbosan Infiltration" as an example, we'd see something like:

Raven Guard: 1x Shadow-Captain Matthias(Scout armor equipped Captain armed with a sniper rifle).
10x 'Shadowstalkers'(Scouts with Sniper Rifles).
1x Shadow-Captain Korvydae and 10x 'Shadow Talons'(Tactical Marines equipped with a Heavy Bolter and Meltagun).

Brightsword's Cadre: 1x Commander 'Brightsword' (XV-8 Crisis Suit equipped commander, plasma rifle and missile pod)
2x XV-8 Crisis Suits equipped like Brightsword, and given as a bodyguard.
1x Shas'ui 'Dawnstrike'(Pathfinder equipped with an experimental rail rifle) and 7x Pathfinders armed with Pulse Carbines.

Now, it's a relatively low model count yes.
But that's a good thing, since it's meant to be the size of(at best) a vehicle like the Leman Russ or Devilfish box.
Add in some terrain like a wrecked Stealth Suit that the Tau and Raven Guard are trying to recover due to information contained within, a few Tau styled walls, etc and you get a neat little thing.

And what's more? If done properly, it introduces you to a specific faction in such a way that it doesn't just cram that faction down your throat. Since neither force is really a 'legal' force, it comes down to what grabs your attention and your interest--not simply "the cheapest way to play".

Sisters of Battle vs. Biel Tan Eldar.

Canoness
5 Celestians
2*10 Battle Sisters
10 Seraphim
Repressor

Autarch
10 Howling Banshees
2*10 Dire Avengers
Wave Serpent

~650 points per side.

Squats vs. Slann

/ducks

Brother SRM wrote:

FITZZ wrote:
Psst...Kan,note the tittle on the thread mate...it's "If you made the starter set"..not "What would probably go in a new starter set",I agree with your observations mind you...there will never be a starter set that doesn't include SM...ever,but what the heck...let's just "bluesky" here.

He's doing what I'm doing and figuring it out to be realistic - some of the ideas here would work, while some (like the post a few above mine which is basically two battleforces) probably would not. Oh, in a perfect world I would get half an armored company for $90 but I don't want to wishlist too hard here!

This. A lot of people in this thread seem to be less into designing a starter set, and more into designing an expansion pack for two. I just have to laugh whenever someone suggusts putting in a tank. Although a starter definately needs 1-2 vehicles, taks would just be too big to put in one. Looking at Black Reach/Island of Blood, A starter will contain maybe 3 sprues of models. A tank will probably take up one by itself, and even then, quality will suffer.

Viable Vehicles:
Warbuggy
Vyper
Piranha
Landspeeder
Sentinal
Dreadnaught
etc.

All these vehicles would have 2 or 3 main pieces, plus a couple small ones for feet, thrusters, and crew.

For Example, the Sentinel

Cabin Front
Cabin Rear
2x Legs
Multilaser
2x Feet
Driver

Or the Warbuggy

Body
Undercarriage
4x Tires
Driver
Gun
Gunner

Both these involve only slightly more parts than the Black Reach Dreadnaught, and these pieces are small.

I should also add that, if it were me, I would do one of each of the units contained within as something nice and uniquely available to that box.

Like the Shadowstalkers and Shadow-Captain Matthias would, rather than the standard Scout-Snipers which have the NVGs pulled down over their eyes and the cloaks just hung about them, have the hoods of their cloaks pulled up fully about their heads and have Raven Guard insignia on their aimed sniper rifles(which would be set up just like the standard Scout-Sniper kit) or Dawnstrike and his Pathfinders would have camo cloaks hung about their frames and look as though they're securing the interior of a building rather than the generic 'action!' pose of the standard ones.

Tau vs Chaos Space Marines

Good vs Evil. Horde(ish) vs Elite. Shooting vs Assault. And you've got some Power Armour in there so the 12 year olds will be happy.

decrease the price to 50 dollars again and I will be happy. Damn it GW!
Nonultramarines vs an Alien Race.