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I love the fantasy orcs, but i already have about 7 40k armies. Plus, i would need to get starter stuff...
So, should i get into fantasy, or resist the urge to buy?

can alsways use more crack!

Look at the prices on the website- fantasy orcs are really, really expensive.
If you do get into it, I recommend looking at Mantic's Orc range, which is coming out soon. Roughly half the price of GW's orcs, the same size, and reasonably close in look with decent detail.
http://www.manticgames.com/Shop-Home/Orcs.html

Look to third party as much as you can.

Da Boss wrote:Look at the prices on the website- fantasy orcs are really, really expensive.
If you do get into it, I recommend looking at Mantic's Orc range, which is coming out soon. Roughly half the price of GW's orcs, the same size, and reasonably close in look with decent detail.
http://www.manticgames.com/Shop-Home/Orcs.html

Look to third party as much as you can.

well, the main point of getting into fantasy is the awesomeness that is the orc miniatures range, so that may not be the way to go. I am pretty sure that i can afford it, but i'm wondering if i want to go through with this or not, as it is sort of a big decision. i will have to see if i'm still this interested next week

I don't think fantasy is significantly more expensive than 40K, to be honest. And from my perspective, it is a much more "complete" game in many ways than 40K in terms of strategy, balance, and depth.

Consider this: a 2000 point space marine army would set you back (at GW prices) -

Roughly $200 for three tactical squads and either rhinos or drop pods
Roughly $100 for a terminator squad and a dreadnaught
Roughly $60 for fast attack, be it two lands speeders or assault troops
Roughly $100 for some form of heavy support - let's say in this case a land raider to transport the terminators and a vindicator because you have a bulldozer fetish
Tack on $40 for HQ and some random bits and bobs

I built this without checking my Marine codex, but I figure I'm probably in the 2000 - 2250 points range for around $500 cash.

Now, what can $500 get for you in fantasy?

Just taking the Empire at random -

1 badass general and BSB - $25
2 wizards - $25
3 blocks of 20 state troops - $150
3 detachments of 10 handgunners - $75
3 detachments of 10 halberdiers - $75
8 knights - $35
2 cannons - $50
1 Helblaster - $25

Again, I kind of rattled those off the top of my head, but I'm willing to bet that'll end up at roughly the same points cost for roughly the same cash outlay.

Horde armies, like orcs, are a lot like their 40K counterparts as well. The only difference in WHFB is that the orcs don't have nearly as many hefty point sinks as other races do. If you're strapped for cash, you can usually drop a nice fat expensive war machine down to beef up your army. With orcs (both fantasy and 40K), skaven, and beastmen I don't think you really have that much of an option.

But if you stay away from goblins, you can get by OK. The Boyz are about the same cost per model as empire, but you'll have to see how the doom divers, spear chukkas, and the like are going to fit in. personally, I recommend chariots and boar boyz to eat up your points allotment.

If there are 40K armies you don't play any longer (you DO have 7), you can always hit the swap shop up for an IoB rule book and some starter orcs in exchange for something spacey. I've still got a small lot of orcs up there that nobody's seemed interested in. If you're in the Bucks County area, shoot me a PM and we can even meet up in Doylestown so you can try the game out first hand.

I am close to 2200 points of Skaven buying deals from people selling, plus IoB sets whenever I see people trading 'em. Total spent so far is like $165. Long story short, keep your eyes open for deals, spot the good stuff at the brick and mortar, and you can build a nice Ye Olde Fantasie force that won't put you in abject poverty.

If you're really concerned about spending (who isn't? But I mean more than the average bear) and want to buy new models, you can field a 2000 point ogre or dwarf army (weird right?) for ~$200

Most armies for fantasy or 40k run between $5-600 retail.

It's easy to get 30% off retail online, and sometimes even better from bartertown, here or ebay.

I put a $650 space marine army together for $350 2 years ago by using these methods.

Armies aren't cheap, but compared to things like video games, you(or at least I) end up spending less money and keep a product with infinite replay value.

$60 for a game I'll play for a month or a unit on the table for the next 5-10 years?

As a long time 40k player myself, I have to say I've had a lot more fun with Fantasy lately.

There are more varied opponents, better balance among army books, fantastic miniature variety and really just a better feel to the game I think. Definitely give it a try!

Strelka, Skaven have lots of warmachines to bump the points:cash ratio. They also have IoB to make everything a lot cheaper.

streamdragon wrote:As a long time 40k player myself, I have to say I've had a lot more fun with Fantasy lately.

Me too, altho i'm not sure if i am able to quilify for the "long time" portion with only a couple of years behind my back.

streamdragon wrote:There are more varied opponents, better balance among army books, fantastic miniature variety and really just a better feel to the game I think. Definitely give it a try!

Don't forget we get our FAQs updated more often

Look for deals.


if you want to play Orcs you will probably find some nice deals soon after the army book is released.

there are always a few people that won't like how the new book changed things and will dump their army off at a discount.



to start off new, Ogres, Lizardmen and Dwarves are probably the cheapest to start.

the OK battalion box is the best deal GW offers and 2 boxs plus a couple of characters will give you a 2k army with change easily enough.

the Lizardmen battalion is a good deal too.

not too sure about dwarves, but they are an elite force(elite means less models)

My warhammer habit is starting to eat into the budget for my crack habit. :(

Thats ok, Plasticrack is better for you and it's also legal

Grey Templar wrote:Thats ok, Plasticrack is better for you and it's also legal

Are you certain, i mean you've dealt with superglue fumes right?

HoverBoy wrote:

Grey Templar wrote:Thats ok, Plasticrack is better for you and it's also legal

Are you certain, i mean you've dealt with superglue fumes right?

it's like bad liquor. it burns.

$121 for 102 beautiful mantic orc warriors, 102 bases, and a carrying case is hard to beat. You realize that is $1.02 a model, right?

Can't use non-GW in most tourneys or GW stores. You can use rocks as proxies. And rocks are free!!!! And you can paint little orcy faces on them.

Well, before i bought the rulebook and a warboss, i had a converted *read as "cheap"* black orc big boss, 10 orcs, about 10 night goblins, 5 squig hoppers, and three trolls in a rock band (called "Stink 182). Yes, these numbers include "unit fillers". Now, i have a warboss! Also, one night gobbo is a shaman. I am getting an iob rulebook off of ebay with old birthday money, and because i'm 16, i have a job as an art aide at my school for 1 period a day, so i should not have much trouble building an army from here. Thanks for the support!

Personally, I have never liked the look of GW Orcs, so I'd resist, but I am speaking only for me.