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I'm a warmachine player but i would like to get into 40k, but because the game is so large its hard to know where to start. I was wondering if anyone had any resources to point me in the right direction to make informed choices. If you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know. I kinda want to play Demonhunters or witchhunters. I think they look like fun versions or space marines. Also if this is in the wrong area let me know.

Welcome!

I'd first like to point out that Daemonhunters are getting a new codex as we speak. In fact, the preview copies will be hitting game stores this weekend. They will be called Grey Hunters and should be getting some fancy new figures.

As for what to play and how to decide, that's a bit tougher. Some people say "Start with Space Marines. They're more forgiving." While thay may be true, some people enjoy the game play that the other races offer.

I would poke around the GW site and look at the armies.

Click me!

I'd jot down some armies that would be fun to paint. Then, come back here and ask more specific questions about the armies you're interested in.

I picked my first and second armies (Black Templar and Orks) because I felt they looked cool and I'd enjoy painting them. You might also read some threads here about "Most Competitive" or 'Best Tournament Armies' is that's your choice.

What are you looking for? Close Combat? Shooty? Balance of these two?

Welcome to Dakka,

Kronk speaks the truth. Poke around on the site and see what looks interesting. Once you have done that we are probably a little better to suite you.

As Kronk said, the Gray Knights are about to be re-upped and if that interests you I would wait for their release.

stopping by your local Batle Bunker is never a bad idea. I hope their is one in your area.

Yes, 40k is big, so it's usually best if you have an idea of something that you want, and then try and find an army that matches that most. Are you a big mini painter with a certain aesthetic? Do you want to go to lots of big tournaments? Are you looking for an army on a budget? Is there a certain play style you prefer?

Having a better idea of what you're looking for will help us narrow down your options to something more manageable.

I would like a balance between close and ranged combat. I love the models of the Demonhunters (Grey Hunters) I also like the Eldar. I really want to know how to start building an army and an army list? Demonhunters don't have a starter set so is there any where that would have a good starter list for them, or do i really need to wait for the new book to come out? Does anyone know when they are coming out?

All armies can do a balance of ranged and close combat, except for tau, which can only do ranged combat.

Building an army list comprises of choosing your army, buying the codex, reading your codex all the way through, reading your codex all the way through again, reading your codex all the way through a third time, and then going to the internet for some examples of the kinds of lists that do certain things well.

As for the new demonhunter's codex, some time later this year.

Early April is my best guess for when Grey Knights are coming out. They don't have a starter set (Battleforce Set), yet. I'd imagine that one would follow.

I would say that you should wait for them to come out. There are supposed to be major changes to the army. Current lists would no longer be legal.

You'll need the codex to build the army list, either way. Since a brand new one is coming out in about a month, purchasing the old one would be very silly.

Eldar are also a fine choice as I have a friend that plays them. They are not great in close combat, though. Certain squads do well, but in general Eldar are fairly fragile.

As I've only played against them, I'd let others give you their personal experience running them.

I love to paint and have been for a few years and i'm hoping to start modding and sculpting soon. I am more of a casual player but i would like to get more into the tournaments. I am budget isn't much of an issue because i plan on growing this slowly. I am currently in grad school so i don't have a lot of time to play right now, but I'm going to be done this summer and I'm hoping to play a lot more. I am currently in DC and there are some shops, but when i start playing I will be in Portland Or. and we do not have a GW store, just friendly local gaming stores.

The best thing for a new player, and I might add a really good deal for all that you get, is the Assault on Black Reach starter set. Contained within this kit is enough figures to field a good sized space marine and orks army. This is nice because you will get to experience both different styles of gameplay; Orks who are a horde army and field a bunch of models, or space marines who have really good stats and their play style is a bit more strategic. Also the kit includes dice, templates, and the 40k rulebook. A great buy for under $100. After that, you can decide pretty much which way to go or what army you want to expand on. Best of Luck!

Thanks Element206. That might be a good idea.

(Grey Knights, not Gray Hunters >.> butyeah)

Marines aren't a bad way to go. If you pick up the Assault on Black Reach box, that gives you about $150 worth of Marines models to start with, plus a miniature rulebook that has all the same rules as the $50 hardcover book. (I ended up getting the hardcover one anyway, because I'm a dork.) If you're smart and find someone who wants to play Orks (the other faction in the box), you both buy a box each and just trade each other for the models you won't need. Bam -- you now have two HQ units, two squads of ten Marines, a squad of ten Terminators, and two Dreadnoughts. Not bad. If you can't find someone right away who wants to trade them, keep them around until you can. It'll happen eventually.

(For the templates you get, scratch your initials or some kind of uniquely-identifying mark into them so they don't get disappeared. It's not that people steal them, it's that EVERYONE HAS THEM and it can get confusing as to whose templates are whose. Same with the tape measure you should go out and buy if you don't already have one.)

From there, you can play a few games starting out with just the regular Space Marine rules, to get a feel for the game. Once the new GK book comes out (if that's how you want to play) you'll be in a good spot to start collecting GK figures. They usually release new models after a codex release anyway, so you'll have the newest shiny stuff.

I highly recommend going out and getting your codex spiral-bound. You can do this at just about any office-supply store like Staples. I spiral-bound my Space Marine and Dark Angels codexes together and it cost me about $3. It is so worth it to be able to lay the book flat.

March 28th is when Grey Knights are due out.

I agree with looking at the models from the GW site. Also check out youtube and watch some battle reports or go to your local flgs. Nothing beats seeing different armies in action when trying to decide on how to play. The more information you take in, the more informed your decision.

My first army was dark eldar back in 3rd. Then I moved on to Salamanders (armegedon codex). Sold my dark eldar. Next was sisters of battle in the 3rd bbb. Then wanted to recollect my dark eldar, 4th edition. Started Crimson Fists. And now have collect aobr orks and contimplating a Korne chaos force. I really wish all the luck to ya and hope you find that one true love army. Some of us just wander from one to another..

I come from Privateer Press games which are not as old as GW but seem to be so much easier to get into. I wish GW would have more resources on their own site about selecting armies and building your first list. Seems that that would help them grow their game. I wonder with PP coming up in the ranks will GW change how players get in to their game?

Candroth wrote:

I highly recommend going out and getting your codex spiral-bound. You can do this at just about any office-supply store like Staples. I spiral-bound my Space Marine and Dark Angels codexes together and it cost me about $3. It is so worth it to be able to lay the book flat.

Damn, good idea!

Candroth wrote:(Grey Knights, not Gray Hunters >.> butyeah)

Marines aren't a bad way to go. If you pick up the Assault on Black Reach box, that gives you about $150 worth of Marines models to start with, plus a miniature rulebook that has all the same rules as the $50 hardcover book. (I ended up getting the hardcover one anyway, because I'm a dork.) If you're smart and find someone who wants to play Orks (the other faction in the box), you both buy a box each and just trade each other for the models you won't need. Bam -- you now have two HQ units, two squads of ten Marines, a squad of ten Terminators, and two Dreadnoughts. Not bad. If you can't find someone right away who wants to trade them, keep them around until you can. It'll happen eventually.

(For the templates you get, scratch your initials or some kind of uniquely-identifying mark into them so they don't get disappeared. It's not that people steal them, it's that EVERYONE HAS THEM and it can get confusing as to whose templates are whose. Same with the tape measure you should go out and buy if you don't already have one.)

From there, you can play a few games starting out with just the regular Space Marine rules, to get a feel for the game. Once the new GK book comes out (if that's how you want to play) you'll be in a good spot to start collecting GK figures. They usually release new models after a codex release anyway, so you'll have the newest shiny stuff.

I highly recommend going out and getting your codex spiral-bound. You can do this at just about any office-supply store like Staples. I spiral-bound my Space Marine and Dark Angels codexes together and it cost me about $3. It is so worth it to be able to lay the book flat.

Care to post a picture of the final product? I'm not so sure how spiral bounding it would result.

Find a local gaming store. Ask to observe on a gaming night. Most stores will have a couple tables to play on, Grab a coffee/water/soda and watch people bash thier models together its a nifty way to see how you might play those armies. A nicely painted army can be a hell of a pursuasive force aswell. I don't know how many times ive looked at someones army and been like "hmm I think it would be cool to do this, or paint this a certain way. I could totally play (insert army), blah blah".

I don't think anyone has mentioned this so I'll throw it out. Go reading up on some fluff, perhaps on Lexicanum or the actual novels if you feel compelled to do so. Also looking up paint jobs and conversions can help you get an idea for an army's feel.

I personally believe that even if you love an armies playstyle if you hate the feel, theme, look, painting and so on of an army, your desire to field them will wane. Reading the fluff and looking at pics might help you decide who you think is coolest.

Of course you seem to be drawn to the Inquisition and Grey Knights so maybe you have done your research.

I think Inquisition and and Grey Knights cool the coolest. That was what drove me to them first. Then I found the codex in a torrent and looked through it, and even though i don't really know the rules, I like the ideas of the Psyker magic skills with 2+ and 3+ armor saves. I don't know anything about their fluff. Do they have any novels about the gray knights? Also any chance Grey Knights can use that cook woman in the warjack looking thing from the sisters of battle?

Well whatever you read is going to be obsolete in a month or so when the new codex comes out. I don't read too many BL novels but I believe there's a GK omnibus, tbh the reason I haven't read it is probably because GK are my most hated faction :p

Anyway, I think you might be referring to a Penitent Engine? I'm not sure what their status in the new codex will be, but I think they're in. But, I'm only like 50% sure on that one.

GO WITH DAEMONHUNTERS!

you seem to like them a lot! start collecting some models and when the new codex comes out pick it up!
no need to poke around or search the forums.

you already like the Daemonhunters so go for them! I am sure their codex is going to be good!

As mentioned, get the AoBR box, and you'll get the rules, templates, and 2 armies.
Then, get the army you want, sell the SMs and Orcs off when you know what you want to play, and you're good to go.
You might want to expand the SMs or Orcs, though, as that's what I've done.

If you do go Eldar, until you know what you want to get, I'd advise getting 2 Battleforce boxes.
Everyone seems to tell you to get warwalkers and WS transports, and the price of the box should be only a bit more than the 2 seperately. I'm putting in an order for my 2nd box soon.

If you're really sold on Daemonhunters/Grey Knights, they have a new codex coming out in a month. There's rumor of pictures popping up online tomorrow. Give yourself a month to save up some scratch if you like the models!

I just went through the same thing and one of the big things that helped get me ideas was too read a bunch of the fluff. I poked around on google for information and stumbled onto this site.

http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Warhammer_40k_Wiki

It has alot of interesting info

Yeah I just saw the new models..... I'm going to play Grey knights. They look bad ass.

I will say a big disadvantage to running an army like Grey Knights is you'll have to buy everything brand new. won't be able to poach anything off ebay cuz the new models wont be there yet. so youll have to shell out quite a bit to build ur army

Thats true. I wish they were do a starter box for them like most other factions have.

Don't let the cost be a huge object. If you are going to get your monies worth in this game you absolutly need to play an army that you love.

If you shell out money and build an army with cheapness in mind, you'll get bored with them and either quit the game or start a new army. Both of which are expensive.

If you like your army, you won't mind spending money (as much) on the units, and you will get actual enjoyment from playing with them on the table.

The only pause I'd recommend is the amount of people with Imperial armies. Many of the games I've watched are Imperial v Imperial, and more specifically space marine varients v space marine variants.

If you don't mind the limited number of actual Xeno and Heretic opponents and are OK with being accused of being a dirty cheese player and band waggoner when the GK codex is inevitably extremely powerful and everybody and their mother starts to play them and everybody who doesn't play them bitches about them... Just look at the forums for the number of Space Wolf and Blood Angel hate to see what I mean.

If you don't mind these things, and really like the look and feel of the Grey Knights then go for it. I'd recomend waiting until april to really start, it would be a shame to have made bad purchases because the new codex turns things on their head.