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I played 40k for years and took a break about 4-5 years ago. A friend is talking me into playing again. But before I do I some questions.

I played 2nd, 3rd, and 4th edition. I mostly played Space Marines as they where a solid force and I enjoyed painting them. But always like orks and the Tau have cool minis but never really game them a solid try because I could choice a color I liked.

What edition are they in?

Are the orks still a joke? In 3rd/4th edition the orks really had a hard time holding there own in most battles have they updated that? I enjoyed the ability to convert models and make trucks look like what ever you wanted.

Do they still do the Trait system?

until the late 4th ed orks were a joke.

Now they're a joke with a vicious punchline (what do you get if you line a boyz mob up and run in front of them.. a punchline.. )

Orks are still a bit wacky and wierd, but are capable of kicking some butt too. For a bit they were the kings of close combat smackdown, until the Space wolves and Blood angels took the title (infinite attack frockin' dreads...)
They are still a fairly potent army if used right, but not top tier (if you care about that sort of thing.. I rarely lose with mine )

The tau are still on the 3rd ed codex. Orks are the last codex of 4th.

If you can't decide between orks and marines and want both check out the Assualt on Black Reach set. It also comes with a useful miniature 5th ed rulebook and templates.

(and those whippy measuring sticks used to berate cheating players by beating them over the head and shoulders...)

Uhh, Tau are a 4th edition codex...

There is a lot of really good Ork advice on this site, but they mainly come in two different flavors.


The Kan Wall
HQ- 2x Kustom Force Field Big Meks

Troops- mobs of 30x Boys on foot with Shootas

Heavy- 3x3 Killa Kans, mostly armed with rokkits

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The Battle Wagon Spam
HQ- 1x KFF mek, 1x Warboss (maybe Thrakka)

Troops- Mobs of 20x Slugga boys in Battle Wagons, maybe some diversified Nobs

Heavy Support- 3x Battle Wagons with Big Shoota and Deff Rolla. (you can take more as a dedicated transport for your Nobs)

------------

For the Elite section you either pick
1) Lootas for anti-transport and Long range
2) Kommandos to take out back field threats (seen more in a Kan wall)
3) Burnas in a battle Wagon for a flame party (seen more in a BW rush)

For Fast attack you pick
1) Suicide Deffcopta, TL-rokkit and Buzzsaw. First turn scout assault or outflank.
2) Rokkit Buggies. More anti-tank shooting is always good.

Orks are a very solid force but that doesnt change the fact their still 40k's comic relief in my opinion....theyre angry fungus people (No offense Ork players but you know its what they are)
Tau...suck. Theyre awesome but especially if your out of practice or starting new Tau are awful
If your starting new Space Marines and Tyranids are both good armies, very winnable and not hard to play them. Orks would fall under that category too...

Thanks for the info everyone.


I forgot to ask about Chaos Marines. With Chaos Marines I get the standing power of a space marine and the ability to scratch build stuff.

Orks are a very solid force but that doesnt change the fact their still 40k's comic relief in my opinion....theyre angry fungus people (No offense Ork players but you know its what they are)

To misquote Neil Gaiman's 'Neverwhere' (awesome book BTW)

'You must never assume.. that because something is funny, it is not also dangerous....'

Orks can kick butt and have a sense of humor about it all. They are the only non-grimdark race in 40K, as far as i know, and are also the only race aside from the Tyranids that isn't a bunch of raving hypocrites