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Hi y'all

Not just to set the cat amongst the pidgeons, althogh that is pretty fun, but for the fact i have a friend who's gagging to get into 40k and can't make up his mind on an army (i have veryl imited exp to share) thought I's ask: what is your favourite army and why?

Personally, Chaos. Because they're so open to modelling opportunities. Orks follow in second, mainly because while they are competititve and have just as much modelling opportunities, they dont demand the same amount of aesthetic rigor as Chaos (random mutations may be randomly placed, but they have to look like mutations, whereas orks can literally take anything, slap some plates on it, and call it a day).

Call me Mr. Underdog, but I own three armies and the are:\
Necron: My first love. I like the fluff, I like the models, I like the theme(s). Undead in space, good. Terminators, good. A dash of Lovecraft, extra good. Can't wait for the updated codex.

Daemons: I love the variety of this army and they will be the ones who I will be collecting models for long after the other two forces are "complete." You can mix and match, or go for a "one god" army. I think I will make an all Nurgle list at some point. More competative than my other two, but you can get seriously screwed if you roll bad on reserves.

Tau: My newest force. The one game I played with these guys I totally dominated, but it was a small game (850pts) and I had an Imperial tower to hide one of my FW squads in. Still, I love the models, and am getting them for cheap. Just magnetized 12 Crisis Suits and am looking forward to painting them. I plan to run them with 2 Hammerheads and a group of Broadsides.

I like the stuff that is less mainstream, I guess. I would think that Space Marine and IG players would want more Xeno and Chaos players, and better balance. The heroes are only as good as their villains, after all, right?

Despite the flak "underpowered" armies get, I actually get my ass handed to me on a regular basis by older dexes. Ironically the IG player is the one with a zero win streak, and the Eldar player is the one with a zero lose streak. Necrons, however, I've never seen perform well since the codex creep.

My favorite armies are the following,

Grey Knights: I always loved these guys especially in 3rd edition when their codex was actually good and the fluff was amazing. I have always loved the Inquisition and especially the Grey Knights because they are the special forces of the Space Marines. Plus, their models have to be some of the best looking models from the old days. I'm talking back when everything looked so cartoony and wacky the Grey Knight models were so far ahead in their design and even today the old metal models have withstood the test of time. I plan on using my old metal models alongside the new plastics in my 5th edition Grey Knight army.

Black Templars: They were my first army and will always be my favorite amongst the Space Marine chapters. I have always had a thing about religous zealots (which is probably why I play Protectorate of Menoth in Warmachine) and these guys were the most fanatical of them all. When they took wounds and lost brothers they went FORWARD instead of back.

Eldar: Of all the Xenos armies Eldar is my favorite because they have some of the coolest fluff ever. I always liked how they manipulated other races (even Humans!) and I love the fact that Eldrad is so old and ever knowing. I also love the alien and technological look of their tanks and units.

Tau: Last but not least I like the Tau. I think right now they are incredibly hard to play, and in most players hands uncompetitive, which I why I don't play them but I always thought their fluff was really cool and I love the look of their models and especially the Battlesuits. I always thought the fluff and models of the Battlesuits was really cool. I actually was going to start playing them back in 4th edition but stopped because even then I couldn't make a good Tau army (which is odd because they were at their peak in 4th edition, but then again I was a somewhat new player making the transition from the end of 3rd to 4th).

Imperial Guard: Tanks, Valkyries, Marauder bombers and the Catachan are just too awesome

can't decide between airbourne guard or mech guard

Also, I like their diversity in models

Tyranids, because they're so damn cool, and fun to modify. And I enjoy a challenge

I can't help but agree with MechaEmp.. I'm on my second army and had to go chaos. Only just started converting a few models but dam it's easy for one and looks amazing. Think anything nurgle is a painters/converters paradise.

It's so nice to see a few varied answers on here, where i play it's 70% C:SM or varient (mostly blood angles, hence i no longer concentrate on them).

Sanguinius, you may have just tempted me into eldar next, i'm no very knowlagable on fluff but know i love the look of them.

more importantly, what experience in modelling does your friend have?

What would your friend like to game with?

Cool models are more engaging and will have your friend more involved in the continuation of his hobby...

Dont just go by which Codex will win. If your friend turns into a WAAC player, especially while inexperienced, neither he or you will enjoy 40k much.

Dark Eldar!

They have great models, fluff and gameplay! What isn't there to love?

http://darkhive.proboards.com/index.cgi

Chaos for all the themes to explore. Plus what's cooler than Space Marines with spikes?

Boba Fex wrote:Tyranids, because they're so damn cool, and fun to modify. And I enjoy a challenge

+1

I love that they are just monsters and there is no race that does not treat them as a threat.

To AvatarForm,

He has zero modelling exp, even more of a newbie then myself!

He's looking for a cool to paint factor mostly same as i was, but easy to play with a little bit of competativeness, lets face it, it's never fun to be thrashed everytime or you'd loose interest.

Space marines (all varients) don't appeal to him, shames as i've been told they are the easiest to get your head round. He likes IG which is good in my books as i have no interst in them what-so-ever (sorry to the IG fans, they just ain't my bag) and maybe daemons.

Also cost is a factor as starting from scratch, is there an army that you can build cheaply to 1000 pts?

I currently own Orks, Eldar Space Wolves and Tau. My first army where the Space Wolves and Tau and they are my only 40k armies I haven't sold at some point because they are my favorites.

Each of these armies has a slightly differant play style and each also offers differant painting and modeling opportunities, plus many armies now have options for differant ways or styles you can build your army in be it a fast moving army (Speed Freaks, Saim-hann, Ravenwing, White Scars etc), an army of Elites (Logan wing, Ork Nobs as Elites and Troops) or any other variation.

Personally out of all those I've owned the Space Wolves and Tau are my favorites (hence why I've never sold them). The Space Wolves to me embody the heroic warriors standing against impossible odds and smiling the whole time. The Tau on the other hand offer alot of modeling opportunities, now yes Orks can loot anything but there is a differance between stealing something from another race you've killed and having that race join you.

Tau: their fluff made me get the army, that and playing them extensively in the original dawn of war pc game. I actually don't like the battlesuits much, they feel too blocky to me. I really wish I could make use of ethereals without having it end up like I'm trying to hand over a win, well and other units too...

In 2 minds over Tau, one min i love the look, next I couldn't sgree more they look too blocky. Also the fact the are very bulked colours doen't fit the way I paint, not organic enough.

Tau simply because they have such awesome potential to be great, and could get a new codex pretty soon! Although, i admit i lost all of my games for a year with tau (my first 40k army) and then, once i'd got my head around some tactics, i am quite a force!!

Boba Fex wrote:Tyranids, because they're so damn cool, and fun to modify. And I enjoy a challenge

Lord_Osma wrote:

Boba Fex wrote:Tyranids, because they're so damn cool, and fun to modify. And I enjoy a challenge

+1

I love that they are just monsters and there is no race that does not treat them as a threat.

+2

The Nids have some great models (The Trygon is such a pretty model!) and they have great fluff that really apeals to me. Plus, I enjoy a good challenge.

I think Eldar are next on my list, they have amazing fluff to go by. Chaos Space Marines are Tied for second with Eldar though because they are simply, for lack of better words, cool.

Nids will always be numero uno though

Eldar and IG.

I read IG fluff. I had a steady relationship with IG fluff. I realized I could realize a long-held fantasy of mine of being the "heroic commander" actually caring about the fates of his men on the battlefield.

Then I met Eldar fluff. And I fell in love with Eldar fluff. And IG fluff didn't look so attractive anymore. Seriously - the paths they take, the reasons for their fall, the discipline, the dying race, exarch's becoming lost on their paths and their combat style are all amazing.

Chaos (and I don't even use them!)

Vanilla Marines are great but they just don't have the painting and modelling opportunities that playing a chaos army allows. Plague Marines, Berzerkers, 1k sons, all of which are painted extremely different, the variety is wonderful. I have to say that if I had to paint a chaos army I wouldn't get burn out nearly as quickly as when I painted my SM army.

1) Imperial Guard - It is very easy to identify with this army. They are the regular, unaugmented humans. They do not
have fancy personal armour or high tech to help them in the fight against monsters form the outer dark.

2) Chaos Space Marines - A good villain is what makes or breaks a story. They are the anti-heroes, the fallen heroes and dark
mirror of Humanity. Modelling wise the conversion potential is also good.

I currently own 4 armies, well I'm just starting the Space Marines.

#1 Orks
Just so much fun. Hilairious background. I love their ramshackle tech. I love how you can loot pretty much anything from another army and it's accepted - I now have a Battlewagon built from a Land Raider and it was so much fun to make.
And Ork tactics - CHARGE! Yeah, that's about as good as I can come up with so I justplay in-charcater, and often it works

And the rest;

Necrons
Under powered now. Play these if you like the look of the models (and can afford the models if you want the metal ones). But I really do like the background, the look and feel of a Necron army. And very easy to paint.

Space Wolves
To be honest, I'm not fussed. Yes they are a solid Space Marine army (with their own Codex), and I love the look of the minis. But I'm struggling with them at the moment.

Space Marines
So if I'm stryggling playing Space Wolves why would I start a Space Marines army? I got the Codex cheap. And I'm just putting together a small army based on the Legion of the Damned. But I only started this army this week and haven't played with them yet.

Of what I don't have;

Tyranids
I've loved Tyranids ever since I bought my 1st Ed. copy of Space Hulk back in the 80's. But I'm not totally sold on all their models and I haven't read their Codex so have no idea how they play.

The Tau was the first army I purchased and played. Being an anime and more so Gundam fan, they were a logical choice for their looks alone. But my usualy strategy for most of my tactics is be the flame, not the moth. With the Tau, you get that as you pepper and blast your opponent with well placed and powerful weapons and then jet away when they get two close to comfort. It's awesome for a beginer army I have found and I have only perfected it. Good luck in finding the army that works for you friend!

Guard, they can have anything from any historical or future period. If it's a theme, there's a guard regiment based on it. (haven't seen many Maori guardsmen though)

Tyranids. Fluff wise anyway, Any force they come in contact with they cannot over come by brute force and sheer numbers are overcome through adaptation. To simply defeat its newest obstacle they simply change not only their tactic but their composition down to their anatomy. Not to mention they are so cool looking. Game wise? I love playing Tyranids its awesome...i always think of it as a race to the finish line...and you are the finish line, what happens when i get there?


Automatically Appended Next Post:

i play blood angels, i just love the assault and death company squads and the fact at the start you have a chance to turn your whole army into rampaging maniacs. Plus I also like the disciplined look that all space have and who can go past the sanguinor with 8WS and the Baal preds able to flatten any infantry/light armoured army in second.


-blood warrior

hellrai3er wrote:To AvatarForm,

He has zero modelling exp, even more of a newbie then myself!

He's looking for a cool to paint factor mostly same as i was, but easy to play with a little bit of competativeness, lets face it, it's never fun to be thrashed everytime or you'd loose interest.

Space marines (all varients) don't appeal to him, shames as i've been told they are the easiest to get your head round. He likes IG which is good in my books as i have no interst in them what-so-ever (sorry to the IG fans, they just ain't my bag) and maybe daemons.

Also cost is a factor as starting from scratch, is there an army that you can build cheaply to 1000 pts?

Given what you have said above, has he considered orks or Tyranids?

Both are cool, easy to paint (messy works for these) and you can pick up AoBR for the cheap orks and trade away the Space marines for more Orks!

Chaos - Conversions are king with chaos.

AvatarForm wrote:

hellrai3er wrote:To AvatarForm,

He has zero modelling exp, even more of a newbie then myself!

He's looking for a cool to paint factor mostly same as i was, but easy to play with a little bit of competativeness, lets face it, it's never fun to be thrashed everytime or you'd loose interest.

Space marines (all varients) don't appeal to him, shames as i've been told they are the easiest to get your head round. He likes IG which is good in my books as i have no interst in them what-so-ever (sorry to the IG fans, they just ain't my bag) and maybe daemons.

Also cost is a factor as starting from scratch, is there an army that you can build cheaply to 1000 pts?

Given what you have said above, has he considered orks or Tyranids?

Both are cool, easy to paint (messy works for these) and you can pick up AoBR for the cheap orks and trade away the Space marines for more Orks!

I second this. AoBR orks will run you under $20 for 20 ork boyz on ebay or the trade forums here, that is including shipping if you get a good deal. Ork army from the set should be about $40

Get an Ork AoBR whole army add maybe 40 more ork boyz, convert them to shootas buy buying shoota arms and cut off and shave off some arms or attach some plastic tubing to some slugga barrels to increase the size of the gun, I hear push pop plastic sticks work well here, add a box of nobz to get 3 Power Klaw carrying Boss Pole toting Nobs, add a Big Mek with KFF, 3 boxes of lootas and you will have a solid green tide with fire support.

Warboss -PK -Cybork -Attack Squig (AOBR warboss find a way too add the squig from the nobz box)
110

Big Mek -KFF -'Eavy Armor
90

Lootasx5
75

Lootasx5
75

Ork Boyzx20-Shootas -Nob -PK -BP -Big Shootax2 170

Ork Boyzx20-Shootas -Nob -PK -BP -Big Shootax2 170

Ork Boyzx20-Shootas -Nob -PK -BP -Big Shootax2 170

Deffkopta -TL Rokkit Launcha -Buzzsaw (Use the Big Choppa saw axes from the nobz box)
70

Deffkopta -TL Rokkit Launcha -Buzzsaw
70

1000

Solid list get the foot in the door on Orks and from their go more green tide or kan wall or mechanized. After the army book you are looking at about $200, maybe save some money by trying to find loota guns on ebay since only 4 come in each loota box, the 3 will set you back $75 which is a big chunk of the $200 but they are worth it, and come in handy in every Ork list. But $200 is fairly cheap for a 40k army I have been considering getting into BT and that 1k list would be $369 before tax. One thing to consider is the availablility of cheap items from Black Reach, the expensiveness of tanks, transports, other fast attack big $$$ items. There are armies which can go without these things, Orks being one, Tyranids though they have their big $$$ items too, footslogging IG, Blood Angels can go without them as well, everything else pretty much needs some kind of transport and once you have to add on a $30 rhino or chimera to every unit is when it gets a little crazy.

1. chaos: your conversions are only limitied by your imagination
2. Space wolves: they vikings in space nuff said