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I have spent so much money over the past couple months on pieces from almost all armies because I can't decide which one to play. I'll start working on one and then I will see something from another army that I like and go and start that army, and I am going to say it has put a strain on my finances. What tactics did you guys use to choose the army you play? And could you give me any advice on how to choose one to stick with...?

I am leaning towards expanding my Nid army, but I also am starting to play Skaven in WHFB, is it a good idea to play two swarm type armies?

I wanted an army with many different paitning choices between units, and not just blue assault guys, blue vehicles, blue heavy weapons team. Chaos Marines are color-coded for the enemy's convenience!

Also, as a former (and present) fan of heavy metal music, I felt something with a nihilistic, spiky, bad-ass theme would be funny.

Finally, everyone and their mother here plays loyalist marines. Someone needs to spit in the eye of the Corpse Emperor for a change.

I chose Tau due to fluff, really that was about it. Also that I wanted to shoot and not be a guard army.

I then chose Orks because of how random they can be, using shokk attack guns and weirdboyz with a heavy walker presence.

That was followed by CSM due to having the extra marines floating around from the AOBR box set, and with the versitility of CSM, plus I wanted to run something infantry based.

Finally, to round out my options, I have Iron Hands vanilla marines. Using thunderfire cannons, bikes and other wonders of the mechanicum my 6th company is finally done, just needs to be painted, like everything else ><

Skaven in fantasy and Nids in 40k are completley different playstyle wise.

You'll be ok playing both without fear of become bored.

I chose Nids as my latest army after getting back into 40K about a year ago. I chose them because ever since 2nd edition I have wanted to make a nid army. I always liked the fluff and the ability to really customize your troops.

Unfortunatly the latest codex has kinda gotten away from the heavy customization and whatnot, but I am sticking with them anyways.

I chose Orks for two reasons. First, I love the fluff, the Orkish kultur, the sheer number of zany mechanical designs. Second, for cost. Though Orks are traditionally a Horde army, it's also possible to run them with a heavy mechanized presence. That and the fact that I was then able to scratchbuild most of my units means I was able to get 2000 points of tournament-legal Orks for under 100 dollars. So it was also for my pocketbook, a little.

I went for Space Marines because of the book 'Sons of Fenris', I thought the Space Wolves and Dark Angels were badass.


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Don't know if I can provide any help in regards to sticking to one army... I've got like 3 or 4 in the make.

I got into Space Wolves in 3rd Ed. because I wanted to get Tau or Vanilla Space Marines, but my friends were already collecting those so they recommended Space Wolves. I didn't know it at the time, but it was the perfect choice. I got into Nids because I always thought they were cool, and I knew a couple people who used to collect them that were quitting. I got the basis of my army there for cheap. Later I got the Battle For Macragge box, and that's when I started to seriously collect Nids.

I originally chose to play the Necrons based on the fact that when a buddy of mine and I were looking at the models he said; 'Dude, they look like Terminators.' Sold me instantly.

Then after I realized they were woefully underpowered and old I decided to pursue playing the army I wanted to play when I started and that's the Chaos Space Marines. I like how evil they look, and after reading their fluff I can't imagine not playing them because they're so interesting.

I play my main army because I went into a store many years ago and saw this old boxart:



From that moment on I knew that Tallarns are awesome . When I dug out the pic a few months ago it actually inspired me to try to recreate the scene- I've finished the commander guy at the front (lots of GS and fantasy bitz), just need to finish painting him, and the bassie is in progress...

As for why I play my orks.. well, I read the ork codex and laughed so hard I just had to go and buy some!

I used to think the Vyper Jetbikes were really neat (before I knew the rules.) I also loved the 3rd edition re-do of the Guardians. When I got back into 40k in 5th, I decided since I had found a Farseer w/spear in blister that I had never used in my (mostly smashed) warband-sized army, I should probably just play Eldar. They're also pretty good looking, which takes precedence over stats for me in most games.

After a few games with my shooty-style list, Blood Angels was coming out and a friend offered to trade me his old metal Death Company, Tycho, and Mephiston for the Space Wolves codex. So I picked up a MEQ army that was purely focused on assault as an alternative to my purely shooty Eldar

I own every single army mainly because at some point in my life I found them to be awesome in some aspect (too many to list now). Currently just trying to get my act together and complete one of them.

Oh look. This thread again.

I adore every aspect of CSM. The models suck, the codex is boring, but I love them all the same.

In second ed I went with BA as my friends had SW, UM and DA, and when the 2nd ed chaos codex came out i switched.

Fast forward to 4th and I decide that the best way to make an army quickly was to return to chaos's embrace! The daemon were a logical out growth.

Eldar have come with three reasons, 1) the aesthetic, 2) a different style of play to my other armies, 3) an army requiring skill to use

Great question! And i got an answear!. I read the Ork codex and my buddy who i started 40k with he played Space Marines. So the Assault on Black Reach was a must buy

I like robots. I love robots with a bitterly sweet, ironic past who decide to commit genocide on planetary levels down to the bacteria.

I've always preferred the rank and file soldiers from everything. Starship Troopers - forget the huge ships, I loved the basic Mobile Infantryman. It was the same when I got into 40k. I've drifted between armies but the one I always come back to is Imperial Guard.

I've now moved onto the final IG project - my Death Korps of Krieg. I chose them mainly because of their absolutely stellar model design. I think the guys at Forge World did a cracking job with them and I just love everything about them including what exists of their backstory.

I chose Chaos because the Imperium of Man is corrupt and swollen with its own filth. I chose Chaos because no matter how much Mankind postures and poses, it will always be reduced to Hatred, Lust, Fear, and Pride. I chose Chaos because even in the long-dreams of the distant star-clouds, Chaos always has and always will hold court.

Khorne will forever thirst for blood from the top of his Throne of Skulls.

Slaanesh will forever draw the souls of mortals into delicious bliss.

Nurgle will forever spread the essence of death, and therefore life.

Tzeentch will always weave his twisted tapestries of convoluted plots that transcend space and time.


There will always be Chaos. From the moment the first sentient being in the universe drew breath and first learned to hate, to fear, to love, to lust...

Chaos has been there.

The Warhammer 40k universe has a mediocre storyline at best so fluff was never an issue for me. I simply found the game to be amazing and selected a proper balance between gaming style and model design that felt the most suitable for my gaming needs.

I chose Tyranids because they looked the most like space dinosaurs. (To me anyway ) Plus, I liked the fluff I gleaned from other people.

first army was IG. weent with those for a few reasons:
1. store where i was playing was a bunch of space wolves, SM, orks, and nids.
2. I'm a soldier, so i relate to the idea of rank and file soldiers and the mission at hand.

second army: salamander SM. just liked the rules for vulkan and went totaly away from tanks (ig army has 10) and went drop pod fun.

third army: went with blood angels. just liked the look of the sanguinary guard. so, went with dante and three squads of those (yeah, troops).

I started Eldar because I wanted to play a high tech alien army.

This simple desire (which isn't an unreasonable desire in a future wargame mind you!) automatically ruled out every army except Tau, Dark Eldar, and Eldar. Nids have no tech, and ork tech isn't exactly "hi-tech"
I didn't really want to start DE, because I had heard horror stories about thier learning curve, and at the time they hadn't been updated since the cold war.

I strongly considered Tau, the battlesuits seemed cool, rail guns are epic, and the models had a lot of aethetic appeal to them. But on the other hand the army seemed extremely one dimensional without any close combat ability.

Ultimately I settled on Eldar. They just seemed to be the safest bet. A tough army to lear, which would punish me for mistakes and turn me into a better player quicker. Awesome grav tanks and jetbikes, psychic powers, some close combat ability. Just a good deal all around and pretty much everything I was looking for.

I started Orks because they were very close combat oriented, and I loved it.

I started Dark Eldar because my Orks were winning everything and games were getting boring. Different armies, same story at the end. And with the amount of store credit I had at various venues, I was able to get the entire thing free. I chose them over something else because they were the least common army to ever show up on the table and it was nice to be unique.

I chose Necrons because of all the griping that I only won because of cheese with my Orks and Dark Eldar. Complaining that Necrons are cheese is equivalent to admitting to a tiny brain and tinier genitals.

Thus far, their rampage has been unchecked by defeat. =D

Eldar i love the tactics of war and the aspect shrines even the art is very nice and they are extremely nice opportunities for models

i chose daemons because i enjoyed the Gods and mainly the changeling's art and fluff he sealed up khornes front door

i chose grey knights they are completely pure the martial prowess is great and i love the secrets and the different tech/equipment

It was in the starter set.... (before that i preferred tau)

I have 3 armies(well 4, but 1 is my wife's).

I started with Space marines shortly after 3rd edition came out and at 1 point(just before 4th edition came out) I had an entire Chapters worth, including vehicles. Space marines game in the Game's starter box(as always; but this time with DE) and since I had an HQ, Full Tac squad, and a land speeder, but only had 20 DE warriors; and I liked the SM codex more than the old DE codex: I went with collecting Marines.

Then I found Space Wolves; which have been a passion of mine since I first learned about their existence. I especially liked the 13th co when the EoT campaign book came out(really wish I had gotten some Wulfen models back then). I have studied Norse Mythology pretty extensively my entire life so getting into SW was a no-brainer.

Shortly before 4th edition came out I started collecting some guard models, then the 4th edition Guard codex came out and I bought the Army-deal box(for you youngins the Armydeals came with the Codex, over $300 worth of models and at least 1 exclusive model for like $200; imagine the Megaforces x2, and including a Codex+LE model). I have always been in love with Tanks of all kinds, and the idea of "lowly humans" fighting terrors, genetically altered super-men, and advanced/horrific alien races. I had a great number of guard models back then too.

Then I got sick of the rules issues in 4th edition, and quit playing 40k. I started playing Warmachine. I eventually sold off all of my 40k stuff except my codices, mini-4th rulebook, and a standing 1850 assault-cannon heavy list of marines(something like 30 infantry models, a Dread, a Land speeder tornado, and a LRC).

Then Warmachine went to markII; and I was left with a requirement to re-buy a core rulebook, and my Armybook; and try to find some old blisters to bring my units up to full strength, all while my most common opponent rage-quit since all his armies special rules were removed with the statement of: "Oh, we are getting rid of all these crazy rules to stream-line the game" and then they gave all those rules to the new retribution army(he played Cryx so every unit lost at least 1 special rule; some units lost basically every rule they had, and got some crummy, worthless rules to "make up for it") I now only had about 1200 points of workable marines after we discovered that 5th was much better than 4th.

I now have over 3,000 points of marines, am working on a new SW razor-spam list, and have a standing 1850 Combined arms guard list(plus a Shadowsword set to be interchangeable as all versions excepting the Stormlord).

I have always also had a Passion for Orks but never actually bought any, that is until the wife made a bet with me that she would start playing if I let her get a dog(50-50 purebred Pug and Dachshund; for free from a friend of mine). I got her the dog, and then started asking her which army she would want to play. After seeing the style of orks and me telling her a little about them her response was: "Warriors... come out to pla-ay!" and decided to get the Orks. Now she hates the dog(Meaning I basically got my son a dog, as he is the only one who has unconditional love for it. I also like the dog, but my son considers it his dog while my Shepherd mix is my dog), and has about 2,000 points of Orks(not including a Stompa). She also wins most games with them as she learned early on to ignore objectives and just table the opponent(which her list is more than capable of doing like 90% of the time).

At the time I started I chose whatever army was not being played by everyone else in the group. I ended up with Dark Elves (very lucky as I am quite content with them) and Necrons (yea I know why no one played them now ) I also split the 2 starter sets so I could a mini rule book for each game and so I also have orcs and goblins plus space wolves. But essentially it was what no one else had so that I could be a little different.

I liked the look of Eldar armour and the different Aspects. Still do.

Took me a few years to choose, lol.

First encounter with 40k was in fifth grade, i picked crons, got their codex and the battle force. Saw all the other cool stuff and looked at other things. At one point i owned The Necron, Ork, Tau, Eldar, Chaos Marine, Space Marine, and then my final choice was the guard(was about a year before the new codex came out).

What finnallly drew me into the guard was the true Humanity of them, just normal men and women forced to fight, nothing so special about each individual person. And i wanted to have some good shooting, i loved commissars, and even more so, Artillery!

I started dark eldar because I was playing my friends orks or chaos space marines. One day we went to the FLGS, and after are game, he offered to loan me some money to by a box of soldiers. The store was about to close in 5 minutes, and I chose the first thing I saw, a shiny new box of Dark Eldar Kabalites. My advice is to buy a random army, then figure out how to actually use the damn thing