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I am completely new to 40k gaming…. While the rules seem pretty clear, I have no idea how the game plays and what weapons are good etc.
I was recently given an offer I couldn’t refuse for a bunch of Catachans, but I am not clear on what to assemble, what force I should aim for etc…. So I need help building a force (1500 /2000 point) with the following models:

Catachan Battleforce
(I have an Ogryn and some of the unique characters as well)
3 extra Sentinels
1 Valkyrie
1 Leman Russ
2 Manticore

I like a decent force with fewer models rather than more (I paint slow…. Very very slow). Can I get a valid force with what I have? If not, what would be key units to flesh it out?

PS. Most likely my main opponent will be Grey Knights (so lets build to kill them!)

You picked the wrong army if you want to keep it to a few models. IG lists are huge. Before any one can help you build a list, we need to know your play style. So let me ask you a few questions

1)have you done any research on IG yet?
2)do you find yourself conservative or aggressive
3)are you planning to play pick up games, or are you wanting something that is competitive for tournaments
4)are you willing to sink some cash in to this and go all the way
5)are you new to 40k or table top games altogether
6)do you want a list of many troops or vehicles (few really isn’t an option)
7) read the rules closely, the better you know them the better you can take advantage of them. If you have questions about it feel free to address them here. Most likely you will be able to find most of them in this forum somewhere.
8) what special wep do you have on hand. (melta/plasma)

There are a lot of very successful builds with IG at this point total. Lets see if we can find the best one for you

Chuck Norris' post is true, harken to it!

Yeah, you definitely won't be able to keep down to 'few' models while playing IG. From the list of what you have, I think you should immediately buy another battleforce. That will give you the necessary baseline of troops to start playing 1k point games, you can move on to buying more transports and/or more troops from there.

The good news is you have 3 excellent heavy support choices, an always useful valkyrie, and the special characters for IG include some awesome force multipliers.

Here is some basic advice for building your army from this point:
You need to magnetise the sentinels and valkyrie to switch weapons, as this changes their role enormously. Look up a tutorial online on how to do this, because it really makes collecting any army, especially IG, much easier. All you really need is $5 worth of small rare earth magnets, and ideally a hand drill which you will eventually want anyway.

Don't think of your infantry as seperate squads, because they can be mixed and matched in a number of ways. Build all the meltaguns you can, plenty of autocannons, lascannons, and flamers. The other choices are pretty much a matter of taste and they can wait.

Yeah... IG would not have been my first choice. I was just given a great deal to take the Catachans off a friends hands

Never played 40k, but play a lot of historicals - so wargaming is as least not a new phenomenon. I usually play conservative, but think I'd like to try an aggressive force (probably means more infantry eh?). I'd prefer more vehicles over troops (painting!). I know I'll have to get some more units to flesh this out, just prefer not to drop a ton of cash.

No tournaments, never. Just pick up games for fun.... at least I hope fun.

I like the magnet idea (of course 3 of the sentinels are assembled and I the two manticores :( )

Don't worry about the manticores, they are the best artillery in the codex (almost certainly the best in the game) and the alternative in the kit, the deathstrike, is almost a joke option!

Good luck with the army, if you're given to quite defensive play, a load of infantry kitted out with heavy weapons, protecting tanks and artillery, is quite a strong force.

Well the bad news is IG isn’t cheep the good news is you have a lot of the expensive stuff already. you have your heavies already. that’s normally the most expensive units.

Gunline (or the bunch of troops) is normally a more conservative build. it’s a bit lighter on the wallet but a pain to build and paint.

If you want to go aggressive, you have 2 viable choices. Mech or air cav. And unless you already have 6-9 vendettas I would go with mech. As of right now this is the build to have. When you get past the learning phase of the game, you will have no problems with converting this in to a competitive tournament list.

But I agree with IBHE, its hard to go wrong with blobs of troops sitting around really big guns. Its not my style so I wont be the best help for you. But it does make a strong list .

Is there any way you have the time to list what you currently have in your collection?

Yep just watch out for anything that can deep strike outflank or scout. be prepared to see orks snikrot if you play orks or several genestealers if you play to sit in the back field.

I am at a loss on how to choose the option for my Troops choices. What weapons should I model them with?! Trying to figure this out has driven me to a virtual standstill I don't want to screw it up, but I want to get assembling and painting these sooner than later.