Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Im considering starting a new 40k army (or an add on to my daemons) and im torn between 2 possible options. all bikes and speeders, and all nurgle. I enjoy making lists out of theme and fluff and then working on making them competitive.

WHITE SCARS LIST

HQ
Space Marine Librarian 185
w/ Bike
w/ Epostilary
w/ Null Zone
w/ Vortex of Doom

Kor'sarro Khan 205
w/ Moondrakken

Command Squad (4 Vets, 1 Apothecary) 380
w/ (veterans) have lightning claw, storm shield, meltagun

TROOPS
6x Space Marine Bike Squad + 1 attack bike 260
w/ 2x meltaguns
w/ sergeant with power fists
w/ (attack bike has multi melta)

6x Space Marine Bike Squad + 1 attack bike 260
w/ 2x meltaguns
w/ sergeant with power fists
w/ (attack bike has multi melta)

6x Space Marine Bike Squad + 1 attack bike 260
w/ 2x meltaguns
w/ sergeant with power fists
w/ (attack bike has multi melta)

FAST ATTACK
1x Landspeeder (multi-melta, assault cannon) 100

1x Landspeeder (multi-melta, assault cannon) 100

TOTAL: 1750

Strategy to that list is to get null zone popping, 15 melta weapons mixed with nullzone will axe armor. and if i ever play invul heavy armys, twin linked bolters mixed takes out daemons





Nurgle 1750

HQ
Ku'gath the Plaguefather 300

Epidemis 110

TROOPS
20x Plaguebearers 300

20x Plaguebearers 325
w/ Chaos Icon

20x Plaguebearers 325
w/ Chaos Icon

HEAVY SUPPORT
Daemon Prince of Nurgle 195
w/ Iron Hide
w/ Unholy Might
w/ Mark of Nurgle
w/ Cloud of Flies
w/ Breath of Chaos

Daemon Prince of Nurgle 195
w/ Iron Hide
w/ Unholy Might
w/ Mark of Nurgle
w/ Cloud of Flies
w/ Breath of Chaos

The main reason i have wanted to start this list is... in the entire daemon book, epidemis is the only daemon HQ that is army affecting, which i like the feel of. even against grey knights i believe nurgle of all the gods still plays the best. it doesnt have speed, but when your deep striking in the enemies face, you can take the approach of playing shoe gum for 5+ turns. plus nurgle is the coolest chaos god and i love the pestilence feel


Well please give me your comments and concerns and possible help me decide this once and for all

Hey Tuckag,

Touch choice. Both lists offer a nice theme and great modeling opportunities. Since you put this question in Army lists I'm going to focus on the lists.

Both list are sub-par in term of effectiveness within their respective codices IMO. You can easily build more competative SM and Daemon armies. Both lists do have a nice feel to them, but they'll have a steep learning curve and in the beginning you'll loose more than you'll win.

Between the two I'd opt for the Scars. That is because I really like the option of speed when I'm playing a game of 40k. Speed makes for tactical flexibility, and the ability to direct the battle or react to a setback. I think in the long run, the Scars will make for more diverse games... With Epidemius you'll have a single strategy more or less and games will start to look alike when you progress.

(If you choose the Daemons consider this as a 1750 point list:

165 GUO, CoF
110 Epidemius
110 Herald of Tzeentch, Chariot, Bolt, MoS, Legion

235 14 Plaguebearers, Icon (Epi goes here)
105 7 Plaguebearers
105 7 Plaguebearers
105 7 Plaguebearers
105 7 Plaguebearers

64 4 Screamers of Tzeentch

215 Prince, MoN, Wings, IH, CoF, Touch
215 Prince, MoN, Wings, IH, CoF, Touch
215 Prince, MoN, Wings, IH, CoF, Touch - 1749 points)

Cilithan

Thank you for the advice. I have tried staying away from space marines entirely, but after reading the SM book and realizing that a White Scar bike army is cheaper than a ravenwing army, and you can field more things with more customization, it got my brain working haha. I actually like that daemon list you posted as a playable list, but i am trying to make fluff>competitiveness, so white scars seems to be more of a realistic option


the advice was much appreciated

Skarbrand also has an army-wide (potential) buff.

I don't think it's possible to make a truly competitive all nurgle list, but if you insist, 3 nurgle DP's are a must and you should be giving them noxious not unholy might. I would also recommend adding some nurglings because even with a maxed out tally plaguebearers aren't that scary with their 1 attack.

I don't want to sound overly pessimistic, but you can also expect to have a really hard time against mechanized/fast armies since your army will be slow and have no ranged anti-tank, and null zone librarians will make you want to concede before the game begins.

I like the White Scares list a little better. The thing about the SM list is that it will face well against mech armies but I dont think it will hold up against hored armies. Unless you never ever get caught in close combat.

One thing to keep in mind is that fluff and competavtive don't really mix. Who are you playing with these lists? Do the people you play with hold fluff in as high a regard as you do? If not, do you mind losing a lot of games until you get the feel for them?

I live in a pretty competitive area, and i have alot of expierience in making fluffy lists competitive and it has worked well so far (khorne Nurgle daemons). i think for the most part, the white scars list is a decent all comers list. against horde armies (guard, orks, nids etc) its gonna just take some finese, but not worrying enough to deter me from making the list entirely