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So, I'm looking to try, after some time off, an Imperial Guard. However, I'm more of a hobbyist than a gamer, and I'm planning that, if I were to do it, either doing Death Korps of Krieg, Vostroyans, or a heavily customized army (possibly Savlar Chem Dogs or something like that).

Either way, it'd be expensive and/or time consuming, so I'd want to make the army as small as reasonably possible (meaning, at least mostly competitive).

I like just about all options in the Guard army, except Ogryn and Ratlings, so am pretty flexible with options, though I do particularly like the look/feel of Storm Troopers (krieg and cadian) and the options of doing fun work on Veterans, which is convenient, as they're expensive, but I don't know if they're worth it.

So, I guess my question is, what sorts of Imperial Guard armies work well with (relatively) low model count, and, for extra credit, what would a list look like?

Thanks in advance

Just a thought but you can still be a "hobbyist" and do a cadian based army. That way you keep the cost down, and I'm not convinced the Forge World models are all that really...

Yeah, never been that much of a fan of cadians. The third option (heavily customized) would probably be heavily modified cadians, though, as the catachan models are really dated and a bit silly IMHO.

For the first two, especially Death Korps, the detail's nice, but the poses are really what impresses me about them, which is something you don't see much of in GW's modular plastics (not saying you can't pose them, but they don't have the same sense of weight).

And, is that a "no, don't even try fielding a small guard army"?

You can do it, but it also depends on your playstyle and what point limit your setting. Small can be 400pts to 2000pts. You also know the trap of alternate units for said small army.

Mech Guard is possible... then all of your loving work doesn't even have to be placed on the table. Unless you mod up the Chimeras. Vets are best in Mech guard IMO.

Foot guard means more guys, maybe a few vehicles... but again it depends on your play style... you want to get stuck in or sit back and blow them off the table?

Give some more guidelines in that area and I am sure people can do a better job on what to suggest.