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Im a brand new 40k player getting ready to buy my first set of stuff tomorrow since a new games workshop store just opened up and is doing a 30% off deal. Problem is I dont know what faction to start out with. I have friends who play and they arnt really helping much in helping me figure out. I am mainly looking at tyranids, eldar, or chaos space marines. though I am open to other suggestions of course . Only thing I want to avoid playing is Space marine (most of the chapters) necrons and dark eldar because those are the factions mainly being played by them.

The main problem with Eldar and Chaos Space Marines, while being good armies, have very outdated sets of rules so playing against your friends who have armies with more up-to-date rules will be an uphill struggle. If you really had your heart set of them, I would've said wait, but since you need a decision quickly because of the sale, I'd say go with tyranids - they can be challenging, but from what I've seen and experienced myself, they're a very fun army to play with

If you want lots of gribblies - go with Tyranids, although they can be a chore to paint and haven't got the greatest codex at the moment - they're still fun to play but with all the possible army builds might seem a little complex for a new player to get their head around - although they remain conceptually one of the best armies.

From a financial POV Chaos marines are your best bet - the battleforce and an HQ choice should easily give you 750pts worth of stuff and they are relatively straight forward to play and can be as easy/complex to paint as you like. Chaos Marine armies do lend towards a theme from a hobby perspective, however, so they are not unlike other space marine chapters aesthetically - although the beauty with chaos is you can do a mix of all sorts of renegades/traitor legions and it'll matter not a bit. They are due a new book sometime next year so they're likely to be competitive when that book is finally released. Also they have often have less models, requiring less to put together and paint before you play.

I'd also say Tau are a good bet - they are woefully in need of a new book but the main line of plastic miniatures is unlikely to change from what present trends have shown and they should be getting a new book in the spring (hopefully) - which, again, will make them more competitive to play with.

I'd say go with what you find most aesthetically pleasing - have a good browse of the GW site for all the models to decide what you like the look of best and, who knows, the staff may actually know what they're talking about should you need to chat about your possible choices (just don't let them up sell you too much)

If you like Chaos then you should buy the models but use the space wolves rules until they new Chaos codex comes out (next year).

I'd say magnetize some of the weapons but that could be a bit advanced as this early stage.

1000pts would be a good starting point so you would only need to buy 3 boxes of chaos marines, 3 razorbacks (which can also be used as rhinos) a character (rune priest would be best) and a box or 2 of havocs.

If you're serious about modelling them so you can use them for other armies I would strongly suggest reading up on many threads on here and bolterandchainsword before you start putting the army together.

Hope this helps

Whose rules are up to date if I may ask? I know i have been reading alot of this rule change and pieces are going out and such?

Space Wolves.

Only thing I want to avoid playing is Space marine (most of the chapters)

Chaos Space Marines would be the best army for a beginner out of your choices, because the 3+ armour save make them very durable. They will be one of the first to be updated when 6th edition comes around. They do have an older codex, but you won't really notice at low point levels when you start off.


Don't feel pressed into using a count as army because the internet tells you too. Be unique, be chaos

Toastedandy wrote:

Be unique, be chaos

Yeah and then quit the hobby cause you keep getting beat by better codices, his best chance is to use it as a SW counts as if he wants to enjoy the game till Chaos get's updated.

Tyron wrote:

Toastedandy wrote: Be unique, be chaos

Yeah and then quit the hobby cause you keep getting beat by better codices, his best chance is to use it as a SW counts as if he wants to enjoy the game till Chaos get's updated.

Except he wants to stay away from Space Marines (non-chaos variety). Read his original post. He's trying not to be a WAAC, bandwagon player-he should be supported in going outside of the obvious "win-button" armies, not criticized for it-and neither should the people helping him with suggestions.

@OP-Chaos is a good call. It's more forgiving of errors than Tau and Tyranids, and can still hold its own in the competitive world. It's not the strongest codex out there, but there are a lot of goodies in it that make it fun to play. Don't get roped into feeling like you need to run the meta-list of 2 lash princes, obliterator squads and plague marines-do your own thing. I've never run this particular list, and I've got all wins under my belt with my chaos. Just remember, if you do go with Chaos, double up on units. They work best in pairs. 2 vindicators, 2 units of chosen, 2 princes, etc.

edit-fixed quoting issue

As a player who is relatively new...only been playing for a year or so I can tell you this when I started I chose necrons and everyone at my local shop laughed and said what a bad choice cause the codex was old and I would get pwned all the time. I stuck with it and now I have the new codex and I am completely happy with my choice cause I enjoy my army. I say build what YOU want to build forget the codex and go with what catches your eye cause you ultimately have to build them, paint them, and in the end play them. If you want to play CSM go for it or even 'nids...there are a couple of guys at my local shop who play 'nids and love them. Yea they don't always win but rarely do they get creamed and the paint jobs on the models are f'ing sweet. The CSM are down right nasty if you learn to play their tactics right. So my advice look them over and play the one YOU ultimately want and good luck to you....and welcome to the 40K universe it's a fun and challengeing world!!!

Thank you all very much for the help I went ahead and went with eldar, Overall I like theyre background and like SGrimhart said eventually things might get better for them (I have heard meh things). I actually originally bought chaos but asked to trade for the eldar just because I found I wasnt really happy with going chaos to be the big forgiving force. I like the idea that the eldar will take time to learn but can be good after some time and practice Now just to choose what to add to my battleforce

Good choice, eldar can still be VERY competitive welcome to the hobby btw !

Eldar can be viciously good, played right.

My wife's Saim-Hann have never been beaten yet, even by recent cheesy-marine dexes/builds.

The thing to remember about Eldar (or either variety) is that each unit has a specific thing they are meant for. Use them for that.

The right tool for the right job

Does anyone have any advice on what I should pick up for an HQ and other troops? I still got a battleforce because I figure its a good balanced start but thats all iv picked up so far. I was thinking of focusing in infantry with some of the rangers (They are snipers It looks like????)

Chaos all the way. They are a good starter army and can have some nasty units to play with. Obliterators, demon princes (mon with warptime for me) plague marines, or for fun beserkers in a landraider racing across the board.

scythewing wrote:Chaos all the way. They are a good starter army and can have some nasty units to play with. Obliterators, demon princes (mon with warptime for me) plague marines, or for fun beserkers in a landraider racing across the board.

He went with Eldar.

@OP, grab up some fire dragons too-great unit to deal with the mech-heavy environment. Also, farseers are great HQs, and they will help improve your army tremendously.

@timetowaste85 How about hte farseer with warlocks? Good grab?

Edit: Also what about the rangers are they any good to have for an infantry based army? Im thinking using infantry mainly and use vehicles for support and to cover areas of issue

As said above, the Eldar do not really have much in the way of "jack of all trades". All the units have their place, even the ones that people say are bad, specifically the Swooping Hawks and Shining Spears.

What I found when people said the Hawks suck is that if used what they are supposed to be used for, they could be annoying if your meta is right. With their Skyleap ability, and them always hitting vehicles on 4+ no matter what (with haywire grenades at least), they can be good.

Shining Spears...I am honestly not to sure about these guys. The really do seem to be the worst unit in the Codex.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

ryuubeoulve wrote:@timetowaste85 How about hte farseer with warlocks? Good grab?

Mainly just the Farseer, but I have heard nothing but good things from the Finecast models.

The last 2 months ive played friends armies and I love nids the most. The bugs are always fun and have always been pretty versatile. Orks are also really a blast. Honestly all armies are fun. But I am going to say Nids!

Gratzs on going with Eldar, I dont play Eldar but I would recomend Dark Reapers as heavy support, the only time I faced them they wiped my armour of the tabel along wtih their Eldar brothers

Eldar are cool.

My advice to you- learn to paint good gemstones! You'll need it

Trondheim wrote:Gratzs on going with Eldar, I dont play Eldar but I would recomend Dark Reapers as heavy support, the only time I faced them they wiped my armour of the tabel along wtih their Eldar brothers

Kinda odd, as they are more of an anti-MEQ thing.
For HS Fire Prisms/Night Spinners and Warwalkers are good in Mechdar lists, while Wraithlords are better in Footdar lists.

Also, I highly recommend that you stick as many shuri cannons in your list is you can. There are very good against pretty much everything, including light armor.

ryuubeoulve wrote:Does anyone have any advice on what I should pick up for an HQ and other troops? I still got a battleforce because I figure its a good balanced start but thats all iv picked up so far. I was thinking of focusing in infantry with some of the rangers (They are snipers It looks like????)

The farseer seems pretty unanimous and the warlocks are ok, especially if you were thinking of getting a wraithlord later on down the line

For other troops, if you're going on foot I'd say some more guardians, they can make a formidable force if there's alot of them. Dire Avengers are great too, but they work best if you have them in the wave serpent with the farseer, purely because of his powers and the fact that Dire Avengers do their best work up close

Rangers are great because of their pathfinders rule - in cover, they'll get a 2+ cover save which makes them very hard to get rid of. They can sit quite happily in the middle of the board for at least 3 turns picking away at the enemy and serve as a good distraction from the rest of your list too.

Future purchases... I'd say Fire Dragons, since they're able to take down pretty much any vehicle as soon as they're able to see it

Awesome thank you! the 30% discount is gone but they still have 20% for the weekend so i think ill pick up some rangers and fire dragons. Along with some more infantry of course

Get Chaos so you can have an army ready for the new Codex thats due out in the near future, FOR THE DARK GODS!!!

He's gone with Edar guys, leave it.

I can't say much about the Eldar, they are one of the few armies I haven't played with. But they are a learning curve; don;t expect to win your first games. When you get the hang of it though, you should do well. A warlock will come in useful if you have wraithlords/ wraithguards in your list, and banshees in a wave serpent deal with power armour or better very well in a group of ten.

I haven't played my eldar very man times. I like them but you really need to be strategic. I got advice from someone on a good mobile army and I do enjoy playing them. People will bash on them a lot simply because they don't have a brand new codex. It doesn't matter, I always enjoy seeing my banshees tearing up w/e they see. Or pinning that really important unit a friend wants to counter you with. Like I said, all armies have fun elements.