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Hello Forum!

I'm rather new to the WH40K franchise (never played a single game), but I've been observing the different play styles, models, and fluff for a few months now and made a few purchases.

However, I'm in a bit of a conundrum as I can't decide what army I should dedicate myself to. As far as my play style goes I'm somewhat of an all-rounder but I like CC a little more than shooting. I like painting too, but don't want to be too concerned with intricate details (i.e. Grey Knights, Chaos Space Marines, Dark Eldar, etc).

I like shooting, but not at the expense of being unable to do battle in CC (i.e. Tau). I generally am leaning towards armies that not too many play with though there are exceptions (So no Space Marines).

Which leads me towards these three armies Orks, Space Wolves, and Necrons. The reasons are as follows:

Orks:
- Heavily close combat oriented
- Great fluff "Waaaggh!!"
- Not too difficult to paint
- Models look fantastic
- Fun abilities
- I have the Orks from the Black Reach box
- I have the codex
- Customization options

- Poor armor saves
- Not very good shooting wise
- Horde army = lots of money

Space Wolves:
- A rather balanced army that's weighted a little more towards CC
- More simpler to paint than Orks (overall)
- Has tanks
- Nice fluff as well
- Great stats all around
- Have a more uniformed feel to them
- Price is rather decent

- Could be viewed as cheesy
- A rather common army (top tier army)
- May be a bit too easy to win games (I like challenges)
- I don't have any of their models or codex
- Not too keen on painting human faces (hence why IG isn't listed)

Necrons:
- REALLY like the egyptian/terminator look
- Great stats and weapons
- I have the old 2008 Megaforce Boxset
- I have the new codex
- Ability to come back from the dead
- Nice wargear
- Very simple to paint

- May be overpowered
- No tanks (they don't look like tanks)
- Rather fragile in close combat
- Vehicles have armor 11


So which one should I go with?
Thank you for your time and patience.

Necrons just came out, so you'll be good with them for a while....

Necron is a shooty army, not a choppy army. There are choppy elements, sure, but they're going to play a lot more like a tau army than like a berzerker army.

One thing you may want to consider is chaos space marines. All their troops come with power armor, boltgun, and pistol+close combat weapon, which means they can still shoot, but they're pretty darn good in close combat just by themselves. They can also be kitted pretty easily to be wicked sweet in close combat while still containing shooty elements.

Furthermore, it's a power armor army, so it's going to be cheaper than a green tide while also having a 3+ save or better and BS4 so they're decent at shooting. Unlike space wolves, they're not ALL that common, or necessarily considered top tier, and you don't have to paint a single human face if you don't want to.

Great model stats, easy to paint, while at the same time very customizable, both in army lists and the look of the models themselves.

The only drawback is that you don't currently have anything for them, but you're starting a new army anyways, so...

Ailaros wrote:Necron is a shooty army, not a choppy army. There are choppy elements, sure, but they're going to play a lot more like a tau army than like a berzerker army.

One thing you may want to consider is chaos space marines. All their troops come with power armor, boltgun, and pistol+close combat weapon, which means they can still shoot, but they're pretty darn good in close combat just by themselves. They can also be kitted pretty easily to be wicked sweet in close combat while still containing shooty elements.

Furthermore, it's a power armor army, so it's going to be cheaper than a green tide while also having a 3+ save or better and BS4 so they're decent at shooting. Unlike space wolves, they're not ALL that common, or necessarily considered top tier, and you don't have to paint a single human face if you don't want to.

Great model stats, easy to paint, while at the same time very customizable, both in army lists and the look of the models themselves.

The only drawback is that you don't currently have anything for them, but you're starting a new army anyways, so...

On the contrary I do have stuff from them as well as the Tau. I just didn't have them in mind when I made this topic because their demonic models and nature rubbed me the wrong way. Though I suppose I can be convinced to play them, given what you said they do match up to my play style and preferences nicely. Right now I have the Codex, 15 Chaos Marines, and a Chaos Lord. I suppose I don't have to field the demonic looking models if I don't want to because I have no problem being an evil race. The Demon Prince I don't mind so much, he looks awesome! It's the Possessed Chaos Space Marines, Nurgle stuff, Plague Marines, Raptors, and Chaos Spawns I don't like. But they don't seem to be imperative in an army listing so I don't have to field them if I don't want to.

Thanks for your help on this! It means a lot. I'll definitely reconsider the Chaos Space Marines. Though I'm still up for suggestions on what other people have to say.

Krusaider wrote:

Ailaros wrote:Necron is a shooty army, not a choppy army. There are choppy elements, sure, but they're going to play a lot more like a tau army than like a berzerker army.

One thing you may want to consider is chaos space marines. All their troops come with power armor, boltgun, and pistol+close combat weapon, which means they can still shoot, but they're pretty darn good in close combat just by themselves. They can also be kitted pretty easily to be wicked sweet in close combat while still containing shooty elements.

Furthermore, it's a power armor army, so it's going to be cheaper than a green tide while also having a 3+ save or better and BS4 so they're decent at shooting. Unlike space wolves, they're not ALL that common, or necessarily considered top tier, and you don't have to paint a single human face if you don't want to.

Great model stats, easy to paint, while at the same time very customizable, both in army lists and the look of the models themselves.

The only drawback is that you don't currently have anything for them, but you're starting a new army anyways, so...

On the contrary I do have stuff from them as well as the Tau. I just didn't have them in mind when I made this topic because their demonic models and nature rubbed me the wrong way. Though I suppose I can be convinced to play them, given what you said they do match up to my play style and preferences nicely. Right now I have the Codex, 15 Chaos Marines, and a Chaos Lord. I suppose I don't have to field the demonic looking models if I don't want to because I have no problem being an evil race. The Demon Prince I don't mind so much, he looks awesome! It's the Possessed Chaos Space Marines, Nurgle stuff, Plague Marines, Raptors, and Chaos Spawns I don't like. But they don't seem to be imperative in an army listing so I don't have to field them if I don't want to.

Thanks for your help on this! It means a lot. I'll definitely reconsider the Chaos Space Marines. Though I'm still up for suggestions on what other people have to say.

CSM are also rumoured to be getting a new codex next year, so there might be some new stuff to tickle your fancy!

Necrons:
- REALLY like the egyptian/terminator look
- Great stats and weapons
- I have the old 2008 Megaforce Boxset
- I have the new codex
- Ability to come back from the dead
- Nice wargear
- Very simple to paint

- May be overpowered
- No tanks (they don't look like tanks)
- Rather fragile in close combat
- Vehicles have armor 11

Necrons are not overpowered, it's just because it's new that people are saying that. It is a very strong codex though.

Keep in mind, that Quantum Shielding gives them AV 13 on all their open topped vehicles, until their first penetrating hit. This is a lot more powerful than it may look at first glance.


I would normally advocate waiting a bit, since 6th edition is rumored to be coming out next summer, but if this is your first army than it would be completely understandable to get the ball rolling now.

Really though, if you already have the Megaforce boxed set, I'd do Necrons if I were in your shoes. You've also said you like the style as well as the rules. I mean, couple this all together and this seems like the Clear winner to me.

The Codex was designed with 6th in mind, so you should be safe there as well.

I agree with sasori, you've already done the hard bit by buying the models and codex so I would say give them a decent running for about six months then you can evaluate whether they are your play style or not.

Of the three you listed, I'd recommend the Necrons, since you already have a megaforce. They are mostly based around shooting and their core stuff is mediocre in cc, but they have some very good close combat units like the destroyer lord, scarabs, wraiths, and others. Their AV11 vehicles are AV13 until they take a penetrating hit.

If you are considering playing CSM, but don't like the daemons, (fluff wise) there are legions like the Iron Warriors that don't really use daemons. They are siege specialists that love blowing things up. You could build an army with minimal daemonic influence.

Phaeron wrote:Of the three you listed, I'd recommend the Necrons, since you already have a megaforce. They are mostly based around shooting and their core stuff is mediocre in cc, but they have some very good close combat units like the destroyer lord, scarabs, wraiths, and others. Their AV11 vehicles are AV13 until they take a penetrating hit.

If you are considering playing CSM, but don't like the daemons, (fluff wise) there are legions like the Iron Warriors that don't really use daemons. They are siege specialists that love blowing things up. You could build an army with minimal daemonic influence.

Bolded emphasis mine. The Open topped AV 11 Vehicles are AV13 until the first pen, not all the AV 11 Vehicles.

Sorry to nitpick, but there is a diffidence.

Wow! Thanks so much everyone for your generous feedback.
What you all said makes a lot of sense so I am thoroughly convinced and pleased to say that I will take up Necrons as my first WH40K army.
Thanks again

Krusaider wrote:Wow! Thanks so much everyone for your generous feedback.
What you all said makes a lot of sense so I am thoroughly convinced and pleased to say that I will take up Necrons as my first WH40K army.
Thanks again

Damn, another corruption foiled!

Seriously though, sounds like a good choice for you, I hope you enjoy collecting them.

Happy gaming!

I would have suggested BT, CC army with some shooting, easy to paint and a challenge to win with due to the old codex. Though Necrons are good too, (have both armies-in fact was play testing them tonight and BT kicked Necron backside, Reanimation Protocols certainly made it frustrating though.)

I'm surprised that you never considered Dark Eldar. They can outshoot pretty much any infantry army in the game with Venoms, and they can chop with the best of em with the Archon and Wyches. They also have a gorgeous range of models which were just released. If you can get over the fact that everything in their army is made out of paper mache they are a very cool army.

Sasori wrote:
Bolded emphasis mine. The Open topped AV 11 Vehicles are AV13 until the first pen, not all the AV 11 Vehicles.

Sorry to nitpick, but there is a diffidence.

You are absolutely correct. It was an oversight on my part. I wasn't thinking of the night scythe and doom scythe. Thanks for pointing that out.

akaean wrote:I'm surprised that you never considered Dark Eldar. They can outshoot pretty much any infantry army in the game with Venoms, and they can chop with the best of em with the Archon and Wyches. They also have a gorgeous range of models which were just released. If you can get over the fact that everything in their army is made out of paper mache they are a very cool army.

Yeah I did consider hem at one point and was set on buying a lot of their models, but after speaking with my GW retailer friend he suggested I go with a different army because I was new to playing the game and Dark Eldar aren't very forgiving. It takes a lot of work to master them if you're starting from scratch, not that I mind, but he did make a good point. From what I read too about Dark Eldar there's a clear sign if you're going to win the game or not. If it doesn't appear you have a good upperhand by turn 3 or so, you'll more than likely lose in the end. However, if you are crushing by turn 3 then you'll certainly demolish your foe. So it seems to me that they're like a double-edged sword. Which is nice and I didn't mind their fluff too much (though I wish they weren't such sadists). But as a beginner he advised me to go with the other choice on my mind. The Space Wolves.
Though maybe one day I'll take up the Dark Eldar or Chaos Space Marines.