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So i'm new to 40k and have some models and want to build them into an army.

This is what I have right now.

3 space marine sergeants with chainsword and pistol
1 space marine sergeant with plasma pistol
17 space marines with bolters
2 space marines with flamers
2 space marines with missile launchers
1 space marine with plasma gun
1 space marine with melta gun
1 predator with 4 lascannons
1 Rhino

So from what I have there I think I can make 2 and a half tactical squads with one that has a rhino as a transport.

What should I get next? I'm thinking if I get a space marine captain and another rhino then my force would be adequately mobile and would be able to fire. So what would you recommend? My only restrictions are this, all models must have the option of putting on a helmet and no motorcycles.

In the short term a librarian, which happens to be a good long term investment, with gate would be good to make all your troops mobile.
In the medium term more transportation, so a another rhino.
In the long term decide which direction you want to go.

Personally I would just go for the autocannon on top of the pred.

You can in any direction you want with your models. Maybe the rhino would not fit a razorback list.

I think you should writing 1500 pt lists to work towards, that way you do not get lead astray.
At which point in time you'll want at least 3 rhinos in total to make your current 1 rhino work well.

Good luck

Razorbacks are popular, and justly so. You can split your tactical squads into combat squads; this allows your heavy weapon to stay still and shoot while your special weapon move forward. The best value in the Razorback category is the lascannon-twin-linked plasma gun version. There are guides to this conversion available. It's not at all hard if you can round up two plastic plasma guns. If that's not your idea of a good time, just go with twin-lascannons.

Librarians are good value for HQ, but there are a couple of the special characters that are popular. These latter usually require certain units to be useful so you may want to stick with the Libby unless you have something particular in mind.

Dreadnoughts are easy units for a new player to build and use. They're reasonably effective too. The Black Reach version is always available on eBay for pretty reasonable prices.

Here's a 1500-point list I sometimes use:

Librarian
Dreadnought with multi-melta
Dreadnought with multi-melta
Dreadnought with multi-melta
Tactical Squad with missile launcher, melta gun; Razorback with las.plas.
Tactical Squad with missile launcher, melta gun; Razorback with las.plas.
Tactical Squad with missile launcher, melta gun; Razorback with las.plas.
Tactical Squad with missile launcher, melta gun; Razorback with las.plas.
Landspeeder with multi-melta

If you went with only three squads, you would be able to play the Predator instead of the fourth and probably have a few points left. The Dreadnoughts would be cheap and easy units to add. The Librarian is a versatile HQ and a fast skimmer is always handy.

I advocate a lot of the advice given. Here's just a bit more:

TheGateway wrote:3 space marine sergeants with chainsword and pistol

Cut the 'teeth' off the chain-swords with a hobby knife and paint it black. Add on 'power-lightning' type pulses of energy and now your sgts have power swords. Ordering PFist bits is a good idea.

If you don't *buy* the libby model, then paint some light blue around the helmet of your plasma-pistol sgt. and have *him* be your libby. He'd need a sword lookin' toy though. Good enough until you buy one.

Or cut off the chainsword and glue on a bolter.

How important are numbers for a space marine army?

I think the first game I will play will probably be at 1250 points.

so I am thinking

Space marine librarian
Or a space marine captain with thunder hammer, storm shield and a jump pack
Tactical Squad flamer missile launcher, rhino
Tactical Squad flamer missile launcher, rhino
Tactical Squad missile launcher, melta gun, rhino
Tactical Squad missile launcher, melta gun, rhino
Predator 4x Lascannon extra amour

1110 with the librarian
1180 with the captain

How should I fill up the extra points? Do I need all 4 rhinos or could I get by with two?

1250 pts is a good start and you'll find people will play that.

I would say 3 rhinos gives your opponent a headache without taking up so many points as 4. 2 just means the opponent could for example refuse flank you and shoot the one on his side and then you are a little stuck.

Some say differently, but tactical squads are pretty rubbish compared to other units. You'll need only 2 for scoring at 1250 pts.
I like your melta, missile launcher set up but I would also give them a combimelta, to make sure they kill that first tank that gets close - this is worth the points.

Now I reckoned 3 rhinos so I feel I should give some options for the other rhino.
1)Another tactical squad, I would probably go flamer to give an antiinfantry unit.
2)Sternguard. I would go 6 with 2 heavy flamers and 4 combimeltas. Which is not too expensive but effective.
3)command squad. Too many options. Maybe 2 meltas, 2 flamers and then 4 cc weapons, maybe not.

400 to 500 pts to spend after the HQ. You'll now want some tanks to distract the nasty antitank fire away from your rhinos. So 2 preds with autocannon and lascannon and 2 dreads with 2TLAC would give great covering fire?

That is just a ramble. I reckon the list is good enough maybe some combiweapons would be nice but well worth a try Though a jump pack captain does not fit the list.

TheGateway wrote:How important are numbers for a space marine army?

Which numbers? # of models or points?

TheGateway wrote:Space marine librarian
Or a space marine captain with thunder hammer, storm shield and a jump pack

A TH is a waste of his faster Init. Just a libby. Avenger or Null Zone are best/most flexible powers.

TheGateway wrote:Tactical Squad flamer missile launcher, rhino
Tactical Squad flamer missile launcher, rhino
Tactical Squad missile launcher, melta gun, rhino
Tactical Squad missile launcher, melta gun, rhino

I'd remove every ML, and create a dev squad with them. I found my tactical squads functioned best on the move anyway, which negated the ML's use. So, my tacs are almost always without MLs. Yes, even if they're free.

TheGateway wrote:Predator 4x Lascannon extra amour

EA is usually for transports. I don't see too much reason for it on the Pred.

TheGateway wrote:
1110 with the librarian
1180 with the captain
How should I fill up the extra points? Do I need all 4 rhinos or could I get by with two?

No, no, keep all 4. As for some point bumps, you really ought to have PFist sgts, and a few of those will fill you to 1250. Proxy until you get the bits/models. Painting a white stripe on the top of a helmet is a good designation, or even a 'laurel' on the helmet (not as tough to paint as you might think. ).

Which numbers? # of models or points?

Number of models, should I strive to have at least half of a normal enemy army or more?

A TH is a waste of his faster Init. Just a libby. Avenger or Null Zone are best/most flexible powers.

If I wanted a unit that could dance around the battlefield that is hard to kill and can tip the tide of battle when I need it what would that unit be? I'm under the impression that a librarian will more or less stay in one spot and try to take on the big bad guys by himself. I'm more looking for a combined approach to killing big monsters.


Are land speeders worth investing in?

More models than GK, less models than orks. Though you can get lots of models in a Gk list and sometimes people field only a few orks but that ruins my point.
Just rely on building a good list. If you have loads of tactical squads you tend to not bringing enough power to the board, where as to have little troops means you have multiple landraiders and/or multiple deathstar units both away from which you should walk.

The game changer and runs around sounds like the usual death star requirement. At 2000 pts or more you can get away with this, in fact at that range I think you need a cc monster to protect you from that threat which will cover you. This can be a command squad on bikes with storm shields and cc weapons or assault termies in a landraider. It is tricky to add these sort of units into a small list.

If I wanted a unit that could dance around the battlefield that is hard to kill and can tip the tide of battle when I need it what would that unit be? I'm under the impression that a librarian will more or less stay in one spot and try to take on the big bad guys by himself. I'm more looking for a combined approach to killing big monsters.

In a SM list you do not want any of your ICs solo, you will want them attached to a unit.

TheGateway wrote:

Which numbers? # of models or points?

Number of models, should I strive to have at least half of a normal enemy army or more?

Model count isn't formulaic. You build what your codex dictates. Dark Eldar are going to have lotsa little paper airplanes. GK purifier builds are going to be slightly smaller SM armies, with GK pallies being smaller in models than DeathWing. Orks, of the various builds, are going to feature large amounts of green carpet.

Don't sweat the model count. What I would recommend is lurking on a lot of other list threads and following the examples there.

TheGateway wrote:If I wanted a unit that could dance around the battlefield that is hard to kill and can tip the tide of battle when I need it what would that unit be? I'm under the impression that a librarian will more or less stay in one spot and try to take on the big bad guys by himself. I'm more looking for a combined approach to killing big monsters.

That'd be TH/SS termies *with* the libby. He shouldn't be by himself, ever. Too easily shot.

TheGateway wrote:Are land speeders worth investing in?

I like 'em. I used the dual HB in this edition. Most player like the MM/HF, though. There's a bit of a curve in using them.

First rule of a SM army; have all marines that you plan on being on the move, in a dedicated transport. Scout and devs are a different story, but if it can get in a vehicle, and you want it to be mobile, make sure it starts the game INSIDE one.

Space marine captains are nothing compared to Librarians and chaplains... Only time I take a captain is if part of an honor guard.

if you are playing over 1000 pts I strongly suggest your list uses all 3 elite slots. Dreds, termis, sternguard et al.

As for dedicated trans, razorbacks are great vehicles, equip with las. Since you're new to the hobby, never buy the rhino box, for 2-3 bucks extra the razor box has the same stuff, plus a weapon you can easily switch to either one.

MisterMoon wrote:Space marine captains are nothing compared to Librarians and chaplains... Only time I take a captain is if part of an honor guard.

Great advice either side in your post, which makes this really stand out.

For their role on the battlefield I would have Librarian before a captain, sure but the captain still holds his own.
Captain though gives you a command squad which can be a great squad, which isn't part of the FoC and can be integral to a list.

Chaplains are pretty bad with the exception of one in termy armour to roll with assault termies, in which case why not go for Cassius. Chaplains have only a few powerweapon attacks, making a squad reroll on the assault isn't great when nearly all the attacks are st4 but mainly making marines fearless in combat isn't so clever, assault termies excepted as they are really killy and have 2+.

I was in the store today and I didn't know which kind of librarian to buy,

Should I get the own with the book and the staff?

MisterMoon wrote: Since you're new to the hobby, never buy the rhino box, for 2-3 bucks extra the razor box has the same stuff, plus a weapon you can easily switch to either one.

I was gonna post this too. Just don't glue down the top hatches.

Killian wrote:

MisterMoon wrote: Since you're new to the hobby, never buy the rhino box, for 2-3 bucks extra the razor box has the same stuff, plus a weapon you can easily switch to either one.

I was gonna post this too. Just don't glue down the top hatches.

I already bought a rhino, but from now on I will be buying razorbacks. I'm thinking of using the turret hatch from the rhino box and glue on the bolter and the turret hatch from the razorback with the other gun so I can quickly switch around.

If I was to buy a rhino and a predator, would I then have the parts to build two predators?

Are there any other tips to save a bit of money? (Besides ebay)

Thanks!

TheGateway wrote:

If I was to buy a rhino and a predator, would I then have the parts to build two predators?

Are there any other tips to save a bit of money? (Besides ebay)

Thanks!

It doesn't quite work that way. The Predator kit comes with all the gun options but not enough 'mounts' to make another from a rhino kit. Like it only comes with one turret but the gun barrels are different. It is safe to say though that you will almost NEVER use the Twinlinked lascannons in the turret so just glue in the Autocannon. For the side sponsons you sometimes will switch around the options so there are some simple ways to magnetize them like small rare-earth magnets in place of the pole that attaches the gun to the tank hull.

Magnetizing is a good money saver too. Take the Land Speeder for example, you can spend about another $6 to get a kit from this guy (http://www.themanufactorum.com/kits/marines/ls_deluxe.htm) and now you are not stuck to one single load-out for your Speeder. It saves you from buying another model just to change weapons.

So I bought AoBR and this is what my army is now:

HQ
Space Marine Captain: Power Sword, Artificer Armor:

Troops
Tactical Squad: Missile Launcher, Plasma gun:
Tactical Squad: Missile Launcher, Flamer:
Tactical Squad: Meltagun, Rhino:
Tactical Squad: (5 Models)

Elites
Terminator Squad:
Dreadnought:

Heavy Support
Predator, Twin linked lascannon, Lascannon sponsons:

Total 1260 points

This is enough to play a game at the store I am going to on game nights. I do need to shed 10 points though, thinking of taking out the plasma gun.

Any advice for my first real battle?

Librarian w staff model is excellent. I would recommend that one.

Before you glue superstar units such as terminators, play around with your troops to get the feel for dynamic poses.

Try a few flgs if you have that chance, a GW staffer who is friendly and willing to help gwtting your models glued and posed well will make a big difference.