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hey guys i'm going to start a 40k army. i cant choose between orks and space marines. anyone is welcome to put there input in. i wanted to know how they generally stack up against armies like nids and grey knights. thoughts? maybe you can tell some past experience with playing each army. advantages and disadvantages.

thank you
Crimson

Generally speaking, Space Marines are the most forgiving army for beginners, but to be honest, after reading all the codices, the one that is the easiest to understand is the Tau, which is why I've made them my main army.

But really, if you want shooty with some choppy on the side, get SM. If you want choppy with some shooty on the side, get Orks. If you want Shooty only, get IG, if you want choppy only, get BA/BT

Space Marine in a nutshell.

Really its how you want to play warhammer40k if you want to a play shooty army play space marines or IG. If you want to play a close combat army play orks or nids. Then you could just play an army that looks coolest to you.

I've got marines, and they are a really solid army. They are balanced in points, have a lot of flexibility, and don't use ebonics as their main language. If you want a straightforward army that can handle all comers in a forgiving way - I'd choose them.

That being said, orks just seem fun. I really enjoy playing against them, because I never know what to expect. If you are into modeling, I think orks offer the best chance at conversions of any army. You could stock up on surplus vehicles from other armies on ebay and really go to town.

bubbinski wrote:I've got marines, and they are a really solid army. They are balanced in points, have a lot of flexibility, and don't use ebonics as their main language. If you want a straightforward army that can handle all comers in a forgiving way - I'd choose them.

That being said, orks just seem fun. I really enjoy playing against them, because I never know what to expect. If you are into modeling, I think orks offer the best chance at conversions of any army. You could stock up on surplus vehicles from other armies on ebay and really go to town.

The intense/unending modeling/painting involved in a horde army isn't for beginners.

ORKS ORKS ORKS ORKS ORKS ORKS ORKS ORKS. . .

Ahem.

I would say that, in general, orks are actually more forgiving at low points levels than SM; get lots of Boyz, take PK Nobs, run forward screaming and/or shooting as you desire. That remains a pretty effective tactic in most situations until you start to play higher point games with veterans, by which time you will have had enough games to get a feel for some other options. And most of the units are cheap enough that you can mess around with a lot of different styles even at 500-1000 points.

However, do be warned that playing Orks is more expensive than playing Space Marines, because you need more models. Like. . . quite a bit more expensive.

Problem with orks is you have to build so much and they are really not the most forgiving chapter. BUT IF YOU LOVE COMEDY! Then play orks. YOU WILL LOVE THEM!
Space Marines are kinda bleh. But if you want to set yourself off from the rest. Go orks. And go crazy.
GET THE DAKKA ON THAT MACHINE!
FOR THE HORDE DAKKA!

im thinking of running a horde orks list.thanks for all the comments guys, im glad to find a place where i can talk to fellow hobbyists.

check out my other thread and give my list a review, it would be greatly appreciated

Space Marines are solid and forgiving.

But they are also the most common.

IMO, I would love to see another follower of Da Greenskins

Plus, Orks are fun to play, AND they never lose.

crimson-angel wrote:im thinking of running a horde orks list.thanks for all the comments guys, im glad to find a place where i can talk to fellow hobbyists.

check out my other thread and give my list a review, it would be greatly appreciated

I am here to help you....
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/424902.page
(Don't forget to hyperlink it comes in handy sometimes.)

Dodgywop wrote:Space Marines are solid and forgiving.

But they are also the most common.

IMO, I would love to see another follower of Da Greenskins

Orks are fun to play, and they never lose.

I have to agree with him. Orks are very fun to play, and you can LOOT ANYTHING. You want a looted 2001 chevy impala? You go for it!

They will be my only Non-Imperial army if I ever decide to go outside of the Imperial Guard.

Actually, I started with tau and am quite glad of it. I am not saying you need to play tau, but you should probably picture a more difficult to play army as your first. That way, when you eventually spread to other armies, you will already have a firm grasp of tactics. If you start with an easy army, that is how you will learn to play, and the more difficult armies will be just that-more difficult.

Learn DE where everything is balance, or tau where everything is maneuver and focused firepower.

Alexzandvar wrote:
You want a looted 2001 chevy impala? You go for it!

Good lord, why would you want to loot an '01 impala!? What a waste of perfectly good mek gubbins!

Go with the orks; they are the only "fun" army in the game; the rest of the armies take this whole endless war thing too seriously. Plus you have the largest model range to select from-all of it!

-cgmckenzie

cgmckenzie wrote:

Alexzandvar wrote:
You want a looted 2001 chevy impala? You go for it!

Good lord, why would you want to loot an '01 impala!? What a waste of perfectly good mek gubbins!

Go with the orks; they are the only "fun" army in the game; the rest of the armies take this whole endless war thing too seriously. Plus you have the largest model range to select from-all of it!

-cgmckenzie

Wait they can loot ANY vehicle?

SO I could see them with a baneblade or a Hammerhead?

im2randomghgh wrote:

Wait they can loot ANY vehicle?

SO I could see them with a baneblade or a Hammerhead?

Sure.

Now, you can't use the RULES for a Baneblade or Hammerhead in a normal game, but you could certainly use the model (suitably Orkified, of course). It'd make a pretty sweet conversion.

My vote is for the orks. Play them well and they are awesome. But to learn the game marines are better IMO and cheaper to build a good army with.

BeRzErKeR wrote:

im2randomghgh wrote:

Wait they can loot ANY vehicle?

SO I could see them with a baneblade or a Hammerhead?

Sure.

Now, you can't use the RULES for a Baneblade or Hammerhead in a normal game, but you could certainly use the model (suitably Orkified, of course). It'd make a pretty sweet conversion.

So a looted Baneblade and a looted rhino would have the same rules?

im2randomghgh wrote:

So a looted Baneblade and a looted rhino would have the same rules?

Sadly, yes. There's a (crappy) Looted Wagon option in the current Ork Codex to represent 'repurposed' vehicles, and. . . that's it.

In the old Ork codex, you could literally take one of any Space Marine or IG tank. Its BS was lowered to 2 while the points cost remained the same, its upgrades were replaced with the Ork vehicle upgrade options, and it had a special 'Breakdown' rule that could make it lurch around hilariously, but otherwise it was identical to the original codex. GW saw fit to take that ability away from us in the 4th Edition codex. It was a sad, sad day.

BeRzErKeR wrote:

im2randomghgh wrote:

So a looted Baneblade and a looted rhino would have the same rules?

Sadly, yes. There's a (crappy) Looted Wagon option in the current Ork Codex to represent 'repurposed' vehicles, and. . . that's it.

In the old Ork codex, you could literally take one of any Space Marine or IG tank. Its BS was lowered to 2 while the points cost remained the same, its upgrades were replaced with the Ork vehicle upgrade options, and it had a special 'Breakdown' rule that could make it lurch around hilariously, but otherwise it was identical to the original codex. GW saw fit to take that ability away from us in the 4th Edition codex. It was a sad, sad day.

:(

Because i know I can take tau armies where everything but the HQ has an av, and it would be just hilarious to put all that down on the table alongside Ghazzy and nob retinue and inform my opponent I was playing orks.

im2randomghgh wrote:

:(

Because i know I can take tau armies where everything but the HQ has an av, and it would be just hilarious to put all that down on the table alongside Ghazzy and nob retinue and inform my opponent I was playing orks.

Oh, believe me, I know . . .

However, you can still use the Battlewagon rules to represent looted vehicles, if you like; they're a better representation of heavy tanks anyway, though the Killkannon (only option for heavy ordnance) is terribly overcosted. In addition, Nobz can take Battlewagons as dedicated transports, and Warbosses or Ghazghkull can make a unit of Nobz count as troops . . . so if you've got some fun-looking converted models you CAN still play Armored Krumpany, it's just a bit different than it used to be. Two Battlewagons as dedicated transports for Troop Nobz, 3 as dedicated transports for Elite Nobz, and 3 Looted Wagons or Battlewagons as Heavy Support, with a couple mobs of Boyz to stick in them, fits into 2500 points (or 2000, if you cut out one or two of the Elite Nobz units). It's not terribly competitive, but it can be a hell of a lot of fun!

Go SM.

That way if you want to play Space Marines, you can

If you want to try out Space Wolves, you can.

If you want to try Blood Angels, you can

If you want to try Dark Angels, you can.

If you want to try Black Templars, you can...

Orks Pros: An army of endless Brovado, brutality and effective brute force tactics. An army so numerous most enemies get worried when you deploy your starting forces, One of the most forgiving and light hearted armies in the game play to fight and fight to play. CONVERTING YOUR MODELS!

Ork Cons: More models than almost any army out there = EXPENSIVE, More models = more painting, tactically you lack certain elements to effective tank hunt as most armies can you need to use alternative tactics so it can cause a learning curve. Generally expendable army troops prepare to tug around alot of them anywhere you go.

Space Marine Pros: Well balanced army that gives a knightly feel to your forces, constant revision and focus toward your factions as they are a commonly owned army, Quality troops which are inexpensive obtain (compared to orks), One of the most enriching fluff armies in the game. great way to learn the game in and out.

Space Marine Cons: INCREDIBLY UNIFORM; your army may look identical to another person's even if they are different factions. unlike orks many space marine players cannot get behind the mentalities they represent (hard to feel motivated by your force). Lastly, the whole game designs weapons to kill your troops "is it ap3? OMG SWEET!"

Want to play on easy mode with cheat codes: Play SM

Want to play on Hard : Play orks.

YMMV, of course

Ascalam wrote:Want to play on easy mode with cheat codes: Play SM

Want to play on Hard : Play orks.

YMMV, of course

played both, i am not sure I agree with this. I often found victory easier as orks- maybe advanced? or realism? or something that infers needing more knowledge to master but is easier once done? *Shrug*

DA HORDE vs the Knights your choice both are good ones.

Go Orks.

Then buy Imperial Armour Vol. 8 for some shiny toys far better at representing looted vehicles (I currently run two super-kannon wagons in my 2k force).

Big Mek Wurrzog wrote:

Ascalam wrote:Want to play on easy mode with cheat codes: Play SM

Want to play on Hard : Play orks.

YMMV, of course

played both, i am not sure I agree with this. I often found victory easier as orks- maybe advanced? or realism? or something that infers needing more knowledge to master but is easier once done? *Shrug*

DA HORDE vs the Knights your choice both are good ones.

Played both myself (BT, Vanilla, BA and SW, also Daemonhunters Grey Knights but not the latest travesty of them). I still have my BT, and proxy them as other marine armies once in a while.

I find it far too easy to win as Marines. There's no real challenge there, for me. Different Strokes, of course

Orks make me have to actually think (it 'urtz!) and not assume that almost anything that hits me will bounce off. I find them more challenging.


Marines ARE significantly cheaper to collect, and every starter box comes with a bunch of them. The Snap-lock ones aren't bad, if a little static, and are cheaper then talk over at Ebay. There's always someone selling off marines on the swapshop too If i'd known how much my orks would have cost me to collect, and how long it would have taken to get all the ones i wanted, i might not have gotten so into them, but now i'm hooked too deep

Ascalam wrote:

Big Mek Wurrzog wrote:

Ascalam wrote:Want to play on easy mode with cheat codes: Play SM

Want to play on Hard : Play orks.

YMMV, of course

played both, i am not sure I agree with this. I often found victory easier as orks- maybe advanced? or realism? or something that infers needing more knowledge to master but is easier once done? *Shrug*

DA HORDE vs the Knights your choice both are good ones.

Played both myself (BT, Vanilla, BA and SW, also Daemonhunters Grey Knights but not the latest travesty of them). I still have my BT, and proxy them as other marine armies once in a while.

I find it far too easy to win as Marines. There's no real challenge there, for me. Different Strokes, of course

Orks make me have to actually think (it 'urtz!) and not assume that almost anything that hits me will bounce off. I find them more challenging.


Marines ARE significantly cheaper to collect, and every starter box comes with a bunch of them. The Snap-lock ones aren't bad, if a little static, and are cheaper then talk over at Ebay. There's always someone selling off marines on the swapshop too If i'd known how much my orks would have cost me to collect, and how long it would have taken to get all the ones i wanted, i might not have gotten so into them, but now i'm hooked too deep

Oy! Being an ork means ur Dead Killy and a Sneaky Git ta boot! Agreed orks do require a bit of pre-conception to win but that is what i like about the orks. The idea my enemy thinks I am a dumb guy who loves to scream WAAAGH but then suddenly 1 round before CC I don't move and shoot him out of the sky then crash forward boxing him in on all sides so bravo to that, agreed as marines I was a bit too much gunline/parking lot.

Incase you aren't aware what i mean OP orks will involing being aggressive and probing into ways past stronger defenses

While Marines often employ stand and shoot tactics generally behind cover and using alot of tanks to protect themselves from assualt while adding gunz to their force.

I find it strange that playing Marines for me is on Hard mode. I guess it's just my playstyle of being uber-aggressive.

Ascalam wrote:Want to play on easy mode with cheat codes: Play SM

Want to play on Medium : Play orks.

YMMV, of course

Fixed.

Hard mode is Tau, DE, Eldar and Oldcrons.