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Right, so a friend and I recently got into Warhammer 40k through the AoBR starter kit, and we're about ready to start making our own armies now. Friend has made up his mind to play Imperial Guard, and seeing as how his birthday is coming up, I want to get him a nice central unit for his army. I was thinking a Leman Russ, but wouldn't know which kit would be better. Though since we currently don't have an army at all, perhaps a Chimera would be of better use starting out?

For the record, I myself was thinking of starting a Tau army, so if something is better for fighting Tau, that would be great. Our opponents will mostly be each other, as we're kind of in the boonies. Maybe a third if we can convince someone to build up our Orks or SMs.

Leman Russ.
Only issue is the kit. Of the three worthwhile LRs, two of them (Demolisher and Executioner) come in the same kit. So, you could get him that.
Or if you think he'd prefer the standard Leman Russ, get him that.
I'm assuming you're okay with the price of that, though. In the UK the chimera is £10 cheaper so if price is an issue, go with that.
Similarly if price is NO issue, could go for a Valkyrie. But I suspect that's unlikely, eh?

Go with the basic Leman Russ or a Chimera. Won't go wrong with those purchases.

I say go with the Leman Russ if pricing isn't an issue.

I also agree on a russ. The neat thing is that with a few magnets, or a little creativity with plasticard, you can make all of the weapons mix-n-match-able, so he can get a lot of different vehicles in a lot of different configurations from just one box.

A chimera would be nice, if your buddy has some skill with plasticard, as a chimera chassis done properly is worth its weight in gold, being able to be easily interchanged with any chimera-chassis vehicle. If he's going to just build a chimera, though, don't bother. He's going to have to have at least three to be worth taking one.

Standard Russ is the way to go. Nothing better.

Aerowind wrote:Right, so a friend and I recently got into Warhammer 40k through the AoBR starter kit, and we're about ready to start making our own armies now. Friend has made up his mind to play Imperial Guard, and seeing as how his birthday is coming up, I want to get him a nice central unit for his army. I was thinking a Leman Russ, but wouldn't know which kit would be better. Though since we currently don't have an army at all, perhaps a Chimera would be of better use starting out?

For the record, I myself was thinking of starting a Tau army, so if something is better for fighting Tau, that would be great. Our opponents will mostly be each other, as we're kind of in the boonies. Maybe a third if we can convince someone to build up our Orks or SMs.

You can never go wrong with Chimeras, IG players can *always* use more Chimeras.

That said, a Leman Russ isn't a bad idea either as they're a decent "big stick" for a starter army and are always useful to have when making bigger armies, and Chimeras like to be taken in multiples to be used to their maximum effect.

I agree with the Russ, but I'd strongly advocate the Executioner (Plasma Cannon goodness) especially with plasma sponsoons. It's pricey (in game terms) but it has proved its worth again and again whenever I've fielded it.

They are a nightmare for heavily armoured foes, MEQ and even hold their own against hordes. And if you can manage to catch literally anything that isn't a vehichle out in the open you might as well write off the entire unit. This thing has chewed through entire SM Chapter Master and their retinues, as well a Hive Tyrants and Tyrant Guard in a single round of shooting.

Guard it from combat with a cheap infantry unit as best as you can and it will never, ever let you down.

EDIT: As for Tau, if the player has any idea what he's doing the firewarriors will be in cover, but the Executioner will absolutely murder any battlesuits and is even a threat to their moderately armoured vehichles.

A chimera will probably be better for a new IG player but nothing says 'I love you' like a Leman Russ. Either way I think your friend will be pleased

Demolisher!!! Cant go wrong with that. possibly the best russ

As everyone has said, a Russ is always a viable idea. Generally, unless he's only going to have one Chimera in the army (probably for his CCS) he'll probably want 3 or 4 minimum for a mechanized infantry list. I've only seen one IG army that didn't feature some Russ or another, and that's because he ran a rapid-response air assault list as part of an Apoc team. Someone else held down the heavy support with 2 full Russ squads and 3 Basilisks.

Russes in-game are a great catch-all against every army and unit, it's hard to beat a S8 AP3 pie-plate on a rolling behemoth with 14-13-11 armour and a lascannon to be fired each turn.

Plus, for painting/sentimental purposes, since the Russ is pretty much the trademark of Imperial Guard, he''ll probably look back on it with affection as "That's the first Russ I ever painted, and my friend bought it for me for my xth birthday!"

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. Finally decided on the LR demolisher kit. Even managed to find a good deal on one. Now it's up to him to fill in the rest...though we'll probably let the orks have it until then. The Assault on Black Reach set seems to be a bit skewed towards marines.

You could be REAL nice and get him a Baneblade.......

Aerowind wrote:Thanks everyone for your kind responses. Finally decided on the LR demolisher kit. Even managed to find a good deal on one. Now it's up to him to fill in the rest...though we'll probably let the orks have it until then. The Assault on Black Reach set seems to be a bit skewed towards marines.

son don't go there you'll start a interweb war of words about the merits of marines.

secondly and late the Lr demolisher id fantastic just suggest to him to eith magnetize the guns (so you can swap em out) or get extra turret sprues

Either Leman Russ or a Chimera.

Leman Russ standard variant or a chimera

captain collius wrote:

Aerowind wrote:Thanks everyone for your kind responses. Finally decided on the LR demolisher kit. Even managed to find a good deal on one. Now it's up to him to fill in the rest...though we'll probably let the orks have it until then. The Assault on Black Reach set seems to be a bit skewed towards marines.

son don't go there you'll start a interweb war of words about the merits of marines.

secondly and late the Lr demolisher id fantastic just suggest to him to eith magnetize the guns (so you can swap em out) or get extra turret sprues

In my defense, the space marines in the starter kit do have a rather large point advantage on the orks.