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Me and my friend want to try out infinity.He wants to play Ariadna and I want to play Aleph.So we kinda want to know whats a good start off point for these armies.We understand the starter sets are probably good but we want to know what to add to it.

Infinity's sample army builds:

http://www.infinitythegame.com/infinity/en/2011/access/infinity-getting-started/

300 points is steep for starting out, but these'll give you flexibility for later on; just play part of the list to start.

There are two general rules:
1) "Don't start too fast"
In your first games, even using just the contents of the starter pack is probably too much. You don't want to get overloaded with special rules. If you haven't already, run a few proxy games with about 2-3 Line Troops and perhaps something with a bit more spice per side. (Don't necessarily feel that they have to be proxying troops from your chosen faction, as this may not necessarily be the simplest or balanced way to start.)

While I went a bit mad when I started and bought a heap of stuff, I did that from an approach of miniatures to model and paint.
If you're approaching it as a player, a more moderate approach is probably better. Start out with just the starter boxes (but do watch out, as the Aleph starter is 172 pts, the Ariadna only 123), play with that, then work out where (and indeed, if) you want to go from there.

You may want some more in the way of heavy weaponry (such as the Tankhunters), Heavy armour (like the Marut), special deployment (like the Paracommandos) or maybe support troops (like the Sophotects), but work it out as you go rather than ladling stuff onto the table, finding out that neither of you know how to effectively use your troops against what the other has and writing the game off because you overwhelmed yourselves.

2) "What do you like the look of?".
Infinity is a well enough balanced game that provided you've got a range of options in your list, it's usually possible to find a way to deal with anything. Tactics are far more important than the list. The old tactic of buying the models that visually appeal is a very good way to start.

But overall, I see a good way to approach list building for the game is to imagine the whole thing as a special forces squad from an action movie.
You know the kind of thing - you'll have some combination of the leader, the heavy weapons guy, a sniper, the sneaky scout, a close quarters guy, a demolitions expert, the general purpose tough guys, the tech guy, etc... (some of whom might actually be the same person). If you pick a force in that kind of vein based on which models you like the look of most, it'll be hard to go too far wrong.

The starter sets are definitely a good way to go at first. I'd just start with them and add to them as you get used to them and get what you think works best with your playing style. The link AmmishJohn put up is perfect. It even has a code so you can put into the Devilteam army builder. They also show you about how much it will cost you.

Like everybody else said....just start with the starter. The contents of the starter is already a team and you could actually already play several games with just that...and have loads of fun with it.

What to buy next will depend on you...(what model's look you like or your play style) because I may recommend something that would not fit your play style or ...even the setting of the terrain you play in. You will discover this after a couple of games.

EX. Snipers are excellent due to their ranged weapons...but the terrain we have been playing in currently is room to room CQB underground complex type...so I have 3 snipers but haven't used them in the last 3 games.

Starter sets are, as their title suggests, great places to start when building forces. MarcoSkoll's point about easing in, though, is great advice for starting the game, in general. The 3-model teams and streamlined (i.e. pared down, more than simplified) rules in BoW's quickstart guide are a great way to get some basic experience before you start expanding your game sizes and including all the special rules (they are actually balanced, whereas the contents of the various starter boxes aren't, necessarily).

For actually building the forces, unless you've borrowed/proxied enough to know exactly what you want to use, nothing in the starter sets will go to waste. There are likely a few models that will get left behind more and more frequently as you expand your collection and gain play/list-building experience, but I think the sets are well worth the price.

I wasn't overly keen on the Aleph starter box, so my initial army is constructed from one Myrmidons box and the Asura with Spitfire... with a few tokens for netrods. Seems to be doing pretty well and it fairly simple to get to grips with as a player.

Myrmidons are scary, but the Asuras with spitfire is a monster. I can't recommend her enough.
Possibly not so kind on your friend who is also starting out though I guess

endtransmission wrote:I wasn't overly keen on the Aleph starter box, so my initial army is constructed from one Myrmidons box and the Asura with Spitfire... with a few tokens for netrods. Seems to be doing pretty well and it fairly simple to get to grips with as a player.

Myrmidons are scary, but the Asuras with spitfire is a monster. I can't recommend her enough.
Possibly not so kind on your friend who is also starting out though I guess

His friend is playing Ariadna. Tankhunter w/ Autocannon is the solution to every problem ever.

Haqqislam... oh yeah

Haqqi has some of the coolest models of the whole lot (not the coolest though, thats combinds thing) High Wip is fun too, and who doesnt like shapeshifting ninja samurai space techno warriors in power armour... from space

I am in the same boat trying to decide what to get for my 1st army. I got the 2 rule books and am quite surprised by the lack of miniature photos or hobby articles. I am building my army based on the look of the miniatures. I am thinking of going with the PanOceanian force. I do not want any figures with faces so will skip the starter. I wonder if I can build a legal or even fun to play force by just using the Appleseed looking guys?

Thebadabwar, do you mean these guys, the orc troopers?

If so, these guys have AVA (availability) of 3, which means you can have a maximum of 3 in your force.

If you want to make a just helmeted force, then it is quite easy as PanO have a wide range of units which are helmeted.

The only place you might struggle is with some cheaper line-infantry to make your numbers up (perhaps Auxilia, at 14pts each are the best option for this, and come with a cool little robot friend )


No problem at all building your force based on the look of the miniatures, I did exactly the same thing! As has been often said there are not really any truly poor units in Infinity, and you could easily make a more 'elite' style armoured force of guys with medium and heavy armour; units like Alkalis Sikh Commando are a great deal of fun with their combat jump ability, and Swiss Guard who have TO camouflage, allowing them to remain hidden at the beginning of the game.

For painting ideas, at the moment I think there is only 1 person doing PanO (looking in the P&M thread: http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/439680.page) so I'm sure it would definitely benefit from your blog being there! It might be an idea to look on the official forum in the miniatures section of the forum, there are loads of PanO threads there with some different ideas for paint schemes and the like.

Thank you Pacific. This is most helpful. Do other faction have cheap line troops that have helmeted heads?

For ALEPH just buy the ALEPH Starter PAck and the Marut TAG.
That army list hits 300 perfectly, and it's very powerful.
You will be using just 7 miniatures, easy for learning how to play and deadly for your enemies.

ALEPH
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────

GROUP 1 (Regs: 8/Irrs: 0):

3x DAKINI Tacbot Combi Rifle / Electric Pulse (13)
MOV:6-4 CC:8 BS:11 PH:8 WIP:13 ARM:0 BTS:-3 STR:1
Regular, Not Impetuous, G: Remote Presence
CH: Mimetism

ASURA MULTI Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, AP CCW (73)
MOV:4-4 CC:16 BS:14 PH:14 WIP:15 ARM:5 BTS:-6 W:2
Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube
V: No Wound Incapacitation, Multispectral Visor L3

NAGA Hacker Combi Rifle / Pistol, Knife (37 | 0.5)
MOV:4-4 CC:13 BS:12 PH:12 WIP:14 ARM:1 BTS:0 W:1
Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube
CH: Camouflage, Infiltration, V: Dogged, Hacking Device

DEVA Combi Rifle, Nanopulser / Pistol, Knife (23)
MOV:4-4 CC:14 BS:12 PH:11 WIP:15 ARM:2 BTS:-3 W:1
Regular, Not Impetuous, Cube
V: No Wound Incapacitation

MARUT Lieutenant MULTI HMG, Heavy Flamethrower, Nanopulser / AP CCW (122 | 3)
MOV:6-4 CC:18 BS:15 PH:17 WIP:15 ARM:8 BTS:-9 STR:3
Regular, Not Impetuous, G: Remote Presence
ECM, Multiterrain, Multispectral Visor L2, Lieutenant, Strategos L3

NETROD Electric Pulse (4)
MOV:- CC:- BS:- PH:12 WIP:- ARM:0 BTS:-3 STR:1
Regular, Not Impetuous
AD: Combat Jump, AI Beacon


298 Points | SWC: 3.5

ARMY CODE: eNozM1Q1VDNQM6xBJk3ApJmaCZA0BrNN1QxBsmYgDgAfyAsq
Army Infinity v.3.0. - http://www.devilteam.com

thebadabwar wrote:Thank you Pacific. This is most helpful. Do other faction have cheap line troops that have helmeted heads?

Hmm, I'm perhaps the wrong person to ask in that I still don't have a lot of experience, but from what I know, other than the Aleph list that BobbaFett has posted above:

Yu - Jing: You could get the 'Imperial Service' sectorial starter set, or some 'Kuang Shi' (convicted felons who explode when they die ), although the latter are Irregular so not order generators.
Aridna: Perhaps the least 'helmeted' force, although even they have 'Loup Garous' boxset.
Haqqislam - not really, perhaps Muyibs if you use the 'Bahram' sectorial (allowing you to take many of them in a link team)
Nomads - Have some reasonably cheap helmeted guys, like Tomcats/Hellcats and Prowlers.
Combined Army - Alien faces so does that count? I suppose you can use Shasvastii, which (I think!) are all wearing helmets/masks of some kind.

Hope that helps!

Starter sets are a good way to go. Though straight off the bat within about a week I had 2 different forces. All the Scots for Ariadna and most of the hassassin faction too. Never mind though starter sets are all good to start.
As for people saying about the rules and play small it is a thing to do but if you read the rules and can understand them it is a fairly easy to manage game as I found the rules pretty simple to pick up from the get go.

Just take your time though and enjoy it and I can guarantee you will!

Shasvastii are not wearing masks, they're just that ugly

Most of the LI troops are not helmeted. In Military Orders (Panoceania sectorial) most of the troops, including LI are helmeted. In this case, the light infantry are Order Sergeants



And with lots of cool helmets, as you can see. Actually the Military Orders Starter pack is full of helmeted troops Come to MO, come! xD

Pacific wrote:'Kuang Shi', although they're Irregular so not order generators.

Actually, Kuang Shi are regular. Impetuous, of course, but regular.

theres a guy on the infinity forums thats the same way about helemts and he trimed the necron deathmark heads and put them on his fusiliers it looked prett boss you should check



not my work just want to point that out they belong to Guges on the infinity forums

Thank you all for helping. I realize that I need the cheap line troops to generate orders and to have points left over for the nicer toys. I just got into Infinity this week and am eager to buy a bunch of toys . I think the main reason I do not like the un-helmeted guys is that their sculpts are old. The starter pack for Haqqislam looks awesome. I hope they will update the other faction's starters soon. For now I will go with that one and get the Acontecimento starter as well. But I will run these as proxies for what is in the regular PanOceanian starter. This way I'll have two troops to learn the rules with.

Oh man... I should really do that with my Fusiliers... I noticed he had to chop them up to make them fit, but that just looks even cooler.

Damn... if only I had those heads.

Good plan on running the starters though. They offer some great stuff and some solid 'base' to whatever forces you build out to.

Though this is coming from the only Haqqislam player who doesn't own a single Ghulam or Halqa... heh... yeeah... I'm one to talk eh'?

Come to think of it, my entire Haqqislam force so far is all helmets! But no starter packs were in the making of this.

Pay the shipping rates and they are yours =P
I got 5 =P

I wonder what the shipping would be on 5 little plastic bits.

I guess they could fit an envelope.
I'll ask next time I grab an order from the mail.

I've gotta say that some of the Necron stuff would be cool for Combined. Especially those snake body guys. Not bad at all.