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I know that 40k and fantasy are very different. Im a Space Marine and Guard player, as well as Orks as a side project. I'm paticularly interested in the Empire, Dwarves, and Warriors of Chaos. I have seen their minis and they look fantastic, but I only want to pick one to try out and I don't know which to choose. What are the ups and downs of them and how do they play?

Empire are similar to your IG, Dwarves have no magic but have a lot of anti magic and can be difficult to chew through, and Warriors of Chaos are going to be similar to your Space Marines.

So dwarves are better than Empire?

Not necessarily, especially since Empire just got a new book like a month or two ago. Most of the Armies in Fantasy are fairly well balanced.

Whats the comparison between Empire and Dwarves?

Spartan, you are killing me, you have to forget your 40k ways. There is no over powered armies in Fantasy. It's all really balanced, play whatever you want try different tactics and units even if you have to proxy some practice games and play what works and what you like.

I'm sorry, I truly am. Though I did laugh at that first remark. Well then if they are balanced it makes choosing a bit easier.

Totally, plus you should be dealing with a more mature group of players that are more laid back, however if you are really into tournaments and WAAC, and not so much about having a fun and relaxed time there are some cheap builds and tactics out there. However the 3 you are looking at are all due for a book in the next 6 months or so with Empire just being updated, and so far the new 8th books have been really balanced. For example mortars were really strong and have been toned down, for chaos warriors you will see an increase in points for marauders or an adjustment to their stat line if not both, as well as infernal gateway being redefined so it cannot be cast into a combat. Dwarfs are fairly balanced right now and I'm actually hoping the new book doesn't limit the rune system as it has toned down the choices of magic items in other 8th books.

I just like Chaos cause they look bad ass, and the dwarves have a ton of guns. But when I first started this my thinking was that I didn't want army that was underpowered and a pain to work with.

Well tough to say before the books come out. If you are eager to do one now, go Empire, in my opinion as the newest book is out now. The next book will probably balance Chaos (in other words make them less powerful but still very viable) I could see Dwarfs getting some bump ups in areas, but I base these theories no nothing other then complaints I hear from others on them. Realize if you go Chaos you get little to no shooting and with dwarfs you get no magic, Empire on the other hand gets a bit of everything.

Hargus56 wrote:Well tough to say before the books come out. If you are eager to do one now, go Empire, in my opinion as the newest book is out now. The next book will probably balance Chaos (in other words make them less powerful but still very viable) I could see Dwarfs getting some bump ups in areas, but I base these theories no nothing other then complaints I hear from others on them. Realize if you go Chaos you get little to no shooting and with dwarfs you get no magic, Empire on the other hand gets a bit of everything.

this, if you want a full rounded experience of Fantasy turn sequences.

yes if you want the full fantasy experience there are 4 armies to my knowledge that can do that, and what I mean by that is an army that has access to the following:
Magic
BS based shooting units
Stone thrower based war machine or unit
Cannon based war machine or unit


Combat units are a given, everyone has these, so those 4 are..... Empire, Orcs and Goblins, Ogres and Skaven. However, with Empire you will be spending a lot of money, you will need at least a block of 40 state troops, preferable 2 blocks of 40, some detachments are nice, great swords, war machines and so on, a block of 40 state troops is gonna run you $100 alone.

Empire will give you a well rounded Fantesy experience as they compete in all phases of the game. The only thing they kinda miss out on are Monsters(Griffons are cool but kinda lame rulewise) although they do have the awsome Demi-gryphs.



The only imbalances that currently exist in Fantesy are with a few under powered armies. Wood Elves, Beastmen, and Brettonians to an extent are underpowered.

Of the army books released for 8th edition, they have all been very well balanced against each other. The only real cheese in the game is in a few older army books and mostly with Special Characters.

Special Characters are generally frowned upon as they are either massivly OP or so bad that even a 50% point reduction wouldn't make you take them. Just avoid them in general. A few like Bugman and Throgg are ok and people won't care about.

WoC are a hard and lean race that goes to a more elite hoard army that is only close combat unless the Hellcannon is involved. Dwarves are a slight balanced army that includes to calvary, no magic unless you have the anvil and no monsters or monsterous infantry. Empire are more of a really nice new army, but are just men so play pretty much exactly like your IG. Hellcannons, handguns, crossbows and Wizards with the foot units under the command of the Warrior Priests and the knights of the realm that chops up anything (unless you are a fully kitted hero or lord) all in all Dwarfs play like SM, WoC play like Tyranids and Empire play like IG

WoC are nothing like Tyranids at all. They are either an Elite melee army or a Horde melee army(so more like Orks if anything)

Just pick the army you like based on fluff or model etc...

I find that WHFB is mroe about playing the game than building a list that works.

You could basically field the worst Chaos units (not that there ae many bad ones) and still manage to pull of win after win if you play it out right.

VC and Empire are the newest books we have. VC can play a tough game and would most likely be seen as one of the "Stronger" books but they are still VERY beatable.