How do you choose your armies?

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**Puscifer**

Do you go with the models, fluff or ruleset?

**Great White**

The models and fluff.

**oadie**

Models and theme (being a combination of fluff and rules, but in a very generalized sense, like saying "Tau are long-range fighters" or "Ariadna is low-tech, but tough"). Aesthetics are a huge factor, especially since I'm more of a P&Mer than a player. I tend not to get into the nitty gritty of the fluff, read novels, etc. but I also like to have a sense of the army's style, grudges, motivation etc. Luckily, the two major factors generally trend together, so at least a few good options present themselves in any game system.

**Phototoxin**

I tend to go for fluff and build around that.
So my salamanders have short range weapons - only 3 missile launchers are 48 the rest is 24" or less. Lots of flame and melta.

Blood angels are 'knights of baal' 4th company so jumpy with a little on foot support, lots of vanguard for the heroic interevention.

Dark Eldar are probably the most 'general' of my lists as DE would use anything they could!

My necrons will be relatively parallel - 2 of most units that I take. So I might try trazin allied with GK valera (they are penpals)

With the new allies I have more fluff opportunities - Salamanders to ally with space wolves -> rune priest = librarian, tribal shaman to marine, lone wolf = wandering 'path of the fireborn' marine (read the nick kyme novels!), wolf claws = initiates (so WS/BS3 - not quite established marines), TWC = marines on FRIGGING DINOSAURS!
Not going to put in long fangs on principal!

**Baronyu**

As a newbie, I chose based on models alone, none of the rules made sense to me anyway, so I just went by the look, and I picked DE. For a while, I used to think that T3 5+ is the norm... Imagine how disappointed I was that after all the codex's hype about ghostplate and stuff, then actually playing and realised 4+ is so bad that MEq wouldn't even consider it... :(

As a player who knows some of the rules now, if I was to pick a 2nd army to build, it'd be based on models and rules: I would love to model something cool, and rules will allow me to build an army vastly different from my current one, for example, Necron.

**DOOMBREAD**

I have chosen all my armies based on fluff and a bit of models.

**Engine of War**

Models and fluff.

and Tanks.

**thesilverback**

Its always been about the fluff and models - a good story goes along way.

**DarkWind**

Models and fluff. You wont invest your self into the army if you're not in love with the army. Thus will result in lack of paint and lack of success in game play believe it or not.

**The Mad Tanker**

Engine of War wrote:Models and fluff.

and Tanks.

^This

**darefsky (Flight Medic Paints)**

I chose my first army for the fluff (4th Ed GK, yea I know....).

Now I look at the play style of the army, and lastly the models.

**hotsauceman1**

Aestetic and feel. Like orks dont appeal to me because they are to wacky, i like serious armies that can lay into others. Like DE(hopefully my next) or Necrons.

**Talamare**

Models and Fluff

I like beautiful things

**AresX8**

Play style first, then models.

**Lunacara**

Baronyu wrote:As a newbie, I chose based on models alone, none of the rules made sense to me anyway, so I just went by the look, and I picked DE. For a while, I used to think that T3 5+ is the norm... Imagine how disappointed I was that after all the codex's hype about ghostplate and stuff, then actually playing and realised 4+ is so bad that MEq wouldn't even consider it... :(

As a player who knows some of the rules now, if I was to pick a 2nd army to build, it'd be based on models and rules: I would love to model something cool, and rules will allow me to build an army vastly different from my current one, for example, Necron.

I did the same as you did, and took DE based on the models themselves. I would say that I would never look back now because I have learned to play the DE effectively. Simply dont get close UNLESS you want to be there ect. But like I said for the OP, Just pick what you would like and as long as you love your models, it will just come to you. Nothing can be more worse then hating everything about what you are doing.

**SwiftLord14**

I have three wolf tattoos so you can only imagine why i chose SW. I love their fluff and the books about them. Haegr the Mountain for the win.

**Lord Rogukiel**

Models first, then fluff. Rules come last for me.

**Wardragoon**

Models and play style i like rapid strike forces that can get out of dodge when the going gets tough

**evildrspock**

My process: "I think they look cool, I want to paint those models this color scheme." (scrambles to learn tactics with said army)

**Thejokerguy**

Models and fluff. The only game I play with any consistency is Mordheim, and soon to be Necromunda. So for 40k and Fantasy I gotta enjoy the stuff I'm putting together and painting more than the rules or I'll quickly lose interest.

**chromedog**

Models, same way I've always done it.

The fluff and rules come some way further down the list. After price, and whether I can use it, need it or just want it.

**Tiarna Fuilteach**

Pure fluff, might explain why my lists aren't the most competitive come to think about it

**gaovinni**

Models first, then fluff and after that play style. There is always something that catches my attention. Some factor in the models.

For my marines it was the rhino chassis (current one) and bolt weaponry. I love em. Although I dislike the look of marine power armor (and field a scout army).

For IG I had been looking at catachans for a looong time. The look of the models and all those possibilities for conversions. Awesome things could be done. I like the jungle warfare look. The thing that finally made me start them was Leman Russ Punisher. Not too good in game terms but the look of the thing is just awesome and hilarious at the same time that I had to get one.

The new dark eldar models are just beautiful and I like their play style. Skimmers are fun. I like to use them alot. And these guys are evil. A nice addition to my armies considering that I have two IOM armies.

So basically the models have been the reasons I chose my armies.

**shadeyaces**

Fluff and models

**Nevelon**

When I opened the box of RT beakie marines, there was a sheet of Blood Angels transfers in it, so I started with them.

After painting red for a while, I did a squad of Ultramarines, just for variety. And then another squad, and so on, until I ended up with a reinforced company.

I have a detachment of Eldar, which I picked up because of the models (I love me some grav-armor) but haven't picked up a codex for them since 3rd edition, so they just sit on the shelf looking cool.