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I don't know the CSM very well, but I'm not sure I "get" what the Dark Vengeance CSM are supposed to be doing.
Are the Chosen an elite or troop slot?
How are the cultists supposed to survive blast markers as they slog along? Are they good at shooting?
How is the Hellbrute not going to get focused down instantly on round 1?
Is this really a set of models one would field? Ever?
IF you tell me this is just a good starting point for a CSM army, what do the lists look like that include all of these models?
I've been wanting to start a CSM army for a while now, but I'm really not sure how this starter would fit in to, say, an Iron Warriors army.
Help me understand?

At the moment, it's unplayable. The rules for the hellbrute and cultists aren't out yet, they'll come with the new codex.

At the moment, the models give me the impression that the cultists wont be very good. Similar stat line to IG, but maybe worse shooting? i dont know.

Personally, i wouldn't start a CSM army with the models from DV. But like i said, rules aren't out so nothing is certain

I currently have Orks, and the last thing I want to do is start another horde army. Cultists seem like they would be for a horde build right?
I'd like to stick with a small model count.

They are supposed to be a narrative driven, enjoyable to open, paint and play starter force.

Loosely based around a band of chosen (chaos troops are designed *fluff wise* to be the equivalent of SM elites), who have turned up on a planet to find an artifact, recruited some local no-good bums, and picked a fight with the Dark Angels. In short, no, they are not designed to be a playable force outside the confines of the boxed set (hence no points values), but they are designed to be a great and flavourful intro to the hobby for people.

If you want a good core for an army, pick up a codex and a battlebox. Not every new player who buys DV will go on to play Chaos or DA (thank goodness), but they will be inspired having played an awesome, fun to play, stand alone game.

Hazrat

DV would be a poor choice for starting a CSM army. As Hazrat said, it's narrative driven. The Chosen are perfectly usable from the CSM codex, but the weaponry on the models is all over the place. Chosen are an Elite choice and allowed to take 5 special weapons, so most people use them to take 5 Flamers, 5 Metlas, or 5 Plasmas and Outflank them in a Rhino. The Cultists have been around for a while as Disciples of Xaphan from Imperial Armour 6, Seige of Vraks volume II. The are WS/BS 3, S/T 3 5+ models for 8 points a pop with various weapon options. You could probably safely use those rules to equip your Cultists.

The Helbrute is just a new Dreadnought. It uses all the same rules as a Chaos Dreadnought, the only change being that it's Fire Frenzy and Blood Rage results now target the closest enemy unit in range. If there are no enemy units in range for a Fire Frenzy result, then it WILL shoot a friendly unit in range. So it's a little better than the old version. It also comes with weapons (Butcher Cannon instead of Multi Melta) and Marks from the Chaos Decimator from the Forgeworld website.

http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/d/Decimator_mk2.pdf

We won't know for certain until the codex comes out. But speculation

Rumors point to cultists being 4 points and max of 30 squads. 120 points for a mass of wounds is not bad. If they can get icons and/or marks even sweeter. With 6ed we know a fearless IC could make them quite good at tarpitting (even better if there's some sort of fearless/morale boost bubble via the dark chaplain/demagogue). I play with bugs so I guess I see the uses of cheap models like this better then typical MEq players. My fear is they end up being 5pts+ and then not so worth it.

CHosen, I plan on using as champs for my other units or the basis of conversions. But chosen are said to become troops with Abbadon so you could get some mileage from the models with him.

The Lord, pretty self explanatory.

Hellbrute, much like cultists, there's all sorts of rumors (may or may not have stupid frenzy rules dreads have now, may have regen HP usr, may have access to marks that make him way scarier). Will have to see if he ends up being basically a spikey dread or if they get some marked improvements. One thing with him that will be an issue is slot competition. Likely to be many things that are just plain better in the elite slot. If going shooty or Iron warrior then I can see them being the elite of choice though.

Just the sort of question I imagined would pop up.

Faeit212 gives us a rumor that says late Sept will give us a pre-order for the Codex, and that the person giving the rumor says "your starter set minis will not go long without rules"


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Then again.. with next month always being "the" month, who knows anymore.

Whatever. I have my new chosen khornish dudes.

This was the kind of response I was expecting. And also the reason I'm not at the game store right now picking up a couple of sets.
I'd like to start CSM, but I think I'll wait till Christmas, once the excitement has died down, the new codex is out, and ebay is full of broken up DV sets at discount.
If the Chosen are looking good, I'll pick up a few then.
Otherwise, I suppose I'll be building some Iron Warriors the normal way. One box at a time.
Thanks all for the answers. You just saved me a bunch of cash.
=)

At the moment, it's unplayable. The rules for the hellbrute and cultists aren't out yet, they'll come with the new codex.

That's a good point.

It seems to be the first starter set containing models for which there are no rules (other than FW).

Now that the Codex is out and people have had a chance to look at it, what is the consensus on where the DV models fit in to CSM army lists?
I have a friend who bought a LE box and wants to give me the CSM half. I'm on the fence. What good are those models considering my hesitations.