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Long story.
So, I'm at my FLGS yesterday and I was looking to pick up a few things when I happened upon a kid and his dad shopping for some models for the kids first 40k army. They were making the classic mistake. Kid had some Eldar warp spiders, an Ork Battle Wagon, a Vendetta, and some Bloodletters. Certainly I can appreciate all of those models, but the dad said that the kid wanted to start playing at the store with the other kids he had seen there.

I had to intervene. I told him about how the armies had certain rules that wouldn't allow him to play all these cool things together and that most people would probably not be ok with him trying it, and that it would be very hard to do so without all the codexes anyway. I showed them how to tell which armies were which, and about the basic idea of two troops and an HQ, etc.

They ended up choosing IG and with the help of a local IG player who happened to walk in, made some solid beginning army choices. This got me thinking. Every game store that carried 40k should have a "Beginner Guide" to purchasing your first army. A simple list of solid first purchases that one can make for any particular army they are interested in that wont send them off on a spending spree that will eventually end up with a very disappointing and oftentimes expensive result. I talked to the store owner, and he agreed that it would be a great idea. He said if I could round up the lists, he'd publish them on the wall right above the 40k racks.

So, since I'm only well versed in Orks, I'll start with those. Please, if you have examples from the armies you play, or know very well, please post them. Once we have some concensus, I'm going to take the results to the store owner, and he'll post them.

Thanks all.



Ork 500 point army beginner purchase list. (I'm assuming no AoBR boxes are available)

1 Ork Warboss
3 boxes Ork Boyz
1 Box Nobz
1 Battle Wagon

Nids:

Tervigon- HQ or Troop.

Battleforce - Warriors can stand in for a Prime or two if needed, Hormagaunts and Termagants can proxy as each other if needed, Genestealers can be Ymgarls if needed.

If more units are needed, add
- a box of Termagants
- a box of Gargoyles

Can be made to around 500 points and is a pretty good selection of units.

Perhaps this could be made into an article?
For Dark Eldar
Finecast Blister HQ- Preferably Haemonculi or Succubus for 500
Battleforce
Venom
Ravager
Comes to about 200 USD for a good core of units with enough variety that the new player isn't bored. Can easily be expanded to 1k with another box of warriors, some more venoms/raiders, maybe a box of incubi.

Sounds like an awesome idea wouldn't have minded this when I started when I was like 8 and had a mix of a rhino, khorne berserkers, empire and high elves, then again I did not know yo could play back then.

I guess for marines

Captain

tactical squad

tactical squad

sniper scouts/normal scouts

maybe some rhinos

predator

That comes to about 750 depending on upgrades

I can throw in a 500/1k for Necrons

500 Exactly

Command Barge box
- Comes with Lord and Anni barge

2 boxes of warriors
- 20 warriors
- 4 Scarab bases

1000 ish

As before with Necron battleforce

Hq- Overlord
( with Wargear for flavour )
Troops - 20x Warriors
- 20x Warriors
- Ghost Ark
Fast Attack - 10x Scarab Bases
- 6x Scarab Bases
Heavy Support - Annihilation barge

Can then take Immortals or Deathmarks

With upgrades can make 1k to 1250 with lords and crypteks

Nice idea. Though I'm afraid I could only contribute a space marine list and salamander has beat me too it.

Maybe blood angels?

HQ
Chaplain with jump pack

Troops
2 Assault marine boxes (10 marines)
1 death company box

Fast Attack
1 landspeeder
1 Baal predator

Approx 750pts depending on equipment and weapon choices.


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Oh, and red paint.


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For 500pts, ditch the landspeeder and death company. For 1000pts, add another box of death company and a sanguinary priest.

This would be an excellent tool for warhammer/40k newbies.


I'm not very good at making competitive lists but i'll take a whack at a 500 point IG list all the same.

(working off base points, no upgrades)
-Lord Commissar or Primaris Psyker..........................70points
-Battle force..............................................................225points
-LRBT/Valkyrie.........................................................150/100points
-Maybe another guardsman squad or 2.............+50 points for each squad.

Thats anywhere between 500 and 750 points depending on upgrades. Could maybe even knock it upto 1k if you run the guardsmen as vets.

Well this is quite a fantastic idea you have here. I don't have any of my books near me atm but I have a rough idea. Let's see...

Nids: 1 swarmlord 2 guard and a battleforce ought to do the trick.Total cost: 178.75. Watching all the other new players cry: Priceless
Blood Angels: Astroth the grim and 2 DC boxes gives you a start if you give em jetpacks and all the upgrades. A dread or two wouldn't hurt. Actually a DC blood talon dread sounds hilarious in small games.
IG......Leman Russ tanks. Use the IA rules for a tank army and have at it. Insta win for the most part at those point levels.

Okay so those are more for fun than any sort of serious gaming. Honestly for nids, the battleforce and a Tervigon or two is a great way to start. Add maybe some hive guard or Zoas if vehicles are being used at the points level and you get a good solid start.

Regardless of how you want to set up a BA army ALWAYS buy at least one box of DC. Not to actually use them as DC(per se. I do but I'm nuts. It's alot easier to paint 1000pts of DC than to paint 1000pts of ASS) but more because they give you an awesome amount of bits....actually the battleforce and an extra box of DC should give you close to two full ASS squads and a half squad to be anything you want. Not bad at all.

Only other army I have is tau. And I haven't played them in so long that I can't really remember any of the points costs. but the battleforce and a few extra battlesuits is likely to lead you in a decent direction.

Any beginner should actually stay away from Dark Eldar to avoid quick and imminent disappointment.

The only thing with death company is that they're pretty expensive at this point level. 10 man dc with jump packs and a smattering of the power weapons and infernus pistols that you get in the box would be close to 500 points. But you're right, gif, about the bits. Even if you just use them as ordinary BA assault troops, they look pretty good, plus you get all the extra bits to hang on to.

Yeh, maybe change my first post to 2 boxes of dc and 1 of assault marines. Then they can be mixed and matched however.


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And any ba player always ends up short of infernus pistols. So the more you can get, the better.

Black Templars 500/1000

++500 Points++

+HQ+

Castellan - 86 Points
BP, Power Sword, Auspex, Assault Grenades, Krak Grenades

+Troops+

Crsuader Squad - 197 Points
x5 Initiates with BP/CCW
x1 Initiate with Meltagun
x1 Initiate with Power Fist
x1 Neophyte with BP/CCW
Rhino

Crusader Squad - 101 Points
x3 Initiates with Bolters
x1 Initiate with Plasmagun
x1 Initiate with Lascannon

++Fast Attack++

Black Templars Bike Squadron - 114 Points
x3 Bikers with Plasmaguns


++1000 Points++

+HQ+

Emperor's Champion - 110 Points
Abhor the Witch

Castellan - 86 Points
BP, Power Sword, Auspex, Assault Grenades, Krak Grenades

+Elites+

Sword Brethren Terminator Squad
x3 Terminators with SB/PF
x2 Terminators with CML
Tank Hunters

+Troops+

Crsuader Squad - 197 Points
x5 Initiates with BP/CCW
x1 Initiate with Meltagun
x1 Initiate with Power Fist
x1 Neophyte with BP/CCW
Rhino

Crusader Squad - 101 Points
x3 Initiates with Bolters
x1 Initiate with Plasmagun
x1 Initiate with Lascannon

++Fast Attack++

Black Templars Bike Squadron - 114 Points
x3 Bikers with Plasmaguns

++Heavy Support++

Vindicator - 125 Points

Space Wolves
500 Point Starter Army
Rune Priest- Living Lightning, Jaws of the World Wolf (swap for Biomancy), Melta-bomb- 105
Grey Hunters (9)- Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Mark of the Wulfen, Power Sword- 180
Drop Pod- 35
Grey Hunters (10)- Plasma Gun (2)- 180

Purchases
Codex: Space Wolves- $33
Space Wolves Battleforce- $110.00
Space Wolves Rune Priest- $19.75
Total- $162.75

This list utilizes a single battleforce and a character blister to make an effective fighting force. The Rune Priest rolls on the Biomancy table, hoping to get Endurance or Enfeeble, although Iron Arm and Warp Speed will also be nifty for his role. The only bit not included in the battleforce is the single meltagun, but hopefully a spare plasma gun can be traded for one. This list provide a good core of troops for the addition of more units.

1000 Point Starter Army
Rune Priest- Living Lightning, Jaws of the World Wolf (swap for Biomancy), Melta-bomb- 105
Grey Hunters (9)- Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Mark of the Wulfen, Power Sword- 180
Drop Pod- 35
Grey Hunters (10)- Plasma Gun (2)- 180
Wolf Scouts Pack (5)- Power Axe, Plasma Gun- 105
Thunder Wolf Cavalry (3)- Frost Axe, Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield- 235
Long Fangs Pack (6)- Lascannon (2), Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter (2)- 160

Purchases
Codex: Space Wolves- $33
Space Wolves Battleforce- $110.00
Space Wolves Rune Priest- $19.75
Space Marine Devastator Squad- $35
Space Wolves Thunderwolf Cavalry- $54.50
Total- $252.25

This list builds upon the previous list, adding in the Wolf Scouts to go after things hiding away in corners (assuming the Priest and his retinue didn't already drop there), a unit of Long Fangs to provide ranged support (the strange load-out capitalizes on the split-fire capabilities of the Long Fangs and uses the weapons included in the box), and a unit of TWC to rush in and support the Priest and co. Between the Pod, the TWC, and the Scouts, enough should get through to cripple the enemy targeted. The footslogging Grey Hunter squad heads for an objective and/or sits at home with the Devastators.

For expansion, another box of Thunderwolf Cavalry could flesh out the squad and make a WGBL, turning that fast-moving CC unit into a mini-deathstar. Alternatively, another more Grey Hunters and Long Fangs (and maybe an Aegis line) could turn the list into more of a gunline with some nasty counter-assault units.

 RustyKnight wrote:
Space Wolves
Wolf Guard Pack (1)- Power Axe- 33

Wolf Guard pack has the minimum size of 3.

Shows me to make army lists without consulting the codex. Updated the rosters. Also added explanations for the rosters.

Don't see daemons here, and don't have point costs, so maybe somebody could help supply those if I'm wrong.
The Masque (100, I think)
2 units of horrors with 1 BoT and icons (one box) (225)
One 4 man unit of flamers (98pts)
One box of screamers (75)

It's a thought. For more damage though, and what I'd do, switch the horrors for nurglings to free up points and get two units of flamers and screamers, each 3 man. Or maybe one unit of 6 screamers. Masque bunches up units nicely, flamers and screamers chew up infantry and vehicles pretty well. It won't take objectives, but it should wipe your opponent out to the man. Advanced list though, no margin for error. List for that is:
Masque (100)
Flamers x3 (69)
Flamers x3 (69)
Nurglings x3 (39)
Nurglings x3 (39)
Screamers x6 (150)
That's 466 pts. Can add a fiend in there too, or a bloodcrusher or even an extra body to a unit (or one more base to each nurglings unit).

All great entries guys! Keep it up!
I'll compile and take it in with me next time I'm there.

Horde Orks at 500
Kits needed - 4 boxes of boys 4*£18, one small box of boys £6, 2 lootas and burnas boxes £15.50, 1 pack 40mm bases £3 - £108 for 56 models

make up the lootas and burnas using the legs from the boys boxes, call a mek from the lootas and burnas a big mek (add extra stuff to him as required and mount him on a 40mm base)


15 choppa boys + nob with powerclaw
9 shootaboys + boy with big shoota
9 shootaboys + boy with big shoota
8 lootas
5 burnas
1 bigmek with a bosspole

Option to run the shootas in a single squad (or two as listed above) or to run the following list

14 choppa boys + nob with powerclaw
9 shootaboys + boy with big shoota + nob with powerclaw
9 shootaboys + boy with big shoota + nob with powerclaw
8 lootas
1 bigmek with a bosspole


Adding a box of warbikes gets to a 750 list

15 choppa boys, 1 with big shoota, 1 nob with power claw (17 models total)
9 shoota boys, 1 with big shoota, 1 nob with power claw (11 models total)
9 shoota boys, 1 with big shoota, 1 nob with power claw (11 models total)
8 lootas
8 burnas
3 warbikers (nob has a power claw)
1 big mek with boss pole

You're welcome. Its a great idea, good luck.

Death Korps List

HQ
1x CCS with 1x autocannon, 1x plasma gun, regimental standard MoO 120 pts

Troops
1x platoon = 295
3x squads, all with a plasma gun
1x PCS with 2 plasma guns

1x squad of 5 Engineers with a demo charge and a Breaching Drill (of doom and gloom, its important) 130

1x squad of 5 Engineers with a demo charge and a Breaching Drill (of doom and gloom) 130

1x Battery of 2 Earthshakers 150
1x Earthshaker 75
1x Medusa Siege Gun 100

Enough templates to rain death on hordes, enough STRONG! templates to blow the crap out of any armor, plenty o' troops to cap stuff with.

Might lack some AA and mobility, but, hey, no list is perfect, if you expect to face a lot of flying thing, swap a few big guns for heavy weapon platoon and give them autocannons.

Ork Smash face list - its for elite scum and guys who like a few troopers doing quite a bit

Ork Warboss - 60-130pts
Ork Warboss - 60 - 130pts
2 boxes of nobs - 200-400pts
2 boxes of nobs -200-400pts
plus 2 trukks or battle wagons give or take
around 1000pts

Thats a total of 20 nobs, who can be crafted into flash gits, paint boys, and nobs, with a huge assortment of bits to get all da kustom feel you want out of them.
Goal is to convert two nobs into pain boys, but of course you can add them to list as such like this.

Ork Warboss - 60- 130prefer with attack squig (use nob gubins to convert to a sexy home made char)
3 boxes of Nobs - 300-500pts
2 boxes of grots - 60?
Pain boy x2 - upgrades
Convert 10 nobs to form a squad, use 5 to make flash hits
pain boy per squad.

For these starter armies, are you looking for something viable in a tournament or something that's easy to assemble, paint and play with (ie without 24354 special rules like Imotekh)?

I'd say most relatively recent books at least have an option which satisfies both. The tricky to play glass cannon like lists should, perhaps, not be advertised to beginners as a good idea but you really, really do want to give at least somewhat competitive advice.
...and Imhotekh isn't all that bad, is he?

Footdar-

HQ-
Farseer w/ Guide, Doom, Witch Blade, Runes Of Witnessing and Spirit Stones (130pts)

Troops-
Dire Avengers (10) - Exarch with Bladestorm and Duel Avenger Catapults (152pts)
Dire Avengers (10) - Exarch with Bladestorm and Duel Avenger Catapults (152pts)

Fast Attack-
War Walker w/ 1 Shuriken Cannon and 1 Brightlance (65pts)

499pts total

 ExNoctemNacimur wrote:
For these starter armies, are you looking for something viable in a tournament or something that's easy to assemble, paint and play with (ie without 24354 special rules like Imotekh)?

The thread is really about helping new people to avoid bad initial purchasing choices.
I think that the framework should be "Solid beginner army with options to expand".
Doesn't matter if it's a complex list or a very straight forward list, as long as it's a legal, solid list.

Eldar

HQ
Farseer
Runes of warding
Fortune
Guide

Troops
10 Die Avengers Exarch. bladestorm and dual avenger shuriken catapult

10 Dire Avengers Exarch. bladestorm and dual avenger shuriken catapult

7 Rangers

Fast attack

3 Vypers
2 Shuriken cannons, 2undersling shuriken cannons.
1 EML

Heavy support
1 Wraithlord
Brigthlance
Wraithsword

Dedicated Transport
Wave serpent
Twin linked scatterlaser.

Total : 997

Silly as it may be. Tau are easy, Codex and the Official Battleforce box. Maybe not competitive but a solid start that caps out somewhere around 600pts or so, I think. REALLY wish they had that when I got into the game. To bring it up to 1k: Hammerhead, Another box of Firewarriors. and two Crisis suits should get you there nicely....Come to think of it ....that actually sounds cool to play....DAMN MY EMPTY WALLET TO THE WARP!! LOL

I'll sit down and make you up a full list by the weekend. Might you want to put a prefferred format up? And maybe an ideal/target price range? Otherwise we might just go a little crazy up in here! Incidentally, Are we trying to specifically use the official battleforce box? I mean, wasn't this the point of them? Just checking and all

This isn't so much a list but what a player should be getting to have a good-ish army for CSM.

I'd advise them to get either 2 boxes of standard marines with a set of cult troop upgrades or 1 box of marines and one box of Khorne Berzerkers/Plague Marines. This would require some explaining on the part of either the brochure or owner to tell the new player the pros and cons of the cult troops. On top of that, I'd advise him/her to buy either a marked Lord model, sorceror or Terminator lord. Then add a set of Chaos Terminators, a Rhino and Obliterators or a Vindicator. That should give the player a good foundation.

if i was a nid player just starting again i'd buy 2 battle box and make 3 of the warriors hiveguard 2 of them warrior primes and the last one a doom of malinti. I'd then make a spore pod out of a bottle and some hot glue. you'd have

32 termagaunts
32 hormagaunts
3 hive guard.
2 warrior primes
1 doom/pod
16 geenestealers.

that's over 1000 points for about 200 bucks.
from there i'd get a hive tyrant equip it with hive commander and make more spore pods. tervigons are good too but not very cheap.

Isn't this a 40k topic, rather than Dakka general discussion?

Anyway, something for someone who wants something a bit more unusual:

500pts Nurgle Chaos Marine + Plague Zombie force

Army list, Download: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Downloads/Product/PDF/i/IA5_RH.pdf
Alterations for using a nurgle force:

- Chaos Commander (see Codex: Chaos Space Marines)
- Workers rabble = mutant rabble
- Plague Zombies - As workers rabble, with these differences: +2 pts, +1 STR, 'Feel no pain', 'Shambling gait' (always move as if in difficult terrain)
- Chaos Nurgle Space Marine squad (see Codex: Chaos Space Marines)

Miniatures + cost of force
HQ: Use Typhus as CSM commander in terminator armour - £15
Box of plague marines - £25
'Z Corps' (combination of Mantic zombies + corporation) - See Wayland Games, - £40
(sub in cultists as appropriate)

Skaven list 1

Please note im in lesson at the moment so i cant check my book so im going off my memory but ill post another list later once ive checked it.

1 Warlord/Cheiftan

The starter set

2 boxes of clanrats

1 moulder beast box

1 Warlock Engineer

1-2 Weapon teams(optional