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I was thinking about starting up 40k, I have done plenty of research and watched games and took a small demo at my FLGS, I have decided that Dark Vengeance is the cheapest and best way to get into 40k.

The question is should I start an army out of dark angels, or chaos? Simple enough, just want some opinions.

EDIT: How would I go about removing the DA iconorgraphy or defacing it? Would this make them usable by chaos? How would that work?

Just because dark vengance is the cheapest way doesn't mean you have to do that.

Play what you want, you get deals from online stores selling the products cheaper, but support your FLGS if you have one.

Between the two, it's all about personal preference.

As said, play what you want. There's nothing worse than playing a game and not liking what you play.

Go Chaos. If you remove/deface all of the imperial iconography from the DA models you'll have a fairly large number of models to work with from the DV set.

Starter sets are always good for beginners, it comes with models and a mini rulebook. But a lot of players at your FLGS can help you with rules.
My advice, just go with an army you like rather than just choosing one because it comes in the kit (unless you like them). CSM and DA are really cool though.

As Juraigamer said, you need not play Dark Angels or Chaos. You might like lots of long range shooting in which case Tau or Imperial Guard would be better. If unstopable hordes are you bit then Orks or Nids are they way to go (not that many people play horde lists anymore).

Now with that being said Marines are a very forgiveable army. If you stuff up a turn with them its unlikely that you will get pummeled in your opponants next turn, which can be the case with certain other armies/lists. I can't say whether the same applies for Chaos under their new dex but considering they have 3+ saves your like to be fairly safe with them.

I agree with Lansirill though, if you have the skill/dedication to remove the iconography then chaos would be the way to go because with the one DV box you would get a decent choas force to work with.



EDIT - Its also worth pointing out that the Dark Angels will most likely have a new Codex coming out at some point next year. So if you do choose the DA then maybe hold of on getting the dex or see if you can't pick it up for cheaps from ebay or something.

Edited Main Post

Best way to get rid of the iconography would be with a blade. A file is too haphazard and you will end up losing most of the model that way.

You will need to slowly and steadily just carve all the offending bits off. Theres not really any trick to it. Just patience

The dark vengeance kit is a great way to start off as a new player but I'm going to agree with most of the others here and say you should choose based on what army you like the models and fluff for. If you are choosing simply based on what is cheapest then this may not exactly be the best hobby for you because you may find it hard to stay interested in and enthusiastic about your army. Stick to what you really like not necessarily what can get you the most the cheapest.

As the OP didn't ask for other army suggestions, I went with Chaos Space Marines.

Dark Angels are going to get a nice boost with their new codex, but the CSM codex is out now, there are a good number of units that can do different things so the army has some flexibility, and It's still new, so it's still getting a lot of attention from the 40k community.

The good thing about both armies, especially if you keep the iconography on the DA and just paint them up as Chaos, is that you can buy generic Space Marine models and vehicles to use as Chaos with an appropriate paint job.

When Dark Angels comes out, you can check out the codex and decide to jump ship. Since you've bought generic Space Marine models and painted them up as Chaos, simply strip the paint and repaint them as DA.

There's no hard and fast rule that says you HAVE to use Chaos specific models to represent Chaos, it's just a preference people have. The same thing with vehicles...a Rhino is a Rhino.

Go Chaos, buy models with both armies in mind, and then make a decision when the new codex comes out.

What happened to BT?

If you need two armies to learn with a friend, sure go with DV. If you are starting a single army youre betting off with a Battleforce.

 Lansirill wrote:
Go Chaos. If you remove/deface all of the imperial iconography from the DA models you'll have a fairly large number of models to work with from the DV set.

Would this be proxying? Or is there a rule that lets you use SM as CSM? What units would they count as?

It won't be counts as or proxing, Chaos Space Marines troops look almost exactly like normal space marine troops, noone will dispute if they are Chaos or not, as long as they are painted the same colors as the rest of the army. Even tournaments have no problems with using normal Space Marine models as chaos.

It would be appropriate to cut or deface the Dark Angel iconography, but honestly, you can paint them in such a way as to make them look like recent chaos traitors. Like heretical symbols painted over the Dark Angel insignia, etc. It will actually make your army look better, as Chaos Space Marines are generally ragtag gathering ofmultiple chapter renegades.

I think your confusion comes from the other Chaos Space Marines models in the Dark Vengence box, but those are Chosen, hence why they are so different and more pimp than normal marines. They make for great sargents too.

They would obviously be used as normal Chaos Space Marines.

As for the original question, yes, go Chaos. It's not the most powerful army currently, but it's good enough to not put you at a disadvantage, and it is amazingly varied, unlike the current DAs. The vast majority of Chaos units in the new codex are useful, and due to the way it's structured it encourages you to try different variations for each chaos god. In addition the models allow you FAR better variety and conversion opportunities than any marine army, due to the individualistic nature of Chaos, and the mutations.

Granted, DAs are probably gonna get a new powerful codex, but it's highly unlikely they'll get one as varied as Chaos.

You could get a battleforce for around the same price for other armies, but I personally love Dark Vengeance and started collecting Chaos because of it so my vote goes with Chaos.

Chaos. Now that they look sufficiently mutated, they don't look like spikey space marines. While DA have their wings and cloaks, underneath they're still just another color of space marine.

From what some vets told me, what made DA good was their access to exotic equipment back in the day. Now that that's gone, they're just another chapter with a secret that's not so secret. Boring.

How easy would it be to paint all this?
Also what Chaos God would work best?

Paint em up as NightLords, Black Legion, Alpha Legion, Iron Warriors or Word Bearers and enjoy whichever god takes your fancy on the day.

Nurgle is probably easiest for a new player because it makes your units have a bit more staying power, but really any can work. Chaos is a great codex. Tons of options and flavor to it. Absolutely can recommend them to any player, new or a veteran.

Go Chaos, IF you love the models.

They are more versatile IMO. They have access to Daemon allies, which is easy to spill over into building an entirely seperate daemon army.

Firstborn wrote:
Go Chaos, IF you love the models.

They are more versatile IMO. They have access to Daemon allies, which is easy to spill over into building an entirely seperate daemon army.

Love daemon and CSM models a ton, just would struggle plainting them.

My first army was Chaos, specifically Iron Warriors. I would recommend reading some of the Black Library books (Legion for alpha legion, storm of iron or dead sky black sun for iron warriors, soul hunter for night lords etc...) they'll give you a ton of really awesome ideas for themed lists, paint schemes, conversions, and with the new ally rules you can make most of the armies depicted in the books 100% accurate using IG as allies!

I'm beginning my 3rd chaos space marine army as we speak (Alpha Legion). I think that fact should help give you an idea of just how diverse chaos armies are!

Hope this helps!

Hydra Dominatus!!!