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So I've played 40k for awhile (although took a 7 year break, for most of 4th and all of 5th. Got back in as 6th was released) and I've been looking to get into WFB for awhile (I actually have the 7th edition rulebook).

I like the look and fluff behind The Empire. What's a normal average point game? From all the battle reports it seems 2500-ish. What should I start with to build up a force? Any other advice?

I suggest that you spend some time at this tactics site if you have not already found it:

http://warhammer-empire.com/

There are many ways to build an empire army, some units that are common to many lists are

Big unit of halberdiers
Big unit of great swords
various small detachments
wizard wagons to buff your troops
cannons and hellblaster
steam tank
one or more units of griffon knights
light cav pistoliers
heavy cavalry

I dont think you can go far wrong with any of those units.

Get on you tube and search for the user "oncebitten" he has some well made battle reports and has lately been using an empire army

I suggest that you research and decide what units you will likely take in most every game, buy those first. For stuff you are not so sure of just proxy it before spending the cash and time to buy and paint it.

Start small with 1k-1500 points and get some games in so you can get a feel for the rules and the importance of movement of positioning before you jump into it with both feet.

JWhex wrote:
I suggest that you spend some time at this tactics site if you have not already found it:

http://warhammer-empire.com/

There are many ways to build an empire army, some units that are common to many lists are

Big unit of halberdiers
Big unit of great swords
various small detachments
wizard wagons to buff your troops
cannons and hellblaster
steam tank
one or more units of griffon knights
light cav pistoliers
heavy cavalry

I dont think you can go far wrong with any of those units.

Get on you tube and search for the user "oncebitten" he has some well made battle reports and has lately been using an empire army

I suggest that you research and decide what units you will likely take in most every game, buy those first. For stuff you are not so sure of just proxy it before spending the cash and time to buy and paint it.

I agree about everything besides the pistoliers/outriders. You can't go wrong with anything in the book honestly besides Pistoliers, Outriders, and Spearmen. While some other things are a bit overpriced, they can atleast do their jobs. The aforementioned units can't.

Stoupe wrote:
I agree about everything besides the pistoliers/outriders. You can't go wrong with anything in the book honestly besides Pistoliers, Outriders, and Spearmen. While some other things are a bit overpriced, they can atleast do their jobs. The aforementioned units can't.

I think you've picked out three options that all have definite value in the right lists, while leaving out options that most consider pretty feeble - swordsmen, crossbowmen and handgunners (both of which are way overpriced).

All of which goes to show that despite the desperate need for the internet to classify every unit into 'objectively awesome' and 'objectively terrible' there is actually tremendous scope for variation from player to player. Which makes Amaya's advice the best way to approach this - start small and get a feel for the game, your army and your playing style before jumping in.

So would the battalion box be a good start? 20 state troopers, 10 pistoleirs/crossbowmen, 8 knights, and a cannon? I was thinking I could use one of the knights as a captain or general and it would be a legal army (I think).

I appreciate all the advice working my way into the game!

Yes, but it would only be about enough for under 750 points IIRC.

Yes, I made an army that was a little under 800 using just the battalion box.

I think more halbrediers would be necessary because the battalion can only make 20. What else should I add? Unit of great swords?

Do you know anyone with Empire models? I would really advise borrowing some if possible and playing around with them before committing to purchases.

My buddy and I figured out a way to play online via Power Point and we're going to be play testing that way.

 Kiwi461 wrote:
So would the battalion box be a good start? 20 state troopers, 10 pistoleirs/crossbowmen, 8 knights, and a cannon? I was thinking I could use one of the knights as a captain or general and it would be a legal army (I think).

I appreciate all the advice working my way into the game!

It's a great place to start. Apart from the missile troops all those units are excellent, and can be used even in the most competitive settings. And even then the missile troops are still reasonable in more friendly games, just not in really competitive games.

And with those state troops you've got some good background troops to experiment and refine your paint scheme. For the early efforts where it doesn't look great, well then they're just the guys who'll be standing somewhere near the back of your final block of 50

I sold off my Tau, so I've purchased a box of Empire State Troopers and a battalion box from Ebay. I'm going to get the General box from my FLGS (with my 10 dollars off) and I've already got the Army Book and the rulebook. Here's the current 1000 point list I've got generated based on what I've purchased/am purchasing:

Lords (228pts)
General of the Empire (228pts): Full Plate Armour, Crown of Command, Dawnstone, Ogre Blade, Warhorse w/ Barding

Heroes (93pts)
Captain of the Empire (93pts), Battle Standard Bearer, Full Plate Armour, Shield

Core (559pts)
Halberdiers (294pts): Champion, 29x Halberdiers, Musician, Standard Bearer
Crossbowmen: 10x Crossbowmen (Detachment)

Knightly Orders Inner Circle (265pts), Champion, Great Weapon, 8x Knightly Orders Inner Circle, Musician, Standard Bearer, Steel Standard

Special (120pts)
Great Cannon (120pts)

The BSB would go with the Halberdiers and the General would go with the Inner Circle Knights. I'll have about 40 dollars left, what do I add? I think I need more troops ...

I would recommend getting a wizard as magic is very useful to the empire. A lot of the time I field a lv4 and a lv2 as i find them just too important in battle.