Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

So, I'm going to start this like a lot of people start these posts: I play 40K and want to get into fantasy. I've kind of narrowed down the armies that I want to try to Daemons, Dark Elves, or Vampire Counts. Here's my issue - my main army in 40K is Tyranids, and the Tyranid Codex is abysmal. I am not a WAAC player, however I do like to at least be in a game. In order to do that with Tyranids, you can basically throw out 3/4 of the codex. The only HQ choice is Flyrant (maybe Swarmlord if the point value is high enough) , the only viable troops choices are Tervigon/Termagant, and I am really tired of it. My question then - are any of these 3 armies diverse enough that I can play with some chance of winning and, should my opponent be playing the same army as me, I am not going to see a basic mirror of my list.

I can't speak for DE. I know they are top tier right now, but only one person locally plays them to any degree of success (Others suck).

Daemons its too soon to tell, when it comes to variety. It looks fairly balanced and I'd say better than the majority of books. I'm likely starting Daemons soon.

VC is an incredibly internally balanced book. It is also mid-top teir imo. I love it because I personally love to change my list all the time. The only constant I have is zombies in my core. Everything else works if used correctly. Just gotta build a balanced list, and know how to use the units. Because of this I'd say VC has a larger learning curve.

Daemons seem to have the same problem in fnatasy as tyranids have in 40k. Odd builds. Odd units.

Vampier counts is a bit as that as well as your core is semi garbage and your lord will be a all the eggs in one basket superman.

Dark Elves are currently good in everything. I think you will like them.

I recommend Dark Elves. Their fluff is really, really, really terrible and looks like it was written by a teenager that's watched too much twilight, but the rules are good-to-overpowered. Almost all units are usuable and most are really strong. The only thing DE are bad at is war machines, but you won't need that with the stuff you got

Now thats not accurate Sigvatr, the DE book was written way before Twilight You mean Twilight was written like the DE book


All 3 of those armies will be decent. Fantasy is quite balanced between the different books. DE are a little on the OP side, but then again so are most of the older books.

The only really bad armies are Wood Elves and Beastmen, and even then a skilled player can still win with them.

Actual player skill is what is more important in Fantasy. If you make mistakes in the movement phase you can totally screw yourself and hand the game to your opponent.

Never said it was written after it, just said it goes in the same direction Reading the fluff translates to "WE ARE SO EVIIIIIIIL!".

Thanks for all of the advice, guys. Too bad about the Dark Elves fluff, really. At least the models are really cool. That will probably be the direction I am leaning, although it scares me that it is an older book. I would hate to start the army and then have a new Army Book released that invalidates half of my purchases.......but GW would NEVER do that, right....

I find that all three of these are very diverse, only a few units are ones youd want to avoid. They all have plenty of tactic styles as well.

In addition to that, all are top tier, very top tier. Broken even. But still, can be beaten even when in the command of an experienced player.

The only book i have seen that is very bland is the lizardmen book. It just leaves me a little bored.

Now if you want bat gak crazy diversity go join the Skaven!!!

 captain collius wrote:
Now if you want bat gak crazy diversity go join the Skaven!!!

I've heard that, I just really don't like the look or feel of the army.

 Battlesong wrote:

 captain collius wrote:
Now if you want bat gak crazy diversity go join the Skaven!!!

I've heard that, I just really don't like the look or feel of the army.

Well to each his own!

But based on your desires i'd say demons and the book of charts.

Vampire Counts: I would rate this as the best overall book released so far in 8th edition, great synergy and quite powerful in the hands of a skilled player. Many options and builds possible.

Demons: Really terrible internal balance. This of course restricts your choices for a viable army. Nurgle is very strong, Khorne, slaanesh, and tzeentch core mediocre to weak. The whole random rolling for equipping characters is great or terrible just depending on play style.

Dark Elves: Currently a very powerful army that will certainly see some changes to align it with 8th edition. I expect they will still be a decent army. The Hydra will certainly see a downward adjustment in power and upward adjustment in point cost.

DE have some really excellent magic items and we all have seen what happens to magic items when a new book comes out. The item that lets a mage sacrifice a trooper to gain a power dice after the dice for casting have been rolled is super powerful in 8th edition and there is no way that will be retained next book.

GW needs to be careful and not nerf the DE too hard because at the end of the day they are still a toughness 3 army with no to medium armor. I dont own DE but have played against them a fair amount. I have found that if you can survive their initial onslaught of attacks that you win the war of attrition against them. The have the offensive power of a tiger and the defensive strength of toilet paper.

I would suggest vampires because over the long haul you'll get more mileage from the army. The last several editions there hasn't been a change in their core, base rules, and model count. I would expect them to be consistent in the next edition of the game as well. With dark elves, I can see them redoing a good chunk of the army - new chariots, new warriors, and a new big kit. They have done most of the new infantry kits for the high elves right after island of blood (lions, Phoenix guard, swordsman, etc). Just know they are slated to be redone within a year or so and that you may end up liking some of the new models more ( cold one chariot that matches the current iteration of cold ones rather than the big jaw bone looking ones).

Again, thanks all. This is the kind of advice I was looking for. So, it looks like a choice between Dark Elves and Vampires. Knowing that the DE are probably getting a new book fairly soon will probably tip me to the Vampires