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So I've just got back into 40k after a very long break and decided to paint up some Assault Marines and was about to order the Blood Angles Battleforce. Then I see rumors of new tactical squads and possibly new assault squads are being released in a few months, on top of a plethora of other SM related models. This is awesome but disappointing news, as I'd hate to be painting up 'old' models when as I near completion a wave of new and improved ones are introduced. This was kind of disheartening as I was on a roll pumping out assault marines and ready to build up more units.

Since I know nothing of the current army weaknesses and strengths, and have not yet played fielded a 6th Blood Angels army let alone played a game...

I was hoping very much that some of you folks would be kind enough to reignite that spark I had when I started building my Blood Angels by basically offering insight on which current units would be "safe" to build without fear of having new and improved ones coming out in the very near future.

I would like to get an idea on what units I can start painting up that I can directly add to a Blood Angels force comprised of the new tactical and assault marines, among whatever else might be happening...the other thing is I am just unsure of which units are worth painting For example, Sanguinary Guard look awesome and I am fairly sure at a guess won't be getting redone, but are they worth fielding/painting for that purpose?

Anyway, if anyone would like to give me some inspiring choices of what types of BA units I should be painting up now that will highly likely be usable on the field and won't be getting redone, I'd be eternally grateful!

1) How can we be sure the new models are "New and improved"? (Hint we can't they may suck).

2) I would say damn near anything will be safe to build. They usually do not release kits that already have kits unless they are doing a major overhaul. We might see a huge Dredknight like model, or something like that, but new Tac marines or Assault marines, probably not.

I very much doubt GW would make an entirely new tac marine sprue. Its been around for years and has nothing to change really.

Models themselves never get outdated. A marine with a lascannon will always be viable. And he could be any marine with a lascannon and PA. He could be a tactical marine, a devestator, a sternguard, a command squad veteran, etc...


A new codex will mean some slight repointings, a couple new kits, and a shiny new book. Anyone with an existing collection that is fairly extensive(+/-3000 points) will be fine. And anything thats the basic bread and butter is very unlikely to change.

If anything, I'd buy now. GW repacked the Dire Avenger box to only have 5 guys in it. Buy before they repack the Tac squad to only hold 5!


Really, the newer plastic releases have been to bring older lines level with Marines. Marines had most of their stuff in plastic, and with plenty of options and variation. The Tac squad box is the gold standard for GW. That is very unlikely to change.

If you see models now that have the gear you want to use in your army, buy them. For all you know, the new sets may be lacking certain items. Also, the new stuff could cost more!
The BA DC assault marines come with a lot of cool BA-specific items like chest pieces and shoulder pads that you can put on other assault marines to make them all BA-ish.

Yeah, a DC box has enough bits to Bloodify several assault marine kits.

Also, GW sells Jump Packs for $8.25

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?prodId=prod1860238

If you are making assault marines, you should buy tactical boxes and DC boxes. You will have plenty of CCW bits from the DC box to put on the tactical marines. Its a cheaper way of getting more bodies for the buck.

Thanks for the input guys. Regarding why I think tactical squads are being redone is because they are on the leaked release schedule for 2013. I saw a Librarian with jump pack on there, which makes me want to wait for that instead of make my own, etc.

I agree it does seem strange for them to change the tactical squad box as its a fantastic box already, but I read the assault squad box would be getting rid of the annoying seams on the jump packs.

The tac Marine sprue is right now GW's license to print money. Every Marine player will end up buying a few boxes, whether they're Codex: Space Marines, Blood Angels, Dark Angels, Black Templars, or even Space Wolves. They have no reason to update the kit, since it's still a solid one, and GW hasn't really been in the business of updating old plastic kits anyway lately. As for Assault Marines, the latter half of that same argument applies, so they're probably sticking around as well.

I would expect plastic kits for Space Marines to mostly be a new vehicle or two (rumors abound of a big Dreadnought-style... thing) and maybe, just maybe, a plastic Thunderfire that's also some other piece of artillery. You're safe.

http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?354828-New-Space-Marines-Rumors&p=6464087&viewfull=1#post6464087

Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on that post from late last year, mentioning all those new goodies coming out before this years end? It has me hesitant on assembling my current Space Marines :( But its from so long ago and haven't heard more since...