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Hey guys,

I've always wanted to play 40k, and I've bought some battleforce a few years back, but had to sell them since i haven't had time to play them. I somehow know the rules and the flow of the game.
Anyways, I need help on what army should I run. I prefer close combat rather than ranged, I want to charge at the enemy fast! I'm choosing between Blood Angels, Space Marines (Raven Guard theme), and Chaos Space Marines but if you guys can suggest any other army that'd be great too.

Thanks in advance.

First of all welcome to that most wretched hive of scum and villainy known as dakkadakka.com!

I have not played much 6th edition myself but from what I've heard/read shooting beats out assaulting most of the time in this edition. Blood Angels I know took a pretty mean hit this edition from their glory days of last edition.

Yeah, welcome to the forum. Glad to have you here.

The defining feature of 6th edition is the improved rules around shooting. Between overwatch, armor pen and hull points, rules around salvo weapons, etc, this edition gives a lot of advantages to the shooty armies.

You can run assault-oriented armies, but you have to be crafty. I would wait a couple weeks and see what comes out in the Tyranid Codex before making a decision. Tyranids have always been the most assault oriented of armies, and something tells me it's going to be a very good Codex this time around.

To give you a sense of how the current Codexes work, I play CSMs. One of my tricks for success in the current edition is not playing the same list twice in a row, players catch onto CSM tactics quickly and it's best to keep people on their feet. My armies make extensive use of CLs, bikers, noise marines, chosen, heldrakes and obliterators. There's always strong assault troops backed by long range firepower. The other thing about CSMs is that I do better at large games than small games. I don't really play anything less than 1,500 points, and sometimes as many as 4,000.

Between the lists you mention, I have a low opinion of Blood Angels, having not lost to them since 6th edition arrived (they also happen to be one of the few armies I have tabled.) I have not heard good things about Raven Guard armies. Most of the people I know who were thinking about them have switched to salamanders or imperial fists instead for reasons having to do with chapter tactics. The new SM codex has a lot of options for how to play the imperial scum.

Good luck with your decisions and keep us updated!

The only reason I want to play as BA or RG, is because of those Jump Packs, I don't know why but I kinda like them.

Well, let's say I chose CSM, what models should I buy first? Is the Dark Vengeance Starter worth it?

I really want to use Kharn the Betrayer, and/or Abaddon the Despoiler as HQ.

And did the khorne berzerkers become elites on the 6th ed.? Or I can use them as troops?

6th edition is all about shooting giving tau, imperial guard and army like them a great advantage. Blood Angels and Raven Guard are usable but as a new player don't go for them yet maybe get them as allies when you have got used to 6th edition. I have Black Templar and they are usable they have lost the biggest advantage. Jump packs will help you for movement but as I said keep away from them for the moment.

Chaos Space Marines I don't know much about it my friend had Abadon and he said he is a waste of points and that you might as well get a group of terminators. Kharn is great he costs and with this edition beefing against him but if you put him in a big group of korne bezerkes (sorry if I spell wrong) and use multiple rhinos to cover them and then get them to disperse the. Get the unit to charge you will do very well. That is what other people say that's what they do and does work.

Just don't expect it to be easy at first and the first couple of battle you probably will lose but with experience you will learn nice little tricks.

I hope this helps for you and that you pick an army that you will love.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
If you get Kharn you get Khorne Bezerkes as troops not elites.

First off, don't be deterred from taking a CC army. If you're intending to play in tournaments then it''s not the best option, but for casual games at the store or with friends, they're just fine. Not as good as in 5th, but still playable.

Out of RG and BA, I'd pick RG for the following reason:
They have a newer codex, so the units are a bit cheaper (points-wise) and they have more options that BA lack, as well as rules that are really nice for JP armies, allowing you to move 12" and still use them for a re-roll assault range. BA suffer from high-cost models, lack of options, and a lack of really good Special Characters, most of whom took a real hit with the advent of 6th.

Of course, what you can do if you really like the fluff and look of BA is play them as counts-as Raven Guard until the new BA codex comes out. I doubt many opponents would have a problem with it so long as you clearly explain what's what. Most of the units are the same, and the BA special units like Sang Guard can be used as counts-as for Vanguard Veterans with power weapons or Honour guard (if you drop or ignore the Jump Packs).

Regarding CSM, DV is probably not worth it unless you are interested in the awesome models. In game, they're not that good, but for painting they are a real blast. Abbadon is one of the best CC characters in the game, no idea of Kharn. Berserkers are now elites, but taking a Lord with Mark of Khorne makes them troops.

On the topic I'd khorne bezerker so sadly a better trade off appears to be, 10 man csm squads w MoK, banner of wrath, cc weapons w champ w lightning claws and kharne. my brother does a cc orientated list with several squads like that(not all with kharne) and they do give a bit of variety to the gun off games.

So if I'm running kharn, then the khorne berzerkers are troops, that's good to hear. What should I get first btw? Is the CSM Battle Force worth it or shoud I just buy a set of berzerkers and a rhino?

Get the battleforce from gifts for geeks and get it for £60 which is £15 cheaper which then you can get a box of bezerkers or Kharn.

Yes bezerker are then troops but are outmatched by the CSM equivalents with upgrades and have a choice to add a special weapon

That's true but what kind of army we have established CSM and you like Khorne but do you want a fluffy list a list that like to win or one that just wants to be fun, so just what ever models you like.

Crusaderjim, use punctuation. It looks as though you don't breathe when you speak. It's annoying to read frankly.

Sorry doing this on my iPad, still getting used to it. I'm also dyslexic, which puts me at disadvantage. Put this is off topic so we will put an end to it.

On the iPad too, I feel your pain.

btw you could still buy the bezerker models and use as csm and model 1, 2 with a plasma/meltagun

I want to have fun on my army first, then try winning when I'm more familiar with the game.

So, CSM is better than Berzerkers? CSM can still do an assault right?

If I'm going to buy the battleforce, the only units that I think I need are the CSM and the Rhino. What should I do with the possessed marines and the bikers then? Are they good? Haven't got the codex yet so please bear with me.

CSM with MOK and Icon of Wrath, as well as +1CCW are probably not as good at straight-up assault as Beserkers, but gain a lot more versatlity with the option to keep their bolters and take a special weapon or two, allowing them to play the shooting game against the stuff you're not going to want to charge.

The bikers are best with the Mark of Nurgle for T6, making them crazily tough, and used as a delivery system for special weapons or a CC character.

Keep the possessed bits, they can be mixed in with all the other kits to add a more chaotic feel to the army.

CSM for shooting things, and berzekers for assaulting others, right? How about the raptors? Are they good at assaulting?

That's one way of doing it, and probably the best, as it allows each unit to focus on their roles.

Raptors are all right I think, they lose some of the punch that Beserkers have but gain mobility. Some would say you'd be better filling out your heavy support slots with Heldrakes and bikers, but Raptors can be a nice addition and the models are awesome.

Hey guys, I've managed to get a codex, and a rulebook today, YAY!

Anyways, I've made an army list and honestly, I don't know what I'm doing,

Here goes,

HQ:

Kharn the Betrayer - 160


Troops:

10 Khorne Berzerkers, chain axes(10), plasma pistol(1), melta bomb - 250
Chaos Rhino - 35

10 Khorne Berzerkers, chain axes(10), plasma pistol(1) - 245
Chaos Rhino - 35


10 Chaos Space Marines, Heavy Bolter - 150
Chaos Rhino - 35


Fast Attack:

Chaos Bikers, Mark of Nurgle - 88


total - 998

Where's kharn going?

uhh, woops, He's going with the 1st set of khorne berzerkers. Here's the updated list since the rhino only have 10 model capacity.

HQ:

Kharn the Betrayer - 160
9 Khorne Berzerkers, Chain Axes (9), Plasma pistol (1), Melta bombs - 228
Chaos Rhino - 35

Troops:


10 Khorne Berzerkers, chain axes(10), plasma pistol(1) - 245
Chaos Rhino - 35


10 Chaos Space Marines, Heavy Bolter - 150
Chaos Rhino - 35


Fast Attack:

Chaos Bikers, Mark of Nurgle - 88


total - 976



will this list do any good?

Looks alright for non competitive, but you have no AA maybe swap a bezerker or csm squad for a heldrake? And use leftover points for more bikes

Edited the List, Here's what I've came up to.

HQ
Kharn the Betrayer - 160
9 Khorne Berzerkers, Chain Axes (9), Plasma pistol (1), Melta bombs - 228
Chaos Rhino - 35

Troops:

10 Chaos Space Marines, Heavy Bolter, Power Fist, Plasma Pistol - 200
Chaos Rhino - 35


Fast Attack:

3 Chaos Bikers, Mark of Nurgle, Melta Bomb,Power Sword, - 93

3 Chaos Bikers, Mark of Nurgle - 88

Heldrake - 170


Total - 1009

Is it ok if I exceeded the point limit for a 1k point game?

Is it ok if I exceeded the point limit for a 1k point game?

Not realy.

Why do you take heavy bolters or chain axs and no special weapons on the bikers ?

sanio wrote:
uhh, woops, He's going with the 1st set of khorne berzerkers. Here's the updated list since the rhino only have 10 model capacity.

HQ:

Kharn the Betrayer - 160
9 Khorne Berzerkers, Chain Axes (9), Plasma pistol (1), Melta bombs - 228
Chaos Rhino - 35

Troops:


10 Khorne Berzerkers, chain axes(10), plasma pistol(1) - 245
Chaos Rhino - 35


10 Chaos Space Marines, Heavy Bolter - 150
Chaos Rhino - 35


Fast Attack:

Chaos Bikers, Mark of Nurgle - 88


total - 976



will this list do any good?

This looks like the best of the ones you've posted, having everything in Rhinos or on bikes makes this pretty fast and tough, and although you'll have to endure 1 turn of shooting outside the Rhino before you can charge with the KB, you should still last long enough to do some damage.

I'd advise against the axes on the KB, unless you see a lot of Tau then the AP4 is not really worth it. You can use them just as normal CCW, and save a few points.

You're probably better going for melta on the CSM squad and the bikers, as this list does lack some power against high-AV targets (one lot of MB isn't going to cut it against a list with a lot of mid-to-heavy vehicles.

It might be worth looking to get a heldrake for AA, but on the other hand, they are better against ground targets. Unless you see a lot of fliers where you'll be playing, you could easily get by without one. It's only really lists with multiple fliers that are the issue, one can usually be ignored, and not everyone is going to bring one at 1000 points. If you do see a lot, then go for a Heldrake with the Hades Autocannon, it's worse against ground targets but better against fliers.