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.

Clues I the title, I have a £300 budget over 2014 and I want to use it wisely. I'm wanting to start a project for the year. This mean what army should I get? What do I buy to get the most for my money?

I'm wanting to use this army in competitions, and I'm wanting to pro paint this! So a horde army may not be the best.

Please ask questions, I may use forge world if nessassary. I can get all models 20% cheaper than retail price.

Please say if you have done something like this and speak of you experience of it.

I'm guessing if you want to take this to tournamnets you're looking at at least 1500-2000 points so you can make up a full force. That's a challenge for £300, so we want to be going for the most points-efficient choices possible - definitely an elite army. That said, since this is a painting project you'll want some real centerpiece figures that will look fantastic on the tabletop - Forge World is expensive, but ideal for this since the figures have a lot more detail. With the 20% discount we're looking at £375 for an army - not impossible, but definitely a challenge.

For anything Forge World we really have to pick the most efficient selections to get the most out of our money. I am assuming you will want something which is intersting and quite challenging to paint. Two other assumtions I am making are that you cannot use Forge World's army lists, since there are quite a few tournaments that disallow them, and that you are not looking for an Escalation option. The latter might seem like a strange thing to bring up, but there are certain super-heavies that are quite efficient and make impressive centerpieces, so they may well be ideal options. If you could clarify wether these two assumptions are correct that would be helpful. I have also assumed you are more interested in the style and opportunity of the army than its combat effectiveness and would be fine playing something that isn't that competitive. In addition, I am presuming you want something fairly unique and not one of the latest netlists.

There are a few things that immediately come to mind when you think of an elite army - Space Marines are probably the most obvious example, since they can make small armies very easily and have relatively cheap figures for their points cost, for the most part. However, I decided against them here because Space Marines are very common and to make them stand out I felt that there would have to be too many expensive details, like resin shoulder pads and variant armour patterns. Another relatively low model count army that can be done cheaply is Necrons, particularly some sort of Necron air wing. I'm not convinced this provides they kind of painting challenge you're looking for, however, and I don't think 'just another Necron airforce' is unique enough for what you're looking for. There are some Necron lists that I think would look fantastic and be very unique, like the Dark Harvest Nercronzilla list, but I don't think they can be achived on your budget.

Grey Knight Paladins are definitely an option, and a good one at that - can definitely be done on your budget, are elite enough that you can lavish tons of attention on each figure, and detailed enough to show off some skill. That said, they don't really have any notable FW pieces you could go for and there are almost too few figures - even with each one painted very lavishly, they don't quite have the numbers to look like an impressive army, in my opinion. Sitting them on a display board would leave it a little empty.

I ruled out Deathwing because they're just more Space Marines and Deffwing because Meganobz aare ferociously expensive. Chaos Daemons Flying Circus is more of the same and while an all-battlesuit army might be cool, I think the Battlesuit model is a little dated and static and not ideal for a painting showcase - if you disagree, this amy may be higher in yur estimations.

Eventually I came to the conclusion that foot Wraithwing was the best option. It has some good options from Forge World, as I'll explain, is cheap enough that you can build it (unlike any kind of Mechanised Wraithwing) and while not incredible on the tabletop is fun to use and will almost certainly make for memorable games. The Wraithguard models are posable, relatively inexpensive and large enough that you can give them some good detail; additionally, their supporting models are also quite efficient. The large, smooth surfaces give you an opportunity to show off freehand work or sohpisicated blending and such, and while you might not imagine there to be a great deal of detail on each figure, there are plenty of gems, vents of runes that should give you ample opportunity to make the models look fantastic. Since they are on larger bases is is easier to make every base look a bit special as well, which is one of the things that can make a otherwise merely great army look incredible. Forge World make a fiarly inexpensive Wraithseer - this is an ideal centerpiece as it is distincitve, detailed, and large enough to grab attention without overwhelming the other models. It's also not seen very often, so will grab people's attention for that reason as well. I have included a rough outline of what the army might look like in a spoiler tag below, obviously you might wish to tweak this somewhat for competitive or painting reasons but it should give you a rough idea of how far your budget can stretch.



Let me know what you think of the idea - I can do a simple price breakdown if you wish but the quick and dirty shopping list is six Wraithguard boxes, one Spiritseer, two Eldar Support Weapons and a Wraithlord from Game Workship and one Wraithseer and one Phoenix Bomber from Forge World.

I'm going to recommend picking up a different system entirely. Budget gaming and 40k is just something that doesn't come together well.

EDIT: Let's face it, for what it's worth, gaming in general and 40k just doesn't really come together well.

Hats off to the eldar layout you've been given. Nice job

 Fafnir wrote:
I'm going to recommend picking up a different system entirely. Budget gaming and 40k is just something that doesn't come together well.

This. For that £300 you should just buy armies for Infinity/X-Wing/Warmachine/etc (pick 2-3) instead.

Or just get a titan for your existing army.

That is alot of adivce thisisnotaseriousaccount

Thisisnotaseriousaccount that is the best advise I've ever seen from one person. All you assumptions were right, I do like a unique army. I do have grey knight back when they weren't gay knights. I do like the challenge of painting elder, and with that list you produced... well it is very unique and pretty awesome. Look fun to play and will be good in tournaments. I can't wait to start buying, assembling and then painting. This will be an awesome project, thanks some much thisisnotaseriousaccount for the help and advice, I may even go over budget to make the army 2000pt due to the looks of things!

I will be doing a post on how that army goes, so you can see the progress in my project. I just hope I do it in a year.

Another possibility is a Ravenwing army. Cheap to build as you can source almost every bike from the bits sellers selling the Dark Vengeance bikers. Even though it's still marines, it plays differently than most marine armies. More people would probably tell you to go White Scars instead of Ravenwing, but I still like the Ravenwing. And, if you want a nice centerpiece for the army, I'm using this model for my Sammael from Scibor Miniatures.

Ok so I've decided to do an eldar waith list, but how do you play them? I never really understood on how they work. People say that each unit has a specific role, but yet other people say they don't. Can they out psychic every one, or not. I get very confused with them and would like someone to point me the way please.

What armies and minis do you already have? How about growing that army instead of starting a new one?

I have I do only 2000pt army's since no one really does big battle due to time. I have 2000pt Black Templar and 2000pt Grey Knights. Both win if I run them right. But they never really showed people the skill I have and never stuck out to people, with this list people will be looking towards my table more often where I'm from.

As said above, play another system. If you're set on 40k, use third party miniatures, scrounge up deals on 2nd hand, and/or play an extreme points per dollar army. I'm looking at Deadzone to largely replace my 40k gaming - and the Deadzone 40K conversion is making good progress, so low model count 40k will still be doable, and hopefully better once it's done.

The only legit 40k I could recommend would be buying 2x Space Marine strike forces as they're awesome value and should be ~$US $340 from a US discounter such as Discount Games Store. Depending ont he chapter you want to play, I'd recommend spicing this up with a small selection of bits such as from the ebay seller "bulletbits" who has a large range of SM chapter bits going at all times.

Guys read the title! I want help not people saying play another game, this won't work. This why I'm doing it, so I can have a challenge not just game wise but finance wise, why do everything the easy way why not spice it up abit. But please read the title help me achieve my goal not telling me not to do it, or play another game.

The other army that looks great and can be done under 300 budget is a FMC daemons list;
[1850 pts] (178.58gbp)
Fateweaver- 300 (35.17gbp)
Lord of Change: Exalted reward, Greater Reward, Lvl 3- 305 (35.17gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, Exalted Reward, Greater Reward- 355 (22.68gbp) - Be'Lakor Model
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, 2x Greater + 1x Lesser Reward- 355 (25.12gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, 2x Greater + 1x Lesser Reward- 355 (25.12gbp)

or

escalation [1839 pts] (272.34gbp)
Daemon Lord – Aetaos’rau’keres- 999 (144gbp)
Fateweaver- 300 (35.17gbp)
Lord of Change: Exalted reward, Greater Reward, Lvl 3- 305 (35.17gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, Exalted Reward- 330 (22.68gbp) - Be'Lakor Model

You will need an extra 20-30 Horrors fro glyph and spawns so that is the rest of your budget.

Daemon prince armies can be painted to an amazing standard and if done well have an absolutely amazing look when fielded. All of the models for the daemon lords and greater daemons are great models with huge amount of details and the Be'Lakor model is fantastic as well. Even the pink horrors look great when painted with detail and care (I personally prefer them in a maroon color rather than pink). The entire army is only ~46ish models so it won't take super long but it also has enough bulk due to the large models that it feels like an army.

It is also a really good army in the game as well. You can show up to a tournament with that build and as long as you play well you will do well.

Thanks for that ansacs for that really good advise. Yes they are 2 good lists, although I've been thinking about them, when ever we have a tournament between chaos and non chaos, chaos always wins which alway makes me not want them, even though all your points were very good.

Although this may not benefit me this may benefit a reader, so your advise may not go invain. But thanks for the help your one of the people that I like. Someone who keeps to the question. Thanks

CrusaderJim wrote:
Guys read the title! I want help not people saying play another game,

Playing a cheaper game instead of the very expensive 40k is definitely relevant help given your concern is low funds and certainly not excluded by how you worded your title.

"I'm pretty set on playing 40k, so any help regarding that specifically would be more appreciated than advice to play another game, sorry if that wasn't clear." is how I would have said it so as to not alienate people trying to help me.

You said no to horde armies, but how about Tyranids? An all Monstrous Creature army? Nice great big centre pieces on the battle field. Not fielding many minis and be nice to assemble and paint.

Honestly 300gbp (almost 500 usd) in the UK (or in the USA for that matter) is more than enough to get a 40K army. It just needs to be an elites troops army or a MC spam army. Either one will come out under the mark.

Faction that can fulfill this;
-Dark Angels (deathwing Terminators from Dark Vengeance box off ebay are crazy cheap)
-Chaos Space Marines (Chosen wing from DV box off ebay)
-Chaos Daemons (FMC circus is half the budget)
-Tyranids (MC spam, though we cannot know exactly how this will work until the codex drops)
-Grey Knights (Paladin wing)
-Tau (Farsight bomb or firebase based builds)
-Imperial Guard (mechvet+vendetta support)

All these armies come out under the 300gbp mark if you buy from discounters (25% discount) or get the box sets (firebase is a great deal and the dark vengeance models are cheap on ebay). The comments about this being impossible are clearly false.

Yes but the big thing is I'm not a face painter. I hate them I prefer helmets, that's why I have space marines. But all the other armies are very common at my club and will never stand out because of it.

Thanks for all the help every one

CrusaderJim wrote:
Ok so I've decided to do an eldar waith list, but how do you play them? I never really understood on how they work. People say that each unit has a specific role, but yet other people say they don't. Can they out psychic every one, or not. I get very confused with them and would like someone to point me the way please.

If you play with mainly Guardians or Aspect Warriors, this is more than true.
But Wraith-armies don't have this problem. When you have 30 Wraithguards on the table, there isn't much strategy left. Note that they have short range and unlike the rest of Eldar, they are slow.
They look scary and few enemy Troops choice can actually hurt them, so playing with them should be about area-denial. Especially if you make one of those squads a Axe/Forcefield squad. They get a 4++ and look nasty.
Put the Spiritseer with them, he is more useful there. With those units, advance on the enemy as quickly as possible and try to deny their access to midfield or key objectives. If you manage to keep them in tight package, your artillery should do the rest.

A couple of things I'd concider (about thisisnotaseriousaccount's list):
- the forementioned artillery should have long range and your whole army is desinged in killing elites. Shadow weaver has longer range and can hund different types of enemy.
- the Wraithlodr loadout isn't convincing me. Glaive is a must-have and weapons like Starcannon or Bright Lance would suit him better. Even Shuriken Cannons are a better take IMO.

Ok so I said I didn't want chaos but want ansacs has said has intrigued me, especially the 2nd list.

These are the 2 list he said.

The other army that looks great and can be done under 300 budget is a FMC daemons list;
[1850 pts] (178.58gbp)
Fateweaver- 300 (35.17gbp)
Lord of Change: Exalted reward, Greater Reward, Lvl 3- 305 (35.17gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, Exalted Reward, Greater Reward- 355 (22.68gbp) - Be'Lakor Model
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, 2x Greater + 1x Lesser Reward- 355 (25.12gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, 2x Greater + 1x Lesser Reward- 355 (25.12gbp)

or

escalation [1839 pts] (272.34gbp)
Daemon Lord – Aetaos’rau’keres- 999 (144gbp)
Fateweaver- 300 (35.17gbp)
Lord of Change: Exalted reward, Greater Reward, Lvl 3- 305 (35.17gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
x10 Horrors - 90 (17.66gbp)
Daemon Prince: MoT, flight, armor, Lvl 3, Exalted Reward- 330 (22.68gbp) - Be'Lakor Model

And extra 20-30 Horrors

It's Aetaos'rau'keres that catches my eye with his rules but what is an escalation match, and will anyone want to play with me?

And are they a good army to use, and are they fun?

I personally love my FMC daemons army. It is probably my favorite one to play right now. Some people don't like the random aspects of the army but to me every game I play with them is unique and memorable. They are the army that gives you those cool cinematic scenes.

It is a strong army. So you may have to give handicaps to more casual lists so that they can compete. It is however one of the most strategic armies in 40K. Your game starts when you roll for boons and psychic powers and at that point you should already be planning how the battle will unfold. This is an army that if you don't plan turn 5 before turn 1 you will probably loose.

Aetaos’rau’keres is actually pretty fair in his points costs and does not have a D weapon. He doesn't actually bring anything that the FMC circus list doesn't already have but he has cool takes on those abilities and adds a great looking center piece to the fight. Whether your group allows escalation is something I cannot answer but if you more a greater daemon to within range of Aetaos’rau’keres he will fire upon them rather than on the enemy. So explaining that and that he has abilities in line with the LoC+DP but for another DP in points usually quells any OP exclamations. It is a forgeworld rules and models (some people don't like forgeworld) so if you are concerned I would talk with your meta/friends.

If I were you and you decide to go chaos I would build up fatey, LoC, and 20-30 pink horrors and then add DP and/or Aetaos’rau’keres as you decide how you like to play. You can also take other troops rather than pink horrors but if you get Aetaos’rau’keres you will need ~20 pink horrors anyways. Either list is super modular and can be scaled up or down very easily by changing the rewards/powers/equips on the DP and LoC.

Is there any good Nurgle only Daemnon lists?

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/556441.page

This was the list I have played a few times. The nurgle DP and GUO work well enough outside of escalation games. The second escalation happens and D weapons are in the game the GUO has to start in reserves.

As it is now I would probably replace the ADL and quadd gun with a void shield generator.

The daemon lord of nurgle is okay if there are not any D weapons but with D weapons in the game he is woefully vulnerable and far too expensive to survive.

Fate weaver in my opinion is almost mandatory for any FMC list. The FMC are too expensive to not have a reroll for grimoire/grounding tests and the warpstorm table needs curving so it doesn't loose you the game.

What about a Tyranid MC spam list? Is it good? Do people like playing against it? And can it be within budget?

I've seen people paint the models amazingly, and seen them do quite well.

There are a good number of new MC being released for the tyranids and the rumors seem like MC spam will be good. However until the codex releases there is no way to say for sure.

If you stay with MC spam with minimum other models you should have a fair shot to stay within 300 gbp.