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 started playing, collecting, painting (badly), and just reading Warhammer 40k. I always found this hobby fun, even though I do not play many games. I have collected in about 2 years 4 different armies that I own, and only 3 of them that I actually play with. I own Tyranids, Necrons, CSM, and Orks, and with the exception of the new CSM which I hate, and refuse to play anymore, I only own the alien races. I always told myself to get a human army, but always bought the races I thought I liked. After a few years I want to buy a new army, one that I can get a lot of time into and actually enjoy using. Since I have spent very little of any time looking at any other army, what should I get?

Looking through the books of different armies, I barely understand any of what I am reading. I have heard that grey knights are fun to play, but really expensive. I liked the Dark angel army, but didn't understand why people said I had to choose terminators or bikes, and had very little idea which would be better. With the exception of the necrons, my armies are run at nearest enemy, roll a bucket of dice over his models, then start a new game.

I am starting to ramble and really cannot explain my point very well...

1. I want to get a new army
2. I need to know which human armies are at least fun
3. I don't want space smurfs at the very least, that codex is evil.

any help or direction would help a lot!

to continue your current run and roll a bucket of dice, you might look into wolves, templars or DA.

you can run in, punch stuff and while doing it have good shooting abilities, some fun special rules and characters and the best thing is. You arent the Smurfs.

The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.

The only reason I say their not fun for me, is that everyone and their brother I play with has that army. That, and I still hate them for what they did to Hive fleet behemoth...

Anyways...

Can someone tell me about those Imperial guards? I know they have lots of heavy tanks and can do a lot of damage with them, but what about their troops?

For troops, think 4th ed Eldar guardian start line. They can be either small and elite (veterans) or massive blob (3-16 units per slot, not counting transports).

Perhaps to start with you could explain what specificly you dislike about the Codex: Space Marines? as that could give us better ideas on what you're looking for.

I don't specifically hate the codex, since now the black templars are mixed in somehow... But I have always felt that the codex was too much showboating their gigantic money printing army.

I like orks because their fun, run everywhere, and have the ability to make most units piss themselves when the bucket of dice appears.

I like necrons because Trazyn is the greatest invention since the internet, they have good shooting capabilities, and they make vehicles spurt oil in fear.

I love tyranids...I just love tyranids for some reason, first army and whatnot. codex isnt the strongest but they have decent melee, incredibly scary genestealers, and almost broken close range shooting.

Then I get to space marines... No matter how many times I read that codex, I can never get myself to like the blue marines. They just aren't that fun sounding....blue guy with good everything, bolter, choice between anti infantry, anti tank, or anti dumb unit charging. its very safe, solid, and slow. Maybe the orks and Tyranids have spoiled me...being used to bad saves, bad aim, and buckets of dice, but thats why I am trying to get a space marine army, hordes can only go so far...

Space Wolves: liked their fluff, the ones I saw played were CC focused, and seem to embrace special characters everywhere they could find the space.

Blood Angels, crazy AIDs infected Space Marines that want to die in battle or something similar. Lots of jump infantry to focus on, as well as the extra crazy death company that are close combat lovers. Was looking into this army

Dark Angels: Terminators, tons of them. Honestly wouldn't mind this army, but I don't think an army based solely on them are that good. hard to kill probably, but I think I have to deep strike them all? Actually looking into this army as well.

Grey Knights: Daemonhunters....Honestly can't remember too much about them other then the stupid monkeys, and their armor looking the best.

Space marines: blue guys, standard. don't excel in anything, not the best in melee, not the best shooters. Unless they changed, I can't see why people play them.

Sorry I know this is hard to explain...
I just don't like how their army is setup, too basic standard boring to me. I haven't read their codex in a while, but I just didn't like how they looked.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Happyjew wrote:
They can be either small and elite (veterans) or massive blob (3-16 units per slot, not counting transports).

3...to 16....entire units??
Per SLOT???
my wallet just had a stroke...how could anyone afford those things.

I personally love playing sisters of Battle.

I actually haven't heard much about them...other then GW doesn't like updating them?

How do the sisters play? Never seen anyone play them before.

Lots of Power Armour over a slighter frame. Plenty of flamethrowers, including some mounted on tanks. Melta for AV duties.

Not really all that different to marines but some people on this board will swear they're worlds apart.

 Dylanj94 wrote:
I actually haven't heard much about them...other then GW doesn't like updating them?

How do the sisters play? Never seen anyone play them before.

I've won more tournies using them than my Tau.

Sisters are playable in a few ways but MY way is to use the follwing formula: 4 troops in rhinos, 3 full dominion squads in rhinos. All HK's on the rhinos. I take uriah and celestine. A mantacore, vindetta and mandatory vet squad completes the picture basically. You bring a ton of force very quickly and the rhinos form the shell of their fast moving approach.

MarsNZ wrote:
Lots of Power Armour over a slighter frame. Plenty of flamethrowers, including some mounted on tanks. Melta for AV duties.

So..their female space marines with tits and an unhealthy obsession with fire. Sounds pretty reasonable I guess.


Started looking around at armies, I am looking at a Dark Angel Deathwing army.

Dark Angels: Deathwing army.
Pros: lots of terminators, I can get a bunch from friends and bought cheap online. Lots of units use terminator armor, Massive ranged capabilities with the Dakka standard.
Cons: Cant afford transports for them all, Not very experienced with non horde armies. Terminators have 1W. Terminators are Expensive.

I can't think of any more pros or cons right now.

If you don't like blue try a different color Space marine come in many flavors, or try chaos, you have humans, deamons and marines!

 Dylanj94 wrote:
I actually haven't heard much about them...other then GW doesn't like updating them?

How do the sisters play? Never seen anyone play them before.

I've won more tournies using them than my Tau.

Sisters are playable in a few ways but MY way is to use the follwing formula: 4 troops in rhinos, 3 full dominion squads in rhinos. All HK's on the rhinos. I take uriah and celestine. A mantacore, vindetta and mandatory vet squad completes the picture basically. You bring a ton of force very quickly and the rhinos form the shell of their fast moving approach.

I am much like you and pretty much only have Xenos armies but over the years I've owned and sold/given away: DKoK, Dark Angels (Pure Deathwing), Grey Knights and Raven Guard and none of them were that fun compared to my Nids, Orks, Daemons and such. So if you're like me it could be a lost cause! However you should look up the Space Marine chapter "The Minotaurs" if you want to collect a chapter that just looks amazing. I was tempted to start them but I decided to start Tau instead.

Ravenwing + Deathwing makes for a rather good combo. You'll still have low numbers on the table, but the ability to pinpoint deep strikes using the bikes' teleport homer shouldn't be overlooked.

People still see Ravenwing/Deathwing/Greenwing as mutually exclusive, when in fact the new codex enables interesting synergies between them.

Sounds like you should play Imperial Guard. They have massive tank companies, long range artillery, and masses of cheap troops.

Okay: Let me tell you something about Dark Angels.

Dark angels are one of the most flexible of the MEQ armies, we can run either a full bike list, a full terminator list, or your standard PA army. Mix and match, ETC

where Dark Angels start lacking, Is we didn't get the Anti-air options, of the Hunter and Stalker. the Dark Shroud offers interesting possibilities (But with the negation of cover saves...), but the Vengence, Dark Talon, and Nephilum are sub-optimum choices. But for Wargear we have the PFG, which can be fun.

Of the IoM armies the best written codex is the SM codex. It has the most flexibility and options of any codex currently in the game. I also would not play UM as I play my SM as white scars and iron hands. The white scars bike army is one of the most dynamic armies to play and the only army where I use every game phase to it's fullest. The iron hands army is great for throwing down SM tanks, flyers, and dreads as they can give that little extra survivability they need to function. You will have a hard time getting board due to this codex as you can change your chapter tactic and this will change how your army functions.

I have to admit though that my IG are my real love. I play a DKoK army. Currently the play style for them is somewhat boring sort of gunline style but they can do some incredibly effective and great looking infantry, tanks, flyer, and/or artillery based armies. Nobody puts down the sheer numbers of vehicles, artillery, or infantry like the guard do.

SoB is an army that if you like them you will love them. Some of my favorite models are from that line though I only have a small allies force. The SoB players love their army though and if you get into you will definitely have fun. They are a close in shooting army with assault abilities so games will tend to be bloody and exciting.

DA was my first army and most my models have DA heraldry. The DA codex is just not very good. If you want an all terminator army it can be okay but the arbitrary limitations the codex sets you will be frustrating (must take belial, cannot DS all your terminators unless you bring other units for the 50% reserves rules, no effective AA options whatsoever, etc.). The ravenwing is not bad but unless you are spamming blackknights and bringing a FW or allied AA you will find that SM just do it so much better and with better and more options. I would not bother with greenwing (TAC squad builds) as they just do it worse than the SM codex in every way.

Grey Knights is actualy a really fun force and can still hold it's own fairly well. I play draigowing and inquisition henchmen lists when I want to bring a small army. They are fun and rewarding to play but you will struggle at first to properly use draigowing. Tactical positioning of models is very important for that army. This is a very good option and you can get away with a fairly cheap investment. They are also easy to paint so they look good.

 Jayden63 wrote:
The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.

Uh.... Grey Knights are a Chapter of Space Marines.

 Psienesis wrote:

 Jayden63 wrote:
The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
The only human armies that are not space marines are IG, SOB, and Grey Knights. Unless by space smurfs you mean the space marine codex exclusively, in which case you can also add SW, BA, and DA to the list.

You asked for fun, but what is it about the basic SM codex that you find unfun or lacking. Because all SM codex share a lot of the same equipment so unless your looking for something completely different you might find the other armies lacking as well.

Uh.... Grey Knights are a Chapter of Space Marines.

While Grey Knights might be Space Marines, doesn't their codex allow for a bunch of henchmen and other non-sm type units. I've not looked at it in a very long time. It also seems like while they are SM technically by their base stats, the equipment options are so very un-space marine in their stats and functions that they probably don't have much in common with how they play.

It does (or, rather, did, I haven't looked into them since Codex: Daemonhunters) but that is because they are the Chamber Militant of the Ordo Malleus, and is the source of all their non-SM characters (which would be their bosses and the friends of the boss.)

Though with Codex: Inquisition now being a thing, I suppose that's technically true for all SM armies now. Everyone can ally with the =I= for fun and games these days.

But, again, I was just a bit confused by your post that seemed to suggest that the GK were not Space Marines, as they most definitely are.

I find the Dark Angels very fun.

Like others have said, we have great bikes (Ravenwing) and great terminators (Deathwing). You can mix and match to your liking/playstyle/model preference, and sprinkle in some regular marine stuff to fill holes.

The units are made to synergize with each other, which is probably my favorite part.

But, again, I was just a bit confused by your post that seemed to suggest that the GK were not Space Marines, as they most definitely are.

I think he meant they have a separate codex.

I am actually thinking of making a "using dark angels codex" army, but hate the deathwing colors, so will be using different colors.

HQ: Belial

Troops: 3 squads of 10 terminators

Elites: 2 Venerable Dreads

Heavy support: 2 Land raider crusaders

I will probably find a few cheap squads from dark vengeance for maybe 1-2 Tac marine squads.

Fast attack...maybe 2 biker squads or something? Never actually seen a biker unit played before, except deffkoptas

Are they similar?

 Dylanj94 wrote:
I am actually thinking of making a "using dark angels codex" army, but hate the deathwing colors, so will be using different colors.

HQ: Belial

Troops: 3 squads of 10 terminators

Elites: 2 Venerable Dreads

Heavy support: 2 Land raider crusaders

I will probably find a few cheap squads from dark vengeance for maybe 1-2 Tac marine squads.

Fast attack...maybe 2 biker squads or something? Never actually seen a biker unit played before, except deffkoptas

Are they similar?

Nice. This is almost my exact army. I have Deathwing Knights in a LR, though and for Fast Attack, you really can't go past Black Knights! Nothing like zooming across the board and Deathwing Striking a bunch of terminators in your opponents face.