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Hi,

As the topic would suggest, I'm a complete beginner who's finally pulled the trigger to try out 40k. I'll be starting at 750 points with a small group of friends. I don't really know what I'm doing but I would really like to go with Orks. I just like their overall look and feel. My dilemma is, there doesn't seem to be any way to compile a 750 point ork army that doesn't consist of upwards of 60 miniatures. Every list I've had a look at seems to consists of multiple squads of 20 boys. Is there any way to play orks at 750 points and not have THAT many miniatures? I understand that maybe thats just how Orks are played, but yea it just seems a bit overwhelming. Apologies if my question is silly/has an obvious answer.

Thanks!

I have a friend who has a small force of orks. He went for quality over quantity. His men had heaps of saves and buffs and its was pretty hard to kill.

He had about 40 ish models I think. It was under 1k points.

So if you just wanna get started I think he used heaps of Paint boys and other characters (not sure sorry) and heaps of upgrades. 1 Vehicle and some surprisingly powerful machine gunners that did something.

So maybe if you go upgrade heavy you will have luck getting a lower model count.

I'll take a stab at it. So this army doesn't have too many models. The HQ is a mega armoured warboss and his retinue of meganobz, three in this case can be made a troop choice so they can capture objectives. So that's 4 models, you could convert these fairly easily, New they need a trukk, so we're at 5 models. Next, you'd likely need 3 boxes of boyz. We're at 30 models. With the kans and the getchin you're at 47. So I guess it's still a good amount of models. On the upside I think other than the boyz and maybe trukk you could likely do it on the cheap and convert the hell out of some of the units.

HQ - Mega Armoured Warboss
ammo runt, attack squig
bosspoll, cybork body

TROOP - Meganobz
3x combi skorchas

Trukk
red paint job
armoured plates
boarding plank

TROOP - Boyz
22x shoota
2x rokkit launcha
Boyz Nob w/power klaw
eavy armour, bosspoll

HEAVY SUPPORT - Killa Kan
1x grotzooka

HEAVY SUPPORT - Killa Kan
1x grotzooka

HEAVY SUPPORT - Big Gunz
3x Lobbas
12x gretchin
3x ammo runt
Runtherd

For ork armies, the model count directly translates to your survivability, since you are unlikely to successfully take any saves. Low model count usually translates to getting killed faster. Especially at low points you want two or three big units of boyz, since it's still one of the best troops options. Even armies with "low" model counts like battlewagon bash or biker armies lead by Wazzdakka tend to number close to sixty models.

The only way around huge amounts of models would be nob bikers. Two units lead by a warboss each can easily reach 750 points. Just don't expect to fare well against any of the newer codices, since almost all of them can easily counter nob bikers and/or have harder deathstar units themselves.

If you want to play Orks, but steer away from the MORE MODELS THAN DICE approach, there are some tried and tested routes. Note that many of these army types are considered weak right now, and may or may not become awesome again in the new book. For each type of list, I'll give its accepted name then post a very rough and ready 750pts for you to look at.

First up, there is the list that I run: Kult of Speed (AKA 'Trukk Spam')

Big Mek with a Kustom Force Field (gives Trukks a 5+ cover save)

12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram
12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram
12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram

3 Warbikers
Dakkajet, Extra Supershoota, Flyin' Ace

746pts

This list is good for panicking the opponent, for having more speed than any list has a right to, and is also prime for expansion up to 1500; just add more vehicles and dudes in them.

Next up, Kan Wall. The basic idea is to put the walkers in front and the infantry behind. The Big Mek gives the Kans a 5+ cover save, and if the enemy shoots through the Kans at your other units then they will also get a 5+ cover save. Designed to stomp forwards and punch face. I've always lusted after this list, but don't own the models for it. Be aware that it took a hammering this edition, but it can still work.

Big Mek with a 5++ and a Kustom Force Field (gives Kans a 5+ cover save)

20 Shoota Boyz, led by PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob
20 Shoota Boyz, led by PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob

Deffkopta, Rokkits

3x Killa Kans, Big Shootas
3x Killa Kans, Rokkits

750pts

Uhm, next up would by the Armoured Krumpany - which is lots of Battlewagons filled with lots of Nobz. Drive forward, smash everything, make people cry as their precious shooting units get violated. Fun times. This was an early 5th edition power list, I think, but it didn't last long. It works because the Warbosses make the Nobz troops, and so it is about as elite as Orks get.

Warboss, Powerklaw, Cybork Body

Nobz Squad - 5, with a Painboy, Bosspole, 2x Big Choppas, 1x Powerklaw, Waaagh Banner, all with Cyborks, riding in...
...Battlewagon, with Deffrolla, Big Shoota and Red Paint Job

20x Boyz, led by Powerklaw/Bosspole Nob, with two big shootas, riding in a Battlewagon with Deffrolla, Big Shoota and Red Paint Job

Deffkopta, Big Shoota

750pts

You'd want another Warboss and Nobz Squad to expand this upwards.

Then finally you have the current Nob Bikers. This is basically the same unit that I posted in the above list, but on bikes; this unit costs about 400pts by itself, but is an absolute beatstick. You can convert it easily from the Warbikers kit and some Nob torsos. The last list is the easiest candidate to take this unit; just remove the Battlewagon, put the Warboss and the Nobz on bikes, and go to town.

I hope that all this helps! Bear in mind that we have a new book coming this summer, so I'd suggest to go for what amuses you and looks interesting to paint, rather than what is most competitive right now.

Right now you are probably better off just putting together and painting your first squad of boyz. It will most likely take you the two months until the orks are expected just to get this done. If you are going to play orks the one thing that you will have to know is that the first rule of orks is BOYZ BEFORE TOYZ! It has been and always will be this way. If the idea of painting 60+ models for the most basic of armies intimidates you you should probably choose a different army.

Thanks for all the fantastic responses guys.. after reading all your comments, I've decided that if thats what it takes to play orks, then so be it.

Just out of curiosity, is this a bad list? I saw it on librarium, and it looked interesting:

HQ: warboss- warbike, power klaw, bosspole, kombi-skorcha
Elites: 5 Lootas
Troops: 18 boyz- nob,big choppa, big shoota, bosspole
4 nobz- warbikes, painboy, power klaw
Fast: 4 warbikers
Heavy: 3 Kannons

I'd also recommend to be prepared for some shifts in how the Orks work come the new codex. Don't be disappointed if some old favorites are nerfed or invalidated to push some new models or combos, expect something to change about MANz when they get their plastic kit to promote their use and perhaps a freakishly huge oval base kit, and prepare for years of dirty looks at your army if GW pulls an Eldar with them.

As for your list, the Kannons and Biker Nobz are a good start, but that list is way too short on Lootaz and Boyz and those warbikers seem completely pointless.

I'd recommend ditching those warbikers for more lootaz.

The stars of the Ork codex as of right now are as follows;

Shoota boyz (tons and tons of shots from dirt cheap and reasonably tough models that are very competent at assault)
Biker Nobz (T5 2 wound, FNP, 5++ save biker models with power klawz remain one of the hardest to remove and hardest hitting units in the game)
Dakkajets (weak side armor and other fliers beware!)
Battlewagons (still pretty tough, still extremely customizable, still a great way to crack open AV14 by deffrolling it)
Lootaz (Only Missilesides can rival Lootaz at S7 AP4 shot spam, this is how you do more dakka)
Big meks (KFF is still very handy for mech lists, but I expect them to be changed to giving shrouded in the next book much like Venomthropes were)
Warboss (Put on a bike for best results)
Stompaz (may lose you friends but are frightening lords of war)
Battlefortresses (ROLLING THU-sorry I've been playing too much Yuri's revenge. Essentially battlewagons but more so)

More situational but still worthwhile ork units include:
MANz (Great Bully units, benefited a great deal from 6e's power weapon changes, put in a Wagon or Trukk for best results, bit pricey though, but give them all Kombi-burnaz for added hilarity for one turn)
Burnaz (15 burnaz are essentially impervious to assault, and they can clear away hordes with ease from the safety of a battlewagon)
Deffkoptaz (Would be the best bet in the FA section if Dakkajets weren't there, still worth checking out)
Killa Kanz (I personally think they're a bit too soft but some still swear by them)
Kustom mega-dreadz (Orky contempter dreads, 'nuff said)
Fighta-bommer (Can carry plenty of hurty rokkitz or bombz)
Flakkadakka guns (Decent anti-air, but many prefer Lootaz or Flakka gunz on Gun Trukks or Fortresses)
Guntrukks (Customizable self propelled guns, can't go too wrong with them)

Allies: Your only battle brothers are the Ork Dread mob forgeworld list (which suffers from being an AV12 walker spam list in an edition that hates AV12's guts and disadvantages Walkers in favor of Monstrous Creatures). Generally speaking, most allies don't give you too much you don't already have or particularly need.

You can usually get AOBR boyz for less than $1 apiece on ebay, you can stick them in deffrolla Batllewagons to avoid having to move them all, but between scratchbuilding and ebay it's not that expensive to get a decent mob o' boyz.

If you want a really low model army, you could go with 2 warbosses, 2 units of troop nobs and some battlewagons/truks. (The codex is just about to be updated, so while we don't know how everything is going to shape up, it's a good time to stock up on cheap boyz and toyz)

If it were me, I would just start painting a warboss, some boyz, and maybe a few nobs and not invest in too much else unless you particularly like it. Odds are everything is going to change in a few months when they release the new code, and they'll probably come out with some pretty nifty new units/kits that you'll get to enjoy.

The good news with playing Orks is you'll have more fun than anybody there, win or lose.

Also I'd see if you can pick up some AOBR 'copters in the meantime. They're pretty terrific units.

Big Mek with a Kustom Force Field (gives Trukks a 5+ cover save)

12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram
12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram
12 Boyz, led by a PowerKlaw/BossPole Nob, in a Trukk with a Ram

3 Warbikers
Dakkajet, Extra Supershoota, Flyin' Ace

746pts

.

Oh, I threw that list together in five seconds. You'll want to drop a boy to get the Big Mek into a Trukk, yes. That gives you ten spare points, so I guess you either get two Big Shootas in the Boyz or you give the Mek a 5++ from Cybork.

The Warbikers are amazing. In fact, I'd confidently rate them as totes amazeballs. The bad thing about them is that they cost a lot of points - 25 each. However, for that you get a surprisingly tough cookie - T5, 4+ armour save, 4+ cover save - and you get a lot of mobility to boot. They are very efficient shooters, putting a reliable 2 hits a turn into a target of your choice, and at S5 that shooting can be used to try damaging light vehicles (or the rear armour, which your movement will allow you to get towards). They can also charge stuff, being Orks, and will have 4 WS4 S4 attacks on the charge, but they are too expensive for this task to be honest and you should resist the urge to do so in the majority of cases.

Most people head straight towards Nob Bikers, but I've always enjoyed using my Warbikers, and they have many fun and tactical uses without costing ten billion points. From soaking up enemy fire, while providing cover saves to other units with their freakishly long bases, to hunting down tanks and even just cruising along a flank and crushing enemy scoring units, I've usually been pleased by them. Sadly, Tau and Eldar both rain on them from a great height - the Wave Serpent can kill 2 a turn on average with the Shield alone - but you can't play the whole game in fear of two armies.

You can play without boyz at all. Megnobz or bikernobz with bosses will work.

However, i'd strongly recommend trying 1-2 bw full of boyz and KFF mek. That'd be 40 models. Others can be lootas, lobbas and stuff. If you don't want lots of boyz, go for just 20 in 1 wagon and meganobz/nobz in another. That'd still work. But in any case, boyz are gona alwayz be good. Be it greentide (4-5 ed), truckrush (5 ed) or wagonrush (5-6 ed). Boyz will alwayz find a place in any ork list. Meganobz and biker nobz are good now but it's hard to tell what's gona happen with them in next codex or edition.

 Charles Rampant wrote:
The Warbikers are amazing. In fact, I'd confidently rate them as totes amazeballs. The bad thing about them is that they cost a lot of points - 25 each. However, for that you get a surprisingly tough cookie - T5, 4+ armour save, 4+ cover save - and you get a lot of mobility to boot. They are very efficient shooters, putting a reliable 2 hits a turn into a target of your choice, and at S5 that shooting can be used to try damaging light vehicles (or the rear armour, which your movement will allow you to get towards). They can also charge stuff, being Orks, and will have 4 WS4 S4 attacks on the charge, but they are too expensive for this task to be honest and you should resist the urge to do so in the majority of cases.

Most people head straight towards Nob Bikers, but I've always enjoyed using my Warbikers, and they have many fun and tactical uses without costing ten billion points. From soaking up enemy fire, while providing cover saves to other units with their freakishly long bases, to hunting down tanks and even just cruising along a flank and crushing enemy scoring units, I've usually been pleased by them. Sadly, Tau and Eldar both rain on them from a great height - the Wave Serpent can kill 2 a turn on average with the Shield alone - but you can't play the whole game in fear of two armies.

Wouldn't koptaz armed with big shootaz do the very same job a lot better due to the added wound, speed and range?

Well, there are a few issues with them. Firstly they don't look as good, which I think is worth noting. Then they cost more - you can get a Wartrukk for the same price - so you get less shooting for the same points. I think also that their sheer size makes them more vulnerable as well, in that they can't hide out of LOS as easily. I'd not even considered the TL-Shoota version, to be honest, since all of mine are unconverted AoBR ones. But I kind of feel that 35(?) points is really pushing it on how much I'm willing to pay for 3 S5 shots, especially when there isn't a proper nob in the squad to carve up tanks and stuff with.

Warbikers? My experiences with Warbikers is that they're almost worse than foot nobs. Their firepower is more of the same medium strenght AP4-5 firepower every other Ork unit puts out, they're not good at close combat at all, they break since LD7 and they cost a lot. What is it that you use warbikers for, or against anyway?

Other than the nice models making your army look cooler.

@ OP : It's probably best to wait for the new codex.

I was thinking in the context of your list though. You don't have a nob there (which is a huge argument for the bikers). Hiding out of sight isn't easy for bikers either, and as soon as you can see even a tiny bit of bike, they can be shot.

The three of them cost 30 points more, but you gain jetbike status, scout and the additional wound, keeping them alive a lot longer. The extra wounds also enables them to tie up units that aren't very good in combat, like pink horrors or devastators, while three warbikers are to fragile for that. In addition, they don't auto-die to the omnipresent ignore cover shooting.

AOBR koptaz are also dead cheap to buy for new players, converting them is no harder than filing off the rokkits and replacing them with whatever shoota or slugga bits you have flying around. IMO a pair of the nob's double-barreled slugga from a boyz box looks best in this purpose.

 Jidmah wrote:
I was thinking in the context of your list though. You don't have a nob there (which is a huge argument for the bikers). Hiding out of sight isn't easy for bikers either, and as soon as you can see even a tiny bit of bike, they can be shot.

Warbikers make for better expansion material, though. At this level you may only have 3, but then go up to 1500 and you'll have the points for the nob.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Also worth noting that those lists were just really rough and designed to demonstrate the basic concepts. Don't worry so hard about the fine details - the core of the Trukk list is, well, the Trukks. I've not played 750 in a while.