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Hi!

Let me start with saying that I've been playing WHFB for about a year now, and due to lack of interest of Fantasy at my local gaming group, I am now thinking of starting with 40k also. I have never played a 40k game before, and I don't own the latest rulebook (on it's way). I'm not really sure what army out of these three to pick.

The three I'm thinking about is: Orks, Space Wolves, Tau.

I've been looking around the forums to get an idea of how I should build my lis for each armyt, and at the same time try to stick with which models I like. I won't be doing tournaments, and winning isn't the #1 thing, with that said I still like to be able to compete with the other armies. I will be facing mostly Eldar, Necrons, IG, Tyranids, Knights.

Im thinking about starting with a force of 900-1250'ish points. I have an idea of what models for each army I like, so I thought I'd write down a couple of lists (no upgrades in these lists for simplicity as I don't own the codexes yet. exception of the orks list which I've had some help with already).


Tau: With the Tau I'm afraid (after what I've read) that they might be difficult to learn with, and I'm also afraid that the only viable thing is to just stand there and shoot, which doesnt seem so much fun to me. Are they fun to play / go up against?

Orks: I'm afraid are too soft against what I'm facing. Is that so? Also, that's the most expensive of the three to get going with due to the ammount of bodies needed, which means I probably have to split the army up in a couple of purchases. I'd like to start playing asap.

Space Wolves: I've always had an eye on, I like the looks of them. But after reading comments with their new codex, people doesn't seem to be happy with it? Why is that? Can the list I've created stand ground against IG, Eldar, Necrons?

So on to the lists:

Orks:



Tau:



Space Wolves:


Thank you in advance!

Tau are so much more than a stand there and shoot army. Look into the Farsight enclave Codex for a much more mobile battle suit force. With Crisis suits as troops, supported by riptides, customisable commanders and the right combination of markerlights and broadsides makes for a fuild and mobile army (still ducks in CC) I tend to only run FE when useing Tau these days. Very versatile and extremely mobile with excellent fire pwoer.

I agree TAU are not a simple army to learn fast but they are more than stand and shoot. They are an interesting race and also they are very very power ready with weapons. They have many abilities im sure if you invest you will see also

My heart is with SM, BA in fact. You need to do more research with space marines as each chapter has its own codec meaning its own specials

my 2 choices would be SM or TAU

Well, of the three lists you have there, I think the Tau list is the strongest.

I love my Orks and have a lot fun playing them, and actually have a won quite a few games with them. But the reason I like them is because I really dig their play style. I understand and appreciate how the army is supposed to work. Break-neck speeds, throwing care to the wind and relying on sheer volume of dice and bodies to get the job done. This works for me, and it works for the orks. I mean sure there are tactics involved, but the tactics revolve around that feel.

Tau, on the other hand, is a different play style. This army requires you to play the intelligent role. Sit back, pick your targets, time your attacks and wait for the openings. And the Crisis suits can actually do some work in close combat as long as they choose their opponents.

So, what type of army do you want to play? What type of strategist are you? If you have played a certain type of army in WHFB, do you want to try a different type in 40k?

Thanks for your input!

Alright, So Tau are more than point and shoot, that's good to hear. I'm still not sure though..

About other SM chapters, I am only interested in Space Wolves, as I love the models.

@Icculus,

Ah I see. I play Daemons in fantasy and have been doing pretty well with them. And well, I don't want to play a glass cannon wood elf-kind of army (are the Tau like this?). And I like the random elements of the daemons.

If you would change something(s) in the Ork list above to make it better in your oppinion, what would it be? The way you descibe the orks do sound fun indeed!

And also, if anyone have any input on the Space Wolves-list that'd be cool.
Cheers

Tau are really not glass cannons with some of the thoughest units around. FnP riptides, broadsides, buffmanders, and some of the toughest tanks with the best wargear around.

If anything, of the lists you are looking at, orks will be the glass cannons.

 Messy0 wrote:
Tau are really not glass cannons with some of the thoughest units around. FnP riptides, broadsides, buffmanders, and some of the toughest tanks with the best wargear around.

If anything, of the lists you are looking at, orks will be the glass cannons.

Alright sounds good! If you'd change anything in the tau list, what would it be?

Is the Comander a good choice, or should there be an Ethreal or Cadre Fireblade instead?

I think your current Ork army list is pretty decent, and would actually do pretty well, but It has 3 different options for close combat and almost none for range. While the warbikers do have some pretty decent guns, your warboss is kitted out to get in and wreck face up close.

I would suggest getting some buggies, lootas or Mek gunz, or even a dakkajet.

I have never used the MANZ missile, but have heard that they work pretty well. They are just pretty pricey you know. I have run a battlewagon rush however with 3 battlewagons, all loaded up with 20 boyz each.

So honestly I think the best way to adjust your list would be to drop one of the MANZ missiles in favor of some ranged power. Also, shoota boyz are something special. Take advantage of the open topped transports and fire off 36 shots at anything with 18" of the BW hull

Turbotomte wrote:

Space Wolves: I've always had an eye on, I like the looks of them. But after reading comments with their new codex, people doesn't seem to be happy with it? Why is that?

Take people's reaction to the new codex with a grain of salt. In the short time I've been visiting these boards, every single codex release has been greeted with vocal negativity.

I don't have any reason to steer you towards SW or anything, just if possible I'd get a hold of the codex for Tau, Orks, and Space Wolves and figure out if you'll like the army.

First though, as you already seem aware, pick whichever army you think is coolest looking, or if there's something about their fiction you really, really like.

I wouldn't pick an army based on what list you can make unless all you want to do is have the best army to use, but saying that their all good. Pick the one whose looks, fighting style, ethics and causes to fight you like the most.

Do you prefer...

Tau (my army), technologically advanced but young and naive, shooty, blue people attempting to unite the galaxy for the greater good and destroy everyone who opposes their expansion?

Space Wolves, shamanistic, super soldier, space Viking, werewolves who love drinking, eating and killing in the name of an emperor?

Or Orks, green sentient fungi who talk funny, scavenge together all their weapons and equipment and are often united into a Waaagh! to do lots of killin'.

This is a very brief description of each faction. Check the wiki for more info. But pick whichever one you like the most.

Tau sound like your best bet for being competitive although I haven't any idea what the SW might be like. Orks though IMHO are the most fun I enjoyed every game I played with them.

When Orks are an option, the only valid choice is Orks...

GoonBandito wrote:
When Orks are an option, the only valid choice is Orks...

True fact.

I've played SW for a long time. The new codex isn't bad as we got point drops on almost every unit in the book. Missile long fangs and CCW grey hunters were the only things to have points raised. They can be either a shooty army or an assault army depending on the list. In my experience, a shooty army with grey hunters mopping up in CC is the most effective. Murderfang is not a good choice. Dreads are mediocre in 7th, close combat dreads especially. If you must have a CC dread, go with the shield version that gives you a 3++ and doubles as a melee weapon. If I had to start over and pick between those 3 I would choose tau as they are far more competitive than SW. Tau and eldar will destroy SW 9/10 given both players are of equal skill and use optimized min/max tournament lists.

As stated before with Tau, but also applies to Orks, prepare for a strong learning curve. These armies are specialized, and while it seems that "Tau shoot everything and Orks bash everything," it's just not that simple. I've had the discussion at my FLGS about which armies are the easiest to get into 40K with, and the general consensus was that the Imperial armies are the easiest, because there is nothing that they do poorly.
After the learning curve, however, there is a certain satisfaction that comes from finally getting the army to really cohere into something terrifying. For example: I've been playing Orks for nearly two years. For the first five months of playing almost every weekend, I lost every game I played. Most of them were due to me being tabled. I kept playing, though, and trying different things, figuring out what worked and what didn't, until I finally got good enough to win tournaments (or at least take second).
I'm not trying to discourage Orks (obviously) or Tau, but if you want an easy intro into 40K, go with the Wolves. If you're looking for technical, strategic game play where mistakes are paid for with lives, but there is some serious firepower when done correctly, go with the Xenos.

Wow! Went to work and got back with this many replys. Thanks!

Toofast wrote:
I've played SW for a long time. The new codex isn't bad as we got point drops on almost every unit in the book. Missile long fangs and CCW grey hunters were the only things to have points raised. They can be either a shooty army or an assault army depending on the list. In my experience, a shooty army with grey hunters mopping up in CC is the most effective. Murderfang is not a good choice. Dreads are mediocre in 7th, close combat dreads especially. If you must have a CC dread, go with the shield version that gives you a 3++ and doubles as a melee weapon. If I had to start over and pick between those 3 I would choose tau as they are far more competitive than SW. Tau and eldar will destroy SW 9/10 given both players are of equal skill and use optimized min/max tournament lists.

Ah I see. If you were to change my list, delete the murderfang and add something else, what would you add? (The murderfang were there cause it's a badass looking model! )

Funny most people seem to think I should go with Tau, but reading the forums they doesn't seem too popular (looking at amount of army lists).

Space Wolves.

Space Wolves are Space Marines, so they will always be the center of 40k and will always have decent, if not amazing rules and a constant stream of new figures. While new Grey Knights or Blood Angels may not be immediately applicable, more arms and guns and heads and skulls can be useful. Now that a new Ork book is out, there is probably going to be a multi-year gap until anything new comes out. I really hope a new Buggy or Deffkoptaz are just around the corner, but this probably isn't likely as none of it will sell as well as Space Marine Malibu Stacy with a brand new hat.

I wouldnt judge anything based on the amount of army lists you see on the forums.

I think a lot of people got a little burned out by Tau after their new codex dropped. There was a lot of cheese in that codex and at the time, there was almost nothing anyone could do about it. So for awhile they were at the top and people got kind of sick of that.

But seriously, don't take too much to heart about what you see online, after all, you won't be playing your armies against this crowd, you will be playing against people in your local area. So I would head out to the game store and see what kind of armies people are playing out there, and what kind of lists they are running.

I would add either long fangs or a stormfang. You need some type of ranged firepower in that army. For long fangs, run 4 missile launchers and 1-2 lascannons. On the stormfang I would take TL lascannons and multi meltas. Either of those will kill way more points per game than a CC dread. That flyer is going to be a real pain for enemies to deal with in 1000-1250 point games.

GoonBandito wrote:
When Orks are an option, the only valid choice is Orks...

Dis boy roight 'ere getz it

Don't you have any friends/players in your FLGS that play these armies? What you can do is ask to play games with them or, if no player available, do a proxy army to test the rules and see how it goes.

I've started with CSM, changed to SM and now I'm with Tau (I think I have found my army). Everytime I think about the money I spent with those 2 armies I'm not playing anymore... don't do the same

Toofast wrote:I would add either long fangs or a stormfang. You need some type of ranged firepower in that army. For long fangs, run 4 missile launchers and 1-2 lascannons. On the stormfang I would take TL lascannons and multi meltas. Either of those will kill way more points per game than a CC dread. That flyer is going to be a real pain for enemies to deal with in 1000-1250 point games.

Ah cheers. Long Fangs sound interesting, but getting the extra Missile Launchers seems like a bit of a pain, kind of expensive on ebay. But I get the idea, thanks!

Icculus wrote:I wouldnt judge anything based on the amount of army lists you see on the forums.

I think a lot of people got a little burned out by Tau after their new codex dropped. There was a lot of cheese in that codex and at the time, there was almost nothing anyone could do about it. So for awhile they were at the top and people got kind of sick of that.

But seriously, don't take too much to heart about what you see online, after all, you won't be playing your armies against this crowd, you will be playing against people in your local area. So I would head out to the game store and see what kind of armies people are playing out there, and what kind of lists they are running.

Yeah you are right. Thing is, I live in a small town in northern sweden, we don't have a local store where we can buy WH, the closest is 2h away in another town, so it's the internet. I have a local "club" where most people play card games and such, but a few play Warhammer 40k. So I kind of know what I will be facing, as said earler: IG, Necrons, Eldar, Knights, CSM.

Spydermonkey1351 wrote:As stated before with Tau, but also applies to Orks, prepare for a strong learning curve. These armies are specialized, and while it seems that "Tau shoot everything and Orks bash everything," it's just not that simple. I've had the discussion at my FLGS about which armies are the easiest to get into 40K with, and the general consensus was that the Imperial armies are the easiest, because there is nothing that they do poorly.
After the learning curve, however, there is a certain satisfaction that comes from finally getting the army to really cohere into something terrifying. For example: I've been playing Orks for nearly two years. For the first five months of playing almost every weekend, I lost every game I played. Most of them were due to me being tabled. I kept playing, though, and trying different things, figuring out what worked and what didn't, until I finally got good enough to win tournaments (or at least take second).
I'm not trying to discourage Orks (obviously) or Tau, but if you want an easy intro into 40K, go with the Wolves. If you're looking for technical, strategic game play where mistakes are paid for with lives, but there is some serious firepower when done correctly, go with the Xenos.

Yeah that's what I'm afraid of, that they might be trouble learning with / playing them to the fullest whilst learning the game (is it many similarities to WHFB btw?). And I do like the wolves models better. But the more batreps I look at with Tau, the more fun they seem.

Vector Strike wrote:Don't you have any friends/players in your FLGS that play these armies? What you can do is ask to play games with them or, if no player available, do a proxy army to test the rules and see how it goes.

I've started with CSM, changed to SM and now I'm with Tau (I think I have found my army). Everytime I think about the money I spent with those 2 armies I'm not playing anymore... don't do the same

Haha as said above, no I don't. These three armies are not represented here, and that's a part of why I've picked them.

I think I've narrowed it down to Space Wolves or Tau, where's I like the Space Wolves models better, but apparently I like the kind of stuff that might not be that good lol. But the Tau heavy shooting sounds like a lot of fun, and I would get a very good deal on a Tau army. Also I'm thinking about what someone said above, that wolves are not that great against eldar (and necrons?).

Thanks for the help, keep it coming. Space Wolves vs. Tau

I vote Tau. You said you are leaning toward that armies playstyle more, you can get a good deal on them, and it will be a good matchup with your opponents.

Do you have any fluff planned for your own armies?
If you were to go Tau, what color scheme would you paint? what Cadre would you go with, do you have a backstory? Same with space wolves.

That's also a thing. I got in to the hobby (again, as an adult) due to painting. I love painting. And the Tau seems a bit boring to paint tbh! Some months ago I bought myself an airbrush, and feel that the airbrush would more fun to use on the space wolves.

About the playstyle, yes, Tau seems alot of fun. But I don't really know how spacewolves play? Are they a kind of army which is kind of good at everything, but overly good at something?

I don't got any fluff for any of them yet, but I know more about the Space Wolves than I know of the Tau that's for sure.

About color schemes, for wolves I like the grey/blue (baby blue as many would say) "standard" look. As for tau I want something that pops. Dark dark red with white and black for example. Dark green and white. It has to pop, not melt into the battlefield.

Do Tau have "chapter" colors, much like space marines (except Farsight Enclave)? Or do people just paint them in colors they like?

Tau have 'septs', which are more like AM regiments (they're way bigger than SM chapters).

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Tau_Sept#.U-4CtfldXTp

But you can paint them any color you want - make up your own sept! As septs are much less known than chapters, none will be nitpicking about it that much

regarding SW... as they're marines, they can do a bit of everything. They have better melee skills and Psychic Support (you can grab SIX Rune Priests with SW's special Detachment) than the others, and the new planes gave them an edge they lacked before (they only had some FW flyers).