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I have bought many of the codecies, looked at lexicanum, watched batreps on YouTube, stared at pictures. I cannot decide what army to play. I have been in the hobby for awhile, always just bought the models I felt looked cool and worked on my painting. I finally want to put an army together. What was THE deciding factor when you finally decided which army was going to be "yours"? Just curious to see if this steers me in any direction of what I am deciding.

Thanks for any comments!

I picked guard, since I like tanks *shrug*

Well let me ask you this.

Is there an army you really like the models for (more so than other armies)? For example, if you prefer Eldar models more than Necron models, you would probably be happier with Eldar.

Is there an army you like the fluff for better? If you like the idea of a ravenous horde consuming planets with insatiable hunger more than you like the idea of guys in armour who fight against daemonic incursions, Tyranids would be more likely than Grey Knights.

Another thing to look at would be play style. If you favor huge groups of soldiers backed by big tanks and heavy artillery more than zipping around and confusing your opponent with a combination of speed and poison, AM would be better choice than Dark Eldar.


The thing is there a number of reasons to start one army over another. If you have enough units from a particular faction, and own the codex, give that army a try in some low-point games. See if you like it. If not, oh well, there is no money lost as you already had the stuff. If you have a group of friends to play with, see if they are OK with you proxying models as a different faction, to see if you like that army better.

Fluff and battle performance for me. I looked at 2-3 armies that I enjoyed the fluff of and then looked at how good each of them were. It happened that my favourite army fluff-wise (Tau) is also pretty good so I went with that.

Part ofme regrets I didn't go with Chaos though. Don't like their fluff much apart from Red Corsairs but the models look awesome.

Which model did you most enjoy painting? Which model would drive you utterly crazy to paint again and again? What can you get relatively good value from? Which forces do your opponents play? Which armies are rare in your gaming group?

Saw Necron models, liked their looks, heard about their fluff, bought the codex, loved it.

I actually am deciding on two armies. I wanted one to be more shooty oriented, so I was deciding between dark eldar and tau. Since the new dark eldar codex is rumored to be up soon, I'm waiting to take a look at it. And the other I was looking at more of up close and personal marines: space wolves, blood angels and grey knights. Honestly I love each for different reasons. I have contemplated and nearly committed to each one for various reasons. I know I won't have a problem with various paint schemes, so that's not an issue. It's literally deciding which one I love more. Again blood angels are up for a new codex too so again I have to take that into consideration. But from a fluff standpoint, a visual standpoint, as well as a play style from watching YouTube videos, I can't stick to one decision.


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Also, the two army system will give me something different to paint each time I sit down because I know I can get bored of painting the same thing.

So my goal is to find the two armies for me. Or three

I began playing 40k with the 3rd edition starter set.
Since I bought it for my son and I to play, I let him choose which army he wanted. Unfortunately, he choose the Dark Eldar, leaving me with the Space Marines.
It didn't take me too long to realize that, while I like the Space Marines, I dislike the Imperial variety. Therefore, I fell to Chaos.
After that I decided to play Orks as well, because nothing is more chaotic than the Orks.

JuniorRS13 wrote:
I have bought many of the codecies, looked at lexicanum, watched batreps on YouTube, stared at pictures. I cannot decide what army to play. I have been in the hobby for awhile, always just bought the models I felt looked cool and worked on my painting. I finally want to put an army together. What was THE deciding factor when you finally decided which army was going to be "yours"? Just curious to see if this steers me in any direction of what I am deciding.

Thanks for any comments!

Anything that I could wield against the Ultramarines without breaking fluff has decided my last two armies.
My first one was Ultramarines, and entirely because my friend who introduced me to 40k played them. I then grew to hate that sodding blue, white and gold paintjob.

I now paint everything black and red.

So, anything that can be painted Black and Red, and punch Ultramarines in the face (preferably with a sense of irony while doing it). And thus I chose CSM and IG.

My first game was played with Squats that I was loaned by a friend of a friend.

So, naturally, I ended up playing Space Marines because they came with the boxed set.

3rd edition was the one with the land speeder correct? that was my first purchase all those years ago, i was a kid and my dad and i did it together as well. I just have lost touch and am getting back into it.

chaos was an option for me. but in the end i felt it to be too close to the 3 marine armies I'm choosing between. maybe down the road...

"Its hard to see the picture when you're in the frame."

I think the best thing for someone like you is to look OUTSIDE the 40k universe for a theme. Something that you can model an army after. I'm a huge music fan, so for example.

-Iron Maiden themed Necrons. Either a Powerslave desert themed paintjob or Somewhere In Time futuristic themed.

-Guns N Roses/Terminator 2 themed Necrons. Paint them like terminators, but use some blue/purple and red/yellow themes for the squads.

Van Halen themed Imperial Guard.- I'm actually doing this so will post pics when its done.

Space Marines are a good candidate to be painted like a favorite sports team or organization that you enjoy in real life.

Maybe this isnt the best advice but in general I would say look outside the hoby for a theme and pick a race that fits it the best.

I chose Space Marines because they are cheap and guard because of tanks. Now space marines are my favorite faction. Mostly because of the models and the codex fluff.

VanHallan wrote:
"Its hard to see the picture when you're in the frame."

I think the best thing for someone like you is to look OUTSIDE the 40k universe for a theme. Something that you can model an army after. I'm a huge music fan, so for example.

-Iron Maiden themed Necrons. Either a Powerslave desert themed paintjob or Somewhere In Time futuristic themed.

-Guns N Roses/Terminator 2 themed Necrons. Paint them like terminators, but use some blue/purple and red/yellow themes for the squads.

Van Halen themed Imperial Guard.- I'm actually doing this so will post pics when its done.

Space Marines are a good candidate to be painted like a favorite sports team or organization that you enjoy in real life.

Maybe this isnt the best advice but in general I would say look outside the hoby for a theme and pick a race that fits it the best.

Yea, themes are good.

Even if GW decides to hit you with a nerfbat, enjoying a theme can keep you going.

I'm currently looking for a Helghast theme in my IG army.

music? ill have to try it out the next time i have pandora or the radio going. see if anything comes to mind.

ill continue to debate it. As of right now, I will wait for the DE codex and take a long look at it. BA is slightly more of a gamble, but i don't think its too far off to completely wreck anything I would purchase.

Im a fan of norse mythology (vikings) so space wolves is my biggest army and because they look badass who doesn't love a ton of wolves running at their enemy's

Doesn't have to be music bro. You could model it after cartoon characters or fast food joints or whatever else.

The biggest factor in deciding my first army were Sanguinary Guard.
That and the Death Company.

For Necrons it was more about the look of their models and the rules.
And I'm not talking about the strength of the rules, but every rule felt so 'special' and unique.

I saw a Ork model. "nuff said

VanHallan wrote:
Doesn't have to be music bro. You could model it after cartoon characters or fast food joints or whatever else.

Plz no "Mc Marines".

Nurgle??

VanHallan wrote:

Spoiler:

Nurgle??

That's Nurgle's slowed brother.

I chose guard because of to words: Ollanius Pius.
Reading that original story of how that lone guardsman bought time for Big E made me shed tears of such manliness that where they ran down my face grew a beard so glorious that FW has asked me to pose infront of a fan so they properly sculpt Leman Russ.

hahaha

I chose Dark Angels because I loved their lore and the look of their models. It all just depends on what strikes you the most, be it Orks, Nids, or Ultramarines. There's also nothing wrong with starting two or three armies. I'm currently building a Nurgle CSM force.

Try borrowing some models from some friends if you have them or buying a codex or two, picking up 500 points worth of guys, and playing small battles to see how you like them. For instance, I love the idea of Nids swarming across the battlefield, but moving and painting tons of models bores me to death.

Plus, eBay is packed with Warhammer stuff, so anything you don't want or get bored of you can easily turn around and sell.

Since I never have much spare time to go out and find tornaments or games, I chose my army, Chaos Marines, based on the aesthetic and opportunity for conversions, of which there are many. I would go for whatever army captures your interest from a painting/aesthetic perspective.

thanks for all of the replies! I'm leaning to starting two or three smaller sized armies, say 500-1000, and then playing games to see which armies i like. Since I haven't played a game in over 10 years (i think i was 12!) and it probably not being a full official game, this might be a better way to get me introduced into the gaming side of 40k

Pick one. Than expand. Yes, Yes! Good!

Sounds good! If only one army works out in the end, you have two ally forces ready to go. Also having multiple armies keeps things from getting stale and burning out on building and painting the same thing over and over.

Well, I picked Space Marines for a few reasons:
1) They're the elite badass army amongst the other badass armies
2) Mighty power armour goodness
3) Over the top romantisization of their role and image.
...and 4)