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.

When collecting a army that isn't unique in your meta do you collect with an eye to vary the meta? For example, if two people want to play Space Marines should one go Ultras and the other Iron Hands, for the sake of making sure that the meta-game doesn't get stale? Or, should both players just go Ultras if they want to? In a growing community which is the better option and why?

IMO, you should generally go with the army you like most. 40k is an expensive ane time-consuming hobby, so the more you enjoy assembling, painting and playing your army, the better.

The only area where I see catering to the meta as a necessity is in regard to power level. Nobody will enjoy being stomped regularly if you bring a competitive list in a non-competituve meta, and odds are you won't enjoy being stomped if you bring a fluffy list to a tournament-level meta.

When I started in 5th ed, I went IG, because in my gaming circle other armies were already taken. Unless someone has a huge gaming group most people here avoid playing the same army.

Play whatever you want. you pay way too much to play what someone else wants you to play.

Among my friends and I, I have Marines and Imperial Guard, another has Marines, another has Tyranids and Marines and the fourth has Orks and Eldar. Even among Marines, there's room for variation (my Astral Claws are mostly in APCs or bikers, one Ultramarine army is mostly on foot and the other has a few aircraft.

My armies are built to what I want to play. Coincidentally, it seems its exactly the opposite of others in my meta.

One has Ultramarines, another Black Templar, I have White Scars.
One uses mostly Tesla Necrons, I use mostly Gauss Necrons.
One loves swarm Tyranids, I prefer Nidzilla.

So it works out. Otherwise, I wouldn't care if someone went for a White Scar bike army. I'd love to see how he'd work out the tactics for it.

I reckon it's a sliding scale.

I'd say if your group is small, try and collect an army the others don't. When I started WHFB our group was 4 people, I wanted Bretonnians but someone already collected them, so I went for Lizardmen instead. It just makes sense to me to do it that way.

If your group is a bit larger and most armies are already represented, I'd just do whatever you like the most.

But certainly I would never suggest starting an army you don't find interesting. If you can't find an army that you like and no one else plays, just go with the one you like. Even though I wanted to start Brets, I still found Lizardmen interesting enough to be happy playing them.

Ok, so basically depends on the size of group and what you find interesting, thanks guys.

You are right on. Small groups of buddies usually try to get different things, large gaming groups don't give a feth.

I play Orks and GK, one buddy is Nids and Crons, and the third is Eldar and SM.

I buy models I like - with little to zero interest in the meta or rules. I then decide if I will actually use them in games........

 Mr Morden wrote:
I buy models I like - with little to zero interest in the meta or rules. I then decide if I will actually use them in games........

Point, but me and the good folks at my FLGS are just starting up with 40k and will be doing a escalation league. One guy is going covens. In small point games I think it might get monotonous for the other players to have to go against all the same units.

Collect what you want, play what you want I say!

That also being said, I'd LOVE to get into a regular group where each person has a unique army to play against, covering the whole spectrum of armies.