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.

I've been playing exclusively Orks for a good number of years now, and while I still love the models and taktiks, sometimes I'd like to play a game that isn't so... strenuous? Unpacking, deploying, moving and repacking 120 boyz in even 1000pt games takes a lot of time and sometimes I'd just like to be able to move around a couple dozen models. Though, small model count Ork armies tend to get chewed up and spit out in the first few turns.

So I've been looking at Grey Knights - I like the idea of collecting and painting Marines, and getting to really dig in to the Psychic phase (I've never fielded even one Weirdboy before, it's generally not worth it), and have heard that you can have a really decent and versatile army with relatively few models.

I don't want to buy a codex if it's not really what I'm looking for though, so maybe there are some players with extensive experience in using and collecting them? I'd love some advice in starting a decent, versatile 1000pt army and maybe some tips on expanding past that. Is it worth plunking down $215 for the Vanguard box, or is there stuff in it that will rarely see play? Can that box get to 1000pt, either through models or upgrades, and are the upgrades generally worth taking?

Thanks!

What I've seen from GK, I wouldn't get the box set. My suggestion (based on how well they schooled my orks) would Librarians (lvl 3), terminators (can be taken as troops), Dreadknights (these ing things just won't die).

I'm kind of in the same boat, I have a massive ork horde, but I'm going Khorne-flavored chaos. 100+ models in a 1000pt game I'm too old for that

The beauty of the GK kits is that between the Terminator and PAGK kits you can build any infantry unit in the codex. With that in mind, I say get the Vanguard set if you can, as one way or another you'll be using those models to build the core of your force, and there's a good saving inbuilt. The Land Raider is the only model you wouldn't want in a 100% competitive army, but on the other hand makes a great centrepiece to the army and is hardly shooting yourself in the foot.

I reckon Vanguard and another box of Termies will be best to get started. 2x5 Termies as Troops, the DK in Heavy and the 15 PAGK split between 5 Interceptors (for a fast threat overloads combined with a teleporter DK and T1 DS Termies) and 10 Purifiers (combat squad them, put both in the LR, drive up, unload two rounds of Cleansing Flame and charge whatever's still standing...)

With a HQ, that should easily hit 1k points if not more

Nice, that's exactly the kind of advice I'm looking for, thanks!

So I'm looking at the contents of the Vanguard box - if I wanted to just start with that, would it be better to build a squad of Terminators or Paladins?

Played Gk for yonks, I find that DK's are about the best thing you can field, along with an ML3 libby (no other HQ comes close) and termis... A special mention for Interceptors and Purifiers if you want to run PAGK's...

You will really enjoy GK's however you play, great fun, lots of thinking about and very competitive.

When i started i started off by getting one of the resin termi libbys a box of termis and a DK.

In 1k points a good place to start would be:

(dont have my codex in front so points may be slightly off)

Librarian ML3 and liber daemonica = 160pts

x2 Termi squad w/ either incinerator or psycannon = 400ish points if you throw in some daemon hammers.

Interceptor squad w/incinerator i think = 140ish

DK w/psilencer and incinerator and teleporter = 205pts or w/psycannon sword and teleporter = 210pts

Its a start and a pretty fun list to run with a few points left for a token assassin or inquisitor (go 1500 for a better GK list w/more dreadknights)

I hope that helps you make a decision theres about 17 models there so very little unpacking!

They are a great army to collect, paint and play with though and a great change from Orks, good luck!

I play orks, and then picked up GK as a compliment to them. Like you I wanted a low model count army to work with. I think the vanguard box would be a great start, it'll get you to 1000 pts easy.

 Multimoog wrote:

EUSo I'm looking at the contents of the Vanguard box - if I wanted to just start with that, would it be better to build a squad of Terminators or Paladins?

Termies. The Nemesis Detachment (which you'll want to use) only needs 1 Troops choice, and grants you T1 reserve rolls and the ability to both shoot and run after DS, so you'll get a workable list out of the box if you use them as Termies rather than Paladins (which are nice, but at a higher points level).

Here's a list using just Vanguard and a Librarian, 1250 on the dot.

+++ GK Vanguard (1250pts) +++

++ Grey Knights: Codex (2014) (Nemesis Strike Force) ++

+ HQ +

Librarian [Nemesis warding stave, Psyker [ML 3]]

+ Elites +

Purifier Squad
Knight of the Flame [Nemesis Daemon hammer]
6x Purifier (halberd) [6x Nemesis force halberd]
Purifier (hammer) [Nemesis Daemon hammer]
2x Purifier (incinerator) [2x Incinerator]

+ Troops +

Terminator Squad
3x Terminator (halberd) [3x Nemesis force halberd]
Terminator (psycannon) [Nemesis force sword, Psycannon]
Terminator Justicar [Nemesis force sword]

+ Fast Attack +

Interceptor Squad
3x Interceptor (falchions) [6x Nemesis falchion]
Interceptor (incinerator) [Incinerator]
Interceptor Justicar [Nemesis force sword]

+ Heavy Support +

Land Raider Crusader [Multi-melta]

Nemesis Dreadknight [Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis greatsword and power fist, Personal teleporter]

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

Nice, I like that list, very useful. I made the Brotherhood Champion HQ rather than a Librarian, because I'd rather start with just the box as I'll have to buy a Codex at the same time. I figure my next purchase can be a second box of Terminators and I can build a Librarian from that. I filled out the rest of the points with some small upgrades (I'm playing around with a list in Quartermaster).

One question - is there a reason it would be oreferable to make a LR Crusader rather than the stock LR? I would think the lascannons would be more useful for anti-armor.

Some further playing and I came up with this list - it was suggested I go with Terminators rather than Paladins but this way I can have a Librarian HQ which sounds like a better deal all around:

Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 3) 135

4 Strike Squad: incinerator; + 1 Justicar 115

9 Purifier Squad: 2× incinerator; psycannon; + 1 Knight Of The Flame 275
4 Paladin Squad: psycannon 240

Nemesis Dreadknight: heavy psycannon; heavy incinerator; Nemesis greatsword; power fist; personal teleporter 225
Land Raider: multi-melta 260

1,250 points

Looks solid enough.

I advocate the LRC simply as with the hammers/Hammerhand all over the place, anti-tank is pretty much covered, whereas you're a bit low on actual volume of shots.

Yeah, that's a good point, especially as the Crusader can still take a multimelta for antitank.

Stormraven! That thing's a beast.

Yeah the LRC is nice just for the extra dakka it can bring.

 Hawkeye888 wrote:
Yeah the LRC is nice just for the extra dakka it can bring.

This actually gets me to thinking about Allies - I can easily make a 1250pt list with the contents of the Vanguard box, and bump it up to every other points limit with Ork allies for things my GKs would lack, like a big mob of Shoota boyz for wounds and dakka or Warbike Nobz for the amazingness of Warbike Nobz... a Painboy on a bike with a mob of Biker Nobz fighting alongside GKs would be deliciously absurd and absurdly deadly. Keeping Ork ally troops limited (2 grot units for the troops tax) would mean I could bring the best bits of my greenies (bikes, Mek gunz, lootas) without worrying about getting tabled by playing a relatively low model count. I'd probably also have the most amusing army on the board.

That would be pretty crazy. The orks could hit the front line and the GK could DS in and take out the rear.

I want to save you some money dude.

3 Viable units in the GK armory
Librarians (these are monsters)
Dreadknights (These Put the battle on your terms)
Terminators (Cheapish 2+ save models that are a great place to put your librarians)

Stuff is all over Ebay for less than retail. Go for it.