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First Post.

Recently picked up the hobby again. The last time I played was 3rd edition. Things have changed. A LOT.

I'm interested in building up a few core forces. My girlfriend plays Malifaux, but I wouldn't mind picking 40k up with her, and a few buddies are into Sigmar, so it should be fairly easy to transition them. We're all treating it as something brand new.

For now I'd like to have a few small 500 point forces, for some quick games to learn the ropes. I'm trying to ease away from the cheese (but appreciate that there are some combinations that just make sense). I'm also looking to try and balance the forces out against each other, so no one has an unfair advantage over any other force.

I'd like to start out with 500 each of Tau, Marines, Tyranids and one undecided as yet - possibly Eldar. Our Table is actually pretty beefy, 8x6 with any multiple of 2 feet possible, with plenty of terrain. The forces are initially composed for simple games, either flat out fighting, or some simple objective grabbing until everyone gets the drift.

I'm trying as far as possible to keep everything as close to what comes in the box as possible to cut out ordering extras.

The lists:

TAU - 496 Pts

HQ:
1x Ethereal - Honour Blade - 55pts

Troops
12x Fire Warriors - 108pts
16x Kroot - 96pts

Fast Attack
6x Pathfinders - 66pts

Elites
3x Crisis Suits, 2 with Plasma Rife and Missile Pod, target Lock. 1 with Fusion and missile pod, Target Lock - 171pts

Space Marines - 499Pts

HQ
Librarian - Terminator Armour, Force Stave - 90Pts

Troops
5x Scouts - Sniper rifles, Missile Launcher - 74pts
5x Scouts - Bolters, Heavy Bolter - 63pts
10x Tactical Marines, Plasma Gun, Missile Launcher - Rhino Dedicated Transport

Fast Attack
1x Landspeeder Heavy Bolter, Multi Melta - 60pts

Tyranids - 486pts

HQ
Prime - Boneswords, Devourer - 140pts

Elites
Zoanthrope - 50pts

Troops
12 Hormagaunts - 60pts
12 termagants - 8 fleshborers, 4 spike rifles - 48pts
12 termagants - 8 fleshborers, 4 spike rifles - 48pts

Heavy Support

Carnifex - Heavy Venom Cannon, Scything Talons

These are the two planned at the moment. I need to think about the Tyranids a little bit more. I tried to balance things a little, and to a new player, the marines force looks a little thin, so it's bulked out with scouts, who seem to be pretty reasonable for the price. I've read around, and while sniper rifles aren't recommended, I've gone for them anyway as it's a good introduction to extra weapon types. My main aim is to keep the lists simple, not too cheesy and most importantly balanced against each other. I've tried to include something iconic about each force - the carnifex for the Tyanids, The Librarian Terminator for the Marines and the Crisis suits for the Tau

I'm not too sure about the crisis suits. I'd like to have at least one, but they look quite killy. I find it hard to pick a marine list at such a low value, that still has plenty going on and isn't tiny - but I'm not sure if there's enough punch in there to handle playing against the Crisis suits.

Looks cool and I like the idea.

what are you using to get the armies? Old battalion boxes? battle forces?

Also, are you planning to expand some as the armies grow?

I'd get necrons as well, they're a good balance to what you named
Here's a list

500
Overlord - 80

10 warriors - 130

5 immortals - 85

Ghost Ark - 105

5 scarabs - 100