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I'm looking to show someone the rules with an intro game type arrangement, what size would be good for this>?

Spyro_Killer wrote:
I'm looking to show someone the rules with an intro game type arrangement, what size would be good for this>?

500 points is the smallest I’d go. Unless you just want to plunk two squads down on the table to show mechanics.

750 to 1,000 point lists start to feel like real armies. You have a few different things, but the table is not getting too crowded.

More then that is probably just adding more stuff to keep track of.

500 points is probably a good starting point. Once you're comfortable with that, push the points up 250 points. Rinse and repeat, pushing games up by 250 point increments.

That's how I started out anyways, and it seemed like a good comfortable pace.

Yeah the 500-750 range does seem the best, enough to see a bit of everything but not have it get too confusing

500 points, or 1 HQ 2 troops. That's enough for the basics. It's how I learned, and how I taught others too.

750 or 1000pts. Big enough that you can fit the more complicated and/or fun units into the list and fully address every part of the game. But it's not so big that things will get lost in it. Just getting two troops and an HQ is boring. It's just learning numbers at that point and not actually playing the game. For an introduction, it should still be a game and they should come away from it with a little bit of a narrative in their head about what their squads did or did not accomplish. That's where the fun is.

For me, 750 points is where the game starts, being half the size of the standard 1500 point game. You get enough points to expand outside of the basic requirements, but not so many as to confuse a new player.

1000 points is where the game really starts to open up, and is great for smaller point games. It's a great place to work toward when building army lists, as by 1000 points the core of an army should already be in place.

As others have already said, 500 points, with a focus on troops and just one or two "special" units is a great starting point. Personally, I'd eschew points altogether for an intro match. Show two very small armies (made of 3 units on one side, and 4 units on the other) with very clear and very different strategies, and take it from there.

For example; have one side start with:

5-man unit of Space Marines w/bolters and a Heavy Bolter
5-man unit of Space Marines w/meltagun and a Sergeant with Power Sword
1 Dreadnaught

(you talk them up as being ready to take on anything, but a little slower - so find a good spot and defend it)


Have the other side star with:

10-man unit of Chaos Cultists
3-man unit of Chaos Terminators w/Power Fists & combi-bolters that Deep Strike onto the table
5-man Chaos Space Marine unit with Close Combat Weapons & Pistols
1 Chaos Rhino

(you talk them up as being faster, and better at close combat, with a big difference between their plentiful but weak cultists, and their strong but few ancient suits of terminator armour)


This kind of game has a lot of potential, regardless of which force they pick. The Space Marines appear to be outmatched, but by having generally better equipped forces, they can take on just about anything that Chaos throws at them from a range, and will likely survive a turn in close combat too. If they get assaulted, they have a Dreadnaught that Chaos will have a very hard time hurting. The Chaos Forces, meanwhile, have more bodies to move around and intimidate the Space Marine forces with, and the Rhino and Deep-Striking Terminators will make them seem fast. They can try to win the game by going into close combat, but need to avoid the Dreadnaught. Also note that it's easy to weight things from here. You can tell your opponent that the Terminators have combi-meltas if the new player wants to use them, and give the Chaos Marines a meltabomb or meltagun. Alternatively, you can beef up the Space Marines with an Iron Halo or make them Ultramarines (so they get some rerolls).

Try Heralds of Ruin Kill Team? 250 points is the usual go to for that and you can make your units super point hogs with a lot of upgrades. I managed to make an Eldar Warlock worth 150 points.

It's more about the units - not the points. I'd avoid psychers, msu and hordes. Get in a tank without special rules, troops and some simple HQ and something from fast or elite.

I was learning from Black reach starter and it was great.

I don't like using HOR or kill teams as an intro because it's rules on top of the basic rules. I think 750 is a good number because you can get in an HQ, two troops and some extra including vehicles.

1850.

I started at 750... worked for me, gives you scope to bring a toy you've wanted to use, makes it abit more exciting than 500