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Hi all, I have recently returned to the hobby and was interested to hear some opinions on what my potential second army should be.
I am currently building a decent size Chaos Space marine force, have pretty much got everything I need and gaming wise enjoy using them (underpowered I know, but hey)
So now because I am well and truly hooked on buying I'd like to branch into a new force, the only stipulation is I don't want to do another marine force.
Gaming wise, painting wise, fluff wise anything goes. Probably looking at a gun line or horde army but don't mind

I went from CSM to Guard. They're horde and gunline and are completely different to paint and play. Plus you can use them as traitor guard if you are into allying units from both your armies together.

Tyranids would provide a balance of shooty, melee, and a distinctive unique and different look.

I also would recommend Orks as a blast to collect and convert, and play (sometimes).

Not a big fan of the other Xenos forces although they are the ones doing well in the game.

But I would also recommend starting at least one Imperium army...

Perhaps you could consider Renegades? They are/can be a horde army, definitely have tons of shooting with all their cheap artillery, plenty of tank options too, and they can ally with your Chaos Marines.

I will also be going from CSM to guard.

While I build up the guard I suppose they could begin as an allied contingent to the CSM (Abaddon and Creed duking it out on Cadia... but all of a sudden: Nids! okay, maybe that isn't the best narrative to be forged ).

After/while doing guard I will do some vehicle scratch building, which will fit into orks.

I must admit I find both Guards (used as traitors) and Orks quite appealing. Horde armies not being something I have done before, and they'd certainly both give me something to get stuck into hobby wise.
I have some old Orks from about 20 years ago and recently bought some mantic Plague Zombies to use with Typhus so have starting points in both instances. (also had 3 x Leman Russ, no idea whatever happened to them lol)
As you can probably tell I have dipped my toes into so many different forces it's time I commited and am happy to stick with two, it's just a case of deciding which two.

I've never played CSM, but Guard is always fun

Not really a gun line or hard horde army but you might consider demons. They are much more competitive than CSM, not more power armor, and can ally with your CSM as you build up your force.

My second army after CSM was Daemons. I liked them because I could ally them to CSM to make a better army either fluff wise or competetive wise. They play very different from a power armour army.

Well, I find Necrons to be fun to play. They have decent firepower, mobilty, and capable cc units.

Daemons I sort of see as an extension of my Chaos space marines, particularly if I choose to summon

Hate to be that guy, but space marines.
They are the iconic enemies, and if you have those two armies, you can always play with a mate with your two armies

Eldar. Gonna sound stupid but nothing in this hobby will make the fires of hate within your soul burn brighter and hotter for GWs burning masses of codex writers and play testers more than playing and collecting Eldar, coming from CSM.

I would know....

Or jump on the bandwagon and play some Tau, you might play CSM as the bad guy, but man oh man it sure is spiteful to play Tau these days.

Renegades and Heretics. They're a great addition to a CSM force, and can stand on their own quite competitively.

Renegades and Heretics or Daemons if you want a good ally to CSM.

Maybe Necrons would be good to you? If you want Imperial, How about mechanicus army?

Start a 30k army.

Well I have a Sons of Horus 30k army in the works so got that base covered.
I'm probably leaning towards either Imperial Guard (sorry, that's what I know them as) or Orks. I see a lot of hatred towards the Eldar,Tau and Necrons for being a bit too powerful, I'm not a massively competitive player otherwise I would go down that route. (started an Eldar force but never played a game with them)