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So with all the rumors regarding 8th ed coming and things like Nu-Marines(emphasis on rumor)/Marines 2.0, a lot of people are suggesting that I hold off a couple of months before buying anything.

But if I want to get started ASAP what armies would be 'safe'?
Safe as in the models/codex won't get redone in the near future.

I don't mind if the rules of the army change a lot- I'm more concerned about buying models that are going to be OOP or unplayable when the codex gets an update.

As long as you don't buy special characters all armies you will be pretty much safe in buying the core. Pick what you like the most.

I'd say if your hell bent on starting now orks would be the best choice.

There is no way to know which armies are safe or not since everything is speculation at this point. For all we know EVERYTHING is getting redone for every army.

If you really insist of getting into the game now you are just going to have to bite the bullet and except that you are risking your army being made obsolete on some level.

I think orks and tyranids almost never go oop. The fluff for them allows for a lot of flexibility and conversions.

With regards to space marine 2.0 though. My understanding is that it will more likely be a new faction of like super space marines but who knows.

See, this is exactly what paralyzed my wallet at the end of 6th... never to really recover. Near the end of 6th, I wanted to try something completely different from my IG, so I went with BA because I wanted assault, and my favourite colour is red. And my buddy already plays chaos marines, so BA seemed like the obvious choice.

So I bought the codex, a pair of the "starter boxes" and picked up a bunch of Dreads, because I like Dreads. And a Storm Raven. So I put it together, painted it up, and then rumours started to swirl about 7th... so I put things on hold, puttered away with some units, but till 7th dropped, I stopped buying. And then 7th hit, but the BA codex was soon to be released... so I held off on buying anything.

And then the BA codex dropped, but it was full-on bs. So I didn't want to buy anything... and rumours swirled of the magic of the next SM codex as being all-powerful and amazing... so I held off purchasing until it dropped... and then it was good. So I stopped playing BA and started playing Ult-Red Marines. But I don't like Centurions, so I didn't buy anything... until I decided I wanted a Bike Squad with CM Smashy-Smash on a bike... so I bought some parted-out DV bikers and did some converting to make a CM and a Bike Squad with Grav.

The point is, that through a series of poorly spaced releases, GW paralyzed my wallet with "Well, if I wait 3 months I'll know how the meta's going to shift and I can get the next cool thing since this stuff is pretty crappy..." so I only spent about $75 over the course of 2 years, when I was regularly playing and willing to spend money.

But you see, Privateer Press released Warmachine mk III, and these pretty little elves started looking good, and now $250 later I've got the rules, and a 50 pt army and I'm really excited about it. So screw 40k and play something else is my honest suggestion if you're worried about the next cool thing that GW is doing, because they are pacing releases so quickly that the next cool thing comes along before you can buy this cool thing, and then you're on the treadmill of waiting for the next cool thing to come out, so you never get anywhere.

TLDR: gak or get off the pot. Buy some models you like, dive in, or don't. But if you don't, 'cause you're waiting for the next cool thing, you'll be waiting for years on that treadmill.

This happens at the supposed end to every edition since the fun that was the reboot to 3rd I think. This is why one of the main driving factors between picking an army you like is better if you focus on what you like the look of the best.

 CrownAxe wrote:
There is no way to know which armies are safe or not since everything is speculation at this point. For all we know EVERYTHING is getting redone for every army.

If you really insist of getting into the game now you are just going to have to bite the bullet and except that you are risking your army being made obsolete on some level.

This.

I only started 40K a couple of months ago. I had to accept that I might not get a lot time out of my models before craziness ensues. I don't think there will be much insanity. Plus, I mostly picked up these models as I wanted to see what GW stuff like for painting.

Worst comes to worst, I got a couple of new factions for my personal sci-fi skirmish miniatures game that my friend prefers over anything else we play. As well as the occasional Heralds of Ruin Kill Team game.

Tau? All of their plastic kits got redone lately and rumors suggest nothing about them getting squatted.

Nobody knows. Space Marines have always been a safe bet but the Nu-Marine rumours have managed to make even them seem like a less attractive proposition. Good work GW!

If you want a really safe army I think Chaos Space Marines are probably the best bet. They'll almost certainly remain in the game and they've just had a bunch of new models. Similarly, Orks are unlikely to disappear.

I really wish GW would take a leaf out of FFG's book when it comes to new releases. Yesterday we had the announcements of new waves for Armada and X-Wing, due out in about 6 months and they've been previewing their new fantasy miniature game for about the same length of time. This allows people to plan purchases and feel safe buying things because they know their purchases will still be valid.

We don't even have official recognition from GW that 8th edition is coming, which is ridiculous for a release that may be only 3 months away.

Orks, you'll never get tired to convert models and scratch built stuff.

despite the nu marine rumors I maintain the opinion space marines are a safe bet. if GW makes a change that screws space marines they're too stupid to remain in busniess anyway

 greatbigtree wrote:
But you see, Privateer Press released Warmachine mk III, and these pretty little elves started looking good, and now $250 later I've got the rules, and a 50 pt army and I'm really excited about it. So screw 40k and play something else is my honest suggestion if you're worried about the next cool thing that GW is doing, because they are pacing releases so quickly that the next cool thing comes along before you can buy this cool thing, and then you're on the treadmill of waiting for the next cool thing to come out, so you never get anywhere.
.

Well MKIII shifted meta big time and lots of people seem to be unhappy. And now they are going to have living rulebook style with periodic changes so meta will change there too periodically even without new releases. So if you want to avoid meta changes by company you need to stop ENTIRELY relying on company for rules. Simply switching to Warmachine doesn't do it. You are still dependant on PP for rules which means you are subject to meta changes.

Pick any army that's got a good-size range of plastic models (i.e. not the GSC, Harlequins, Sisters, etc.), and get a variety of units instead of getting a whole bunch of duplicates of one sort of unit, and you should have the flexibility to adapt to a new set of rules.

If you decide you're going to go all-in on a Space Marine bike army and get thirty bikes right off the bat and Jink changes drastically next edition you're out thirty bikes, but if you get three or six bikes and a mix of infantry and vehicles you're only out three or six bikes and the rest of your stuff is still fine. A diverse build is the way to reduce sensitivity to rules changes.

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Pick any army that's got a good-size range of plastic models (i.e. not the GSC, Harlequins, Sisters, etc.),

everything in GSC army is plastic

Knights, I'd say.
*They are too big for scale creep (black orcs->orruks)
*If the setting would have its rules changed a lot, you would only have like 5 models and could easily jump into play.
*If you wouldn't like the new setting, you could still play HH with them

GodDamUser wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Pick any army that's got a good-size range of plastic models (i.e. not the GSC, Harlequins, Sisters, etc.),

everything in GSC army is plastic

I think for good-size range he meant a significant number of different units, not the fact that they are all made in plastic. Gen cult are all plastic models but have only a few units and characters, like harlequins and sisters (mostly metal but only a few units available too).

Everything should be safe. Even with Fantasy becoming AoS, you could use your old models, even if they ended up becoming stand-ins for new models. They biggest thing is that if anything gets the kibosh, you won't be able to buy MORE of those things. So, say you start Space Marines, and they put the axe to Tactical Marine kit. Well, you will still be able to use those Tactical Marines as Tactical Marines from old (their rules would never update, but GW will say you can still use them), or sub them in as parts of a Devastator Squad or Assault Squad with a Rhino, or as Veterans (just add purity seals). The only issue? You won't be able to buy a new boxes of Tactical Marines.

And that's really it. So long as you're not buying models with the intent that you'll round out the rest of that SPECIFIC unit with additional purchases later, you'll be 100% safe.

 Blackie wrote:

GodDamUser wrote:

 AnomanderRake wrote:
Pick any army that's got a good-size range of plastic models (i.e. not the GSC, Harlequins, Sisters, etc.),

everything in GSC army is plastic

I think for good-size range he meant a significant number of different units, not the fact that they are all made in plastic. Gen cult are all plastic models but have only a few units and characters, like harlequins and sisters (mostly metal but only a few units available too).

Harlequins are all plastic too.

The point is to grab an army with all plastic models and no lynchpin units they're heavily reliant on; if the Skimmer type takes a hit in the next edition Harlequins are going to become close to uplayable, for instance.

Make sure you've got enough different sorts of stuff that you don't get upended by single small changes to the core rules, that's the point.

Of course this little of everything aka wd style is good way to ensure that while army efficiency isn't going to suffer a lot it will be always miles behind others

tneva82 wrote:
Of course this little of everything aka wd style is good way to ensure that while army efficiency isn't going to suffer a lot it will be always miles behind others

That's the gamble. Are you going to optimize your list and risk having to throw it all out and start over when the new edition lands, or are you going to get a broader spread, play a less optimal list now, and be confident you'll still be able to use most of it when 8th lands?

Any main factions (more than 5-10 selections in their codex) should be fine. Just go generic when you buy, and if you want to future proof you may need to magnetize weapon options. If you start small (one HQ, a couple troops, then as you paint add more) you won't have sunk so much money that you're unrecoverable if you decide to switch armies later after it drops.

Honestly, there aren't any 'bad' choices. If you buy a model now, it's a near-guarantee it'll be supported in the new edition.

Outside of squats, I've never heard of an army, or even a model, being made obsolete. Updated, yes, but never removed from the game.

How effective your choice will be? That is going to be a crap shoot, but generally 'good' guys (SM, eldar, tau) are probably going to be strong and the 'bad' guys (CSM, orks, nids) will probably be weak.

In the end, pick what you like the look of the most.

And honestly, the pre-edition uncertainty/lull is probably a great time to start shopping.

Come the new edition, probably going to be a lot of shopping for 'the new hawtness', or just people generally refreshing or starting the hobby, so looking for deals now will probably be easier than in a couple months.

Pick up Dark Eldar. They get updated every 11 years or so.

Tau. Hastings has said that Orks are getting a release some point this year. As well as a few other Xenos. Also when asked in the comments if the Tau had already contributed and had their part of the ongoing plot and end times stuff with the Damocles books he said he is pretty sure they haven't had their time yet.

So I suspect the Tau are the "safest", but something in my gut says he is going to be partially wrong about this. I would wait for 8th before diving in. Save your money as long as you can. It's supposed to only be two months out.

 Blackie wrote:
Orks, you'll never get tired to convert models and scratch built stuff.

What about when you're painting your 100th boy and you've still got another 50 boys to go?

I would say: Mechanicus, Ynnead eldar, Tyranids and proably thats it.

Chaos Daemons aren't going anywhere. They're safe, and that's as close to a guarantee as you can get, since they cross into Age of Sigmar as well. They're an army playable in both games. They're good revenue for GW. And you have 4 different playstyles among them to go with: heavy magic and better saves (tzeentch), fast, lithe and deadly (slaanesh), brute strength and face murdering (khorne), and slow and methodical and tough as nails (nurgle). You got options, and they aren't going anywhere. You can play VERY elite and have as few as 4 models on the table and have it perform WELL, or you can run a massive horde that has heavy access to summoning more of their brethren. Safe, 4 different styles, and size is anywhere on the scale that you want. What army could be better?

Injection wrote:
So with all the rumors regarding 8th ed coming and things like Nu-Marines(emphasis on rumor)/Marines 2.0, a lot of people are suggesting that I hold off a couple of months before buying anything.

But if I want to get started ASAP what armies would be 'safe'?
Safe as in the models/codex won't get redone in the near future.

I don't mind if the rules of the army change a lot- I'm more concerned about buying models that are going to be OOP or unplayable when the codex gets an update.

Yeah I mean I use models from 2nd Edition still. So. I mean... I wouldn't get hung up on it. The only actual LINE of miniatures that were eliminated, which was i nthe dark ages, were the squats and like... the Zoats (the so-called "Ambassador race" of the Tyranids).

So I'd be pretty comfortable buying whatever you need. Characters do sometimes get nix'd as someone mentioned though so taking the generic ones is probably wiser (and maybe is in general as well for some armies).

 Gamgee wrote:
Tau. Hastings has said that Orks are getting a release some point this year. As well as a few other Xenos. Also when asked in the comments if the Tau had already contributed and had their part of the ongoing plot and end times stuff with the Damocles books he said he is pretty sure they haven't had their time yet.

So I suspect the Tau are the "safest", but something in my gut says he is going to be partially wrong about this. I would wait for 8th before diving in. Save your money as long as you can. It's supposed to only be two months out.

I'd wait also as it's not supposed to be long now. If you really want to buy some models now, buy something for games of Kill Team. Or just buy some models you like to paint up.