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'm looking for advice to compile for getting started in 8th. Things to remember, things that don't work anymore, things that are more important, etc. I'd like to help some new players get into the game faster, so they can have a better, cleaner, and faster gameplay experience.

Important Note - I'm looking for notes on core game mechanics and army specific basic play notes, not meta things or "this is OP". Things for total newbies (or some returning people who played 6th or 7th) in a casual environment.

Biggest pieces of advice I would think:

1) Don't feel tied to the starter box, start cheap with the core rules and Open Play objectives. I see a lot of people still buying Dark Imperium and having no interest in either of the factions when they could get nearly the same savings for way less hassle just getting a Start Collecting box, printing the core rules pdf, and getting a set of open play cards.

2) Do build a list you love, don't go hunting for a competitive list on the internet. We're in a time of really wild flux, and everything the tournament players are pulling out now is A) really bizarre because they're testing the extremes and B) quickly getting whack-a-moled by GW with these video game patch-like erratas.

3) I don't know if there's ever been a more frustrating time for someone to try and build a skewy list. As much as tournaments and the people who complain about them on here are lamenting how much skew is going on, people building their lists around a single gimmick or unit, the overall game writ large is kind of punishing to that stuff right now. The saddest players we have with the new edition are the ones that go "I want to try running all Dreadnoughts/All Leman Russ tanks/All static gunline shooty Tau" or whatever. If you want to play mostly shooting, bring something designed to work with or actively foil melee units trying to get to you. If you want to play mostly melee, bring a couple units of fire support to crack open tanks or sweep away hordes of chaff.

4) This is the most important overall: Don't get caught up in the general atmosphere of negativity youll find online. If you don't love something about your faction, try something different. If someone is doing something you don't like, try finding another opponent in a chill manner. Remember that while this is a game you talk about on the internet, it's also one you play with people in real life, and respect how weird it is to hear someone talking about anything in the real world the way you hear people talking about it online. Read any political youtube comment online, and you're going to sound like a crazy guy on the subway. Same thing applies to 40k circles - you always know the dude who's parroting the top comments on dakka.

It's easier to paint an army you like the looks of rather then the new flavour of the month.

When picking an army, figure out a few that interest you, and watch a some battle reports for them. I'm a big miniwargaming fan myself, but front line gaming, the glacial geek, and guerrilla miniature games are all wonderful. This should help you figure out if you like the way they play before you take the plunge.

Play an army that appeals to the style of play you like as well as like the look of.

Watch lots of games, online and at local shops.

The goal is to have fun. Play with people you have fun playing with.

Paintjob has literally less than zero effect on the rules you use. Mainly an issue with the rainbow assortment of Marines, but never ever feel you "have" to paint your dudes a certain way. If you love the look of Salamanders but want to use Blood Angel or Black Templar rules, go nuts. Think Ghazgul has a rocking model, but you also want your orks to be lucky and blue? Paint that sucker the bluest you'll ever find!

It's a game. Remember to have fun!

Multiple small units. Variety. Pistols.