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.

Afternoon all,

I'm at the point where I want a second army other than Necrons to add a bit of variety an although I have parts of several other armies (collected mainly over time, changed mind etc) I am considering going down the Chaos Space Marine route - specifically for Nurgle. The main reason being, I like the idea of painting loads of them with washes, I want more challenging models to paint but I don't really want a Daemon army as they are fairly common in my local meta.

It does draw in some questions around them however and was hoping someone could assist with my queries (inc Death Guard-specific):

* Adding the Nurgle alignment to CSM no longer grants +1 Toughness - what's the point of it? (Same question for Heldrakes etc)
* Am I right in thinking that a Nurgle CSM force is primarily a melee army?
* Typhus granting his bonus to Poxwalkers - but what exactly is the point given they need to footslog it across the board (and in honesty, are Cultists not better?)

Also if anyone has any insights - it would be appreciated.

Having the Mark of Nurgle simply opens you up to buffs, such as Icons, Psychic Powers, and some character-specific buffs.

A nurgle CSM force is a close-range force, but not melee; Plague Marines do have a fancy selection of melee weapons but aside from +1 attack from Vectors of Death and Disease, they don't really have much else buffing their melee capabilities (whereas Khorne berserkers....yeah). Even Poxwalkers, who have no guns, are better off being used as tarpits and meatshields than frontline assault units (although if you meet something they can actually easily kill, like guard infantry, by all means charge in; they will start making back their numbers in short order). The thing is Plague marine guns are extremely close range, so you are almost certainly going to get charged. those weapons will help to survive that charge; your guns should have taken out a good chunk of the opponent and your choppy bitz should either deter them or be able to finish them off.

The main perk of Poxwalkers is that they don't flee; they make great bubblewrap because you don't need something else to babysit them to make sure they don't run from a bad morale check. Typhus buffing them is just the icing on the cake; since they don't break and run, you'll have to go through all of them and making them even harder to kill just exacerbates your opponent's frustration.