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.

To start off with: I do not own First Strike. I have been playing WH40K since 1989, and am not a fan of either Primaris Marines or Deathguard. I don't need the models.

However, I'm interested in getting OTHER people started playing WH40K, and would like to give demonstrations using the First Strike starter set. I work at a university and could easily start a club to introduce students to plastic crack. Having done so with the starter missions of First Strike, I'd like them to be able to move on to trying other armies. But First Strike includes 3 Intercessors and 3 Reivers, neither of which makes an entire squad, and the Death Guard are 3 CSM and 6 poxwalkers, so...?

I would really appreciate ideas for what size units from other armies to toss in. For example, it looks to me like 1 unit of Imperial Guard infantry and a Tempestus Scions squad? Or maybe 1 10-man infantry squad and a 4-man Crusader squad? What about Eldar? A guardian squad and 3 Striking Scorpions? Orks could easily be 10 ork boyz and 3 nobz.

Suggestions welcome. Basically I'm putting together a list of what I would need to buy in order to suck 8 people at a time into the Warhammer Universe, without buying 4 First Strike boxes.

Thanks for your ideas!

I can tell you that the primaris side is currently 114 points. So I'd say you're looking in that 120 point range for all of them. I'd avoid the 10 man squads unless you are going to be bolstering the burgle and primaris squads. may I suggest using half of the guardian or guurd infantry box mixed with another 3 man elite squad

a 10-man infantry squad without upgrades is only 40 points, and they only have 1 wound each. Pretty sure the 2 wound Death Guard will slaughter them, even though there's only 3. I should test that out...

I was thinking of something along the following lines:

10 man infantry squad with plasma gun, sgt w/power sword
and either a 4-man crusader squad with power swords, OR a 5-man tempestus squad with a flamer and a plasma gun.

I figure adding the IG will be the more advanced level of the game, right? When they first start, just play the basic First Strike game, but once they've done that a time or three, then let them try Imperial Guard, or Orks, Tyranids, Eldar, or whatever.

Death guard plague marines don't have 2 wounds

It's easier to just pick a low Power level/points cost, put down some restrictions (like no vehicles, monsters, characters, psykers, or legion/chapter/regiment rules) and just go for it.

I would say either Power Level 10 or 150 points worth of models (I know that's not a good direct conversion rate but close enough).

The pox walkers are what you should be comparing the infantry and guardian squads against. The plague Marines would be compared to the nobs, aspects, or scions.

I'm kind of looking at Imperial Guard as being a progression from the basic First Strike set. You know, First Strike showed you how to play the game with two squads of very small numbers, now learn how to play with larger units, more varied weapons capabilities, and maybe add in a Crusader unit to get a feel for dedicated close-combat units and invulnerable saves.

I'd also like to see thoughts on what kind of Eldar to use, as they have very different movement capabilities and would offer an introduction into the difference between standard armies and "fast" armies.

None of it would require any list-building on the part of the players, I would just give them the army list.

CWE are a bit specialized. It's hard to actually show what they do at 100 pts.

Maybe Guardians, 3 Hawks, 3 Banshees?