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used to collect for 10 years and now back into it, while i have the latest codex i am otherwise out of the loop. looking for advice/comments/feedback/suggestions on what to build and field out of the possible builds i currently own. (anything marked with - is what im currently thinking of building and fielding)
/probably a BATTALION (aiming for 2000 point games as that seems standard)
Alpha legion
Mark - unsure, ideally any other than Slaanesh

HQ
-was thinking 3 combimelta techmarines (warpsmiths)
also have the options to build lords or sorcers with any upgrade ( enough to build about 6 lords/sorcerers/aspiring champions)
also have the option to build 3 demon princes (any mark or option) and/or bloodthirster and Greater unclean one

Elietes
- 3 dreadnoughts all armed with missile/las combo
could also build up to 3 squads of 6 man combiplasma chosen
also own 2 squads of terminators ( though they seem useless now)

Fast Attack
- few squads of chaos spawn (i could build max 4 three man sqauds)
also have the options for raptors or chaos bikes, ideally armed with plasma


Troops
- 4 units of cultists, though i could build more
- 2 squads of Chaos Marines, probably both with heavy bolters
(i could field more of either of these)

Heavy support
- 2 predators
- 2 squads of obliterators (i could maybe build max 3 squads of 3)
i also have; 1 Land Raider, 1 Defiler, parts to build 1 forgefiend/defiler
could also build havoc plasma instead of chosen, but i feel that one less weapon for slightly cheaper doesnt work out if you use a couple sqauds

Heavy support is the biggest choice, whether defilers are worth it, or if 2 predators and obliterators is enough, as well as not knowing synergy enough yet to know what is best to pick especially when it comes to marks, buffs and i have very little knowledge of the psychic phase and whether its always necessary to bring a sorcerer.
Always liked using plasma chosen, and infiltrating them and deep striking plasma raptors sounds good, though expensive and maybe more tanks are better.
and a las defiler sounds good but the battlecannon doesnt seem to good now?

Well, you are cutting yourself off from some of the best psychic powers/stratagems if you refuse to take any Slaanesh marks. Delightful Agonies is a great psychic power (5+ FNP on one Slaanesh unit), and the Endless Cacophony stratagem is pretty nice on Obliterators or Noise Marines.

As far as your individual unit ideas go:
HQ:
Warpsmiths are not that good really, unless you are running a serious mechanized list. You wouldn't want more than one, maybe two if your list is basically all vehicles. The auras and psychic powers are too good to pass up on our other HQs.
You should probably build at least one Chaos Lord with a Jump pack, chainsword, and pistol. It's a pretty cheap build, and the chainsword can be replaced with the Blade of the Hydra as a free upgrade (Alpha Legion relic chainsword). Sorcerers are good with Jump Packs also; you should probably build at least one.
Princes are a pretty solid choice, too. Definitely go with double Malefic Talons rather than a sword or axe. My personal go-to build on a Prince is Wings, double Talons, Slaanesh, Intoxicating Elixir (relic), Diabolic Strength (psychic power). He gets 9 attacks at S10, AP-2 D2. Nasty!

Elites:
Your Helbrute (chaos dreadnought) idea seems okay; Helbrutes do benefit from the Alpha Legion trait and so are -1 to be hit from more than 12" away. Overall they aren't top tier competitive, but I've had mine do good work on occasion.
Chosen are not the best; too expensive when kitted out, and just as squishy as a regular Marine. Termies are just bad, even with some of the tricks they can do. Usually other units can do everything they do, but better and/or cheaper.
You might look into the cult troops, either Noise Marines or Khorne Berzerkers, as both of those are solid. Plague Marines and especially Rubric Marines are subpar currently. Berzerkers can infiltrate with the Alpha Legion strat, and Noise Marines provide some good anti-horde firepower if they take Sonic Blasters, plus they get to shoot one more time if they die (even if they are locked in CC!).

Fast Attack:
Spawn are okay-ish, but really nothing in the CSM Fast Attack options is very good right now. Bikes are better in World Eaters or Renegades, and even then they aren't optimal, and Raptors and Warp Talons just aren't worth their points.

Troops:
Go with Cultists every time. Basic Chaos Marines suffer from the same problem as loyalist Tactical Marines, in that there's really nothing they do particularly well. They suffer from being generalists in a game that favors specialists. Cultists, on the other hand, are cheap and can be taken in large units; infiltrate a unit of 40 (using the AL strat) into your opponent's face and watch them wreck anything that isn't a vehicle. Especially spicy if they have the Slaanesh mark and use Endless Cacophony to shoot twice.

Heavy Support:
Obliterators are solid gold; in just about every game I've used them they've put in some solid work. Havocs aren't terrible either, but they are squishy. Give them autocannons or lascannons and keep them in the backfield where they can benefit from the AL trait.
You mentioned Predators, Land Raiders, and Defilers; none of those are very good currently. Predators can be okay, but usually there are better options, and Land Raiders are too expensive. Defilers are also expensive for what you get, as are the Dinobots (Forgefiend and Maulerfiend).

Hope that helps!

 ZergSmasher wrote:

Spoiler:

Well, you are cutting yourself off from some of the best psychic powers/stratagems if you refuse to take any Slaanesh marks. Delightful Agonies is a great psychic power (5+ FNP on one Slaanesh unit), and the Endless Cacophony stratagem is pretty nice on Obliterators or Noise Marines.

As far as your individual unit ideas go:
HQ:
Warpsmiths are not that good really, unless you are running a serious mechanized list. You wouldn't want more than one, maybe two if your list is basically all vehicles. The auras and psychic powers are too good to pass up on our other HQs.
You should probably build at least one Chaos Lord with a Jump pack, chainsword, and pistol. It's a pretty cheap build, and the chainsword can be replaced with the Blade of the Hydra as a free upgrade (Alpha Legion relic chainsword). Sorcerers are good with Jump Packs also; you should probably build at least one.
Princes are a pretty solid choice, too. Definitely go with double Malefic Talons rather than a sword or axe. My personal go-to build on a Prince is Wings, double Talons, Slaanesh, Intoxicating Elixir (relic), Diabolic Strength (psychic power). He gets 9 attacks at S10, AP-2 D2. Nasty!

Elites:
Your Helbrute (chaos dreadnought) idea seems okay; Helbrutes do benefit from the Alpha Legion trait and so are -1 to be hit from more than 12" away. Overall they aren't top tier competitive, but I've had mine do good work on occasion.
Chosen are not the best; too expensive when kitted out, and just as squishy as a regular Marine. Termies are just bad, even with some of the tricks they can do. Usually other units can do everything they do, but better and/or cheaper.
You might look into the cult troops, either Noise Marines or Khorne Berzerkers, as both of those are solid. Plague Marines and especially Rubric Marines are subpar currently. Berzerkers can infiltrate with the Alpha Legion strat, and Noise Marines provide some good anti-horde firepower if they take Sonic Blasters, plus they get to shoot one more time if they die (even if they are locked in CC!).

Fast Attack:
Spawn are okay-ish, but really nothing in the CSM Fast Attack options is very good right now. Bikes are better in World Eaters or Renegades, and even then they aren't optimal, and Raptors and Warp Talons just aren't worth their points.

Troops:
Go with Cultists every time. Basic Chaos Marines suffer from the same problem as loyalist Tactical Marines, in that there's really nothing they do particularly well. They suffer from being generalists in a game that favors specialists. Cultists, on the other hand, are cheap and can be taken in large units; infiltrate a unit of 40 (using the AL strat) into your opponent's face and watch them wreck anything that isn't a vehicle. Especially spicy if they have the Slaanesh mark and use Endless Cacophony to shoot twice.

Heavy Support:
Obliterators are solid gold; in just about every game I've used them they've put in some solid work. Havocs aren't terrible either, but they are squishy. Give them autocannons or lascannons and keep them in the backfield where they can benefit from the AL trait.
You mentioned Predators, Land Raiders, and Defilers; none of those are very good currently. Predators can be okay, but usually there are better options, and Land Raiders are too expensive. Defilers are also expensive for what you get, as are the Dinobots (Forgefiend and Maulerfiend).

Hope that helps!

I do like how on Dakka the general opinion on Chaos is:

Field as many Cultists and Obliterators as you can fit in the list, along with Daemon Princes. Everything else is garbage.

And yet people still seem to say CSM is a mid-high tier army, and that it's the normal marines that have a terrible codex.

Oh dakka, things will never change.

Seriously though, I can't really argue with anything that Zerg has said. Though I will add -

Forgefiends and Maulerfiends can be pretty decent, fairly killy distraction carnifexes.
Predators aren't at all bad, though a bit boring.
Plaguemarines are not really subpar, they do their job very well, they just have a very different job than berzerkers and noise marines. Noise marines and berzerkers are just generally sexier though.