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So I finally chose which army I will be having (Dark Angles, just like back in 6th edition), and I am figuring out about the rulebook, the codex; DA, chapter approved... and then the index.

However this took me about 4 days of casual perusing to finally understand the whole thing and how it all works which causes me to think... is there a handy dandy guide for all this and anything else I might have missed?

yeah, it can probably get a little overwhelming.

As for Dark Angels, you only need the Codex to start and probably Chapter Approved 2018 (for the points changes to the entries in Dark Angels codex).
Index Imperium 1 does have a few unit entries not in the Codex (Librarian, techmarine, chaplain on bike for example), but you're better off not getting it as it will probably disappear in time.
Vigilus Defiant is a Campaign book with 1 page on a new Ravenwing detachment, but i would hold off on that and just look at the rules online.

Right now, I'd focus on Codex Dark Angels and Chapter Approved 2018 (some good new missions too)

 bullyboy wrote:

Index Imperium 1 does have a few unit entries not in the Codex (Librarian, techmarine, chaplain on bike for example), but you're better off not getting it as it will probably disappear in time.

Pfft. Another variation on the crap Dakka advice of "Wait". Don't listen to that advice.

Instead? Look at your collection/consider what you want (or may want) to run, pick up whatever rules let you do that in the here & now and worry about the future when it arrives.

Do you really suggest buying index and converting models for index entries that are already banned in some tournaments and can dissapear?

Hell as it is you can't even BUY it anymore except 2nd hand...Not on sale anymore. Neither as book nor ebook. Gone. No more. Good luck hunting ebay for it as 2nd hand is only source for these for quite a while now.

And again it's not universally legal anymore even.

Probably easiest to get a current Codex and ignore the rest. 'Counts as' anything not in the Codex.

Unless you are intending to head the competition route, the CA & Index are nice, but not vital.

Thanks everyone! I appreciate it greatly!

tneva82 wrote:
Do you really suggest buying index and converting models for index entries that are already banned in some tournaments and can dissapear?

In response to a person who just picked their army and doesn't mention tournaments at all, yes.

People often argue about how many books you need but it's a quite straitghtforward answer.

Just 3 books.
The rulebook, the codex and the newest Chapter approved.

Now if you want to delve in and focus in min-max or abusing all rules for the most competitive choice you MAY need some extra books.

Index: for older entries no longer in codex due no model no rules

WD /Vigilus formations extra rules. This one it's tricky since any Tournament may choose to either allow or not those rules as those are a bit more specific.

Or, if you want to build a fluffy Slaanesh CD/R&H/CSM soup you'll need, minimum, six books. Seven if you want more than three Heralds or just one that's mounted. Eight for my build; Rulebook, C:CD, IA - Forces of Chaos, I: Chaos, C: AM, IA - Forces of the AM, C:CSM, CA 2018

No min-maxing. No FW 'abuse' (unless Zarakynel counts which - no - She doesn't), not in the slightest bit competitive.

Needing lots of books is not a TFG or a WAAC problem and I really wish people would stop implying that it is.

You're running three separate frigging armies, of which "Renegades and Heretics" has pretty much always required you to own two books for.

And let's not pretend for a damn second that R&H wasn't broken for awhile there, Malefic Lords.

Considering the only index that's still on sale is Index Imperium 2 it may be a moot point if he can't find a copy of Index Imperium 1.

 Kanluwen wrote:
You're running three separate frigging armies, of which "Renegades and Heretics" has pretty much always required you to own two books for.

And let's not pretend for a damn second that R&H wasn't broken for awhile there, Malefic Lords.

No, I'm not. I'm playing one Slaanesh army. Also, if I was playing three separate armies, so what? Averaging more than two books per Faction to play a game is ludicrous no matter how you cut it.

R&H as a Faction has never, ever, ever, been 'broken' in 8th. True, MLs were powerful for their costs for a while but they were the only decent unit. Also, my list had three MLs when they were 30pts each, it still has three MLs now they're 80pts each so you can keep your assumptions to yourself.

Regardless of all the above, I do recognize that a 'soup' necessarily require more rules and I do not expect free rules. That said, there's no actual reason for R&H to require you to also own C:AM. There's no actual reason why Zarakynel and the other Greater Greater Daemons can't be in C:CD, along with Heralds on Steeds/Chariots. Beyond GW's bottom-line, of course. Sure, nobody forces me to buy any of this stuff, but there's also nothing saying I have to be happy with the status quo, either.

And my main point all along was that, contrary to that which was implied and is constantly implied, having to own/carry a plethora of books is not a problem solely for TFG/WAAC min-maxers and rules-abusers and you can't handwave it away by pretending that it is and everything would be ok if everyone else played like you do.

You're playing three armies, don't try to pretend it is one just because "They're all Slaanesh!".

And you're not "averaging more than two books per faction". You've chosen to field items from the Indices and Forge World.

Well, I hate to break it to you but 8/3 equals more than two. It's freely admitted that I choose to play a 'soup'. It's never been demonstrated that it's at all relevant.

And again, my main point is that the rules being scattered around like a mad dog's leavings is not solely a TFG/WAAC problem, as was implied.

EDIT - I choose to include Index entries 'cause the very day I finished painting my Heralds on Steeds and finished building my Herald on a Chariot, C:CD was released and dropped both. So yeah, I choose to field them still, 'cause the choice was thrust upon me. I'm a poor, I can't just go out and spunk $50 on a new HQ.

EDIT 2 - It's three Factions to GW's marketing and sales teams. Per the rules, it's one Faction; either <CHAOS> or <SLAANESH>.

Does the DA Codex include the rules for primaris models?

Yes

 Kanluwen wrote:
You're running three separate frigging armies, of which "Renegades and Heretics" has pretty much always required you to own two books for.

And let's not pretend for a damn second that R&H wasn't broken for awhile there, Malefic Lords.

AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

Sorry, let me laugh even harder, because on the IG side the psyker with armor is actually fine?

Also one model does not make or break an army.