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Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




I'm going to start putting together my first army, and I was wondering if there was anything you could tell me about the factions I wanna build to help me decide. Things I should know etc. I've gone off of what I liked lorewise and general coolness, but actual gameplay info would be nice. The factions are Grey Knights, Craftworlds, and Thousand Sons.
   
Made in us
Fixture of Dakka




NE Ohio, USA

Grey Knights look really cool.
But they can be one of the harder factions to play as they tend to be a high pt cost, low model count, force. And although they have some interesting stuff of their own they lack a good chunk of model/unit choices and rules available to basic marines - making them potentially yet another step harder to play as a mono force.

If you go with the GK? When it comes to buying character models read the whole description on GWs site. If you see one listed as being made of resin consider searching EBay etc for the older metal version of it. It's the exact same sculpt, just cast in metal.
The reason is because GW has mostly transitioned away from making metal models, but until they re-do various things as plastic kits they're making resin versions of them. Unfortunately the resin they use isn't the best. They call it "Finecast" - but it often gets referred to as "Failcast" or "Finecrap" as some stuff is of terrible quality, some perfectly fine, or somewhere in-between.... But unless you can see the blister pack contents 1st hand? You won't know what quality you've got until it arrives....

If you go Eldar? The above advice concerning metal/resin applies not only to characters, but to most of the Aspect Warriors as well (your Fire Dragons, Scorpions, etc + the Avatar)
   
Made in gb
Regular Dakkanaut




UK

On the other hand, the older, metal sculpts of Eldar are still available on eBay, some Cheaper than their new brothers.
   
Made in gb
Screaming Shining Spear





Well, the main difference is in the choices available. Thousand sons and Grey knights are quite limited factions on their own, Craftworlds has the widest range of units outside of marines (both falvours) and Astra militarum.
While there is a large amount of metal or resin in the craftworlds range there's also a lot that isn't. If you take out the special characters and the resin aspects there isn't that much left that isn't plastic.
All three factions tend to lean on psychic powers, though some eldar builds can rely a lot less on it. The thing about psychics is they're amazing when you come up against a force that can't stop them but if you rely on powers for your key strategy it can be quite frustrating when you get denied or fail to get your crucial powers off.
Grey knights and Thousand sons are always going to be more limited in army builds, without souping in allies at least, compared to craftworlds since craftworlds have a much more complete range. Craftworlds can go all infantry, all mech, more close combat or more shooty because of that flexibility.
Also craftworlds have more flexibilty in terms of modelling and painting, at least if you stick to the official schemes for GK and TS.

 
   
Made in de
Ladies Love the Vibro-Cannon Operator






Hamburg

Well, if you are new to 40k or table top in general, its better to consider an army that is easier to play than a specialized elite army.
I'd go with Primaris in the first place and then as a second army I'd come back to your initial thoughts.

Former moderator 40kOnline

Lanchester's square law - please obey in list building!

Illumini: "And thank you for not finishing your post with a "" I'm sorry, but after 7200 's that has to be the most annoying sign-off ever."

Armies: Eldar, Necrons, Blood Angels, Grey Knights; World Eaters (30k); Bloodbound; Cryx, Circle, Cyriss 
   
Made in gb
Storm Trooper with Maglight





I agree that with both Grey Knights and Thousand Sons it would be wise to see what they ally with and whether you want to add them to your force as well. Grey Knights work well with Inquisition and Astra Militarum, though really you could ally them with any Imperium army. Thousand Sons can easily ally with Tzeentch Daemons.

If you're willing to run either of these armies with allies then which allies appeal to you most? That might be the deciding factor.

As for Craftworld Eldar, they work quite well on their own, though you can also ally them with other Eldar forces.
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




I've really been leaning towards TS, what would I mix in with it?
   
Made in ch
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





GenChicken wrote:
I've really been leaning towards TS, what would I mix in with it?


Depends, csm offer some specific tools .
Daemons offer some melee beasts .
R&H whilest fringe offer cp and some los ignoring tools.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/766717.page
A Mostly Renegades and Heretics blog.
GW:"Space marines got too many options to balance, therefore we decided to legends HH units."
Players: "why?!? Now we finally got decent plastic kits and you cut them?"
Chaos marines players: "Since when are Daemonengines 30k models and why do i have NO droppods now?"
GW" MONEY.... erm i meant TOO MANY OPTIONS (to resell your army to you again by disalowing former units)! Do you want specific tyranid fighiting Primaris? Even a new sabotage lieutnant!"
Chaos players: Guess i stop playing or go to HH.  
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Could I add the daemon engines like heldrakes and the like, or do they not mesh well with TS
   
Made in ch
The Dread Evil Lord Varlak





GenChicken wrote:
Could I add the daemon engines like heldrakes and the like, or do they not mesh well with TS



Sure you can
Daemonengines, their synergy lies within the csm specific units so you'd need a whole detachment for them and or with daemons so you'd soup atleast with 2 dexes and their respective supplements.

Also fair warning though daemonengines whilest conceptually awesome are not great and require specific help to work (cp) which TS also require.

Keep that in mind.

https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/766717.page
A Mostly Renegades and Heretics blog.
GW:"Space marines got too many options to balance, therefore we decided to legends HH units."
Players: "why?!? Now we finally got decent plastic kits and you cut them?"
Chaos marines players: "Since when are Daemonengines 30k models and why do i have NO droppods now?"
GW" MONEY.... erm i meant TOO MANY OPTIONS (to resell your army to you again by disalowing former units)! Do you want specific tyranid fighiting Primaris? Even a new sabotage lieutnant!"
Chaos players: Guess i stop playing or go to HH.  
   
Made in us
Fresh-Faced New User




Awesome. I'm trying to learn all I can before I start buying. I have a bad tendency to jump into the complex parts of games I get into, and my first 40k army is no exception. Or this could be just first army stuff I have to learn.
   
Made in ca
Stubborn Dark Angels Veteran Sergeant




Vancouver, BC

GenChicken wrote:
Awesome. I'm trying to learn all I can before I start buying. I have a bad tendency to jump into the complex parts of games I get into, and my first 40k army is no exception. Or this could be just first army stuff I have to learn.

Honest advice, check with the group you're going to be playing with and ask if they play more hardcore tournament lists (and if so if they play ITC of CA)? If not ask if they just do more casual play using the matched play rules or if they tend to prefer narrative play. These questions will save you a lot of heartaches when purchasing an army.
   
Made in us
Gore-Soaked Lunatic Witchhunter







 Canadian 5th wrote:
GenChicken wrote:
Awesome. I'm trying to learn all I can before I start buying. I have a bad tendency to jump into the complex parts of games I get into, and my first 40k army is no exception. Or this could be just first army stuff I have to learn.

Honest advice, check with the group you're going to be playing with and ask if they play more hardcore tournament lists (and if so if they play ITC of CA)? If not ask if they just do more casual play using the matched play rules or if they tend to prefer narrative play. These questions will save you a lot of heartaches when purchasing an army.


Pursuant to this: I find 8e is better if you've got an army book with the flexibility to tone down its lists/amp up its lists to keep up with your community, and where you can swap out a unit or two if GW nerfs something into the ground/gives you fancy new OP toys to play with. Small army books may find themselves in a spot where they can't adjust and you have to buy a whole new army, but something like CSM is packed with redundant units and has a lot of resilience when GW comes along and shuffles the power tiers.

Balanced Game: Noun. A game in which all options and choices are worth using.
Homebrew oldhammer project: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/790996.page#10896267
Meridian: Necromunda-based 40k skirmish: https://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/795374.page 
   
 
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