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I think with 9th its time I actually got off my butt, stop talking about "some day", and start somewhere. So this list is as much about a <500pt patrol roster as it is making a cost-efficient start. This list is C$400 with tax (including core and codex) which is right about my comfort limit for a "getting into it" cost.

Exact choice of special weapons can always be refined. I thought about adding a Cadian Command Squad, but at $50 I dont know how much use that would be starting out.

Thoughts for a noob?

Thank you for the extended thoughts and advice! Going to have to read through that a couple times to fully digest it.

When I said C$400, I was in fact thinking two Start Collecting boxes, Core Rules, Codex, and taxes. I just didn't realize the infantry don't come with comprehensive special weapons parts (took for granted that the options presented by BattleScribe would be on the sprues).

Thanks so much everyone for the great information.

A question on the LRBT: Just generally speaking, do these tend to be fielded with sponsons? In future I will be a making all mine removable (magnets), but I clued into that too late for my initial purchase (already closed up the track sections) so I'm just wondering what will get more use in the long terms: assembling it with or without? Ditto for the figure in the cupola?

The more I think about this the more it bugs me.

GW writes into their rules that an IG Sergeant can have a Chainsword, Power Axe, Power Maul, Power sword, and Bolt pistol, Boltgun, Laspistol, Plasma pistol...but provide no practical way to build a sergeant with anything other than the Chainsword and Laspistol (hacks notwithstanding). I could even understand if they offered a $10 "Sergeant's weapons" sprue or something, but they dont. Why write these options into the rules in the first place?!?

And while they sort of make the missing special weapons (Meltagun, Plasma Gun, Sniper Rifle) available in the command squad, that seems a horribly roundabout way to get those options/weapons into a standard squad, especially when you are paying for yet another grenade launcher and flamer (of which you already get two each with every 10 man squad box).

<sigh>

Just another thanks to everyone for the great info. Invaluable to a noob like me!

So I have started assembling my first Start Collecting box. Already a little stressed about which options to build. lol. I know this is just the first of many, many boxes to come but I want to try and be as "efficient" as possible with my choices.

Vox caster yes/no? Grenade launcher or Flammer? I was thinking of building all three. I know that will leave me a body short since one special weapon has to sit-out, but I thought the cheap 5-man Cadian box can be used to fill in (and/or for the Vox caster if I dont bring it in a given roster). Thoughts? I saw a pretty interesting video wherein the gentleman pointed out that a single squad can be turned into two by buying two of the 5-man boxes (resulting in two squads for the price of 1.5... roughly). But if I do that I'd need a third 5-man box to double up on the special weapon builds which is getting close to just buying a second squad outright.

On the heavy weapon team, again I know this will be the first of many but what, overall, is the most seen weapon on the table?

For the tank I unfortunately assembled the hull before thinking about magnetizing the sponsons so I'm thinking of leaving them off this one and keeping it simple. With my next start collecting box I'll build the tank with the commander and magnetize the sponsons for flexibility. Sound good?