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So um, I've been a 40k fan for a good amount of years at this point and due to playing TWW1 and 2, and getting into settings like Witcher 3. I'm thinking of expanding to a more fantasy like setting. I am looking for an army that has a lot of magic, and a lot of monster. I was considering Slaves to Darkness, but I'm not sure about others. Some races I've considered are:
.Slaves to Darkness (due to DOW I've been a huge Chaos fan since 2012.) I was getting some daemons for the 9th Chaos Daemon codex coming out in order to perhaps play them in both games?

.Soulblight Gravelords, mostly because the Vampire Counts, but I'm not sure how they'd play in AOS.

.Gloomspike Gitz, because I still like Orks, but I really don't want the Orruks.

.Skaven, ever since TWW2 I loved these little guys, but I'm not sure what to get.

.Beastmen, yes I know they're not strong but I don't play competitive.

."maybe" Stormcast, although I hate gold (same with Adeptus Custodes), but I do like armies with lots of models and lots of monsters.

I don't know where to start in AOS, and sadly not many people play it at either Dragon's Eye or Gigabytes in GA, but I would like one or two fun hobby models. I traditionally am drawn to Chaos, but the way AOS has it's army made are sort of odd.

BoC is actually in a great spot but are not known for good magic, they get 2-4 spells but nothing to boost them.

Seraphon is great at magic, has monsters too, but its Dinosaur monsters.

Skaven can also have monsters and magic, being rat form it might work like Witcher feel.

But Soulblight has magic, monsters, and fantasy feeling, this is what I think you are more looking for especially if you like Witcher style fantasy feeling.

Then there is Flesh eaters Court which is a more monster very of Soulblight (they even share some models), and they relay on magic as well.

I would rate them for you, Soulblight, FeC, Skaven, then Seraphon

Slaves to Darkness is going to get revamped in a few months. There have been a number of leaked pics of new models. They are similar yet different from Stormcast. S2D have: Warriors that can take a beating as an anvil unit, Knights with lances can hit pretty hard as long as they aren't dedicated heavy units, marauders who are plentiful and can get the long charges, and all can be versatile if you paint them in a neutral color you can switch the marks for at least 5 different ways in 2-4 different sub factions. Leaked models show new heavy infantry, something akin to minataurs. They also have a lot of little monsters, the crusher, the sphinx, manticore, slauterbrutes, tzeentch tentical monster, and 1-2 more.

Beasts of chaos have lots of monsters. Main goal is to protect your herd stone. If it is destroyed, your army is terrible. They need a new book as they are need new rules for their basic infantry.

Soul Blight has the ability to combine hordes with monsters. Zombies are fun, Skeletons can be a nuisance, and grave guard can be absolutely nasty! Zombie Dragons are big nasties, vargheists are fast, and blood knights are mean!! Depending on your sub faction, you can play very differently. Avengori is big nasties, so dragons and Vargheists for troops, Kastelai is blood knights, night is cagey , blood is black knights, and the last one can do a bit of everything - bonuses to cast, bonuses to troops, characters summon wolves, etc. The Soul Blight are an attrition army.

Gloomspite and Skaven are both horde armies. Gloomspite are giant spiders, squids, crazy magic, and lots of stubby green skins. Skaven are lots of strange devices, lightning magic, bells, and rat men.

Gits and skaven both can be played non-horde and indeed atm what you see is trolis with kragnos(and maybb incarnate too so over half points in 2 models) and for skaven 6 stormfiends, warlock engineer and thanquol(about half points and 8 models) is staple core.

Jaredthefox92 wrote:

.Gloomspike Gitz, because I still like Orks, but I really don't want the Orruks.

The Gloomspite are not orks.

ccs wrote:

Jaredthefox92 wrote:

.Gloomspike Gitz, because I still like Orks, but I really don't want the Orruks.

The Gloomspite are not orks.

Yeah Orks and Goblins were once an army together and now Orks and Goblins are not together anymore and are 2 different armies.

What do you think you want to paint? Skaven or Gloom might be an easier dive in

Gloomspite BT is a bit long in the tooth and due for a refresh, it's also not on any release lists I've seen, so it may be awhile before that happens. Just something to consider.

Yea gw decided to single out them as only faction without aos3 update by this fall giving 2+ armies 2 aos3 update first instead

Flesh Eater Courts seem to fit the picture very well. Tons of brutal monsters and have that gritty, creepy vibe of a lot of Witcher stuff. There’s definitely a lot of interesting things you can do with them thematically and they’re a blast to play. I personally play Hollowmourne and lean into the fallen chivalric knights theme, almost like a debased and monstrous Bretonnia

Yazima wrote:
Flesh Eater Courts seem to fit the picture very well. Tons of brutal monsters and have that gritty, creepy vibe

You mean noble warriors and champions fighting the good cause ser!

 NinthMusketeer wrote:

Yazima wrote:
Flesh Eater Courts seem to fit the picture very well. Tons of brutal monsters and have that gritty, creepy vibe

You mean noble warriors and champions fighting the good cause ser!

He's probably crazy!

Besides who wouldn't want to support the most Arthurian style army in the game! Sure the rank and file are a little plain here and there, but they more than make up for it with their majestic knights upon fine steeds! All the way up to their royalty choosing to lead from the front atop mighty fantasy beasts of war such as elegant griffins and powerful wyverns/dragons.

So, since I got the Daemons' 9th codex and I got some Bloodletters I was thinking of a Khorne army, (I wanted Nurgle but Nurgle is hard to find so Maggothkin is out of the question for now.) Can daemons be put into Slaves to Darkness or will I have to go with the Blades of Khorne?

Jaredthefox92 wrote:
So, since I got the Daemons' 9th codex and I got some Bloodletters I was thinking of a Khorne army, (I wanted Nurgle but Nurgle is hard to find so Maggothkin is out of the question for now.) Can daemons be put into Slaves to Darkness or will I have to go with the Blades of Khorne?

Demons can join Slaves to Darkness. They've just had a brand new book and I believe there are still sets of the boxed set with battletome, the brand new amazing demon prince kit (which works in slaves and any demon army) as well as a few new units/updated ones for Slaves to Darkness.

 Overread wrote:

Jaredthefox92 wrote:
So, since I got the Daemons' 9th codex and I got some Bloodletters I was thinking of a Khorne army, (I wanted Nurgle but Nurgle is hard to find so Maggothkin is out of the question for now.) Can daemons be put into Slaves to Darkness or will I have to go with the Blades of Khorne?

Demons can join Slaves to Darkness. They've just had a brand new book and I believe there are still sets of the boxed set with battletome, the brand new amazing demon prince kit (which works in slaves and any demon army) as well as a few new units/updated ones for Slaves to Darkness.

Ah! Good! Truth be told I sort of want a little bit of everything in terms of my army, at least when it comes to daemons. I'm fine without getting huge greater daemons (saves me $$$) if I get an Undivided list. I like to sprinkle daemons here and there with their mortal followers. Hence why I got CSM recently and not Death Guard or TS. I want to have expansive options to mix and match my armies.

So, I guess Slaves to Darkness with Khorne daemons then?

If you want a little bit of everything I'd go Slaves to Darkenss and I'd grab the set with prince and battletome in it right now

 Overread wrote:
If you want a little bit of everything I'd go Slaves to Darkenss and I'd grab the set with prince and battletome in it right now

Sounds good, sadly not very many people at my store play AOS but it could be something to do in the future if the game picks up there, or I try another store in Dalton.

 Overread wrote:

Jaredthefox92 wrote:
So, since I got the Daemons' 9th codex and I got some Bloodletters I was thinking of a Khorne army, (I wanted Nurgle but Nurgle is hard to find so Maggothkin is out of the question for now.) Can daemons be put into Slaves to Darkness or will I have to go with the Blades of Khorne?

Demons can join Slaves to Darkness. They've just had a brand new book and I believe there are still sets of the boxed set with battletome, the brand new amazing demon prince kit (which works in slaves and any demon army) as well as a few new units/updated ones for Slaves to Darkness.

Mind you it's just 1/4 units and max 400 pts.

Though if you take Belakor's subfaction daemons get to share StD faction rules(basic troops aka bloodletters etc only). Otherwise it's just what's on warscroll

I know I'm late to this - but always, ALWAYS get the army you love, not the one that's good at the moment. You know why? Armies become garbage; every army in both games at one point has been "trash". If you love your models, love your lore, it makes it that much easier to collect and especially paint/stay connected to that army. Why paint an army up/do the hobbying only for them to shuffle to the bottom and then you have to do another army? If one jumps out at you - the models - the lore, that's the one.