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Looking to start a Xenos army - But which one?  [RSS] Share on facebook Share on Twitter Submit to Reddit
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What Xenos army should i start?
Tau
Eldar
Daemons - Nurgle
Orks
Necrons
Dark Eldar

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Made in us
Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

Title says it all. Can't decide what army would best complimentmmy current forces. Here's the rundown on what I'm thinking.

Have:
Minotaurs SM
Grey Knights
Nurgle CSM
Imperial Guard


So I'm torn between the following:

Tau
Eldar
Chaos Daemons

Dark Eldar - I'd only want to run the green goblin wing riding guys personally. No idea how well that list would run though.

Daemons seem too much like CSM to me since I'd run the nurgle guys. Also seem to be a play style that opposes my approach.

Already have an Eldar player locally and I'm not a fan of copycatting an army. But I recently got the new codex and new plastic far seer from a spikey bitz mystery box. I'd probably run the Lyanden wing as I love their look.

Tau are what I'm leaning towards as they were my first purchase that got me started with game. Also no local player plays them, and I have a sweet idea for a soviet themed paint scheme. Also got the new dex and a box of crisis suits with three suits in it. But im afraid they are too much like what I already have playstyle wise.


AMMENDMENT:

So i realized I should also mention the other Xenos forces that were neglected initially.

Orks - im far too much of a perfectionist to enjoy modeling them or painting them. Also their play style is a mystery to me as Ive never played against them or seen anything but swarm Orks played in 5th ed.

Necrons - Id love to run these guys. But my concern is two of the guys I play already have them, and I know I'd justend up wanting to run monoliths and the tomb spiders with tails because they look so damn cool.


And as far as wanting an army that would mesh well with my other armies, it would be a plus. Doesnt have to be allies, but it would be a plus.

My mentality is pretty much my Grey Knights are my primary focus and my favorite army to date, Nurgle CSM are just for the novelty of the zombies and bikers, Imperial Guard are about chem warfare and spamming banewolfs, and minotaurs are my designated FW chapter that gets all the apoc. shenanigans and crazy vehicles.

But as someone has pointed out to me, maybe i need something completely different to change things up a bit.

Hope this clarifies a few things.

So what do you all think? Please let me know. THANKS!

This message was edited 6 times. Last update was at 2013/07/05 08:02:47


The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
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Obviously orks.
   
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NC

Of all the armies, Wau are the most likely to compliment your forces considering they're so goody-goody. Eldar are too arrogant and Daemons compliment no-one.

Typo-joking aside, you seem to want a complement to your existing forces. Of the choices, Tau are the only ones that can ally with Chaos, Imperial Guard, and Marines of various colors. They're pretty much everybody's bed-buddy this iteration.
   
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I hate all xenos but Tau. Which Xenos should I take?


Tau, obviously.

Orks take a certain type of player, and I don't believe they'd be a good match for you.

But I don't say that for the reasons you suggest - Orks certainly don't "play like Chaos Daemons" if you don't want them to. They can do shooty, they can do choppy, they can do fast. They can do mech, they can do horde, they can do elite, they can do fliers, they can do pie plates... literally the only thing they can't do is good ranged anti-tank, but I like that about them - armies with weaknesses are more fun IMO.

The reason is that Orks are like the anti-thesis of Tau. They're a handicap, while Tau are a win button. They need to close in with the enermy, while Tau camp in a corner and roll dice. Their models have personality, Tau models are literally faceless. Orks are everything I love about 40k, Tau is everything I hate. For that reason, if your in the Tau camp, your probably not in the Ork one.

Not hating on you for liking Tau, because not everyone needs to like the same aspects of the game as I do - but yes I certainly am hating on Tau as a faction.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/07/05 06:52:39


 
   
Made in us
Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

 Dakkamite wrote:
I hate all xenos but Tau. Which Xenos should I take?


Tau, obviously.

Orks take a certain type of player, and I don't believe they'd be a good match for you.

But I don't say that for the reasons you suggest - Orks certainly don't "play like Chaos Daemons" if you don't want them to. They can do shooty, they can do choppy, they can do fast. They can do mech, they can do horde, they can do elite, they can do fliers, they can do pie plates... literally the only thing they can't do is good ranged anti-tank, but I like that about them - armies with weaknesses are more fun IMO.

The reason is that Orks are like the anti-thesis of Tau. They're a handicap, while Tau are a win button. They need to close in with the enermy, while Tau camp in a corner and roll dice. Their models have personality, Tau models are literally faceless. Orks are everything I love about 40k, Tau is everything I hate. For that reason, if your in the Tau camp, your probably not in the Ork one.

Not hating you for liking Tau, because not everyone needs to like the same aspects of the game as I do - but yes I certainly am hating on Tau as a faction.


This is why i asked for feedback. Part of why im thinking tau is they fall in the same gameplay as all the other factions I have - shoot like crazy.only difference is they are like guard in melee. I honestly dont think Id enjoy playing tau as much as i like my other armies, but its hard for me to get out of that mindset of playing competitively. Any army will have its ups and downs. For me right now, having the dex for tau and a box of suits is ahuge headstart. But id only be building the army because i love their meched out gundam suit feel.

And Orks are still scary to me as Ive never played against them and I usually only see the swarm orks. But maybe theyd be good for me as id have to step away from my normal comfort zone. I think i need to look into Orks before I make a rash decision. Thanks forthe feedback, really got me thinking.

The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
Made in gb
Morphing Obliterator






I think you should definately consider a different play style to what you already have.

Seeing as your current armies are either marines (small in number but hard as nails) or imperial guard (lots of guys who focus on shooting) I think you should go with orks or tyranids, both of which can field a lot of guys with a strong focus on close combat if you want to go that way.

Plus you can have fun doing wicked conversions with both armies.

As with chaos, with orks and tyranids almost anything goes conversion wise.

As an example, when I decided to start playing WFB, I picked Ogre Kingdoms, an army totally different to my Eldar.

One is a fast moving, fragile force that relies on fire power. The other is a force of a low number of rock solid guys that bring the pain in close combat.

For my eventual possible second 40K army, I am looking at either grey knights, chaos marines (death guard with daemon allies) or necrons as they are totally different again to my eldar.

Most likely death guard or grey knights though, as there is already at least one necron player at the club I go to.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/07/05 08:14:35


Chaos Space Marines - Iron Warriors & Night Lords 7900pts

 
   
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Staines

Taudar armys are filth!

Remember Tau are battle brothers with Codex SM's so maybe think about holding off until the next SM codex comes out as they might be the next best allies you never know

4500 4000 2500  
   
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Roseville, CA

No nids? Sadness.

I just started playing them and love their style.

From your list I would be most drawn to tau....they even have some cool forgeworld stuff if you're into that.

Otherwise I'd say necrons, but since you have buddies who already have them, I think you'll be happiest with tau.
   
Made in nz
Disguised Speculo





Aesthetics is a perfectly valid reason to pick an army, but as Rohansoldier said, playing outside your comfort zone is a very good idea.

If you want to go out of your comfort zone and play choppy 40k, Orks aren't the only way to go, though IMO they are certainly one of the most choppy inclined armies.

What your describing is a "Green Tide", where a player can take up to 180 standard Orks in an army (more with allies or multiple FoC...). This is definitely one of the strongest ways to play Orks, but it sucks for the number of models you have to buy, prepare, and move each turn.

However, you by no means have to play it like this, but you will have to take more models than a typical SM player. Orks have some very nice elite models, or if your keen on basic troops, you can cut down the amount needed massively (180 -> 60) by running a trukk list. Alternatively, Orks are a very good Biker army, especially with one of our best units the Nob Bikers. We can also run a Deathwing-y TEQ/AV14 army if your that way inclined. Theres heaps of other ways to play them as well, but I'm sure other people will fill you in on that.

Sadly got no advice for Tyranids, except to say we need more people who play them
   
Made in us
Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

Another point i should mention is if i dont have a set list, i tend to build min/max loadouts focusing on competitiveness over how much fun they are.

Also i apologize for my lack of capitalization. Tablets being stupid.

The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
Made in gb
Scuttling Genestealer





Staines

Like a few other army's Nid's have a handful of good/great units and the rest is well below par so most Nid lists are similar with Flyrants or walking Swarmy and a Tyrant and troop Tervigon's with gaunts then you build around it.

The only other strong units IMO are the doom, zoans, hive guard, deathleaper and gargoyles.

Also usable but I find aren't as good with the 6th ed codex's are Tyrgon, Mawloc, Ymgarls, Dakkafex in pod, Venomthropes, units of 9 Ravener's and Biovore's.

I do enjoy playing Tyranids =D

This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2013/07/05 08:31:35


4500 4000 2500  
   
Made in nz
Disguised Speculo





Orks are not a top tier competitive list. In this environment, they're good in the same way Dark Eldar is good - because they're difficult to use, they become something of a prestige army if you can be successful with them. Pretty sure Tyranids are the same.

Orks can be min/max like anyone else, and if you want to play them competitively your going to have to min/max them like everyone else. A min/max Ork list might look something like;

>Warboss on Bike
>Warboss on Bike or Big Mek with forcefield

>3 units of 15 Lootas
>1-2 units of Biker Nobs taken as troops (they are elites, but each Warboss allows one to be troops)

>3 units of 20 Shoota Boys

>3 Dakkajets, or if forgeworld is approved, 3-9 Grot Bomm Launchas

>3 Battlewagons or 3 Big Guns batteries
   
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Even though I think technically Daemons are not considered xenos, nurgle always likes new friends

 
   
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Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

I used to have a rather large Tyranid contingent. They were a ton of fun to be sure, but one of my close friends plays those and scars and I'd really rather not copy him. Lol I'd be note apt to copying Necrons as the players who I know use them do t play that often or Eldar since the one who plays doesn't use the Lyanden wing. So unfortunately bids shall remain off limits and out of the poll.

I think my biggest hang up is still that I know next to nothing about Xenos play styles and really just want an army that I love to look at while its kicking butt. *sigh*

I got problems haha. Thanks for the feedback so far and please keep it coming.

The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
Made in us
Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

Was curious - would a tau/ work mecha force be viable for a competitive build. Not top tier obviously, but could it stand on its own leggs and possibly win games?

The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
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Join the Eldar and you are invited into a club of the elite! But when you play them.. hold all other races in disdain WE ARE above them
   
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Leeds, UK

Necrons - Id love to run these guys.


Seems a no brainer to me, feth what anyone else says

   
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Sneaky Kommando



Washington, DC

Orks are the bestest!

Plusses for orks:
-Can still get Black Reach orks off e-bay cheaply.
-Not popular in your area, so you'll have a unique army. (Tau are FOTM right now, for better or worse.)
-Lots of fun/personality. Open the Ork Codex, and turn to the page 90, where you'll see a diagram of various ork tecknology. If the the line next to the Power Klaw ("Ork goes in here") doesn't get you, I don't know what will.

Orks - "Da Rust Gitz" : 3000 pts
Empire - "Nordland Expeditionary Corps" : 3000 pts
Dwarfs - "Sons of Magni" 2000 points
Cygnar - "Black Swan" 100 pts
Trollbloods - "The Brotherhood"
Haqqislam- "Al-Istathaan": 300 points
Commonwealth - Desert Rats /2nd New Zealand 1000 points 
   
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 kitch102 wrote:
Necrons - Id love to run these guys.


Seems a no brainer to me, feth what anyone else says


Seconded! plus you say grey knights are your favorite army and they're Allies of convenience so you can run both together.
   
Made in us
Unshakeable Grey Knight Land Raider Pilot





Kansas, USA

So a small update - after much deliberation I have gone ahead and ordered a small allied detachment of Tau -small to me anyways.

What I have decided is that I love the mechs. Can't get past that visual aspect. So for now they will work with my other forces until I decide what to do for their allies.

THAT BEING SAID:

I am torn between Ork mechas as allies, or doing some conversion work to make some necron mechs ala command barges or the tomb strider. The Ianden wing as allies is still on the table, but the point cost is kinda off putting as they will sick a nice chunk of points from my primary detachment.

Please let me know what you think! I'm pretty happy about my decision though.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Hoping to make a fun looking Pacific Rim style list/ army.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/07/07 18:56:16


The House Mandalore - an Imperial Knight Titan Blog


"You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must hammer and forge yourself one"
Henry David Thoreau

Current Armies -

Grey Knights - 8,000
Imperial Guard - 2,000
Plague Marines - 2,000 +
Minotaurs - 2,000 
   
Made in us
Decrepit Dakkanaut





Vallejo, CA

I think it's rather telling that even with a HUGE glut of new players into Tau and Eldar, neither are really a clear winner against orks. And you weren't even talking them up either, relative to the other two.

Should tell you something about the satisfaction levels of people who have ork armies.



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 Markillius08 wrote:
Another point i should mention is if i dont have a set list, i tend to build min/max loadouts focusing on competitiveness over how much fun they are.

Tau.

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