Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Hey guys, I have been playing 40k for a while and was recently playing with the idea of going into fantasy as I like the idea of it. I am however, stumped on how to pick between a few armies.

First up, and the one that drew my attention first, Bretonnia, I LOVE the king Arthur/ knights of the round table theme going here and the fact that they are all knights that shine in battle as they ride down there foes. The whole inbred peasant stuff kinda dims it for me though. ( though I love the idea of Pegasus Knights) The thought of the knights cresting the hill with the green knight/lady at the head and charging down a hill has A lot of appeal to me.

2nd Empire- so its basically IoM in medieval Europe, cool. I like the versatility of the army and the fact that, they have muskets :3. there fluff seems less "cool" to me though and seem a tad more expensive to get an army for. Though infantry blobs with some guns can be potentially fun and devastating.

3rd is the Vampire Counts- I love how beastly the lords are for them, and I really enjoy the theme of if my general dies my army starts to crumble (seriously, that's sooooo cool of a special ability) I normally don't like being the "bad guy" but something about commanding hordes of skelligntons lead by vampires and blood knights appeal to me.

just a small thing on play style as I am not sure how much of it would transfer over from 40k. But I love my blood angels and dark angels and enjoy some good IG action as well if that can be used to help me pick one.

so summed up, whats the biggest differences in the armies, IE, expense, looks, playstyle, and anything else you want to throw in.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
???

So it seems to me you're mostly torn between Bretonnia and Vampire Counts with Empire bordering on an after thought.


Have you considered a Mousillion themed Bretonnian army? So Mousillion is a bretonnia city state that's ruled by a Vampire with an army of zombie peasants and hundreds of black knights.

This opens up quite a bit of modelling opportunities! Use bret models with some slight alterations. Zombies = Men at Arms. Black Knights = Knights of the realm. Blood Knights = Grail Knights. Vargiests = Pegasus Knights. Grail Relique = Mortis Engine. Hexwraiths = Questing Knights.

Seriously the possibilities are endless.

Vampire counts are amazing, I suggest getting them.

There is something immensely satisfying about seeing your opponent confidently charge you with a hydra/demon prince/bloodthirster and getting to grin manically as your vampire kills it before it has a chance to do anything.

They are very much an army where 25% of your points (the lord limit) is in 1 single combat monster (who can also be a good wizard), another 25% is crap that you ignore while it dies, about another 25% as a single good unit that act as a delivery system for your lord and then 25% as 'other toys'.


In terms of actual differences between the armies, Bretts are very cav heavy, something 8th ed doesn't exactly like but of all the cav heavy lists out there bretts do have a significant advantage with the lance formation (3 wide is a rank and everyone on either side gets to attack). Empire is very much the 'jack of every trade, master of none' army. Vampires are unique (of the listed at least) in that they never run form a fight, you just lose a few more to crumble and keep grinding on.

hmmm. I think I am going to go with the brets. Paladin themed knights of the round seems really fun. (though don't worry, VC will be my 2nd army, if I ever get there XD)

Just don't get discouraged if things don't go well at first. Brets will be a tricky starting army just because the current edition doesn't favor their playstyle as well as it used to. Keep at it and you'll be all right, though!

speaking of VC. How expensive money wise would they be to play?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
I ask because looking at the lords... they look like complete BEASTS (I am a lover of herohammer lol)

How expensive are VCs?

Very.

A 2k army needs 500 points of core to be legal, that's either 10 wolves and 41 ghouls, 2 units of 40 skeletons or 3 units of 50 zombies.

 jonolikespie wrote:
How expensive are VCs?

Very.

A 2k army needs 500 points of core to be legal, that's either 10 wolves and 41 ghouls, 2 units of 40 skeletons or 3 units of 50 zombies.

With some proxying it shouldn't be too bad though. Firstly, there are other companies making zombies/skeletons on the cheap.
Second, GW's skeleton boxes contain a few extra pieces you can use to make some skellies rise out of the ground
and third, I've seen some amazing proxying being done in undead units. Headstones and large crypts look great in the middle of a unit of deadies.

 Purifier wrote:

 jonolikespie wrote:
How expensive are VCs?

Very.

A 2k army needs 500 points of core to be legal, that's either 10 wolves and 41 ghouls, 2 units of 40 skeletons or 3 units of 50 zombies.

With some proxying it shouldn't be too bad though. Firstly, there are other companies making zombies/skeletons on the cheap.
Second, GW's skeleton boxes contain a few extra pieces you can use to make some skellies rise out of the ground
and third, I've seen some amazing proxying being done in undead units. Headstones and large crypts look great in the middle of a unit of deadies.

Very true, but it is still generally played as a high model count army.

Personally as a new warhammer player, I would probably choose empire from your list of options.

They have an up to date army book (as do the vampires) but unlike the vamps they seem to me to be a more well rounded army (seeing as they have decent missile troops and artillery, cavalry, infantry, flexible magic users and semi decent combat characters), which is more suitable for a beginner imo. The only thing I think empire potentially struggle with is leadership values (which are still average) and standing up to the combat beasts of warhammer such as chaos lords and vampires, but every army has to have a weakness somewhere right?

That being said, the vamps are also a very cool army and the brets still have some things going for them despite their ageing army book.

Good luck with your choice!