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Good morning, everyone.

My stepson with 11yo wants to start playing AoS and he is divided between the miniatures of Chaos (Mortals, Beastmen and Deamons. He doesn't like Skaven) and Aelves (any of the three races). He specially likes every big monster in each army (every Dragon, both Hydras, Treemen (loved them), Bloodthirster, Galrauch, Dragon Ogre Shaggoth, Ghorgon, Giant, Doombull, Minotaurs, Chaos Lord on Manticore, Khorne Chaos Lord on Juggernaut and Archaon were all his favorite miniatures).

What would you suggest?

Chaos or Aelves? And what race to start? Why?

Just want your opinion to see what fits better to him

Thank you everyone for your help.

As the rules are free maybe proxy some models to start with and see which he enjoys playing and then look to buy.

Games should be pretty quick and be able to try various combinations?

With Chaos faction now being pretty huge - may be the best due to the vast range of models that he already likes - and can always explain that you can convert a treeman into a malformed /corrupted one and call it a giant etc?

Is he going to assemble and paint the miniatures himself?

If so, I'd go Chaos - some of the Elf miniatures are really, really fragile.

Mr Morden wrote:As the rules are free maybe proxy some models to start with and see which he enjoys playing and then look to buy.

Games should be pretty quick and be able to try various combinations?

With Chaos faction now being pretty huge - may be the best due to the vast range of models that he already likes - and can always explain that you can convert a treeman into a malformed /corrupted one and call it a giant etc?

Thank you for your advise

thenoobbomb wrote:Is he going to assemble and paint the miniatures himself?

If so, I'd go Chaos - some of the Elf miniatures are really, really fragile.

I'm going to assemble everything and paint part of it's army. The rest he will paint (I will paint only the details).

I would say buy him a hero of his liking (look wise) and a unit and get him started in some small scenarios, each race is more or less getting updated model wise (some already have) so its kinda pointless to start unless he likes sigmarines in which case, sigmarines... orks are getting a reworking I hear and might be "bigger" than average... so you never know, he could have orc fungus in his veins.

I would suggest Chaos is a good choice - particularly the new Khorne models.

This is on the basis that, although there are rules for all the other models and races, they will inevitably be updated for AoS and re-launched at some point - I think we can expect at least some significant changes in visual appearance and posture of the models that will make older models look outdated when on the table with newer pieces.

Personally I'd like to pick up some dwarves including some non-GW stuff but until I have seen some images of the basic 'Steamhead Duardin' units and can see there style etc I'm holding fire.

Deportivodeej wrote:
I would suggest Chaos is a good choice - particularly the new Khorne models.

This is on the basis that, although there are rules for all the other models and races, they will inevitably be updated for AoS and re-launched at some point - I think we can expect at least some significant changes in visual appearance and posture of the models that will make older models look outdated when on the table with newer pieces.

Personally I'd like to pick up some dwarves including some non-GW stuff but until I have seen some images of the basic 'Steamhead Duardin' units and can see there style etc I'm holding fire.

exactly, also because of the way AoS is played there is nothing stopping you from adding orcs into a sigmarine army or a khorne into an Undead army or even Sigmarines uniting with Khorne (however unlikely, like necrons and blood angels) so if you get even 1 hero and a unit to get yourself started you can add them in to any force later on.

I know its silly but I would suggest to get the starter box, its really good value for money and you get 2 armies which can be combined into a larger force etc (with some conversion you could turn khornies into some barbarian humans)...

bitethythumb wrote:I would say buy him a hero of his liking (look wise) and a unit and get him started in some small scenarios, each race is more or less getting updated model wise (some already have) so its kinda pointless to start unless he likes sigmarines in which case, sigmarines... orks are getting a reworking I hear and might be "bigger" than average... so you never know, he could have orc fungus in his veins.

HE don't like Orcs and Ogres and Goblins :/ But the idea of the small scenario is something I'm going to do

Deportivodeej wrote:I would suggest Chaos is a good choice - particularly the new Khorne models.

This is on the basis that, although there are rules for all the other models and races, they will inevitably be updated for AoS and re-launched at some point - I think we can expect at least some significant changes in visual appearance and posture of the models that will make older models look outdated when on the table with newer pieces.

Personally I'd like to pick up some dwarves including some non-GW stuff but until I have seen some images of the basic 'Steamhead Duardin' units and can see there style etc I'm holding fire.

He doesn't like Dwarf :S The new Khorne are really cool minis but to expensive...

bitethythumb wrote:

Deportivodeej wrote:
I would suggest Chaos is a good choice - particularly the new Khorne models.

This is on the basis that, although there are rules for all the other models and races, they will inevitably be updated for AoS and re-launched at some point - I think we can expect at least some significant changes in visual appearance and posture of the models that will make older models look outdated when on the table with newer pieces.

Personally I'd like to pick up some dwarves including some non-GW stuff but until I have seen some images of the basic 'Steamhead Duardin' units and can see there style etc I'm holding fire.

exactly, also because of the way AoS is played there is nothing stopping you from adding orcs into a sigmarine army or a khorne into an Undead army or even Sigmarines uniting with Khorne (however unlikely, like necrons and blood angels) so if you get even 1 hero and a unit to get yourself started you can add them in to any force later on.

I know its silly but I would suggest to get the starter box, its really good value for money and you get 2 armies which can be combined into a larger force etc (with some conversion you could turn khornies into some barbarian humans)...

I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

NunoTaborda wrote:
.
I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

Well they don't have to be painted in gold. Though historically ANY full plate would equate to rich as it cost a bucket to get made. Curious as why they look like tyrants though, as a lot of factions and minis from different ranges have stylised helmets and masks. Order also doesn't have to mean "good". It is just the rule of law and stability instead of chaos being change and flux.

I would suggest just picking the models you like, as you are governed by aesthetics and feel of the models. More so than before it doesn't matter too much what models you have. If you don't mind replaced units at some point then anything goes. Have you asked your kid what minis he wants? That just seems as a good basis to start.

kyrellification wrote:

NunoTaborda wrote:
.
I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

Well they don't have to be painted in gold. Though historically ANY full plate would equate to rich as it cost a bucket to get made. Curious as why they look like tyrants though, as a lot of factions and minis from different ranges have stylised helmets and masks. Order also doesn't have to mean "good". It is just the rule of law and stability instead of chaos being change and flux.

I would suggest just picking the models you like, as you are governed by aesthetics and feel of the models. More so than before it doesn't matter too much what models you have. If you don't mind replaced units at some point then anything goes. Have you asked your kid what minis he wants? That just seems as a good basis to start.

His biggest doubt is between chaos and elves (mortal vs wood looks like his biggest choices).

He likes the TreeMen, all Dragons, all Chaos Lord and Archaon a lot.

NunoTaborda wrote:

kyrellification wrote:

NunoTaborda wrote:
.
I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

Well they don't have to be painted in gold. Though historically ANY full plate would equate to rich as it cost a bucket to get made. Curious as why they look like tyrants though, as a lot of factions and minis from different ranges have stylised helmets and masks. Order also doesn't have to mean "good". It is just the rule of law and stability instead of chaos being change and flux.

I would suggest just picking the models you like, as you are governed by aesthetics and feel of the models. More so than before it doesn't matter too much what models you have. If you don't mind replaced units at some point then anything goes. Have you asked your kid what minis he wants? That just seems as a good basis to start.

His biggest doubt is between chaos and elves (mortal vs wood looks like his biggest choices).

He likes the TreeMen, all Dragons, all Chaos Lord and Archaon a lot.

what about combining the two, chaos wood aelfs? or chaos aelfs, I remember a LONG time ago someone did a high elves with a Chaos theme (paint and skulls) that worked REALLY well...

bitethythumb wrote:

NunoTaborda wrote:

kyrellification wrote:

NunoTaborda wrote:
.
I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

Well they don't have to be painted in gold. Though historically ANY full plate would equate to rich as it cost a bucket to get made. Curious as why they look like tyrants though, as a lot of factions and minis from different ranges have stylised helmets and masks. Order also doesn't have to mean "good". It is just the rule of law and stability instead of chaos being change and flux.

I would suggest just picking the models you like, as you are governed by aesthetics and feel of the models. More so than before it doesn't matter too much what models you have. If you don't mind replaced units at some point then anything goes. Have you asked your kid what minis he wants? That just seems as a good basis to start.

His biggest doubt is between chaos and elves (mortal vs wood looks like his biggest choices).

He likes the TreeMen, all Dragons, all Chaos Lord and Archaon a lot.

what about combining the two, chaos wood aelfs? or chaos aelfs, I remember a LONG time ago someone did a high elves with a Chaos theme (paint and skulls) that worked REALLY well...

Lol. That would be funny but that would complicate his mind with a new game for him... And he would had twice the work with so many units... I prefer for him to focus on only one army at a time

As a kid myself, I can say that unless you are buying his models, the real problem will be the price. A good army is one like empire with cheaper sets of 10 men. Worse value for money, but easier to buy/save up for.

NunoTaborda wrote:

bitethythumb wrote:
what about combining the two, chaos wood aelfs? or chaos aelfs, I remember a LONG time ago someone did a high elves with a Chaos theme (paint and skulls) that worked REALLY well...

Lol. That would be funny but that would complicate his mind with a new game for him... And he would had twice the work with so many units... I prefer for him to focus on only one army at a time

Not really. AoS doesn't require an army to be all from one Alliance (for now). A Chaos Lord leading Sylvaneth or Wanderers would be technically fine. The only real problem is that some of the Hero Abilities won't affect the "troops".

Alternatively, you could just play them as Chaos Alternatives, Dryads as Daemonettes, Glade Guard as Horrors, etc.

The important part is to keep him interested and encourage him to paint them in a similar scheme.

Wood elves have a few expensive metal units, which are best to avoid. You could use other models to represent them easy enough (which elves for wardancers for example) especially if you want a more nasty, evil elf theme. If I remember right, didn't the wood elves turn more sinister in the winter In the old fluff?

Could easily run a wood elf force that has been trapped and taken over by nurgle. Add some of the nasty nurgle units, and paint the wood elves in sickly colours?

Thank you for asking our opinions. Here are my humble suggestions.

NunoTaborda wrote:Treemen (loved them)

Then please consider Chaos Daemons + Treemen (Treelords, Dryads, etc.) Here's the reason, and it's mainly because he's 11:


1. Easy to paint - these are things you can paint with a basecoat and ink, almost. Sure, touch up the fangs and leaves, but it's something he can do by himself after you teach him, so that he takes ownership and responsibility for his own project. That in itself is perhaps the most useful lesson from the Hobby.

2. Fast to paint - with a basecoat and ink technique, it'll be fast to paint, able to fit a 11 year-old's attention span.

3. There's actually a good narrative reason - in the Warhammer: Age of Sigmar book, there are many references how Alarielle, now the goddess of the Life Realm, neglected her kingdom because she was so focused on gardening. Her kingdom is actually broken up into what's called the Jade Islands. There are parts taken over by Chaos. Those dryads could have been slowly corrupted by Chaos, not killed, but changed. It's a great way to interpret the fluff in a way that he can own it, this is HIS story, of a once-beautiful land corrupted.


I know you said you didn't want to complicate things. IMHO, he can handle complication, because of this:

NunoTaborda wrote:

bitethythumb wrote:I would buy the Starter box if any of us two would like the Sigmarines xD But we don't... I don't like the look of the armors (specially all of them having metal masks) and he says "If they are from order why they look like tyrants?" and also "They fight with gold armors? Don't like rich people"... Can't do nothing about this :p

That's an awesome observation! He didn't like it, and maybe he's just searching for answers why he didn't like it (we all feel first, then think second), but he's obviously correct! The Sigmarines ARE tyrants, because this is Warhammer and the "good guys" are always tyrannical, that's the joke. And in the lore, the Sigmarines ARE bourgeois, living in their marble sky palaces while kind of leaving the free folk to fend for themselves.

So he's a pretty smart kid. With Chaos's corruption of the Realms themselves being such a central theme, Daemons + Treemen are a really cool idea to illustrate that, please take a moment to consider. It's a really good story.