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I play Chaos and Renegades and my brother (13) always sees my stuff when he comes to visit. He's been pretty set about starting an Ultramarine army but I'm not very familiar with the dex. Any tips you have on what he should buy?

What kind of budget, and what does he like about the army?

The quick and easy answer is the codex. Not fun models, but needed.

There are a lot of want to build marines, but it’s hard to go wrong with a tactical squad.

It really depends on what he is most interested in.

Does he want to play? Core book and codex are probably a good idea.

In fact the codex is pretty high up on the list if he doesn't have one. If he's interested in the fluff it can get him started on that, it can also provide him a guide on how units are outfitted so he doesn't end up strapping power fists on an entire scout company, etc.

If you're just looking for a fun kit that he can build and learn the basics on, tacticals can be a good introductory project to learn how to fix mould lines and basically do all the things you have to be mindful of with 40k miniatures, etc. Though if you're looking for a fun kit I am rather partial to the venerable or ironclad dreadnoughts.

If you want it to be something he'll keep and use as he get a into the hobby in earnest you need to get a feel for what he's going to want to field, which brings us back to the codex and rulebook.

The big box sets are actually pretty friggin good for starters. The Stormtalon one is actually pretty great for basic games, the current Battleforce gets folks started in the most common way there is and there's another with a Drop Pod and Sternguard that's pretty good too.

Pick a box and a codex and you're pretty much set.

Ebay also turned up the link down below when I failed to find the names of the boxes I mentioned above. I'm pretty impressed by it to be honest and it makes a good army for back then (2012). No current strong toys, but a very very solid basic 'fun' army. Add some Thunderfire Cannons and a Tri-Las Predator or two and you're set for an Infantry based Ultramarine force in one swoop.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Warhammer-40-000-Space-Marine-Megaforce-Box-Set-OOP-Sealed-Mint-40K-/262193947461?hash=item3d0bfa2345:g:nFQAAOSwv-NWZj8w

The codex can be got from the internet if necessary. Miniatures are the essential part of the hobby, and what everyone should buy first.
The large box deals are usually good buys. The Battleforce is a good start, or the demi-company if there is more money. The old megaforce and strikeforce (not ultra) boxes are completely awesome if you can find them somewhere.
If low on money, start with a single squad of Space Marines and build up slowly.

He's big on the Brotherhood of Steel from Fallout. He likes the power armor look. I think its a fair enough entry point.

I was thinking about picking up the The Horus Heresy: Betrayal at Calth box. $150 for 30 maines, 5 terminators, a Contempter Dread, a Terminator Character and a Chaplin. Bonus points for them being in the older style armor.

Can't grab the ebay deal due to not having the money right now.


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Ill look into the force boxes though! Just trying to find a solid base from which he could build on

Also, the codex is high on the list but he wont be the first thing. He needs to enjoy the hobby before the crunch

BoS always seemed like AdMech Grey Knights. Ultras are cool, AOBR is a decent start (What I started with many moons ago) but monopose minis, so an eBay boxset is your ticket. Get him some brushes and vallejo paints and then buy the 'dex before he begins assembly. Nothing worse than having Tacs with 3 Heavy Weps.

I wouldn't get him started in 30k. It's even more expensive and the plastic stuff has almost no support right now besides the boxed set.

Regular marines are plenty enough and more affordable starting out and he can make Ultramarines with them. Also it's easier to find 40k game than it is a 30k game and depending on area it ain't easy to find a 40k game.

Edit
He may like marines but he might get bored of stomping them all the time in 30k matches since that's 95% of armies. Though that just might be my personal bias.

 Gamgee wrote:
I wouldn't get him started in 30k. It's even more expensive and the plastic stuff has almost no support right now besides the boxed set.

Regular marines are plenty enough and more affordable starting out and he can make Ultramarines with them. Also it's easier to find 40k game than it is a 30k game and depending on area it ain't easy to find a 40k game.

Edit
He may like marines but he might get bored of stomping them all the time in 30k matches since that's 95% of armies. Though that just might be my personal bias.

Wasn't planning on it. The idea was more to use the older armor in games of 40k. Rough estimation would land him somewhere around 1000pts.

Rowboat does bring up a good point about the GreyKnights/Admech. I'll have to talk to him a little more and see if he would be more into that. But like I said, he's pretty set in Ultramarines

Calth is a good deal. Bonus is that the miniatures are just as usable for 40k as they are for 30k.

In that case go for it, but also ask him which armor he likes. New space marine armor or older patterns. Just to be safe.

What kind of list could you make from it?

Not a terribly good one. But, not a crap one either. Two full strength (10 guys) Tactical Squads with whatever weapons you choose. I personally like Plasma in Tac Squads because it's just generally good against any target. Tactical squads are very 'master of none' units so adding that punch keeps that going. Melta is better on other things. Heavy Bolters in there are optional but again, a bit of extra firepower can't hurt. I'll just remind you that Tac squads get one heavy and one special weapon per 10 guys. Anything less than ten guys, you only get one option.

The Contemptor has rules that you have to get. They are not in the codex. So using it as a Venerable or Ironclad is a good option. Venerable might be better because it comes with a Multi-Melta or Kheres Cannon (which can count as an Assault Cannon) while you really don't have the options for an Ironclad's loadout.

Terminators are bad. Use them if you have to, but you won't get much use out of them. They just eat up points that could be better spent on some tanks. Pick a heavy weapon and have at it. Without a Land Raider Redeemer or Crusader (if you include the Praetor) you have no way to get into combat reliably. Teleportation makes them a distraction, not a force to be reckoned with.

The Praetor can be a Chapter Master or Captain. It's not a good loadout though... Again, it just eats points until you can replace it with something better.

A Chaplain is a Chaplain or a Captain, either is fine. It's fancy enough to count as either one and nothing says you need to decide till you paint it. Chaplains are usually black, Captains are just in fancy armor.

The last ten guys can be built using the remaining Heavy Weapons in the box as a sort of ad-hoc Devastator Squad. You don't have the heavy hitting weapons like Las or Grav, but Missiles do good against other Marines and worse units. Good enough for a youngin to get some use out of.

So a list would be: 950pts
Chapter Master: Combi Melta, Chainfist
Chaplain: Plasma Pistol
Terminator Squad: Cyclone Missiles
Venerable Dreadnought: Assault Cannon
2x Tactical Squads: 10x strong, Plasma Gun, Heavy Bolter.

Add stuff as you like from there.

 SharkoutofWata wrote:
Not a terribly good one. But, not a crap one either. Two full strength (10 guys) Tactical Squads with whatever weapons you choose. I personally like Plasma in Tac Squads because it's just generally good against any target. Tactical squads are very 'master of none' units so adding that punch keeps that going. Melta is better on other things. Heavy Bolters in there are optional but again, a bit of extra firepower can't hurt. I'll just remind you that Tac squads get one heavy and one special weapon per 10 guys. Anything less than ten guys, you only get one option.

The Contemptor has rules that you have to get. They are not in the codex. So using it as a Venerable or Ironclad is a good option. Venerable might be better because it comes with a Multi-Melta or Kheres Cannon (which can count as an Assault Cannon) while you really don't have the options for an Ironclad's loadout.

Terminators are bad. Use them if you have to, but you won't get much use out of them. They just eat up points that could be better spent on some tanks. Pick a heavy weapon and have at it. Without a Land Raider Redeemer or Crusader (if you include the Praetor) you have no way to get into combat reliably. Teleportation makes them a distraction, not a force to be reckoned with.

The Praetor can be a Chapter Master or Captain. It's not a good loadout though... Again, it just eats points until you can replace it with something better.

A Chaplain is a Chaplain or a Captain, either is fine. It's fancy enough to count as either one and nothing says you need to decide till you paint it. Chaplains are usually black, Captains are just in fancy armor.

The last ten guys can be built using the remaining Heavy Weapons in the box as a sort of ad-hoc Devastator Squad. You don't have the heavy hitting weapons like Las or Grav, but Missiles do good against other Marines and worse units. Good enough for a youngin to get some use out of.

Thanks! I wouldn't be oppose to grabbing some bits for him. Some Las or Grav for the Devastators wouldn't be to hard to get. Terminator-wise, I know they aren't very good and having to run them in min 5 (as oppose to the 3 termicide squads chaos can field) is going to hurt for points. Might pick up some thunderhammers and hope they scale with the 30k armor. As for the Praetor, any swaps that will make him more effective?

In Terminator armor, not terribly. I could see some good stuff coming from the Burning Blade and Storm Shield or Relic Blade and Shield Eternal. And I say 'good stuff' in the fun sense of the term. It would be a tough model to kill that way.

The issue with getting bits for the Devastators is that 30k Missiles are so cool looking. They REALLY look good on the model. I'd keep them with missiles just for that reason alone.

Ill see what I can do with him. Sword and shield.

That's a fair enough reason to keep the missiles. Ill see what he thinks once we get the box.

Thanks everyone!

Also bear in mind that codex space marines allows for a number of different chapter tactics options.

I've seen at least one player run a Brotherhood of Steel-esque space marine army using Iron Hands tactics and plenty of vehicles, it worked well.

Then again, after playing Fallout 4 I think they'd be a more airborne army.

Only if they fly in circles and crash into each other