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I'm curious what start collecting box people consider to be the best? What one has the best saving, What one gives the most points? What one gives the most useful units? And so on.

The start collecting Tau is pretty good. Both the firewarrior and the crisis suits are the backbone of non competitive tau lists, so buying multiple box is definitely a good option (you end up with more Ethereals than you need, but even if you don't use it it's a pretty good deal).
Also it can be fielded as a CAD, so it's pretty easy to expand around it.

The militarum tempestus might be one of the best for its own army, as it contains 4 of the 5 units in their codex. It's basically a discount for building a MT army.

I suppose the grey knight and the harlequin boxes will be released eventually. The harlequin will probably be quite good, because all their kits are useful: the only bad unit in the codex is the voidweaver, but it's the same kit as the starweaver (which is much more useful). And you need voidweavers anyway to field most of the formations, so even if they include it, the box will be pretty good.

For total $ savings I don't think any of them can match the Tau box. Honestly I think they planned the set using the old Crisis Suit and Fire Warrior box prices.

Most useful units is a lot harder to figure out but the Space Wolves, Necrons, Militarum Tempestus, Dark Eldar, Skitari, and possibly the Guard box are all a good set of models that are well worth taking. The Daemons might be a good assortment of models but I don't know enough of the Daemon codex to have an opinion.

No idea on the points but wargear can often be a major factor on points so its hard to judge that objectively without looking at what units can throw on the most useless junk.

For the best formation I think the Space Wolves and Necrons have some of the most powerful. Recycling Warriors and Scarabs is quite powerful as is letting your Thunder Wolves being able to run and charge for a potentially deadly turn 1 charge (combine with Wulfen Aura for even more The Miltarium Tempestus one is probably the most practical formation as there currently isn't a spectacular way to run MT outside of a CAD so it seems quite reasonable to take 2 or more of the formation. A pure MT army in the ITC would probably take 2 of the formations along with a CAD.

As stated, the Tau one has the highest pure monetary value. You get the greatest cost-savings on that one.

However, outside of that, all the Start Collecting boxes are really good, and a fantastic way to get into a new army. I really couldn't hold one higher than the rest.

As others have said Tau.

If you look at all the boxes then the Seraphon one blows the others out of the water.

I think the skitarii one is also particularly good. Fire warriors, ethereals and crisis suits are all over the place on eBay, but the skitarii haven't been out long enough to have their models become common second-hand items.

I wouldnt say the SM or CSM ones are particularly good, especially compared to the others. It's just a bunch of subpar units put together IMO. It's not even one you would buy several of either, which is a bit sad really, being two of the most well known armies.

Actually, all the models in the tau set has gotten serius rework new kits VERY recently. The new kits are not that high in circulation if it's not for the fact the starter is mere 10 bucks above the crisis suits alone.

But yes, admech is also a great box.
Wolves, eldar, necron, scions and guard are also pretty good.

Khorne is undoubtedly the worst. Not great saves, and the utter junk that is blood crushers is a bad combo, might be better for sigmar though.

The Space Wolves box is pretty decent. You get a bunch of useful things, although unfortunately the Wolf Lord that comes with it is kinda crap.

At discount...with free shipping if you can find it, all of the Start Collecting boxes are a very solid way to get some core units (regardless of effectiveness) for around $65-67 dollarbucks.

If you ignore the silly meta and the tournament scene these are all very decent ways to introduce units to a new player, particularly a younger one.

Add in the option to sell off un-needed bits/characters on ebay and the price drops even more.

I can attest to the last bit being true - sold a plasma calliver and the trans uranic (?) arquebus from the skitarii box for £10 in total haha

I'd say the tempestus scion box purely because it makes them affordable enough that armies will finally be a prospect.

The MT is the best for value but if a Grey Knight set ever comes out it'll be best because their entire infantry line comes from 2 boxes, giving you immense flexibility with building. A new beginner, with say, 20 PA and 10 TDA, can make 2 squads of Termies and 2 Strike Squads. A veteran could go make Purifiers and Paladins.

I think the lack of a clear Gk plastic hq will get in the way of a getting started box, unless they use the generic SM librarian termie.

Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

 BoomWolf wrote:
Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

That of course adds up delay. First they need to release the GK HQ in other box, then wait for a while and then release start collecting set.

tneva82 wrote:

 BoomWolf wrote:
Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

That of course adds up delay. First they need to release the GK HQ in other box, then wait for a while and then release start collecting set.

Well they have numerous options, including a specific GK Captain/GM, Librarian or Brotherhood Champion, but they may just do the 20PA, 10 TDA, or Possibly 15PA, 5 TDA and a Dreadknight. The vast majority of GK HQs are best made by converting one of the two boxes, or the plastic Librarian model. In fact, simply having 10 TDA gives a potential 2 Troops, 1 Troop+1Elite, 2 Elites, or 1 Troop/Elite and 5 HQs, including Brotherhood Captains, Grand Master and Librarians, while 10 PA expands this to 0-6 Troops, 0-6 Elites, 0-4 Fast Attack and 0-4 Heavy Support and any combination of. 20PA and 10TDA can make a full army force of the following

1x 3 Paladins
1x Librarian
1x Grand Master
1x 5 Terminators
1x 10 Strike Marines
1x 5 Purifiers
1x 5 Interceptor or Purgators

The CSM HQ is not rather new at all and has been available on shelves for years... not really the best example .

And the SM Termi HQ was available last year (actually it might even have been the year before that, I can't entirely remember) as part of the Strike Force Ultra web bundle.

 JamesY wrote:
I think the lack of a clear Gk plastic hq will get in the way of a getting started box, unless they use the generic SM librarian termie.

which is proably what'll happen, although if they included a plastic brother captain it'd be worth snagging the set just for that, especially as, as has been said before, the sheer flexability with the GK kits makes whatever they give you something you can kit out into something you could use

tneva82 wrote:

 BoomWolf wrote:
Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

That of course adds up delay. First they need to release the GK HQ in other box, then wait for a while and then release start collecting set.

Why?
They can have the Start Collecting kit be the very first kit that the GK HQ would be available at. if any, it adds a sells attraction to the set.

I mean, pretty sure the tau ethereal was first available through the starter and only later the "coalition command" pack came out.

The get started sets are all made from plastic models with existing moulds, no new tooling has been done for them. The whole point is that they are extremely low cost for them to produce. Whilst it is entirely possible that a Gk set could contain a brand new model (which they desperately need) it wouldn't fit the trend so far.

The Tau Ethereal was first available in the Tau Campaign boxset, then got released as part of the Start Collecting! box.

Tau is crazy good value. I intend to grab some for myself soon and I have most of whats in there. Might grab two. One for sure.

 BoomWolf wrote:

tneva82 wrote:

 BoomWolf wrote:
Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

That of course adds up delay. First they need to release the GK HQ in other box, then wait for a while and then release start collecting set.

Why?
They can have the Start Collecting kit be the very first kit that the GK HQ would be available at. if any, it adds a sells attraction to the set.

I mean, pretty sure the tau ethereal was first available through the starter and only later the "coalition command" pack came out.

They don't have habit of doing that. Tau is so far only one. Since it also makes them more money to not do it like that...

I really like the DE one. No real tax units, as even the Archon can be a WWP carrier for basically anything, Reavers are great, and warriors are decent enough for their price.

Matt.Kingsley wrote:The Tau Ethereal was first available in the Tau Campaign boxset, then got released as part of the Start Collecting! box.

tneva82 wrote:

They don't have habit of doing that. Tau is so far only one. Since it also makes them more money to not do it like that...

Again, the ethereal was originally sold in the campaign box.

For me the Admech box was the best, as it got me to buy it.

I've been eying the Tau box, which if I already didn't have a 2500 pt army I would have snatched up, but honestly I already have more suits than I can use. Would like the breachers though...

 JamesY wrote:

Matt.Kingsley wrote:The Tau Ethereal was first available in the Tau Campaign boxset, then got released as part of the Start Collecting! box.

tneva82 wrote:

They don't have habit of doing that. Tau is so far only one. Since it also makes them more money to not do it like that...

Again, the ethereal was originally sold in the campaign box.

Yeah but tau is only example where stuff was relatively new. How long had ethereal been available? Generally contents of boxes are more like year+ old rather than few months. Tau is lucky they got for example new crisis in the box. Most armies have to do with older releases instead.

I think you could have a little fun with the Firespear Strike Force. Give the Tacticals a Razorback with the Las-Plas Turret or the TL Assault Cannons. You can mow down a lot of stuff with that. Probably not the best option, but still good.

tneva82 wrote:

 BoomWolf wrote:
Not at all, the codex marines and chaos marines HQs in the boxes are rather new, and are not avilable elsewhere except another kit, this time of a terminator squad plus itself.
(tau HQ not quite available elsewhere too)

So a new GK HQ as part of a getting started kit, totally possible.

That of course adds up delay. First they need to release the GK HQ in other box, then wait for a while and then release start collecting set.

Warzone: Fenris is coming in the fall. Perfect opportunity to release a clampack GK hero. Then a couple of months later, a GK Get Started! bundle in time for Christmas. Hell, they can drop the Dark Angels and Tzeentch ones then as well to follow up on the hype from the campaign.