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Im a new player but i have a somewhat decent knowledge of both armies and im looking to create and army with a somewhat regular/normal people (not a big fan of the whole super soldier stuff) and so far the tau and the guard meet that requirement, both have weak infantry (durability) supported by light heavy vehicules/mech/gundam... so im trying to decide on which one to go
Any help? Sorry for the long post and the bad english
Thanks in advance

Answer these 3 questions based on your opinion:

1. Which army has the coolest models?
2. Which army has the coolest mechanics?
3. Which army has the coolest lore?
4. Which army is less represented in your area?

Do you prefer indoctrinated, conscripted cannon fodder with cheap, mass produced laser rifles and tanks, or technologically gifted, arrogant communists with a fetish for giant mech warriors & fish?

Do you want to have a chance? Then choose Tau.
Do you like humanity/tanks/the Guard, play for fun and not really care too much about winning? Then choose Imperial Guard.

Imperial players get way more support in terms of rules, allies, models, upgrades etc. In my opinion they have a better backstory than the Tau, but that's a personal opinion.

Tau are elite *RIGHT NOW* but like most dominant armies, their time in the sun will likely end with the next edition.

If you are competitive, go Tau understanding that you will want to part with them once they aren't top tier.

If you like an underdog, go guard.

If you are a hobbyist, pick whichever one you will enjoy assembling and painting the most.

Thank you all for the response. My biggest problem is i just love the models from both factions and im still learning the ropes of the tabletop so i not in the competitive side.. i want to build an army where my infantry can have some protagonism while being supported buy vehicules/gundam.. im gonna give it some extra thoughts to it

Imperial players get way more support in terms of rules, allies, models, upgrades etc. In my opinion they have a better backstory than the Tau, but that's a personal opinion

.

No that's wrong

Marine players get way more support in terms of rules, allies, models, upgrades etc.

You can always go with both and make them allies. Not even particularly unfluffy either.

 Mr Morden wrote:

Imprial players get way more support in terms of rules, allies, models, upgrades etc. In my opinion they have a better backstory than the Tau, but that's a personal opinion

.

No that's wrong

Marine players get way more support in terms of rules, allies, models, upgrades etc.

Marines are not to the OP's liking, so they don't factor into this discussion. GW tends to favor "mainstream" Imperial armies more than non-Imperial ones in just about every way. The more uncommon Imperial armies are supported by forgeworld.

 Ginjitzu wrote:
You can always go with both and make them allies. Not even particularly unfluffy either.

Gue'vesa, human auxiliaries,
https://1d4chan.org/wiki/Gue'vesa

I enjoy running a mixed unit of codex AM with an "elite" tau oversight (commander, some crisis suits, a few fire warrior troops) who stand near the human commanders to provide... "motivation"

In 30k/apoc there are actual Gue'Vesa units, dont use them

I'd say that Tau are easier to model, but I haven't done any Tau modelling to be certain.

AM are truly a Horde army, at their core, supported by a handful of tanks. Tau tend to have simpler colour schemes, and look like they're easier to paint.

I started an AM army around the time the Eye of Terror campaign started, with the "New" Cadian plastics. I like the AM's backstory, well enough, but I wish I'd started either Tau or Necrons instead. In both cases, shooty armies that are easier to paint, and overall fewer models to paint. AM get kind of aggreivating to paint after a while. It takes me about 21 minutes to paint a Guardsman with a Lasgun, worth 5 pts. 4.2 minutes per point.

It takes me 7 minutes to paint a Blood Angel Tac Marine, with a Bolter, worth 14 pts. 0.5 minutes per point. For me, painting Marines is 8.4 times more efficient. I only aim for tabletop quality, base coat and wash or base coat and drybrush, but still, it takes FOREVER to paint an AM force, and I don't enjoy painting. So that's something you might want to consider as well.

Assuming you're going the Cadian route, you can buy 5 of the press-fit Guardsmen with Lasguns for cheap, $10 or $15, I think? They're cheaper than buying the 10-man boxes, when you're just filling out bodies, so you'll probably buy a bunch of them anyhow. Buy 5, and try painting them. See if you like them. I don't know if there's a Tau equivalent, but I lets you know if you like painting Guardsmen, at least.