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Here's the deal:

I'm facing off against CSM, Witchhunters and SM (2 flavors) very shortly in my gaming group. I've looked at all of the armies and done my research.

I tend to play the armies that no one else is playing (for individuality), but usually that ends...poorly. So, thinking I'd play MEQ by joining the Dark Angels, I'd get different looking SMs with different rules. I guess I chose wrong, because there are like 4 threads on this board with the words "SUCKS" next to Dark Angels.

Which is great, because I bought 4 additional DA sprues to ensure all my guys would be robed and my vehicles nice and Angelly.

What DOESN'T suck? Necrons? Tyranids? Tau?

I need some help and direction, because I need an army that can fight the MEQ armor, but be fun enough to play. Or, do the DA not really suck and I'm just hearing the very loud voices of a few folks who didn't like the new 'dex.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Mark

Posted By manitoujoe on 03/22/2007 8:06 AM

Or, do the DA not really suck and I'm just hearing the very loud voices of a few folks who didn't like the new 'dex.

That is primarily what you are hearing. We fear change.

Since you are starting fresh with no previous bias, you'd probably enjoy the new DA Codex more than most. It can work, but does not work the same as DA did in the previous Codex, nor does it work the same as regular Codex Marines.

The only Codex at this time that I constantly hear people consistently complain about is the Orks. It is extremely outdated.

I also would not recommend choosing BA or SW marines at this point as they have not been updated to 4th edition yet.

If you're leaning toward marines but don't know what chapter to choose, simply create your own chapter and pick up C:SM. Then you can experiment with the traits system and in the future you can switch your force to a chapter specific codex. You wouldn't even have to repaint, just call your chapter a successor.

The common consensus is that the DA are less powerful than regular marines, but still well ahead of the curve (i.e. guard, DE, DH). It all depends on how gnarly your opposition is; if the chaos guy is alpha legion plasma rifle army of doom, well, there's not a lot that you can do. Similarly, if the marine guys do drop pod horde, you're going to have a hard time with the DA.

If you DO go with the DA, I'd recomend going mechanized; but that's where my knowledge of the army ends

If you want to step outside of the MEQ box, I hear that Nidzilla can work wonders, except in escalation.

Same goes for the Tau airforce (mechanized Tau): they've done well in big tournies recently.

Cheers

Thanks. I like the new robed plastics and there's some compelling fiction/fluff for the DA. So, maybe since it's a fresh take and I'm new, DA might do okay for me.

Thanks for your help, everybody. Now I'm off to buy a bunch of DA sprues and make that cool Guardians of the Covenant successor chapter (or somthing like it).

As always, you all rock.
Mark

Pick up a C: SM too. You can use the same army as DA, SM, BT and SW. Always nice for variety.

A lot of the complaints about DA is that they screw over balanced existing armies. If you're building a new army, that doesn't apply.

Well, problem with reading opinions on the net is the POV of the poster. For many here on dakka, the discussion revolves around competitive play and in that regard the DA codex sucks. Factor that with some major changes to point costs, weapon allowances and whatnot, and you get some irate players.

However there's some decent choices and option in the DA dex and as long as your willing to create a army that plays to the strengths and limitations of the list you should be fine.

Sweet. I really appreciate the help.

Maybe when I get everything I can get some advice from you guys.

Thanks again!
Mark

"I tend to play the armies that no one else is playing (for individuality), but usually that ends...poorly."

Good for you. always happy to help someopne who wants to go against the flow.

"What DOESN'T suck? Necrons? Tyranids? Tau?"

All three are good choices. Necrons can be a tough nut to crack and are easy to assemble a force. Get lots of Warriors though, back them up with plenty of Destroyers and a well tooled out Lord maybe with Immortals maybe not, everything else is to be considered a garnish, add a little of something else for flavour. The only downside to Necrons is that they can get boring quickly, which is why you need to change the garnish in order to keep the flavour going. This is why Wraiths, Scarabs, Tomb spiders and Pariahs deserve to make their entry from time to time

Tyrands can go genestealer heavy or monster heavy. Genestealer heavy is more fun, 'zilla' lists are a no brainer unbalanced and are boring to platy against

Leave Tau alone for now, try them as a second force. They do work but are not optimised MEQ killers.

Posted By Orlanth on 03/24/2007 3:45 AM

Tyrands can go genestealer heavy or monster heavy. Genestealer heavy is more fun, 'zilla' lists are a no brainer unbalanced and are boring to platy against

Translation: I don't know how Godzilla works and can't figure out how to deal with them, but it's loads of fun  for me to blast the carapace off 'stealers with my heavy bolters.

To the OP: If you want a fun mix-n-match army that's got both power and character, consider lost & damned - they're still GT legal in the US and they'll always be kosher for friendly games. Leman Russ tanks and traitor guardsmen fighting alongside power-armored marines, led by a propaganda-spewing demogogue or even a demonprince.

Or just play ultras. Now *that's* a no-brainer list that'll pretty much play itself.

Posted By blue loki on 03/22/2007 8:25 AM

I also would not recommend choosing BA or SW marines at this point as they have not been updated to 4th edition yet.

Well, if you're concerned about the list getting changed when the codex comes out, sure.

After getting my wolves finished and on the table for the first time this past week, though, I'm of the opinion Space Wolves are fine in pods.  I wouldn't want to play them without pods, but in them, they work quite well.  Of course, after seeing the DA codex, I'm kinda expecting to have my list totally whacked and have to start over, but ah well

Posted By Orlanth on 03/24/2007 3:45 AM

Tyrands can go genestealer heavy or monster heavy. Genestealer heavy is more fun, 'zilla' lists are a no brainer unbalanced and are boring to platy against

Actually, the opposite is true.  Genestealer heavy armies are very much an unbalanced rock-paper-scissors army, whereas zilla lists are balanced, take-all-comers lists.

The problem is we keep having to redefine what qualifies as a Nidzilla list, and what qualifies as a Stealer list, and mostly, what qualifies as a Take-All-Comers list.

Most lists benefit from going heavy on your strength, and hoping your opponent picked to defend the wrong strength.

I keep hearing a lot of flak about Nids, and I just don't get it. Stealers are awesome, unless they get shot. Carnifexes are awesome, unless you are more than 24" away, or can move...

You can make a strong Nidzilla list, you can make a strong stealer list. But you can also make a strong warrior list, and check out what several hundred points in gaunts can do.

Warriors are the smelly arm pit of 40k. They are worse than orks. You have no idea what you're talking about. End of stroy.

Wow, you can be condescending *and* wrong in the same post. Very talented.