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Hello!

I used to play 40k a lot but quit it about 5 years ago. However, these days I'm experiencing a strange and fuzzy feeling in my guts (and it ain't from gas) whenever I happen to see a 40k mini. It's time go back and play. I've been into GW-stuff since I first began playing epic back in the days about 10 years ago. Too bad I sold off all my armies back when I quit though. I need to buy a new army and this time I want a fairly themed one, like one of the different sub-chapters/factions/whatever. I've been sketching on a few different armies; daemonhunters (almost or entirely made up of GKs), witch hunters (sisters only), a variety of SM chapters (Like imperial fists) and finally Deathwing and/or Ravenwing. I'm thinking of getting a 2000pt army, that seems to be a decent size to begin with.

The cost of assembling a sisters army is seriously putting me off from getting them though. It's a pity because they seem to be a rather fun army to play with. They seem to be fairly competetive which is a good thing, even though I mostly play friendlies and tend to care more for fluff and character than constantly crushing my opponents. Also it seems to be a bit difficult to get excorcist tanks, are they FW? All metal is nice to paint but converting and getting the squad load-out the way I want it to be will probably get quite expensive or very time consuming.

The daemonhunter army is pretty tempting. Nice looking minis, high point cost (less to paint and a certain elite-feeling) and even though I plan (in case I go for the DH) to begin with a GK only force they seem to be pretty flexible when using allies. I have two landraiders in a shoebox (one of each kind) and since I can use them with DH that's a big pro.

The different SM chapters is a tougher one. Nice minis and lots of plastic kits means less cost. But I want something rather different and/or something people don't often see. Death/raven-wing is tempting in that regard.  

I'm not a masochist so winning from time to time would be fun but I'm mainly looking for an army with lots of character. That said I'm fairly finicky and dislike most of the armies out there soit's pretty much only the earlier mentioned armies I believe I would enjoy playing with. I'm looking for advice from you on this board since most of you have more game experience than I have. What are the pro and cons of the armies I have been looking at and what variations/chapters might be interesting for a person who is looking for something different/exotic/rare. I don't mind if the odds are bad for winning with the army, as long as it doesn't mean I'll get humiliated pretty much all of the time. I also don't mind steep learning curves, I'm "only" 29 so I, hopefully, have a few years left

Thank you for your help.

Rule #1: Never, ever sell all of your minis when you decide to "quit" the game. Invariably you'll always get to a point where you wish you had them back.

Rule #2: Friends don't let friends start MEQ (Marines and their EQuivilants) armies. The world already has plenty. So out of the armies you listed above I'd say you should stick with Sisters of Battle, damn the cost! You could also wait until January for the Ork codex and see if it tickles your fancy.

Posted By yakface on 09/19/2007 5:17 AM

Rule #1: Never, ever sell all of your minis when you decide to "quit" the game. Invariably you'll always get to a point where you wish you had them back.

Rule #2: Friends don't let friends start MEQ (Marines and their EQuivilants) armies. The world already has plenty. So out of the armies you listed above I'd say you should stick with Sisters of Battle, damn the cost! You could also wait until January for the Ork codex and see if it tickles your fancy.

Good ponts. Rule #1 is sound advice but since I used to play SM (mostly) I guess it wasn't so bad to sell them anyway! The sisters ARE tempting. They can also use allies so they seem to be as flexible as the GKs. I've only ever met them once, with my tau, and I remember it was pretty fun and furious. I really hate orcs, for some reason the only way I like to interact with them is when I shoot them. But I might have been a little restrictive concerning what new army I'm going for. If I discard MEQs, orcs and sisters obviously, what fun seldom-seen armies/factions are left? 

Dark Eldar maybe? They've gotten pretty rare. The downside is of course the minis and the invariant builds.

That aside, I can't think of any other army that's underplayed. I guess there's always Kroot. . . .

I got back into 40k again just recently too, having tucked all my minis away after 2ed (!) and the very dawn of 3ed. I've found Guard and Eldar to be quite rewarding armies -- Guard for their gritty, human character and Eldar for the variety of painting and intricate tactics. Both armies are reasonably priced (the Guard battleforce is a very nice deal, actually) , range from fairly competitive to top-tier (depending on your build) and aren't ultra-common. If you really want something new and interesting, though, I encourage you strongly to go Sisters or wait for the new Ork codex.

Oh, and as for the points -- I only have about 1,000 of each, which really is sufficient for friendly one-offs and can keep the costs down.  And MEQs....well, they're just so iconic, not to mention fairly cheap to build.  They're great as a backup army.

-Adso

Sample Quick-n-Easy Guard Army:
2x Battleforce
2x Armored Fist Squad or 2x Chimera alone
Assorted Bitz for plasma guns, etc.
1-3 Character Models

Will give you the core for a 2 - 2 - 2 Guard army: two platoons, two armored fists, and two big tanks.

Necrons!

Posted By tegeus-Cromis on 09/19/2007 6:26 AM
Dark Eldar maybe? They've gotten pretty rare. The downside is of course the minis and the invariant builds.

That aside, I can't think of any other army that's underplayed. I guess there's always Kroot. . . .

I would caution anyone about starting an army based on a Chapter Approved army list as all indications from GW is that these army types are essentially dead (in that they are unlikely to ever be revisited).

 

@ Kaputt:  The Tau is another non-MEQ army that isn't seen all that often, even more so with Dark Eldar. However, Dark Eldar are getting completely redesigned at some point (probably next year) so I wouldn't recommend the latter.

 

I would vote for Sisters.

I have an army of them myself, and they're a very solid list, plus a lot of people won't really know what they're dealing with. They're one of the few lists with a genuinely unique play style, thanks to their obsession with Flamers and Melta weapons, which pair well with their transports. Faith is also adds another level of tactical decisionmaking, and yet more surprises for your enemy. AP1 template weapons make a mess of things.

Exorcists are a major problem. They're hard to get, expensive, and you probably want at least two, they're that good a model, and that critical to the Sisters list working.

I happened to get mine at a steal from a shop via mail order, but it took the store a couple months to stock them, and I think they've become a direct services only product since then. Not sure about that, but you may want to call and see. Or check eBay. I see one on there right now, $45 currently.

It might be fun, and much more affordable, to make your own. Use a Sister's Rhino as a base and build up on it. Maybe use some parts from an SM Whirlwind? This will be cheaper, and possibly more rewarding, as the Exorcist kit is a bit of a pain in the ass, and ends up being about 75 pounds and top heavy. It's a nice looking kit, I suppose, but a bit goofy (missle launching pipe organ???) and as I said, a pain to assemble, and a big chunk of metal. Also had to fit in an army case.

Wait until ork codex and play orks.

Ah the Hatred of the Marines.
I love em. Space Marines rock. I know. (Blasphemy) But a good looking SM army is the way to get back into the game. If you are thinking Grey Knights, then bring Psycannons. Lots and lots of them. If you are going Codex, then something easy to paint, like Iron Knights (pictured in Cities of Death) or Salamanders, would be preferable. Sisters, if you are so inclined, are a great force with a lot of benefits, and few setbacks. And if you are looking to make a Exorcist, buy an Immolator, and then Bitz order the sprue for the Whirlwind SM vehicle. Poof! Instant Exorcist.
But I wouldn't tell you to not play Marines just because everyone already has one. I would say, "Play something that you are going to enjoy painting and modeling. It's YOUR army."

Very good advice again, thank you guys. I think it will be a sisters army but I still have to go over the costs...because getting girl power costs quite a bit! I had a look at GW's online store and couldn't find a sisters style rhino. If I want the fleur-de-lis and other sisters regalia to glue on my rhino do I actually have to order the immolator sprue for my rhino? Also I'm not getting "pure" exorcists, they look too silly with that stupid organ of theirs. I guess I'll have to order two immolators and two whirlwind rocket launcher sprues, just like someone already suggested. And if my bank account allows it I'll get those awesome armour plates from the original exorcist kit!

A friend of mine basically built immolators without the heavy weapons on top as his Sisters Rhinos. Just put a storm bolter on the turret instead of the heavy flamer or multi-melta. It gives them a very distinctive look.

No, there's no sisters-style Rhino kit specifically. But I believe the set of transfers that comes with it can fulfill that niche.

Oh, if you want to take your cost factor down a bit, take some inducted Guardsmen -- cheap plastic troopers. Also, buy two immolators, two Rhinos, and two Whirlwind sprues -- four tanks piecemeal.

-Adso