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Hi,
I am looking to begin 40k but don't know much about the armies.
Could someone give me a good way to start 40k and run-downs on the forces of the 41st millenium.
I would like to have an elite army to contrast with my O&G in Fantasy.
...And how to convert my obstinent gaming friends to 40k.
Thanks everyone!
Mikel2495

You should properly pick up the rule book to get lots of info on the game.

If you are wanting an elite army then you would proberbly be best with the eldar, space marines or daemon hunters (all metal models not 1 plastic).

If you want marines then but the Assault on black reach set so you get 2 army's (marines and orks) and rule book.

For the eldar you should pick up their army set which rite now is the eldar battleforce.

And if you want the daemon hunters well you better have a lot of money as their basic troop is £18 or 5 and their elite is £40 or 5.

Hope that helped

There are nice rundowns of each army on Games Workshop's homepage.

Buy the 'Assault on Black Reach' boxed set.
It has all the rules/templates etc that you need to play. Plus it contains two small armies, Orks and Space Marines.

The Marines in that set will be a good start to an army that is a nice contrast to your O+G army.

Converting friends to 40K is far harder! Get them involved, somehow. Be this with Sci Fi movies(Aliens, Starship Troopers),
Black Library Novels, New Painting/Modeling challenges, Donating the Orks from AOBR (Everyone loves a freebie),
Hosting good looking ie well painted/full scenery games, The Dawn of War Computer Game or just wait until Space Hulk
is released later this year! That oughta get 'em!

Hope this helps.

Elite armies in 40K can come in a lot of different formats.
You've got your basic space marines, who are pretty elite, and to be honest are aimed at beginners. Almost every unit is available in plastic so they're cheap too. You've also got Marines for every playstyle- Normal marines can be all rounders, blood angels focus on assault, Dark Angels have all bike or Terminator (uber elite) options, Space Wolves are oddball assault based, and Templars are again assault based.
Then you have the chaos marines, who have a selection of cult troops who have exceptional strengths and weaknesses. Again, you can make an elite army relatively easily.
Khorne Berserkers: Murderously good assault troops, available in plastic.
Plague Marines: Exceptionally tough and defensive, often considered the best troop choice in the book.
Noise Marines: Very close range shooty
Thousand Sons: Slow close range shooty designed to take down other marines.
You've also got Daemon prince leaders and basic chaos marines.


Now, all of this said, the world has enough marine players! I think you should go for something different. Orks can do elite armies based around Nobs as troops choices, and they are available in plastic. Eldar are hyperspecialised elites, who are powerful but fragile. Tyranids can do an "elite" army of genestealers or monstrous creatures.
Even Tau can load up on battlesuits.
The only decidedly non-elite army is Gaurd. Oh, and possibly Witchhunters.
I say pick a force whoose background and miniatures appeal to you and go for it.