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Hi I'm pretty new to WH40K I was just wondering if anyone can tell me how good/competitive black templars are and any general advice about them.

I like the looks of the army, but I've read around a bit and some people are a bit annoyed about having to take Emperor's Champion, and some of the other special rules. I doubt that there is a new BT Codex coming anytime soon, so if I do play Marines I don't really want to gimp myself (compared to say Vanilla marines/Dark Angels etc..). I heard that BT are pretty good in combat? I'm also looking at the Khorne CSM theme'd army so having a strong CC component is nice, but I don't want it to the sole focus.

You should ask yourself if you're playing black templars for the fluff or for the rules. If you just like the fluff you can always keep the fluff, and throw the rules out and use the regular space marine codex to build an army(or use any of the other space marine codexes, including csms). For instance you could use make a khorne-themed army with the csm codex, paint them as black templars, and have a black templar army that is a beast in close combat like you like, without the annoying rules of the real BT codex.

I played BT before they had their own codex and they just used Armaggeddon, and they were an absolute blast. The Emperor's Champion was, I found, quite helpful back then. I haven't played with any of their Chapter-Specific codices, but I can't imagine it would be terribly different. I really liked being able to mix scouts into my squads as meatshields. The whole "One purpose per squad" (CC or Ranged, no mixing in squads) was a bit of a jerk move but I hear that's gone out the window.

Fluffwise the BT's have some really good background, and they're recorded to be the Largest chapter in the Imperium with at least 6,000 Brother Marines (Not counting Scouts). A fact that has the Inquisition eyeing them constantly, though their devotion, rate of success, and zealous loyalty is stopping the Ordos from taking any real steps against them.

All in all, unless they underwent some major and drastic changes since Codex: Armaggeddon so as to not play anywhere even close to the same, then they're not a bad army to start with. And now that they have their own minis line (Again, something I missed out on ) You've got some really unique and neat looking minis to choose from.

Right now Templars are a powerhouse marine list tooled for close combat. Thets in gameplay. As for painting, its just simple, prime black, white shoulders... decals bang! done.
As for fluff, who does not like knights? Yeah. Space knights with chianswords.

Cheers!

I've been competitive with my Templars, but only have pulled 1 best appearance with them in tourneys.

I usually find myself wishing I had 1 more unit in each game I've played. I've been dropping about 5 or 6 squads down, with an EC and a Chaplain as HQ's. The Chaplain takes a thunderhammer and adamantine mantle, to kill big things.

With my old Blood Angels in one year I was 1 Overall, something like 6-7 Best Sportsmans, and I have something like an 80% win/loss record. Templars I have been so so...usually 2 out fo 3 games is a win, but not a big enough win.

The game is about mobility, and holding and contesting objectives, and thats why I feel the need for another unit....

Your from NZ right
NZ rocks!!!!
go the all blacks
(even tho im from australia)

i've never played BT. But i have a buddy who plays them and anytime we play they are always extremly annoying. once you know how to counter certian aspects of them they arent to bad but still annoying. as far as in tournaments he usually does pretty well.

With their tabards and crusade gear, BT are the best-looking SMs by far!

Looks alone are reason enough to buy them.

I don't know, I actually like the Space Wolves look better, though Black Templars are a close second. They pull off the clean, gothic look very well. Space Wolves, more of a gritty, tribal look. I suspect that it's rather like good and evil, they're both fine choices if you have to make one. Regardless, some great looking models.

I haven't played them myself, but I've played against them in one tourney with my Orks. It was the best game I had that day, lots of fun. Both armies were like "Screw shooting, let's do the beatdown!" It was literally a couple of turns of movement followed by a giant mess in the middle of the board.