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Hello! I have been collecting SM for many years, and although i have enjoyed building the army and painting it, i feel like i want something completely new to paint and maybe even play in the future.

And so i have considered a second army to start. Now, i haven't really played a lot of the actual game, but i'm slowly getting into it so i'm not yet really sure what my play style preference is.
Also, if i'm going to start a new army, will it be a ally or maybe the enemy for my marines? I like the idea of the latter. But what army makes a good enemy for SM?

I like all the 40k armies and they all have their pros and cons, and since i have no preference, not even based on looks it's been a hard task to choose a second army.

But i have given more thought to either orks, chaos (daemons/csm/both even) and dark eldar. And also IG if i am choosing an ally to my side, it would have been
the army i'd start if i was new to this hobby.
All of those have completely different paint scheme possibilities from my mostly white SM. Recently i have been rooting for chaos, since there's just so many different models and colors to be used and i like the idea of daemon allies, and i could introduce my friends to this hobby
with these two arch enemies to play with, and i could learn the game better as well with two different forces.


TL;DR: If you had a (mostly shooty)SM army and wanted to get a fresh second army, working as an ally or enemy, what army would it be? And as i stated i'm open minded about this issue.
Or should i just lay off the idea and let it be until i'm truly certain what i want?

Thanks for your assistance!

You're in a fortunate position, space marines are a fantastic army to start learning and if you want to contiune with the gaming aspect then they are they way to go.I know you want to start a new army but they are a good fall back in case you don't like how the new army plays.

Army wise, it sound like you already have an eye on daemons for painting purposes, they are a fun army to play with all kinds of tricks to use and are decently powerful on the tabletop. Have fun!

Daemons have great models, are fun to paint, and are very competitive. Can't go wrong with them, but if you're trying to get friends involved let they play SM, Daemons can be overly complicated for brand new players.

I'd suggest orks. They are the swiss army knife of armies. Their codex allows for the building of a huge variety of lists, they have really cool models and being orks you can convert the hell out of everything and anything.

I'd ask what chapter of Marines you're currently collecting/painting?

Based off that and fluff of the chapter, it could be fun to pick one of their more hated enemies or a theme to go along with them.

With Ultras you could go Tyranids and then have some Tyrannic War Vets for your Ultramarines, plus it would be a very different painting/modeling challenge switching from standard space marines to something more bombastic like Tyranid monsters.

Khorne daemonkin is fun, Csm and Daemons in the same book with fun fluffy mechanic of the Blood Tithe.

Should be different enough from shooty sm i think.

Firstly thanks for everyone for your answers and thoughts about this issue so far!
I see many Daemons suggestions, and one tyranids/orks. I'm almost certain that chaos is the way to go, but i cannot deny the sweet spot for orks that i have. All that green goofiness, raw power and waaaagh.
And tyranids were one of the armies to think about, although i would have to go for different hive fleet than leviathan, because of the similar color scheme to my marines.
Though i am almost certain now based on these suggestions, i'll give myself the time to think since i have just a few unfinished models to paint which i stripped off of paint.

IronMaster wrote:I'd ask what chapter of Marines you're currently collecting/painting?

Based off that and fluff of the chapter, it could be fun to pick one of their more hated enemies or a theme to go along with them.

With Ultras you could go Tyranids and then have some Tyrannic War Vets for your Ultramarines, plus it would be a very different painting/modeling challenge switching from standard space marines to something more bombastic like Tyranid monsters.

Glad you asked! Back in the days i created my own chapter, so that i can use whatever chapter tactics there is, and because i wasn't sure what chapter i wanted to paint back then or who's the primarch they originated from.
So they could work as a Ultramarines based, "founded" chapter, why not. They are of a different color scheme than Ultras, but i don't see it as a problem. The arch enemy idea is something i have been thinking about and i like the suggestion!

What kind of CSM/Daemons appeal? It sounds like you might enjoy the Word Bearers

 ChazSexington wrote:
What kind of CSM/Daemons appeal? It sounds like you might enjoy the Word Bearers

Honestly i like all four themes of the chaos gods. I have had times when i favored one more than another, but overall there was no preference.
That's why i have thought about the second problem: If i am to choose chaos, which god to follow Wish i had a clear choice for once.

And because the Word Bearers are a chaos undivided force, i have been thinking the possibility of making army in their image Do you have any suggestions related to them?
Perhaps about building an chaos army with that theme? Since i like the "holy and righteous fervor" theme of the space marines, i tended to already like the fanatical Word Bearers, although their motives are of a far more sinister and darker kind.

I also like the looks of other traitor legions, although i may not necessary want an army dedicated to a single chaos god. I like the possibility to change the "loyalty" and theme depending on a game, for example. Or which god of chaos i happen to like at the given time.

If you have your heart set on Orks you should go with them. It's easier to paint and assemble that way. Not as competitive as the top tier I'll admit but they DO have the tools needed to get the job done and they DO win games. Due to delivery systems being squishy and high powered weapons shooting once with BS2 the Orks need rely on redundancy. Filling up your list with redundancy leaves other options and tactics on the bench but there are lots of options and rarely are two Ork armies the same.
Biggest positive of Orks is community reactions. Nothing is cheese everything is accepted and getting pick up games is effortless.
Ork players also have a great inner community within 40k giving each other all kinds of tips and advice on playing converting and painting.
Great model packs from GW. Like Mehreens the Boyz get tons of extra bitz n gubbinz to kit bash with included in the boxes. I keep multiple bitz boxes for infantry, vehicles and bases/terrain.
Very interactive army. They have something for every phase. Player gets to use buckets of dice. Opponent will still get to blast tons of models off the table even if losing.
The fluff for these guys is awesome. Quite the unique take on orcs.
Last but not least, Ghazzy is an Ork. You get to use Ghazzy. He's a monster when dealing with non ICs even against ICs not melee oriented. Thanks to a update he can lead a formation in full Waaaagh starting turn one lasting the whole game. In that formation he has 2+/2++/5+++ everyone is fearless his WS is boosted and he has two extra warlord traits to add to his default traits. This has brought old Ghazzy up the ladder of power considerably.

 ProwlerPC wrote:
If you have your heart set on Orks you should go with them...

Well then, back to square one Or not necessarily that back, but i have been torn in between chaos and orks, and your post made me reconsider some points.
This is why i have given myself some more time. Wish i could just buy them both, but the prices are what they are and they are not going to change
Oh well, time will tell. Maybe after i have chosen one of them i'll paint some representatives of the other army as well down the road.

ZaintH wrote:

 ChazSexington wrote:
What kind of CSM/Daemons appeal? It sounds like you might enjoy the Word Bearers

Honestly i like all four themes of the chaos gods. I have had times when i favored one more than another, but overall there was no preference.
That's why i have thought about the second problem: If i am to choose chaos, which god to follow Wish i had a clear choice for once.

And because the Word Bearers are a chaos undivided force, i have been thinking the possibility of making army in their image Do you have any suggestions related to them?
Perhaps about building an chaos army with that theme? Since i like the "holy and righteous fervor" theme of the space marines, i tended to already like the fanatical Word Bearers, although their motives are of a far more sinister and darker kind.

I also like the looks of other traitor legions, although i may not necessary want an army dedicated to a single chaos god. I like the possibility to change the "loyalty" and theme depending on a game, for example. Or which god of chaos i happen to like at the given time.

GW dropped Chaos Undivided as a mark, sadly, but that doesn't mean you can't do it in theme!

Word Bearers are such an amazing faction in that they can do everything thematically! I would honestly go with whatever you like