Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Right, I used to be a long time IG collector/player, but when I left the hobby 15-17 years ago, I sold my army to some people I knew, and now that 8th is dropping, I feel the pull of tanks yet again...

So, I'm thinking of getting these sets:

3 x Start Collecting! Astra Militarum
2 x Astra Militarum Armours Fist Squad
1 x Cadian Heavy Weapons Team
1 x Cadian Command Squad
2 x Cadian Infantry mini-packs

All for £200, brand new, including P+P. This will give me:

60 infantry models
3 commissars
2 heavy weapons teams (3 weapons each)
3 Leman Russ battle tanks
2 Chimeras
1 Command Squad

Anything that isn't needed or to add? I could squeeze an extra £10 into it, if I need to replace a box (such as the command squad for something else, etc) or is this a pretty good base to build an Astra Militarum force?

Covers most of the basics for just about any guard army that has been and likely will ever be.

From there it'll be up to you if you want to go full mech, or more foot, or to add arty, or any flyers, or a superheavy...the list goes on. Still, definitely provides with you a solid base to start with.

Even after conversion to aud that would all cost me a gak load more than just £200

Not really a guard player, basing this on R&H experience, but that strikes me as both a very solid core to the army and great price.

Yeah. Where are you gettin that deal?! Is a steal! Perfect to my GSC army.

But yes, as others have said, if gives you a very solid core to prepare to the new edition.

Wait for 8th edition

 Capt. Camping wrote:
Wait for 8th edition

Sure, but really, there's not gonna be so much changing that could invalidate a core of infantry and some tanks. If the price is right, and they want it to get started on the assembly and painting, then I say go ahead.

I concur with what others have said: that's an absolute steal. I rarely use more than 50-60 infantry and a 3 base Heavy Weapon Squad. The Russes are also very solid, but if you can get any of the turret variants not in the Start Collecting kit (Demo, Punisher, Exec) at a later time, you'd be extra good to go. Flavor your army with artillery and dedicated transports as you see fit, but that's essentially a full army in one buy.

 Galas wrote:
Yeah. Where are you gettin that deal?! Is a steal! Perfect to my GSC army.

But yes, as others have said, if gives you a very solid core to prepare to the new edition.

I get all my 'big' purchases from this website:

http://www.triplehelixwargames.co.uk

and the cost break down is like this:

Start Collecting! Astra Militarum £37.50 (should be £50)
Armoured Fist Squad £24.38 (should be £32.50)
Heavy Weapon Squad £18 (should be £24)
Command Squad £11.63 (should be £15.50)
Infantry mini packs £4.50 (should be £6)

Total cost - £199.89 (should be £266.50)

Also, £4 for delivery, but that's so low I'd use more buying from my FLGS in petrol! But, I'm glad you guys think it's a solid list, as soon as 8th drops, I'm back to being a flashlight firing grunt!

Its a good starting place. Don't get too excited gluing together specific options though, especially what kind of Leman Russ you'll build. Or if you're a competent hobbyist, magnetize the Russ turret guns. We don't know what the big winners and losers will be in the codex, but hopefully the boys who playtested and provided feedback did a good job with the balance and hopefully GW listened intently (it sounds like both these things are true, or at least significantly more true than prior editions).

I'm looking to build a mechvet list like the one I ran in 5th, and if the stars align, maybe a power blob army like I also ran in the tail end days of 5th. That would make me happy.

Like others have said, you are taking a bit of a risk with 8th so close. If they drop a new line of Guard infantry are you going to be ok with your Cadians? Something to consider.

Maybe add some magnets to that order.
But order it up ...