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.

Hi. I'm brand new to the world of Warhammer and wargaming in general. I've read a little of the literature, and want to get involved. At the moment, I'm most interested in tyranids and various Chaos factions.

Hello and welcome! Both very cool armies. I play Khorne-based Chaos myself.

Welcome!
I would suggest that the Big Rulebook (BRB) is a good place to start.
The rules for the game and a rather comprehensive introduction to the various factions in 40k are there.

Tyranids are our good swarm army with a "Hive Mind" and have a branching-off faction called "Genestealer Cult" where those critters are vanguard bugs used to identify good planets to eat and act as a beacon for the hive fleets.
They have a bit of everything and some pretty large bugs at that.
Their main rule is "eat everything" then "adapt", "find food" and repeat.

Chaos is based out of the "warp" that is a form of hyperspace that is readily affected by psionic ability so that many collective mental energies manifest so there are a few "gods" floating around.
Nurgle: The god of infection or a more happy positive spin is "rebirth" of sorts. One of the more "happy" gods albeit disgusting.
Khorne: God of martial prowess and pride, more famously known for blood and skulls. As long as you are cracking heads, he is happy... not too particular on whom it is done to.
Tzeentch: God of change, mutation, schemes, find a "wizard" with an evil plan and this guy has a hand in it.
Slaanesh: Known for pleasure and excess. Seems to dip heavily in the pain confused for pleasure end of things but to each their own. The newer god that the Eldar can be directly blamed for. Noise marines know how to rock to their warfare.
Then there are some "undivided" folks who seem to have commitment issues, I figure they just like to call-on whatever god seems appropriate for the situation at hand.
There are some "Dark Mechanicus" who seem to enjoy forcing daemons to possess machines, why have a computer/machine spirit when you can have a really angry daemon try to kill everything around it?
Oh yeah, and give it all kinds of guns and cutting/bashing things.
Followers of the gods are rather dedicated to the point of constantly flirting with death, possession, infection or mutation... they are never bored, all just for the chance to be elevated to daemonhood and live forever... fair deal right?

So, you have daemons that are a manifestation of smaller versions of these gods and then you have some Space Marines that have been "blessed" by those gods.
So in the end, the Imperium is under siege by their 'impure thoughts" and their corrupted brethren.
Good times are had by all.

All of 40k is a lesson in extremes and fanaticism.
You just have to look around and see what appeals to your sense of style or funny bone.

Traditionally both Chaos and Tyranids tended to be on the low end of competitive army lists but things have improved somewhat in this edition.
Allies have been a bit more interesting as of late.
I still want to see a Khorne Berzerker and Orks teamup: I think they would have an epic Bro-crush.

Hi,

Welcome to Dakka