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Hello comrades,

As I might move within a few month to another place, I'll certainly have to play less with my usual group -instead scout out a little and try to find other colleagues. However for that I think it'll be high time I finally jump from the caveman aged 6th I started and stuck with to update to 8th.

Related to this, I'd have 2 questions that I hope aren't absolutly slowed.

First off, is there anything worth aquiring save a codex and corerule book?

Second, between IG and necrons, (knowning my crons are by far the less developped by now), which army would be the easiest to get into 8th with in terms of "playability" (vague I know), to update...?

Huge thanks to anyone who'd bother answering

Imperial Guard. Crons are NOT in a good place at the moment. Their main shticks, Gauss and Reanimation Protocols, are both kinda bad at the moment.

Guard, on the other hand, play pretty well. Nice and cheap, so you can field large numbers, as well as pretty powerful with their big stuff.

As for what you need, you might be able to pass on the Core Rulebook. DEFINITELY get your Codex, but the Rules Primer can probably get you by for a while-especially if you have friendly gamers at your FLGS who'll let you read their rulebook and learn the three or so rules that didn't make it to the battle primer.

IG are probably your best choice - they even have a few fresh options since 6th. Though if you are a Rough Riders fan, you will have to get the Index (or find a friendly Index owner, hint hint) who could send you a copy of the entry.

Other than that, the Codex and pdf of the rules will be fine - plus the FAQ, of course.

I would also pick up a copy of Chapter Approved 2018. It has various points up dates (which you will really need). It also has a set of updated missions for matched play which are much better than the original ones in the main rulebook.

In a choice between IG and Necrons, IG are definitely the more competitive at the moment.

I'd get:
* the rules (from some helpful gamer or waste your $ on the main rulebook) - you'll need this because there's a few very important rules about how to build a list that aren't in the free version. The actual "rules" section of the main rule book is only about a dozen (maybe less) pages.
* All the available FAQs, eratas, etc from the GW site - found under the community tab.
* Chapter Approved 2018 - this book contains all the updated point values.
* Codex for both your armies.
* And if you own any Forge World stuff the FW index book that applies.

The Guard will be your easiest choice.

IG (Astra Militarum) is your better bet. Aside from the CRB, and the Astra Militarum codex you might like Chapter Approved 2018 and maybe a copy of Imperium Nihilus Vigilus Defiant as it has a couple of fun detachments for Astra Militarum. However Vigilus Defiant is really unnecessary.

People say that IG is better, but at the LVO this year every faction except for Grey Knights managed to go 5-1. Any faction can be good, you just need to pick the aesthetic you like best!

Good luck dude, hope you find a good gaming group for 8th. I'd just add that you should download and make yourself familiar with Battlescribe. It's really very useful for army building, keeping up to date with point changes and also learning how your army fits together. Unfriendly user-interface that hides a real gem of an army builder.

Oh yeah, and probably go guard. Crons are definitely doable but if you don't have much, I'd recommend going to IG, they're very good in this edition. Expect to be hard-countered by minus to hit stacking Eldar, though.

eBay the rules pamphlet. Or I think you can download it from GW.
Buy your codex and chapter approved 2018
All your new friends to show you the army building rules.
That should be all you need.

By the way, if you make a list in 6th with 2 hq units, you should have a legal list for 8th. There's a lot more to it than that but that concept will get you started. Things changed, especially for the guard. Choose squads. There are no platoons.

echoing what everyone else said here: GW puts out a yearly "points balance patch" book with updated missions and points values in it called Chapter Approved. That is 100% worth picking up alongside the codex, and I would skip the big rulebook entirely - just download the free rules pdf which is riiiiight https://www.games-workshop.com/en-US/Warhammer-40000-Rules here.

The only thing you don't get with that packet is the expanded terrain rules, and the rules for detachments/army building, which are easy enough to find online. Also I believe the terrain rules are in Chapter Approved 2018 too?

Thanks for the answers and the link so far comrades!

Sad that the new guard should be devoid of its distinctive platoons !

For when is the chapter approved 2019 scheduled do you think? So i don't purchase 2018 edition the day it comes out!

Crons are fine if you don't play super competitive. In casual games they are actually pretty dangerous and are a bit of noob-crusher.

Against more experienced players and super-competitive lists that pull out all sorts of bs (allies, LoW, faction soup, etc) they tend to falter, as they don't really have much bs of their own to counter it.

Just get the codex, basic rulebook (sadly there is no pamphlet version, only the 2kg tome) and download the free app battlescribe to access point updates. The rest is just paperweights, or more relevant as you want to expand the game with more missions and formations.