WH 40k - I need help!

[Anton P. Nym]

I don't like playing girls. I just feel that in any game - Video, Board, or Tabletop - I represent myself by what I play. And as such, I don't like to represent myself as a woman.

Nothing against ladies that play games though, so don't get me wrong on that.

Then Eldar is definitely out, as is Slaaneshi Chaos.

Looks to me that a Grey Knights army may be your best bet then; they're much like the Deathwing, though they do require non-Terminator models (2 squads, anyway) in order to satisfy a Standard Template.

-- Steve

 

[Xhumed]

If you want to do something a little off the beaten path, but still want "outnumbered melee" as your choice, I've got two suggestions I haven't seen you consider yet.

Firstly, Sisters of Battle. They're more close-range shooty than outright hack-n-slash, though you can get melee-specialists too and the Penitent Engines aren't to be sneered at. The big advantages from your point of view would be that they are often outnumbered, have tracked armour (though none of it is really heavy armour), and are pretty rare to find on the gaming tables so any Sisters army stands out. Plus you can make them as garish or as somber as you wish.

Secondly, if you can still field them these days, is the Deathwing of the Dark Angels chapter. You'll *always* be outnumbered, because everyone's in Terminator armour and thus your grunts cost between three and ten times as much as the other guys', and your army will be melee-oriented but can still take some of the best tanks in the game. (Land Raiders. Great stats, and beautiful models too.) I just don't recall if their codex is still considered playable under 5th edition rules.

-- Steve

They have a new codex out, the new edition of the rules allows you to field Deathwing alongside Dark Angel Marines, and the cost of them has been reduced.
I have fond memories of fielding 5 Deathwing Terminators against 20 Space Wolves, after my friend bet me I couldn't beat him. I crushed him- not a single casualty. Good times. ^^

 

[Xhumed]

If your going Space Marines or Imperial Guard go for the Vanilla group (Ultramarines/Cadian 8th) since it will be the easiest to find models/codex/books for them and they are the chapter/regiment.

Ultramarines? I thought Blood Angels were the standard SM army? *shrugs* Maybe it's changed since my day.

 

[PurpleRain]

I grin anytime someone mentions "big barbarians" or "vikings"

I'm from Iceland...and most of my lineage is Scandinavian or Russian...I'm all about the Viking.

Space Wolves. Dead on. Look these guys up. They're basically Space Marine Vikings (save for the long boats).

But I'm all for the Dark Eldar! Mock your 'friend' after every kill! Because those that you do kill in the game are highly likely not to be dead. You see the DE make special weapons equipt to only hurt their enemy in such an amount of pain they are practially usless. Why? To take their bodies back to their planet to torture and drink their souls! Their guns don't shoot lasers or bullets... they shoot cystals! Imagine being stabbed by a piece of broken glass. Now imagine that piece shattering inside you! It's beautiful! BWAHAHAHAHA!

 

[Meado]

I grin anytime someone mentions "big barbarians" or "vikings"

I'm from Iceland...and most of my lineage is Scandinavian or Russian...I'm all about the Viking.

Space Wolves. Dead on. Look these guys up. They're basically Space Marine Vikings (save for the long boats).

But I'm all for the Dark Eldar! Mock your 'friend' after every kill! Because those that you do kill in the game are highly likely not to be dead. You see the DE make special weapons equipt to only hurt their enemy in such an amount of pain they are practially usless. Why? To take their bodies back to their planet to torture and drink their souls! Their guns don't shoot lasers or bullets... they shoot cystals! Imagine being stabbed by a piece of broken glass. Now imagine that piece shattering inside you! It's beautiful! BWAHAHAHAHA!

DE are tricky to play, so might not be very good for a beginner.

As for the Imperial Guard, I believe there were some rules for an armoured company in the last edition. Essentially, every unit was a tank or mounted in a chimera, and I've seen it used to great effect before. I can't track down a copy of the rules right now, but if anyone else knows where to find a copy, could you link it here?

 

[irishdelinquent]

If you're wanting an honest opinion, go with what interests you. You're more likely to enjoy your army if it interests you. But the Hive Fleets could always use more broods

P.S: Rykin666, The XV22 is Commander Shadowsun's suit. The XV88 is the Broadside. The newer stealth suits are the XV25s, and the older ones are the XV15s.

 

[Lord Harrab]

I grin anytime someone mentions "big barbarians" or "vikings"

I'm from Iceland...and most of my lineage is Scandinavian or Russian...I'm all about the Viking.

Space Wolves. Dead on. Look these guys up. They're basically Space Marine Vikings (save for the long boats).

But I'm all for the Dark Eldar! Mock your 'friend' after every kill! Because those that you do kill in the game are highly likely not to be dead. You see the DE make special weapons equipt to only hurt their enemy in such an amount of pain they are practially usless. Why? To take their bodies back to their planet to torture and drink their souls! Their guns don't shoot lasers or bullets... they shoot cystals! Imagine being stabbed by a piece of broken glass. Now imagine that piece shattering inside you! It's beautiful! BWAHAHAHAHA!

DE are tricky to play, so might not be very good for a beginner.

As for the Imperial Guard, I believe there were some rules for an armoured company in the last edition. Essentially, every unit was a tank or mounted in a chimera, and I've seen it used to great effect before. I can't track down a copy of the rules right now, but if anyone else knows where to find a copy, could you link it here?

i think it was in an old white dwarf, but there might be a pdf on the official GW website, check there.

I'll try to track down the issue in question.

 

[MightyMoose]

After several replies here. I think my first army is going to either be Space Wolves, Inquisitors, IG, or Daemon Hunters.

Thanks so much for all of the input.

But to just be plain - I'll probably go with whichever unit will let me have my beloved greys (i love that unit so damn much) terminators, a dread or two, and some space marines.

 

[SignumVictri]

In the new(er) Space Marine codex you can actually field up to 6 dreadnoughts in a single army (Scion of Mars I think its called), but every one after the 3rd must be upgraded to a Venerable Dreadnought. They can also get Terminators cheaper if they choose to not include any bikes or speeders. And of course the Librarian is now awesomeness. I disagree that Space Marines are the simplest any more.

 

[MightyMoose]

Does anyone know anything about Witch Hunters?

 

[PurpleRain]

After several replies here. I think my first army is going to either be Space Wolves, Inquisitors, IG, or Daemon Hunters.

Thanks so much for all of the input.

But to just be plain - I'll probably go with whichever unit will let me have my beloved greys (i love that unit so damn much) terminators, a dread or two, and some space marines.

I'm sure you can have a unit or two of Inquisitors and Grey Knights in a Space Wolf army. Why not have both? SW as your main force lead by an Inquisitor paired with a unit of GK's?

 

[Ultrajoe]

EDIT

At some point, Ultrajoe will use every trick he knows to try and foist the Tyranids on you. Take what he says with a pinch of salt. I've always been under the impression that Nids are an army where you really need to know what you're doing if you don't want to get fragged into submission.

How wondrously farsighted of you! Are you sure your not ulthwe? Im just upset i did not get here sooner.

Moose my lad, you cant go past the swarm, fun to play, fun to collect and even funner to use to make your friends cry in frustration as they can never shoot fast enough to bring them down.

Fluff wise, you cant go past them, the ultimate victor of the WH40K meat grind in conjunction with the Necrons, a force unstoppable and coolness unrivaled. the tales are all told from the viewpoint of the imperium, and so the true horror the living tide evokes is unmatched.

On the table, they are the ultimate spanner in the works, with a veritable host of wargear and brood options you can both out-punch an ork and out-shoot the tau! But not at the same time. The tyranids are powerful when taken to extremes, all-rounded troops are for space marine paranoids, play the worlds fastest horde, the worlds most numerous, the biggest melee force ever seen or a hail of living bullets so thick even spartans will shit themselves.

Tau or IG have a line of troops ready to cut you down? Drop in gargoyles or send in raveners to reduce their formations to so much whimpering flesh. Enemies have few troops, but all are powerhouses? outnumber them 10 to 1 and drag them down under a tide of flesh.

Tanks? an IG player will laugh right up until a Zoanthrope or Canrifex (living tank, with teeth) blows the shit out of them, or rips them apart with claws and brute strength.

They are an army of extremes, pushing them into one field can overcome weaknesses and nothing beats the look of horror on your opponents face when he has finished deploying but you say "Hang on, just a few more model cases"

They are an army that can do almost anything, but excel when focused on one tactic. You cannot have more fun than with the sheer numbers or power of the tyranids.

And yes, they can be unforgiving, you need skill to avoid simply being shot to shit before you can do some damage... But dont just play space marines to 'learn'. begin with a specialized race and learn how to play with tactics, planning and thought, these are the qualities that make a great Tyranid player.

People think a line of guns can defeat the Nids. they are wrong.

People think 'Nids are just about a mad rush and luck.

Luck and your opponents don't even matter, Plan, think ahead and use the most versatile units in the game to screw with anything they can muster and rip them to shreds.

The Hive Mind. How Could You Say No?

 

[Xhumed]

EDIT

At some point, Ultrajoe will use every trick he knows to try and foist the Tyranids on you. Take what he says with a pinch of salt. I've always been under the impression that Nids are an army where you really need to know what you're doing if you don't want to get fragged into submission.

*snip*
The Hive Mind. How Could You Say No?

I'm afraid I must decline your request with large explosions.

 

[Ralackk]

The links for the IG armoured company rules are

http://uk.games-workshop.com/imperialguard/ac-armylist/1/

http://uk.games-workshop.com/imperialguard/ac-vehicles/1/

Down the page a little is the pdf download link.

As purplerain has already mentioned if you really want greyknights go for them with the space wolves. It would mean having to buy two codex's but it may suit how you want to play. Space wolves have access to all the standard space marine tanks and dreadnaughts, as well as a special harder dreadnaugt and a leman russ exterminator which eats through standard low armoured troops.

 

[Ultrajoe]

EDIT

At some point, Ultrajoe will use every trick he knows to try and foist the Tyranids on you. Take what he says with a pinch of salt. I've always been under the impression that Nids are an army where you really need to know what you're doing if you don't want to get fragged into submission.

*snip*
The Hive Mind. How Could You Say No?

I'm afraid I must decline your request with large explosions.

Oddly enough, not that scary to the 'nid player with a plan.

 

[PurpleRain]

Ultrajoe and his nids... they scare me. You have tactics. Tyrinids aren't supposed to! It's like a bug that thinks and kills! Run and hide.

Nah, I'm sure a few of my units could mow down many of your lesser aliens while a Talos, my lord, etc, should mange your larger. I can imagine our battles only as epic.

 

[MightyMoose]

I hate to disappoint, Joe. But I believe that my friend that came to stay the night here at the apartment, some on-the-spot research, and the many wonderful replies to the forum have finally gotten me to make a decision.

However, that's not to say that I wont go out and purchase more than one faction (eventually).

Tomorrow Morning I'm going with him to work (he works at a Games Workshop) and picking up about $500 USD worth of Black Templars/Paints/Glue/Rulebooks/Etc.

But I'm only gonna spend $200. Oh joy.

 

[Ralackk]

Tomorrow Morning I'm going with him to work (he works at a Games Workshop) and picking up about $500 USD worth of Black Templars/Paints/Glue/Rulebooks/Etc.

But I'm only gonna spend $200. Oh joy.

Ahh the Games Workshop employee discount, its nice to have friends. Will you be going with Greyknights as well or purely Black Templars?

 

[Ultrajoe]

Blasted space marines, stealing away budding minds and forcing them into mediocrity.

Make everyone start with Dark Eldar, that'll out some thinking into them.

And Rain, you and me would shake the heavens with our battle.'

And don't rely on a Talos against 'Nids.

A big creature that likes close combat and not dying? Your looking at the race that made that cool. And i love playing dark eldar, similar speed, similar tactics, but where you prefer range i love close combat. The perfect foes.

You could try and beat 'Nids hand-to-hand if you like... really... that would be fun. For me.