Poll: What Warhammer 40k Army Should I Use?

[Sharkeyes]

Ok, here's the deal. I want to get into Warhammer 40k. I want an army that has really good infantry that I can use as the mainstay of my force (sorry, I know they're popular, but I don't want Orks or Necrons). I know I probably won't be winning much (from what I hear, tanks are king) but I'm trying to get into the U.S. Army through West Point so I can be an infantry officer. I think this will give me a feel for infantry tactics and such.

So far, one of my friends has suggested that if I want a "winning" army to use a Codex Marine army with 800 infantry, 500 in transports and a tank, and 300 in guys on motorcycles (which sounds cool). Any advice on it would be cool, too.

Thanks for your time and answers

 

[Pandalisk]

Imperial Guard? their fairly decent, come in high numbers so if you like the arts and crafts of it all there's more of it. Have some of the most decent tanks and their infantry are less than grand but amazing if used correctly and kept out of CC, there cheap in points so you'll have a lot of infantry.

Not sure what you hope to gain Infantry tactics other than the general basics and common sense, maybe you should try a more detailed RTT(Real Time Tactics) game?

 

[SckizoBoy]

If you want tactical acumen, don't read the fluff... that's more about mad faith and insane 'heroism' (wrt Space Marines, at least).

The key to WH40K is gauging distance more than anything else. Tactically, it's all very set-piece, none of which is particularly applicable for modern warfare. It translates to the operational level tentatively at best, though there are only really two broad tactics that are used (based on both sides acting aggressively): reverse-Cannae style horns-of-the-bull; and echelon/refused flank. So it is often the case that the result of a battle can be decided (on a 6' by 4' at least) by deployment alone. Adopting a short battle line between two major pieces of terrain and bulking up one flank is what wins me my fights (though it depends on which list I'm fielding).

Tactical reserves and genuine manouevring don't play much part since the charge and shooting is mainly distance based, and countercharging doesn't really happen. In a sense, you're better off getting one of the newer TW titles and playing battles on the uber-hard option with camera restriction.

Still, if you want a list that will really stretch your abilities as a commander, go for either Eldar or Dark Eldar. Eldar because all of their units are good or awesome at one thing and complete and utter shite at everything else, so you've got to delegate their roles on the battlefield very carefully. And as for Dark Eldar, they are fast, they are hard-hitting, but damn they die easily. With them, there's a tenet that veteran gamers use 'two-round-kill' (i.e. two rounds of CC to kill an enemy unit so they charge into CC your turn, and freed to continue in your next turn). They have to be used intelligently or you'll lose by turn three.

If you get good with those two army lists, you'll understand how to use particular qualities of troops you command, corny as that sounds, but the implicit knowledge/experience is worth it.

However, having said that, they do not make good starter armies since they die easily. If you want something akin to what you're going to do, then I'm with Pandalisk, Imperial Guard. They die easily too, but their weapon loadout (and tanks, learn to love the tanks) is probably the most appropriate.

 

[Batou667]

OP: sounds like you're leaning towards either Marines or Guard. Marines are a solid choice as you'll be buying fewer models and, whatever happens in 40k, Marines will always be dependably solid. The only downside is that EVERYBODY plays Marines (well, that is to say, they're overrepresented. If that doesn't bother you, which it ogically shouldn't, then great).

Imperial Guard are arguably potentially the better army, but that's also highly dependent on what your opponent has on the table, what army build you're using, the terrain, whether there's the letter "J" in the month, and generally the will of the Dice Gods. But I'm going to stick my neck out and say that Guard has more "depth" as an army, both in terms of possible army themes, builds, and tactics.

(Of course, you could just play Orks like you know you want to...)

 

[soulless-5]

I field an infantry heavy (no tanks/transports) marine army list competitively and have seen others do so too. If you really want an infantry army the two questions you should ask is what models do you like and whether you want elite infantry (like marines or eldar) or horde (like nids). Most people just pick an army which looks cool to them and then learn how to play them over a few games. If you like the look of uber armoured marines go for tehm or if you like the more realistic (I use term loosely) guardsmen, use them. Up to you in the end