Warhammer 40k. Help a beginner.

[Spitfire175]

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE DON'T START WITH SPACE MARINES! They'll bore you to death.

As someone who has been collecting and playing Warhammer 40.000 for more than a decade I would advice you not to start buying stuff before you have some idea of what you want to collect. Try to partake in a few "learning" games at a local GW store if you can and get to know as much as you can about all the factions and races before buying a whole lot of junk you may not want or need.

If you can not, here is a very short description of the major factions:

Space Marines: Skilled fighters in thick armor and armed with (very) big guns they are good at both range and in melee. Are few in numbers. Come in many flavors; Vanilla (Ultramarines), Very Heavy Infantry and bikes (Dark Angles) , Melee death (Black Templars and Blood Angles)and Vikings in space (Space Wolves, they are awesome!)

Chaos Space Marines: The evil twin brother of the goody space marines. Also come in many flavors although divercity was toned down a bit last edition.

Sisters of Battle: AKA nuns with guns. The all female army is well armed and armored. Not as skilled as the space marines they do have the numbers to make up for it. Burny death!

Imperial Guard: A mix of Stormtroopers and Red Shirts, they cant hit anything and die in doves. They take horrendous casultys but have the biggest number of infantry and heavy weapons and tanks and artillery and everything!!! Not easy to use but very rewarding and very fun to collect and play with.

Orkz: Mr. Tolkien invented Orcs about 80 years ago. He has alot to answer for that man! Orkz are the mirror image of the Imperial Guard, lots of infantry, vehicles, warmacines, big guns and so on. While the Guard favors shooting, heavy tanks and order, the Orkz are all about melee, fast vehicles and chaos. Also not easy to use but very, very fun to collect and play with.

Tyranids. Six limbed aliens that remind you of the monsters from Aliens and Starship Troopers. Very good at melee, not so good at shooting. Have no vehicles whatsoever but have the biggest mosters in a game full of big scary monsters.

Necrons: Tough as nails undead robotic skeletons that fire green deathrays! Have undestroyable huge flying metalic pyramids that fire green explosive deathrays! Have god-like alien overlords tha eat souls or whole suns! Crazy sci-fi at its best. Are however very limited in their army selection so most Necron armys look the same.

Eldar: Elfs in space. If you like elfs this is the army for you. Otherwise avoid like the plage. Eldar are weak and frail, but have the best armed and most skilled specialist in the game. Their units are usually only good at one thing, but are very, very good at it!

TAU: The only "good guys" in the game. blue/gray skinned humanoid aliens that have good weapons and allied alien races (Kroot, Vespvids and even humans). They have a very Mecha-Anime-ish style and although their basic infantry is well armed and armored they rely on their Battlesuits and flying tanks to win battles.

That concludes it. Still, don't start with marines, there's way too many marine players. Be brave and go for nids or necrons.

 

[L4Y Duke]

If the tabletop version is anything like Dawn of War (which it probably isn't, given how many Closer to Codex mods there are), I'd go with Space Marines, purely for the Heavy Bolters.

 

[Sebenko]

Vikings in space (Space Wolves, they are awesome!)

You mean viking werewolves in space. And power armour.

 

[Joshimodo]

No no no noooo..... Every damn noob in the game has Space Marines. Seriously. Play a real army, not that awful bunch of pansies. I've yet to lose to Space Marines, they're pathetically easy to beat and the single most boring army Games Workshop produces.

You may want to read the OP's post-He's new. Jumping in the deep end with Tyranids or the Eldar would be ridiculous. Space Marines are easy to play, look decent and are moderately flexible. Good for beginners.

You, sir, have clearly never played against a half-competent Guard player. Or I'd suppose any Guard player, because I can assure you - the Guard are anything but. Difficult at times, but brutally efficent and a fantastically flexible army. Yes, they fare poorly in assault, but after you finish throwing 100-plus lasguns shots at an enemy, plus heavy and special weapons, you will find that there is precious little left to assault a Guard army.

Actually, I have. Not with the current rules (since I stopped playing about 4 years ago), but unless every other race has suddenly lost their armour/guns/claws/psyker brains, the IG are still lacklustre. In fact, when I played in a Warhammer World tourney, 3 of my 6 opponents were IG. Guess how many IG armies went down against my 'Nids?

Sure, 100+ lasguns can take out a chunk of Space Marines or Tau due to the chances, but when fighting anything with heavy armour or equal numbers, the IG are outmatched.

Their tanks/heavy stuff is a definitive bonus, but again, they aren't viable. Points (since the OP is a beginner) will be 1000 or under, and the board matters (line of sight/lots of difficult terrain=/=useful tanks). The IG infantry can't outgun Tau, can't outdo Nid's or Orks in melee, and can't outlast SM (though that one is debatable).

 

[Sethzard]

Necrons are easy to play,but unless you want to spend huge amouts of money on a game that you will hardly ever get to play because most of the shops are closing down, don't play full stop.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

For a beginner I would reccomend either Space Marines or their Chaos counterparts (if you want some variety or to have that 'evil bastard' feel to your troops) because they're the most versitile and simple to use armies avalible.

Some would say that that makes them the noob army but I personally think Space Marines adhere to the old phrase of 'easy to learn, hard to master', true, anyone can use Space Marines but it takes a lot of cunning and tactical thinking to employ them with great effectiveness (exactly the same for every army).

Not to be rude, but you forgot the third axiom: "Easy to defeat". Due to the prevalence of Space Marine armies, everyone, and I mean everyone, who plays 40K builds their army lists to kill Space Marines. Playing Space Marines will get you through the Young Bloods, but once you get gaming properly you are going to get butchered by other armies.

Oh, and from a fluff perspective, marines are extremely boring. There are exceptions, but they are just that - exceptions to the rule.

This is where the 'employ them properly' part comes in, a good space marine player will be able to counter anti-Space Marine tactics (hence the 'good player' part). I've had games against a few veterans with anti-marine forces with my good ol' Raptors (a chapter I found in the back of the old codex) and still come out on top because of the simple fact that I was clever with how I used my troops.

There isn't an 'easy to defeat' army, just easy to defeat people (and hey, if you find Space Marines boring then that's your call, I can understand why you think that, I just happen to like them).

Hey, I can understand that (the fluff), I just prefer my Guardsmen. My store has a lot of Marine players, I just tend to beat them. Even at their cheasiest.

No no no noooo..... Every damn noob in the game has Space Marines. Seriously. Play a real army, not that awful bunch of pansies. I've yet to lose to Space Marines, they're pathetically easy to beat and the single most boring army Games Workshop produces.

You may want to read the OP's post-He's new. Jumping in the deep end with Tyranids or the Eldar would be ridiculous. Space Marines are easy to play, look decent and are moderately flexible. Good for beginners.

You, sir, have clearly never played against a half-competent Guard player. Or I'd suppose any Guard player, because I can assure you - the Guard are anything but. Difficult at times, but brutally efficent and a fantastically flexible army. Yes, they fare poorly in assault, but after you finish throwing 100-plus lasguns shots at an enemy, plus heavy and special weapons, you will find that there is precious little left to assault a Guard army.

Actually, I have. Not with the current rules (since I stopped playing about 4 years ago), but unless every other race has suddenly lost their armour/guns/claws/psyker brains, the IG are still lacklustre. In fact, when I played in a Warhammer World tourney, 3 of my 6 opponents were IG. Guess how many IG armies went down against my 'Nids?

Sure, 100+ lasguns can take out a chunk of Space Marines or Tau due to the chances, but when fighting anything with heavy armour or equal numbers, the IG are outmatched.

Their tanks/heavy stuff is a definitive bonus, but again, they aren't viable. Points (since the OP is a beginner) will be 1000 or under, and the board matters (line of sight/lots of difficult terrain=/=useful tanks). The IG infantry can't outgun Tau, can't outdo Nid's or Orks in melee, and can't outlast SM (though that one is debatable).

One: I don't care if he's new. Like I say, he's going to have to learn how to play anyway, and, really, playing Space Marines isn't any easier than playing a real army once you stop playing the same circle of beginners in Young Bloods/Schools League.

Two: No, we got hard. Sorry, harder. Our tanks are tougher, our infantry cheaper, the basic lasgun can put out an insane amount of shots (3 at rapidfire with one of the orders), veterans are troops choices, we got a fast skimmer, supre-effective psykers, a tank that puts down 5 plasma cannon templates a turn, loads more other vehicles, artillery and tanks, we can combine squads, Commissars and Priests are now viable selections, hellguns are AP3...yeah. Go up against a competent Guard player and you're looking at a whole world of pain. As I said, my army list decimates powergaming and tourney builds quite regularly, so I'm pretty sure I know what I'm talking about.

(Oh, and 4 heavy Bolters in a Guard squad in cover, versus fire warriors in cover, with the correct orders will kill the fire warriors. Mainly because they get no armour saves, and have to re-roll successful cover saves).

 

[animebunny]

For a beginner I recommend space marines because they are the easiest to use and beginner friendly. Also you don't NEED a scene it just helps to add extra elements and authenticity.

 

[radred]

Buy a few books and play a few games at a local store (or with friends if they play) before you commit.

No store nearby for me to try things out at. I am hoping I can convince one of my friends to start with me, though without a store nearby that would sell I will most likely need to commit and order online, at least enough to get a game or two going.

Ask around and you will definately find someone in your area that plays
most plyers are happy to help others and vs/give you tips on how to start

 

[Zykon TheLich]

Buy a few books and play a few games at a local store (or with friends if they play) before you commit.

No store nearby for me to try things out at. I am hoping I can convince one of my friends to start with me, though without a store nearby that would sell I will most likely need to commit and order online, at least enough to get a game or two going.

Ask around and you will definately find someone in your area that plays
most plyers are happy to help others and vs/give you tips on how to start

You play as the Necrons don't you? ;P

 

[ThreeWords]

Unless you have a Games Workshop store near you, i would suggest getting into something like D&D. Warhammer is too expensive if you don't have the guarantee of a game

I was tempted with D&D earlier, until it claimed two of my friends. Don't want to end up as antisocial as they did. (not saying everyone that plays D&D is antisocial)

I would hope not. Its an excellent passtime. A couple of sessions a month would satisfy your tabletop gaming needs.

I was interested in starting D&D, but I knew not how to reach this realm of gaming. Have you any advice in how to find people to play with? Or for that matter, what I need and where I should go to get it?

 

[Everin]

go into your local store and do the beginners course. They give you a free model to paint and they play a game with you to get you to learn the basic rules. And then buy Space Marines and win every battle!

 

[Starke]

Guys, you're necroing a thread that died last year. Why?

 

[not_the_dm]

Start with Space Marines. They're an all-round good race.

As a beginner, avoid:
Necrons
Tyranids
Eldar
Grey Knights/Inquisition

As a player who wants to be good, avoid:
Imperial Guard (utterly useless)
Certain Chaos legions

I disagree with the Guard thing. Say hello to 300 guards men for 1200 points. If I get it right then I can get 660 las rounds off every turn, averaging at 330 hits per turn. Also, 9 basilisks, the sky will fall.

I've had guardsmen takeout Iron Hands in closecombat and a commisar hold up against a squad of greyknight terminators for an entire game. I've had my command squad takeout a carnifex in closecombat too. In short, if you know what you're doing guard can wipe the table with just about anything.

 

[not_the_dm]

Unless you have a Games Workshop store near you, i would suggest getting into something like D&D. Warhammer is too expensive if you don't have the guarantee of a game

I was tempted with D&D earlier, until it claimed two of my friends. Don't want to end up as antisocial as they did. (not saying everyone that plays D&D is antisocial)

I would hope not. Its an excellent passtime. A couple of sessions a month would satisfy your tabletop gaming needs.

I was interested in starting D&D, but I knew not how to reach this realm of gaming. Have you any advice in how to find people to play with? Or for that matter, what I need and where I should go to get it?

I would e-mail you the rule books but they are too big to attach, even when compressed individually (stupid 10MB limit...). You could buy them from a shop, but it's nearly impossible to find a supplier on our side of the pond. Your best bet would be to mail order them from Wizards of the coast. As for who to play with, that could be more problematic. We tend to hide from the sunlight.

 

[iFail69]

Imperial Guard are the best if you know how to play em. I made a 1000pts army with no tanks and it had about 120 troops, brimming with heavy and special weapons and a few upgrades.

I sold all my stuff, but am now putting together a combat patrol (400pts) that I am spending a LOOOOONG time on each model (trying to make em look like today's spec ops) but I use my models more for necromunda (because specialist games are vastly superior!!)

however, the guardsmen are hard as a starting army, we had 1 guy in my local store starting out on guardsmen, it took him a week to switch to space marines

 

[ThreeWords]

Unless you have a Games Workshop store near you, i would suggest getting into something like D&D. Warhammer is too expensive if you don't have the guarantee of a game

I was tempted with D&D earlier, until it claimed two of my friends. Don't want to end up as antisocial as they did. (not saying everyone that plays D&D is antisocial)

I would hope not. Its an excellent passtime. A couple of sessions a month would satisfy your tabletop gaming needs.

I was interested in starting D&D, but I knew not how to reach this realm of gaming. Have you any advice in how to find people to play with? Or for that matter, what I need and where I should go to get it?

I would e-mail you the rule books but they are too big to attach, even when compressed individually (stupid 10MB limit...). You could buy them from a shop, but it's nearly impossible to find a supplier on our side of the pond. Your best bet would be to mail order them from Wizards of the coast. As for who to play with, that could be more problematic. We tend to hide from the sunlight.

My point exactly. I was hoping there were secret ways you communicated or some such way I could contact the community...

 

[Zannah]

It's been said before, and can't be stressed enough. Don't pick up any army, because your told they're easy or good. Look for an army where you like the fluff, and like the looks, and stick to it. You might get beaten a little more often, but every victory is just going to be the sweeter, plus you'll be playing an army you actually like.

Also, despite many many many people not doing this - paint your army, at least on a basic level before going into play. Playing with half your army as grey slogs is nowhere near to the real thing, which looks way more awesome. (And I wish more players would stick to that rule).

 

[Warrior Irme]

I would like to say that I was very entertained with the fact that I was quoted in a thread from March 09. The original point of the thread has since been resolved for me, however if you would like to turn this into a thread where you provide a "How to pick an army" guide for newbies I would be happy to edit the first post to change the thread and link to wherever discussion takes off again.

 

[Simriel]

Unless you have a Games Workshop store near you, i would suggest getting into something like D&D. Warhammer is too expensive if you don't have the guarantee of a game

I was tempted with D&D earlier, until it claimed two of my friends. Don't want to end up as antisocial as they did. (not saying everyone that plays D&D is antisocial)

I would hope not. Its an excellent passtime. A couple of sessions a month would satisfy your tabletop gaming needs.

I was interested in starting D&D, but I knew not how to reach this realm of gaming. Have you any advice in how to find people to play with? Or for that matter, what I need and where I should go to get it?

There will most likely be a gaming store in a city nearby. This should help with both your queries. Best way to get started with D&D is play with your friends to be honest. All you really need is the rulebook and some dice. Everything else is not required however miniatures and battlegrids can be fun.