TheSEPH88 said:
- Yeah at first I figured that the diffirent chapters were diffirent armies but then I heard about some people using them together so that's why I am a bit cofused.
- I meant more in the likes of parts. For example if I get a lot of space marines and I switch the arms between some of them would that be fine. (b.t.w what green stuff).
- I know that it is expensive I just figured if there was some kind of starter package or something.
Sorry if I am missing something obvious =)
The different chapters are individual armies, but there is quite a lot of flexibility. You can use units from different chapters in the same army if they are in the same codex e.g i could take marneus calgar (fuck the spelling, he is an ultrasmurf) and captain lysander (from the imperial fists) as your two hq choices in the force organisation chart. in the rorce organisation chart you must have 1 hq and 2 troops choices. you may take an additional i hq, four troops, three elites, three heavy support and three fast attack choices (provided they fall within the points limit you are using in the game)
In large point games e.g 2500 points you can use the detachment system wherin you get two or more force organisation charts and these can be a separate army from a different codex (as long as they could logically ally, so no marines and dark eldar allies).
Then there is apocalypse, 3000 points and above. you can use whatever you think is awesome. I have two baneblade variants in my apocalypse army (that is a huge and awesome tank, look it up)
As for your second question, you can give them any equipment allowed by the codex. (green stuff is this putty you can use for basic joining purposes (makes bonding metal to plastic easier) and it can be used for sculpting purposes (people build entire models out of it)
Assault on black reach is a fantastic starter set. you get a small marine army and a small ork army and a pocket sized main rulebook. If you can get a friend interested who wants to collect orks, you can trade your orks for his marines and bam, decent sized army.
you can get some cheaper minis from independent retailers ebay etc.
As for my armies, Imperial Guard, Grey Knights (the new plastic ones are beautiful, nemesis dreadknight=walking sexiness), Black Templars, White Scars and Tau. I also have an Empire and a Tomb Kings army for fantasy. Been doing it for nearly 9 years now and its awesome.
And the space marine commander boxset comes with a load of bits that fit nicely on lots of different models. And some of the chaplain models are amazing.