Have a 40k ?

[porkuslime]

Seriously, most new players start with Marines. (yes,.. WILD generalization, but fairly true)

Thanks to the Assault on Black Reach box set, for an astoundingly good price you get the basics for Space Marines and Orks.

One of the big issues with the 40K hobby is that it is CASH intensive.. to start out collecting an army might be limited fiscally.

Thanks to AoBR, a Marine player can get 10 Tactical Marines, a Dreadnaught, 5 basic Terminators, and a Commander .. stuff that normally costs ($35 + 40 + 50 + 15) = $130 ish .. for $60.. and in the bargain pick up the core of an Ork army ... 20 Boyz, (with 2 big shootas), 5 Nobz, 3 Dethkoptas, and a Warboss.. stuff that normally costs ((22x2) + 40 (ish) + (22 x 3) + 15) roughly 165 -ish..

there are a LOT of trade threads out there right now wanting to swap one side of the box for another.. so if you don't want to go the Ork route, you can swap them for more Marines.

Now, I am just looking at this in terms of initial investment.. but seriously.. part of the "Best army for a newb" question is.. what TYPE of army sounds like fun?

Tau, Imperial Guard, Marines (some), Eldar (some), Necron, Witch and demon Hunters are all "Stand back and SHOOT the crap outta them" armies..

Orks, Tyranids, some Marine Chapters, some Eldar units, are "in your face and swinging a big ol weapon" at you armies.

What I would suggest is to stay away from Horde type armies if your budget is low (horde meaning lots of low point cost models).

-Porkuslime

[Soulbinder]

I would like to have maybe a few units of the shootie types but also want get down in the trenches fighters that aren't afraid to get their hands dirty in hand-to-hand combat. I do like the marines alot but i guess I'll have to do more research on this subject....and thanks for your opinion on this subject...+ I do have the marine side of the AOBR coming in soon....

[mrrshann618]

On a budget I'd have to say SM or CSM as you can field an "effective" force, all plastics, for fairly reasonably.
For a beginner, they are forgiving if you make mistakes, most armies are compared MEQ (Marine Equivalent)
Marines can be tailored to be HtH or Stand and shoot with the ability to have enough flexibility to have a little of both


On the other hand, Think of you playing style in games, ANY game. In cards do you sit back and let the cards fall, or are you agressive?
In Monopoly, do you bide your time, buying up key areas, or do you simply buy everything as you come upon it, not worrying if you land on a better space later?
In computer games do you play the solid line, or the rapid response?

Horde army or not, while is a valid point, is a secondary factor when choosing an army.
Go online, look at 40k models. Look at the ones that tickle your fancy.
Do those Tyranid bugs look like fun, or do those silent (but deadly) terminator skeletons from the necrons look like fun?
Does the ability to have Human elite SM's pouring bolter fire turn your crank, or do the rebelious Traitor marines with their spikes and chains fan your fire.

If you want to customise your models, an ork army will be fun, slap some plates and fiddlybits on just about anything, and you've orkified it.
That and you have an excuse to yell WAAAAGH! at the top of your lungs

[MagickalMemories]

You've received a lot of good advice, so far.
In my OPINION, MEQ's are the best armies for beginners.

MEQ = Marine EQuivalent.

I would always advise Space Marines or Chaos Space Marines as a choice for beginning players. They are the most forgiving of tactical blunders and, as a new payer, you WILL make tactical blunders. LOL

Space Marines have a new codex coming out in October, so there's that. Chaos Space marines had a new codex recently, so they're fairly balanced, as well.

I have two armies, myself.. Space Marines & Chaos Space Marines. Orks are next.


Eric

[Soulbinder]

Thanks to everyone for their advise, it's been very helpful...