Buying Warhammer 40k (Also, a thread to show off your models)

[Melfice]

So, I'm looking into getting some Warhammer 40k models.
Not for play, however. Just for display. I know: crazy, right? I just love how the models look, and I couldn't care less for the game proper.
I'm mostly looking at Space Marines, but I might be persuaded into Tau instead.

However, here's the thing.
I've been looking at the Assault on Black Reach (http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/catalog/productDetail.jsp?catId=cat550004a&prodId=prod1570027) box, and it looks like a great buy indeed. But seeing as I'm just going for display of one army, I'd be stuck with Orkz that I wouldn't have much use for.
On the plus side, should I ever get interested in more than display, I've got the rules, some of the tools (dice and the like) and two small armies to practice with.

I've also been looking at various battleforces.
Again, mostly at Space Marines and Space Wolves, but the Tau look pretty awesome as well.

The main question is, what do YOU guys think I should do?
Still go with the starter set of Assault on Black Reach or just go for a Battleforce? I'm willing to look into anything BUT Orkz and Tyranid, if I get a battleforce instead of AoBR. (Tyranids look like hell to paint. >_> (more than other models, in any case))

Feel free to also show off your own models/armies if you've got any.
I know I will, when (or if?) I get mine painted!

[Flarecobra]

I'd just go with the Battleforce. I'm having to determine something similor regarding the Sisters of Battle.

[Kerensky287]

Don't go for Space Marines, everyone goes for Space Marines.

Don't go for Space Wolves, they have some fucking ridiculous rules that ruin the game for everybody. Also they're still Space Marines and fuck Space Marines.

Tau are cool, I play Tau. But plan out your list first, most units/weapon setups are kind of specific in what situations they're best at. Also, the 5th Ed rules fuck them over in several key areas (some wargear is literally useless; any infantry-heavy list will be rather vulnerable; etc) but if you're just looking for stuff that's just visual, the battlesuits are neat, and Forge World has some fucking (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/TAU-REMORA-DRONE-STEALTH-FIGHTERS.html) BEAUTIFUL (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Tau/TAU-BATTLESUITS-AND-DRONES/TAU-XV9-04-WITH-PHASED-ION-GUNS.html) Tau (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/XV81-CRISIS-BATTLESUIT.html) stuff. (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/SHAS%27O-R%27MYR%27S-BATTLESUIT.html)

Necrons just got updated and a bunch of their stuff is really cool-looking. Their basic warriors are a fucking pain to put together though, so watch out for that.

Eldar, again, are very specialized, so you should plan a playable list ahead of time if you ever plan to get into the game, but they can be very pretty if you put in the effort; lots of intricate flat surfaces, lots of dynamic-looking units (the most recent Wraithlord is my favorite non-Forge World model in the game) and several of their units have "canon" color schemes that you can go with, giving your armied a varied, yet unified, look.

[Melfice]

Not for play, however. Just for display. I know: crazy, right? I just love how the models look, and I couldn't care less for the game proper.

Still, thank you, Kerensky.

[Kerensky287]

I caught that by the time I was halfway through the Tau paragraph and started amending stuff after that.

I stand by my "fuck Space Marines" stance, but emphasize the Forge World battlesuits. Those things are outstanding.

[Flarecobra]

At least he didn't go "Fuck the Imperium" at all. :P

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

If you want stuff that looks cool, some of the recent Dark Eldar stuff is also pretty amazing looking. Or if you've got several hundred to spare, get a Titan or 2 (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Titans).

Titans are fucking fantastic.

[Melfice]

... get a shitload of ice, and a tub.
We're cutting out my kidneys.

I must have a Titan model.

But damn. Those DO look impressive. Too bloody expensive, but impressive!

[Flarecobra]

Yeah, for a grand apiece.

[Kerensky287]

At least he didn't go "Fuck the Imperium" at all. :P

Hell no, the Grey Knights are awesomebadass, even though they're space marines (though I still consider them Daemonhunters more than anything), and the Imperial Guard are freakin' sweet.

Actually, I put forward the Grey Knight suggestion. Those guys are just impressive all on their own. Buy some GK Terminators!

Imperial Guard might not be a great display army though. Too much work for too little reward.

[Flarecobra]

And like I said, I'll be going with SoB... Yet I can't seem to locate anything for Celestial Squads.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

I don't think I've seen many Sisters models at all. They don't seem very popular.

[Flarecobra]

Well, they just got a brand-new codex, after being lumped into the Witch Hunters codex for so long...

[TopHatAssassin]

I would say go with something easy to paint. That is to say, go with something you can easily conceptualize a colour scheme for which you can also easily execute. Unless you're a pro painter, in which case do whatever you want. Pick something that floats your boat and run with it.

A number of years ago, I purchased various Tau minis in hopes of getting into WH40K. It never panned out (too friggin' expensive). So I ended up with a number of nice plastic miniatures upon which I could practice my painting skills.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0001-1.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0002.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0003.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0005.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0007.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c294/TopHatAssassin/DSC_0009.jpg

This was my first foray into painting miniatures, and I was pleased at the time. Speaking in terms of aesthetics, I was drawn toward the Tau largely because of their streamlined looks. While not pictured here, my first ever 40K figure was a Hammerhead gunship. I like the sleek deadliness of the Tau. Take the battlesuits, for example. I love powered armour. The Broadsides are my favourite. You have something amazing as is (powered armour with some small weapons on it) and you slap two giant railguns on top. What's not to love?

While I can't speak for the other armies, I've flirted with the idea of picking up a Dreadnought (for the Space Marines). It appeals to my love for chunky machinery.

[DarkDrgon]

How experienced of a painter are you? if you have some 'chops or want to jump in head first, Eldar or Dark Eldar are a blast, and look pretty sweet. If you're on the newer end/ want something easy, Tau or SPEHS MARINES are the way to go. A good middle of the road are 'flashy' chapters(Space Wolves), or Chaos

We have a ton of Tau lovers on here, and that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I'll try to take a few pics of my Ocean themed Tau in a bit

PS: Screw titans, get a Manta

[Flarecobra]

Well, recall our Supreme Overload is a Tau fan.

[Azisien]

This thread sucks because I've been playing Dawn of War II: Retribution lately and now I want to get into 40k too.

[Kerensky287]

azi why didn't you say you had dow2 ret we need to play some last stand or something

I would take some pictures of my substantial Tau army, but it's broken and busted.

Including my lovely Forge World Broadside.

...I can fix it, but I don't feel like putting in the time. It's too heartbreaking.

[Azisien]

Well realistically the only place to announce I've been playing Retribution is the Steam Games thread, but everybody only plays TF2 there, so announcing it is pretty much redundant. But since this thread is only tangentially related, yeah! Miniatures! Woo!

Do they have a figurine bigger than the Titan that the person playing gets in and dispenses orders from?

[Flarecobra]

Titans are the biggest warmachines they got for land combat. Anything bigger, you'd be getting into the spaceships and whatnot.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Although there is no proper model for the Imperator Titans, outside of Apocalypse anyway. The joke is that you could custom build an Imperator for normal games, but it would essentially involve somebody wearing an Imperator suit and standing on the table to represent the size of the unit.

[Azisien]

That's not a joke though (or is it?), it's exactly what I was wondering. The space where tabletop strategy gaming and pen and paper roleplaying meet!

[Flarecobra]

Tell me, have you played Dawn of War: Winter assault? If so, then you got a good idea as to the scale of titans.

If not, then the SMALLER titans stand at about 30-45 feet tall. The larger ones stand nearly 200 feet tall, with their model being about 3 feet tall.

[The Artist Formerly Known as Hawk]

Or to put it another way;

http://www.vertigo.ripvanfish.com/umad/src/1287291212269.jpg

That's one of the SCOUTS. Below it are Space Marines and dreadnoughts. It is literally as tall as one of those AT-AT walkers from Empire Strikes Back (the giant crappy quadruped ones).

The Warlords (main battle Titans) are twice as big again and Imperators make Warlords quake with fear.

This is why Titans are fucking fantastic.

EDIT; And then of course there's the Castigator, which if it ever had a model would utterly break the game.

[Kerensky287]

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2010/2/1/80046_md-Apocalypse,%20Chaos,%20Chaos%20Titan,%20Emperor,%2 0Emperor%20Titan,%20Imperator,%20Scratch%20Build.j pg

Custom-built Imperator Titan model.

I think it's actually a little smaller than scale.

EDIT: And the Castigator was actually an ancient (like, even for 40k) chaos-corrupted Titan with a twin-barreled cannon that fired daemons instead of bullets. Hell yes it would break the game.

[Melfice]

EDIT: And the Castigator was actually an ancient (like, even for 40k) chaos-corrupted Titan with a twin-barreled cannon that fired daemons instead of bullets. Hell yes it would break the game.

Not enough dakka.

[DarkDrgon]

Never enuff dakka!

Also, i've been on DakkaDakka and warseer too much, out of habit i've skipped every third post assuming it was GW hate/people hating on the GW hate

[Kerensky287]

Never enuff dakka!

Also, i've been on DakkaDakka and warseer too much, out of habit i've skipped every third post assuming it was GW hate/people hating on the GW hate

Are you hating on the people who hate on the GW hate?

So meta.

[Azisien]

Still want to go out right now and buy a starter kit. This thread is so shitty. It's the holidays ffs! I don't have the money to do this!

[Kerensky287]

I actually wouldn't recommend the starter kit for anybody who doesn't plan on playing either of the armies included therein.

Learning the basics is as easy as going down to GW and asking for an introductory game (they LOVE doing that at official GW locations, no sarcasm) or going to a local hobby shop and watching somebody else play. There are all these values and statistics and crap that you need to know, but you can find and print quick reference sheets pretty easily (http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?aId=3400013&_requestid=53795), and it doesn't take long to catch on once you actually get playing.

The other stuff in the starter kit tends to be like, templates and dice and stuff. Templates can be purchased separately or, again, printed off (and cut out), and the rest can just be done with any old dice or measuring devices.

As for the putting stuff together and painting, I don't think the starter kit actually includes any glue or paint. You'd be buying that separately anyway.

EDIT: Ooh, this is a neat site: http://40000pirates.blogspot.com/

Basically, they let you download all these printable paper versions of stuff so you can try it before you buy it. Great for people suffering under a holiday budget.

[Azisien]

Still want to go out right now and buy a composite of items that would allow me to build and paint and play with models that in my mind is what a starter kit would be and has no official reference to what stores actually offer.

And I've played Warhammer before (twice), and play PnP all the time. Picking up the game would be like no effort at all.

[DarkDrgon]

If the game is interesting to you at all, I'd research before buying a battleforce. About half of them are entirely shitty for their army, the other 5/6 are meh, and the Tau one's there too.

Not even as a fanboy, its pretty much known that the Tau battleforce is the only one thats decent for starting an army.

If you really want to jump in head first, There are the Dark Eldar and SPEHS MARINE (yes, i always spell it like that) Megaforces, which are both pretty decent 1200 points, the average game being 1500, tournies 2000

[Azisien]

If I was actually buying miniatures and putting good money into it I would care about aesthetic way more than balance in the game. Stroking my nerd peen with my rad army at a Games Workshop isn't what I'm about.

I'd probably go Chaos Marine or Eldar, judging from personal taste. Orks are pretty cool too.

[Melfice]

If I was actually buying miniatures and putting good money into it I would care about aesthetic way more than balance in the game. Stroking my nerd peen with my rad army at a Games Workshop isn't what I'm about.

Yes, pretty much why I'm getting this just for display.
I want to be able to go wild. Maybe have friends pick a Marine and have them tell me what colours they want.

Five or six Marines'd be a sort of rag-tag band leading a Chapter yet undiscovered, giving me absolute freedom in colouring. (Nuklear Power Chapter?)

And I'd be able to pull it off too, since I wouldn't have to worry about lore-humpers (no offence. I mean the really annoying guys. You know.) whining about how unlikely it'd be for there to be mercenary Space Marines and bla-bla-bla.

[Azisien]

Yes, pretty much why I'm getting this just for display.


Ahhh I would not be averse to playing the game. I've played it before and it is quite fun. I just don't care if my army is super awesome sauce.

[Flarecobra]

Five or six Marines'd be a sort of rag-tag band leading a Chapter yet undiscovered, giving me absolute freedom in colouring. (Nuklear Power Chapter?)

And I'd be able to pull it off too, since I wouldn't have to worry about lore-humpers (no offence. I mean the really annoying guys. You know.) whining about how unlikely it'd be for there to be mercenary Space Marines and bla-bla-bla.

There ARE rogue chapters who basically merc themselves out.

For example, this one. (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/The_Damned_Company_of_Lord_Caustos)

[DarkDrgon]

Thats what they were, back in the Rogue Trader days.

[Kerensky287]

mercenary Space Marines and bla-bla-bla

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb22/Kerensky287/reaction%20shots/raeg.jpg

RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGE

[Flarecobra]

Keren... look in the link of my last post.

Canon Mercenary Space Marines.

[Kerensky287]

Keren... look in the link of my last post.

Canon Mercenary Space Marines.

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb22/Kerensky287/reaction%20shots/day9-scream_o_GIFSoupcom.gif

[Azisien]

If your galactic war setting doesn't have mercenaries you have a shitty setting anyways.

[Flarecobra]

Man, the stuff that's in canon that would mess with people's heads...

Like a sect of Inquisitors who beleves that humanity should try to make peace and work with aliens instead of fighting all of them.

[Melfice]

There ARE rogue chapters who basically merc themselves out.

For example, this one. (http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/The_Damned_Company_of_Lord_Caustos)

Yeah, but they're still Chapters, right?
I meant, here we've got 6 Marines, all in different colours, and then they lead a group of other Marines.

But, uh... I think we shouldn't venture further down this avenue, lest we give Kerensky an aneurysm.

[Flarecobra]

Yeah, they're not fun.