New Player - Help Build an Army

[patrunkenphat7]

Hello all,

I just joined these forums, and I have just decided to get back into Warhammer 40k! Last time I played this game was around 2004, although I primarily focused on Fantasy. Since I was a middle school kid at the time, I remember very little about the game... Picking it back up is going to take some time. I do want to play Tyranids, and right now I'm interested in a straight-forward 2000 pt list that I can work to and modify as I become more experienced. This will be helpful for me, because I want to be putting together and painting my models as I learn more about the strategies and rules. I have no details right now like "what will you be playing against?" Assume anything and everything. Space Marines and Blood Angels are pretty much a guarantee. As far as flavor of the army goes, I'm not picky but will end up picking a direction after I learn more. I do know that I will want to field some monstrous creatures... These awesome models are part of the reason that I am drawn to the Tyranids. I understand that the Carnifex is expensive and seems to be outclassed in point efficiency by some of these newer creatures - I'm OK with that; these newer models seem awesome.

So I guess what I am requesting is pointers, maybe a starting list, and advice on what models I can go ahead and start painting (models that are shoe-ins for most 2000/1500 point lists). I would specifically like to know what upgrades I should put on my units, since that will affect how I will put together the models.

I know this is a noob post, so please don't flame me. Last noob question- are most people playing 1500 or 2000 point games? I know this is subjective, but I remember all my Fantasy games being 2000 points back in the day. Please link any articles worth reading about Tyranids. I am familiar with the content on the Games-Workshop website, but I have no idea where to look other than that. Any advice is really appreciated!

By the way... A little info about me... I am a hardcore Magic player. I play a ton of Magic. I've been on the pro tour and placed well at some large events. Just putting this info out there so you guys know I'm a competitive gamer and go hard in my nerd hobbies

[fnorrll]

Buy a battle box and add a tervigon. Thats al you need for lower point games (and maybe some hive guard). You'll have a solid starting point there. Games range in points values, but anywhere from 1500 to 2000 is right (often 1750 or 1850 is common)

[patrunkenphat7]

I have read that the warriors are fragile, and a lot of people don't use them. I am sure this is subjective How do you convert warriors, and what else do you do for synapse in a smaller force? I am guessing synapse is still at least similar to old rules, but I have not purchased the new codex yet. Also, are hormogaunts good to have in the mix or are you better off just playing terms and genestealers?

[Xantige]

First off. Don't buy anything. Go to your local game store and watch some games, ask some questions and get to know the 40k players. Make sure they're friendly and you get along well with them because there is nothing worse than getting into this hobby and finding out your fellow gamers make you want to scream.

Next, ask them what point levels they usually play and ask if they're okay with playing small 500 or so point games with newbies. Make sure they honestly want to help new blood, some people either are bad teachers or assume that insulting and obliterating you count as "teaching". Also ask if any of them have tyranids, and the codex, and if they wouldn't mind lending you the codex, and bringing in their nid models for you to field against them. If none of them are willing to lend their books to you (understandable if you're a stranger to them) than pick up the mini 5th edition rulebook on ebay and buy the Tyranid codex and read both cover to cover. (Note: There are rumours that 6th edition is due out this summer, so you may want to hold off until then).

Make sure that your love for the bugs goes beyond just theory! I know people that have bought 2500 points worth of an army (in one visit) only to find out they hate how they play. If no one has a nid army, then ask if they have any models you could borrow to proxy, or if they would be offended if you showed up with cut out paper discs with "Hormagaunt" or "Warrior" written on them, or such.

I really don't think you should just launch into 2000 points if you haven't played 40k before, it's a huge investment of money and time, and it's easy to buy models you'll end up not using. Start small and work your way up! 40k has a learning curve, and Nids have a pretty steep one, you'll lose a lot, so be ready for that.

But if you must by something other than the rulebook, dice, templates, etc, get a battleforce, it's a nice sample pack of troop units. It's not a competitive army, but it'll give you a taste of how each troop works.

[patrunkenphat7]

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify though - I have played 40k, I just mostly focused on Fantasy. I was also a kid so probably made a lot of mistakes, and I did not play in the tournament scene. I am definitely not starting from point 0; I know all basics of the game since I played back in 2004, but anything mildly complicated I have completely forgotten. I played Tyranids and dabbled in Orks, but again, I was a middle school kid, and it looks like the army has changed so much since then anyways. I definitely know that Tyranids is the army I want to play right now. I just know absolutely nothing about modern Tyranid tactics, and I don't know anything about the 'newer' units.

So let's say I just want to get some Termagaunts to paint and put together as I read and watch... Any upgrades that I absolutely need to put on the models? I haven't looked yet, but I might pick up a pack of gaunts tomorrow to satisfy my desire to paint.

Also just curious - will a new codex come out with 6th edition rules, or am I set to read and build off of this one for a while?

Thanks!

[fnorrll]

Generally dont put upgrades on termagants- if they are within range of a tervigon they get them for free.

When 6th comes out, the new codexes will be released piecemeal some time afterwards. Nids wont be top of the pile to be done.

[Xantige]

May 22, 2012 22:19:39 GMT patrunkenphat7 said:

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify though - I have played 40k, I just mostly focused on Fantasy. I was also a kid so probably made a lot of mistakes, and I did not play in the tournament scene. I am definitely not starting from point 0; I know all basics of the game since I played back in 2004, but anything mildly complicated I have completely forgotten. I played Tyranids and dabbled in Orks, but again, I was a middle school kid, and it looks like the army has changed so much since then anyways. I definitely know that Tyranids is the army I want to play right now. I just know absolutely nothing about modern Tyranid tactics, and I don't know anything about the 'newer' units.

So let's say I just want to get some Termagaunts to paint and put together as I read and watch... Any upgrades that I absolutely need to put on the models? I haven't looked yet, but I might pick up a pack of gaunts tomorrow to satisfy my desire to paint.

Also just curious - will a new codex come out with 6th edition rules, or am I set to read and build off of this one for a while?

Thanks!

My mistake I missed the "getting back into 40k" part of your post!

Also, I think 5th edition came out sometime after 2007, so the core rules have also changed from when you last played (or have you kept up with 5th?) So not only are nids different, but so are the basic rules.

If 6th comes out, it will still be a while before a 6th edition nid codex comes out, so the current one is still good. Termagants are sort of a safe buy.... if I recall right, a lot of people have told me that in 4th edition, Spinegaunts were viable, now in 5th they're terrible. Who knows what they'll be like in 6th.... but I'm pretty sure no one would get mad at you if you used them to count as spinegaunts or devilgaunts in 6th if those become more viable.

[WestRider]

May 23, 2012 4:53:21 GMT Xantige said:

If 6th comes out, it will still be a while before a 6th edition nid codex comes out, so the current one is still good. Termagants are sort of a safe buy.... if I recall right, a lot of people have told me that in 4th edition, Spinegaunts were viable, now in 5th they're terrible. Who knows what they'll be like in 6th.... but I'm pretty sure no one would get mad at you if you used them to count as spinegaunts or devilgaunts in 6th if those become more viable.

Like a lot of things, the opinions on basic Termagant loadouts get blown way out of proportion. In the 4th Ed Dex, SpineGaunts were generally better, Point-for-Point. In the 5th Ed Dex, Fleshborers are generally better, Point-for-Point. But the difference in both cases is tiny, and much of it just comes from the fact that whichever one has the cheaper gun at the moment will be able to put more Bodies on the table for a given number of Points.

You can run SpineGaunts now and do just fine, and you could run Fleshborers just fine under the previous Dex.

And the same applies to a number of other Units that some people will tell you are terrible. In some cases (Pyrovores, I'm looking at you!), it is more or less true, but in many others (Warriors, Fexen with 2xScything Talons or 2xDevourers, Hormagaunts, and Raveners, just to name a few.), they're still usable, especially if you're in a somewhat less competitive environment.

[Bot]

May 22, 2012 18:28:22 GMT patrunkenphat7 said:

By the way... A little info about me... I am a hardcore Magic player. I play a ton of Magic. I've been on the pro tour and placed well at some large events. Just putting this info out there so you guys know I'm a competitive gamer and go hard in my nerd hobbies

Awesomeness!

As for competitive Tyranids, I hope you're a patient person.

*Cough*

Anyway,

May 22, 2012 18:28:22 GMT patrunkenphat7 said:

Please link any articles worth reading about Tyranids. I am familiar with the content on the Games-Workshop website, but I have no idea where to look other than that. Any advice is really appreciated!

(I don't know if you've already seen this in the tactic section...) so here you go.

thetyranidhive.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Tactics&action=display&thread=38855

And how large games people play the most? I don't know.
I suppose it is different from place to place.

[patrunkenphat7]

Thank you for the info, everyone! I got some Termagants that I can paint as well as a codex (and I have access to a rulebook). I will keep the forum updated with a list when I become more familiar with the new rules. From a simple read-through, Tervigons look super sweet! Gargoyles look very different, but I am thinking they could be a nice screen unit (better/more efficient than hormagaunts maybe?). I have a ton of research to do, because I don't know how the other armies have all been affected... Right now I am liking the idea of a large Gargoyle screen with 2 Tervigons and 2 10-unit squads of terms with them. Definitely some Stealers thrown in the mix. I don't know how to evaluate the Trygon and Mawloc compared to a fex really, but I guess I will figure it out. Looks like I need a reliable way to deal with tanks, and I'm not sure what that will be. Why do Zoanthropes seem uncommon on the boards? This will take some time, but that's OK, I'm excited to get back into the game!