Post by RedsandRoyals on Jan 7, 2016 22:14:32 GMT -5
Greetings one and all, and welcome TO THE THUNDERDOME my latest descent into financial madness.
My next paycheck will be a bit more plump than usual, as I was fortunate to receive a raise back-dated to the beginning of December. That, combined with the fact that I feel like I've earned the right to spend some cash on myself recently, means I'm considering picking up a moderately sized 40k army. My main intention is just having fun building and customizing, rather than putting anything down on the tabletop, but I want to keep it open as an option. My Guard collection is now in the hands of another IGMBer (or, as I like to think of it, transferred to the Northern Front of the IGMB North American Theater of Operations), I have a respectable and flexible generic space marine collection, I'm using other minis as proxies for a small Stormtrooper force, and I should be getting small force of non-GW plastic sisters some time before the end of summer, if all goes as planned. I'd like to add one more army, though.
Currently, though, no army really spins my wizzer enough for me to pounce on it. My two choices normally would be Black Templars or Grey Knights, but the former isn't so much an army as an upgrade kit (which would make it even more expensive to collect), and the second... I just can't. They've been ruined for me. Especially with the Mighty Morphin' DreadWard included in most packages, which I want absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with. So I'm going to thrust myself on the mercy of the IGMB's slavering, rabid hive mind to help me pick.
Some quick notes to give you a glimpse into my (lack of) logic:
- I'm looking for models that are interesting to build, and somewhat different from what I have. Newer kits are a plus, and I refuse to acknowledge finecast as a viable option for minis.
- Starter kits and bundles are a plus, especially since I might be able to find them on Amazon at a reduced rate.
- I like infantry, mostly because I feel they give me the most fun customizing and assembling for my money, so whatever I get will probably be a bit infantry-centric.
- No, I'm not going to buy huge models like Lords of War or anything. I don't like them for many reasons, each better than the last.
With that in mind, let's get to the candidates!
Option 1: Space Wolves. I will be the first to admit that they're kind of doofy in their appearance, and there are certain models in their range that I would glady set fire to all existing copies of. But they've grown on me. I like their silliness, and I like that they have some unique units and vehicles that most Marines don't (I'm especially keen on Long Fangs) I'd probably collect a city assault-themed force, with maybe one or two random units thrown in for fun. But, again, they are pretty doofy, and historically they don't play nice with Sisters or the Inquisition, which throws a bit of a spanner into the unification of my collection under one banner.
Option 2: Dark Angels. I admit, I like the hoods and robes. Mea Culpa. I also like their iconography and extra bits. Downsides? They're perilously close to plain-Jane Space Marines, and I have no desire whatsoever to collect Terminators or bikes, which are the two staples of their army. I'd be most likely angling for a fast attack force with less infantry, but more speeders and flyers to take advantage of some of their unique models. Other downsides? See above about not playing nice with others, and they're kind of generally jerks. Upside? Since my space marines will be painted "Spray Can Black" for the foreseeable future, I can seed in normal marines with pimped out, clearly-Dark-Angels models to boost their ranks if I do decide to throw down with them. Also, there's a bundle that comes with a good number of conversion sprues.
Option 3: Mechanicus. This would be a strictly Skitarii army. They're new, I haven't built them before, and they're very distinct. They seem like they'd have lots o' customization, too, which is always nice, so overall they may offer the best building experience. They're also the only army I'd consider buying an Imperial Knight for (which is the only Lord of War unit I'd ever get). We're still firmly in the realm of "Doesn't Play Well With Others", though, fluffwise, and the Mechanicus in general is one of the main things that bothers me about 40k fluff. I also know less than nothing about their rules and such, so it would literally be "Oh, that looks nice, I'll have that" when I buy. Not that I wouldn't do that with the other armies, but still.
Option 4: Orks. I love Orks. I've always loved Orks. To hell with the whole "Ruthless mindless savage stabby machines" side of them that shows up sometimes (like in the Space Marine game). They're a hoot, and fun to convert. Also? ALL THE INFANTRY. That said, there's a lot of low cards in this hand. I don't like the bundles, so collecting will be more expensive. I've also build nearly all of their infantry kits before at one time or another, so I'm not sure how much mileage I'd get out of the troops. They're also the least likely out of any of the options to team up with my current forces (well, to be fair, it's more my current forces would be least likely to team up with them). I really do like the army, and all the conversions I see floating around, but when I look at the kits and the price point, my enthusasim wanes.
Option 5: Blood Angels. The most Suspiciously Fabulous chapter. I like their special units, I like the Baal Predator (it's one of those kits I've always wanted to build), and out of all the choices, they'd be the most likely to cooperate with what I've already got sitting in the barracks. But! Jump troops are pretty poorly priced, and I'm not sold on the look of the Death Company. Every time I look at the models I have a strong urge to paint them like KISS or something. Their basic troops are pretty generic too, not that far removed from normal marines, so there's limited excitement out of them. This would probably be a smaller, non FOC force of Sanguinary Guard (All aboard the nipple train!) and some other units that interest me.
Option 6: Self explanatory, although I'll find something else to waste this money on, I'm sure.
So, vote! Vote for your lives!
My next paycheck will be a bit more plump than usual, as I was fortunate to receive a raise back-dated to the beginning of December. That, combined with the fact that I feel like I've earned the right to spend some cash on myself recently, means I'm considering picking up a moderately sized 40k army. My main intention is just having fun building and customizing, rather than putting anything down on the tabletop, but I want to keep it open as an option. My Guard collection is now in the hands of another IGMBer (or, as I like to think of it, transferred to the Northern Front of the IGMB North American Theater of Operations), I have a respectable and flexible generic space marine collection, I'm using other minis as proxies for a small Stormtrooper force, and I should be getting small force of non-GW plastic sisters some time before the end of summer, if all goes as planned. I'd like to add one more army, though.
Currently, though, no army really spins my wizzer enough for me to pounce on it. My two choices normally would be Black Templars or Grey Knights, but the former isn't so much an army as an upgrade kit (which would make it even more expensive to collect), and the second... I just can't. They've been ruined for me. Especially with the Mighty Morphin' DreadWard included in most packages, which I want absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with. So I'm going to thrust myself on the mercy of the IGMB's slavering, rabid hive mind to help me pick.
Some quick notes to give you a glimpse into my (lack of) logic:
- I'm looking for models that are interesting to build, and somewhat different from what I have. Newer kits are a plus, and I refuse to acknowledge finecast as a viable option for minis.
- Starter kits and bundles are a plus, especially since I might be able to find them on Amazon at a reduced rate.
- I like infantry, mostly because I feel they give me the most fun customizing and assembling for my money, so whatever I get will probably be a bit infantry-centric.
- No, I'm not going to buy huge models like Lords of War or anything. I don't like them for many reasons, each better than the last.
With that in mind, let's get to the candidates!
Option 1: Space Wolves. I will be the first to admit that they're kind of doofy in their appearance, and there are certain models in their range that I would glady set fire to all existing copies of. But they've grown on me. I like their silliness, and I like that they have some unique units and vehicles that most Marines don't (I'm especially keen on Long Fangs) I'd probably collect a city assault-themed force, with maybe one or two random units thrown in for fun. But, again, they are pretty doofy, and historically they don't play nice with Sisters or the Inquisition, which throws a bit of a spanner into the unification of my collection under one banner.
Option 2: Dark Angels. I admit, I like the hoods and robes. Mea Culpa. I also like their iconography and extra bits. Downsides? They're perilously close to plain-Jane Space Marines, and I have no desire whatsoever to collect Terminators or bikes, which are the two staples of their army. I'd be most likely angling for a fast attack force with less infantry, but more speeders and flyers to take advantage of some of their unique models. Other downsides? See above about not playing nice with others, and they're kind of generally jerks. Upside? Since my space marines will be painted "Spray Can Black" for the foreseeable future, I can seed in normal marines with pimped out, clearly-Dark-Angels models to boost their ranks if I do decide to throw down with them. Also, there's a bundle that comes with a good number of conversion sprues.
Option 3: Mechanicus. This would be a strictly Skitarii army. They're new, I haven't built them before, and they're very distinct. They seem like they'd have lots o' customization, too, which is always nice, so overall they may offer the best building experience. They're also the only army I'd consider buying an Imperial Knight for (which is the only Lord of War unit I'd ever get). We're still firmly in the realm of "Doesn't Play Well With Others", though, fluffwise, and the Mechanicus in general is one of the main things that bothers me about 40k fluff. I also know less than nothing about their rules and such, so it would literally be "Oh, that looks nice, I'll have that" when I buy. Not that I wouldn't do that with the other armies, but still.
Option 4: Orks. I love Orks. I've always loved Orks. To hell with the whole "Ruthless mindless savage stabby machines" side of them that shows up sometimes (like in the Space Marine game). They're a hoot, and fun to convert. Also? ALL THE INFANTRY. That said, there's a lot of low cards in this hand. I don't like the bundles, so collecting will be more expensive. I've also build nearly all of their infantry kits before at one time or another, so I'm not sure how much mileage I'd get out of the troops. They're also the least likely out of any of the options to team up with my current forces (well, to be fair, it's more my current forces would be least likely to team up with them). I really do like the army, and all the conversions I see floating around, but when I look at the kits and the price point, my enthusasim wanes.
Option 5: Blood Angels. The most Suspiciously Fabulous chapter. I like their special units, I like the Baal Predator (it's one of those kits I've always wanted to build), and out of all the choices, they'd be the most likely to cooperate with what I've already got sitting in the barracks. But! Jump troops are pretty poorly priced, and I'm not sold on the look of the Death Company. Every time I look at the models I have a strong urge to paint them like KISS or something. Their basic troops are pretty generic too, not that far removed from normal marines, so there's limited excitement out of them. This would probably be a smaller, non FOC force of Sanguinary Guard (All aboard the nipple train!) and some other units that interest me.
Option 6: Self explanatory, although I'll find something else to waste this money on, I'm sure.
So, vote! Vote for your lives!