Starting an Undivided force

[Midgard]

Well, I've finally decided to add a Chaos army to my existing two (Raven Guard Space Marines and the Orks), but am trying to figure out what to start it with. I am looking at casual gaming, and expect to start it at around 1,000 points, eventually expanding it to 1,500 points. It is probably going to be an Undivided force - I am thinking Alpha Legion or Night Lords, although since I already have Raven Guard army, Night Lords might play a bit too similar to it (speaking of which - anyone can tell if I am right on that?).

 

So, my question is, what is a good, relatively inexpensive way to start?

 

I am thinking Chaos Battleforce as the starting point, and then adding HQ choice (probably a Terminator Lord, but if I go with Night Lords, I'll get the Night Lords Hero miniature instead; alternately, might get a Daemon Prince as my HQ choice). That should run between US$105 and US$125 at the going GW prices (and probably a bit less, as my local store gives discounts on purchases over $100), before taxes, and would leave me with the following:

 

15 X Chaos Space Marines ($35 for 10 man squad, $20 for attack squad - total $55)

8 X Berserkers ($20 if purchased separately - presuming it is 2/3rds of the price of a kit of 12 Berserkers that costs $30)

5 X Possessed Marines ($26.50 on their own)

1 X Chaos Rhino ($30 if bought separately)

1 X Chaos Terminator Lord ($20) / Night Lords Hero ($15) / Daemon Prince ($35)

 

The total would be $151.50 (Chaos Terminator Lord) / $146.50 (Night Lords Hero) / $166.50 (Daemon Prince) purchasing it separately versus respectively $110 / $105 / $125 getting it as a set and a special character, before the store discount (usually 10% at the store where I shop) is applied - the savings of $41.50 in each scenario. So from financial standpoint, it makes perfect sense.

 

On the other hand, will that list leave me with a lot of options that I will have to replace in a not too distant future? In other words, does it have some units that will be fairly useless on the tabletop? And if the above list would make sense as a starting point, what HQ choice would you recommend? I am open to having a special character HQ choice as well, if one is good for a balanced list without taking it too far into any specialized direction.

 

I am not a power gamer, but I would like to have an army that is not going to become a doormat for everything I may play in casual/storyline-driven games. And I would like to use it as a basis to build an Undivided army of 1,000 to 1,500 points - will this list be suitable for it, or will I have to replace some of the units in it to achieve a balanced army?

 

Your input is very much appreciated - thank you in advance!

[incinerator950]

In before get Demon Prince

 

If you stay undivided, the only Icon worth taking is Chaos Glory. The others need to be put on units that best fits them, khorne on troops/raptors, Slaanesh/Tzeentch on Terminators, and Nurgle is too expensive, you're better off using Cult Marines.

 

Possessed are too random to be useful

Terminator Lord needs an escort of Terminators, and needs to be teleported/Driven in a Land Raider

 

Undivided Marines excel at 10 models a unit, and don't take heavy weapons, but two special weapons for them.

[Magnus Thane]

I'd recommend avoiding the starterforce if you go for AL or NL. The berserkers don't suit the NL's and even for the AL i'd aim at a good dose of normal CSM's first.

And possessed are not superfluffy for either too (though possible) and certainly not good in game.

 

Just start with a Lord, 2 full squads of CSM's, 2 Rhino's and either some Havoks or some Oblits as the core of your force.

Than add some more CSM's.

If you play NL's. Add a strong contingent of Raptors and Bikes. In the case of AL take a good look at some good old fashion armor too.

After a while you can add in a unit of Termies (with or without Lord) and a Landraider for instance.

[Garou24]

I feel the battleforce is a great start to any army. If you don't plan on using berserkers in your army, then just use the legs, backpacks and torsos from the berserkers and the extra heads and arms from your Chaos marines to make them generic marines. i love possessed marines, but many people don't, so if you don't plan to use them, you can make them as Chosen marines or mix and match their bits. plus you get a rhino as a transport. its a good deal for the amount of models you get.

[Midgard]

Speaking of Possessed Marines, as I have not played as or against Chaos yet and am yet to buy C:CSM, what is the issue with them? I remember that when playing DoW, Possessed Marines were one of my favorite units to use as Chaos, but naturally it will be quite different on the tabletop.

[Garou24]

Possessed have a higher points cost and they get 1 special ability that you roll for after deployment, so its a gamble what you will get and can be hard to plan for. They are close combat units, with no ranged attack. They have good strenght and a 5+ invunerable save, but can be hard to use since you do not know what your bonus ability will be. But I enjoy them for the models and used them in many games just due to the fact not many people see them that often and they are fun and fluffy.

[Midgard]

Hmm... the more I think about it, the more I realize that the Night Lords are probably out for me. Although I do enjoy their fluff, the NL force I would build would be heavily based on Zso Sahaal from "Lord of the Night" and something he would lead - which means they would be far less "Chaos-y" than traditional Night Lords.

 

With this in mind, besides Alpha Legion, what good "fluffy" Chaos Undivided force can I build that does not have over-specialization in something? If I were to go only with original Legions, my remaining choices would be Black Legion, Iron Warriors, and Word Bearers. Which one of these forces would be most appropriate for a somewhat fluffy Undivided army with no overt specialization (or, rather, no overt dedication to one god)? Also, which would be easier to paint for someone of rather mediocre painting skill?

[the jeske]

which means they would be far less "Chaos-y" than traditional Night Lords.

well the thing is the "less chaosy"NL consist of szo and that is it . all the other NL went chaos.

 

 

as list goes IW are easiest to paint . 4 csm squads . 2 hqs and fluffy oblits . or the same thing with defilers [fluffy for BL who invented those].

[chillin]

I don't really like the battle force eather. I don't like possessed, eather to use in the army, nor the models for bitz. If you're not going to use the brzrkrs eather, you will be paying for alot of stuff you are not going to use.