Protege starting Daemonhunters

[Commander Sasha]

One of my 11 year old son's friends has decided to spend his (considerable) Christmas money on a new army, and has chosen DH/Grey Knights. He was previously a Necron collector, and of all his comrades, he has been the most enthusiastic, playing most weeks at GW or home, and soaking up rules & advice.

 

I know very little about DH: can anyone give any good tips, caveats, rules-of-thumb etc? Great or counter-productive combinations; unmissable or pointless wargear/options; all help welcome, primarily for list building, but modelling tips and recommended reading also useful!

 

Thanks, I have a reputation of omniscience to uphold! (Although I always credit my sources!)

[XaClocKWorKoX]

i hope he likes specialized armies vs vast armies.

 

 

pointers uhhh just remember its a game and have fun.

[number6]

I would strongly recommend checking out the links in the Online Resources topic pinned at the top of this forum. Most of the DH links are concerned with playing pure GK armies. They remain excellent, but were written for 4th edition 40K, when it was at least possible to make a pure GK army competitive. Sadly, 5th edition changed enough that it effectively nerfed pure GK armies off the "all-comer's" category and into the "rock" category. (As in "rock", "paper", "scissors". And there are many more "paper" armies with each new codex, so the list of "scissors" the DH "rock" can smash gets smaller every few months. :( )

 

The current best pure DH codex army lists that I've been able to employ can be found in the Hunting daemons topic. (Though I would add that even stronger DH armies can be built around an inducted IG platoon.) A related discussion can be found in the current De-mechanizing the enemy topic.

 

As for modeling, GKs and the usual IST models (Kasrkins) are all metal, so conversions are challenging. However, most of us here in the OI remain convinced that the GKs -- and in particular the GKTs -- remain some of the best models Citadel has ever produced. Even pedestrian paint jobs on these models result in a stunning tabletop appearance.

 

In the final analysis, the DH army has always been one of the most challenging armies to play and win with. 5th edition has just made that more apparent and somewhat limited the number of feasible army builds as a result. But on the flip side, the DH (being part of the Inquisition) has always had some of the most compelling fluff and models. The army oozes fun and flavor, and remains extremely rewarding to collect.

[Brother_Fatiswon]

while i'm sure there are a great number of post and strings about Converting models...somewhere in B&C, i'm to new to the forum to tell you where

but i can tell you that, i purchased the DH Codex back in 03? or was it... anywas, it was the Sheer Cost that keep me from playing a GK Army at the time. the only real Cheap way around this are the Plastic Terminators found in the Assualt of Black Reach box set. If you invest some time, you can find "Bit" sellers on a super popular website that will remain nameless. with Adult supervison, and a few nicks and maybe a lost finger time, you can hack and slash the stormbolts from the RIGHT arms, and shift make your Left handed Storm bolters by using the chopped bolter and the powerFist(s) and then, add some halbergs/spears from the Warhammer Fanstasy lines, i would look particularly at ORC, Empire, and Betoinian(sp) knights for suitable "shaft Weapons" to proxy the Nemisis weapons(although, the codex does said that NEM Weaps, can be any kind of Bladed weapon...ergo, axes, hammers, swords, ALL kind of Options. < GW Does sell GK Nem weaps at their website thou, and not for a bad price, but only the halbergs/and GKT's PsyCannons(leftarmed) are availble. As for Troops: i'd look into the Assualt boxes of Regular Marines, you get 5 models for 25 USD$, lose or trade out the jump packs with your friends, Replace the "Chainswords with Blades/spears from WHF's weapon lines and Replace the bolt pistols by taking 2 regular Bolter glue together to Make your PAGK's Storm bolters (you'll have to use ur hobby knife to "shave" the inside surface of both guns to not only glue proper, but to look right while mounted on the SM's arm. you may have to chop the back end of the guns or shave some of the shoulder guard on the Marine himself. OR, i was looking at the GW website, you could use Khorne Zekers you get like 12? for $30.. Trim those bunny ears and the chaos marking and you have the foundation for your Troops. Two boxes plus parts and peices.. ya get 3 "8man GK Space marines"

Pick up the "DARk angel/and BlackTemplar" chapter upgrades, for both of this boxes have muti Icon/weapons that can be used as well as the robed figures from the DA upgrade... here's a wonderfull converson, i did back in the late 90's, i took a REG TDA with an Assualt cannon, he came from the 80's terminator box set, and the barrel had be lost to the warp(broken off and lost...) well, i simply chopped the barrel from an Ork two handed Dakka and Glued it in place. ala ka Zam! one pyscannon armed GK. In the DA upgrades is a plastic Assualt Cannon... so yeah there you go. The Trick is in for a penny, well you the rest, if you whole army looks like, feels like, and is painted like.... Well they must be the ALL MIGHTY GREY KNIGHTS.

in fact i would take a Hard Look at the "bladed weapons" of the orks from AoBR and think about using small pieces of wood, or even paper tightly rolled in to "Shafts" for making Pole arms, for your GKT or PAGK... If you looking to play a more Inquistor baesed Army, use the 5 man box of IG cadian troops (snap together models) for your IST"S, and again use icons and bits and peices from either DA or BT uggrade boxes... also, the "space marine Commander" box/plastic models has lots and lots of bits for making up guys. AND lastly, for my "purtian" inqusitors, i use the "warrion model" from the witch hunter model line. the one with the power sword and the storm sheild, and all the (I) icons, and i add bits and peices to make him pop in terms of WYSIWYG. (i also really like, if you have the money, using fabious bile from the Chaos lines, as a "Radical inqusitor" armed with a needle pistol, which he comes with and a null rod, which, oh look he's got that too...insert EVIL Laugh, paired up with 3 Deamon host...which i like poseied(sp) Chaos marines, for that role as well, just have to add binding and chains... yeah....fun times...)

i'm sry if this reads badly for i have to go now and Care for my own Future Table top Gamers

Brother Inquisitor_FATisWon

[ntgcleaner]

I actually started a little while ago, and my first army is Daemonhunters. Because of the tactica all over the place and these great people here at the B&C, my game has skyrocketed against just about any opponent. I play a pure DH list because for some reason I hate the fact of inducting anyone else. It's kind of like "I chose this army, why would I want to bring in another army" and pay the $$$ for everything needed there as well (Codex and such).

 

If he learns well and he can adjust his tactics on the fly, I would imagine that he would have no problems playing DH. My only concern is basically letting him know that he has to slow down his play and really think ahead and through to turn 6.

 

A LOT of the rules in the Codex:DH are pretty useless. I still have yet to use any of the psyker powers that involve daemons. I forget who said it (and I will edit if I find out who), but someone said that for being "Daemon Hunters", we really don't have THAT many things that specialize in actually killing them. Plus, really, how many Daemon armies are there?

 

For purchasing purposes;

1. I would say buy a bunch of regular GK's, maybe around 10-15 off the bat (Yes that is a lot of money)

2. At least go buy 10 IST's, I actually bought a pack of 10 Kasrkin troopers, they almost look the same and will suffice in friendly games. (make sure you can kit two of them to look like they have meltas!). With these IST's it is strongly suggested to buy 1 Rhino for ever 5-10 IST's.

3. IMO, I would buy 5-10 Terminators. I LOVE my terminators! Yes, they are a point sink when they don't work in your game, but man... when they work, it's glorious! (remember, they can NOT make sweeping advances! - I learned this the hard way).

4. Also, you must at least purchase an HQ piece, I would suggest staying away from the Inquisitors for now, until he really learned the army. You may even be able to get away with using the 'Brother Captain' in your Terminator box but that means you have one less Termie to play with.

5. last but not least, because of 5th ed. rules, you will have to (in most DH players casesand opinions) purchase 1-2 Land Raiders.

 

This can set you up with close to or around 1500 points of pure DH army. This is of course, my opinion, I'm no doctor or anything. So just remember, please read all of the resources before you begin to buy and make sure you are confident and set on that army. I would at least go buy the Codex to check out all of the special rules. But remember, as number6 said:

Sadly, 5th edition changed enough that it effectively nerfed pure GK armies off the "all-comer's" category and into the "rock" category.

Yes, they are a very hard to play army, but once you understand them, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. I played a game with a Tau player last weekend and I won spectacularly! (I actually tank shocked his stealth suits with my rhino... he failed his test and had to fall back 3d6"... he was only 5.5" away from his table edge!) If we're talking total units lost, I did not lose one whole unit! He actually managed to kill ~250 points out of a 1000 point game!

 

Anyways, It's a great army to play but extremely hard to play! If he is up for the challenge (seriously, up for the challenge) then might as well give it a shot.

[Brother_Fatiswon]

I just had a Flash of inspiration, and went looking at GW's website... if you took BoAR Terminators, and picked up "pine mounted" storm bolters from bit sellers (from tank asst spures) Terminator shoulder pads/or Space marine shoulder pads, you could, pick up the Empire Greatsword box (41.25 usd) and you'll get 12 two handed swords and 13 heads to use/ and lots of icon bits. OoOo TDA armed two handed Greatsword Nem weapons with ur Storm bolter attached to the TDA's upper ridge. O_o. (think i need a napkin to wipe the drool from my chin....) you i think, could, with a little more green stuff, do the same to AoBR Space Marines as well.. idk, i'm starting to think, maybe the AoBR reach box is the really the Master kit for making A Kustom GK army. Also seems like the Emprie like the "Empire State Troop" box would also yeild massive bits and peices for the Converter to work with...plus if you were to pick up AoBR you'd also get the SM Capt. which you could use as a Inquistor lord with anotied weapon and Bolter w/psybolts... and the Dread, which you could use as a GK Dread with either Forge world arms or pickup a couple of IG:sentianl box and kit bash some plasma cannons or a twin link laser cannon.

As for advise as to who and what... idk... More later...i guess

[Karitas]

ooh, synchronicity, Brother_Faitswon posts that the same evening i post This

 

I eouldnt advocate using AoBR marines, I personally think they lack character, but the commander certainly could be used, the dread too with a little iconography, For the Termies in the link I used aobr marines, left over TH/SS arms, a few hands from normal marines (for the TH arm) and blades from a bitz order of DA blades (they were on offer at bits and kits for 10p each)

 

for a few comments more in keeping with the thread, I origially started with DH as a radical, and while I love my Daemonhost, IST's as my only troops really weren't up to it.

 

I followed this by adding in a guard allied contingent, ut soon realised most of my kills were being made by guard, and I was, in fact, running a rather sucessful guard army with some DH window dressing.

 

I've finally arrived at a point where I have a "proper" and sucessful DH army, with IST's, and Inq and GK BC and retinue all meched up (LR and Chimeras) and a bunch more PAGK and GKT rrady to deepstrike.

 

I've just added a Dreadnought too, but havent feilded him yet.

 

I think the key to sucess with a "pure" DH force is the blend of fast moving mech Melta IST's and deepstriking GK's if you fear the scatter you can give IST sergeants teleport homers and have them "drop off" the GK's wherever they are needed.

 

anyway I've a ton of tut's and ruminations over at my blog, please feel free to have a read, and ask anything - I'm no expert, but I've been having fun with the old codex :)

[fuzbuckle]

I'm about 4 or 5 months new to 40K and started out with both Daemonhunters and Codex Space Marines. I have since sold off all of my Space Marine pieces and now focus solely on Daemonhunters. I also play mostly smaller point games unless I'm playing with someone who lets me proxy a ton and use the scratch built foamcore vehicles I've made because I don't have the actual models built for anything larger. Currently I'm fielding a pretty successful 750 point list (with the help of Inquisitor Nicole Pyykkonen and Lord Avakain) which can be found in this thread here.

 

As far as cost goes it consists of:

 

1 Box of GK Terminators - BC is the BC from the termie box @ $55

1x Justicar $11.50

4x Psycannon GK's - $13.25ea

3x IST squad 1 direct from GW @ $17ea

1x Imperial Guard Sanctioned Psykers @ $15 (these are my mystics)

1x Inquisitor with bolt pistol @ $12.50

2x Melta Guns direct from GW @ 6.60 ea

1x TH/SS conversion Kit direct from GW @ $13.25

 

This gives you 5 Termies, 5 PAGK's, 12 IST's, 3 Mystics, 1 Inquisitor and the parts to equip your Brother Captain with a TH/SS and 6 of your IST's with Melta and have some Melta to Spare. A rotary tool is also necessary to convert the IST's with the meltas which you can get an off brand for around $20 - $30.

 

All in all for the price of 4 xbox 360 games you can get 750 points worth of models that look great, are a joy to play with (also challenging but in a good way) and provide a solid core upon which you can build and that's only if you end up paying full retail for the models (which you shouldn't have to do as there are any number of places that sell GW items below retail).

[Justicar Valius]

My view and many others view is that grey knights are not the staple unit of DH any more...

It's 5 IST, 2 meltas, rhino with extra armour and smokes if you want