Best way to start with EC

[Bronze Beast in the Dark]

While I was searching for ways to portray Honour Guard for my Minotuars, I saw a suggestion to use the Palatine Squad.

 

I forgot what I was doing once I saw the figures, and got seduced by the call of Slaanesh. I immediately began to plan a 30K Emperor's Children force and I have been slightly overwhelmed by the choices.

 

Im at a loss for where to start. I am trying to start as inexpensively as possible, but I have a question...

 

Should I just get the BAC box and start painting with plans to get transfers and then start adding FW stuff as I can, or should I just accept the cost and buy the FW starter with the EC specific chest, heads and shoulders?

 

If you were starting today, knowing what you know... how would you do it?

 

 

 

 

 

[m_r_parker]

Well, seeing as the release of Betrayal at Calth was the driver for me to start doing a Word Bearers force, I kinda know what you're thinking about. Honestly, a lot of this comes down to what you're planning to do with your list and that will decide what your options are going to be.

 

Betrayal at Calth is a great way of getting stock MkIV armour at a cheap price, and if you're planning on doing the usual 2x 20 man Tactical Squads then this is the  most cost effective way of doing it. it's also great if you're planning on doing Support Squads and Heavy Weapon squads (especially as a lot of the shoulder mounted heavy weapons are now being resculpted to be handheld and compatible with B@C kits). If you're planning something different, such as Assault Squads or the utilising the specialist units, then you may feel you're left with lots of bodies that you're not going to use.

 

1) Decide what your list is and then figure out the easiest / cheapest way to build it: Sounds obvious, but this can get lost amongst cool models. Best way to start is with the books that have the basic army lists and Legion rules, and to make a list that plays to your Legion strengths. You can then figure out how best to build your list with models.

 

2) All models don't need all upgrade packs: The big bundle seems like a good idea, but take a look at some of the pictures they've put up of completed 10 man Veteran Tactical squads. Shoulder pads are clearly visible, and the helms look decent too - but can anyone really see the torso after you put a belter / flamer / plasma gun in front of it? And the Emperors Children have some great torsos, it's a shame to buy them and hide them behind weapons. In my opinion:

• ForgeWorld Legion shoulder pads are almost a must (to me they are, some people will say that transfers / freehand painting works just as well), and MkII looks just as good as MkIV on the models (there's even some plastic MkII pads in the Tactical kits too).
• Basic bolter marines don't need all the bling of torsos and heads on every model. Sprinkle a few in the squad for flavour, focus on the Sergeant / Vexila / Vox guys for biggest impact - but for every 10 men you shouldn't need to use more than 5 torsos and 5 heads. If you're inclined to use more, heads will be more visible than torsos. 
• The bundles don't save you that much money, it may be more cost effective to buy the Shoulder Pads / Torsos / Heads separately in numbers you know you are going to use rather than try to save the odd £ and find you've got some leftover pieces. 
• The one piece of 30k equipment that isn't on the Veteran Tactical sprue is a Nuncio Vox. Take a look at the Command Upgrade packs on the ForgeWorld website, as the Vox guy has a dedicated backpack and helmet for identification. You may want to pick up a pack (one pack has enough parts to build 2 sets of Vox / Vexila / Sergeants Helms) - LINK - Some kits have Vox's in already, like the Imperial Fist Phalanx Wardens and Templar Brethren.

3) You'll get lots of spare parts, and some smart buying can get you additional models: The best way to describe this is with the Missile Launcher. In the kit there's a dedicated Missile Launcher weapon, set of arms (including a sculpted shoulder pad or the right arm) and backpack that's solely intended for use to build this guy. You also get extra heads, shoulder pads and torsos options on the sprue. This means if you don't build the Missile Launcher guy as one of your 10 men on the sprue, you literally only need a pair of legs in order to build an eleventh man. Take a look on eBay, and you should see some sellers listing B@C component parts - I've been buying sets of 10 legs for around £8 + P&P, and with three B@C boxes I've made an extra 10 man Missile Launcher squad out of the spares for less than £10. If you're using ForgeWorld torsos, pads and heads then you'll have an abundance of spare plastic components too, and you may find you'll only need legs and backpacks to build more models. Arms may start to run out, as you don't have that many in the kits - but the ForgeWorld MkIV Weapons Pack comes with 5 sets of left and right arms for pistols and combat weapons (along with some weapon options you don't get in the kits), and would be easy to buy and make a CC orientated Veterans unit. 

 

If I were you, I'd go with:

• 1x Betrayal at Calth box
• 3x Shoulder Pad sets (your choice on Mark, but try some MkII to make things a little different)
• 2x Heads (should give you 20, you don't have to use them all)
• 2x Torsos (should give you 10, focus them on Sergeants and more important people)

Note that each of the £44 Legion upgrade packs is 1x MkIV Shoulder pads, 1x Heads, 2x Torsos - you can save a a little by ordering one of those and tacking on the extra head and two shoulder pads sets.

[Rangaman]

When I started my EC I just got 2xPalatine Blades, 2xPheonix Guard and the 30man Mk4 Tactical bundle they use to do. In my opinion the EC should look fancy like the special units they have but you can always do a Line company or something, really depends on your vision of how you want them to look. I despise the BaC kit but that's just my opinion, though it is good value for what you get.