Newbie looking for advice to start building a 30k army?

[Kolonel Grotsnik]

I've always loved the Pre-Heresy Thousand Sons and shortly after reading the novel I went and created a Grey Knight army with that theme, complete with Prospero Spire Guard Henchmen.

But after their current rules came out I lost interest but now I can build a proper army thanks to all the new plastic kits including the Thousand Sons one in November! 

So my aim is to begin planning and building a standard 30k army of maybe 1000pts so I can then add any themed units that come out with the new book later on.

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2016/9/17/827697-15th%20Legion%2C%20Contemptor%2C%20Grey%20Knights%2C%20Horus%20Heresy%2C%20Pre-heresy%2C%20Strike%20Squad.jpg

 

So I'm looking for advice on where to start and what units or “Rites Of War” (is that right?) I should be looking at? Plus answers to the following questions....

 

1) Veterans or Bulk Infantry?

First off is the big choice to either field tactical squads or go for a more elite army, the latter certainly seems more suitable to the Thousand Sons style but is it worth it? It's made more appealing by the fact with a few tweaks I'd have a veteran squad and terminators ready to go straight away?

 

2) Transports?

I've had a look at a lot of battle reports online and most of the time the only transports are 1 land raider and maybe a rhino or two. Are vehicles a must and are drop pods worth considering in 30k?

 

3) Suggested units?

What units do you consider a must have for a 30k army? So far the following units have caught my eye: Quad Mortars, Leviathan Dreadnought and Twin Assault Contemptor?

 

I'm grateful for any advice that can be given as I'm eager to jump into 30k?

@Admin - Wasn't sure where to put this so feel free to move it to the section you feel is best.

[Lord Asvaldir]

 

1) Veterans or Bulk Infantry?

First off is the big choice to either field tactical squads or go for a more elite army, the latter certainly seems more suitable to the Thousand Sons style but is it worth it? It's made more appealing by the fact with a few tweaks I'd have a veteran squad and terminators ready to go straight away?

 

A veterans build is always solid, can't go wrong with an army based around veteran tactical squads and/or terminators. Unfortunately the thousand sons rules are not out yet, though they will be within the next few months. For now though you can't go wrong with getting some tacticals from BaC and making some vet tac squads, you can use those units for sure.  

 

2) Transports?

I've had a look at a lot of battle reports online and most of the time the only transports are 1 land raider and maybe a rhino or two. Are vehicles a must and are drop pods worth considering in 30k?

 

There's a lot of ways to kill power armored units in 30k, so it's definetly better to have a metal box to protect your troops for a turn or two. Drop pods are still good in 30k, however they are very restrictive. If you want to run a rite that allows drop pods (which is only orbital assault for thousand sons), then you're restricting a lot of your other choices. It's probably a safer bet to stick with rhinos, more flexibility that way. 

 

3) Suggested units?

What units do you consider a must have for a 30k army? So far the following units have caught my eye: Quad Mortars, Leviathan Dreadnought and Twin Assault Contemptor?

 

All of those units are definetly very good regardless of what legion you play, but I wouldn't say there are any "must haves" in 30k beyond some variety of marines with power armor. I think it's more important to run the sort of army you want that follows the play style and fluff of your legion, especially because the legion astartes list has so many choices you need to narrow them down to what you want. For example, I'm a night lords player and rapiers are still good for me, but I never run them because it doesn't fit the theme of my drop pod/assault marines oriented army. So really just run what you want. Until the thousand sons rules come out in a few months, I'd say just buy a BaC box or two. It's a great way to flesh out the core of your army, and there's plenty of weapon choices so you can use the tactical marines to make units like veteran, support, seeker or heavy weapon squads. 

[apologist]

So I'm looking for advice on where to start and what units or “Rites Of War” (is that right?) I should be looking at? Plus answers to the following questions....

 

1) Veterans or Bulk Infantry?

First off is the big choice to either field tactical squads or go for a more elite army, the latter certainly seems more suitable to the Thousand Sons style but is it worth it? It's made more appealing by the fact with a few tweaks I'd have a veteran squad and terminators ready to go straight away?

 

2) Transports?

I've had a look at a lot of battle reports online and most of the time the only transports are 1 land raider and maybe a rhino or two. Are vehicles a must and are drop pods worth considering in 30k?

 

3) Suggested units?

What units do you consider a must have for a 30k army? So far the following units have caught my eye: Quad Mortars, Leviathan Dreadnought and Twin Assault Contemptor?

 

 

Regarding 1), I'd always suggest bulk infantry. Part of the appeal of the setting is the scope and scale of the army, and large units are simply better at re-creating that atmosphere. Similarly, part of the appeal for me is differentiation – 10-man squads can be done in 40k, so I tend to go for larger ones in 30k; as much as a breath of fresh air as anything else!  :)

 

Veterans are easier (fewer models to build and paint), and there's definitely a place for them, but I'd definitely wave a flag for the humble Legion Tactical Squad. You might consider taking those as your compulsory troops, and veterans in other slots?

 

Lord Asvaldir has some excellent points on transports, so see above for that. 

 

On 3) I'd echo LA that 'it's more important to run the sort of army you want that follows the play style and fluff of your legion'. In my experience, most 30k gamers are more focussed on the theme and background of their force than perceived competitiveness; so don't feel like you're handicapping yourself if you don't take 'strong/optimised' units.

 

+++

In more general terms, for a typical Thousand Sons army, I'd suggest that you don't need a dedicated Rite of War. Were I to build a Thousand Sons army that uses those gorgeous models in your opening post, I'd probably base it around the following core:

 

HQ 

1 x Praetor

1 x Centurion with Librarian upgrade

1 x Centurion with Librarian upgrade

 

Troops

2 x 15-man Legion Tactical Squads

1 x 10-man Legion Veteran Squad in Rhino

1 x 10-man Tactical Support Squad with [special weapon of your choice] in Rhino

 

Elites

1 x 10-man Terminator squad 

1 x Contemptor Talon

 

+++

The bulk of this army could very easily be built from your existing stuff and a Betrayal at Calth set.