General 30k questions/Getting Started

[Wayniac]

So as a followup to my previous questions about the Death Guard, I have some more basic questions about Heresy in general, since it is a large investment, and then figuring out how to get started.

Basically, if I did not enjoy 40k, would I even enjoy 30k? I played my first 40k game in some 15 years the other week, and it was pretty miserable. My opponent was nice and helpful, but the game itself was too one-sided (although I had standard CSM and he had Grey Knights, 1000 points) and felt way too random (my opponent was scoring basically every turn by just sitting on something in his deployment zone, far away from me) and overall was not an enjoyable experience. I've heard from a few people 30k is more balanced (probably because Marine v. Marine) but I haven't played it and have only one game of 7th edition (the aforementioned one) under my belt.

Next, I have taken the plunge and pre-ordered Burning of Prospero to get that delicious MkIII armor. So that will give me enough for two 15-man Tactical Squads w/Vexila (I'm not sure if the sprue has a Nuncio-Vox), and I can find a use for the 5 Tartaros pattern terminators as well. However, this also leaves me not sure what I should get next. Obviously this is a large, expensive project but I don't really want to drop like $500 on it when I'm not sure I'll even like it!

Any ideas like what I should buy first that isn't going to just be dumping huge amounts of cash (yet )? Another box of Prospero or Calth (to have a mix of armors, since the Legion would have a mix) and start planning after that since two boxes will give me most of the Marines I'll need? Or should I stick with the two large squads and add the more juicy extras?

Some things I've gleaned from my other post and other places:

- Grave Warden terminators are good and I want some

- Quad Mortars w/Phosphex are good and I want some, but in moderation (No kidding 2-3)

- Mortarion loved Vindicators, and so do I. Vindicator Laser Destroyers look amazing.

- Mortarion also liked Dreadnoughts, which I also like.

- I want a mostly foot army because I have this visual in my head of them marching across a battlefield in step, so I should add Apothecaries to the unit.

[Marshal Loss]

Welcome to the XIV.

 

There's a good chance you would - I do not enjoy 40k in its 7th edition form, but I very much enjoy 30k. I'm sure somebody will write up something substantial on the subject, but at its core power creep is minimal in comparison to 40k - while it isn't perfectly balanced, they typically wrote the majority of Legions in chunks at a time, did all of the Primarch rules at the beginning simultaneously and update armies together rather than succumbing to codex creep. All of the Legions are basically on a level playing field, partly because it's easier to balance marine vs marine as you said. Other forces like the Mechanicum and Solar Auxilia can cause problems for Astartes players, but this is typically because everybody tunes their lists to fight other Legions, leaving them vulnerable to non-MEQ armies.

 

Starting is tricky - there are innumerable ways to start. I wouldn't get another BaC or BoP box right away. Yes, the boxes are fantastic, but Tactical Marines aren't exactly what I'd call exciting. :P Everything on your list is suitable for Death Guard, so you can't really go wrong in all honesty.

 

I'd personally go for a squad of Deathshroud first. They're an iconic unit and can function either as an HQ choice on their own, an Elites choice, or a bodyguard for an eventual commander. They're also quite powerful, and as you got the Prospero box, they would fill your HQ choice as there are no HQ's in the box for DG to use. Grave Wardens are far from weak themselves, so I'd probably pick one of either Deathshroud or Wardens and buy a squad - you can always add the other later. Add a Vindicator Laser Destroyer or 2 (or 3) to that and you've got a solid base of infantry and a reliable way of taking down heavy armour. You'll have enough units to start playing small games and you can flesh the force out over time that way.

 

If possible, pick up HH: Betrayal and take a read through the DG lore. It's always the best place to start - the FW rules reflect the background quite closely and you'll probably find something inspiring in there. HH: Conquest also features the DG doing what they do best: killing a lot of people.

[Terminus]

If you used to like 40K back in the day, you will love 30K.

 

It feels like old school 3rd-4th edition 40k with all the stuff we could only fantasize about, like Primarchs, Mechanicum and now Custodes.

 

While there are outliers in list building, and some poopoo units, the overall balance is surprisingly well done. None of the Legions are head and shoulders above any other.

 

A note about the above suggestion, you will need the updated Age of Darkness Legions book to get the updated rules. Betrayal is for fluff and awesome pictures only. You can also get a good summary of the rules on 4chan's 30k wiki.