dont know where to start.

[munocat]

I purchased the Betrayal of Calthu and the Buring of Prospers, I have 3 drop pods and one Lucia pattern drop pod( don't even know this can be used in 30k). I like loyal side of things. I have no idea what I should do next, what legion, what I should look to purchase.

 

In 40k, I have played many different factions. Currently Ad Mech, Space Wolves, Inquisition and Iron Hands.

 

Any help, I like foot soldiers, not too hot on vehicles

[Marshal Loss]

Welcome to the Age of Darkness. Firstly, yes, your Lucius Pattern Drop Pod can be used in 30k, as a dedicated transport for most Dreadnought variants.

Blood Angels, Dark Angels and White Scars have basic rules + Rites of War (army themes that have a set of benefits + restrictions that help you translate an event or theme), which you can find in Book 6: Retribution, but they don't have any special units characters or Primarchs out yet, if that impacts your decision. Space Wolves will be getting their rules in Book 7: Inferno, slated for release in early February at the HH Weekender, so if you wanted to do them in 30k you don't have long to wait.

The other Loyalists - Ultramarines, Salamanders, Iron Hands, Raven Guard and Imperial Fists - all have full rules you can find in the 'Age of Darkness Legions book,' often called the red book by people as slang. I'll let people more familiar with the Loyalist Legions give in depth advice, but Iron Hands are generally very mechanised so they probably wouldn't suit your infantry approach as most of their bonuses are aimed that way.

Your best bet is, if possible, to get your hands on the black books (Betrayal, Massacre etc) and read the lore on each respective Legion you're interested in. Lore is at the centre of the game system in 30k - balance isn't necessarily perfect, but rules are generally written with the intention that you're able to portray something from a book on the tabletop as accurately as possible. This doesn't mean you have to play a particular way, but you get bonuses for sticking to a Legion's character. Chances are if you like how a Legion works in the lore, and you like how they look, you'll be very happy with how they fight on the tabletop. Picking a Legion can be tricky and there's a thread for that here, but I'd personally just find one that strikes a balance of what you find interesting - how they look, how they fight and what their models look like.

Short version:

• Purchase Age of Darkness Legions red book if you want to play Ultramarines, Salamanders, Iron Hands, Raven Guard or Imperial Fists. Purchase Book 6 if you want to play Blood Angels, Dark Angels or White Scars. Wait till February if you want to play Space Wolves.
• If possible, purchase/get your hands on the black books, FW"s main heresy line. They are stunning books, gorgeously presented with amazing fluff and art, and they could very well inspire you to do a particular project. They aren't cheap though, and their rules are often out of date (red books are the most up to date) so keep that in mind.
• Some may disagree, but I'd recommend choosing a Legion before you purchase anything else. Your Legion rules will incentivise playing in a particular way with particular units, and it varies from Legion to Legion, and you don't want to find yourself buying something you don't end up using.

Best of luck choosing.

[munocat]

Thank you for your response. I have access to 6 of the black books, I will take a look. I like the idea of a alpha strike type army. My favorite 40k armies I have put together are Space Wolves, Ad Mech and tau( tau lost the fun with 6th edition onward).

[Marshal Loss]

Out of the Loyalist Legions available, Raven Guard is probably the best alpha-strike type army from my experience. Their Rite of War 'Decapitation Strike' would suit the models you have too - they use drop pods regularly, get great infantry bonuses and hit very hard. They're one of the least tank-heavy armies around - give them a look.

[Remus Ventanus.]

I think a good way to really connect with your army is to make sure you love the lore of them. I'd suggest doing some reading of the loyalist legions and see which lore you like best. Also, you gotta like what they look like, so check out fw and see which models catch your eyes.

[depthcharge12]

If you don't like vehicles but you need heavy weapons, look to the Leviathan and Deredeo dreadnoughts. They are a bit points heavy, but soak up a lot and deal out a lot of damage you couldn't hope to achieve with marines alone.

 

Do you want to use drop pods? There's a good rite of War for that, but it's limiting in the sense you won't have any tanks, but aircraft and skimmers are allowed.

 

As mentioned above, sounds like Raven Guard would be perfect plus Alvarex Maun to help all your pods land safely and where you want them. Their Dark Fury assault squads are pretty beastly and you can always deep strike their other alpha strike unit, the Mor Deythan for 5+ rending combi flamers lol.

[munocat]

I have been very drawn to raven guard, one of my sons plays raven guard 40k. White scars look interesting. I guess I have some time, Wait and see how the wolves will turn out.

[Ion]

Don't hesitate to pick a traitor legion too, almost all of them have room for there to be surviving Loyalists throughout the Heresy.