Fun, relatively easy to use Legion to combat World Eaters?

[Brad_hutcho]

Hey fellow HH enthusiasts, I'm looking for some informed opinions about building a HH army for my 8yo son. Any suggestions or thoughts would be appreciated

So, I've recently gotten back into the GW fold, and the HH setting is easily my favourite. Now, I can play Age of Sigmar and 40K with my son, and have fun doing it, but I'm looking to build him a HH army to fight my World Eaters I'm building. I dont want to have to wade through all the nitty gritty in the red books just yet, so thought I'd ask opinions on here. I know that it's not as easy as going: "yes, use this legion" lol, but narrowing it down would be appreciated

Ideally, the legion I'd pick for him would be:

1. Fairly rules and tactica simple

2. Able to be built with a decent amount of the GW plastic sets (I'll get him some of the FW stuff, but resin models break much easier, especially in the hands of an 8yo)

3. Preferably be a mix of CC and shooty (not absolutely necessary, but I suspect he'd like to play guns as much as close quarter biffo)

4. Loyalists legions would be more flavourful, but this is not a must

Now, my thoughts are leaning towards a few:

1. Imperial fists - shooty and resilient, a good thing to throw WE berzerkers at, from what I can gather, a decent all-rounder legion

2. Iron Hands - shooty and fortifications, throwing berzerkers at an impregnable gun line

3. Raven Guard - go the other way, and have two CC legions to tear each other to ribbons (this really appeals to the part of me that wants to relive the no quarter given battlefield of Istvaan V)

Thanks people

[Kais Klip]

Night Lords.

 

Yeah, he's eight, but look here: loyalist space batmen. That's just to hook him in at the start. Their legion rules are simple enough, but more importantly are the most rewarding when he plays them right. Trying to move his units around, so he outnumbers you in one place, and runs away at another, should be a fun little mental exercise for him to do each game. It'll be an excellent stepping stone for any further strategy games you may want to play with him, plus good for mental development in turns of running simple numbers and planning strategical allocation of units.  

 

Plus he can always read the more.... childish Night Lord works like Pharos or the Charcharadon novel.

 

 - this segment was brought to you by Baby Momma Kais -_-

[Hrolf the Cunning]

I think Imperial Fists would be a good fit. They seem to have some pretty strong and broadly applicable legion rules. Are probably the most viable out of those you've listed from a plastic kit options side of thing. They are at Terra, so could allow for some fun narratives for the two of you to play as well as being particularly faithful to the legion character.

 

Imperial Fists seem to have a good shooty foundation with tactical and breachers but also have some choppy units with their templars and legion terminators. They also have some fun characters that have some neat accompanying black library books and shorts (although not as many as I'd like). 

 

The main negative that I can think of with Imperial fists for a young gamer is that yellow is often regarded as a difficult colour although I think that in recent times some of the painting options now available make this less so. 

[Marshal Loss]

While not loyalist, Death Guard can do well against World Eaters - Grave Wardens take all impact out of their charges, and overwatching chem-flamers absolutely shred charging close combat units. Grim Reaper style units & Primarch might appeal to him too.

 

I'd probably stick to Imperial Fists, Iron Hands or Salamanders if you want a simple Loyalist Legion for him. Space Wolves could be a good choice though, lots of infantry blobs counter-charging is extremely fluffy & a good reflection of their rules.

[Brad_hutcho]

Night Lords.

Yeah, he's eight, but look here: loyalist space batmen. That's just to hook him in at the start. Their legion rules are simple enough, but more importantly are the most rewarding when he plays them right. Trying to move his units around, so he outnumbers you in one place, and runs away at another, should be a fun little mental exercise for him to do each game. It'll be an excellent stepping stone for any further strategy games you may want to play with him, plus good for mental development in turns of running simple numbers and planning strategical allocation of units.

Plus he can always read the more.... childish Night Lord works like Pharos or the Charcharadon novel.

- this segment was brought to you by Baby Momma Kais

I like the way you think, and I'm sure he'd enjoy it too. Plus, if he's really lucky, I might even get Konrad Curze because that model is so goddamn cool

I think Imperial Fists would be a good fit. They seem to have some pretty strong and broadly applicable legion rules. Are probably the most viable out of those you've listed from a plastic kit options side of thing. They are at Terra, so could allow for some fun narratives for the two of you to play as well as being particularly faithful to the legion character.

Imperial Fists seem to have a good shooty foundation with tactical and breachers but also have some choppy units with their templars and legion terminators. They also have some fun characters that have some neat accompanying black library books and shorts (although not as many as I'd like).

The main negative that I can think of with Imperial fists for a young gamer is that yellow is often regarded as a difficult colour although I think that in recent times some of the painting options now available make this less so.

Yeah, IF seemed a decent go to cause they've got a decent mix of both. Plus yeah, both legions were at the Siege of Terra

While not loyalist, Death Guard can do well against World Eaters - Grave Wardens take all impact out of their charges, and overwatching chem-flamers absolutely shred charging close combat units. Grim Reaper style units & Primarch might appeal to him too.

I'd probably stick to Imperial Fists, Iron Hands or Salamanders if you want a simple Loyalist Legion for him. Space Wolves could be a good choice though, lots of infantry blobs counter-charging is extremely fluffy & a good reflection of their rules.

I've gotta be honest, if I wasn't so layal to the XII legion, Mortarion would make me collect a DG army

[apologist]

Salamanders might be a good fit – simple, reliable and very definitely the goodies! Their Legion rules allow a lot of access to re-rolls; for both morale and for weaponry, which can be great to avoid frustration and ameliorate unlucky rolls. 

 

Their prediliction for short-ranged weaponry should provide a good counter-point to the World Eaters, and ensure lots of action in-game.

 

Apart from anything else, the Zeroth Conductor Shield relic should provide a lot of grins!

[Brad_hutcho]

Salamanders might be a good fit – simple, reliable and very definitely the goodies! Their Legion rules allow a lot of access to re-rolls; for both morale and for weaponry, which can be great to avoid frustration and ameliorate unlucky rolls.

Their prediliction for short-ranged weaponry should provide a good counter-point to the World Eaters, and ensure lots of action in-game.

Apart from anything else, the Zeroth Conductor Shield relic should provide a lot of grins!

Not too mention, Istvaan V revisit

[apologist]

Absolutely true :)

 

It's also worth noting that the scheme is easy to paint, too. I don't want to make any assumptions, but if your son is interested in the artistic side as well as the competitive, a Legion like Salamanders can easily both eye-catching and fairly forgiving in terms of painting – especially in comparison with black or yellow.

[Major_Gilbear]

Yeah, I agree that the Salamanders might be a good fit. They are Loyalist, pack some ranged punch, have some classic units that are also decent in melee, tough, forgiving to paint, and are quite different in character from the WE.

 

They also suit the plastic kits quite well, and outside of FW stuff, it's easy to find lots of parts for further embellishment on them - both from other GW kits, and from third-party bits makers. Plus, they have their Primarch model released, which is a good draw too.

 

Otherwise, I reckon that Iron Hands, Iron Warriors, Imperial Fists, and even Ultramarines could all be decent choices too. Ultimately, any Legion could work depending on what units you pick (and all Legions get nearly all units), so I'd suggest that another apporach is to maybe see what you/your son fancy in terms of modelling and painting first?

[Billy Butcher]

Iron hands, tough, can be a powerful build, lots of tanks if you want them, easy to paint.

[Baluc]

Ultramarines

 

Unique breacher units, for that inevitable assault

 

Improved shooting capacity (minor)

 

constrasting paint scheme

 

Narrative

 

Plenty of usable legion specifics

[Brad_hutcho]

Absolutely true

It's also worth noting that the scheme is easy to paint, too. I don't want to make any assumptions, but if your son is interested in the artistic side as well as the competitive, a Legion like Salamanders can easily both eye-catching and fairly forgiving in terms of painting – especially in comparison with black or yellow.

Pretty sure he's going to want to paint them

[Brad_hutcho]

Iron hands, tough, can be a powerful build, lots of tanks if you want them, easy to paint.

Part of the reason I considered Iron Hands was the shooty, possibly tank army, and that they're easier to paint

Ultramarines

Unique breacher units, for that inevitable assault

Improved shooting capacity (minor)

constrasting paint scheme

Narrative

Plenty of usable legion specifics

Never been a smurf fan lol, but that's more 40K. They sound pretty decent in 30K

Yeah, I agree that the Salamanders might be a good fit. They are Loyalist, pack some ranged punch, have some classic units that are also decent in melee, tough, forgiving to paint, and are quite different in character from the WE.

They also suit the plastic kits quite well, and outside of FW stuff, it's easy to find lots of parts for further embellishment on them - both from other GW kits, and from third-party bits makers. Plus, they have their Primarch model released, which is a good draw too.

Otherwise, I reckon that Iron Hands, Iron Warriors, Imperial Fists, and even Ultramarines could all be decent choices too. Ultimately, any Legion could work depending on what units you pick (and all Legions get nearly all units), so I'd suggest that another apporach is to maybe see what you/your son fancy in terms of modelling and painting first?

Yeah, the availability of Primarch models is kinda high on my list, because, even the legions I dislike have awesome Primarch models I reckon he'd like the idea of a heavily fire based legion too

I was beginning to think exactly what you said, ask him what he thinks. I'll show him some of the legions people have suggested here, their special models, Primarchs etc and see what he thinks

[Nova_Dew]

I would suggest BA's mainly Tactical squads with additional CCW's. Able to shoot well and fight well, also you get the nice brutality vs. skill match in close combat. Sadly no unique units and rules that might be changed at a later date

[Icarus1138]

Just a thought, loyalist World Eaters are an option as well. They're a straightforward army with loyal-specific options, it's a very fluffy match-up (especially between related players!), and they even have mechanical differences in their basic legion rules. As for appearance, that can be changed up as well. One army would be white and blue, the other (yours) could be anything from a more worn white and blue, to white and red (per Book 6), all the way to red and brass. Lots of use for the plastic models in that army as well.