What do I *actually* need?

[9x19 Parabellum]

Hey folks!

 

Ok, so I don't care for 8th edition. Never played 30k, and I'm a bit confused by all the book bundles on Forgeworld, so...straight up...

 

What do I *actually* need to get to play 30k? I imagine I will expand either my Blood Angels and/or Raven Guard collection for 30k.  So, from that standpoint, what books, kits/sets do I actually need to play 30k?  Can I use my standard Tactical marines, etc or do i need to have Mk3 / Mk4 legion marines?  Do I need all the books 1-? on Forgeworld (ie, Betrayal, Massacre, Extermination, etc.)?

[Charlo]

Legiones Astartes Army List book.

 

Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions book - unless you are wanting to do Blood Angels/ Dark Angels/ White Scars/ Blackshields/ Space Wolves/ Thousand Sons - for the first 4 you'll need book Retribution, for the latter you'll need book Inferno.

 

A 7th Edition Rulebook... BUT there is supposed to be a cleaned up Heresy version coming Soon^TM, but you will probably find 7th ed rulebooks cheap online because 8th.

 

====

 

A little thing to note is that when book 6 came out, the legions in book 5, Ultramarines & Word Bearers, were added into a new edition of the Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions book.

 

So it could be that when book 8 comes out (albeit in over a years time it seems) that Thousand Sons and Space Wolves will be added to a new edition of the book... Food for thought.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Charlo

[9x19 Parabellum]

Legiones Astartes Army List book.

 

Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions book - unless you are wanting to do Blood Angels/ Dark Angels/ White Scars/ Blackshields/ Space Wolves/ Thousand Sons - for the first 4 you'll need book Retribution, for the latter you'll need book Inferno.

 

A 7th Edition Rulebook... BUT there is supposed to be a cleaned up Heresy version coming Soon^TM, but you will probably find 7th ed rulebooks cheap online because 8th.

 

====

 

A little thing to note is that when book 6 came out, the legions in book 5, Ultramarines & Word Bearers, were added into a new edition of the Legiones Astartes: Age of Darkness Legions book.

 

So it could be that when book 8 comes out (albeit in over a years time it seems) that Thousand Sons and Space Wolves will be added to a new edition of the book... Food for thought.

 

Ok, so to be sure, I don't *need* Betrayal at Calth or Burning of Prospero?

 

But I do need this:

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-US/The-Horus-Heresy-Legiones-Astartes-Age-of-Darkness-Legions

 

And this:

https://www.forgeworld.co.uk/en-US/The-Horus-heresy-legiones-Astartes-Age-of-Darkness-Army-List

And I need a copy of the regular 40k rules

 

But NONE of the Books 1-x stuff, right? (ie, the black books?)  What is in all those black-cover books? 

[Charlo]

Models are models, use what you want.

 

HOWEVER some people aren't fans of fighting MkVII marines enmasse and like to have a bit of Heres era stuff at least on show. YMMV.

 

Books 1-7 are a combination of the following:

• Rules for the Legions, Solar Aux, Imperial Militia, Mechanicum, Titans, Knights, Custodes & Sisters of Silence - BUT SOME ARE OUTDATED and you should use the army list books where available
• Missions
• Campaign Rules (including relics)
• A couple of other ways to play
• Lots of lovely art and background for all

[9x19 Parabellum]

 

Models are models, use what you want.

 

HOWEVER some people aren't fans of fighting MkVII marines enmasse and like to have a bit of Heres era stuff at least on show. YMMV.

 

Books 1-7 are a combination of the following:

• Rules for the Legions, Solar Aux, Imperial Militia, Mechanicum, Titans, Knights, Custodes & Sisters of Silence - BUT SOME ARE OUTDATED and you should use the army list books where available
• Missions
• Campaign Rules (including relics)
• A couple of other ways to play
• Lots of lovely art and background for all

 

 

Thanks Charlo. My opponents may have to suffer. I'm all for WYSIWYG but power armor is power armor. (Unless there are actually different mechanics for the different eras of power armor)

[carlisimo]

 

Thanks Charlo. My opponents may have to suffer. I'm all for WYSIWYG but power armor is power armor. (Unless there are actually different mechanics for the different eras of power armor)

 

 

It varies from community to community, but imo Charlo was understating how unpopular a Mk VII army would be.  I'd expect a lot of, "That's a nice practice army.  How's your Heresy force coming along?"

 

Betrayal at Calth is usually the way to go, with Burning at Prospero working for a few legions (I don't see the Raven Guard using Mk III armor).  The squad sprues are easy to find on eBay if you want to mix and match them - I'd do that, especially because your two legions generally preferred Mk IV over Mk III power armor but Tartaros over Cataphractii Terminator armor.  The rules differ between Terminator armor types, with Tartaros able to Sweeping Advance at the expense of a weaker invulnerable save.  

 

Forge World has resin kits for Mk II, Mk V, and Mk VI as well.  More expensive, but they look great.  Might be good choices for veteran squads (which are very strong under the current rules).

 

Players are generally more forgiving about using 40k-style Rhinos and tanks over the Forge World kits that add "old-school" parts to the plastic kits.

 

Others have covered the book information pretty well.  You'd probably want to get the book that covers the background and markings for your legion of choice, which would be Book 3 - Extermination for the Raven Guard, and Book 8 (due December 2018) for Blood Angels.  I'm hoping the upcoming rulebook includes some of the campaign rules in other books (especially Book 4).

[Charlo]

TERMINATORS have different rules for the suits. With the 40k version having specifically worse rules than the 30k ones.

 

Power armour though? It's all a 3+ save.

 

MkVII is frowned upon though (bit not while dipping your toe in) because people play heresy for the cinematic aspect too.

 

THAT SAID you could get away with a squad or two of veterans if your army is themed around the siege of terra.

Edited September 14, 2017 by Charlo

[Corswain]

I wouldn't buy anything until FW release their complete Heresy Rulebook. Unfortunately, they haven't given a date for that.

 

You can start right now with the stuff listed above though.