Coming into Mars' orbit after 15 years

[Man of Iron]

Recently, I posted in 'New Members', but I feel I should report directly to the followers of the Omnissiah.

I have played 40K since 1998 - some imperials, some space marines, some xenos (Necrons!)

When my gaming group broke up, I was cast into the void in 2003 aimlessly exploring until I happened to drift into the orbit of Mars.

I've been lurking these boards the past few days, reading many inspiring posts, and trying to decide on which army to begin with again.

Necrons were my first choice, not that they're all that familiar to me as they were when I played before.
Adeptus Mechanicus is the other army to catch my eye. Also, I'm aiming to get the Forgebane boxed set.

As this gives me two small armies to begin, I humbly bow before the assembled Magos here.

I know there are plenty of new rules for me to become accustomed to, and I'll be playing catch-up. I just made my first (epub) purchases:

+ +

So, may I enter these hallowed halls and schedule a nice hot oil bath? My joints are pretty frozen after 15 years.

[Black Knight]

Welcome, let me get the WD40. Forgebane is a good choice and will let you play around to see what you like best. We are all waiting for the next CA in the next month.

[Man of Iron]

Welcome, let me get the WD40. Forgebane is a good choice and will let you play around to see what you like best. We are all waiting for the next CA in the next month.

 

Thanks, Black_Knight. I read the new CA is coming, but I figured the CA 2017 will still be relevant for anything CA 2018 doesn't change. Right? 

 

It kills me the rules are costing as much as a nice pile of models. Yes, I know, it's 15 years of missed sticker shock catching up. 

"In my-y-y day, a codex cost less than a box of troops..." Shakes measuring stick - oh, the sticks are gone too? Drat.

 

Once I get Forgebane, I was thinking of adding a Start Collecting! Skitarii box. Would this be a sensible way to build up an army? Or would it be better to add on other units as desired? I would love to get something with a few more unit choices at one time, but these seem to be the only options. I'm not sure if getting more than one SC! box is worth it. I can see getting more troop choices, but having as many tech-priests and dunecrawlers may be redundant. I'm not sure. 

 

I would appreciate any comments and advice you can offer while I'm making plans. 

 

Thanks!

[Stray]

 

So, may I enter these hallowed halls and schedule a nice hot oil bath? My joints are pretty frozen after 15 years.  

 

 

Hmm... alright, but in return i'm going to need a saucer of milk (none of that skimmed nonsense), two fish, several very fragile objects, and a shelf.

 

Welcome home :) - you've found a really great community.

[Black Knight]

 

I read the new CA is coming, but I figured the CA 2017 will still be relevant for anything CA 2018 doesn't change. Right? 

 

No one is actually sure as this will be the second book. It could go either way so we shall see. I would hope that the new book is the only one we need to take with us to games but they could make you take both.

 

It kills me the rules are costing as much as a nice pile of models. Yes, I know, it's 15 years of missed sticker shock catching up. eek.gif

"In my-y-y day, a codex cost less than a box of troops..." Shakes measuring stick - oh, the sticks are gone too? Drat.

 

I re-started back in 7th after originally playing in 3rd and 4th. The prices have really gone up and a few other things have changed, but we can get 20% off most things if you go online retailers. I have the original Tau codex that cost £8... We have tape plastic rulers in the box set now which are actually better as you can bend them

 

Once I get Forgebane, I was thinking of adding a Start Collecting! Skitarii box. Would this be a sensible way to build up an army? Or would it be better to add on other units as desired? I would love to get something with a few more unit choices at one time, but these seem to be the only options. I'm not sure if getting more than one SC! box is worth it. I can see getting more troop choices, but having as many tech-priests and dunecrawlers may be redundant. I'm not sure.

 

That is a good way to proceed, you will get your first Dunecrawler and they are one of our better units. Plus you need atleast two sets of our troops to have a good basis, we all need Command points from our Batalions(2 HQ and 2 Troops).

 

You might be in luck though if you are willing to spend some extra money this Christmas, this year there is a battle force box for Admech and it includes lots of goodies:

 

(Dunecrawler, Robots, Skitarii, Sicarians, Enginseer, Due December)

 

Its £100 which is steap but you are getting a good discount and everything there is something you will find usefull, just dont build any Rustalkers!

[Man of Iron]

 

 

So, may I enter these hallowed halls and schedule a nice hot oil bath? My joints are pretty frozen after 15 years.  

 

Hmm... alright, but in return i'm going to need a saucer of milk (none of that skimmed nonsense), two fish, several very fragile objects, and a shelf.

 

Welcome home - you've found a really great community.

 

Thanks! Pish posh on horrid "skim", we offer 100% cream to the followers of the miaonissiah. Yes, the community stands out indeed! 

 

 

 

I read the new CA is coming, but I figured the CA 2017 will still be relevant for anything CA 2018 doesn't change. Right? 

 

No one is actually sure as this will be the second book. It could go either way so we shall see. I would hope that the new book is the only one we need to take with us to games but they could make you take both.

 

It kills me the rules are costing as much as a nice pile of models. Yes, I know, it's 15 years of missed sticker shock catching up. eek.gif

"In my-y-y day, a codex cost less than a box of troops..." Shakes measuring stick - oh, the sticks are gone too? Drat.

 

I re-started back in 7th after originally playing in 3rd and 4th. The prices have really gone up and a few other things have changed, but we can get 20% off most things if you go online retailers. I have the original Tau codex that cost £8... We have tape plastic rulers in the box set now which are actually better as you can bend them

 

 

Black_Knight, yes I was hesitant on buying the CA but I thought it may be like the CA books of old which were all additions, more or less. If it simply replaces what came before then its a lesson learned. If its additional material, I can always print off the relevant pages. As I've gotten the epubs, I can carry them all easily enough - although there's nothing quite as fun as paging through a physical book. If I find myself really playing a particular army more than another, then I'll update to a hardcopy.

 

"Prices is as prices does."   It's the nature of the beast. I'm looking to alternative retailers as I'm jumping in with two armies. The hard part is not getting off track with the other 20+ factions that also have very gorgeous models. For example, the Imperial Knights are very nice, and with Forgebane I'd get two warglaives. Three armies? No no no!

 

The upcoming boxed sets do look nice. It's going to be a tough choice between the AdMech and Necrons. I do like the look of the Sicarians and Kastelans. The 'other' army may have to settle with a SC! box. However, I'd like to keep them both equally strong and challenging but there's time enough to decide that later. 

[Xisor]

For what it's worth, I've found the Adeptus Mechanicus to be a much more serious challenge (in a good way) to my painting abilities thanall my other projects, even fiddly eldar (Harlequins excluded,of course!).

 

Not as a warning, but that you might find they consume a lot of time due to their intricacy. Really awesome models though, and very receptive even to my ham-fisted painting skills!

 

To that end, Necrons might also be a touch more boring on the painting/modelling side.

 

Queue your assembly lines accordingly! :D

[BolterZorro]

My 2 cts about the battleforce boxes:

For someone like you who is starting both armies (admech & necrons), the 2 upcoming battleforces, selling at the same price, are not really comparable in game:

for the necron, most of the content is subpar.

But for the admech, it is simple: you get only the best ! It is why, beeing like you myself, I'll get 2 boxes of admech. Onagers, best heavy shooter of admech, one of the very best of the whole game for points. Castelans (robots) our best daka, not less. Infiltrators, one of our fast moving unit for grabing objectives, our "ninjas" (but dont build rustalkers: wait for the CA). Skitari, a must have for rangers and vangards. And last but not least, enginseer, our cheapest HQ choice. lame in game but great in list building. With 2 boxes and what you already have in forgebane (got them too) you already have a serious admech army 

[frosteldar]

Welcome!  I agree with what everyone has mentioned above.  The nice thing about what you are getting too is that you can easily use it in Kill Team if you want smaller games as you build up the forces.  And I agree, it is really easy for that toe-dip into the Imperial Knight forces to leading into full-blown diving!  The Necrons and AdMech have lots of interesting dynamics/fluff against each other that it will be fun to have both those armies.  My step-son has Necrons and I have the AdMech and budding Knights.  

[Man of Iron]

For what it's worth, I've found the Adeptus Mechanicus to be a much more serious challenge (in a good way) to my painting abilities thanall my other projects, even fiddly eldar (Harlequins excluded,of course!).

 

Not as a warning, but that you might find they consume a lot of time due to their intricacy. Really awesome models though, and very receptive even to my ham-fisted painting skills!

To that end, Necrons might also be a touch more boring on the painting/modelling side.

Queue your assembly lines accordingly!

 

Thanks, Xisor. I don't mind the challenge as it's all new to me again anyway. I'm going to need to take my time as I get myself back in gear. 

Necrons, I've always look at them as an assemble line all identical killer robot army. I do miss the pewter models (although not their weight - I had a hundred of those metal models in a case and they were a real pain to carry around). 

Looking at the pictures of the AdMech and all their fiddly bits, I certainly need to plan my assembly line accordingly.

 

 

My 2 cts about the battleforce boxes:

For someone like you who is starting both armies (admech & necrons), the 2 upcoming battleforces, selling at the same price, are not really comparable in game:

for the necron, most of the content is subpar.

But for the admech, it is simple: you get only the best ! It is why, beeing like you myself, I'll get 2 boxes of admech. Onagers, best heavy shooter of admech, one of the very best of the whole game for points. Castelans (robots) our best daka, not less. Infiltrators, one of our fast moving unit for grabing objectives, our "ninjas" (but dont build rustalkers: wait for the CA). Skitari, a must have for rangers and vangards. And last but not least, enginseer, our cheapest HQ choice. lame in game but great in list building. With 2 boxes and what you already have in forgebane (got them too) you already have a serious admech army 

 

Thanks, BolterZero, I can use all of the 2 cts tossed my way. 

Deciding between army units is one reason why I bit the bolter shell and bought the codexes. Sure, I can go by the 'rule of cool' and get what looks good, but I also want to have some toys that can hang in a battle. It's hard to know what can do what without reading up and then playing. I do love Necrons, but the AdMech are the new 'bots on the block to me. I am liking the look of their upcoming box set. I'm still waiting on my Forgebane box to get started.

 

I appreciate your comments on the AdMech. It helps, and most of my reading through posts in this forum have been with a pen and notebook in hand (or, at least, with a copy & paste text document at the side of my screen). 

 

 

Welcome!  I agree with what everyone has mentioned above.  The nice thing about what you are getting too is that you can easily use it in Kill Team if you want smaller games as you build up the forces.  And I agree, it is really easy for that toe-dip into the Imperial Knight forces to leading into full-blown diving!  The Necrons and AdMech have lots of interesting dynamics/fluff against each other that it will be fun to have both those armies.  My step-son has Necrons and I have the AdMech and budding Knights.  

 

Thanks, frosteldar. Funny you mention KT because that was my first thought of getting started again in the hobby. I thought, I'll get KT and just a few models here and there. My FLGS was out of KT so I decided to wait. Suddenly, as I delved further into the hobby again, I found myself looking through all of the Factions and their models. I was getting overwhelmed a little. I thought okay, I'll start a small 40K army, get the rules and a codex. Then WHAM! I saw the Forgebane box online. Now, I'm at two armies - and a potential third because of the IK warglaives. 

 

It doesn't take long to fall into the rabbit hole, does it? 

 

I appreciate all of your comments and suggestions - keep them coming.

It does help with keeping me focused as I'm relearning the game in this strange new age. 

[Black Knight]

I started with Admech, tried to get the Uber detachment in 7th, then I brought a few of the Cassius team models, then my wife got me a Deathwatch Battleforce box that was lost in the warp. Then I got Forgebane and finally Renegade.

 

That is 3x armies at 2k...... HELP!

 

[Man of Iron]

...

 

[Vanger]

 

Its £100 which is steap but you are getting a good discount and everything there is something you will find usefull, just dont build any Rustalkers!

 

May I ask what's the issue with Ruststalkers? Lack of the Infiltration ability?

 

Also which troop is better? Skitarii Rangers or Vanguard? I do like the look, gun of Rangers (and the yseem to be the cheaper option too), but maybe I'm missing something?

[Clingy]

Take Rangers if you want to use them as a screen, vanguard if you want them to do something. I personally go with 3x5 barebones squads to make a battalion.

 

Vanguard tend to be a bit more situational but best to go with what you think looks coolest really

[Tiger9gamer]

Honestly I have never gone wrong with at least 20 omnispexed vanguard and 10 omnispexed rangers to screen my gunline. A bit excessive? Sure, but all those guys with so many shots means they can usually do something before they die, or help protect your army better. as I pplay lucius I usually have one fully loaded squad of plasma to deep strike down, having ignores cover and blasting camping infantry or soften up tanks for my neutron lasers to chew on.

 

basically my biggest piece of advice is to give all your skitarii omni-spexes. Oddly enough I never had that many run away due to battle shock* during all the games of 8th I played, so moral isn't too big of an issue.  Having ignores cover, which is a situational -1 AP to your guns, is a very good choice for a basic troop choice, and allows you to kill effectively no matter the terrain.

 

 

*they mostly dont run away because they usually all die at the slightest bit of attention, but that's what they are there for!

[Xisor]

For what it's worth, the Data Tether does let your squads get access to the Skitarii protocols strategems - which I find mighty useful.

 

Being next to an Onager or Dragoon will do it too, but as I only have one of each (so far), they don't always be next to that Skitarii that need it!

[Black Knight]

 

Also which troop is better? Skitarii Rangers or Vanguard? I do like the look, gun of Rangers (and the yseem to be the cheaper option too), but maybe I'm missing something?

 

 

They gain 1 attack while loosing the infiltate. If you could ever get them into combat they will have fun but at T3 and only an 8" move, they die from a stiff breeze. There is also no exploding hits and no range attacks so you can see why people prefer to take Infiltators.

[Tiger9gamer]

For what it's worth, the Data Tether does let your squads get access to the Skitarii protocols strategems - which I find mighty useful.

 

Being next to an Onager or Dragoon will do it too, but as I only have one of each (so far), they don't always be next to that Skitarii that need it!

 

true! but you can still get a +1 to ballistic skill with a strategem without the tether, which still means they can get to a 2+ on every shot. It's really great for plasma skitarii deep striking with the re-rolling ones canticle, allowing them to blast the heck out of their target. I just wish our destroyers for something similar...

[Black Knight]

Also with rumours about stacking -1 to hit going the way of the Dodo in CA, perhaps the Data Tether or the strategem will change.

[Vel'Cona]

Welcome to B&C and the AdMech sub in particular!  Eager to see the new Cohort come together :)

[Man of Iron]

Vanger, Clingy, Tiger9gamer, Xisor, & Black_Knight: Thanks for the insights into some of the units.

 

Thanks, Vel'Cona. I'm eager myself, but I don't want to rush building yet. I'm going to need some decent clippers and a new cutter. "Back in the good old days", I used a metal blade for practically everything and a drill for anything pewter. These parts look so fragile and my hand isn't as steady as it used to be. I don't want to butcher them, or I'll be scavenging parts from the Necrons to fix the AdMechs. 

 

I'm getting familiar with the unit descriptions and looking at the models, identifying the parts and what they are.

I haven't gotten any small magnets yet for trading any special weapon parts on the models. I may forego that and build at least one squad the regular way and see how they go together. 

 

I like the example Cohorts and Macroclade they give in the codex. It's not as tight a format as the Space Marines with each Company having so many of such-and-such units - I sort of miss that rank and file stuff. I'll be planning and building one Maniple at a time. 

Thanks for the encouragement! 

[Black Knight]

 

 I'm going to need some decent clippers and a new cutter. "Back in the good old days", I used a metal blade for practically everything and a drill for anything pewter. These parts look so fragile and my hand isn't as steady as it used to be. I don't want to butcher them, or I'll be scavenging parts from the Necrons to fix the AdMechs. 

 

Doesn't matter how carefull you are, you ARE going to snap some stuff by simply looking at it. Mechanicus is dam fiddly and I have had to re-attach broken pipes or arms because they are a mm thick. Do not look at me INFILTRATOR!

[Emicus]

Welcome to the forge!

 

I've barely tapped a mechadendrite into Admech myself by building a dune crawler. Snapped a few of the climbing rungs just mould-line scraping!

 

Excellent faction for it though, if anyone would be able to do spot repairs it's the cogbois

[Vel'Cona]

 

I'm going to need some decent clippers and a new cutter. "Back in the good old days", I used a metal blade for practically everything and a drill for anything pewter. These parts look so fragile and my hand isn't as steady as it used to be. I don't want to butcher them, or I'll be scavenging parts from the Necrons to fix the AdMechs. \

 

I highly recommend the GW clippers for all your sprue-assembly needs, and the mould line remover is a hidden gem from my experience with it.  GW equipment seems a bit on the high end price-wise, but I can say after using both tools for over a year now that neither have dulled and I haven't bothered to reach for other tools.

 

Also, scavenging from 'Crons is an old AdMech tradition, if the Mechanicus video game is anything to go by! :lol:

[brother_b]

"The mechanicus video game is anything to go by!"

 

Maybe but definitely don't go "buy" the game. It feels like it was developed for a tablet or iPad, not a computer. It's just not that fun.

 

/random comment