Which is the best battleforce to start an army with?

[cheart]

What no love for Imperial Guard? That would be my vote but if you don't want to go with that then I too would say to go with Necrons. Battleforce is great place to start and easy to expand upon.

IG, SoB, SM and nids are not up there because I know people who already have those armies, so I figured that I would only go with new armies for more variety. That being said, I don't think that IG would be the best battleforce to start your army with, as I think you have to add at least a couple more squads and an HQ before you have a legal (and very low points) army.

[Polaria]

Of the armies you listed there is no doubt about the Necrons being most cost-effective both points- and dollarwise. Although it has to be said Dark Eldar ain't bad either.

[experiment 626]

IG, SoB, SM and nids are not up there because I know people who already have those armies, so I figured that I would only go with new armies for more variety. That being said, I don't think that IG would be the best battleforce to start your army with, as I think you have to add at least a couple more squads and an HQ before you have a legal (and very low points) army.

Well, this may be right out of left field and all, but why not Daemons of Chaos?! It's a super unique army, (EVERYTHING deploys by Deep Strike!), it's got plenty of varity of models in the battleforce, easy to grab an HQ (or even just fancy-up 1 or 2 of the plastic dudes to be HQ's) and you've got cheap'ish Heavy option in the Daemon Prince.

Best of all, if you ever fancy trying out Fantasy, you've got an army ready to go!

Right out of the battleforce, you can field the following small army;
HQ - Herald of Tzeentch w/Bolt, We are Legion, Master of Sorcery
HQ - Herald of Khorne w/Blessings of the Blood God, Unholy Might.

Troops - 9x Pink Horrors + Bolt of Tzeentch & Icon of Chaos
Troops - 12x Bloodletters
Troops - 7x Bloodletters (okay, these are bolter fodder, but you other large unit is good 'an choppy!)
Troops - 10x Daemonettes + Transfixing Gaze (turn all those 2A power fist sergeants into 1A scrubs!)

Fast - 5x Seekers (more bolter fodder really, but my god are they fast!)

Not a bad little army per say right there, and easy to expand upon. Hell, I've seen some neat conversions that use 'crab claw' arms off of other plastic frames in order to convert those 5 seekers into 5 much more deadly Fiends of Slaanesh!
Lots of possibilities here, and of corse, the added bonus of having 1 army that plays both systems with no conversion effort required!

[cheart]

Well, this may be right out of left field and all, but why not Daemons of Chaos?!

Thanks for the advice, I forgot to mention though that I know someone with chaos daemons as well, so I probably won't be going with them. Otherwise they would definitely be a consideration, as you're right, they are a very unique army!

[omgitsduane]

I'd probably have to vote for necrons, they are survivable enough not to get your new gaming friend down when he starts to lose a couple of men here and there, as well as lots of good rules. Someone suggested guard, but I think guard could be a little disheartening for new players, losing handfuls and then entire squads each time the enemy shoots/assaults them. Even for me I dislike seeing it happen but I know more shall take their place.

[Shasta Hawk]

Do what I did and pick necrons. Then combine this with imperial guard to create some terminator type scenarios to hook some new players in. Cater to what the players are familiar with and the rules will come easier

[bliss-giver]

Although chaos space marines probably aren't the best choice here (I voted necrons), with very minor conversions, the battleforce can provide you with the berzerkers, 18-20 chaos space marines, 0-2 sorcerors or chaos lords and the rhino.
The possessed when mixed with the other sprues allow you to create another five bodies, and add interest to many of your models (either weapons or body parts), especially to two character type models.
If you're interested in them then in a few threads on the CSM forum there have been very good building guides for the set.

The general outline is this: (it came from Lord Ramon in http://www.librarium-online.com/foru...ammer-40k.html (Getting my friend in to war hammer 40k))

"
I totally agree with Marius, and strongly recommend the basic Chaos Space Marines Battleforce

"This boxed set contains 15 Chaos Space Marines (includes 1 Chaos Space Marine Champion, 1 Chaos Space Marine Icon Bearer, 1 Chaos Space Marine with heavy bolter and 1 Chaos Space Marine with plasma gun), 5 Possessed Chaos Space Marines (includes 1 Possessed Chaos Space Marine Champion), 8 Khorne Berserkers (includes 1 Skull Champion) and 1 Chaos Space Marine Rhino"

Buy a pack of 40k Bitz Meltaguns at the same time. You are order them from GW or via a GW shop: Meltaguns | Games Workshop

Most CSM players really don't like Possessed CSMs. However the models are fantastic, and you get plenty of spares bits with them. You can use them to make great models that work with the rest of the army.

So you get 15 basic CSM. Ignore the Heavy Bolter as you will never field it. Use the legs and body (plus backpack and head) from a Possessed, to make the Aspiring Champion (with a Power Fist) for a squad of 10 CSMs - 9 CSMs + 1 Aspiring CSM. Give two of these CSMs Meltaguns.

This leaves 6 CSM.

Make another Possessed into a Skull Champion (with Power Fist but no Plasma Pistol) for your Berserkers. This gives you 8+1 Berserkers.

You now have 3 Possessed CSMs left.

Use one, with one of the Winged backpacks. Give it an arm with a Power Weapon (a sword with no 'teeth') and an arm with a Bolt Pistol - this is your Winged Chaos Lord with Power Weapon or Daemon Weapon.

Now you have 2 Possessed and 6 CSM left; so another Possessed body will make you another CSM Aspiring Champion (but you'll need a Power Fist for it). You could use a Possessed arm and bulk it up to look like a Fist.

For the 6 CSMs, give one the Plasmagun. Keep the other Meltaguns until you get some more CSMs or some Plague Marines. You could trade one for a Plasmagun.

Use the last Possessed exactly as the Lord's build. This is your Winger Chaos SM Sorcerer.

With the Rhino, try an make it so you can field it with or without the Havoc Launcher (this gives you choices when you make your list).

Get another Rhino as soon as you can, preferably two more actually.

Do not get rid of any spare bits you have left. Keep all legs, heads, arms, weapons, vehicle bits etc. They may come in very useful as you get more models.



So you end up with:

Lord: Wings, Daemon Weapon [150pts]
Sorcerer: Mark of Slaanesh, Wings, Lash of Submission [145pts]
10 CSMs: 2x Meltaguns, and the Champ has a Power Fist [210pts] You should probably give the an Icon of Chaos Glory too.
6 CSMs: 1x Plasmagun [105pts]
1x Rhino with extra Bolter or Havoc Launcher [40/50pts]
9 Berzerkers: Champ has Power Fist [229pts]
Total: 879/889pts

Then buy 2 more Rhinos so all the squads can be mounted in vehicles.

The Lord and Sorcerer can ride in Rhinos too, even with the wings.

Hope this helps!
"

Some of the possessed arms can make good powerfists, and I think that after this this you still have one model left over, so you could make another CSM, or save the pieces for later. And the general consensus is that 8 berzerkers is enough (especially with a character) as long as they are running in your rhino, and they should be the first unit to use this in any of your lists, although I often take one or two more models.

[Shasta Hawk]

I really had no interest in the chaos sm battleforce until now. Thanks a lot

[bliss-giver]

No problem, they may not be the best choice, nor may they be your favourite but the battleforce is often neglected and written off as junk, I thought it was just worth bringing it up for yourself or anyone else who was interested.