For me, it comes down to one thing. That one thing is my loyalty to all things fantasy. So i ask you, Dark Sun, do you have the loyalty to be of fantastical stature? Warhammer brings to life the feeling of different races very similarily to 40K but, the play style in my opinion is much different. Imagine it like this, 40k is like being a commander in a squadron, while Warhammer fantasy is more like being a general giving commands to your army.
Do you want to be a petty commander?
Or do you want to be a monstrous general of hundreds of blocked fierce warriors waiting for your command?

Basically, what I am trying to say is, if you have the passion for fantasy themes and the warhammer playstyle, then don't let things like popularity, army choice, or age ( seeing as your twelve it shouldn't be a big deal anyway.) I'm sure you've heard this before but, why not be the leader of the pack instead of following it!

P.S.- I can see why they would all play lizardmen, they are the best!

 

Be a trendsetter. Make a good looking Fantasy and try to draw some new players in. Worst case scenario you'll have a pretty army to display until you can find some sympathetic gamers.

 

For me it's the models, IMO they're ugly, i briefly got into Tomb Kings till i saw skeleton horses, they look ridiculous, skeleton humans riding skeleton horses, how about skeleton cows eating grass in a meadow? Also, i thought TK were being based on Ancient Egypt, why no camels?

I'd recommend finding someone who plays something other than Lizard men ( i look at Lizard men and immediately think Kroot look better) befriending this individual, and playing with them regularly, you could even convert a fellow 40k player to start fantasy with you, you could both learn the rules together.

I hear Lizard men are a great beginner's army for Fantasy, they also have a re-release coming up

 

For me it's the models, IMO they're ugly, i briefly got into Tomb Kings till i saw skeleton horses, they look ridiculous, skeleton humans riding skeleton horses, how about skeleton cows eating grass in a meadow? Also, i thought TK were being based on Ancient Egypt, why no camels?

Think. How do you think a skeletal camel would look?

Also, the TK cavalry sucks, anyway, so you're unlikely to actually field any skeletons riding skeleton horses, with the possible exception of a Liche Priest. I hate the skeletal horses, too, so the only ones in my army pull chariots, which doesn't look that bad. Deciding not to play TK because the horses are ugly is like deciding not to play Skaven because the slave models are so expensive.

 

It's funny in my area there arn't many lizardmen players!

Though I play 40k and am about to expand into Fb, but it's not daunting because I know that if I build them I'll find someone to play.

So just go for it and see what happens!

 

Guess your right, but now im having the daunting task of choosing an army, Im deciding between the...

*High Elves: Good side they have lots of models that all look pretty cool, down side to me the High Elves seem sorta full of themselves in the fluff and the spearmen have plate armour dresses >.>

*Orge Kingdoms: I love the models, I love the idea, but I dont want to have an army of big obese monsters that will encourage overweight gamers. [joking]

*Wood Elves: Great only thing is the only models I like are : Orion king of the woods, Waywatcher Lord, Glade Guard, Dryads and the Eturnal Guard.

*Lizardmen: Good, but I dont like dinosaurs, their the most popular fantasy army at our gaming club plus their codex is due to be released soon. [drools over new stegadon]

So ya, some might say im picky but thats how I look at it.

 

...Lizardmen... codex...

you mean "army book" right?


Anywho, If you want an army of pretty models, I'd suggest Ogres, warriors of chaos, or any of the three elf races. If you want an army with with huge amounts of choices, characterful units and rules, generally fun to play, and is green, I'd suggest O&G (mostly because that's what I play (and they're awesome)). If you look at the army books (at least the few I have), most have, like, a page of core, a page of heroes, a page of lords, so on and so on. Orcs and Goblins, however, have about 7 core choices, 4 special characters, and a whole lot of cool looking miniatures.

[/O&G-is-awesome rant]

 

Dark Sun, correct me if I'm wrong but isn't your local store the Miranda Games Workshop? That's the same as my own local store, and I'm up there a few times a week at the least.

First things first, Fantasy is in no way less popular then Warhammer 40k. Each Games Workshop tends to have a player base that prefers one game over another, Miranda leans a little more towards 40k just because it has more people interested in playing with guns instead of spells and swords. The staff try to encourage everything really, it's just up the the people who come in and play to decide what they want to play.

As for Fantasy Armies, well, I think I know one of the Lizardmen players you mentioned, but I've seen a bit of variety in-store myself. There's a lad with a fairly large Beasts of Chaos force, and another with a truly number crunching Dark Elf army that, well, best way to have a fun game against him is to not play on the other side from him.

I have a Vampire Counts force slowly building up myself, and of course I've a pile of the new Warriors of Chaos [which I thought would be a little more popular just from the look of the models...]. If your not sure, go in-store and ask if they can run you through how some of the different armies work, show you some of the models people have painted up and all that jazz.

 

Really Blind? I thought I never knew it was that close. Last weekend when I went in on the painting table all 40k, gaming tables all 40k. Anywho I guess I should start a fantasy army theres nothing to lose and it shall be fun!!!

PS. Yes I do go to the Miranda GW, but I havnt been up there for like 2 months. Im only 12 and Im like really really short, so look out for me. lol

 

Tutankhankh has it right, most undead armies [be it Vampire Counts or Tomb Kings] will make a basis of large infantry blocks. A big difference however is that whilst Tomb King Cavalry isn't the best in the game [they're fast cavalry isn't bad for it's cost], they have access to excessive Chariots. It's a great sight, your foe having a single chariot and a few cavalry units, your own side of the board having some 3 magic casters and a dozen+ chariots all lined up in a row.

Another thing to keep in mind with the Tomb Kings [and what I would lean towards if I were to pick them up, I've considered it in the past] is their magic. In a word, you can describe it as 'relentless'. Most armies will potentially cast 2-3 spells a turn in mid sized games, one or two more in larger ones. Tomb Kings? You'll often cast 4-5 spells. That's not potentially cast, or may cast, but will cast. Your spells go off, and your opponent tries to work out which ones to dispell that turn.

 

Many years ago, everyone in my local store played 40K. Then all of a sudden, someone brought in a few fantasy armies they owned and we all joined in a big game. It was great fun, so pretty much everyone in the store decided to start a Fantasy army!

In the same way, you could be the trend setter, as mentioned above. I started with a Tomb prince just before Xmas. And now, well... i dont play much now, as Uni and life have got in the way a little. But i still have my army. And afaik, the majority of players at the store are Fantasy based now

It'd definitely the better game of the two (imo). Far more skill involved, and much more fun to play.

The best advice i could give id to pick the army you like the most, looks wise and rules/theme wise.

If you ever need any advice on Tomb Kings then feel free to head over to the TK forum, myself and the others will be waiting and happy to help

PS, TK Cav aren't completely useless, as with all units it just depends how they're used. And mine are converted into Skeleton Centaurs

 

It'd definitely the better game of the two (imo). Far more skill involved, and much more fun to play.

Indeed. From experience, 40K is more about list building and getting the first turn. With WHFB, I prefer to give my opponent the second turn, because almost everything will be out of range initially, and the bottom of Turn six is where games are won and lost. But in 40K, 90% of the time, I'll want to put my opponent immediately on the defensive, so will take the first turn almost always. If I don't get the first turn, the game becomes much harder.

 

Tks are good yes, magic wise and they're archers are pretty good if set up correctly. But they have a real achllies heal which is the hierophant, if someone kills him it becomes much harder to win as your army slowly crumbles.

 

ya, thanks for the help guys but I rekon I might do either a pure Ogre army, or a Wood Elves army with Orion, Dyrads, Eturnal Guard and Treemen.

But yeah that might change!

 

So here's my tip: Make sure you know the rules pretty well before taking up either army. They're not armies aimed at beginners and tend to require quite a lot of tactical thought.

 

Ya, Im going to read a it more about more of the differnt armies.

But the point is dont you guys ever feel a tad discouraged to start a fantasy army in comparison to a 40k army.

 

I wouldn't call it shallow, it's 100% the way I choose my army. Entirely based on the models I like, because I will know I'lle spend 5x as much time converting and painting my miniatures then gaming with them.

And while I might win a game or two with ugly unpainted models, painted models that I enjoy looking at will bring me pleasure for more years to come.

 

I just started playing 40k a few months ago and already I'm planning my first Fantasy army! The way I see it, this way no matter who shows up at the FLGS, I've got someone to play with.

For me, I'm all about the aesthetics and the painting/converting as well! I've got Eldar (of course) and I'm looking at getting into Wood Elves for the same reason -- I think the models are aesthetically pleasing, and working with the models for hours and hours on end seems totally doable.

If you're more into the hobby aspect of it, then regardless if you've got slim pickings for playing, you'll spend more time working with the models anyhow.

 

@ OP,

I was in a similar situation when I started warhammer. I loved the variety, detail and character that the WHFB armies had but I had no one to play against. I ended up choosing VC (without knowing anything about their power in 7th). But since I tend to spend more time on the hobby side of things looks take precidence. I collected a small force but I still haven't been able to play with it...I just love the dark unsettling feel of a well painted VC army.

Now I actually have a sizable IG army (around 3000pts) and I enjoy them as well. My 40k gaming group decided to start fantasy with the entrance of 8th and I can start collecting VC again (I know they aren't that great anymore but...meh). My point being...if you really like the feel of fantasy and you like the hobby aspect buy the army you like the look of most, spend the time making them look great, and you will probalby be able to use them down the road.

I have to admit though, I'm finding the cost of making a Fantasy army with the amount of troops I am needing is making me reluctant to finish my VC army. I know warhammer is cheaper than some hobbies, but it still becomes hard to swallow the pricetag even at a 20 to 30%discount. Oh well....I'll see what happens. I guess the price is also an incentive to put more time and effort into each model.

The other nice thing is if you like modelling the possibility to make game boards and scenery to match your Fantasy army is endless and a lot cheaper than purchasing minies.

On a side note the armies I most wanted to collect and paint were all the bad guys for their character. VC was my number 1 choice, but I also wanted to collect Orgres, WoC, and Beastmen! I just can't get into elves, dwarves or humans...they seem to common place for me when Fantasy offers so many interesting races. If you have a desire to start...GO FOR IT...and have fun, the anticipation of eventually finding opponents will make the wait more worth while!

 

Ooops, didn't read the dates beyond the first above posts.

 

Sorry if I'm being captain obvious here, but this thread was started way back in '08 and has been necro posted...

The changes in army book and edition have made many pros/cons to starting a new army change, so theres not really any point in continuing this discussion with out of date pros and cons still floating about in the thread.

 

My personal opinion is that fantasy is the better game. For me it's all about the painting, but it's REALLY all about the quality of the game. I feel that Fantasy is a more strategically oriented game and that 40K is just so much fluff.

Don't get me wrong, I play 40k, but never very seriously, and I almost never commit to a large game of 40k because it's just too darned unwieldy!

Besides, there is just something inherently satisfying about pushing blocks of 60 models around the tabletop and rolling 40+ dice at a time...

 

I have thought about starting a whfb army but then i look at my 40k armies and i decided that ill just stick with them but ive always liked skaven and goblins i dont know why and a large skaven army also goblin army will look great even if only painted up to a table top standard.

 

Stop posting in this thread, it's 2 years out of date!

 

@Fantasticmrfox What part of that don't you understand? Just curious.