Planning ahead for getting my Imperial Guard Army.

[General Marcus]

I've only played the Dawn of War series so I want to get advice for moving from RTS's on the PC to Tabletop. I've seen a few videos and know that it can be a task to get all those models and paint them, then finding players.. but one step at a time.

I heard about points and I'm guessing that each unit (model) has a point value set to them. You can fill the board up to the point value set before the battle.

Each unit has a class (infantry, Heavy Infantry, light vehical, ect.), armor value, shield value, weapon and that weapon has an effectiveness against diffrent types. *stops his head from spinning*

ANYWAY!.

I'm guessing 2000 is the average so I suppose I'll start there.

What I want period:
General (That's me. Always in the field of battle.)
Heavy Weapons Teams (Long range, changeable weapon for different situations)
Basilisks (Long range, Earthshaker. "SHATTER THEIR SKYS!" Need I say more?)

Of course I'll need a squad of Guardsmen and a Lemon Ross, but what else would other Imperial Guard Generals suggest for filling out my ranks?

I should note I prefer to play the defensive, bring them into my line of fire and smash them in a hellfire of bolts, lasers and explosions.

Sorry if this seems demanding.. I really just NEVER had a game such as this. It's like chess just with cooler pieces.

[Plix36]

The first thing you want to get before you get any models it the IG codex.

[General Marcus]

The first thing you want to get before you get any models it the IG codex.

I could download the codex if we can start making my list.

[WD40]

The first thing you want to get before you get any models it the IG codex.

I think the rulebook may be more important.

As for downloading the codex... thats illegal! *gasp* *looks around suspiciously* -.- ive done that...

I'd look around in the IG section of the forums, and google some IG tactics, maybe look at some youtube videos, to get a feel of what they can do on the tabletop. Then you can start making your list, and once you've got a good idea of what you want your list to look like you can buy the models. I'd look into an online vendor such as: thewarstore, maelstromgames, or waylandgames. The first is in the states, and the latter two are in the UK. If you don't mind waiting a week or two for shipping from the UK, you can save 20-25% on your models.

Hope that helps.

[Deception]

first tyr to find a game shop in your area this can be done by going to games workshops website and looking at store locator.

http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/st...tor/search.jsp

assuming there is a store in your area (beacuse it would be a shame to have a awesome army and noone to play with :C). go there and ask about 40k there should be experienced players who would be more then happy to help out. then get a rulebook (preferably a small one that you can get out of the starter set) or even the starter set so you can learn the rules (comes with space marines and orks, templates and some dice with a small rulebook) or you can just by the beefy rulebook (however the game is rumored to get updated next summer so new rulebook) then you can start collecting imperial guard.

once you look at the official guard codex, you can then figure out points values, and what you need and stuff you want to take, im a mechanised player so i like tanks (chimeras leman russ's and manticores and stuff) good bet for you would be to buy a couple battleforces for a start as these will make up your core army. (comes with a command squad, 2 guard infantry squads, a heavy weapons team, and a sentinal.)

just note that the actual tabletop plays way differently then the pc, as the pc simply simplified the game so you can always just jump right into the action.

hope this helps.

[General Marcus]

first tyr to find a game shop in your area this can be done by going to games workshops website and looking at store locator.

I hadd to stop reading there and inform you that as I said before, there are no stores in my area. This is an unknown hobby where I live.

[Architech]

Codex First so you can build by points

Look at GW website for the pictures....for comparison of the models...to see what they look like.

Then cross reference what images you like with what models go together and such as per a 2k list. then that's your 2k points

[bombardment]

First find people to play and do a trial game! DONT SPEND A PENNY ON THIS GAME WITHOUT SOMEONE TO PLAY AGAINST AND A TEST GAME!

Also, 2k is not "average". 1000-1500 is more of the "average" size for casual play as far as i know. I also would suggest starting at 1000 points and working upwards in 500 point blocks. I know from my current IG army (1k points) that IG is really expensive money wise for the points it consumes. I spent $500+ on my 1k army. Mind you i had some forgeworld in there in the form of a griffon and vendetta, but I also got a bulk deal from ebay so it evens out.

After finding an opponent and having a practice game buy the rule book and the codex of your choosing. Look things over, ask people on the forums for opinions and THEN buy.

You do not want to just throw money at your army if you want it to preform well. I have almost 4000 points of space marines, the first 2k i collected impulsively, the second 2k i collected to fill in the major problems with the first 2k. Ever since then I have not ever had to buy much to fix my armies as I have a good plan for everything i buy and already have a decent balance in the list that only needs mild tweaking.

After looking the codex over and getting opinions about your lists, buy the models, paint them up and play with them. (trust me...paint them now before the ammount you have to do piles up into a daunting mass). Play as many games as you can with the list and look for consistant problems you experience. Then expand to 1500 points and fill in the problems you had at 1000 points (not enough anti-tank for example) with the extra 500 yo uare adding. Once you are comfortable wit hyour 1500 poitn army move up to 2k. After 2k I consider it a battle royale, just buy what you like. You can now field a solid force for the most common points costs so why not get some fun units to fool around with. I know when I hit the 2k mark I'm gonna celebrate with a deathstrike missile launcher and probably some ratlings.

Really just take it 1 step at a time and dont try to do too much at once. This is dman expensive so you need to be cautious with how you begin playing.


EDIT:
Trust me, if you look for people to play 40k with you will find them. If not just get your friends interested. Its not all that hard. When I tarted playing there were only 3 other people. I got 2 more into the hobby and they got a few others so that I now have about 8 people to play against.