Litanies of the Chaplain

Episode 1

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To adhere to Guilliman's holy text.

So, here we are. I have tried to show you the best way to start a Space Marine army, from my experience. Now I am going to talk about how I build my lists and the factors that I weigh.

I will again remind the reader that I am a novice to 40k. I have played many games in the last few years since starting. However, this is told from the point of view of a novice. If you do it differently, well that's great! Feel free to express your methods in the comments. I ask that any derisive or non constructive comments to be kept to yourself. As always take everything I say with a grain of salt. Lots of salt.

Where to begin? Well this has a simple answer. The Force Organization Chart, or FoC. If you can understand the FoC and why its so crucial to make the right choices in each category, well then my friend you are one step closer to victory!

Once you grasp the basics, the next step is determine what tactic you desire to effect on the battlefield.
You don't need to be able to name the tactic, just that you can visualize it.

-Does it require a special unit?

-How do your units move in relation to one and other?

-Are there special weapons required?

-Do you have a central unit you need to support?

Lets do an example:
I have a love for Tactical marines. I love the look and feel, as it were. So how to do I build an army with this unit in mind?

Well the first step is to determine what I plan on doing with these guys. In this case, I am just going to play capture and hold with them. So, in my opinion, the classic 10 man squad with a heavy bolter and flamer is looking pretty good. Sergeant takes a bolt pistol and chainsword for any bodies attempting to charge on them while they are holding the objective.  Maybe a melta bomb to deal with vehicles.
See there, we are well on our way to a list!
Now we just have to add more units to support these guys. Maybe a transport to get them there fast. How about a chaplain to make them more stalwart.(Hold it, at all costs kind of moments) Also we could take multiple units of the same arrangement. Better for grab and hold action!
At this point we look at support units. Thunderfire cannons, to help kill off large tarpits. Perhaps a Sternguard in a drop pod, to rough up the backfield. Predators are great for dealing with monstrous creatures and fliers are amazing at causing fear on the battlefield.
After assembling the ideal picture in my mind of how my army moves, I fill the holes. I select the units in order of precedence, or how often I see them in my mind's picture of the tactical breakdown. Once I have done this. I determine which HQ will best support my army. Some allow for re rolls for reserve. Others have amazing combat abilities. It all boils down to which one fills out the army the best. If you need to strip points to get an HQ into your army, try to start with the units that look good, but don't really conform to your image in your mind of how the game plays out.

When you finish your list, run it against your friends. See what ideas they have. Check in the forums.

But before you change it. Play it.

You need to know how well your visualized list plays. It will help you to better calibrate the picture in your mind. It will help you to understand the game more deeply. And when you play your list, don't be bothered by losing. Only that you can see its actual movement, as compared to your imagined. When you do this a few times, you will start to see a better picture forming.

Assignment:
Build a list with the aforementioned method. After you have played it. Share it here.

Luck in battle, brothers.

ATSKNF,
Torquer

Getting started (or how not to do it like I did)

In this exciting episode, I will talk about logic, or the lack thereof, when building a space marine army.

When I finally worked up the nerve to start building my army, the first thing I did wrong was to start buying models randomly, without a thought for the rules or army building. What I did do was buy stuff that looked cool or inspired me to buy more stuff. All the while putting them together wrong. By wrong, I mean not legal for play. After 2-3 models I picked up the codex. As I absorbed the pages, which took me about a month. I realized, to my horror, That I was doing it all wrong. I set out to right my wrongs. I started hanging out at my FLGS. I watched as Marine players fielded their armies. I gained a glimpse of army-building. It was also at this point that I met my new gaming buddy, Grumpy Guardsmen. Grumpy and I hit it off well. We discussed the Marines in general. We talked tactics and tried to figure the best course of building for me. 

So with that being said, let me now impart my wisdom to you. So that you, the reader, may gain from my mistakes.

Step one: Go watch people play.

And by this I mean,"Watch the game all the way through, to learn what-army-you-like's play-style."

 It is easy to go back now and correct my errors. I have spent well over a 1000 dollars in models and can pretty much field what I like. But for the new guy, this is the opportunity to really suss out what works for you. 

Ask questions. Not, "Wanna be my friend" questions. Direct questions. "Why did you choose that army" or "What makes that unit so special". Everyone playing that I know will gladly talk to you. Some of us are a bit more grumpy while in a game (me). All of us, will however stop and talk to you about the hobby. Goob is half the hobby. The meta game of army-lists. 

Try to find either the "fluff" or "style of play" army that suites you through your questions. Don't just jump on the first thing that looks cool. Look for that "I must have that" aspect that will give you the staying power throughout your early days of losing... a lot.

Step two: Go buy the books- Base Rule Book (BRB) and your codex.
Read the BRB. No really, read it. Your codex has so many cool rules and things to play with, but if you don't understand charging through difficult terrain, your early days are going to suck. Trust me, I know. Once you have the general understanding of the rules, dive into your codex. Learn each units strengths and weaknesses. Try to understand the synergies between the units themselves. And not just the obvious, spelled out in your codex ones. EX: Telion with a scout squad, obvious. Running Rhinos with your Tacticals, obvious. Using Telion on a quad gun, not so obvious.

Granted the examples I am laying out are pretty simple ones. But they make my point for me.

Try to really see the strength of your army as a whole, not just single units and the awesome ability they have.

Step three: Build your first army-list, THEN buy the models.
If you have made it this far and not have bought a model. Then you, my friend, have a amazing willpower. I would already be 20 models in. The point of this exercise is not to structure your hobby, just give you some better buying power.
So at this point we begin the most agonizing part. Building your list. Following the force organization chart. Try to get the most bang for the buck. All while trying to build that great tactic you dreamed up. Trust me you will dream up some wild tactics. Half of which are either horribly illegal or just plain mean.

 Then take your list to your gaming store of choice and find the pieces.

If you want and have the willpower, take your list to other gamers. Bell of Lost Souls, Bolter and Chainsword, Dakka Dakka are all great websites to help test your lists. They each have Army-list sections on their forums. Go to your FLGS and ask the guys playing there what they think. Don't be shy. We might show you a flaw in your army, you didn't see.

With all this said and done, buy your models. Assemble them so they reflect your lists. Use the"What you see is what you get" rule. If a guy has a Boltgun, put it on the model. It will save you the heart ache of having to remember who is carrying what while playing. Try to not get carried away. Not that easy, at least for me. Build only what you need for your lists. Keep the extra bits. They will be handy on future models.

Step four: Paint your models.
OK this is my downfall. I suck at painting. I have an amazing wife that is brilliant at painting. I am truly the luckiest man alive. I however, could a rats butt about painting models. I just want to thrash stuff. That being said, I have played guys that enjoy the immersion and without my opponents, I have no game. So at least make an effort. Maybe not a pro paint job, but at least prime/basecoat/and one highlight color.

With all this being said, go forth. Build armies and conquer your foes! Or at the very least, build your army with a bit more confidence.

I hope this helps.

ATSKNF,
T/Z