AN ARMY FIT FOR YOUR VISION
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Grimgor Ironhide |
irst off, there is no right or wrong way to choose an army. However, by mulling over the sage tips here, you can avoid many common pitfalls. There are over a dozen Warhammer armies to choose from, and each has its own style of play, background, and fantastic range of Citadel miniatures. Additionally, there are countless ways to build a single army – for example, one Orcs & Goblins player may build a small force of hard-hitting units like Orc Boar Boyz, Black Orcs, Trolls, and a Giant, while another player may invest in large units of Goblins supported by numerous contingents of fast-moving Wolf Riders and Chariots. Both are Orc & Goblin armies, but each force will look and perform very differently on the battlefield. With all those choices, how can a beginner (or even a veteran) get under way?
GETTING STARTED
o make an informed decision, the best thing to do is to collect all the information you can and sort it by which aspects are most important or appealing to you. While they certainly are not definitive, below are some of the major categories to think about.
Stalwart Knights of the Empire attempt to halt a Vampire Count's unliving horde.
Style of Play
Do you think of yourself as an aggressive general who is looking for an army to take the fight to the enemy, or would you prefer a defensive posture? Are you more interested in hit-and-run tactics, massed missile fire, or an overwhelming sledge-hammer blow to the enemy's centre? It is quite possible to achieve some or all of these tactics with the same army, but each different force has unique specialties. Wood Elves, for instance, can stand and fight toe-to-toe, but they excel in hit-and-run tactics, cunning use of forest terrain, and deadly bowfire. A player most interested in dominating the battlefield in slugfests would do well to choose a force other than Wood Elves.
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Skaven Warlord |
Background
Each race in the Warhammer world has its own realm, background, history, and goals. For many players to get involved with their armies, they must first find out where that army is from and what makes that race of creatures tick. For example, the Skaven, a race of mutant ratmen, have an underground network of tunnels and lairs that stretches across vast territories. The different clans within Skaven society are fierce rivals – backstabbing and deceit have become a way of life. Skaven are forever gnawing over plans of conquest, and there is a clandestine and malevolent feeling of decay about the vermin as they seek to rise out of the ruins and overthrow the Warhammer world. A player looking for an army with an honourable and noble background is probably not going to want to choose the devious Skaven.
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Malus Darkblade, Dark Elf Noble |
Miniatures
Some players choose armies based strictly on how well they like the look of the miniatures! As collecting and painting will play a large role in getting together an army, this approach is an altogether sensible way of choosing a force. After all, the more you like and enjoy the models, the more involved you are likely to get in the collecting, painting, and modelling aspects of the hobby. A player that enjoys painting and modeling monsters would do well with a Dark Elf army (which has access to a Hydra, Dragon, Cold One mounts, and more fearsome creatures).
Conversely, if a player hated to paint beards, collecting a Dwarf army would probably be a slow torture in the painting stages. To find out more about each line of models, check out the miniature range that's found in every army's web section.
Taking the Next Step
You can find out more about any particular army by following the appropriate link in the side navigation bar on the left side of the Warhammer web section (you're in that section right now). These links will take you to each army's homepage, which has detailed information, more pictures of available Citadel Miniatures, access to the Warhammer Armies books, and much more.
Next: Assembling Your Models
Previous: The Warhammer Rulebook
