[BLACK_TEMPLAR]

I loking to start my second army and I'm down to Dark Eldar and Guard. I play Black Templars right now and I love the close combat of that army. My son and I play games at home some, but mostly we play in tournments at our Battle Bunker (which is an hour away). So I want an army that is different yet effective in tournment play. I've only seen one guard and one Dark Eldar armies in any tournment I've palyed in.

The only thing that bothers me about the DE is the new dex coming out. Will it change every thing that I buy now so that will have to start all over?

If I went guard it would be a drop troop army which would be different, but guard lacks the close combat that I like.

Give me some help to make up my mind. Thanks in advance.

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[ToastMaster]

BLACK_TEMPLAR,

I think it's important to try out a completely different army to your previous one, as it can really give you a different way to look at the game tactically. I can see why you'd want to go with the Imperial Guard, since they're quite shooty-based, which counters the normally close-combat based Black Templar method of playing. However, if you like armies with combat potential, the Dark Eldar really take it to another level.

I'd say, probably the best thing you can do besides flipping a coin is to try the two armies out. This can be via proxying them at your local game store with friendly opponents, or taking an army list onto VASSAL. See which army you like playing the most, and then develop that army in real life.

Originally Posted by BLACK_TEMPLAR

The only thing that bothers me about the DE is the new dex coming out. Will it change every thing that I buy now so that will have to start all over?

We really don't even know if we're getting a new codex.... :P

But there are a lot of rumours buzzing around about a new Dark Eldar codex, and the general theory is that its launch date is sometime in late 2009. This means you've got plenty of time to collect a Dark Eldar army before the codex is changed (if it's changed). I wouldn't worry about the new codex at all right now. It's still a rumour, really.

Cheers!

[KwiKwag]

I am probably one of the few Dark Eldar players that may not recommend getting into Dark Eldar right now. I do feel as though my current play style is coming to an end and the changes we may get will be drastic. You must really know you want to do it and if you have the money and time to start a new army quickly then by all means do it.

I don't want to say its all doom n' gloom but seeing what they did to the Eldar and Chaos codex's (and soon the Orks) I can't see how any resemblance of what we are playing now is going to be the same - including the models.

Now if you really want to play an obscure army that you don't see much and is even more CC orientated than the Dark Eldar (well, maybe the same) it the Kroot. I started using them with my Dark Eldar and now I have gathered enough of them for a 1500 point army. So there's my fall-back plan, if I don't see anything I like with the new DE codex then I'm going to be playing Kroot.

I guess I just don't want to see you staying with the Impire - go xenos, once you do you'll never go back.

[BLACK_TEMPLAR]

Where do you get the rules for Kroot and how do they play? It doesn't seem that they would have too much in the way of armor or anti armor weapons.

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[Siruk]

games workshop website, in the 40k section if you search around you will find it

[KwiKwag]

Originally Posted by BLACK_TEMPLAR

Where do you get the rules for Kroot

You can download the pdf. file here http://us.games-workshop.com/games/4...st/default.htm

and how do they play?

About 90% of the army can infiltrate and a 1500 point kroot list would have around 100 or so models (horde army tactics). They are my infiltrators for my Dark Eldar and they can be used with Imperial Guard as well. Just have 3 or so units to infiltrate while the the IG army hangs back and fires from afar.

The shoot the same as IG I think but have a good WS. They are a first turn army in that if you dont win first turn they are going to get shot up but at 8 points each who cares. They are a "rush" army and I think they would fit well with either DE or IG.

It doesn't seem that they would have too much in the way of armor

Correct, they have none. I think of them as Native American Indians (but cannibalistic) - no tanks.

or anti armor weapons.

Incorrect, they have the best armor popping hand weapon in the game. An eviscerator is a chainfist and every shaper (which has 3 wounds) can have one at a price. The shaper is not an independent character so he cannot be picked out so as long as he is within 2" of another kroot in base contact he gets to have his 3 attacks (4 on the charge). On top of that they can also take melta bombs but with an eviscerator why take meltas?

The Master Shaper (HQ) can get a melta gun or a plasma gun including melta, krak and frag grenades

[Circus Freak]

Originally Posted by ToastMaster

But there are a lot of rumours buzzing around about a new Dark Eldar codex, and the general theory is that its launch date is sometime in late 2009. This means you've got plenty of time to collect a Dark Eldar army before the codex is changed (if it's changed). I wouldn't worry about the new codex at all right now. It's still a rumour, really.

Late Summer/Autumn 2008. Next 40k Codex after Orks. According to French GW, I believe.