Now that we've seen the previews for all seven of the starting factions, does everyone here have a good idea of which ones they'll be leaning towards at the game's launch? Personally, I'm a bit torn between the Orks and Dark Eldar. I have an undisputed affinity for the former, and Nazdreg has the highest combined attack and defense of any starting commander, but the Brutal mechanic isn't nearly as appealing to me as the Dark Eldar's. I'd give the Astra Militarum more consideration, but I'm holding out for an armored company.

So, what say you guys?

chaos probably especially the Nurgle stuff for the 2nd pack preview

The Tau. From what I see, their play style is right up my alley.

Eldar and Dark Eldar.

going Tau/Eldar first but im considering a chaos deck

I'm a bit torn between the Orks and Dark Eldar.

Panzee traita!!

Seriously, though, I'm all for Orks. I like the look of the Tau, AM, and DE as well, but I'll be focusing on da boyz until I'm ready for something different.

I really wanted to like the Tau, but they're dependence on attachments doesn't really suit my playstyle; I'll obviously give them a chance, but I think Chaos might be more for me. Especially once the Scourge pack is released. Honestly, that Space Wolf warlord wouldn't be bad to play either: I'm eager to concentrate on Warlord hunting as my strategy while playing.

Again, I'll just choose what ever faction makes the best decks. It seams absolutely CRAZY to me that people would pick a faction. That is insanity. I'll play Imps if that makes the deck i think has the best chance to win the comp. If anew pack comes out that makes Chaos the best, I'll play chaos. There is no loyalty, not favorites ... It is about what deck is best end of story.

For now though I agree with the general consensus that Dark Elder with a Elder splash looks at face value to be the most powerful deck coming out of the core set. So I'll probably be starting there.

Chaos and Orks here, good thing they can be allies.

Again, I'll just choose what ever faction makes the best decks. It seams absolutely CRAZY to me that people would pick a faction. That is insanity. I'll play Imps if that makes the deck i think has the best chance to win the comp. If anew pack comes out that makes Chaos the best, I'll play chaos. There is no loyalty, not favorites ... It is about what deck is best end of story.

For now though I agree with the general consensus that Dark Elder with a Elder splash looks at face value to be the most powerful deck coming out of the core set. So I'll probably be starting there.

It's not all about winning, it's about having fun and winning is just a bonus.

Sure sure, the end objective is to win, but I'll be having fun in every game I play.

The definition of having fun is dependent on each individual person, I like factions !

That said, I'll assume there will be an (somewhat) equal balance between the individual factions, maybe not.

no, its all about winning. Making the best deck and crushing all foes.

Glad I got some guy on the Interverse showing me how to play with uber-win-decks and ruthless ferocity. Wouldn't want casual fun to ruin my gaming experience with my girlfriend.

well there is always levels of casuals and then people that play the game properly. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think you mean "more competitively", even casuals play the game "properly".

not sure I agree. I play chess, in fact I am pretty good at it, but I am far from a grandmaster. Those guys see depth and strategy I could only read about they play it better and because of that properly as they see all the bits I just miss.

Besides it doesn't really matter as long as you guys have fun.

Don't get me wrong, I'll most likely be playing the **** out of this game being a big warhammer40k fan.

Maybe I'll reduce my winning chances by sticking to certain factions, but I think it just adds another layer of fun based on theme.

That and it would be boring if we were all to play eldar/dark eldar just because they appear a bit stronger than the rest.

I'm sure FFG will balance stuff out.

well I know 40K fans can be pretty loyal to their armies... I always assumed it was the cost. By the time you have a 5K army you are sorta stuck with it unless you are rich. This game you are getting a new warlord every pack also each warlord has a its squad.. a new cool idea in these kind of games.

While in netrunenr we started see decks take on "personalities" and themes... you do not play a "rush deck" you play Andromeda. The deck, the playstyle are named after the IDs, people use the IDs as tags... this game will be like that even more. So more than any other LCG, changing warlords is a single movement with no deck building sill will drastically alter the base design if your deck.

I think it will be impossible to NOT try new warlords.

It is like they took the basic idea of the sets in star wars mixed it with the characterization of netrunenr ids and made it a million times better.

no, its all about winning. Making the best deck and crushing all foes.

You still need to pick a faction in order to do that, and I didn't specify whether people should pick their favorites based on flavor or competitive ability. My preference for Dark Eldar is based upon their playability, and nothing else. Come to think of it, didn't you fuss about not playing DE because of the color of their cards?

not a fan of the pink but won't stop me playing with then. I mean I play Doomtown and those new cards wish they had graphic designers as good as FFG to do layout and stuff. Its all about gameplay... That doesn't mean I think those pink cards look pretty terrible.

IMO, from the core set spoils. Dark Elder with a Elder splash looks to be the contender for the strongest deck so far.

Think I'm going for Dark Eldar. Also maybe Eldar. BTW I will be trying any deck, it's a LCG.

ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! ORKZ! Chaos and Dark Eldar.

Again, I'll just choose what ever faction makes the best decks. It seams absolutely CRAZY to me that people would pick a faction. That is insanity. I'll play Imps if that makes the deck i think has the best chance to win the comp. If anew pack comes out that makes Chaos the best, I'll play chaos. There is no loyalty, not favorites ... It is about what deck is best end of story.

People play games and make gaming choices for different reasons. Loyalty to a faction or enjoying a playstyle is as valid as just out-right competitiveness. In Netrunner I pretty solidly played Jinteki even though they were almost universally regarded as sub-par until very recently (in the UK at least), and now I get to say I played them before they were cool (and finally have Jinteki work as they should). Now, this wasn't because of the background flavour (as frankly the Android background doesn't mean anything to me), but because I liked the play style. I tried other ones, and some were ok, but I didn't enjoy them as much, even though theoretically I could build stronger decks with them. Many people (myself included) are really quite into the 40k background, and so they will want to play something that evokes the feeling of that faction and are enjoyable to play.

Myself I would probably lean towards Imperial Guard if I was choosing on flavour... can't judge on playstyle till I have more experience of the game (though Chaos don't really look like they will appeal to me from that basis, or background wise). I certainly won't be judging it on competitiveness.

no, its all about winning. Making the best deck and crushing all foes.

No, it is all about winning for you. That may be how you have fun from the game. Others get their fun from different sources (backing their faction, play style, or even deliberately choosing sub-par choices and then trying to get them to work regardless).

well there is always levels of casuals and then people that play the game properly. I wouldn't worry about it.

"Properly" is not the correct term. More intensely, maybe. More competitively, certainly, but not "properly". As long as you play according to the rules you are playing properly.

well I know 40K fans can be pretty loyal to their armies... I always assumed it was the cost. By the time you have a 5K army you are sorta stuck with it unless you are rich. This game you are getting a new warlord every pack also each warlord has a its squad.. a new cool idea in these kind of games.

It isn't just the cost. Some people have 10,000 + points in a single army, when they could have easily had several thousands points in multiple (possibly more competative) armies for the same cost, and buy expensive, unnecessary add ons for their particular army because they are emotionally invested in that army, not just because of the cost. They might like the background, the models, the painting style, the way the army plays or whatever, but it certainly isn't just because they have invested simply money in it. Gaming is a diverse hobby, and constantly winning is certainly not the only reason play games of all sorts (otherwise I would have given up on many games long ago).

Ah, lovely. Another Spike who's convinced he's an ace player before the game even releases. I always found it interesting that Spike's make up a large portion of tournament goers but do not necessarily make up the largest portion of tournament winners. Those deck lists they copy off the internet? Usually made by Johnnys who love one type of deck and have played it to a point where it's competitive, even if it didn't seem like it could be that way on the surface.

Anyway, /rant. I'll be playing Tau. Not sure if I'll do Eldar or SM ally, want to see more of the neutral cards. Leaning more Eldar though as I love a lot of the cards I've seen. (Harlequins, Whee!)

There's no choice for me but Chaos. Although no doubt I will try every faction just to see how they work. I can't imagine buying a game like this and not, at the very least, experiencing what other factions have to offer. But Chaos will almost certainly be always a favorite. As for casual vs competitive, different strokes for different folks. If metadecks and competition is your thing, great. If casual and relaxed is your thing, that's great too. By the way, boored, thanks for your input on my thread. I thought it was honest and offered a sensible solution, which was what I was leaning towards.

I'll be playing Tau. Mainly as their my fave 40k army.

But will probably play a little Eldar, Imperial Guard and Space Marines every so often.