Army from scratch? Colour suggestions..

[ukJames]

I've never learned how to play any of the games workshop table games, instead its always been the painting that's interested me. But recently, the proprietor of my local gameing shop has invited me to a basement game night. (insert joke here) ..so i'm having to get together an army pretty quick. Up until now, i've always just painted things as i saw fit. Never ever sticking to chapter colours, correct emblems, etc etc.. So i'd like some advice on how to assemble and paint an army in a short space of time. I want to put together a space marine army, but i don't have the first clue about what should be in it. The guy simply said "bring a 2000 point army". So, with that in mind, can anyone suggest what i need to get, and what the easiest colour scheme would be to paint? I'm quite skilled at painting, but i want to know what chapters are quick to do. Like, is there an all black chapter maybe? Or all white? I'm clueless. And links or advice greatly appreciated.

 

[Wyrmypops]

You realise asking for a basic scheme on a painting site is a bit like going into Starbucks and asking for a plain black coffee. :rotfl:

There is a chapter of black marines that springs to mind. "Black Templars". A search in the gallery here, or a bit of google-fu should bring up reference pics.
There might be some help to be found in the 40K sub-forum down the bottom of the forum menu. If not, I think the current incarnation of the GW website includes stats and points cost amongst their entries in the online store.

Also, if you do run with them after the neccesary game you could make them pretty. Aside from extra work put in on highlights, I believe Forge World have some iconography and brass sheets for that chapter.

 

[devoncodain]

White Scars are mostly white with red trim

 

[jdmchaos]

if you want easy,try a a ll one color marine.here are a few.
dark angels they are all green,and have a games workshop can of spraypaint that is there color.then just dip them in watered down black ink.

legion of the damned,they are all black like templar but noy so much cloth like the (templar),and they have a cool we are dead theme.cool new mini's too.

ultra marine,the all around beginners choice.all blue and have a spraypaint can out too.they have some cool mini's to for hq.

blood angel's,they are coming out with new mini's for them real soon but you can start with normal mini's for now.they are all red and have a spray can out too i think.again dip in thinned black ink.

any of the armys can be done this way.pick one and getter done.the hard part is all the metal details and purity seals.good luck.

 

[daGoz]

Here is a link to GWs "Chapter Gallery" where you can see a lot of different paint schemes.
As to the list, I think browsing through Bolter & Chainsword should provide you with some army lists to think about.
Even with SMs 2k is alot of points (models) to paint up in a hurry, especially if you like to take your time and paint each guy all nice and pretty. And 2k is a lot of models on the table to try and learn the rules with. My kids and I started with 500 points on the table to learn with and slowly added to them, but even so, because we live in the middle of nowhere, the largest points I have had on the table under my control is only 1750 in a tourny, and the best I did with my Tau was a minor victory over a 14 year old playing IG.
If you get over whelmed, don't give up, go back with a smaller army to learn the basics and move up from there.
Oh and one more thought: If you painted every guy and vehicle in a different colour scheme you can allways explain your losses by saying "What did you expect, this is the first time they have fought together as a team.":beerwave:

 

[freakinacage]

I certianly wouldn't go for an all White army.. I reckon ultras would be fun and easy ish. Basecoat with an airbrush, light zenithal highlight with the same then details and some edge highlighting to sharpen up. Quick

 

[Tercha]

Crimson fists, spray them blue and paint one fist red.....I remember a GW store guy in Chester painted a fairly large army in a weekend, I don't know how many points.

 

[Dragonsreach]

dark angels they are all green,and have a games workshop can of spraypaint that is there color.
ultra marine,the all around beginners choice.all blue and have a spraypaint can out too.
blood angel's,they are coming out with new mini's for them real soon but you can start with normal mini's for now.they are all red and have a spray can out too.

JDMCHAOS wrong on all three counts.
GW do not have spray paints in colours anymore, and havent for a number of years. In fact the last colour that I can recall that the brought out was Ogre Flesh in 2004-5.

UK James If you are looking for quick colour schemes in limited time then you are stuck with simple colours and models.
Ultramarines = Blue
Raven Guard = Black with White trim
White Scars = White with Red & Yellow Trim
Consuls = White & Light Blue Trim (IIRC)

All of the above are relativley quick however if you can find a hobbycraft or model shop which stocks Humbrol Acrylic Sprays then you could well be on a winner. Humbrol do a number of good colours which can be used as the main colours for a SPAM army.
Their Red is very close to Blood red and you could do a Sons Of Orar base colour in minutes, all you'd be left with is painting the shoulder pads white and if you had seperate Pads, Skull White.

BUT word of warning if you go for Ultramarines and the Humbrol spray DO NOT PICK UP BALTIC BLUE. Damn stuff's mettalic blue but doesn't look metalic on the sample label. I found out the hard way attempting to re-prime a Hydra Blue....Not a pretty sight.

 

[ukJames]

Thanks for all the replies people. Lots to think about! ...after some googling i think i'm gonna settle on Raven Guard. They look pretty cool, and I could spend some time tarting them up at a later stage. ..i do have a hobby craft not too far from me. Never been in there, but i'll definately take a peek. Spraying the whole army at once is definately an attractive option. I'm gonna steer clear of blood angels though. Never really liked highlighting red. ....i also had a look on-line at what a 2000 point army looks like. And wow. That's a lot of miniatures. Think i'll start with half of that and see how it goes.

 

[Dragonsreach]

...after some googling i think i'm gonna settle on Raven Guard.

Raven Guard are an army that a lot of people don't think about, but they are infiltrate, assault and fast attack specialists.
Think of this; with Captain Shrike you can take a full assault squad armed with Lightening claws.
Also think of a squad of lightening clawed Terminators in a Landraider, drive up, exit and assault... now that is seriously gonna ruin someones day.

 

[ukJames]

Raven Guard are an army that a lot of people don't think about, but they are infiltrate, assault and fast attack specialists.
Think of this; with Captain Shrike you can take a full assault squad armed with Lightening claws.
Also think of a squad of lightening clawed Terminators in a Landraider, drive up, exit and assault... now that is seriously gonna ruin someones day.

I don't have a clue what any of that means, but I'm definately looking forward to learning. Lol. ...is it odd that I've never learned how to play? For years I've just gone in the store, picked up what I liked the look of, and that was that. ..i tend not to visit games workshop stores, i don't like the over-friendly atmosphere. Instead visit a comic book shop/gw premier stockist. Wife and husband team running the store, and they let you put your miniatures in the window for all to see. ..they've invited me for an evening of absinthe and gaming. Lol.

 

[dannyk01]

All I say is to get the space marines codex. Only thing I can think of at the moment. Will you post pictures up of your army when done?

 

[ukJames]

Will you post pictures up of your army when done?

I certainly will. ..need to work out exactly what I need first though. But i'll definately post some before and afters.