40k on a Budget: Astra Militarum

[@Bluecho4]

For Guard more than any other army, I always recommend buying third party models where possible. Most people will never encounter a situation where them having non-GW models bars them from playing at all. And third party models, especially third party _plastic kits,_ are just more affordable. So even if you're only filling out part of your army with proxies, with others being GW kits, it's still potentially multiple hundreds of dollars saved compared to MSRP. My eternal gold standard for Guard proxy kits is Wargames Atlantic. As they produce multiple, highly affordable kits that directly stand in for Guard units, including special weapons. (Indeed, most were all but explicitly meant to fill void in canon regiments GW no longer sells, or sells rarely and at huge markup). New kits are added every so often, in multiple "regimental" styles, and covering different units. Presently, Infantry squads, Heavy Weapons Squads, Ogryn (you'll need to source Bullgryn shields elsewhere), Cavalry, and Command elements are all in WA's product range. Moreover, as of this writing, it's still possible to back Wargames Atlantic's Gamefound campaign for their "The Damned" line of kits. Thanks to a successful campaign, The Damned are set to basically double WA's range of "Guard-alike" kits, each covering different aspects of the Imperial Guard unit pool (as well as ones built for the old "The Lost & The Damned" army, like Beastmen and Hounds). Backing the campaign, even right now, can net you tons of extra sprues from their collection. I backed it early, so I'm set to get enough models to get nearly to 2000 pts ("early birds" get even more free sprues). All for less than the current going price for a Combat Patrol from GW, MSRP. For those thinking "but I don't want Traitor Guard!", you can build the kits less Chaos-y. They'll have tons of head options. So they can be build as bedraggled loyalists, or else regiments like the Savlar Chem-Dogs, with the gas mask hoods. They're set to be highly flexible kits. I can't recommend highly enough looking into it, while the campaign is still accepting late pledges.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

There are a LOT of really great proxy guard models (I almost made a joke about buying little green army men as proxies). I like the Raumjager infantry personally from this link: www.reddit.com/r/Warhammer40k/comments/rr5fso/a_guide_to_3rd_party_proxies_for_the_imperial/

[@EnglishforHealthcare]

Been looking forward to these videos starting again! As someone just wanting to get into 40k and still trying to pick an army after collecting random units across armies, these videos are a total godsend and super well made/informative. Thanks a bunch for the series so far.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

If you are struggling to pick an army I suggest Tabletop Simulator! 1 $20 purchase and a little work with mods later and you can play every 40k army to your heart's content.

[@omnissiahsphinx6274]

I am a Guard player and this is really spot on. ty.

[@FlourEater]

great take on guard! I really like your lists, those are exactly what I like to play against. My best buddy plays guard and I´ve been on the receiving end of those artillery pieces too many times. Also... since next up are Tyranids (also one of my armies) I urge any aspiring IG collector/player to get a friend and convince them to start collecting the Nids for that iconic Starship Troopers Klendathu vibes! I am doing my part!

[@insafinar5995]

these Videos are awesome. I recently got into the hobby again and dont really now which army to start with, this is so helpful Like, Subscribed, Commented. Keep them coming !

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

My recommendation would be tyranids/space marines as they have so many styles you can choose from between big melee, tiny shooting, fast, tanky, psychic, and everything in between

[@insafinar5995]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner Problem is, i like many factions. Propably will collect multiple. Right now i will start with 2 factions 500 Points each. Going to play solo until i figured out which faction i like. Just going for Modells that look awesome or have some lore together. Tyranids - Aeldari , Salamanders - Orks for example. Leaning towards tyranids right now....i will have a look once i decide which unit i want to build and paint first :D

[@solowingborders3239]

As a guard player, this is a great list for new players. I went about my army building in a very regimented way. For every Infantry section, there is 1 Chimera for example. All tanks operate as a troop (3), arty in pairs (2x Basilisk and 2x Manticore) and my scout troop is a pair of Sentinels. That's sort of the core of my list and how I set things up. I don't care for being competitive, I just went with what I see as sensible for an army, which leans hard into armour and arty...the Krieg way.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

It's pretty reasonable. Troops aren't great without transports, and having just 1 indirect fire unit doesn't do much

[@atomickrispies]

Saw this title and thumbnail and 100000% thought it was going to be satire. I own 5000pts of guard it's bar none-the most expensive thing I own other than my house lol.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

The only way to afford guard is if you can ALSO afford a house.

[@DerNameT]

I thought about having the Guard as my first army, but I don't really like Cadians and wanted to make it all Krieg, with heavy infantry. After a short visit to the Games Workshop site, I burried that idea. But I got myself the Kill Team Starter Set, so I have just a handfull of Kriegsmen now.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Imperial Guard players truly do fund almost as much of GW's profits as Space Marine players do.

[@johnwhite9461]

There are rumours plastic Krieg are in the pipeline... but that could still mean years at this point. Solar Auxilia have won me over, Ill be screaming "For the Emperor!" in heresy this year. Ohh that Malcador!

[@fatrhino]

Again wargames Atlantic have excellent Kraig proxy models for about $30 for 24 minis.unless your playing in a sanctioned tournament there should be no problem using them in your army.

[@johnd3227]

such amazing videos ! kinda got me wanting to play Guard now

[@jamesdo3086]

40k on a budget: Astra Militarum Step 1- choose a different army.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Surprisingly affordable tbh. Especially if you want a more meme build I didn't include in 13 Lemans russes

[@StarkMaximum]

Very cool video! I think the most interesting ones are the ones where the Combat Patrol is kinda...mid. It really feels like you have to stretch a bit to take the lists in interesting directions. The fact that you always build multiple variations is so appreciated! It's hard to not like any of the options given, and if that's the case, it might just be a sign that you won't like Guard. I think they're neat, but probably not worth the investment, especially because I tend to prefer marching troops over rolling tanks and Infantry Guard is a bitch to collect, build, and play.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

I really try to make sure I have SOME variety (especially if the army has as many datasheets as guard does). Sometimes it doesn't work like if I wanted to make a "60 infantry guard" list as they need way too much character and transport support.

[@danielmartinezmartinez441]

-insert Starship Troopers main theme here- 😉😁😊

[@steelxspider5274]

I absolutely love the lists you came up with based on the cool variety but as an Imperial Guard player, I can tell you that you NEED MORE guardsmen in all your lists! Guardsmen are the main reason your tanks are alive by battle round 3; they are there to hold primaries, do secondaries, to screen and die for the emperor while your tanks do the killing. Also, small nitpick, how come you didn't mention getting the Solar Auxilia box set since it comes with the sentinel and a Leman Russ just in the 30K art style but if it's for the sake of only picking 40K box sets then it is understandable. I am gonna go off on a rant for this bit, it is no way of chastizing your lists I think they are amazing as is and definitely playable. Also, feel free and tell me if you think any portion of my rant is unreasonable and I will give you my thoughts on it. This rant is gonna be regarding the infantry portion: Yes, I won't deny that infantry are expensive for what they are but they are necessary in a combined regiment army. This is my personal opinion but I think lists should bring a minimum of 70 guardsmen (3x 20-man squads, 1x 10-man squad for the backfield). Also, Field Ordinance Batteries are surprisingly Lethal and resilient when taken 6 due to our army rule lethal hits and their ability to sustain hits, their AP can be increased with Leman Russ Exterminators and the Fields of Fire strategem. Which is why I recommend getting 3x Combat Patrols to give you all that you need and you can fill the rest from there. Not to mention that I think the huge saving grace of IG is the absolute sheer variety in each box set; a single Leman Russ boc has all 6 variants and can be argued that there are two Leman Russes in each if you get the bottom and spare tracks. Which is why I was surprised that you didn't mention the heavy weapons team box, it has every single heavy weapons option x3. The box alone gets you 3x mortar/rocket teams AND 3x lascannon/bolter/autocannon, you just need 3 more bases and separate the guardsmen. Mortars by themselves are pretty competitive too because of our detachment rule. Regarding the combat patrol, I was pretty bummed out that the value has shrunk from the previous start collecting box that it replaced but looking back it was probably for the best since the tanks are actually relatively cheap (Warhammer-wise) to obtain multiples. Not to mention you can easily proxy the infantry into any battleline unit and the command squad into any officer. The cadian kit comes with every single option there is for the battle line minus the heavy weapons. A man with a rifle is a man with a rifle, they don't necessarily have to look the part. They can be scions painted blue if you want or better yet KASRKIN. The command squads can be built into multiple castellans or even proxied for the forge world marshall. Which is why I would recommend building your battleline as Death Korps proxies since they have the medic wargear that can revive D3 models and build a command squad officer as a Marshall for a 5+ feel no pain on the unit. That's the rant, sorry if I came off strong-winded it is just not often I get to talk about IG experiences.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

I neglected the new 30k box because I made these lists and did the res3arch before it was announced at LVO amd forgot about it. For the heavy weapons teams I reached out to 5 different guard players to ask them about that but none of them ever got back to me. Don't worry about coming off strong! I encourage it! These videos act as a place for people to share ways to save and everything you mention is great I fo for someone who reads the comments looking for more! I cannot possibly condense everything into a 20 minute video and I can't possibly learn the ins and outs of every faction in a week when I am earning no money from making content right now and need a day job. Anyone who reads this and sees your faction in the future, please be like this guy and share your knowledge.

[@baconbliss4796]

Slight issue to note the solar auxilia leman russ does not have sponsons if you want to use it for 40k this is a slight issue as you won't have those guns visible if your playing casual or don't mind a bit of kit bashing that's ok though

[@steelxspider5274]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner Oh yeah I forgot to mention that there is an unspoken box set that guard players collect that has good value for infantry, and its not even part of the Astra Militarum line. It is a genestealer box set called the Brood Brothers which is essentially the Infantry Squad just with genestealer upgrade sprues included which you can sell. The box set has a heavy weapons kit and guardsmen. Albeit it is the older model line.

[@steelxspider5274]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner Also I was thinking about the old warhammer heavy weapons box, I just got the new one and they did make it impossible to build anything but one weapon team per sprue. For instance, the mortar and missile launcher both use half of the same barrel and the tripod is required for all weapons (sort of). I like the new sculpts but dang that sucks.

[@davidmiddleton7958]

Although more of a Deathwatch fan, I still wonder what became of Schaeffer's Last Chancers. Now, this came under the heading special characters, but from a painting perspective, challenging. I think 4th Ed got it right with the Chancers disposition in that you could use models from existing guard armies of the time. The prospect of the Chancers propping up some PDF louts to stiffen their resolve was always entertaining.

[@Sgt-lott10]

I don't know why I'm here I'm already $2,000+ deep into a guard army

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Because the idea of another $800 of guard is irresistible

[@Sgt-lott10]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner true, I only have about 250 infantry clearly I need an entire regiment

[@baconbliss4796]

Really wish fob from combat patrol was a chimera instead would make combat patrol great without a significant monitary cost change or if there was just a normal heavy weapons squad instead wich while lower points they are at least good

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

I wish the FoB was anything else. The Sentinel does not make for a great centerpiece unit and if it had a chimera, a russ, a manticore, pretty much anything else it would actually he a pretty solid buy. I think of the FoB were 60 points it might be usable as a pair of 30 point Las cannons or artillery

[@baconbliss4796]

The heavy weapons squad is what really kills the fob for me their mortars are better indirect and they can be triple lascanons to and cost less points doing it so the heavy weapons Is just everything the fob hopes it could be or looks like it should be

[@ibbykacimi2985]

Very good video, unfortunately your speculation at 12:40 is now incorrect given the latest dataslate. You can only give orders outside of transports, but the way it’s worded is you can give them the phase you disembark in which means you could give order during the movement phase. Very good video otherwise just thought I’d point that out.

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

They aren't in a transport in the section I am talking about. They are a solo leader unit.

[@tecguy1229]

Good video, I will share to help others

[@joshpearson1870]

I managed to find a pair of Acadian Defense Force boxes on eBay. Incredible value compared to the crap boxes GW puts out today

[@gregorvajs5435]

I like ur vids! When you gonna do necrons Im gonna lose my mind. Money will go brrrr

[@robertm6762]

Love the video, Cadia stands!

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

It sure does. It stands over there. And over there. And over there too!

[@luiscorres8314]

My 2,000 points list is: 3 boxes of Combat patrol,, 1 box of lord solar leontus, 1 box kill team of karskin, 2 boxes of cadian shock troops, a pair of cadian castellans, 2 boxes of leman Russ battle tanks, 1 box of rogal dorn battle tank. Is a good list (I'm new at the hobby) ?

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

It's a great start. Best additions for you from here would be more kasrkin or bullgryn. Its a LOT of shock troops which plays nicely to a board control heavy style where your guys are just showed up the board to keep the opponent off of points. It might mlt be the most fun way to play for everyone but it's definitely effective

[@luiscorres8314]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner thanks for the comment, i really like the channel. Never give up, please!

[@josemasd]

are those actual prices? Game Workshop for USA maybe? Not dealers? I've just begun in W40K with astra and those are about 50% higher than I've paid in euros (Spain)

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

All prices are gamesworkshop US prices as they are the only prices I can guarantee as Amazon deals, local store discounts, second hand markets, etc. Can have lots of different price fluctuations. I've been told by friends who traveled to Europe that Euro pricing is much friendlier than US pricing because of export costs.

[@CheeseChud]

Lmao Cadia gone Edit: good video btw

[@friendlyspacedragon7250]

I might have missed it but where do those lascannons come for the infantry squads? Ordnance batteries? Or is it some combat patrol thing?

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Infantry ce with a heavy weapons squad you are able to run. We are running our heavy weapons model in the unit as a lascannon

[@atomicuberblock2535]

The infantry squads in the combat patrol don't come with heavy weapons, you'd need to buy the separate heavy weapons team box to run them Without that box, you could alternatively run them as cadian shock troops, replacing the lascannon with a grenade launcher or meltagun. You'd have to replace the plasma pistol as well, since cadian sergeants can't take them, and whatever you replace the lascannon with won't perform nearly as well against vehicles, but it's better than just another lasgun

[@Bigboy_smooth]

Can you do Necrons next?

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Next up is Tyranids.

[@MDonuT-of7px]

Damn. I admit, I haven't played Guard this Edition but I would have just suggested "Scour Ebay for 80 old sculpt guardsmen and a command squad, and then just go from there with whatever vehicles you like" Is human wave guard no longer viable?

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

It's viable. Affordability is a different story

[@MDonuT-of7px]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner Can you not get twenty old guardsman for 30€/$40 on ebay anymore?

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

@@MDonuT-of7px you can, but I make it a rule to not use ebay/facebook/reddit/non GW stores for buying as I cannot guarantee costs in my analysis. I got 1800 points of tau for $300, that's not realistic for everyone.

[@NathanSoule-pl7uu]

etsy sculpts are like buttah

[@PotatoPhoenix]

Honestly gaur are easy as hell to kitbash and get toones of extra bodies

[@schiffsmechaniker8061]

Nice lists. But I am kinda surpriced that you don't take all the Infantry in those boxes. In every combat patrol you have 20 Guardsman so you have 40 in total. Or is it just a writing mistake in the Video

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

The first list only has 1 combat patrol. The second list should have all 40 guardsman accounted for. I didn't use the full set in the first as I wanted it to have slightly different other units like the enginseer and bullgryn. The third I believe I use all 40.

[@schiffsmechaniker8061]

@@Speeds_Gaming_Corner Ah ok. Thanks for the Answer

[@Nyx-Main]

Under 1k might be hard for this one. Let's see. :)

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

Check the description for one under $800! It's not quite strong enough in my opinion to give you good games as it lacks some important tools but it gets there with mostly good pieces!

[@baconbliss4796]

11 leman russ' bam done easy under $600 USD they are 55 each on Amazon lol

[@baconbliss4796]

And while it is a meme list it can work weirdly well

[@Speeds_Gaming_Corner]

I mean you're not wrong

[@Nyx-Main]

What leader for that full Russ list? ^^