Books that Made you get an army

[greendestiny]

What books have you read that got you so juiced up about a certain army or theme you went right out and started buying the models?

Obviously some people will say the Codex or Army book. I am talking more about the novels. Have at it.

[Soss]

I would say that Prospero Burns changed my opinion on space wolves a lot. I never did like them fluff wise very much but that book really changed how I think about them now. If had not just started a new Dark Angels army I would of done a space wolves because of that book.

The Soul Hunter series is another that changed my mind about the Night Lords. Because of that series they are the coolest chaos legion by far.

[AnEnemy]

Soul Hunter.

I don't have a full army, but I did model First Claw from the 10th Company.

[Arch_Bishop]

The Soul Hunter series is another that changed my mind about the Night Lords. Because of that series they are the coolest chaos legion by far.

I can't agree enough.

Night Lords are the most "believable" legion to me. Instead of just one day going, "hey, we should all be super bad like and smas everyone!!!111!!", they actually feel the Emperor betrayed them, rather than the other way around.

I know this is somewhat the case for all "traitor legions", but the Night Lords seem to lack that over the top, badass element.

I'm a few books into the HH series, and I'd love to do a pre-heresy Luna Wolves army. That's probably because they are the main focus at this point...

I can't say I've ever bought an army based on a book alone, but I bought a Seamus Malifaux force based on fluff (jack the ripper with zombie hookers! Who could resist).

[doom-kitten]

Never had a book make me want an army but I've been looking into an Emperor's Children army for years and Fulgrim pretty much killed that desire, I don't know why but the book just completely turned me away and I can't explain it very well. Mostly because I found the Legion's corruption far to quick and Fulgrim fell to Chaos like a *****, he didn't really fight it until his epic realization at the end and even then instead of taking the hard way out or even just ending it he made another epic mistake and gave in, overall an excellent novel and I highly recommend it but damn Fulgrim you made me hate your legion.

[mysterex]

The Eisenhorn trilogy led me to get an Inquisitorial army that had neither Sisters nor Grey Knights. It played terribly - and that's what you get for getting too caught up in the fluff :D.

[Embergem]

First 3 books in HH inspired my WIP Luna Wolves army. Other HH books inspired my In Planning Pre-Heresy Thousand Sons army and the Grey Knight books inspired my now canceled Grey Knights army.

[docbungle]

Any of the HH books tempt me in some way to at least try a SM army since I am all about the aliens really :D

[Gorgar]

Space Marine by Ian Watson, loved the Character Jaq Draco and created a Marine/Demonhunter army when they had the allies rules in the DH codex.

[Control NZ]

When the last (not current) IG codex came out, I bought the WD that covered it. I must of spent hours reading and re-reading everything about the IG. The Kasrkin models alone were amazing.

[eldargal]

Well, I know you said novels but 2nd ed Codex: Eldar made me want to collect Eldar before I knew anything about the rules at all, just the background information and pictures.

Faith & Fire and Hammer & Anvil make me want an SoB army.:(

[Sonikgav]

The Original Space Wolf trilogy by William King is responsible for me being in the hobby altogether. Brilliant set. Its criminal if U haven't read these books.

[Wolfshade]

Dan Abnett makes me want to play anything he writes for.
+ Imperial Guard (Gaunt's Ghosts)
+ Space Wolves (Prospero Burns)
Though Eisenhorn made me play Inquisitor

[Etriagn]

Mhm, Skavenslayer led to my Skaven Army, King's Space Wolf books (and a general interest in nordic mythology) to my Space Wolves.

[Forrix]

Space Wolf by William King he is what started it all for me thanks to him I have about every BL book printed since (and some multiples) 2-3 warhammer armies at anytime (but always one of the wolves). And a hope that someday soon someone will produce a working set of power armore.

[Rissan4ever]

I played Imperial Guard already, but Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghosts novels re-inspired me.

[Colonel Bindoff]

First and Only actually got me back into 40k, not just starting up Guard. For some reason my Infantry never do as well as the boys from Tanith though.

[Plowboy22]

I read the Vampire Counts compilation book and that is what started me playing the game......damn book!

[VTSvsAlucard]

Never had a book make me want an army but I've been looking into an Emperor's Children army for years and Fulgrim pretty much killed that desire, I don't know why but the book just completely turned me away and I can't explain it very well. Mostly because I found the Legion's corruption far to quick and Fulgrim fell to Chaos like a *****, he didn't really fight it until his epic realization at the end and even then instead of taking the hard way out or even just ending it he made another epic mistake and gave in, overall an excellent novel and I highly recommend it but damn Fulgrim you made me hate your legion.

That pretty much hits the nail on the head for my experience with that book.



Well, I know you said novels but 2nd ed Codex: Eldar made me want to collect Eldar before I knew anything about the rules at all, just the background information and pictures.

The 3rd Edition cover of Codex: Eldar sold me instantly.

[Dag]

I keep on wishing that there would be a novel put out that would make me want to buy more of my beloved Deathguard, or things Nurglesque in general... but no.

For a team tournament one year, the team I was involved in almost went with a 'gaunt's ghosts' enemies theme, and each of us play an army based off of armies that they fought against.

[St. Murphy]

Cadian Blood was the first book from BL that I read and I was hooked. I loved the distrust, yet need of the psycher. The tension between the commisar and the captian was great. I even bought a couple of sentinels because of the book. The book not only got me started on an IG army, it got me playing 40k again after about 15 years away. Aaron Dembski-Bowden is the man. Even if he does have two last names and I can't pronounce either.

[greendestiny]

I love the books on the IG but I think it is the way they seem to have some sort of mix of every army from WWI, WWII, Korea, and all the rest since. But I just don't see myself building an army of theirs. I love the space marines. Loved first Space Wolves trilogy, didn't love the Blood Angels Trilogy, enjoyed what I have read on Dark Angels. Ended up making my own chapter with some elements of lots of different SM throwbacks.

[marsdonut]

Kill Team definitely influenced my adolescense. On first read the books were so-so, but all the backstory to the first major mission IMO possessed me to pick up the ol' Catachan Codex, the Armaggedon Codex, and a mix of models.

[demonllamma]

The Ciaphas Cain novels actually inspired me to do IG. I modeled my paint scheme as urban combat specialists because of those books.

[nimrod451]

The Tome of Fire Trilogy inspired me to start my slow trek into Salamanders..
.. The Flesh Tearers appeal to me in part because of Gabriel Seth's entry in the blood angels Codex.
... someday.. i'd like to do an Iron Snakes Army...because of Brotherhood of the Snake.. (but I dont really feel any codex represents them well.)

...and Iron Hands were inspired by a conversion i had in mind...recently their short story in Hammer and Bolter has been a pretty big influence though for making them a bright chapter in my eyes.

[warpcrafter]

I read Prospero Burns and Battle of the Fang in the same month, and that made me get a Space Wolves army. That and listening to a lot of Amon Amarth.

[mullinstron]

Nemesis made me go out and buy a Vinicar Assassin to play with grey knights. I also think that the Bill king books really influenced me in starting spacewolves, but I did not rush right out and get them. THe new necron book also made me sell my Necron army. I hated the fluff not the dex. Just could not stand it anymore.

[Kaika87]

Seconding all the stuff said about the Soul Hunter series, but I didn't start with Soul Hunter. No, my first exposure to Talos and 10th Company was in the audio drama "Throne of Lies." I dunno if any of you have tried the audio dramas yet, but I highly recommend this one at least.

When I was trying to decide what chaos legion I wanted to model, I heard this audio drama and loved it, and then dove straight into Soul Hunter and Blood Reaver.

Also, it didn't make me run out and start a Word Bearers army, but Know No Fear gave me a healthy new respect for the 17th Legion.

[MrGiggles]

I've yet to be fully talked into an army by a novel; though 'yet' is the operative word. I'm still working on my Orks and Sisters, so I've lots to paint.

That being said, I really liked the way the Black Templars were portrayed in Helsreach. If I do a third army, there's an even chance that it'll be the Helsreach Crusade at the point where their armour and equipment has been beaten up pretty badly during the defense. I'll have to learn some weathering techniques for that though.

[Houghten]

Hammer & Anvil sold me on Necrons.

I know it was supposed to sell me on Sisters instead, but I've already got some and I just can't find the heart to play them now that the Inquisitors are all gone.

Salamander almost made me want to start Salamanders, but I just added some extra flamers to my Marines instead... and bought a Forge World biker boss because that bit with the exploding trike was just brilliant.

Anyone seeing a pattern here? I'm afraid to read any of the Space Wolves books in case they make me start some Thousand Sons...

[orksforthewin]

Dont know if this counts...but a old white dwarf from 3rd edition has a codex astartes write up and rules for iron hands. Been collecting and converting them off and on for 10 years now lol.

[Phoibos]

William King is a pretty good writer. His Space Wolf books convinced me to paint my new marine army grey, and gotrek and felix got me interested in Warhammer Fantasy.

[hippsman]

definitely SW. Just picked up the new thunder wolf calvary yesterday. It has been a great dex with some great models.

[Loafer of Change]

'The First Heretic' tipped me over the decision line and ensured my first army would be Daemons.
(coupled with the impressive points to pounds ratio!)

[Soss]

I have a very big Ork army and I always like any books with them in it. During building that army I read three of the Space Marine Battle books that really put the Orks in a better light for me. Rynn's World, Healsreach and The Purging of Kadillus. Heals reach was may favorite of the three with Rynn's World in a close second. I like Purging of Kadillus because of the whole tricky teleporta thing.

When ever I read Orks out smarting marines it gives me hope.

[Kaiserdean]

The flavor/fluff text in the Orc and Goblins army book convinced me I had to own that army... even if they lost in the battle reported included in their own army book.

[George Labour]

While Codex Armageddon was what originally got me into playing Mechanized Imperial Guard it wasn't until Gaunt's Ghosts that I started on my IG with a vengenace.

I'd also like to say Rebel Winter made me go out and get vostroyans by the bucketful...but I'd already gotten twelve squads by the time that one was published.

I'm also one of those folks who was inspired by william Kings novesl to finally start the space wolf army I'd been planning for nearly a decade, and to also pick up a small empire army for warhammer fantasy.

I almost started an Alpha Legion army after reading Legion, but finances kept me back and I was then sidetracked by my three main armies of IG, Space Wolves, and Grey Knights.

Incidentally if GW would get off their duffs Mechanicus and TItanicus would both have made me hurl money at them in order to get 40k usable Knight suits and Skitarii.

[greendestiny]

I am rading the Space Wolves omnibus right now and I want a Space wolf army bad. I don't love all of the models but I love the fluff.

So far I have a laundry list of books to read from this thread. If it was enough to seperate you from your cold hard cash then it must be a decent read.

[Yriel_The_Angelic]

Fulgrim...by far in my opinion the best BL and HH book ever made...ended up making a pre-heresy Emprahs children army and forcibly convince meself that pink is manly...

[nimrod451]

I enjoyed Fulgrim well enough but found it odd.. I'm a big Iron Hands fan and how Ferrus Mannus was characterized was a little strange..all rage filled and stuff..

..but it was a good read specially the creation of the noise marines.

[StraightSilver]

For me it was Graham McNeill's Ultramarines novels.

I had never really liked Ultramarines, but the novels showed me that there is a bit more depth to them than I had first realised, their confilct over the restrictions of their own Codex Astartes being the most interesting.

That started an Ultramarines army, and then Macragge PDF, so two armies out of one series of bookes.

And then damn it all but Dan Abnett's Know No Fear has made me want to add in a lot of Pre-Heresy stuff too!

And then I'm obviously jumping on the band wagone here but i also want to do an Emperor's Children army as I loved Fulgrim too.

Mine will be Mid-Heresy though.

[juliusb]

Fulgrim- Lucious the Eternal model- ~5K of Chaos Marines...

[Surisan]

Gaunt's ghosts. I built my IG army catachan with limited armour support based on tanith fi
rst and only

[gythku]

complete reversal of the them but due to lack of choice i cot a purple with gold army painted for SM as my first army and then everybody called me Emperor's Children or Soul Drinkers,i had to pick up the books so i could follow along. so far I've read all the books on them but the latest soul drinker one. Enjoyed them thoroughly.