Topic: Hi, I'm new to 40k and wondering if combined forces are okay

[raybot]

I have a predominantly IG force(just over 2k pts) and some blood angels(20 marines, 6 terminators, 1 dreadnaught, 1 tornado, 10 scouts, and 1 rhino).  My questinon is: Is it okay to field a combined force of these types of units for casual play.  In other words, is it BAD to do so?!  Now, if it is reasonable, what sort of force organization format do I follow?
Any tips, suggestion, or just thoughts in general would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks!

[Rems]

In a normal game of 40k you can't use multiple armies or codex's. However in apocalypse ( a type of 40k for large scale games) or in a game that you previously agreed upon with an opponent you are able to do it. By the latter i mean a game at home with a friend where you both combine forces for example, no one can stop you.

Ordinarily however, combining of armies is not allowed. It stops people from cherrypicking units from differeant codex's for maximum effectiveness and encourages a cohesive army building and painting experience. Not to mention its a way to sell more models.

Apocalypse however lets anything goes. There are special units, special rules and ways of playing etc and generallyyou can use whatever is in your collection in the one battle. (Though finding a reason of why eldar and necrons are allied for example could be hard).

[Andros]

It doesn't work from a fluff perspective either; two sides may work together, but neither would accept the authority of an alien commander

[DeadDuck1015]

Unless, of course, as his post seemed to indicate, they're two Imperial armies, in which case, it makes more sense than if they were fighting each other. That said, I'm all for it if it's just for fun, and not just to build some unbeatable hybrid list. I'd go so far as to take it a step further and come up with some scenarios for it, maybe your marines have to start in reserve, and get some form of delay (maybe even based on some objective/character on the feild), and the guardsmen need to hold out until help arrives. Sorry, I tend to ramble this late at night.

[jawmonkey]

In some very specific cases you can use witch hunter or daemon hunter allies with imperial guard and space marines, but you'll need to get your hands on the real printed-on-paper versions. GW has made the codex of either (WH and DH) available for free on their site, but the sections for allies/inducted units has been removed, the paper codex are still legal though (if I'm not mistaken).

For anything else, play Apocalypse. On a similar note, check out the free datasheet for Kroot mercenaries on the GW site, they used to be a force that could ally with a few other races. The old chapter approved article became obsolete with the introduction of 5th ed rules, but GW sort of made up for it by making a bit more simplified version of them usable in Apocalypse (I actually like Apoc a bit more than regular 40k...).

[Hymirl]

It is also covered in the rulebook, normally reserved for larger games. Page 87 of the main rules has a section on multiple detachment games which you might find useful if you're playing a lot of large games without using the apocalypse rules.

[raybot]

Thanks!  Just the sort of info I was looking for.  I had also picked up some Tau, including Farsight.  I had wanted to create some units where we could have renegade IG allied with Farsights army(stuff like that). 
I get the whole thing where some folks might want to mix and match the best units to get the ultimate package.  My interest was more to be able to use all or most of my models in a battle. 
Since I'm new, I still get my head handed to me more often than not in most games due to a lack of familiarity with opposing armies as well as rules, but I am definately having a blast doing it!  Again, many thanks for the input and I'll look into Apocalypse ASAP!

[jawmonkey]

If you're using Tau search around for "Gueve'sa Tau human auxiliaries", an old chapter approved article (I think they're still legal???), but the article are extra rules to basically use a squad of IG with your Tau force.

[raybot]

Cool, thank you!  The more I hear, the more I'm getting jazzed.  As mentioned in one of the earlier replies, I could always run an independent game with "house" rules allowing for such combos.  I'm sure there are plenty of other players who'd like to do the same thing every now and again just to mix things up.  Who knows, I might try it and end up saying: "ewww, never trying that again!".  I'm perfectly happy with the IG structure and vast array of squishy units, just looking through old White Dwarf's and seeing all of the conversions for auxilleries and what not really sparks the imagination!
Thanks again!

[jawmonkey]

Just be careful not to get too much army too fast, you don't want to end up with so much warhammer that others ask you to not use it during Apocalypse games  (I've had it happen).

Also, most times when using multiple forces its usually recommended that armies work independently of each other. e.g. normal got-opponent-permission to use 2 FOC armies, work apart from each other, Apoc games buy a Stormlord and shove a carnifex, defiler, furiouso dreadnought, Tau sniper team, a seer council inside it, surrounded by a 400 strong Ork Green Tide!

[Blackout]

Perhaps off-track, but as rems mentioned that finding a reason for eldar and necrons to be allied would be difficult.. This is precisely what I have been thinking about. Anyone got any ideas?

[jawmonkey]

Too easy...

The Eldar must defeat the opposing force(s); as their own army is spread thin enough that they cannot hope to win. However their Farseers have foreseen that the invaders will inadvertantly awaken the Necron tomb complex deep below the surface of the planet. If the Eldar can only coordinate their attack at the same time the invaders confront the awoken Necrons they might just have a chance...

[Big Bad Wolf]

my friends and i play mixed list games quite often just cause it allows us to use models we don't normally field.  I think they're quite fun!

Eldar are always the easiest army to justify fighting/aiding anyone as jawmonkey showed... farseers can always do wacky things based on future events that no one else can foresee.

[Blackout]

But as the necrons goal is to kill all life surely if they saw eldar they would fire regardless of if they are attacking an enemy of the necrons or not?

[jawmonkey]

Eldar don't work with those Necrons, only the ones where their command node is damaged.

[Blackout]

Had the farseer foresaw it's command node was damaged?

[DeadDuck1015]

Isn't it possible that the Eldar damaged the command node themselves? Being the sneaky xenos that they are.

[Blackout]

Those pesky eldar..

[Andros]

I feel like since both races seem hardwired to kill each other, the scenario would be difficult but not impossible...I'm sure they would back whoever the crons were fighting at the time even if that meant backstabbing them soon afterwards

[Hekkastor]

Here's a crack at the Necron Eldar combination: Warning, the following post uses a lot of creative liberty.
A war breaks out on a critically important planet between the Eldar, Space Marines, and a newly awakened Tomb World.
Using their incredible technology, the Eldar find out that Necrons, being mindless, have a broadcast they emit to stop them from shooting each other. After hours of hard work, a team of Eldar found the specific wavelength used by the Necrons of that particular tomb, and equip their brothers with small broadcasters that ensure that in the eyes of the Necrons, all Eldar look like friendly units rather then enemies. Now, the elite forces of (insert your own craftworld) are able to move through the planet and kill important Space Marine targets while the Necrons take the brunt of the SM assault.

Until they tell us that Necrons don't communicate electronically (seeing as they don't communicate verbally or telepathically for sure) that seems to work.