Codex

[Zulgaines]

I'm thinking of starting up WH:40K but I can't figure out what exactly Codex are for, I understand they give details about the army they're for but why do you need them to play the game itself and why don't you need them for the black reach starter set?

[Vermin Lord]

It's simple. The codex is a rulebook detailing a specific army. It gives you the stats and rules for each unit and piece of wargear available to that army, as well as various pieces of background information, and galleries of painted miniatures. To play an army, you need only the codex for that army (unless you're playing some of the Space Marine chapters who have supplemental codices and require the use of Codex Space Marines)

Black Reach doesn't require codices to play simply because all the units you get in the box have their stats in the small rulebook you get with the box. This is because Black Reach is supposed to be a starter set, so it wouldn't be feasible to either force the people who buy it to also buy two codices, or to market it only to people who have those codices already.

[erloas]

As said earlier, what they give you in the Black Reach starter set are always models with basic rules and not a lot of choices. They are units that can be used with just the basic rulebook.

However when you expand the army there are many units and even some options in the units with Black Reach (weapon upgrades mostly) that you have to have the codex for.

I would say that any battles over 500 points, maybe 750, are going to be using models not from the starter set that are going to require the codex to get the rules for.

[Direlord]

As others have said black reach is the starter set and only has 2 races in it. The equipment and rules are very basic since it is for beginners. The codecies give the background fluff and all the special rules for the armies as well as wargear options and points costs. I don't have black reach but from the old battle of macgrage set each mission they just said use this this and this. Actual games are by point limits and you make up a list following the basic rules and your army codex.

there are a lot more options in the full codecies than just the starter set as well the models are harder to put together since they are more pieces, more poseable, and a lot more options. SM themselves can have heavy or special weapons, boltgun, pistol, chainsword as well as some head and torso options.

blackreach the mini rulebook is the only part of the big rulebook you need unless you want more fluff. plus if you are starting SM or orks the models they give you are a great starting point and value. I know a few people who have bought multple black reach sets just to get cheap models.