Better troops with higher characteristics and better equipment cost more points and therefore less can be fielded compared to the cheaper, standard troops. War engines such as cannons or bolt throwers cost more than troops, finally cavalry units, which are highly prized cost the most. Therefore army selection is really about maximising the potential of your force, an army full of elite troops will easily be defeated by an encircling, more numerous foe. However a force without well trained troops will find it hard to overcome the opposing forces better units. Collecting Troops Now that you have chosen an army to collect you have to start collecting the army, after all you need the models to be able to play.
Most people start by buying a few miniatures.
Games Workshop is the best place to buy models in the UK although there are other independent shops that are trading. I don't know many of these shops, so you may have to hunt around to find out information about them. The models come unpainted and painting them is a completely separate area in itself, click here for Beastmen painting guides. Most people don't worry about the points cost of the models they buy initially, they simply give a flavour for the army they are collecting. By buying a sufficient number of models, units of cavalry or infantry an be formed.