Are you Casual or Competitive? Both actually!

   Here are two different lists I really like to play with in 40k. They are in many ways almost polar opposites in terms of design philosophy and power level.


   10 Possessed Tzeentch
    Possessed Land Raider
    20 Lesser Daemons
    Tzeentch Prince Wings, Bolt, Warp Time
    Slaanesh Prince Wings, Lash
    3 Obliterators
    Defiler
    5 Raptors 2 Melta
    5 CSM Melta, Chaos Glory, Rhino extra Combi-Bolter
    8 Berserkers, Personal Icon, Rhino extra Combi-Bolter


   2x Librarian w/ Shield and Blood Lance
   Furioso Librarian w/ Wings and Blood Lance
   6x 5 Assault Marines w/ Melta Gun, Infernus Pistol
   Honor Guard 2x Melta Gun/Flamer, 2x Flamer
   Honor Guard 2x Melta Gun/Flamer, 2x Flamer, Company Standard
   8x Razorback w/ Lascannon, TL Plasma Gun, and Dozer Blade


  
  When I go to FLGS to play some 40k I cannot count on there being any strong players at the store. Even if they aren't looking to test lists designed with tournament play in mind a strong player can help you test yours and give you a tough game. The reason I can't count on that is because I live in South Florida and it is a gaming desert. There is a group of good players in Miami(45 minutes away) but they play on wednesday and I haven't been able to get down there lately. All of the other players are new to the game or just never got it. Also there are lots of people with 40k armies that just don't go to the store to play, I guess they just play their buddy or two in the garage. Seeing as my friend Marc is often sabotaged by his wifey we only get to play 2-3 games once or twice a month.

   Sometimes I would go to the game store, look around and say jeez I don't want to test against any of these armies that are essentially random collections of models. All of the strong players would be gone and since the weaker players would either ignore advice given freely or ignore advice asked for there wouldn't be much point in hanging out. Sweet, 45 minutes and some gas wasted. Sometimes I wish I lived in Orlando or West Florida where the gaming is a plenty.

   I've always had a fascination with the idea of a Highlander Tournament. You can only have one of any unit and everything except for dedicated transports can score(exception made for Land Raiders). So I whipped up just such a list and brought it with me on my next trip so I could have a more challenging army to play if I couldn't get a play test game in. Now no matter what I can get a fun and at least decent game in. By playing my White Dwarf Battle Report style Chaos army listed above if I give a solid thumping to a newer player it is much less likely that they would be turned off to 40k than if I played the Razor spam list.

   My point is don't overspecialize. Make sure you are ready for some sort of the different kinds of ways to play 40k(CoD, Planetstrike, Kill Patrol, etc), have a more challenging list to play newer players or even a starter army for  a different game system. I know I will buy one or two starter sets of Level 7 when Privateer Press releases it. Make sure you are enjoying your war gaming. Whenever you start to feel frustrated that is a sign that is time to step back and really think about what you want from this hobby. Fun should be a #1 priority, the good times you have can keep you in the right state of mind to accomplish anything.