My First 40K Tournament - What Army?

Nick speaking,

It's been a very long time coming, but I am finally going to enter my very first Warhammer 40k tournament! Yes, you read it correct. Thanks mainly to my good buddy Aceface on his YouTube Channel, I will be entering a local tourney called The Pompey Pillage in August 2016 and I can't wait. The only issue I have is to decide what army to take and come up with an army list.

There are a few things to take into consideration, including some restrictions on what you can take in your army. The five games will be played at eighteen hundred points, and each army will have ten battle points to spend, which can be spent in the following way...

Bringing The Big Boys 1pt + 1pt per Hull Point or Wound
(Each Super-Heavy or Gargantuan Creature)

From The Skies 1pt
(Each Flying Unit)

Hold The Fort 1pt per Hull Point (minimum 2)
(Each Fortification)

Being Heavy 1pt
(Each Unit/Squadron of three of more Vehicles or Monstrous Creatures)

I’ve Got The D 1pt
(Each unit with up to two “D” strength weapons)

Bringing The D 3pts
(Each unit with 3 or more “D” strength weapons – not cumulative with “I’ve Got The D”)

Two Of A Kind* 1pt
(Taking two of the same unit selection – for example taking two Space Marine Assault Squads)

Three Of A Kind* 3pts
(Taking three of the same unit selection)

Four Of A Kind 6pts
(Taking four of the same unit selection)

Primary Detachment 0pt
(Your starting Detachment or Formation)

Battle Brother 1pt
(Taking an additional Detachment or Formation with the Battle Brother alignment)

Ally Of Convenience 2pts
(Taking an additional Detachment or Formation with the Battle Brother alignment)

My first job is to decide what army to play, and although I would love to take my Space Wolves to see how they get on in the painting side of the event. I don't really have enough points painted without majorly stretching what is already a very uncompetitive army.

That leaves, Eldar, Necron or Tyranids, but to be honest, I think I will discount Nids as I think I need something that will be a bit forgiving if I make any mistakes under the pressure of my first Tourney! So, it's between the Crons and Eldar then, a tough call and something I need to think about for sure. The event is a long way off, so plenty of time to lock it all down and get some practice games in, but if you have any advice I would be more than happy to hear about it in the comments box below.