New to 40k

starship troopers

>>52797249
Literally everything.
Though some Guard regiments can pull it off well.

>>52797249
Jumping to color scheme is thinking too far ahead. You need to check out the fluff for factions that appeal to you so you can get a head start on formulating why your chosen faction is superior to everybody else. You will also need to read up on Dark Angels fluff so you can join in when everybody starts picking on the DA player for playing traitor (RP encouraged).

The next step is to decide if SoB will be getting plastic and share your opinion on this at every opportunity.

Once you're at this stage, you're ready to join the 40k community having achieved just about the same level of contribute potential as the rest of the community.

Everything past this point is optional; including playing a match or even stepping inside a GW store.

But seriously, you can paint your minis whatever you please. Come up with your own chapter of Space Marines if you want. They're your toys.

Tallaren desert raiders

>>52797249
Pretty much every army can pull off a desert theme. Imperial Guard are the only ones that have specialised desert models but they're old and expensive, and as said, most armies can pull it off effortlessly. All you need is a desert-y colour scheme and some sand to base them with.

Admech, more specifically the Skitarii, are the definitive choice for a desert themed army.

Skitarii/Admech would make a nice desert army; their standard scheme/design is based on the Martian deserts, a tinge of John Carter there.
Tallarn Desert Raiders no longer have individual models (as far as I know), but they're the stereotypical desert Guard regiment.
Space Marines can be painted any way you want. Get them some heavy cloaks/robes for sandstorm protection and go wild.
Necrons are Space Egyptians; sandstone Monoliths and dusty Warriors is definitely a good theme when it's (uncommonly) tried.
Orks fit with a more Mad Max-style desert theme, I'd almost say it's one of their defaults.
Genestealer cults? Nomadic cult band on their mining machines, making a livelihood "for" the Emperor while plotting their convoy's next harvest of genetic material.

That said, almost every faction can work under such a broad umbrella. I just tossed out a few ideas.

>>52797249
I think that a Chaos Space Marine Warband with a desert theme could be neat.

>>52797249
Dude, 40k is absolute shit. Start a good game like Armada, Guild Ball, Infinity or Malifaux.

>>52797857
To add to this anon
IG and Space Marines work well with just about any theme, so go nuts
Tau too, and their standard T'Au scheme is already rather desert coloured