How to Lose?

Whirlwinds are decent value, two weapon options, one that ignores cover and one that's higher strength and better AP that allows cover saves. Only issue in a TAC list is how many power armour options you might come up against - but they're cheap enough and the template is big enough that it's only a minor drawback.

Go to a tournament on a GT circuit?

Thanks all! I'll be sure to mention these ideas to the group, although I would have never imagined helping others beat me.

I'll probably back on the interwebs in to tile complaining that your advice was too effective. XD

Another suggestion is to play at a more well-designed-for point level above 1000 points. I really don't think that the game functions terribly well under 1500 points and even better at 1850 or 2000. While that Space Marine list you mentioned is bad even for a 1000 list, a number of Codices struggle to present a list a 1000. Whereas a CSM list with 2 drakes would murder you.

I agree with Izathel. I consider 2000 pts to be ideal. Gives you possibility to try multiple units, combinations and synergies. Fills up the board nicely so you need to take into account much more and allows you to play with reserves. Troop tax is less of a burden. Allows you to field the big stuff. expand on Forgeworld models or 30K, etc...

On 1000pts consider playing on 4x4ft board.

I pretty much stopped playing in my work meta because people just wanted to have "fun".  Fun is a very subjective word since I view 1-of-everything no matter how suckass the units are to be a complete waste of time.  There's no focus, no thought, no sense of strategic or tactical acumen, and it's just aggravating.  Time is a precious commodity these days, since I only have one gaming night per week dedicated towards minis.

As a natural competitive player, Spike-archetype, min-maxer tuner, it's hard for me to find enjoyment playing with my friends.  They're just not on the same level as I am, and I accept this as much as they did.  I no longer play with them unless they ask for games, or if I'm really feeling itchy to play 40K.  They already know what kind of player I am, so its like pulling teeth when I ask and that's a terrible feeling.

The same could be said about the average group of players playing EDH (MTG) at work.  They're super casual, just want to play for hours on end with no wincons and no answers.  It's absolutely infuriating to play with them, so I avoid it, even though I love playing the game.

At the end of the day, you gotta find people who share the same mentality and will challenge you in your games in order for you to have fun.  Otherwise, you're just a bully, beating up on lesser gamers and that's no good.  Being the best out of a bunch of bads just means you're leading the pack, nothing more.

Well said, Hero. :-)

There's actually an alternative Hero. Give yourself a handicap. I generally turn any game I'm excelling at into a drinking game if my buddies can't keep up. For ever model killed, sip a beer, for every unit killed, take a shot. You might still win that first game, but oh by the time the second game comes around it will be fun and challenging. Once your vision starts blurring it's hard to even keep your guys in coherency.

Careful though, if you're playing a horde army. Nids gave me such a hangover... I still won though. I don't even know how to build a list that will lose to tyranids with DE.

Yet another reason to get drunk! Girls, bad day and now Warhammer? I guess I should just throw away my driving licence... :-D

As a person that doesn't drink I find that a poor option. I think showing your friends why it is fun to play to win is helpful. If not, yes, look toward another gaming group.

Ah... the good old 40K drinking game
Me and my friends have a different set of rules for it:
get beer, some medium booze and a bottle of east European stuff that gives terrible hangovers
Troops/Transports -> Beer
Elites/FA/HS -> Medium
HQ (Twice for warlord) -> the east European stuff (Now lovinly labeled "HQ")

Charging Paladins with Windrider Jetbikes has never seemed a better idea!

I used to play a mixed Drop Pod list with 2 tactical squads with dual-flamers and a combi-melta sternguard. Other things that Ihad was black knight bikes, chapter master on bike, 3 grav-turions and a couple of flyers. I used to mop the floor with just aboutanything that I had to face. So no, you don't have to have full-pod army to perform well..

Play with fluff in mind. Be suboptimal. Give a chance at that units that you usally will never take. Do not take venom spam.

DE use drugs; maybe you should too. 2 bottles of children's cough syrup and you'll definitely be sub-optimal.

When you are trouncing your buddies, do you point out why? My game took a huge leap up when I started playing a guy who, though he didn't let me win (my Skavenids vs his Draigowing, winning wasn't an option!), would happily discuss everything post-game, and I started a comprehensive list of tactics, strategies, and Dos and Don'ts.
If you remind your mates of the things that are making it easier for you, they'll get better, and your gaming experience will be enriched!

commandersasha makes a very good point - if you're playing for enjoyment but your opponent isn't enjoying themselves because they're not competing, helping them to improve is a great option. The only trick is not sounding too patronising, but the idea that you identify what is making it easier for you is a good place to start, you're then not saying to them 'what you're doing wrong is...' but 'that didn't worry me because...' or 'I knew i could ignore that because...'