[hozrhayt]

What would be the best purchases for a 1000 pt starter?

 

[Kirby]

What type of army do you want? If you're looking at a walk and shoot list w/MCs & Gribblies @ 2k it's along the lines of 2x Harpy/Tervigon/T-Fex/10xGants + 3x2 HG & Prime though you can drop the Harpies for a Tyrant, etc. If you were looking for that type of list @ 1k points I'd be aiming for:

Tyrant
Tervigon (from Carnifex box w/modelling)
20-30 Termagants
2x2 Hive Guard
Tyrannofex (from Carnifex box w/modelling)

 

[hozrhayt]

In all honesty I was thinking of just a simple force that could be expanded in various ways as I went along. I have limited funds at any one time so I was considering buying the Battleforce Box and an extra box of warriors and a lictor. I figure this might not be competitive out the gate but I will have time to paint everything as I gather more funds.

 

[Bouncytube]

I'd just go for a Hive Tyrant and the battleforce as you said, warriors are also an excellent choice to help a new army. Lictors can be quite fun aswell, don't forget a trygon too.

 

[Chumbalaya]

There is a lot of variety in the Tyranid book. I would recommend playing some test games and making up some lists before you invest too much money in models you may never end up using.

 

[Deneris]

In all honesty I was thinking of just a simple force that could be expanded in various ways as I went along. I have limited funds at any one time so I was considering buying the Battleforce Box and an extra box of warriors and a lictor. I figure this might not be competitive out the gate but I will have time to paint everything as I gather more funds.

That's probably the best way to go- the box will give you a feel for the army, and the lictor you can always jazz up with extra plastic bitz (You'll always have lots of extra bitz with a Nid army) at a later date and call him a Deathleaper.