Is the hobby hard to get into

[Clever Ninja]

Honestly though, is the Hobby hard to get into? Playing Dawn of War since Vanilla has peeked my interest in the TT, and I live in New York City so finding a Game Workshop wouldn't be hard(although from my search they're all in Manhattan, would have to travel from Brooklyn to play everytime :/). Only thing that turns me off is the cost if I get serious, as I'm an unemployed college student since I can't find work anywhere.

That and if I need an airbrush to paint I probably can't do it, since buying one with a good pump is expensive enough as it is, as I looked into it when I was interested in painting my Gundam models. If its handbrushable then it wouldn't be much of a problem. And what would the minimum amount of points I'd need to play? I've read of new players going 500 pt and just working their way up, but I'm abit uninformed on this matter.

Hopefully it won't interfere with my daily workout. I've gotten like, super fat since leaving high school, and I need to work it off :x.

[Kirby]

airbrush o.O
*looks behind him* hacksaw...knife..glue...hotgluegun ooo! =D...body parts...blood...paint...paintbrushes...greengooestyff...spray paint...wierd pictures...models!...airbrush o.O? never used an airbrush =D lol

and 500 points is ok, most tournaments are around 1000 to 1850 depending on time available and size

[Clever Ninja]

Blood? >_>

And I didn't notice the sticky earlier. Once my mother gets back from Dominican Republic(at a funeral) with my Checking Card I'll pick up a Battle For Macragge set to try out the game to see if I'm into the rules. I honestly doubt I'll get into tournaments for awhile though. As I said, I'm an unemployed college student :3.

[Kirby]

i was overenthusiastic with a hacksaw and stanley knife...on many occasions lol, best way toplay as well is with friends that play it, thats how i get most of my games in atm not benig near a GW store.

im at uni atm and working 2 jobs during holidays...yaaaay :S lol

[Grimjaw]

Hobby isn't hard at all to get into. Painting the models is part of it, but alot of the fun of painting imo is the customizing of color schemes, and customized paintjob of your own stuff. Honestly, painting and basing models isn't hard... I can teach a dead-monkey to paint irl.

[Clever Ninja]

I transferred to a college back home(originally went to RIT), and finding a part time job in New York City is hell. I had a temp job as a clerk for around 10 months until a new president came in and literally fired the office staff, although in reality it was only 3 people including myself >_>.

Most of my current friends wouldn't be into this, as they aren't into alot of the things I am into. Surprisingly enough through google(gotta love it :D) I found a game store in Brooklyn that I can get to easily that does 40k and has game tables and such, so scratch the Manhattan bit.

But for all the painting and glueing tools, what would you recommend I buy? I have Tamiya paints from my Gundams, but I doubt that they work for miniatures. So just a list of what I'd need would be nice :3.

[panzerd18]

Plastic Cement for the plastics
SuperGlue Gel for the metals (Don't get the thin stuff like the GW SuperGlue)
Needle Files to get rid of the flack off metal models
Hobby knife to cut and clean off the flack on plastic models

You can use the Tamiya paints if you want to. They should work. Are they enamel or acrylic? You will need a few brushes. Get a range of sizes, 000, 1 and 3 maybe.

[Nanolathe]

You Definitely do not need a 000 paint brush. if you maintain your brushes well you really can get away with a GW 'Detail' brush (I have been for many years and my models, not to blow my own trumpet... too much, are damn fine work, not golden daemon but above par TT quality)

[verirh]

You can do a fairly good paint job with nothing smaller than a "0" brush. Do have a couple of larger brushes, because if you choose a race that has a relatively uniform color that doesn't come in a spray can, you will be covering large areas of plastic & metal with a very small brush. Once you get to vehicles, you will want some larger brushes. Finer brushes 3/0, 10/0 are great for "writing" on purity seals etc. but not necessary as you start out.

Tools - a set of small files from Lowes (<$10 for 6 different shaped files) to clean up the plastic & metal, along with a set of modeling clippers (Walmart will have these) will be just about all you will need, until you want to start pinning the limbs etc. onto your models, which is all too necessary as you begin to buy some of the multi-part metal models. When you get to this stage, an inexpensive pin vise will do just fine (I got one from my local Hobbytown for about $10 including the drill bit). It has worked wondors on my Imperial Guard Sentinel ankles.

For paints, I would recommend anything that does not require a solvent to clean up. Your brushes will be much easier to clean up afterwards as long as you don't use too much paint at any one time. Go with several thin coats of drybrush, rather than a one coat covers all approach. This way the detail on the model will still show up. Talk to your local gamers, ask how they paint. Most of them will be more than happy to explain how they achieve certain effects when painting.

One last thing, prior to painting, wash the model with soap & water thoroughly. This will ensure a more even application of the primer coat. If you don't clean and dry the surfaces properly, your subsequent paint will look bad, trust me on this, I can show you a Chimera that has a wonderful surface peel effect.

[Brother Wolf]

I split this off the addicted thread as the topic was in the process of being hijacked.

[Mantaray]

my nearest GW store is over 10 miles away..
although i do have a retailer in a toy shop who orders for me...
but my friends family and i play W40k at my place and it rules...
i plan to hire a shop and start up a community.. when i leave school ^_^
i like to plant, as stated in another thread:
"fail to plan, and plan to fail"
hehehe
but no, its not that hard to get into, in your codex you will find a simple senario to play with a few troop squads
(i.e. necron solar flare turns a squad of moddles against you, wipe them out with your own squad) the beauty is that you can make your own scenarios and have great fun doing it

[the_almighty_moo]

dont start off with fantasy Warhammer, that'll make your head explode if you dont even have a rudementary knowledge of Weapon Skill and Ballistic Skill

[Cotus Verax]

Financially the hobby can seem intimidating if you try to rush into it. So don't. Be smart and read this first: http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?t=127561

Buy an army that you like to look at. Never buy an army based off of how much cheese they're stuffed with (supposedly) or by stats and numbers. If you like the way Space Marines look... start there. If you love the way Necrons look... start there. So on and so forth.

Buy the Codex (or codices) first! Read your codex front to back, back to front. Play around in excel and put some army lists together. Think about what you wanna do and how much things will cost (in points). It's okay to buy the Codex of several different armies even if you're only going to start one. I only play Space Marines but I own the Necrons, Tau Empire, Tyranids, and Deamon Hunters codices... why? Because it's good to have this information with you if your opponent(s) are fielding this army.

Now go out to your store and get 1 HQ model, 2 troops choice and maybe an elite. Now you have enough models to work on for a few weeks (I'm slow...) without investing a thousand dollars right off. Plus, when you're done you have the basic requirements to play a small game.

Get into the hobby! The more the merrier.

[Mantaray]

verax has summed it up,
i like the way necrons look
so i use'm
and i have RED gause flayers (see painting and moddleing)
witch rocks...
dont go fantacy first, best way to get alienated verry fast

[tyrion]

I'd go with much of the above, the hobby is first and foremost about fun. Do what seems fun and learn from there. If there's nowhere nearby selling models don't worry, the internet is your friend! Use ebay, there are thousands of second hand models going daily for a fraction of the RRP.

[panzerd18]

I thought the rules had the steepest learning curve.

[Win_Imperial]

Not very hard to get into. Just find something that piques your interest, wheather it be models or fluff.

I recomend the GW at 271 Amsterdam Ave. on the upper west side. I found the staff there to be especially helpfull when I was getting into the hobby.

[CrossOrion]

Took me 2 weeks to pick up all the rules and become a regular gamer down at the store I go to. I now dispute rules with the staff that taught me and have been proven right more then once ;p So, no, not the steepest learning curve, merely the most confusing. Some situations aren't covered at all by the rulebook or the appropriate codex and leaves people to wonder which is the best way to play.

Its not hard to get into the hobby, but whether you stay in it or not is a completely different matter.

[DoomKnights]

Use of brain for the rules.
RT= Full Brain function.
2nd= Three fourth a Brain function.
3rd= Half a Brain function.
4th= Half of that Half a Brain function.

Nuff said.

[Vretsu]

Is Warhammer 40k hard to get into? No, but it will steal your money, ruin your hygiene, destroy your personality, and poison your soul.

I recommend starting with the Space Marines.

[Clever Ninja]

Lol thanks for all your replies. I don't mind the soul and personality bit, I mostly stay at home playing PC/console games in my free time anyway, just means I do alittle less of that to make room for painting >_>. Mentioned the hygiene issue in my original post.

I'm going with Battle For Macragge Starter Set, and I'l go either SM or go with a combination of CSM and Zerkers depending on how the rules for Space Marines look. They're my favorite races from Dawn of War aesthetically(Imperial Guard is a close 3rd, but apparently their army lacks the awesome Vindicare Assassin :(). That and seeing the Chaplain with a Jump Pack is sweet :3.

[CrossOrion]

You have nothing to lose. Just remember that now you have a hard decision as one high end graphic card or the next computer game can expand your army by up to 500-1000 points :P

[Clever Ninja]

Lol, well, I already bought a 7600GT video card and extra gig of ram so I doubt that'll happen. And I'm not gonna buy any new games except for MAYBE Burning Crusade, as I recently got back into World of Warcraft. And, like I said, I'm broke for now. Unless my mother spends money on the funeral for her mom or for the dog shes bringing over, I got around 400 in there. Which should be enough for the Battle set, paint supplies and some Cheerios.

>_>

<_<

Cheerios are serious business.

[FifteenHours]

Well if you are interested in getting started with a specific force outside of those that come in the Battle for Macragge boxed set, you should try to start with the standard 1 HQ choice, and 2 Troops choices. I've found that this is generally a good start to get a force going with minimal effort.
Also, the Marines don't the Vindicare Assassin neither...that's for the Inquistion (Daemonhunters and Witchhunters)

[CrossOrion]

Your subscribing to Wow? That's like, 1 squad of marines per month.

[Clever Ninja]

Yea I know the Marines don't have it either, but the Assassin is a favorite unit of mine in Dawn of War, and his absence in the IG army kind made me neglect them. >_>.

And yea, after a 5 month hiatus of 'quitting' I'm starting again due to the honor update. I don't like most of the game, but strangely enough I love the PvP. Will never figure that one out.

[Cotus Verax]

I would strongly back up what Fifteenhours and myself said earlier back about buying the codex for SM's first, 1 HQ and 2 troops choices.

You may not be happy with the SM's that come in the Battle of Maccrage boxed set. The arms and shoulder guards are all one mold against the body of the SM's which I do not like. You can't put your own custom shoulder guards on these models.

BUT... the BoM set does come with a small rulebook, the blast templates and some terrain scenery.

Hmmmmmmm the options the options....

[Dark Watcher]

Hard to get into? No

Hard to get out of again? YES. Your life may never truly be your own again.

Out of interest, have you been along to GW for an intro game or so?

[Clever Ninja]

Actually, I decided to go Imperial Guard after visiting various forums and reading the rules on them. They may not have the assassin(:disgust:), but I do love Kasyrkin and regular Guardsmen. And the Battle set is really only going to be to practice painting and to learn the rules, so I don't do it on a normal piece. Plus I can use the pieces to try and convert my brother :3.

Out of their HQ choices though, which are good? I didn't have time to read up on that since I just finished rewriting a paper for English 201. I was thinking somewhere between Commisar, Priest or Lieutenants, but I don't know if either are them are useful or not, and how many points they cost >_>.

[Cotus Verax]

..... go buy the IG codex, dude.

Good choice. Have fun. Read that codex. Figure out what you want for your first HQ and troops choices.

:awesome:

[Clever Ninja]

Well I have to wait to get my card back before I buy anything really, like I said, mom borrowed it for funeral expenses :/. And all my money minus 15 bucks on my wallet is in there(and I need to deposit that for Metrocard fare soon). Hence why I had to resort to reading stuff on forums. Was just asking ;_;.

[Cotus Verax]

No worries. I don't know much about IG... therefore I can't really state which HQ choice is good or better than another. But judging by looks the Cadian Command Squad looks pretty neat and will give you something to work on for awhile seeing as it gives you six models.

I don't think we're allowed to give out points costs though. Sorry. :(

Edit:

I think you said earlier that you were sad about not being able to use an assassin? You can use an assassin as long as you: 1. take Daemon Hunters as an ally 2. Use an inquisitor as an HQ choice 3. Use one of the 4 available assassins as an elite choice.

So yes you can use assassins. But if you take Daemon Hunters as an ally you cannot take Witch Hunters.

[the_almighty_moo]

heh 110 Guardsmen for under 800 points. no other amry can bost that many infantry for so little :D

now if you are doign 1500 point armies, you do the maths ;)

[Okidus[PCE]]

check ebay for a collection, or any of the myriad trading areas on other sites. I bought 3 collections so far, all at nearly 1/3 retail. spent about 700$ total, but I have 1000's of points in SM, Tau, Eldar.

The best advice I can offer however is to not get involved, spend your time looking for a job, improving your skills, and working out. -----LAF

[Clever Ninja]

I noticed your edit Cotus :P.

Anyway I went and ordered the Battle of Macgree set along with some tools and also got the Imperial Guard Codex. I'll have to read it first to see if it'd be doable to get the Assassin in a 500 pt game(what I'm aiming for right now), but I'm also gonna have to see how Kasrykin look gameplay wise in the Codex, cause if they're good I'm using them instead. I like Kasyrkin in DoW just as much as I love the Vindicare >_>.

Quick question though; in regards to GW paint and paintbrushes, are any chemicals needed to clean the brushes themselves after painting is complete, or do they wash off under hot water?

[blueboy93]

Being a 13 year old 40k addict.

It's near impossible for me to start an army.

No money, have to resort buying semi-broken second hand ebay items.

It's ridiculous how dear the models are.

[Cotus Verax]

You can include a Vindicare in a 500 point game. I'll give you a small list here that I built in my interactive army list just as an example:

HQ 1:
Command Platoon (1 Junior Officer, 4 Guardsmen)

HQ 2:
Inquisitor Lord & Familiars (1 Inquisitor, 3 Familiars)

Troops 1:
Conscript Platoon (20 Conscripts)

Troops 2:
Conscript Platoon (20 Conscripts)

Elite:
Vindicare Assassin (1)

Fast Attack 1:
Sentinel (1)

Fast Attack 2:
Sentinel (1)

Total Points: 499

*Please note this is just an example showing that it is possible to field a Vindicare Assassin under 500 points. I have no knowledge of how such a list will play*

As far as the GW paints go... you do not need any chemicals seeing as they are water based (hence, water your paints down when you paint). I keep a glass of water by me when I paint and clean my brush after every other stroke to keep it from clogging up.

[Brother Wolf]

Troops 1:
Conscript Platoon (20 Conscripts)Illegal. You must take a conventional platoon for every Conscript Platoon or Armored Fist squad. That being said, you can still squeeze the Vindi in @ 500pts if you like. To play IG w/ Vindi, you need;

IG Codex
Daemonhunters OR Witch Hunters Codex
IG HQ + 2 IG Troops
Inquisitor Lord HQ, (DH/WH Codex)

So, tha'll be 453pts minimum before ANY upgrades are taken for the officers or special weapons for the squads. 47pts to spend on bolters, plasmaguns and power weapons isn't much really.

[Cotus Verax]

According to Armies of the Imperium, Imperial Gaurd 4.0 with Daemon Hunters allies I can build the force I listed with no conflicts. Meaning it is a legal army to play.

:confused:


Unless the software is wrong... but it's never been wrong before...

[Brother Wolf]

Unless the software is wrong... but it's never been wrong before...Sorry to say, AOI is wrong. According to some reports, it's quite often wrong.

Codex IG, p45, "you may include up to one...for each infantry platoon" regarding AF & Conscripts. You couldn't even do it as DH/WH for the parent force since the inducted IG can't be compulsories, so you'd have to take an Inquisitor HQ, 2 IST's for troops BEFORE taking any IG troops, but you'd still get the assassin.

[Cotus Verax]

That holds true if I try and choose an Armored Fist squad without first having an infantry platoon. Then it throws up a red flag: "A maximum of 1 armored fist squad may be taken for each infantry platoon selected."

The Armoured Fist squad cannot stand on its own. The conscripts squad however can.... well... according to AOTI.

I'd have to look at the IG Codex. I believe what you're saying but am wondering if the wording is confusing (most of GW rule material is).

[Brother Wolf]

Nope, rules are identical, crystal clear (rare for GW), and less than 1" away on teh same page. Platoon mandatory.

[Clever Ninja]

Thanks to holiday shipping and my not being home on certain days, I got my Battle of Maccgree set today. Reading through the rules, really like what I'm seeing so far. Main concerns I have so far(got to page 29 before I got sleepy due to time) is some confusion when it comes to Armor Piercing and Cover Saves in regards to the saving throw. The Chaplain example really confused me and I don't comprehend what I read now :(.

[Cotus Verax]

Right on man. Glad ya got it.

For help with rules you'll want to head on to the rules section of the forum.

Have fun.

[Clever Ninja]

Didn't notice we had one >_>. Let me direct that question over there.

[titan136]

congrats on the first step into a gratifying hobby

*under my breath*
hehe we've sucked in another one boys...

;)