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Hi, I'm pretty new to the 40k gaming scene, and right now I'm not all too sure about putting money into, or even starting with this hobby?


After watching so many videos about recent updates to this game, it seems to me that with rumors of an 8th edition, starting out with the Dark Vengeance set would be pointless, as I'd have to find the time and money to put out for the newer Codex of the army I want, because I was stupid enough to get the Dark Angels 8th ED Codex right away.


And even with that, I've been getting negative tosses at GW for their decline in stock. And as you can probably guess: I don't want to put 200+ dollars into a game that's going to become pointless to play in a few years.

NeverEnoughDakka wrote:
Hi, I'm pretty new to the 40k gaming scene, and right now I'm not all too sure about putting money into, or even starting with this hobby?


After watching so many videos about recent updates to this game, it seems to me that with rumors of an 8th edition, starting out with the Dark Vengeance set would be pointless, as I'd have to find the time and money to put out for the newer Codex of the army I want, because I was stupid enough to get the Dark Angels 8th ED Codex right away.


And even with that, I've been getting negative tosses at GW for their decline in stock. And as you can probably guess: I don't want to put 200+ dollars into a game that's going to become pointless to play in a few years.

40k will probably never die. That said, it's no longer the 800lb gorilla it once was either, and it's in a state of extreme flux and transition. The Warhammer 40,000 of 2016 is an entirely different animal from the Warhammer 40,000 of 1998-2014. The current game allows for tons of freedom and combinations, it also allows for stuff that was once the fevered dreams of internet hyperbole in the worst possible ways.

The biggest indicator to hop in or not will be to check out your local area and see if there are healthy groups active and if they're into a playstyle you like. That will be the single greatest factor. If nobody local is playing, or they all play in a style that you don't enjoy, then there's no point to hopping in.

My personal recommendation would be to look at something like X-Wing or Dropzone Commander or Bolt Action, as in my experience play groups appear to be shrinking with mostly the guys that enjoy abusing the rules to get the most powerful combos being the last to stick it out as the rules become increasingly random, bloated, and "do whatever you want, the rules are just guidelines anyway". Other people will have different opinions however.

I'd like a bit of help before I head off for a bit.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Well, I'd actually like more help knowing if buying the Dark Vengeance starter set and upgrading on it would be smart now, or smarter to wait for the 8th edition to come around and see what they bring out.

NeverEnoughDakka wrote:

Well, I'd actually like more help knowing if buying the Dark Vengeance starter set and upgrading on it would be smart now, or smarter to wait for the 8th edition to come around and see what they bring out.

Depends on what you want to play. If you want to play Dark Angels, and are set on getting in, buy it now, the models will still be good for any future edition.

Thank you so much. I'm planning on playing with DA.

No problem, have fun

40k isn't really a good investment in general most of the units will sell at 50% retail value on the second hands market. With the exception of some rare high quality, and sought after oop units who have skyrocketed on ebay. On top of this 40k is losing market share every year and its future direction of the game is always uncertain. GW likes to shake things up every few years, changing fundamental mechanisms in the basic rules, releasing new units who shift the game in a different direction or plainly changing the rules of your unit and army so you could be investing in a game or an army you aren't that fond of 5 years later. Most of the veteran players have quitted this game for at least a few years because of this or at least made peace with shelfing large portions of our army.

I don't want to put 200+ dollars into a game that's going to become pointless to play in a few years.

A fair warning you will be more likely to put 500 -2000$ and at least 100+ hours of work into your first army, and like said before there is always a risk of it becoming next to useless in a few years.

So buy into 40k if you like it now, just don't expect it to be an investment.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

NeverEnoughDakka wrote:
Thank you so much. I'm planning on playing with DA.

You might want to take a look at Betrayal of Calth and Dark vengeance. Figure out how to make an army out of it and buy multiple of them. Both offer a serious discount on the models and you can always sell the units you don't need on the second hands market.

No.

Rumors from several places say 8th edition next year and promises 'changes'.

I would bet money it will be a rules reboot and all current books be become useless.

Short answer no.

Long answer Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooope.

You can just arrange a group to only play with 7E books.

Or 6E, or 2E...

If you like the way 40k is right now, you can just ignore GW's advances. Somewhat.

I'd be more concerned with what opponents (or potential opponents) you have around you and what games they play. If you're the first, it might be recommended to stay away from 40k and try a game like X-wing that is cheaper and easier to teach to people who are also new to wargaming.

If you have a ready pool of active 40k players, then sure, go ahead.

I'd wait for the 8th edition

The models will be fine to use, I and a lot of others, still use models from the 2nd edition of the game. Rules and other books, not so much. But that's not to stop you from gaming how you want to with your group.

It depends a lot on your local gaming situation and how you intend to play. If you're just messing around with buddies, buy some older books and proxy everything to see if you think it's any fun. If you're going to play at a FLGS or are interested in tournament play, take a good couple months to read as much as you can about the game before you start dropping cash on books and models.

There's always going to be a "THE GAME IS DYING" crowd, just like there is with basically every tabletop and online game. Ignore them. First off, play what you think is fun. Two, games never really die. I play the biggest zombie wargame out there in Battletech, which was d-e-a-d dead for most of the 2000's but has come back into some FLGSs and conventions. 40k has more product and players out there than Battletech ever did.

Also, 40k is constantly changing so there's no perfect time to get started. Your books will eventually have to be replaced and your armies changed. It's just a fact of the game, and every other "collectible" card or miniature game (MTG, Heroclix, Pokemon, etc).

I'll say it like this: I've began playing in 2010 and back then it was a completely different game. WH40K of today is massively overpriced and unbalanced. Internal, codex balance is a myth. There are armies that are easy, have all the best toys/formations and whatnot and then there are those, who are nothing more than punching bags. If I was thinking about starting 40K today, I'd probably skip it. Altough I do get frustrated at things, so take my rant with a pinch of salt.

I think the question really comes down to one thing: are you a gamer?

Do you play other games? Do you plan on playing other games? If 40K is a one-off purchase for you, then...that's a completely impossible question to answer - though you should probably wait for a new edition.

If you play a lot of games, etc. then models, in general, are never a bad investment. If you're a gamer it never hurts to have some nicely painted models available for whatever game you get into. You can "play" the 40K universe using whatever rule set you want.

Want to use Mantic's Warpath? Go for it. Want to use another rule set? Go nuts.

However, if you're a one-off player who wants to dive into 40K and all of its tournaments/pick-up games etc., I can't help you. With few exceptions though, it's not something you can jump into...try...and get out of without spending a bit of money.

Honestly its probably as good of a time as any to start the hobby as the models will be good regardless of any changes coming down the pipe. 40K isn't going anywhere for years and even if GW tanks it (more unlikely now that they seem to have more sane minds running things) some other company will 100% buy up the IP and continue supporting the game. GW has been profitable for years and while that profit margin has shrunk slowly each year the company has been in the black and paying out dividends to its investors yearly.

The internet always starts spewing out rumors of a new edition each spring/summer without fail. Earliest I would expect an 8th edition would be spring of 2017 and even then it isn't an instant transition for every person. The Dark Angels codex is relatively new (just barely over a year old now) so its not likely to see an update for some time. If an 8th edtion where to massively change everything (unlikely) then every codex would need an update and would be a poor business decision by GW (unless the new codexes where included in the BRB or had free rules online).

The rules might change as might army lists and entries but the models won't. Any kits GW has out now and that have been updated to plastic or improved in appearance lately (such as the DV box set) will be fine for a long time. If you want to play chaos for instance then be sure that chosen, dark apostles, hellbrutes and lords etc will still be around in the next edition. Cult troops haven't had new models in a long time so they might change (look at how AoS changed up the Khorne and Nurgle cult troops). Just be careful what you invest in now or just accept that the landscape will change and may invalidate some models.