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What is the best way to teach somebody how to play Warhammer 40K?
Pretty simple and straightforward.
Do I throw them in at the deep end with about 500pts+?
Give them the rules to read?
Something else?
Thanks.

I would start at 200-500 point depending on whether or not they have play table top games before.

I would limit vehicles, psychics, and even wargear until they understand the basics.

Maybe even just take a couple units from two different factions and learn the basic rules, from there have them borrow your rulebook boxed set, read through the rb itself and browse the picture and fluff books to decide which faction they like.

I have introduced a few players to the hobby in my time and I feel like it is best to let them decide on their own to get submerged into it. This is a vast and robust hobby, with modeling, painting, collecting, building lists, writing fluff, and of course playing... there are a lot of aspects to get into. Let them find their way but try to be a sage. Guide them but don't overwhelm them with your personal opinion.

This part shouldn't need to be said, but I'll go for it anyway.... lose to them for a while.... or at least dont try to win too hard. There is a steep learning curve with this game and it can be frustrating if they feel like it is too hard or too complex. Engage them and make it a game, but don't bother if you're just going to crush them.

There tends to a long learning process for new players, and they will lose plenty of games in their time. My buddies and I call it paying their dues (like in pro-wrestling - lol). After those first few games, don't let them get frustrated, instead help them make better decisions and better choices in their lists.

This has worked for me a few times over the last 15 years or so, so I hope it helps you as well. Every person you bring into the hobby is different and they may be attracted to an aspect which you are not. Embrace it and encourage it because we all get a different thrill from this game, and it should be nurtured and fostered instead of crushed by a hand full of one's.

good luck!

Find out what army they want to play and get the basic units for that army. I wouldn't go over 750 pts at first. If you start with the models they like, then they pay more attention imo. I prefer to focus on each phase separately, Shoot for the first couple of turns and then do assault to end. Avoid vehicles and psykers for a game or two if you can. And don't bother with tactics, once they understand the game then they will start to learn them.

Kill-Team

Small squads, pretty tactical, less fuss

I would buy dv and play a simple custom mission. You play chaos and they play da's. His goal is to wipe out all 20 cultists with the captain (or chaplain) and terminators before your turn 3 when your chosen and commander take the field

This would ve a simple feel good match for the guy learning. With a chance you might luck out and possibly win.

The idea is to keep model counts to a minimum while teaching the value of special weapons, commanders, and about how to handle movement without making it too easy or too difficult.

If this person was still interested I'd make another scenario with him as da's involving the librarian and bikes teaching them how vehicles move and how magic works.

The idea is to not overwhelm someone in information on game 1 and keep them playing until game 3. At that point the training wheels cab start coming off and the puppy kicking can start. By then their feeling pretty good and determination to win takes over.

Depends on how advanced (smart) they are. I would do my first game with one squad vs one squad (give him the obvious advantage, as they enjoy it much more if they win) and restrict every USR, and maybe on the first game just ask him what he wants to do and then tell him what he needs to role. Simple, and easy. More you play, more rules you add in.

My first exposure to actually playing 40k was a Kill Team campaign at my FLGS. I think this helped me grasp all the rules a lot more quickly since there are so few models on the table. As an added bonus, it motivated me to paint since I would just buy and paint models as I added them to my kill team each week instead of doing dozens at a time for a huge army.

play scenerio's out of the current core set....usually the simpliest and seems to work well for the guys at the local GW when they talk to potential new hobbists.

Keep it really small and quick (maybe, 200-500 pts).

Walk him through the game, step by step.
In the move phase tell him about difficult terrain and how he can otherwise move 6" and let him go.

In the shoot phase, tell him he must target one unit per unit and let him go. When he shoots, tell him what he needs to hit, then wound, then explain what you're doing when you roll saves.

Same with assault. Keep explanations to a minimum at first and just take him through the motions, so he sees how it's supposed to look. Then, let him have a look through the rules, if he's interested.

For extra points, set yourself up to lose the first couple games. People get more into stuff if they're winning and will follow along better. Also, avoids discouragement. Discouragement is anathema to learning.

Thank you all for the replies.

I haven't had a chance to sit down and play a game with her yet. (It was getting late and I had collage).
I shall be doing that tonight at about 8.
For those of you suggesting Kill Teams; where can I get the most recent rules?

 Ond Angel wrote:
Thank you all for the replies.

I haven't had a chance to sit down and play a game with her yet. (It was getting late and I had collage).
I shall be doing that tonight at about 8.
For those of you suggesting Kill Teams; where can I get the most recent rules?

http://www.blacklibrary.com/games-workshop-digital-editions/Kill-Team.html

or through other nefarious means.

To me kill team doesnt really feel like 40K, especially with no squads and that kind of thing.

But hey if it works for you!

Id suggest 2 troop choices and an HQ a side (preferably balanced teams or a bias towards your new gamer) and just go from there, explaining it as you go and taking things 1 at a time.

If you can grab the DV small missions they work well. Worked for me anyway!

I am in the process now of teaching a guy we starts with 500 and didn't use HQ's and moved up in point scales. Now we are at 1250-1500.
I started with no HQ's as they seem to add the most rules to the game. They gradually progressed into the full rules. This allowed him to pick up shooting, movement and assault with minimal USR use.
I was fearful of over whelming him if I dumped it all on him. Seemed to work he loves the game.
Every new player will be different. This guy had no Wargaming or RPG background so I thought slower would be better. If he had been experienced in either I probably would have dumped it on him lol.

Gangrel767 wrote:

 Ond Angel wrote:
Thank you all for the replies.

I haven't had a chance to sit down and play a game with her yet. (It was getting late and I had collage).
I shall be doing that tonight at about 8.
For those of you suggesting Kill Teams; where can I get the most recent rules?

http://www.blacklibrary.com/games-workshop-digital-editions/Kill-Team.html

or through other nefarious means.

Ah, thank you.
I forgot everything moved to... *shudders* that place.

captsabre wrote:To me kill team doesnt really feel like 40K, especially with no squads and that kind of thing.

But hey if it works for you!

Id suggest 2 troop choices and an HQ a side (preferably balanced teams or a bias towards your new gamer) and just go from there, explaining it as you go and taking things 1 at a time.

If you can grab the DV small missions they work well. Worked for me anyway!

I might try Kill Team after she's had a few basic rules, honestly.
As for the DV missions: I didn't keep mine. I went halves-ies with my brother, but we've been playing since 5th so we didn't see a point in keeping them.

lobbywatson wrote:I am in the process now of teaching a guy we starts with 500 and didn't use HQ's and moved up in point scales. Now we are at 1250-1500.
I started with no HQ's as they seem to add the most rules to the game. They gradually progressed into the full rules. This allowed him to pick up shooting, movement and assault with minimal USR use.
I was fearful of over whelming him if I dumped it all on him. Seemed to work he loves the game.
Every new player will be different. This guy had no Wargaming or RPG background so I thought slower would be better. If he had been experienced in either I probably would have dumped it on him lol.

She has no history on RPGs or Wargaming, I might attempt your way.
She's impatient on reading, she just wants to get stuck in and play.
Haha, she has the right attitude.

She keeps worrying about remembering stuff like To Hits (shooting and attacking), To Wounds, stats, special rules, page numbers etc.
I tell her not to worry, and that she will just remember it without trying.

One thing that I use when demoing is the kind of tutorial missions, like what you get in FPS video games.

For example, set up two units, and take them through the process of shooting (check LOS, hit, wound, save). Do the same for Assault (initiative, hit, wound, save). Neither of these are in a game situation, so there's no pressure to do well, it just teaches the mechanics so that when you get into a small game, they have a basic grasp on the mechanics and are checking for reminders rather than learning as they go along. It might be seen as boring, but if not, then I'd say it's worth it so the game you set up goes smoother.

Demoing is a good idea.

When I taught my friend recently to play his dark eldar, I ran him through several 1 squad vs a basic guardsman squad (worth half the points, hehe), 20 minute mini-games. I made all his squads app. 100 points and ran through the scenario with each of his basic troops choices. This gave him a feel for the differences in his units and their general effectiveness and value.

Seemed to work really well.

this has been talked to death in other threads.

Depending on the age it is actually better not to over simplify the game.

use 1000 points, objectives instead of kill pints, and fully painted armies with good terrain.

If you have the quick reference card, let the newb hold onto it.

set up the terrain thematically and start rolling dice.

It is as simple as that.