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I am very interested in 40k, I went to the shop and played a demo, I like irmt quite a bit, well I liked the one squad each battle with little choice, a good sign. But I have been reconsidering pooling the hundred odd pound to get everything I need to start.I have never played or wargame before and am not fussed about painting, I would rather do it than leave them unpainted. Where I come from the only games workshop is 20 minutes away and I am currently a student. Noone I know plays it. I have some loose cash for once and 40k seems awesome.

To summarise my question, what ways would there be to try out the game a little further to test if I would like it? I was edging towards CSM or BT, but still somewhat open.

Also, if this went belly up and I got bored of it how much could i make back by selling off an army on average? 50%?

30-40% resale value on average.

If you are having doubts, then don't make the plunge (especially not now as a student with low income.)**

Come back when you have a job and a real income if you still want to. It's not a cheap game to play and most people new to "the hobby" don't know all the various ways to get stuff cheaper.


** I started playing 40k when I was 18 and had a job. I have no experience playing games like this as a schoolkid.
My club started out as a creche run by the mother of one of the kids when they were in (junior) High school. There were 8 of them around the age of 13.

5 years later, 4 of them still played.
8 Years later and those 3 of them still play.
1 of them is returning to the fold after a 3 year hiatus (Air Cadets).

Will second that, if your really that interested in a war game im sure theres other clubs nearby or people you can get to play, and LOTS of more "student money friendly" games

As for the resale can depend, 40% is the average, but if theyr well painted you can sometimes cut it even or even make a marginal profit.

Well, you should be able to get second hand codexes fairly inexpensively from places like AmazonUK or Ebay, and you could probably even pick up the rules that way. Look to see if someone is selling the mini-book that comes in the Dark Vengence box. Should be inexpensive that way.

As for models, there's a number of things you can do. Again, Ebay is great for buying second hand models. You can also look around at what other less expensive miniature companies are selling and buy some troops that look similar to what you want. They won't let you in the GW store with someone else's minis, but if you just want to try a few more games at home to see if you like it there's nothing wrong with that. If you're really hard up for cash just go buy a bag of those plastic army men. Again, if you're just wanting to experiment a little further to make sure you like it, it really doesn't matter what models you use.

When I played my demo in store it was ultras against nids (me being ultras) and was intantly hooked, though I went on to make my own d.i.y chapter (the panthers claws) as it gave you more room to kit them out in what you want mostly (but at the mo they only live in my head and fluff :( ) so I'm a marine fanboy as they say. But choose wich ever speaks to you the most as your gut intinct is normally right. Oh and welcome to 40k

If you really want get into it I would say get half of one of the starters and a used codex and rule book. It will give you a small force and the rules to play them, and if you get hooked you can add new things pretty easily.

I would also like to point out that none of my friends play either but I'm slowly getting them into the hobby, isn't that what friends do after all?

Lawlet wrote:
I am very interested in 40k, I went to the shop and played a demo, I like irmt quite a bit, well I liked the one squad each battle with little choice, a good sign. But I have been reconsidering pooling the hundred odd pound to get everything I need to start.I have never played or wargame before and am not fussed about painting, I would rather do it than leave them unpainted. Where I come from the only games workshop is 20 minutes away and I am currently a student. Noone I know plays it. I have some loose cash for once and 40k seems awesome.

To summarise my question, what ways would there be to try out the game a little further to test if I would like it? I was edging towards CSM or BT, but still somewhat open.

Also, if this went belly up and I got bored of it how much could i make back by selling off an army on average? 50%?

four points:

One: there are other games to try as well, if you still haven't taken the plunge. Quite a few other games outside the GW-fold, like warmachine/hordes, malifaux and infinity have far cheaper entry costs to get into. if price is an issue, you should consider it.

Two: If 40k is what you're set on getting, short of Vassal, you'll have to invest. there is no other way around it. and short of ebay, or second hand sales, it will cost you. Borrowing armies will only get you so far! So either save, look for 40k presents, or as was suggested, look into getting a part time job to fund the additiction. For a 20-something like me with a stable income, its easy to put aside even £10 a week, and it gives a tidy hobby budget.

Three: who cares if no one you know plays it. Use it as a way of making more friends, and not just spending time with the ones you know. thats part of the charm of wargaming - getting to know new people. there is a GW near where you live. chances are, there are various gaming clubs, possibly even some in your university - there was a great one where i went back home in uni in ireland.

Four: resale. dont bother. seriously. i've kept everything i've bought. you never know when you'll want to take it out and have a game. lasting value. thats another charm of wargaming. those plastic models dont decay or have a sell by date. once their assembled and painted, they're yours. even if 40k dies on some distant time, you can still use your space marines. selling them is stupid.

Buying the models on eBay is one way to go, if you don't mind stripping paint.

I started using a single troops unit and a bag of bases with unit types written on them. Unfortunately this won't be an option in the overly... enthusiastic GW stores where they care about WYSIWYG, but you might do well at a local store.

Honestly, I'd buy a starter box and have some friends play. That way if it's not a hit you have a playable board game so to speak, and you're not out much. The downside is that you can't choose your army like if you just buy your own units.

Your best bet is to have a chat with the store owners and try to work out a deal of renting armies for a while, most shops have at least a few armies lying around you can use to test some more with, get familiar with the stranger codexies and feel the game more before you commit alot money into it.

If not, you can always visit and look at games-seeing a game up close and asking the players what the frell is going on every time you get lost can also help you decide. (trust me, watching a 2v2 game with 1500 points per player before you buy your first mini IS confusing.)

Try to get in small at first, maybe someone will let you in his own game as you are playing his allied detachment in a bigger game.

People in gaming shops tend to be generus like that, I have gotten quite a few models borrowed the very first time I went into mine, and they covered my lacking battleforce quite easy (that gaming day was a 500 point "scout forces" day, but I still have only 12 FW, 1 devilfish and 1 crisis suit built at the time...)


Also-starter boxs. they are a cheap way to get 2 playable forces you can easily put up that you can test around with, and even show your friends the game.
The remaining "Assualt on Black Reach" packs are sold for merely about 55$, and contain two good army cores, for two very different armies.
The rulebook miht be out-of-date, but you can use a *gasp* downloaded copy until you REALLY dive into the game and start going to the shop with a proper army.
(I dont like Dark Vengence though, it looks great-but has too many special units and its easy to get lost in the burden of unique units.)

So, I would like to note that wargamming is a different kind of a game than you're probably used to. If you buy a video game, for example, you buy it all up front (get 100% of the content), and then you play it for awhile and then you're done, only coming back once and awhile, perhaps, for retro's sake.

40k isn't that way. For one, few people buy their entire army up-front. What you buy is one squad, and then another squad over time. At some point, you start playing, starting with small games, and eventually working your way up to big ones. I started my guard army in 2005, and didn't play my first 1850 point game until 2010, because it took me that long to get that many models put together and painted up. Of course, if you're a student, you'll have more free time than I did, but still. Anyways, 40k is also something that stays fresh over time, what with having lots of options, and lots of potential people to play with. I played the original call of duty for about a week, and then played it multiplayer for maybe a month or two, and then was done. I've played 40k for YEARS now.

40k is something that you grow into over time, not something that you buy, peel off the wrapper, and then consume.

Don't be daunted by what appears to be up-front costs, you don't need to buy everything up-front. Meanwhile, over time, 40k actually isn't that expensive of a hobby to be a part of (ever tried smoking?), so there's that too.

One thing to keep in mind as well is the advantage of local shops over GW ones. My experience with GW stores is pretty bad; if you don't have grenades modeled on your figures you can't take them, even if playing with open army lists. Blatant money grab. Local stores tend not to have the high concentration of crazy people, and realize its a game. So if you have the choice, lean toward the local shop.

I know someone is going to say that's not typical of GW stores, I'm just basing it on the 4 I've been to, 2 on the east coast and 2 on the west. Might be luck of the draw.

I'd advise you head to the shop during the 40k night/whatever they've got there and talk to folks, see if someone's got a spare army you can try out as a real demo, and more importantly see if you can meet some folks you like. Having friends in a hobby is always as important as the hobby itself-remember, people get enjoyment out of fishing.

The first step, might be hanging around the store for a bit, see if anyone will let you use their marines, or just watch a few games.

Being you've enjoyed the teaser, if you want to get into it, I'd say the simplest way to start is to go with the Dark Vengeance starter kit (minirulebook, basic army) and some paints (get brushes from a local art store - same or better quality for less money), then buying the rest of the army on Ebay (invest in a bottle of Fairy Power Spray and a toothbrush to strip paint) and you can get an army for a reasonable price.

You can find someone at the local store to sell / trade the models you don't want, or whack them on ebay.

Personally, I only have 1-2 'regular' friends (that I met outside the hobby) that play, most of the time I get pick up games at the local store and have made friends with the regulars there (though recently found out there's an apparently decent club that I'll be trying out next week). Otherwise I chat about it with people here on Dakka and on an IRC channel I found with 40K folk.

What part of the UK are you in?

 Ovion wrote:
The first step, might be hanging around the store for a bit, see if anyone will let you use their marines, or just watch a few games.

Being you've enjoyed the teaser, if you want to get into it, I'd say the simplest way to start is to go with the Dark Vengeance starter kit (minirulebook, basic army) and some paints (get brushes from a local art store - same or better quality for less money), then buying the rest of the army on Ebay (invest in a bottle of Fairy Power Spray and a toothbrush to strip paint) and you can get an army for a reasonable price.

You can find someone at the local store to sell / trade the models you don't want, or whack them on ebay.

Personally, I only have 1-2 'regular' friends (that I met outside the hobby) that play, most of the time I get pick up games at the local store and have made friends with the regulars there (though recently found out there's an apparently decent club that I'll be trying out next week). Otherwise I chat about it with people here on Dakka and on an IRC channel I found with 40K folk.

What part of the UK are you in?

Northlern Ireland, I have failed to find anything except a GW anywhere near me.

Lawlet wrote:

 Ovion wrote:
The first step, might be hanging around the store for a bit, see if anyone will let you use their marines, or just watch a few games.

Being you've enjoyed the teaser, if you want to get into it, I'd say the simplest way to start is to go with the Dark Vengeance starter kit (minirulebook, basic army) and some paints (get brushes from a local art store - same or better quality for less money), then buying the rest of the army on Ebay (invest in a bottle of Fairy Power Spray and a toothbrush to strip paint) and you can get an army for a reasonable price.

You can find someone at the local store to sell / trade the models you don't want, or whack them on ebay.

Personally, I only have 1-2 'regular' friends (that I met outside the hobby) that play, most of the time I get pick up games at the local store and have made friends with the regulars there (though recently found out there's an apparently decent club that I'll be trying out next week). Otherwise I chat about it with people here on Dakka and on an IRC channel I found with 40K folk.

What part of the UK are you in?

Northlern Ireland, I have failed to find anything except a GW anywhere near me.

Tried asking some of the players in the GW store? (not the staffers, if its like mine theyl pull a funny people playing anywhere but their super amazing premium tables)

A local GW isn't that bad really, buy something there every and then (such as codexes, paint, glue, etc. possibly the starter kit, just to 'grease their palms' as it were), and so long as it has a table or two for regular games (and preferably a vets night) it'll be fine for pick-up games.

Then just order the bulk of your stuff online, from discount retailers, ebay, etc.

Budget Warhammer can be done, I've done it!

(and yeah, as the guy above said - ask the regulars. Also check local Unis for wargaming clubs and such.)

If you ask around at the gaming store, there might be some local gaming clubs as well. I know my local club used to have pretty good relations with the local GW (before it closed), and we got a few people coming along because they heard of it at the store, and even a couple of employees at one stage. Even just searching Google for gaming clubs in Northern Ireland might turn out some useful results.

You might find that clubs have more mature gamers with multiple armies, and they might be willing to let you borrow a small army for a game or two, just to give you a good idea of how the game works. Some clubs even have a communal army specifically for that purpose. You will have to get your own army at some stage, of course, but that's one option.

Others have suggested that you can try other games with a lower buy-in cost, like Warmachine or Malifaux, but if you're having troubles finding opponents for 40k then you'll struggle even more with finding opponents for those games.

As for doing it on the cheap, you have the advantage of living in the UK where there are some excellent discount online stores. You can try getting second hand stuff from eBay, though I've often found that the prices from discount retailers are often not much more than second hand, and you get brand new products (though that might just be because prices here in Australia are incredibly high). I do suggest that you hold off from buying too much until you have a decent paying job, though.

 Cheexsta wrote:
If you ask around at the gaming store, there might be some local gaming clubs as well. I know my local club used to have pretty good relations with the local GW (before it closed), and we got a few people coming along because they heard of it at the store, and even a couple of employees at one stage. Even just searching Google for gaming clubs in Northern Ireland might turn out some useful results.

You might find that clubs have more mature gamers with multiple armies, and they might be willing to let you borrow a small army for a game or two, just to give you a good idea of how the game works. Some clubs even have a communal army specifically for that purpose. You will have to get your own army at some stage, of course, but that's one option.

Others have suggested that you can try other games with a lower buy-in cost, like Warmachine or Malifaux, but if you're having troubles finding opponents for 40k then you'll struggle even more with finding opponents for those games.

As for doing it on the cheap, you have the advantage of living in the UK where there are some excellent discount online stores. You can try getting second hand stuff from eBay, though I've often found that the prices from discount retailers are often not much more than second hand, and you get brand new products (though that might just be because prices here in Australia are incredibly high). I do suggest that you hold off from buying too much until you have a decent paying job, though.

Not necersarily, outside the local GW one FLGS playerbase is 80% warmahordes for tabletop, and in all 3 your lucky to see more than a 40k game a week.

Maybe thats YOUR FLGS, but mine has at least 1-2 40k games every day, with Thursday regularly having 3-5 (plus there is some sort of event month or so, the last one was a semi-apocalypse that was played on like 6 tables, as "goodies VS baddies", where you can bring forces over and over in 1000 point groups, but it has to balance out with the other team-in the end it was something like 9000vs9000)

 BoomWolf wrote:
Maybe thats YOUR FLGS, but mine has at least 1-2 40k games every day, with Thursday regularly having 3-5 (plus there is some sort of event month or so, the last one was a semi-apocalypse that was played on like 6 tables, as "goodies VS baddies", where you can bring forces over and over in 1000 point groups, but it has to balance out with the other team-in the end it was something like 9000vs9000)

Lol sorry thought i specified mine, didnt mean to imply its my opinion of all haha