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Hello all! I am a new, but avid, 40k player and wanted to know what the people of dakka think would be another great game to get into. I love the hobby aspect of miniature wargaming as well as playing the game itself, but the cost of GW products is a definite downside. I was hoping to find another popular, fun, hopefully less expensive miniature game with some great looking models that I might be able to talk my local group into trying. I have heard good things about Warmachine, and am interested in fantasy wargaming as much as sci-fi. Thanks a ton everyone for your time, everyone, and hopefully you can hook me (and my group) on a great new game!

Did you read the stickied thread at the top of this forum:

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/369662.page

no...no i didn't. I really have to turn on my brain before I start posting stuff...thanks!

There is also a multitude of sub-forums for various games. We have Warmachine and Hordes (their own section), and then places for Flames of War, Historicals, Corvus Belli games (Infinity), Lord of the Rings and Hobbit (A GW game), Mantic Games, Wyrd Miniatures, Spartan Games, and then Misc. Miniature games which covers pretty much everything else.

No worries. I'd start with that sticky because it has some good overviews. Then do what Alf suggested and explore a bit. Tons of options out there, especially if you're looking for skirmish.

Thanks, appreciate the help!

Svenzor wrote:
Hello all! I am a new, but avid, 40k player and wanted to know what the people of dakka think would be another great game to get into. I love the hobby aspect of miniature wargaming as well as playing the game itself, but the cost of GW products is a definite downside. I was hoping to find another popular, fun, hopefully less expensive miniature game with some great looking models that I might be able to talk my local group into trying. I have heard good things about Warmachine, and am interested in fantasy wargaming as much as sci-fi. Thanks a ton everyone for your time, everyone, and hopefully you can hook me (and my group) on a great new game!

I notice that you are looking for a game that is as popular and less expensive than 40k. I would caution you only that it might be hard to find both of those factors.

A game like Warmachine that is -in some areas- nearly as popular as 40k, isn't much less expensive in the long run. (though it is definitely cheaper to start) On the other hand, smaller games (that tend to be cheaper to play by virtue of needing less miniatures) like Inifinity, Malifaux, etc are not going to have nearly the popularity of 40k. Also, generic games like my personal favorite Song of Blades and Heroes are the cheapest of all (you can use any fantasy miniature you want), but are so obscure that you pretty much have to do all your own promotion.

My best suggestion would be to ask around at your club and find out what kind of game your group would be interested in playing. Then we can do a much better job of pointing you in the right direction.

Something like Song of Blades and Heroes sounds pretty great, as I have an excess of fantasy miniatures from years of D&D. As long as the gameplay is good I think I could sell my group on almost anything, altho sci fi might be easier. I will have to see if they are even interested in a new game.

Given the low figure count of something like SoBH, intead of asking, why not get a couple of warbands together and invite your buddies to a game?

I find asking in advance doesn't work nearly as well as the enthusiasm of setting up a game and inviting people to try it out.

 frozenwastes wrote:
I find asking in advance doesn't work nearly as well as the enthusiasm of setting up a game and inviting people to try it out.

An excellent plan. I think I shall abide.

Svenzor wrote:
Something like Song of Blades and Heroes sounds pretty great, as I have an excess of fantasy miniatures from years of D&D. As long as the gameplay is good I think I could sell my group on almost anything, altho sci fi might be easier. I will have to see if they are even interested in a new game.

Also keep in mind if you're just playing with Friends you can use literally whatever ruleset you want.

Svenzor wrote:
Something like Song of Blades and Heroes sounds pretty great, as I have an excess of fantasy miniatures from years of D&D. As long as the gameplay is good I think I could sell my group on almost anything, altho sci fi might be easier. I will have to see if they are even interested in a new game.

I'd say just invite a few over for a game night and play/run SBH. It's really easy to learn. If it flops, you're only out the $8 for the rules, and if it succeeds then you've got a new game to play.

One nice thing about SBH is that since it's so affordable most folks can add it to their game repertoire without thinking twice.

If you want to test the waters with alternate sci-fi games, and your friends already play 40k try In The Emperor's Name.
http://iten-game.org/
It's a free ruleset for warband size skrimishes in the 40kuniverse. They just released a new edition. It's about as fast as SBH, but has it's own unique ruleset. Also, it's been pretty extensively playtested, and the ITEN core rules are so solid that Osprey is selling a modified version for steampunk/victoriana called "In Her Majesties Name".

Another option, if your friends already have 40k miniatures another option might be Inquisimunda. It's basically Necromunda rules shifted into the world of Inquisitor. It's got more detail and crunch than ITEN It's not quite got the same playtest support as ITEN, but seems to be well regarded. I've met the author and he seems a good sort.
http://empireofghosts.blogspot.com/p/inquisimunda-resources.html

Thanks for the info, Eilif. itEN looks very cool, just downloaded the pdf. Hopefully the guys are into it because I can get behind the idea of smaller scale games.

The correct answer to your question, OP, is X-Wing.

Excellent!

Or Infinity, which by requiring less miniatures (~ 10 per side) is cheaper than any GW system and by the use of the Automated Reaction Order makes the game very dynamic.

 Monster Rain wrote:
The correct answer to your question, OP, is X-Wing.

This. If you can find it anywhere in your area (constant production shortages because the game was way more popular than anyone expected) x-wing is an obvious choice. It's fairly cheap ($50ish to start, $100ish to buy an average collection of ships for one side), and the combination of simple rules and the well-loved setting make it a great choice for attracting new players. The only problem for you is that it's all pre-painted models so there's not much of the hobby part.

But they are painted to a pretty good standard so I'd be willing to overlook the lack of hobby part of the game.

 Peregrine wrote:

 Monster Rain wrote:
The correct answer to your question, OP, is X-Wing.

This. If you can find it anywhere in your area (constant production shortages because the game was way more popular than anyone expected) x-wing is an obvious choice. It's fairly cheap ($50ish to start, $100ish to buy an average collection of ships for one side), and the combination of simple rules and the well-loved setting make it a great choice for attracting new players. The only problem for you is that it's all pre-painted models so there's not much of the hobby part.

I think MajorTom11 has proven you can still hobby your way through X-Wing

Sweet, Infinity is another one for me to look into. I haven't seen x-wing figs around, but I will start looking with more fervor. I used to play a bit of the Pirates of the Spanish Main game. Altho it is a bit simple and the models aren't GW quality, it was a pretty fun game. Might have to get back into that as well.