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I am thinking of trying to start a WH40k club at my High School.
I have introduced a few people to the hobby before, but when they looked up the figures they wanted up on Amazon or GW and saw the MAXIMUM GOUGING, they said "It's cool. I'll think about it. Kthxbye."
How do I start a 40k club? I need advice.

Screw a 40k club.

Start a wargames club.

Look at accessable games. With decent starter sets.

Flames of war, bolt action, Planetfall or Firestorm armada. Also games like necromunda and mordheim are a great starter club game.

Get the support of your principle. Use their space on friday nights. Communal terrain is needed so have a workshop once a month.

You may need to forces for a game system so people dont need to buy their own way in.

Fundraising helps heaps as well. But yes, 40k is gonna be a hard game to sell. I personally will never try get someone to start a GW game for their first try. Its expensive and the way its set up is against new players.

Start a wargames club. Buy a starter set. Make terrain. have demo games. Reap the crop.




If they really enjoy it, then you may see 40k pop up, but likely after playing other games they wont wanna touch 40k.

 Swastakowey wrote:
Screw a 40k club.

Start a wargames club.

Look at accessable games. With decent starter sets.

Flames of war, bolt action, Planetfall or Firestorm armada. Also games like necromunda and mordheim are a great starter club game.

Get the support of your principle. Use their space on friday nights. Communal terrain is needed so have a workshop once a month.

You may need to forces for a game system so people dont need to buy their own way in.

Fundraising helps heaps as well. But yes, 40k is gonna be a hard game to sell. I personally will never try get someone to start a GW game for their first try. Its expensive and the way its set up is against new players.

Start a wargames club. Buy a starter set. Make terrain. have demo games. Reap the crop.




If they really enjoy it, then you may see 40k pop up, but likely after playing other games they wont wanna touch 40k.

Yes, I would play Firestorm Armada. No, I refuse to play OOP games.
I tried playing some other wargames. Hated them. 40K is far superior in models and fluff.
I could deal with a Wargames club, but having nobody to play 40k with is unacceptable.

Unfortunatly that doesn't change the fact the buy in is extraordinary compared to other games. You could try and start them off with BL books to hook them on the fluff then go kill team but I agree 40k is a hard sell, and on a personal note it depresses me to no end that my local club is a 40k club rather than a wargaming club. A club with a strong 40k focus is fine but the moment someone feels uncomfortable being there because they brought a different game you've crossed a very dangerous line and the club will suffer for it.

Well you will only make it harder to start a game. Necromunda is great as not only is it designed for a campaign, you can buy a bunch of scouts, guardsmen and even guardians and kit bash whatever you want and have more than enough to play.

Mordheim is the same.

Fire Storm Armada is good to start because you can buy 2 patrol fleet boxes or the starter and have enough to play proper games. At a fraction of the cost of 40k.

You need to make it accessible is the main point. Unless you wanna fund another 40k army 40k is not an easy game to make accessible.

High schoolers couldn't afford to build full 40k armies, and probably wouldn't have the time to fully paint it all.

That's assuming you're not in some affluent school.

This is one case where smaller skirmish games like Malifaux, Infinity, Helldorado, Last Saga, Deadzone, etc... all fit the bill a bit better than 40k.

This is also a great opportunity to go historical and local. You'll be far, far more likely to get the support of school admin and teachers if you can tie this into local history. War of 1812? Civil War? Units local folk were part of in WW1 and WW2? Lots of great subjects for painting, research and gaming.

How do I start a 40k club? I need advice.

If it has to be 40k, you need to find people as interested as you and with the same resources as you. If someone looks at the price and says "no way" then there's nothing we can suggest here that will get them to change their minds.

Yeah just starting a 40K club is shouting yourself in the foot, more games = more interest - not everyone like space men firing their 'pew - pew' lasers

I have to echo everyone else here.
Unless you already have a core of 40k gamers in the school, you need to have a wargames club, not a 40k club.
look at Malifaux, Infinity, Flames of War, Dystopian Wars/Firestorm Armada, Warmahordes, etc.
If you have funds available pick up a few starter sets.
FFG,s X Wing is a decent starter for not much cash, and has the advantage of not needing painting.

If you want to succeed, broaden your horizons.

Wow, way to piss on the OP chips fellers!

He asks how to start a club, you respond but criticising his choice of game. I'd say I'm disappointed but unsurprised would be more accurate.

OP play the game you want, enthusiasm is best to garnering interest in others. I would allow other games to be played bit knowing a game is vital to teaching it or attracting other players.

Your also going to need permission (for the school and possibly supervision), a location and boards/terrain. This last issue will be the most difficult as you are less likely to have funds but vinyl sheets pegged to school tables are good enough (it's wat we use) with home made scenery on top will be about the cheapest way of doing this.

Anyway there are a number of places that have covered this topic already;

http://boardgamegeek.com/thread/749603/how-start-afterschool-game-club-five-easy-steps
http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/06/starting-warhammer-40000-gaming-club.html?m=1

There also used to be a Games Workshop club info pack to assist just this sort of thing but the new sight seems to have ditched this, so have a search about. There's also the Gaming Club Network (GCN) that will be able to help you out.

I agree with notprop here. If you and your friends like the look of 40k and stuff, go for it. You don't HAVE TO play at high points, and you don't HAVE TO play tournament competitive lists. It's about having fun.

Still, if you get people into it, you can always mention that there are lot of other neat and amazing games which have a lower cost of entry. Again, this is up to you and your friends. If you bring a cheaper two-player starter set, but everyone "meh"s at it, then the club looks bad. However, if people like the look and feel of 40k but can't afford it, that's a big issue too.

Our resident 40k mouthpiece collects about 5 armies and just started collecting two Fantasy armies. He always has extra dudes with him for people to play.

If your friends are having issues with the price, it's unlikely that they'll buy in unless it's a rich kid school with rich parents (and hey that's GW's target audience!).

Unless you're content doing Kill Team or Combat Patrol style trivial games all the time, then if you really want to start a gaming club the posts telling you to try other games are spot on. Otherwise you don't want a "Gaming Club", you want a "40k Club", and in this day and age that has got to be harder than it was a couple of years ago with the price hikes.

Not to say it's not doable, but it's going to be an uphill battle.

Hey OP, try to ignore the 'STOP GW' crowd.

If you have your heart set on starting out with 40k, but worry that cost is an issue, have a look at the Kill Team rules, or one of the player created versions on the web.

This wil help you, as it limits the cost to start of with, and also gives the new players a taste of a skirmish based game, whilst still using the familar models and setting.

In time, some will start expanding their armies, and if you are all at the same point, you can do that together.

However, if people seem more interested at staying at that sort of level, you can start to bring in some of the better balanced rules type skirmish.

If people struggle with complexity, again, the likes of deadzone can give the skirmish game but quicker.


The main thing is to start small, evolve with the player base and have fun. Thats the point!

Guys no one is crying 'STOP GW'.

But OP has said the price has already scared people away.

All people are saying is there are a lot of cheaper games that might make it a lot easier to get people involved.

lol GW is evil, amirite? don't worry about ConAgra...

My suggestion is that if OP already has a sizable chunk of 40k, why not show it off and play it? Also, low points would make the most sense.

Either way, the members are going to have to spend SOME money. They'll want to if the game is fun. Why not find someone else local who also has a crapton of 40k, so people can see the armies and play the game? Then, keep the points level below standard until people ask about doing more.

Also, there are much cheaper games that are just as fun out there. If the other people in your club are saying "eeehhhh too expensive", at least show them the alternatives and see what the consensus is.

Ah salient points.

I have always thought (and will fight to the death anyone that disagrees with me - Kirk Style!) that 40k plays best between 1000 and 1500 points. With the right armies and restrictions (on heroes/elites/flyers/armoured vehicles) on lists it plays well at less than this level.

It requires players to make good choices about what to take (i.e. not all the bestest newest toys!) and becomes a good challenge on a smallish table, so 4' x 4' or 6' x 4' with plenty of terrain.

If you look straight off the bat at 3000 points of marines (or god forbid orks!) then the price tag is very intimidating even to me who doesn't have money issues that a youngster might have. This is natural. Big armies are collected over years not on day 1.

1000 points or less, can be made up mostly with a battle force (with some exceptions I grant you) so cost shouldn't be a hugely limiting factor.

GW themselves know this and have leagues that raise in value starting off at minimal points to allow beginners to grasp the basics.

Find a FLGS and see if you can work out a deal where members of your high school club can get a discount if they purchase models through their store. If people found out they got a 20% discount from a store the start up price may not seem so bad.

If you're wanting to play 40k eventually, maybe get the rules for a skirmish game (Infinity, Warzone:R, Deadzone, etc), and allow the players to use 40k models in that.
You'll start building up the scenery you'll need, the players will get a feel for wargaming, and once there's enough interest, then the approval might start to go your way.

Also, if your FLGS gets wind in your plans, discounts or donations might start popping up if your players drop in often enough.

 Skinnereal wrote:
If you're wanting to play 40k eventually, maybe get the rules for a skirmish game (Infinity, Warzone:R, Deadzone, etc), and allow the players to use 40k models in that.
You'll start building up the scenery you'll need, the players will get a feel for wargaming, and once there's enough interest, then the approval might start to go your way.

Also, if your FLGS gets wind in your plans, discounts or donations might start popping up if your players drop in often enough.

My FLGS is a GW store.

Verviedi wrote:

 Skinnereal wrote:
If you're wanting to play 40k eventually, maybe get the rules for a skirmish game (Infinity, Warzone:R, Deadzone, etc), and allow the players to use 40k models in that.
You'll start building up the scenery you'll need, the players will get a feel for wargaming, and once there's enough interest, then the approval might start to go your way.

Also, if your FLGS gets wind in your plans, discounts or donations might start popping up if your players drop in often enough.

My FLGS is a GW store.

No discounts for you then

Really, all you can do is pitch the idea. But if your friends are already against the cost...

Pitch Kill Team. Or if your GW store has a copy of Space Hulk left, buy that and get some people interested by playing that and then grow to Kill Team/Combat Patrol. At least then the price, while expensive, isn't enormous.

Yeah, if you want to do 40K and everyone else is running away at the cost you're going to need to compromise.

Kill Team works well, as does 40K in 40 minutes, and shouldn't break the bank. If you're using homebrewed rules then you don't need to stick to GW mini's either for even further savings.

40k in 40mins/combat patrol is a great little rule set for a club of beginners.
I'm not a big fan of kill team though.

Verviedi wrote:
I am thinking of trying to start a WH40k club at my High School.
I have introduced a few people to the hobby before, but when they looked up the figures they wanted up on Amazon or GW and saw the MAXIMUM GOUGING, they said "It's cool. I'll think about it. Kthxbye."
How do I start a 40k club? I need advice.

By actively encouraging them to consider alternative 3rd party models, and ways to source cheap 2nd hand models from places like ebay.

Also, teach them how to paint strip, to remove the awful thick coats of paint from poorly painted 2nd hand models that obscure the detail and destroys the value of those models.

-immerse models in a tub or pot of Dettol antiseptic liquid (or an American equivalent)
-leave to soak for a minimum of 24 hours
-use a firm bristled toothbrush to scrub away all the paint and something sharp and pointy like a file to scrape out the recesses.

I've just started doing it this week with old models, and they're as good as new (barring a little paint left in the deepest recesses - my models simply like they've had a thin wash of black paint over the bare metal or plastic).

Be warned: its VERY messy. And use rubber gloves.

Also, it fething stinks.

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
Be warned: its VERY messy. And use rubber gloves.

Also, it fething stinks.

It's in a school. They probably have a fume cupboard. It'll get the science department involved, too.

But, good call on the paint stripping comment.
It's still part of the hobby, if not one GW wants you to know about.
Wargaming can be a very diverse pasttime, and showing how many skills are involved can be a good way to keep the backing alive.

I prefer Nail Polish Remover for paint stripping. Take the Legionaire off his base, dip him in Acetone, toothbrush, done.

For plastic I use Simple Green.

Geez, you guys are already talking about having the kids strip models? No one comes to a wargaming club saying "hey, I'd love to learn to strip models".

Verviedi,
You've got to sell potential players on the glory of miniature gaming. That means you have to show up with at least two painted armies big enough for a combat patrol game for potential club members to play. More likely, you need 4 such forces.

The point is to lower the barriers to entry and allow potential members to jump right into the hobby. A person who walks through the door should immediately be able to start participating, not wondering how much this is going to cost me in time and effort. Get them hooked on playing first, then they can begin to paint their own models.

If you want to provide cheap models for folks to paint at the club, then you're the one who will need to strip them and show up with them. It's alot of work, but that's what's required when you want to start a club.

 Eilif wrote:
Geez, you guys are already talking about having the kids strip models? No one comes to a wargaming club saying "hey, I'd love to learn to strip models".

Verviedi,
You've got to sell potential players on the glory of miniature gaming. That means you have to show up with at least two painted armies big enough for a combat patrol game for potential club members to play. More likely, you need 4 such forces.

The point is to lower the barriers to entry and allow potential members to jump right into the hobby. A person who walks through the door should immediately be able to start participating, not wondering how much this is going to cost me in time and effort. Get them hooked on playing first, then they can begin to paint their own models.

If you want to provide cheap models for folks to paint at the club, then you're the one who will need to strip them and show up with them. It's alot of work, but that's what's required when you want to start a club.

Cost is an extremely prohibitive barrier to new players of Warhammer 40K.

Also, teach them how to paint strip,

My point was to illustrate ways to reduce costs and make Gamesworkshop games more affordable, by demonstrating ways to source cheap models (Ebay) and how to repair poorly painted models to return them to an almost-as-good-as-new state. I was addressing a point that the OP made, a point that you ignored, by telling him to show new players and members of his club ways around the barriers to entry for a GW game such as high costs, to persuade them to give the game a chance rather than dismissing it out of hand and saying "MAXIMUM GOUGING, It's cool. I'll think about it. Kthxbye."

I have introduced a few people to the hobby before, but when they looked up the figures they wanted up on Amazon or GW and saw the MAXIMUM GOUGING, they said "It's cool. I'll think about it. Kthxbye."

Just like he can run workshops on painting, converting, army list writing and playing the game, he can also run a workshop on paint stripping, how to get find deals on ebay and retailers that give good discounts (e.g. Element Games, FLGS).

A person who walks through the door should immediately be able to start participating,

This is not mutually exclusive to the point I was making.

Yes of course visitors and potential new members/players need to be able to play right away so they can get an impression of the game. Thats where the OP's own armies come in. He should collect Two Armies of at least 1000pts, so he can put on a demonstration game to introduce people. Then he can discuss paint stripping, ebay and 3rd party retailers with them.

You make some good points. Mine is simply that all this talk of used models, stripping, group discounted figs, etc is all the cart before the horse. Not that it isn't worth considering, but it's not the first requirement.

To start off, the OP needs at least 4 combat patrol sized armies, a couple copies of the rules and enough terrain for two tables. You could probably make do with 6-800 points per force.

To this end, it might be possible to contact your local GW and see if they have any extra demo sets like what they use in the store that you could borrow for club use. Also, are there any gaming clubs in your area? You might find some folks willing to lend or give you an old army as well since a school club counts as a "good deed" in most folks' minds.

 Eilif wrote:
You make some good points. Mine is simply that all this talk of used models, stripping, group discounted figs, etc is all the cart before the horse. Not that it isn't worth considering, but it's not the first requirement.

To start off, the OP needs at least 4 combat patrol sized armies, a couple copies of the rules and enough terrain for two tables. You could probably make do with 6-800 points per force.

To this end, it might be possible to contact your local GW and see if they have any extra demo sets like what they use in the store that you could borrow for club use. Also, are there any gaming clubs in your area? You might find some folks willing to lend or give you an old army as well since a school club counts as a "good deed" in most folks' minds.

Well obviously. Its not like I was advocating:

Week 1: Welcome to Warhammer Club. Today we will be shopping on ebay.
Week 2: Today we will be stripping the gakky paint jobs off our 2nd hand models. Did you all remember to bring your aprons, rubber gloves and super smelly dettol?
Week 3: Today we will be learning how to hold a paint brush.
Week 4: And today, we will play our very first game of Warhammer!


Paint stripping and ebay is something that he can bring up in a conversation, if kids ever express reluctance over the huge start up costs, to address their concerns and encourage them. He can offer to teach them how to get cheap miniatures and keep costs down. Obviously, an actual demonstration game has to come first. In fact thats so obvious I didn't bother to mention it!

I certainly would never have become interested in miniature gaming if my first introduction was simply painting a model or whatever (ironically, 12 years later at the age of 23 painting is about ALL I do now, I rarely play anymore). Instead, on a youth adventure camp holiday a friend of mine brought out his Lord of the Rings: Return of the King starter set and gave me a game of LOTR SBG right there on the floor in our bedroom. I was hooked instantly.


Also, I would advise the OP to not be too narrowly focused. Make it a general gaming club - don't strictly limit it to Warhammer 40K. Warhammer 40K (Sci Fi) is not for everyone. Some people may not like the aesthetic, or the game itself, but another game (WH Fantasy) or even Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit might appeal to them much more. (I started with LOTR, played 40K through 5th Ed then lost interest in the game and went back to LOTR and started on some Historical Games/forces). If other kids play different games, encourage them to bring multiple armies, so they can lend one to an opponent and play games to introduce games to that game too.

A gaming club where people can play a game of Warhammer 40K one week, then a game of Lord of the Rings, Warhammer Fantasy, a historical wargame like the WW2 Bolt Action, or a game of D&D in the following weeks would make for much more variety and may keep kids interested for much longer. If its strictly a Warhammer 40K club, and some of the kids lose interest, they might quit wargaming altogether thinking that Gamesworkshop is all there is, and if they don't like Warhammer then they'll assume that miniature wargaming is not for them. But if their horizons have been broadened and they've been shown that there is a huge variety of games and miniatures out there, that will encourage them to stick with the hobby (which was true for me, when I began to be disillusioned with GW).

Talk to your history teachers and see if they're interested in a partnership. Theres a good chance that they're familiar with miniature wargaming, especially historical wargames and may even be players themselves. In which case they can help out by running historical wargame nights. Historical wargaming can be a fun educational experience.


Also, consider LOTR/Hobbit. It is by far the cheapest game that GW makes, simply because it is a skirmish game, whereas both Warhammer games are mass battle games. Typical games of SBG use from 20 - 60 models. You can get a large army (by LOTR standards) for £50 - £100 depending on the models you pick (you can have all monster or all hero armies, with less than 10 models).

 Shadow Captain Edithae wrote:
[
Also, I would advise the OP to not be too narrowly focused. Make it a general gaming club - don't strictly limit it to Warhammer 40K. Warhammer 40K (Sci Fi) is not for everyone.

This is probably the best advice on this thread. Wargaming is so niche that there's really no reason to make it even smaller. If the OP uses 40k as the game he presents that's great, but there's no reason to limit the club just one game. Games like Bolt Action might be a great way to bring on board those whose interest is in history.