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I recently picked up a box of gnolls for 40k conversion parts, but it looks like I'll have plenty of bitz to actually build out the gnolls anyway. So I figured what the heck? I'll look into getting started with the game as I heard that you can use D&D, and other figures with these figures to make your warbands. So what else do I need? Rulebooks are a given, but most of them look sold out or OOP.

All you need is the main rulebook. If it turns out you like Frostgrave and want more options, I'd suggest getting Into the Breeding Pits (rules for the Gnolls and dungeon crawling), and the Frostgrave Folio (Compilation of many small expansion articles that one can add or ignore to modify your campaign. Also has some linked scenarios for added challenge). I've read that there is a revised experience system in The Maze of Malcor, but that and Forgotten Pacts are two of the three books I do not have. Thaw of the Lich Lord is more of a separate campaign, and so not necessary. Besides, assuming your group want to play Thaw of the Lich Lord, you'll want to build up your warbands first: fighting a Lich is NOT for newbie warbands.

As it is, I see Amazon US has the main book in both hardcover and eBook formats. Give it a go. It's fun, quick, and you can use what you like/have. None of this bespoke model BS that GW has fostered.

Oh, yes, Northstar just released a box of BYO plastic wizards Frostgrave Wizards . I bought a box and built a few. Will prime later today.

 KingmanHighborn wrote:
I recently picked up a box of gnolls for 40k conversion parts, but it looks like I'll have plenty of bitz to actually build out the gnolls anyway. So I figured what the heck? I'll look into getting started with the game as I heard that you can use D&D, and other figures with these figures to make your warbands. So what else do I need? Rulebooks are a given, but most of them look sold out or OOP.

Yeah the fact I can use my reaper, D&D and Pathfinder gnolls alongside these (And they're nearly the same scale) was a major draw. So the main book, and Into the Breeding Pits seem to be the next step.

So as far as the box itself, convert one into a cool wizard (I have the bits) and then blend of ranged and melee models?

Yes. You may want to wait until you get the core rulebook so you can make the figures match the "classes". For instance, the Tracker is the middle ground between the Thief and the Ranger and has a quarterstaff and a bow. The cheapest hirelings are the Thief and Thug at 20 gold. The Thief is faster but only armed with a dagger, and the Thug has a hand weapon and a +1 to Fight. You will find the 20gc hirelings are expendable, dying to buy time for more valuable figures, especially your wizard.

Incidentally, although I like the concept of the Frozen City, and did base a few characters appropriately, there's only so much space for terrain, so I'm going "sandgrave" instead as my Necrons, Society of Ra, and Malifaux are desert-based. Similarly, I saw in someone's blog, he went "Junglegrave" and had a beautiful scratch-built Arabic mosque. Yet another person was using Star Wars prepaints for their retheme. So make the game into whatever you like. Good gaming!

 KingmanHighborn wrote:
Yeah the fact I can use my reaper, D&D and Pathfinder gnolls alongside these (And they're nearly the same scale) was a major draw. So the main book, and Into the Breeding Pits seem to be the next step.

So as far as the box itself, convert one into a cool wizard (I have the bits) and then blend of ranged and melee models?

I recommend picking up The Maze of Malcor, if only for the revised treasure placement and experience rules. They reward exploration and treasure over killing the other guy's models, which helps mitigate the advantages that some of the wizard schools have at the start.

I got myself a deck of Ulterior Motives cards, and those are also great.

The key to Frostgrave is that you need to constantly be changing up the scenarios or it can get a bit stale. All of the supplements help you do this to one degree or another.