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So, a friend has asked me to introduce her to 40k, but I have no idea where to start... DV seems a good starting point, but what should I focus on? Models, rules, background, a bit of everything?

I find it challenging to explain factions in a simplistic way... 'cause the imperium are not just "the good guys", chaos aren't just "the bad guys".... The fluff seems just too large to condense it without losing out on something...

I find it complicated too to explain why allying chaos, dark eldar, harlequins and necrons doesn't make too much sense...

So if any of you have any bit of advice I would be gratefull!

Also, i'm not 100% sure this is the correct section for this post... If it isn't, mods, my apologies.

Well, introduce the range of models (from the website, or that section in the rulebook of all the factions) and start from there. Whichever race LOOKS Most appealing. The hobby itself is aesthetic, and the armies fluff has always been my favorite part to research.

bring her to the store and have her look at the stuff that looks cool.

Just, for the love of god, don't let her see the price until you've hooked it. Every single time I failed to get someone into the hobby is because they saw the price before the models.

Toss her a book. A good book, not some Heresy thing. Like the Night Lords trilogy or Ciaphas Cain or a Battle Novel you personally enjoyed. Seeing the models is good and all, but without that foundation of 'this is a world I want to be a part of', there's nothing driving that urge other than 'oh pretty'.

In terms of allying stuff together, that's easier when you have a cohesive idea of the armies behind it. There is a decent section of the rulebook that gives an overview of the various races so you shouldn't have to work too hard at explaining why certain things are what they are. And don't forget, everything in 40k is racist. They don't work together because they're racists and that's an easy enough explaination for it. Humans hate elves that hate Tau that hate robot skeletons that hate all life, and so on.

Also get a game in too before asking her to commit money. That also helps.

Is she a gamer or a hobbyist? Did she become interested in the game for the tactical gameplay or did she just like the idea of painting up a bunch of toy soldiers? That's going to be important going forward. However, here's how I would approach a friend who wants to play:

1. Go to the store and have them buy a box of Space Marines. Or, if you have a bunch of stuff, donate a squad.
2. Tell her you'll get together with her either at your place or the gaming store where she can use your tools and you can help her put stuff together. As you work together, talk about the game world and the rules a little.
3. Once the guys are put together, have a couple small games to go over the basics.

For people who lean more towards the gaming side, they may want to start thinking about what they can add to their force to get a starter army of 500 points. For hobbyists, now would be the time to think about buying some primer and thinking about paint schemes. If she seems to be really getting into it, be generous with your time. If she seems to be lukewarm to the whole deal, don't push it.

Lastly, help her to understand that this will be an investment. Donate what you can to the cause, but the hobby takes time and money and there's no way around these simple facts!

Show her the GW web site. Then show her the Bundle deals. If she doesn't balk with this, then see what she is interested in. If it's marines, then introduce her to Dark Vegence or see if you can find a copy of the Battle of Macragge starter rules.

If you have the 3 book rule book set, show her the fluff and painting book. That gives her a quick overview of the background and a ton of pictures of cool models.

Thanks everyone for the input!! Pretty helpfull advice!

We've already been to the shop, and she's already built a handfull of guardsmen i had lying around and a termie chaos lord...

I think the next step will be to get DV... She loves the chaos models, and that gives her a small army to start with That way she gets the rulebook and chaos army, and I can either get some DA allies or re-sell them! Getting a game at the shop seems a pretty good idea too.

She is interested in the gaming and modelling aspects of the game, a little less with the painting bit, but I could give a hand with that if necessary. She has seen me build an AM army, sho she knows it requires some time investment and some moneys, but she isn't discouraged by it... Hell, maybe you'll see her soon around in Dakka

The start collecting bundles are a pretty sweet way of starting an army. Sadly, they don't have one for chaos space marines. However, they've got one for Khorne & Nurgle daemons. If she is interested in either of those, that'd be a good way to start imho.

Dark vengeance is a bargain from a price perspective, but the chaos side is definitely not compromised of what are considered good units gamewise. I rarely use anything from it apart from the cultists because I need mandatory troop choices.

yea unless you want to use them as allies for demons, play KDK or rely heavily on forge world there is no getting around that CSM is in sorry shape.