I'm currently a player, so i'll throw in my $.02.

The startup cost is insane. Around 300-500 (depending on the army you want to play), just to have a small army, rules, paints, hobby materials, dice, templates, etc. Then there's the time sink, which could be just clipping models and putting them together, leaving them as grey plastic, or taking the hours, days, months, and sometimes (if you're like me) years to paint. After that, there are the rules which, once you get the hang of them are like second nature, but can take some getting used to (there are TONS of 'learn to play' vids out there, I suggest miniwargaming.com)

The reward you get out of all this is an army that is yours. As an example, no one uses my paint job that I know of, no one used the same background for their army as I did for mine, no one has exactly the same army list as I do...etc. There is so much customization potential, you just need to put the time, money, and effort into it.

Another thing to consider is, are there enough players in your area? What kind of community are they; power gamers, relaxed, creative? I have about 2 people I get to play on a regular basis who are great people, but it's getting stale with the small number of players, which is why I'm branching into X-Wing and starting to look at Warmachine.

Has he played 40k? If not, see if there are gamers around willing to let him use an army and try it. Do the same with Warmachine, Infinity, Mercs, Dust, etc. There are a lot of wargames out there, and most are cheaper than 40k. (FLGS will sometimes run demos on these games too if there's interest)

If he really likes the lore, look and feel of 40k, then so be it. Start small, and gradually work up the army (which no one does, believe me). Try Kill Teams, which is a small skirmish version of 40k. (free non-GW rules: http://heralds-of-ruin.blogspot.com/p/kill-team-rules.html)

Those are some ideas to think about. I could honestly write you a book if you'd like with opinions and the like. Good luck!

@s.hackleman said in Warhammer 40k:

@coliver said in Warhammer 40k:

@s.hackleman said in Warhammer 40k:

Why is everyone making a big deal about cost. $300-500 startup with $50-80 on going for a hobby isn't bad at all. That is almost exactly the same as a PS4, and way cheeper than PC gaming.

If you don't need to buy every new game immediately PC gaming is far, far cheaper.

It isn't $300-500 to start with $50-80 ongoing. It is $300-500 to start with $100-150 every time you want to add a unit to your army. You need a specific sized army to be competitive. The costs of the books and the new releases adds up too.

Ahh, competitive, that is the difference. I thought we were talking about building a small army and playing some small games at the hobby shop. I used to play MTG with a group of friends all though high school, but it slowly ended up being a battle of the pocket book, and less about casual gaming so I eventually just quit.

Battle of the pocket book, one of the biggest reasons I stopped playing Magic. Back in my day, without that darn interwebs telling us the price of them cardboard cards, we used to just hand cards we weren't using to friends. Now these darn kids crack out TI-83s to make sure their trades aren't losing them cash.

The initial startup is about the same as a console startup, you're right. But the thing that draws most people away from wargaming is the added time cost. When you buy a console, you plug it in and start playing. Instant gratification (hello Magic players!). When you buy wargames, you spend hours building and painting. That's some people's thing (I love building, could do without painting), but not everyone's.

Also, a friend of mine has about 3-4 fully painted armies, and is starting a new one this year. I have about half of the force I'd like to have in one army in order to play him on a point level that we'd both be happy with, so I feel pressured to buy buy buy. If you and your mates are all starting small together, this isn't as big an issue however.

There are other wargames out there that cost far less money and time (looking at you X-Wing and Warmachine/Hordes). Again, whatever your preference is, play that.

@wirestyle22 I wish our group had the numbers to run a deathwatch campaign, although we are looking at a co-op X-Wing campaign. Hopefully someone will get the ball rolling...

Fantasy was my first baby, and it killed me when they killed it with AoS. I'm loving everything I see about Total War Warhammer.

@wirestyle22 said in Warhammer 40k:

@Mr.-Cthulhu said in Warhammer 40k:

@wirestyle22 I wish our group had the numbers to run a deathwatch campaign, although we are looking at a co-op X-Wing campaign. Hopefully someone will get the ball rolling...

Fantasy was my first baby, and it killed me when they killed it with AoS. I'm loving everything I see about Total War Warhammer.

I saw X-Wing at PAX. It seemed pretty cool. @coliver was there as well maybe he will chime in. I found this really awesome indie game called Pixel Glory that I bought. I think it's a great game for people that don't want to play a really complicated long game but still want to have fun.

This was my first year at PAX! I saw Pixel Glory, didn't try it. Sounds like I should've.

@wirestyle22 said in Warhammer 40k:

@Mr.-Cthulhu said in Warhammer 40k:

@wirestyle22 I wish our group had the numbers to run a deathwatch campaign, although we are looking at a co-op X-Wing campaign. Hopefully someone will get the ball rolling...

Fantasy was my first baby, and it killed me when they killed it with AoS. I'm loving everything I see about Total War Warhammer.

I saw X-Wing at PAX. It seemed pretty cool. @coliver was there as well maybe he will chime in. I found this really awesome indie game called Pixel Glory that I bought. I think it's a great game for people that don't want to play a really complicated long game but still want to have fun.

This was my first year at PAX! I saw Pixel Glory, didn't try it. Sounds like I should've.

@wirestyle22 What I would give for 3 people incl myself...

@wirestyle22 I wish our group had the numbers to run a deathwatch campaign, although we are looking at a co-op X-Wing campaign. Hopefully someone will get the ball rolling...

Fantasy was my first baby, and it killed me when they killed it with AoS. I'm loving everything I see about Total War Warhammer.

@s.hackleman said in Warhammer 40k:

@coliver said in Warhammer 40k:

@s.hackleman said in Warhammer 40k:

Why is everyone making a big deal about cost. $300-500 startup with $50-80 on going for a hobby isn't bad at all. That is almost exactly the same as a PS4, and way cheeper than PC gaming.

If you don't need to buy every new game immediately PC gaming is far, far cheaper.

It isn't $300-500 to start with $50-80 ongoing. It is $300-500 to start with $100-150 every time you want to add a unit to your army. You need a specific sized army to be competitive. The costs of the books and the new releases adds up too.

Ahh, competitive, that is the difference. I thought we were talking about building a small army and playing some small games at the hobby shop. I used to play MTG with a group of friends all though high school, but it slowly ended up being a battle of the pocket book, and less about casual gaming so I eventually just quit.

Battle of the pocket book, one of the biggest reasons I stopped playing Magic. Back in my day, without that darn interwebs telling us the price of them cardboard cards, we used to just hand cards we weren't using to friends. Now these darn kids crack out TI-83s to make sure their trades aren't losing them cash.

The initial startup is about the same as a console startup, you're right. But the thing that draws most people away from wargaming is the added time cost. When you buy a console, you plug it in and start playing. Instant gratification (hello Magic players!). When you buy wargames, you spend hours building and painting. That's some people's thing (I love building, could do without painting), but not everyone's.

Also, a friend of mine has about 3-4 fully painted armies, and is starting a new one this year. I have about half of the force I'd like to have in one army in order to play him on a point level that we'd both be happy with, so I feel pressured to buy buy buy. If you and your mates are all starting small together, this isn't as big an issue however.

There are other wargames out there that cost far less money and time (looking at you X-Wing and Warmachine/Hordes). Again, whatever your preference is, play that.

@Carnival-Boy I've been trying to get other friends into 40k for a while, but it's hard to sell, to the point where I've given up completely. I still play, but the incentive to continue is dwindling, what with other games that fit my wallet and schedule better.

One thing that I love(d) from Warhammer (fantasy and 40k) was terrain. I loved making terrain, building tables, coming up with layouts for games, it was great. Nice thing about that part of the game was it was relatively cheap, still time consuming, but cheap.

@Dashrender is right too, about 2000 a year is a solid number. Then the time to build and paint, etc. The 2 hour gaming session doesn't bother me as much, as it is 2-4 hours I am hanging out with friends, but since we're all getting older and gaining responsibilities (kids, wives, etc), the 30min-1.5hr sessions of X-Wing and Warmachine are becoming more appealing.

Like I said before, have him try a bunch of different games, and different armies. He might find out that 40k is too complicated and too time consuming, or he might absolutely love it and your wallet will weep unholy tears once his birthday and holidays come up, you never know.

I'm currently a player, so i'll throw in my $.02.

The startup cost is insane. Around 300-500 (depending on the army you want to play), just to have a small army, rules, paints, hobby materials, dice, templates, etc. Then there's the time sink, which could be just clipping models and putting them together, leaving them as grey plastic, or taking the hours, days, months, and sometimes (if you're like me) years to paint. After that, there are the rules which, once you get the hang of them are like second nature, but can take some getting used to (there are TONS of 'learn to play' vids out there, I suggest miniwargaming.com)

The reward you get out of all this is an army that is yours. As an example, no one uses my paint job that I know of, no one used the same background for their army as I did for mine, no one has exactly the same army list as I do...etc. There is so much customization potential, you just need to put the time, money, and effort into it.

Another thing to consider is, are there enough players in your area? What kind of community are they; power gamers, relaxed, creative? I have about 2 people I get to play on a regular basis who are great people, but it's getting stale with the small number of players, which is why I'm branching into X-Wing and starting to look at Warmachine.

Has he played 40k? If not, see if there are gamers around willing to let him use an army and try it. Do the same with Warmachine, Infinity, Mercs, Dust, etc. There are a lot of wargames out there, and most are cheaper than 40k. (FLGS will sometimes run demos on these games too if there's interest)

If he really likes the lore, look and feel of 40k, then so be it. Start small, and gradually work up the army (which no one does, believe me). Try Kill Teams, which is a small skirmish version of 40k. (free non-GW rules: http://heralds-of-ruin.blogspot.com/p/kill-team-rules.html)

Those are some ideas to think about. I could honestly write you a book if you'd like with opinions and the like. Good luck!