"Where to jump into GW?" Topic

I had some nice Warhammer armies in the '90s. Unfortunately gave them away, but since they discontinued the Fantasy game, maybe not.

Thinking of getting into one of the systems – 40K, Sigmar or Middle Earth Strategy Battle Game. I've seen a few Reddit discussions on it.

Hoping to not start a scrum – can I get some thoughts on if you are an existing player and only could get into one, which one?

I was leaning to Middle Earth, it appearing to be a long time favorite of many, but read that it may be having a lapse in future support, and also the figs are a bit smaller than the others.

I'm wanting to stay around 30-50 figs per side, but be able to expand if I like it.

Have you looked at the line of One Page Rules?

onepagerules.com

So much better than GW products. And they have lines of miniatures that are just as nice as GW for a fraction of the price.

Or check out Mantic Games lines of minis.

manticgames.com

Again, just as nice as GW and much more affordable….

(And Kings of War are pretty fun rules too)
Dave

Have you looked at the line of One Page Rules?

onepagerules.com

So much better than GW products. And they have lines of miniatures that are just as nice as GW for a fraction of the price.

Or check out Mantic Games lines of minis.

manticgames.com

Again, just as nice as GW and much more affordable….

Dave

I used to play 40k, still have my armies.
What are you looking for (collecting, painting or playing)?
Is there a local group (so that finding opponents isn't a problem)?
Are you interested in tournaments?

If those last two are "yes", then see what they are playing.
If not, then collect the minis and play something else (in my humble opinion).

Get the game whose miniatures you like the most.

For me, the Middle Earth line is just a fine range, done in a large part by the Perry twins. It is the only GW game I've purchased, outside of Space Hulk, in my 45 years of gaming.

For me, the game is always secondary to the sculpts.

You can start again with The Old World (TOW)

Yes.

Warhammer the old world is (essentially) the new edition of Warhammer fantasy battles.

The base sizes have been slightly increased by 5mm, but it dose seem the best time to do that, as for years figures were getting cold toes and bruses from the next guy's elbow.

GW went through all the past editions to try to make the best one they could.

They are also casting from old moulds where possible. And a few new ones.

3 armies are out with dwarves next.

I suspect this is a replacement for Lord of the Rings.

LOTR has little left to do, outside of making things up. And dwindles on shelves.

It looks great, but I doubt it's selling like it was, and licences aren't cheap.

TOW, on the other hand is licence free and they have a warehouse full of moulds and master's ready to go.

Not to mention a hungry existing fan base.

That basically free money for GW.

Also, if you look at the included armies comparison:

Gondor – Empire
Rohan – Bretonia
Elves – high elves
Wood elves – wood elves
Dwarves – dwarves

Orcs – orcs and goblins
Orcs – beastmen
Orcs/men – warriors of chaos
Army of the dead – Tomb king's

I think hink that's all?

You couldn't select a more LOTR line up.

Let's look at the ones not selected:

Dark elves
Skaven
Deamons
Ogres
Lizardmen

Did I miss any?

Nothing LOTR there.

Hence my point.

I'd pick TOW, as there are guaranteed years of support just in the armies selected, with more possible in the future.

MESBG is probably suffers least from GW antics: codexes, editions, etc. The starter Battle for Osgiliath is newer and a good place to start. There are scenario options, RPG like Warband play and a competitive scene.

Age of Sigmar is releasing 4th edition next Saturday and is the new hotness. It is a unit/squad based fantasy game and a bit easier than 40K. The new edition has Spearhead format: Spearhead box is the army, no options. Warcry is the AoS skirmish version: light fast and fun to play.

Most everything people don't like about GW games are in 40K: codexes, rules changes, highly competitive scene and GWs most popular game (go figure). 40K but all GW games have such market presence there are opponents almost anywhere. Kill Team is the skirmish game in the same universe. Combat patrol format is buy one box and play.

Warcry and Kill Team do not share rules mechanics with their larger but the minis can be brought into their larger cousins. Spearhead and Combat Patrol are the full rules of the larger game and make good starter armies.

So ask yourself: why do you want to play a GW game over say Bolt Action or Mantic's offerings? Also choosing Sci Fi vs Fantasy is decision #1

"MESBG is probably suffers least from GW antics:"

Or worse, as they have been simply making stuff up.

"why do you want to play a GW game over say Bolt Action or Mantic's offerings? Also choosing Sci Fi vs Fantasy is decision #1"

Interesting.

Mantic have armies they can be used in king's of war and firefight.

Rat kin/vermyn
Nightstalkers

Both have units that are compatible in both SciFi and fantasy games.

Probably two good armies to start with. Two armies, two games.

None of gw games have very good rules.
I only used to play Warhammer because it was easy to find players.
Do you have a group/club/friends or are our buying to play strangers?

I remember an old pic in a marvel comics bull pen.

It had a kid popping his head out of a trash can, asking the old lady "got any old marvels you don't want?"

Don't do that.

I can see girls swiping, then there's a pic of a guy with a cheesy grin and a shrink wrapped starter box.

Don't do that.
(Although, heck, try it)

Sitting in your car with the engine running by a freeway with a case of minis in the boot, waiting for the next ambulance to go past, as someone may be bedridden for some time with nothing to do.

Don't do that.

I'd go back to the original Rogue Trader. You'd only need a handful of minis… ;-)

Necromunda, mordheim, Gorka Mirka, and the Mantic equivalents.

I suspect they want a bigger game though?

I have a good group here, but I tend to get two opposing forces no matter what so I am not reliant on someone else having the opposition. Did that before and my buddy moved 500 miles away.

Since they rotate the value and even existence of minor races, I would start with a Space Marine force.

You mean their most recent (?) victims?

It looks like space marines are a minor race to go out of existence.

All I see are primaris everywhere.

Middle earth is more balanced, 40k has more players, but most of them competitve tournament sharks

To answer the topic question:

The door!

And scare the pants off the staffer painting figures.

Make his red eyed stealer cultist look like Bowie.