Expensive?

From on old post on the Neutral Grounds forum

Expensive? All hobbies are expensive. Yun nga lang, with miniature wargaming, the initial cash output is greater than other hobbies.

With any of the booster games like Clix or CCGs, you have to keep buying to keep your card library up-to-date. With miniatures, the only expense you'll encounter after finishing your army would be --- ideally nothing. That is, unless you want to expand your current army and/or start a new army. What you buy today will still be usable years later. I've been at the hobby for a good six years running. Yes, rules sometimes change, but very rarely (If you play CCGs, this is something you're used to). None of the models become Type 1 or Type 2. Some models get resculpts but it'll fall unto you if you buy that or not, BUT it will have no effect on the game. If you bought a Space Marine Rhino in 1999, you can still use that model in your games now.

If you're interested in getting into mini-wargaming, you have to be serious about the decision. Starting in the hobby and then quitting midway will end you with some pretty expensive paperweight or airgun targets. And unless you paint and/or convert reeeally well, you WILL have a hard time selling your existing used models (unless of course you find a noob who'll buy them off you).

Here are some FACTS that you will face in this hobby:

- YOU WILL PAINT - whether you're a masterclass painter or a grade school kid, you'll have to get your models painted somehow. Some will have their models painted by someone for a fee. Some will stick it out and paint on their own. I did the latter. I painted badly when I started. So bad that they're all Prestoned now and waiting for a spanking new paintjob. Now, I can say that my stuff is above average. You get that from constant practice. Don't be discouraged if your first paintjob ends up like some schoolboy art project. Most of the good ones start that way.

Playing in Warhammer tourneys, you get judged not only by how you win but also by how your army is painted. If you had that army painted by someone else, you won't get top prize. Well, for me, part of the allure of this hobby is customizing your own models anyway.

If you're not too keen about this (moreso if you're just into the "gaming" aspect), put some consideration into this before you spend your hard-earned money.

- YOU WILL BUY TOOLS - yes, tools. Tools like side cutters, exacto knives, pin vises, a toolbox even. Then again, if you have your army painted by someone else, you'll skip this part. BUT if you put it onto yourself to paint your own stuff and improve your craft, don't scrimp on this aspect. Talent enough will also require good tools to produce a good result. I'll be posting more on this on the website I'm planning.

- YOU WILL CARRY MANY MODELS AROUND - this is a difficult issue if you're a commuter, but I myself have gotten used to this already. Be sure to warn your friendly Manong Guard not to poke the models with his goddamn stick though LOL!

- YOU WILL NEED A TABLE WITH TERRAIN - most of the big Neutral Grounds branches have tables and terrain ready for you to play on. That, or you can build your own gaming table. That's another topic altogether.

- YOU WILL READ THROUGH A LOT OF STUFF - rulebooks, codices/army books, magazines, the Internet -- this hobby has a bit of technicality infused into it, so unless you read up, you might get surprised by some sly move.

"Can you do that?"

"Yeah, I can. The rules for this was released on the GW website last month. Here's the printout."

- YOU WILL NEED AN OPPONENT WHO'LL MATCH YOUR POINTAGE - let's face it, only a blessed few can buy a whole force in one trip to NG. For the rest of us, we start small force battles. Experienced players can downgrade the pointage of their forces to match yours so don't worry. The issue here is that you come around lugging your big bag of nicely-painted models then no one shows up. Sched your matches properly. Also call up the shop to see if there's no big tourney going. WH games need big tables, and not all the tables (or space for that matter) become available when big tourneys of other games are ongoing.

- YOU WILL LOSE - this is primarily a gentleman's game (despite the loud cussing by some of the veterans). Some people play to win, some play for fun. Some play with their heart, some play with numbers in their head. But whatever type you fall into, there are days when dice just roll bad. Just be sure when you lose, lose graciously. No one wants to play with a whiny bastard just because he lost. The WH community isn't a big one - and how you handle yourself with your games will be known by your opponents.

- YOU WILL BE TEMPTED - if you got cash to spend, go spoil yourself and buy stuff. If not, then just save up. The hobby won't go away. How far you'll go in the hobby will depend on your decisions. What everyone else says are just guidelines.