I really want to get into the tabletop game. I love the novels, and dawn of war series, and for the longest time I've wanted to play the tabletop. I've decided to save up money, but I'm not sure what the best approach is. I was thinking about buying an Imperial Guard battalion, but then I thought about getting Assault on Black Reach. I like the Orks and Space Marines so it would be a win win for me, but I enjoy the Imperial Guard more.

I know the hobby is expensive, so I thought starting small would be help, however I also thought it would be better to just go for the battalion or the starter box (Assault on Black Reach). I'm not really sure, so I was wondering if you guys and gals could help me out and put me in the right direction. Your advice would be super appreciated!

Required: Core Rulebook and your chosen Codex.
Starters: Starter Set(Assault on Black Reach), a battleforce ($100), an 'army' ($200)., primary paints ($60)

If you have the money to kill I'd say get the Starter Set, Orks and Space Marines make learning (winning) easy. You sound like you don't so go straight onto it. To form your first amy (1000 points) go:
-- the Battleforce
-- Cadian Command Squad.
-- Chimera or Leman Russ
-- Any Elite choice unit.

The products may be out dated I haven't played/followed for about 2 years now.

http://www.miniwargaming.com/content/wh ... hammer-40k

would recomend this!

Thanks! Taking a look at it right now. Thanks for the help guys.

One of the things I'd recommend doing is looking for a tabletop/wargaming club in your area, if there is one. Head down there, chat to some of the veterans, watch a few games & get an idea for the hobby as a whole, rather than spending ridiculous amounts of money on Games Workshops heavily overpriced stuff* only to change your army at a later date.

I'd also recommend avoiding ALL Games Workshop/Citadel brushes & paints as the brushes are poor quality and split in moments (record for me was 2 minutes with a completely brand new brush - I haven't touched the fine detail brush I brought the same day) and the paints dry in seconds, as well as the colour range being limited. Use Vallejo paints - cheaper, you get more, it flows nicely on the pallete and model and it dispenses the paint by a dropper method, rather than dunking your brush into a pot of paint. Also purchase sable headed brushes - they 'last forever' and keep their tip well - if you added up how much I'd spend on Games Workshop/Citadel brushes and how much I spent on the four sable headed brushes I purchased over a year ago and...well, just don't go for the Citadel ones is my advice. Especially at the prices they charge.

The only things I'll recommend from the GW/Citadel paint range are the metallic paints and the washes - the Citadel washes/inks are the best I've seen/used and the metallics are rather good. Just a shame the rest of the range isn't worth looking at.

Well we have three stores that sell Warhammer Fantasy and Warhammer 40k. One is a Hobby Town USA, but that store was big into Fantasy, no Skavens though . The second store is just to far away from where I live unfortunately so my last option is this place called SunCoast Comics. I went in there to a while back to see what they had to offer. Their selection right now isn't too great, they just moved, however one of the workers there did say he was big into 40k. So clearly my best bet is to head back there and talk to them about it.

When I get a chance this week I'll definitely check out SunCoast.

You can order anything you want online direct from the US GW probably. But I would try Ebay/Amazon for stuff its way cheaper and (at least in the UK) you can get everything you need at less than the small fortune and mortgage of your soul you would pay to get it from GW. Only advice I would give is stay away from "painted" minis if you buy 2nd hand. Folk say "pro painted" and you get a 5 year olds base coat splurge.

Also the comments above about Sable brushes and GW's brushes is so spot on its not funny. In the distant past GW even produced sable brushes themselves (again for at least the price of a kidney) and they were poop compared to "proper" brush manufacturers ones. On the other hand although the pots are a wastefull design (and also have a habit of drying) I like the GW paints and would always use them first.

Finally the way to get into the game is to get your friends hooked aswell. Your mates like the same things you do in general then there is a chance they will get into 40K as well. Subtley ask around your school/college/workplace whilst your convincing your buds I dare say you will find others that play, its just most people dont talk about it in public...we should have like a secret GW table top wargammer hand shake or something but I digress...

Doh I forgot the most important bit of advice. Cant belive I overlooed it. You will have heard similar before but I really cant understate how important this cliche is. Right you ready?

Winning isnt important its the taking part thats fun.

Now I know it sounds totally lame but the way the scoring works in 40K you can totally blow seven shades of bestial brown out of your oponent and they can still win because they have just over 2/3's of a guardian squad standing on an objective and their downed Fire Prisim just got off a lucky final turn of shooting and routed your infantry platoon standing on your objective...You will encounter in your gameing though people that must always win, or people that will use "cheesy" win win set ups or rules or whatever. Dont get disheartened.

...and another thing. Yeah I know im rambling now, soz... http://www.40konline.com is the best place on the web for table top info and tactics and shiznit.

Finally got a chance to play the game. They had a demonstration set and a veteran helped me out. It was the Black Reach box. It was a little confusing at first but I think I got the hang of it around the second turn. I really enjoyed it.

I'm pretty sure Space Marine veterans would have ripped me a new one though at how badly I deployed.

Now I just need to get a plan together on how I'm going to start (after I get the army book of course). And while I'm doing my best to shop smartly, I'll be heading back to the store to on frequent occasions to observe people playing the game.

As far as tools are considered like clippers and glues and such, I'm covered. Paints are okay but I'll probably want to add more to what I have. I think within two weeks I might be able to scratch up enough funds to buy the army book and a box of cadian shock troopers to start me off.

P.S. Many thanks for all the advice!
P.P.S I wonder what the hugs and kisses equilevent is in 40k? Bolters and chainswords?

You would be surprised. I'm one of those players who turns up for the fun rather than with any expectations of victory. Even when I'm suffering a crushing defeat I still have a great laugh. It just depends on your attitude & approach.
I deploy so, so badly that I have to have someone helping me - and I've been playing for over 15 years now! I just have absolutely no capability to think in advance - I can adapt on the fly to situations but only in the short term, so I'm the perfect player for people starting the hobby to face.