20 September 2008

What got you started?

In lieu of my not getting much progress done Chapter-wise due to having to study human anatomy hardcore most of the week, I think it's story time. The story: how I got involved in Warhammer 40,000.

A few years ago my two younger cousins were really big into fantasy movies and books, and both of them are artistically inclined. As it turns out, they decided to get into fantasy miniature painting because of the influence of a family friend. They kept at it, and kept at it, and got very good. Being the thoughtful cousin that I am (well, that's my excuse for looking into something cool,) I decided to try to understand their hobby better. So they showed me some of the models they were working on, and had a spare elf sitting around that they let me paint. I was hooked. I started buying models, paints, brushes, and hobby tools. At the time, I knew that there were these cool looking models from a mysterious game called Warhammer 40,000. I didn't know anything about it, other than it would probably take a lot of discretionary income (that I didn't really have) to break into. So I just shrugged and kept going, only painting models infrequently.

One year ago I was surfing the web, and I found out about a little game called Dawn of War. It was lauded for its uniqueness in the RTS world and it's sci-fi theme. I decided that I needed to learn more about it. Much more. So I jumped into the Warhammer 40k fluff head first, and was hooked. I bought the game, and played for hours on end. I decided that for Christmas, I was going to buy a squad of Space Marines, paint them, and give them as gifts to my friends. So I did, and I thought that would be the end of my experience with 40k. As a surprise move, though, I ended up receiving the Battle for Macragge box set for Christmas that year. That was all I needed: I had more minis, terrain, and the rulebook. I was instantly hooked by the mechanics, and so were my cousins that I dragged into it with me. :)

As it stands now I have not only brought my cousins in who live in a different city, but also two of my best friends, with some more looking closely at it.

So, let me know what your story is! How did you get into this hobby, and who have you brought into it?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I spotted some fellow students looking a White Dwarf magazine at school back in 1989. I was already a modeler and a painter and the figures looked so cool. I still have a soft spot for some of those older miniatures.

Space Hulk Enthusiast said...

A friend back in what was the Rogue Trader days... I remember him painting what I now know were Eldar Fire Dragons. He taught me how to play Warhammer 40,000. It wasn't even called 40k then.

It was a quick jump into Space Hulk from there and then a downhill slide from then on.

Yep, I tried to get out once and ended up with a new Black Templar army and now a Lustwing.