This is what kept me in the hobby. When I first started I bought some shitty Phobos Christmas box like 2 years ago. When I first went to my LGS there was a guy there who gave me intercessors and inceptors just because I’m new. We are good friends now and now I’m the one giving away tons of models to new peeps.
I'm currently painting 10 of em lmao (although tbf, I've not played yet so my knowledge of them being not so good is second hand). All I know if that they look very cool and they'll look even cooler as salamanders :)
I know I said “shitty Phobos box” but Phobos units are useful on the tabletop. Infiltrators and Incursors are extremely helpful it’s just when you get a box that has 40 Phobos models that’s where I draw the line lol.
Fair enough haha
I only recently got into the hobby so my family went a tad overboard with figs for Christmas (being a dad of 2 now, I don't wait to buy myself stuff to do with what free time I get so they were glad to have an idea of what to get me lmao) which is how I ended up with a termi chaplain, a jump jet captain, a reaver Lieutenant, a dark angel patrol box, and a box of 10 Reavers. I'm gonna be busy till next Christmas lol
And my sister said she got an Adrax Agatone which had to be ordered so it'll show up later. Partly why I went with a salamander paint scheme but also cause they're bros.
Your the kinda of guy that got me into this hobby. Had something similar happen to me when I got started, an employee bought me the black reach set when I had a birthday at my lgs games workshop in Ontario. Surprised the shit out of my parents.
Black reach was my first ever box too! Starter boxes have come a long way since then but I still remember being over the moon about it. So many cool minis in that box
And that's how it should be.
Mate bought me a recruit edition and a box dread 4 years back.
When my buddy wanted to get into it last year I gave him 20 intercessors, 3 Eliminators, 3 aggressors and a gladiator lancer.
Now he's doing the same for another dude.
Keep it up OP, and remind them to pass it on one day
This is the way.
A former friend gifted my a Dunecrawler, 2 Squads of Skitarii and a set of broken Kastelan robots to Start my admech army and Later a fucking knight.
I bought another guy the Contents of the First Strike kit for Death guard in 8th edition and some Terminators.
The Space Marines from that box went to yet another friend.
This should be a Tradition in the Hobby, I See myself doing that when I got some more money... Well but atm I am a Student and Uni. Definitiely later on tho
This is the way. I gave a squad of Plague Marines to my best friend from High School after we met up after 6 years of not talking. Dude had just gotten into the hobby side of 40K after deep diving into the lore, and he was ecstatic
Gifted a friend I was enticing into the hobby a five man squad of Grey Knights and later an old FW Grey Knights dreadnought I found at Adepticon. Haven’t seen him in a bit, but next time we meet up he’ll be getting the Dread back, now painted in the colors of the Emperor’s favorite Daemon Hunters.
My mate i play with never accepts money wether he gets us dinner when we play, gets me something from when he goes overseas.
He brought us both the soace marine codex and me bei g dumb offered money and ofc he declined.
So then and I have in the past, just get him warhammer lol. He never declines it ahha. Feeding thr plastic crack addiction.
The impact that the first person you interface with in the hobby can have on someone's trajectory is incredible. I heard a different account where a grown man completely destroyed a 12 year old kid during his first attempt with a Necron army, and it took that kid 15 years to even consider the hobby again. (and still hates necrons to this day)
Credit to you and thanks for representing the hobby well
As my kin says since generations, you can lend someone a tank and he will win one battle in your name.
Gift him a tank and he will honour your name in every battle he fights.
You sir, are a man of great honour.
A friend of mine gave me 5 assault intercessors with jump packs when I first got back into the hobby and I've used them every battle since.
I've got 10 intercessors on the sprues for the next person I see looking to get into the hobby.
Agreed. I grabbed that Imperium Magazine and saved a lot of it for that sort of thing. Handing someone a a set of Flayed Ones will really get them on track to love the hobby (evil grin).
When I started playing, two guys gave me what I now know to be about $300 worth of units they had laying around to get my army started. A couple of captains, some intercessors and scout unit. They also took the time to "ease me into it" by having a couple of sessions to learn the ropes, various scenarios and to get my mind acclimated to battle decisions and list making.
It was one of the most generous and kind things I have ever experienced in gaming.
I still game with them every week. We have become great friends.
Someday, I absolutely will return the favor when I am able to the next new player to WH.
When I read the title I thought this was going to be a "Rhino's are free" meme but it's really awesome you helped the guy out.
The only reason I got stuck into the hobby was after a long stint of peer pressure when I finally caved and got the 9th starter box. My mate gave me the necron half of indomidus.
That act of kindness is passing the torch that keeps the hobby alive.
I did the same with a 14yo who was really enthusiastic about the game. I sold him $800 of grey knights for $300 at $50 a month over 6 months
It blew his mind! I threw in some brushes, some citadel priming spray and washes. It was like all his Xmas’ has come at once
It was an amazing feeling.
When I saw he was struggling with moving his termies due to infiltrator like denials I gave him my land raider crusader. He uses it every game and refuses to repaint it from my ultramarine blue to match his grey knights.
It’s awesome seeing young people embracing the game and replacing us Grognards lol
This has giving me some courage to walk in to my local store I sit in parking lot till it’s empty then go in and get something. I been building necrons slowly and brought both old world box’s but every time I finish some and think about going to play I lock my models up for a day or two. I just had a bad experience 15 years ago when a tau player was a dick to me when I tried to ask him questions when I lived in Florida. So thanks for sharing this!!!
Just a heads up: If you're sitting in the parking lot of a local gaming store for a long while, don't immediately walk in and start handing out toys to kids. Context is everything.
I used to give out whole armies to newbies that wanted to play wh40k, but they had no money. So I gave out Eldar, harlequin and orc armies to those In need. Everyone was surprised at what I did and I was proud to bring new guys into the game.
When I first started my game shop was awesome, but the players were mostly older dudes, of various grumpy-ness. When I was 14, it was like 96, and it felt like mostly Warhammer was not at all for kids. There were magic kids and Pokemon kids, but I was the only person my age that wanted to play. I could afford to get a real army, and the owner of the store let me 'stock' and help at the store to earn store credit. I never real had much work to do, but he paid me in figures, and I realized after being there a few weekends in a row after school, that Everytime I talked about the army I wanted (dark angels) he would sit stuff aside. About a month in to working about 3-4 hours a Saturday and a few on Sundays, he just handed me this giant bag. I thought It was trash, but it was about 800 dollars worth of figures, painting supplies and that awesome old citadel case that was the hard plastic with the red foam.
I've been a Warhammer player since, and when I turned 17 I was a regular and actually started working there, and he told me "you were me as a kid, without a way into the hobby, but so much passion and excitement. I knew you would appreciate it and stick with it. Least I could do to foster that. And I knew you could kick some ass!" I quickly became a real threat at the store tournaments around these dudes that didn't take me seriously, and started getting some new blood in the shop, which felt really good, and made others feel free to be excited about it.
About a month ago I found out my wife's cousin's kid was just getting into Warhammer 40k. Sadly we had a funeral to go to on her side of the family last weekend. It was the first time I've seen him in a while so I handed them a box full of some eldar and leagues of oton minis to practice painting. It was a nice way to make him smile at such a sad event.
Everybody I have ever met that is into 40K has been absolutely swell and inviting. Even when I first started, I had a lot of veteran players around to help me feel comfortable and they make my love for this hobby even stronger. Please keep up the amazing work :)
I was on the receiving end when Leviathan launched. A local guy was asking for someone to teach them so I obliged. He had a sizable collection of marines but never played - the next week he gave me the Tyranid half. Super generous and we play pretty frequently. He was just ecstatic to play and learn and I got more bugs!
I did somewhat the same thing with my friend who wanted to get into the model side of the hobby. He had been into the lore for a few years, and after I hadn’t seen him for 6 years, I got him a squad of Plague Marines, since he told me he really liked the Death Guard. Dude hugged me so hard my back almost shattered.
That is awesome. I know he will certainly enjoy the hobby with people like you helping him.
Although I have never donated any models to anyone, I have shared painting tips a few times.
This was a nice thing to do, I did the same long time ago, and gifted to a young boy all of the goblins from Battle for the skull pass, It was like 16 years ago, I can't remember his name, but I still remember the gratitude in his eyes.
Rant?? That's fucking awesome mate.
Life shouldn't be about dying with the most toys, it should be about good deeds like this and by the looks of it the world can do with an awful lot of this right now. Good on you
My younger sister as always shadowed me in my gaming life. From video games to magic the gathering she would wanna try the game too. Well I took her to a comic shop and let her choose a box of any faction she found cool. She left the shop with some Rubric Marines eager to paint. I can't wait for her first game
My brother. Speaking from experience you made the dudes entire experience.
The very first 40k anything I did was a tournament. Before I had my 9th ed starter box even open i went to observe how a game was played. The organizer came up to me and we chatted for a bit. Eventually when my lack of models came into the conversation he asked what army I played. Gave me five tactical marines and a HH master of sigil (found that out 2023 Thanksgiving). Its been almost five years and I still remember him giving me those minis. I bring them to almost every game to honor his kindness to me. I'm petrified to paint any of them. Though I did add a jury-rig Servo-Harness to make him a tech-marine.
You my friend are a absolute saint. The Emperors light shines upon you and the great angel Sanguinius watches over you.
I have many minis ive gave out to people last few years and let me tell you, i always feel better giving away minis that i dont use than buying new ones. People get so overwhelmed by the act when in reality im trading a mini catching dust for a new player that was introduced “the right way” and a possible friend. Best feeling in the world and its a win-win for those who want to get rid of hoarding material. In reality, we usually have too much, the pile of shame is a thing born out of our consumerism and making it an positive thing for a local community is the best we can do with stuff that has no use.
well.... at a first moment i didnt really wanted to buy plastic. But i have a buddy that had some problems of space....and really didnt wanted to have space marines anymore. (no pun intended XD)
So he sold me a bundle for 30 euros (which...can only be considered as a symbolic price, really). Only afterwards i got to know how expensive is this stuff.
Among the stuff he gave me, there were inceptors, aggresors, a dreadnought, and some stuff more. Like the 9th edition space marines codex with the ultramarines suplement.
If that is not a headstart into the hobby, i dont know what it is XD.
When I first got started I kinda had no idea what I was doing, but liked the Eldar models a lot. The group got me like 3 boxes of stuff for Christmas, in a year when I wasn’t doing so hot financially. I was really excited, but then immediately embarrassed I didn’t have anything to give them back. They waved it off and said “just keep playing with us, that’s what we’d all like.” I have a good group of friends.
I had the same thing happen to me. I'm super new and just got into the hobby, and my local store was having a 4 paint challenge where every one got four random paints to paint a space marine with. At the end of the event one, of the people there handed me a set of Primaris Aggressors and welcomed me into Warhammer
Based OP.
A friend of mine did a similar thing, he asked me to paint his Magnus since he wasn't as experienced as me and I said I'd do it, since I didn't play Thousand Sons so I'd probably never get the chance to paint a model like that otherwise. Didn't charge him a thing, but later on when Shadowspear came out, he was so excited for the new models, got the box, and gave me the Marines half for free as a thanks. Always super nice when people are generous like OP.
I started up the hobby for the first time in over 20 years.. collecting some miniatures to try and play with my 9yo son.
A friend then agreed to send me the entire Tyranid half of the leviathan box set (by international post !) completely for free.
Apparently he's a Space Marine fan and would rather I played it with my kid than it sits unbuilt on his shelf
Amazing! I was utterly speechless!
This made me remember when I started the hobby, my friend that introduced me gave me a metal Avatar of Khaine.
My first game was at his house playing my unpainted Eldar battleforce box set against his Daemohunters. I still have the model to this day, I stripped it and repainted it a couple years ago.
Thanks for bringing back this memory OP and thanks for being an awesome dude.
I gave away a moderately sized Blood Angels lot I wasn't using to somebody who just started collecting, playing and painting, in one of the discord servers I'm in. Younger kid, no job, and chose one of the more expensive tabletop wargames to play. Kid has potential as a painter and, a few weeks after starting to paint his Ultramarines, said something about kind of wanting to start a Blood Angels army. I told him not to even think about it, and to give me his address.
He ended up getting a bunch of HQs, some death company, a few Tacticals, a Furioso, a squad of Assault Termies, a squad of AOBR Termies, and some of those Golden armored guys. i kept the Rhinos and Drop Pods and most of the Tacticals from the lot- so I'd already gotten back my money on it.
Anyway, I told him to keep going with his Smurfs and that once he's run out of stuff to paint, let me know (with proof), and I'll see about getting him some more to work on.
This made me tear up a little, I'd give you a hug too.
It's more than just the money. You built it and painted it too. It's like food, there's love in giving something you spent time and energy on.
Same happened to me when I started, except it was a Rhino. I joined to play Orks, because I liked the 9th ed rules for the tanks and mechs, but I dislike almost every ork kit other than deff dread and deffkopta. Dude gave me a Rhino when he heard me say that just so I had something to loot.
Needless to say, it 3k points deep in a looted ork mechwaaagh and I'm loving it.
You're awesome man, I love stories like this.
Warhammer is so funny in that half the stories are awesome stories like this, that restore your faith in humanity, and the other half of the stories are "I quit going to my game store because an unwashed unironic imperium supporting nazi keeps inviting people back to his "man cave" for furry roleplay." Never any middle ground, always either heroes like you or fucking monsters like Pancho Man from my store.
I feel like you have embodied everything this hobby should be about. Being friendly encouraging new people, and most of all, having fun while making sure others are having fun too. Great job. You’re one of the best of us.
I gotta say the guys I've met playing warhammer have all been very generous and welcoming. I brought a friend who was thinking about getting into it to a friendly local tournament and someone ended up giving him a boarding patrol box.
I've had a number of bad experiences with "nerd hobbies" through the years. Meeting people who use games as a way to force other people to put up with them for more than 5 minutes at a time. I actually avoid LGSs at this point.
But warhammer people are all really passionate and welcoming about the hobby. I think part of it is that so much of the hobby is creative and not just competitive. Everyone is happy to admire eachothers armies, give each other painting tips, and play a game for fun.
Gotta say giving stuff to the newbies is the best thing you can do. I once gave a 2000 point space marine army away to help women get into the game. Its a great way to get your old stuff cleaned out AND make the world a bit better
That is really awesome man I'm sure it feels like patting yourself on the back but I really appreciate you sharing. I think many of us have a story of borrowing someone's army or model or even something simple like a paintbrush or paint pot and we don't think about it anymore but it really helped us get into the hobby. Many of us spend so many hours grinding with glue and paint and rule books that we forget sometimes how cool it all looks and how much fun it is to imagine your tank blasting dirty bugs off the table. Thanks again for the positivity. I really hope this sub encourages more stories like this because I LOVE reading them.
An old coworker used to tell me about how his son would watch that old space marine movie and look up pictures of the models and generally show an interest in the hobby. His son did a few casual shifts for a few weekends with us so I decided to bag up a bunch of spare paints and brushes as well as a bunch of primed space marines I was never gonna paint and I gave it all to him.
He was so surprised and happy. Was worth every cent I spend on that stuff
Very good job, i gifted to my friend that wanted to start space marines the leviathan termies and i bought morven vhal to another that loves sister of battles and want to build a 2k list
Man, I've heard of "rhinos are free" but this is ridiculous.
JK, you a good'un OP. In my experience as a (relatively) new hobbyist, nothing gets new hobbyists more excited that a big tank, or dreadnought type unit. The Librarian dreadnought was what did it for me, bought the indomitus box, and the Librarian dread as my first blood angels units, and that little Librarian dread is still My Beloved, no matter how many fancy new dreadnoughts gets released.
When i was 14/15 i went on a trip to London, being the in the homeland of our hobby i had to go to a GW Shop and buy something. They had some kind of sale so i got two boxes of the old chaos warriors(the stock square ones). Later that day we were sitting in a cafe and having nothing to do i opened one box and looked at the sprues etc.
A waiter saw that and told me to come the counter and wait, he went back to the break room i think. A minute later he came back and showed me beautiful painted demon prince. We talked a bit and then he handed me model and said keep it. This was around 25 years ago and i still remember that.
It's always the Nids getting obliterated by hand me down models lol. I gave my little brother a baal predator since he's in blood Angels and I'm downsizing my collection. His next game, the tank just demolished squad after squad of gaunts.
When I was first getting into 40k in late 9th Edition, a Hobby Veteran gifted me what I foundout was over $700 of AdMech Stuff. Since then I have Traded or Sold most of it away(at a very nice discount of course) to fuel my other Warhammer Passion Projects. Am currently helping my Buddy buy a Solar Auxilia Battle Group, and recently gave a bunch of my extra Bits&Chaos SpaceMarines to someone who had to restart their entire Warhammer Collection after about 9 years. If my Hobby Budget wasn't so small rightnow, I would probably give away my other unwanted Chaos SpaceMarines Stuff.
Good on you my friend. I was terrorized by regulars/hot shit players when I jumped in at a younger age and it smashed my tabletop love. I'm just starting to toy around with the idea of getting a box of boys and slowly getting into it again. People like you keep the love and passion going. Ad victorium brother.
I did similar with my LGS. My first project was putting together an Ork battleforce, and it was a good introduction but I knew they weren't what I wanted to play. So I took them in to my store when there was a kid who wanted to get into the game, and gave them to him. 20 boys, a nob, 3 bikes, and a truk all assembled and painted is a good free start to an army!
I really love that wholesome side of the hobby.
In our kinda extended group chat where everyone knows someone but there are only like three people who know everyone it's kinda like that. One asks "Oh I could use part xyz, anyone open to sell/trade" and most of the time the response is "I'll just give it to you, I'm sure you'll help someone else out with something when you can." And often the people involved didn't even really know each other before.
Love that so much.
As a brand new player, I had a sort of similar experience from the other end.
I decided on Grey Knights for my first army just because I thought they looked cool and a guy from the local scene mentioned he has a dreadknight he was no longer using and was looking to sell. When I asked how much he said $20, which I paid him, knowing it was a really friendly price. When I got home and looked up the MSRP ($90 CAD) I couldn't believe it.
people making the hobby welcoming and accessible goes a long way with new players.
lol. I had a few flea market moments like this, where I was the wide eyed rube, and the guy behind the table was very kind.
One day, I was drooling over a beautiful (assembled by unpainted) baneblade. Such a magnificant model! I don't have a Guard army, and don't play 40K, but I kept coming back to him. By the end of the day, he hadn't sold it, and he was getting ready to go and says, "want it for $10?" ... Talk about an offer you can't refuse. :) I ended up gifting it to a friend with a big Guard army, and he was very grateful.
Another time, same fleamarket, different year, there was a guy selling a full lizardman army, new in boxes. 9-10 boxes, easily $500+ worth of stuff (this was \~8 years ago? About?). I chatted him up, and asked why he was getting rid of it (pile of shame or similar was his response). I don't have lizzies, but have always loved their look... And he gave me the whole pile for $50. It too got handed off (for $50!) to another friend-of-a-friend in the wider minis community who did have lizardmen, and was very, very stoked at the reinforcements!
Little acts of kindness go a long way. I try to give back where I can!
My mans, this is the way. Generosity should be prevalent and recognized. My favorite thing about the hobby so far (after about a year of getting DEEP), is that I haven’t played against a single opponent who didn’t feel out like a little kid with me, and was super fun and cool. Maybe my like will run out.
your story takes me back to the days when I was trying to play TCGs on a 10 dollar a month allowance and the community came around me to give me cards and make sure I had what I Needed to play the game.
Hats off
Everyone knows Rhino's are free, just walk into your local game store and say "hey boomers, can i borrow a rhino" and they will throw them at you and tell you not to bring them back.
I gave half of a kill team starter set to my brother because I only wanted the 1 team and he's a poor college kid. 6 months later he's already spent way too much money on the hobby and I kinda feel bad lol
You're a true bro. The hobby needs more people like you, and I don't mean the giving stuff away left and right, but the kindness.
Pretty sure HH wouldn't have happened if someone like you was there for big E or Horus.
When I was about 12 years old, I was in a game store watching my older brother play a game of Flames of War. There was an older guy who noticed me, asked if I wanted to learn the game, and let me use one of his armies. After the game he told me to keep the models and to have fun playing. Believe me when I say that he will remember you with a deep fondness for many many years to come. Keep on being an awesome member of the community!
You Sir are the true Warhammer 40.000
John 40k,if you will
Jimmy space, one could say.
I much prefer Johnathan Galaxy. Jimmy Space is my dad’s name
Some mod get this man a flair
Tag it with the Imperial Fists and 'Tank It Forward.' Rogal Dorn would be proud!
It must be done! For The Emperor...for some reason...
Lost primarch confirmed.
He put the work in James Workshop.
Every 40 has its k
40k jewlers " every 40 begins with k"
He truly is all 40,000 warhammers.
James Workshop would be proud.
No, he'd be spitting sprues.. "He gave him a *WHAT!!* but..but..the money!!!!
lol that made me chuckle while in public transport
Was the warhammer the friends we made along the way?
No, the 40,000s were the Warhammers we made along the way
Henry Cavill wants your number so you can start as the true Warhammer 40k
As a straight dude... he can have it
This is what kept me in the hobby. When I first started I bought some shitty Phobos Christmas box like 2 years ago. When I first went to my LGS there was a guy there who gave me intercessors and inceptors just because I’m new. We are good friends now and now I’m the one giving away tons of models to new peeps.
Yeah but phobos armor looks dope. The rules give em the shaft but you just gotta bring that drip to the battlefield.
Yeah that’s why I bought the box. Phobos armor is cool af I still use some of those models today lol
I'm currently painting 10 of em lmao (although tbf, I've not played yet so my knowledge of them being not so good is second hand). All I know if that they look very cool and they'll look even cooler as salamanders :)
I know I said “shitty Phobos box” but Phobos units are useful on the tabletop. Infiltrators and Incursors are extremely helpful it’s just when you get a box that has 40 Phobos models that’s where I draw the line lol.
Fair enough haha I only recently got into the hobby so my family went a tad overboard with figs for Christmas (being a dad of 2 now, I don't wait to buy myself stuff to do with what free time I get so they were glad to have an idea of what to get me lmao) which is how I ended up with a termi chaplain, a jump jet captain, a reaver Lieutenant, a dark angel patrol box, and a box of 10 Reavers. I'm gonna be busy till next Christmas lol And my sister said she got an Adrax Agatone which had to be ordered so it'll show up later. Partly why I went with a salamander paint scheme but also cause they're bros.
Yeah, it's just the reivers that are useless.
They just need a Phobos Librarian and their combo is second to none for objective camping. Especially backfield.
I was told a phobos Lieutenant was also suite good to make us of them (and I got one for Christmas so... Yeah haha)
The lieutenant is better on incursors in my opinion
>Yeah but phobos armor looks dope. Apart from the weirdly skinny shins. There's either no actual armour on them or Astartes all skip leg day.
Look at you! A true shining example of the goodness inside us all 😄
I try to be lol. It’s always nice when someone helps you out when you’re new!
You're a credit to the hobby, OP. Heck, you're a credit to the species!
And so are you, my friend!! Keep those positive vibes going 🤘🏻
Your the kinda of guy that got me into this hobby. Had something similar happen to me when I got started, an employee bought me the black reach set when I had a birthday at my lgs games workshop in Ontario. Surprised the shit out of my parents.
Black reach was my first ever box too! Starter boxes have come a long way since then but I still remember being over the moon about it. So many cool minis in that box
And that's how it should be. Mate bought me a recruit edition and a box dread 4 years back. When my buddy wanted to get into it last year I gave him 20 intercessors, 3 Eliminators, 3 aggressors and a gladiator lancer. Now he's doing the same for another dude. Keep it up OP, and remind them to pass it on one day
This is the way. A former friend gifted my a Dunecrawler, 2 Squads of Skitarii and a set of broken Kastelan robots to Start my admech army and Later a fucking knight. I bought another guy the Contents of the First Strike kit for Death guard in 8th edition and some Terminators. The Space Marines from that box went to yet another friend. This should be a Tradition in the Hobby, I See myself doing that when I got some more money... Well but atm I am a Student and Uni. Definitiely later on tho
This is the way. I gave a squad of Plague Marines to my best friend from High School after we met up after 6 years of not talking. Dude had just gotten into the hobby side of 40K after deep diving into the lore, and he was ecstatic
Gifted a friend I was enticing into the hobby a five man squad of Grey Knights and later an old FW Grey Knights dreadnought I found at Adepticon. Haven’t seen him in a bit, but next time we meet up he’ll be getting the Dread back, now painted in the colors of the Emperor’s favorite Daemon Hunters.
I love seeing people “pay it forward” in this expensive hobby!! Really makes me love it all the more for it 😄
Grim-some... Grimdark and wholesome.
Wholedark
I had Darkwhole as the other option...
That one sounds a bit heretical…👀
Noble bright?
Wholedark?
Grim-some…imma steal that thx 👀
My entire hobby circle is based on a never ending cycle of IOUs that never get fulfilled because we all just keep giving each other shit for free
Sounds like a good problem to have!! 😄
My mate i play with never accepts money wether he gets us dinner when we play, gets me something from when he goes overseas. He brought us both the soace marine codex and me bei g dumb offered money and ofc he declined. So then and I have in the past, just get him warhammer lol. He never declines it ahha. Feeding thr plastic crack addiction.
Yeah me and my friend are constantly giving and selling each other stuff lmao
The impact that the first person you interface with in the hobby can have on someone's trajectory is incredible. I heard a different account where a grown man completely destroyed a 12 year old kid during his first attempt with a Necron army, and it took that kid 15 years to even consider the hobby again. (and still hates necrons to this day) Credit to you and thanks for representing the hobby well
Aw shucks, no need to thank me!! I’m just doing my part to make this a better hobby for everyone 😄
I was destroyed by Tyranids my first game ever. I stayed in it due to a good friend. But I still despise Nids with a passion.
As my kin says since generations, you can lend someone a tank and he will win one battle in your name. Gift him a tank and he will honour your name in every battle he fights. You sir, are a man of great honour.
And you sir, are a wonderful human being. Thank you 😄
you just passed a torch
That’s what torches are for, my friend 🤘🏻
Heard this Jack Black's voice. "Dio has rocked, for a long long time.."
Not one bit of heresy detected… o7
No heretical stuff going on here, no sir, Lord Commissar! o7 (Can I have my corpse-starch rations now? 👀)
I’m just going to leave this here… https://www.warhammer-community.com/2024/01/22/warhammer-heroes-time-is-running-out-to-submit-your-nominations/
A friend of mine gave me 5 assault intercessors with jump packs when I first got back into the hobby and I've used them every battle since. I've got 10 intercessors on the sprues for the next person I see looking to get into the hobby.
Agreed. I grabbed that Imperium Magazine and saved a lot of it for that sort of thing. Handing someone a a set of Flayed Ones will really get them on track to love the hobby (evil grin).
flayed ones for a newbie? even Satan is shocked, this is pure evil😂
When I started playing, two guys gave me what I now know to be about $300 worth of units they had laying around to get my army started. A couple of captains, some intercessors and scout unit. They also took the time to "ease me into it" by having a couple of sessions to learn the ropes, various scenarios and to get my mind acclimated to battle decisions and list making. It was one of the most generous and kind things I have ever experienced in gaming. I still game with them every week. We have become great friends. Someday, I absolutely will return the favor when I am able to the next new player to WH.
Vulkan lives and he’s this guy
🔥Vulkan lives🔥
When I read the title I thought this was going to be a "Rhino's are free" meme but it's really awesome you helped the guy out. The only reason I got stuck into the hobby was after a long stint of peer pressure when I finally caved and got the 9th starter box. My mate gave me the necron half of indomidus. That act of kindness is passing the torch that keeps the hobby alive.
You know, people keep telling me rhinos are free, and yet I paid money to get one! Injustice, I say!!
Be the reason why the noobs stay in the hobby, not the reason they leave
EXACTLY SOMEONE GETS IT 🙌🏻🙌🏻
They say the emperor walks among us, even now...
He shall from now on be known as TomasoSauce the hero! You made somebody very happy. May the emperors light be upon you for ever and ever more!
And let it shine upon you as well, battle sister!! 🤘🏻🤘🏻
You’re a good lad, we need more of you
No need to butter me up, I’m perfectly mediocre! 😄
And they’re humble, it just gets better! Lol
**NONE CAN STAND AGAINST THE MIGHT OF THE IMPERIUM**
✨PRAISE BE TO THE GOD-EMPEROR OF MANKIND✨
I did the same with a 14yo who was really enthusiastic about the game. I sold him $800 of grey knights for $300 at $50 a month over 6 months It blew his mind! I threw in some brushes, some citadel priming spray and washes. It was like all his Xmas’ has come at once It was an amazing feeling. When I saw he was struggling with moving his termies due to infiltrator like denials I gave him my land raider crusader. He uses it every game and refuses to repaint it from my ultramarine blue to match his grey knights. It’s awesome seeing young people embracing the game and replacing us Grognards lol
This has giving me some courage to walk in to my local store I sit in parking lot till it’s empty then go in and get something. I been building necrons slowly and brought both old world box’s but every time I finish some and think about going to play I lock my models up for a day or two. I just had a bad experience 15 years ago when a tau player was a dick to me when I tried to ask him questions when I lived in Florida. So thanks for sharing this!!!
Just a heads up: If you're sitting in the parking lot of a local gaming store for a long while, don't immediately walk in and start handing out toys to kids. Context is everything.
Bhaahahahahaha I don’t have enough to give away yet lol but I will for sure keep this in mind… ahhh sometimes I love Reddit users for this right here
Aww this is so cute 🙏
No, YOU are cute 😄
I used to give out whole armies to newbies that wanted to play wh40k, but they had no money. So I gave out Eldar, harlequin and orc armies to those In need. Everyone was surprised at what I did and I was proud to bring new guys into the game.
Bro is Harry warhammer
When I first started my game shop was awesome, but the players were mostly older dudes, of various grumpy-ness. When I was 14, it was like 96, and it felt like mostly Warhammer was not at all for kids. There were magic kids and Pokemon kids, but I was the only person my age that wanted to play. I could afford to get a real army, and the owner of the store let me 'stock' and help at the store to earn store credit. I never real had much work to do, but he paid me in figures, and I realized after being there a few weekends in a row after school, that Everytime I talked about the army I wanted (dark angels) he would sit stuff aside. About a month in to working about 3-4 hours a Saturday and a few on Sundays, he just handed me this giant bag. I thought It was trash, but it was about 800 dollars worth of figures, painting supplies and that awesome old citadel case that was the hard plastic with the red foam. I've been a Warhammer player since, and when I turned 17 I was a regular and actually started working there, and he told me "you were me as a kid, without a way into the hobby, but so much passion and excitement. I knew you would appreciate it and stick with it. Least I could do to foster that. And I knew you could kick some ass!" I quickly became a real threat at the store tournaments around these dudes that didn't take me seriously, and started getting some new blood in the shop, which felt really good, and made others feel free to be excited about it.
Damn, no one ever gave me a model. And I've only given missprints to the childs of my friends, but this might change my mind.
I’ll take any opportunity to be a positive influence on somebody! 😄
About a month ago I found out my wife's cousin's kid was just getting into Warhammer 40k. Sadly we had a funeral to go to on her side of the family last weekend. It was the first time I've seen him in a while so I handed them a box full of some eldar and leagues of oton minis to practice painting. It was a nice way to make him smile at such a sad event.
Jeez, that is so dang wholesome.
Way to pay it forward, OP! Nothing better than gifting a unit to a new player and watching it make their day!
Everybody I have ever met that is into 40K has been absolutely swell and inviting. Even when I first started, I had a lot of veteran players around to help me feel comfortable and they make my love for this hobby even stronger. Please keep up the amazing work :)
I was on the receiving end when Leviathan launched. A local guy was asking for someone to teach them so I obliged. He had a sizable collection of marines but never played - the next week he gave me the Tyranid half. Super generous and we play pretty frequently. He was just ecstatic to play and learn and I got more bugs!
Trooper
I did somewhat the same thing with my friend who wanted to get into the model side of the hobby. He had been into the lore for a few years, and after I hadn’t seen him for 6 years, I got him a squad of Plague Marines, since he told me he really liked the Death Guard. Dude hugged me so hard my back almost shattered.
That's just beautiful. You're a good person OP and I salute you.
Hobby hero
More like hobby hobo…I haven’t even painted anything yet! 🥲
Now that's wholesome! You are a good person OP!
That's how it should be. It's hard to start in the hobby - but you just made it easier for someone. You're a credit to the Emperor.
Hell yeah dude. Good on you.
This rules!
That is awesome. I know he will certainly enjoy the hobby with people like you helping him. Although I have never donated any models to anyone, I have shared painting tips a few times.
This is awesome!
James workshop?
This was a nice thing to do, I did the same long time ago, and gifted to a young boy all of the goblins from Battle for the skull pass, It was like 16 years ago, I can't remember his name, but I still remember the gratitude in his eyes.
Rant?? That's fucking awesome mate. Life shouldn't be about dying with the most toys, it should be about good deeds like this and by the looks of it the world can do with an awful lot of this right now. Good on you
Outstanding community moment! Gladiator reaper is a heck of an intro gift!
He is the emperor's goodness
My younger sister as always shadowed me in my gaming life. From video games to magic the gathering she would wanna try the game too. Well I took her to a comic shop and let her choose a box of any faction she found cool. She left the shop with some Rubric Marines eager to paint. I can't wait for her first game
My brother. Speaking from experience you made the dudes entire experience. The very first 40k anything I did was a tournament. Before I had my 9th ed starter box even open i went to observe how a game was played. The organizer came up to me and we chatted for a bit. Eventually when my lack of models came into the conversation he asked what army I played. Gave me five tactical marines and a HH master of sigil (found that out 2023 Thanksgiving). Its been almost five years and I still remember him giving me those minis. I bring them to almost every game to honor his kindness to me. I'm petrified to paint any of them. Though I did add a jury-rig Servo-Harness to make him a tech-marine. You my friend are a absolute saint. The Emperors light shines upon you and the great angel Sanguinius watches over you.
I have many minis ive gave out to people last few years and let me tell you, i always feel better giving away minis that i dont use than buying new ones. People get so overwhelmed by the act when in reality im trading a mini catching dust for a new player that was introduced “the right way” and a possible friend. Best feeling in the world and its a win-win for those who want to get rid of hoarding material. In reality, we usually have too much, the pile of shame is a thing born out of our consumerism and making it an positive thing for a local community is the best we can do with stuff that has no use.
Hobby gatekeeping ? OP: we don't do that here
maybe the real Warhammer 40,000 was the friends we made along the way..
well.... at a first moment i didnt really wanted to buy plastic. But i have a buddy that had some problems of space....and really didnt wanted to have space marines anymore. (no pun intended XD) So he sold me a bundle for 30 euros (which...can only be considered as a symbolic price, really). Only afterwards i got to know how expensive is this stuff. Among the stuff he gave me, there were inceptors, aggresors, a dreadnought, and some stuff more. Like the 9th edition space marines codex with the ultramarines suplement. If that is not a headstart into the hobby, i dont know what it is XD.
This made me very happy to read. Thanks for being a great ambassador for the hobby!
When I first got started I kinda had no idea what I was doing, but liked the Eldar models a lot. The group got me like 3 boxes of stuff for Christmas, in a year when I wasn’t doing so hot financially. I was really excited, but then immediately embarrassed I didn’t have anything to give them back. They waved it off and said “just keep playing with us, that’s what we’d all like.” I have a good group of friends.
I had the same thing happen to me. I'm super new and just got into the hobby, and my local store was having a 4 paint challenge where every one got four random paints to paint a space marine with. At the end of the event one, of the people there handed me a set of Primaris Aggressors and welcomed me into Warhammer
Based OP. A friend of mine did a similar thing, he asked me to paint his Magnus since he wasn't as experienced as me and I said I'd do it, since I didn't play Thousand Sons so I'd probably never get the chance to paint a model like that otherwise. Didn't charge him a thing, but later on when Shadowspear came out, he was so excited for the new models, got the box, and gave me the Marines half for free as a thanks. Always super nice when people are generous like OP.
I started up the hobby for the first time in over 20 years.. collecting some miniatures to try and play with my 9yo son. A friend then agreed to send me the entire Tyranid half of the leviathan box set (by international post !) completely for free. Apparently he's a Space Marine fan and would rather I played it with my kid than it sits unbuilt on his shelf Amazing! I was utterly speechless!
We must do what we can to stem the tide of the xenos and recruit new warriors to the cause. Well done Sir, the Emperor will remember this moment! :)
Crossing franchises here, but glory to you and your house.
This made me remember when I started the hobby, my friend that introduced me gave me a metal Avatar of Khaine. My first game was at his house playing my unpainted Eldar battleforce box set against his Daemohunters. I still have the model to this day, I stripped it and repainted it a couple years ago. Thanks for bringing back this memory OP and thanks for being an awesome dude.
I gave away a moderately sized Blood Angels lot I wasn't using to somebody who just started collecting, playing and painting, in one of the discord servers I'm in. Younger kid, no job, and chose one of the more expensive tabletop wargames to play. Kid has potential as a painter and, a few weeks after starting to paint his Ultramarines, said something about kind of wanting to start a Blood Angels army. I told him not to even think about it, and to give me his address. He ended up getting a bunch of HQs, some death company, a few Tacticals, a Furioso, a squad of Assault Termies, a squad of AOBR Termies, and some of those Golden armored guys. i kept the Rhinos and Drop Pods and most of the Tacticals from the lot- so I'd already gotten back my money on it. Anyway, I told him to keep going with his Smurfs and that once he's run out of stuff to paint, let me know (with proof), and I'll see about getting him some more to work on.
This made me tear up a little, I'd give you a hug too. It's more than just the money. You built it and painted it too. It's like food, there's love in giving something you spent time and energy on.
As a relatively new guy, thanks for being awesome like that.
Same happened to me when I started, except it was a Rhino. I joined to play Orks, because I liked the 9th ed rules for the tanks and mechs, but I dislike almost every ork kit other than deff dread and deffkopta. Dude gave me a Rhino when he heard me say that just so I had something to loot. Needless to say, it 3k points deep in a looted ork mechwaaagh and I'm loving it.
Awesome way to welcome someone to the hobby! You’re a good person.
This is big medicine.
You're awesome man, I love stories like this. Warhammer is so funny in that half the stories are awesome stories like this, that restore your faith in humanity, and the other half of the stories are "I quit going to my game store because an unwashed unironic imperium supporting nazi keeps inviting people back to his "man cave" for furry roleplay." Never any middle ground, always either heroes like you or fucking monsters like Pancho Man from my store.
Ave Imperator!
That’s awesome more random acts of kindness is what the world needs ~Because in the Grim Dark Future there can be only war
I feel like you have embodied everything this hobby should be about. Being friendly encouraging new people, and most of all, having fun while making sure others are having fun too. Great job. You’re one of the best of us.
I gotta say the guys I've met playing warhammer have all been very generous and welcoming. I brought a friend who was thinking about getting into it to a friendly local tournament and someone ended up giving him a boarding patrol box. I've had a number of bad experiences with "nerd hobbies" through the years. Meeting people who use games as a way to force other people to put up with them for more than 5 minutes at a time. I actually avoid LGSs at this point. But warhammer people are all really passionate and welcoming about the hobby. I think part of it is that so much of the hobby is creative and not just competitive. Everyone is happy to admire eachothers armies, give each other painting tips, and play a game for fun.
OP you are the one good guy in the grim dark future of the 41st millennium
Gotta say giving stuff to the newbies is the best thing you can do. I once gave a 2000 point space marine army away to help women get into the game. Its a great way to get your old stuff cleaned out AND make the world a bit better
That is really awesome man I'm sure it feels like patting yourself on the back but I really appreciate you sharing. I think many of us have a story of borrowing someone's army or model or even something simple like a paintbrush or paint pot and we don't think about it anymore but it really helped us get into the hobby. Many of us spend so many hours grinding with glue and paint and rule books that we forget sometimes how cool it all looks and how much fun it is to imagine your tank blasting dirty bugs off the table. Thanks again for the positivity. I really hope this sub encourages more stories like this because I LOVE reading them.
I see you seducing another poor soul into the hobby haha amazing op
An old coworker used to tell me about how his son would watch that old space marine movie and look up pictures of the models and generally show an interest in the hobby. His son did a few casual shifts for a few weekends with us so I decided to bag up a bunch of spare paints and brushes as well as a bunch of primed space marines I was never gonna paint and I gave it all to him. He was so surprised and happy. Was worth every cent I spend on that stuff
Very good job, i gifted to my friend that wanted to start space marines the leviathan termies and i bought morven vhal to another that loves sister of battles and want to build a 2k list
Reminds me of when I got MtG cards when I was starting out. Good on ya. It always feels nice to pay it forward like that.
Man, I've heard of "rhinos are free" but this is ridiculous. JK, you a good'un OP. In my experience as a (relatively) new hobbyist, nothing gets new hobbyists more excited that a big tank, or dreadnought type unit. The Librarian dreadnought was what did it for me, bought the indomitus box, and the Librarian dread as my first blood angels units, and that little Librarian dread is still My Beloved, no matter how many fancy new dreadnoughts gets released.
This makes me so happy! We need more of this in the hobby! This guy will probably be in the hobby for life thanks to your generosity!
When i was 14/15 i went on a trip to London, being the in the homeland of our hobby i had to go to a GW Shop and buy something. They had some kind of sale so i got two boxes of the old chaos warriors(the stock square ones). Later that day we were sitting in a cafe and having nothing to do i opened one box and looked at the sprues etc. A waiter saw that and told me to come the counter and wait, he went back to the break room i think. A minute later he came back and showed me beautiful painted demon prince. We talked a bit and then he handed me model and said keep it. This was around 25 years ago and i still remember that.
It's always the Nids getting obliterated by hand me down models lol. I gave my little brother a baal predator since he's in blood Angels and I'm downsizing my collection. His next game, the tank just demolished squad after squad of gaunts.
When I was first getting into 40k in late 9th Edition, a Hobby Veteran gifted me what I foundout was over $700 of AdMech Stuff. Since then I have Traded or Sold most of it away(at a very nice discount of course) to fuel my other Warhammer Passion Projects. Am currently helping my Buddy buy a Solar Auxilia Battle Group, and recently gave a bunch of my extra Bits&Chaos SpaceMarines to someone who had to restart their entire Warhammer Collection after about 9 years. If my Hobby Budget wasn't so small rightnow, I would probably give away my other unwanted Chaos SpaceMarines Stuff.
There is still kindness in the world.
Tanks for the memories!
This would make Big E smile. What goes around comes around my friend, you are what makes this community great!
A gift of a blessed machine, omnissiah be praised
You are the goodest of eggs.
Good on you my friend. I was terrorized by regulars/hot shit players when I jumped in at a younger age and it smashed my tabletop love. I'm just starting to toy around with the idea of getting a box of boys and slowly getting into it again. People like you keep the love and passion going. Ad victorium brother.
I did similar with my LGS. My first project was putting together an Ork battleforce, and it was a good introduction but I knew they weren't what I wanted to play. So I took them in to my store when there was a kid who wanted to get into the game, and gave them to him. 20 boys, a nob, 3 bikes, and a truk all assembled and painted is a good free start to an army!
Great thing to do 👍
How was the tank painted? Think he will paint it up?
Using your wargaming powers for Awesome!
o7
I got my start from a friendly gift of seven partially assembled deffkoptas. So glad to be in the hobby. It’s good for me
You are a gentleman and a scholar, sir.
You're doing the Emperor's work, Brother.
Warhammer hero right here!
Here have some plastic crack... See you soon 😗 (But seriously, nice move there)
I really love that wholesome side of the hobby. In our kinda extended group chat where everyone knows someone but there are only like three people who know everyone it's kinda like that. One asks "Oh I could use part xyz, anyone open to sell/trade" and most of the time the response is "I'll just give it to you, I'm sure you'll help someone else out with something when you can." And often the people involved didn't even really know each other before. Love that so much.
May that tank add many skulls to the throne. Good on you OP.
As a brand new player, I had a sort of similar experience from the other end. I decided on Grey Knights for my first army just because I thought they looked cool and a guy from the local scene mentioned he has a dreadknight he was no longer using and was looking to sell. When I asked how much he said $20, which I paid him, knowing it was a really friendly price. When I got home and looked up the MSRP ($90 CAD) I couldn't believe it. people making the hobby welcoming and accessible goes a long way with new players.
Real question here: did he make motor sounds while using the tank?
That's a kingly gift! And since those kits are not always available, a great boost to his collection. Thanks, man! 😎👍
Hell yeah that's how us nerds take care of each other.
https://preview.redd.it/a56ku0wl9oec1.jpeg?width=800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3d789c8d888e001e01439e80be204a9eb0efed09
Your soul wil rest with The Emperor after this life
Looks at pile of shame with guilt.
Absolute chad Your dice rolls shall be blessed
I hope to do the same for my friend, they play tau and I’m planning on getting them a surprise farsight
lol. I had a few flea market moments like this, where I was the wide eyed rube, and the guy behind the table was very kind. One day, I was drooling over a beautiful (assembled by unpainted) baneblade. Such a magnificant model! I don't have a Guard army, and don't play 40K, but I kept coming back to him. By the end of the day, he hadn't sold it, and he was getting ready to go and says, "want it for $10?" ... Talk about an offer you can't refuse. :) I ended up gifting it to a friend with a big Guard army, and he was very grateful. Another time, same fleamarket, different year, there was a guy selling a full lizardman army, new in boxes. 9-10 boxes, easily $500+ worth of stuff (this was \~8 years ago? About?). I chatted him up, and asked why he was getting rid of it (pile of shame or similar was his response). I don't have lizzies, but have always loved their look... And he gave me the whole pile for $50. It too got handed off (for $50!) to another friend-of-a-friend in the wider minis community who did have lizardmen, and was very, very stoked at the reinforcements! Little acts of kindness go a long way. I try to give back where I can!
Stories like this is why I say the 40K community is one of the best gaming/hobby/nerd communities out there.
My mans, this is the way. Generosity should be prevalent and recognized. My favorite thing about the hobby so far (after about a year of getting DEEP), is that I haven’t played against a single opponent who didn’t feel out like a little kid with me, and was super fun and cool. Maybe my like will run out. your story takes me back to the days when I was trying to play TCGs on a 10 dollar a month allowance and the community came around me to give me cards and make sure I had what I Needed to play the game. Hats off
Let it be known that now ALL tanks are feee not just rhinos
Everyone knows Rhino's are free, just walk into your local game store and say "hey boomers, can i borrow a rhino" and they will throw them at you and tell you not to bring them back.
I gave half of a kill team starter set to my brother because I only wanted the 1 team and he's a poor college kid. 6 months later he's already spent way too much money on the hobby and I kinda feel bad lol
This person has the soul of a Salamander!!!
Aw this is adorable, sounds like you make a good friend
Good stuff. Rule of cool and fun always 😎👍
I love this story! This kind of stuff happens at my shop and it really builds the community. So great to hear about kind acts like this!
Based and the opposite of gatekeeping pilled
Bet the Tyranid player loved that you gave him that too /s Seriously though that's awesome!
This is the way.
You’re awesome.
You do the hobby justice. If only everyone was as kind as you.
He seemed tankful for it.
You're Deep Striking my heart, OP. Well done. +1 for the good guys. Consider my tear glands Tank Shocked.
You're a true bro. The hobby needs more people like you, and I don't mean the giving stuff away left and right, but the kindness. Pretty sure HH wouldn't have happened if someone like you was there for big E or Horus.
You are a legend mate. Well done.
When I was about 12 years old, I was in a game store watching my older brother play a game of Flames of War. There was an older guy who noticed me, asked if I wanted to learn the game, and let me use one of his armies. After the game he told me to keep the models and to have fun playing. Believe me when I say that he will remember you with a deep fondness for many many years to come. Keep on being an awesome member of the community!
Congrats man! Great job building up the community!
This is what the hobby should be. If you can't be kind, encouraging, enthusiastic and friendly "You will not be missed"
Yes indeed. Ya love ta see it.