Beginning the Hobby: Your First Steps into Warhammer 40K

Welcome to the Ludlow Wargaming Society (LWS) hobby blog! Whether you’ve admired the stunning miniatures online, wandered past a Games Workshop store, or just heard the name Warhammer 40,000 from a friend, you’ve already taken your first step into a vast, creative, and incredibly rewarding hobby.

At LWS, we’re passionate about helping newcomers start their journey into the 41st Millennium. This guide will take you from your very first box to commanding your own army on the tabletop.

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Step One: The Starter Sets — Your Gateway to the Hobby

These boxed sets are designed with newcomers in mind and include everything you need to begin:

They’re the perfect all-in-one introduction to both modelling and gaming. There are several sizes of starter set, so you can pick one that matches your budget and enthusiasm level with prices from £42.50.

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Step Two: Expanding with a Combat Patrol — Learning the Game & Rules

Once you’ve played a few games and want to build a proper force, the natural next step is a Combat Patrol.

• Grow your collection in a structured, balanced way
• Play full games of 40K with minimal extra purchases
• Learn your army’s playstyle before diving deeper

At this stage, you’ll also want to begin learning the rules unique to your faction. Each army has its own Codex, which contains:

To make rule reference easier, you can use your Codex alongside smart tools such as:

Pairing your Combat Patrol force with your Codex and one of these apps gives you a strong foundation for full games and deeper understanding of your army.

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Step Three: Follow Your Passion — Buy What You Love

After your Combat Patrol, it’s time to make the hobby your own.

Love the Space Marines and their heroic defence of the Imperium? The eerie resurrecting ranks of Necrons? Or maybe the chaotic energy of Orks? Go with your gut — the models you’re passionate about will keep you inspired long after the latest competitive list fades away.

Below you can see some of the (much loved) models painted by members of the LWS:

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Step Four: Reaching Your First 1,000 Points — Shop Smart

Once you’ve mastered 500-point games, it’s time to expand to 1,000 points — the size most clubs (including LWS) use for regular game nights and beginner tournaments.

At this stage, it’s worth knowing about trusted independent retailers that can help your hobby budget go further. Many UK stores offer 10–20% discounts on Games Workshop products, and the savings really add up as your collection grows.

Two of the most popular online options are:

If you prefer shopping locally — which we always encourage — you’re in luck:
 Harold’s Toy Store in Church Stretton is the closest local gaming shop to Ludlow. It’s a great place to pick up miniatures, paints, hobby supplies, and support a local business.

Shopping local helps keep our gaming community strong, and you might even meet a few fellow hobbyists in the process!

Their are also local Warhammer stores in Shrewsbury (Market St, nr the Market), Hereford (Eign Gate, not far from Tesco), Worcester (nr the Crown Gate entrance to the Crownsgate shopping centre) and Dudley (Merry Hill Shopping Centre)

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Join the Community — Ludlow Wargaming Society

If you’ve just opened your first starter set, bring it along! We’ll help you build, paint, and learn the game in a relaxed, welcoming environment.

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Final Thoughts

Starting Warhammer 40,000 can feel daunting, but with a starter set, a Combat Patrol, and a bit of passion for your chosen army, you’ll be rolling dice in no time.

From your first brushstroke to your first victory, every step in the hobby is part of the fun.

So grab that box, crack open the sprues, and start your journey — because in the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war… and a whole lot of hobby joy.