If you’re like me, a total noob at Horus Heresy and want to get into it, then I’ve got a few suggestions that will be easier on the ol’ wallet.
I’m brand new at Horus Heresy but no stranger to 7th edition. I love the lore and now the tabletop game. If you ask me, 8th edition 40k pales in comparison to 30k. It’s extremely narrative and most players don’t bring cheese lists that blow you off the board turn two.
Want to Play Horus Heresy? Here’s How To Start!
If you were wanting to give Horus Heresy a try and looked on the Forge World website and immediately saw your dreams ripped away because of all the prices, have no fear. There are still cheaper alternatives to picking up a nice army.
Betrayal at Calth
DO YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT VALUE??
They’re currently out of stock GWs main website. So hunt around and ask friends. They may be willing to trade. You could also snipe one off of eBay.
Get one of these boxes and paint them up in your favorite Legion. You get a boatload of Marines, Cataphractii Terminators, a Contemptor, A chaplain, and a Terminator Captain. Anyone who is wanting to get into 30k should pick up a box of Calth before even going to Forge World. There’s just too much starting value to pass up. Heck, get two.
You’ll be able to play a decently-sized game of Horus Heresy with just this alone. All you’ll need is a friend with a book to show you the ropes.
What Next?
Eventually, you’ll want to get a Horus Heresy book to keep up with your own rules.
Age of Darkness Rulebook – £40
After that, it might be a good idea for you to pick up the Legion rules combo set that has both rulesets (generic units as well as legion specific ones) for all the details on your army. Be sure to check the fine print on the legions contained within, as we’re still waiting on complete rules for three legions presently.
Legiones Astartes Rules Combo Set – £55
From there, go ham-wild. Depending on what Legion you go with, some units will do better in your army than others. But it really comes down to how you want to play. You don’t have to blow $500 of random resin bits to play a game. And don’t for a second think you have to have a Primarch to play. They’re expensive and they don’t really show up too often.
The bottom line is you’ll have a solid building block from one, definitely two Betrayal at Calth boxes. Once you get that put together and painted up, go on Forge World and check out what else you might like in your list. Just buy a little at a time. It can be overwhelming trying to buy arm bits, leg bits, weapon upgrades, etc just to kit one unit. Start simple and build slowly.
The Horus Heresy Community is very helpful, so make sure you checkout Radio Free Isstavan’s Facebook and Legion specific podcasts as well.
Editor’s Note: If you can’t find the Calth box, the Burning of Prospero box is also a good value, however just not as Legion specific as it contains Sisters of Silence and Adeptus Custodes minis as well.
About the Author: Wesley Floyd
Wesley Floyd
Job Title: Staff Writer
Joined: 2018
Socials: @RealmbrushPainting
About Wesley Floyd: Wes has been in the Warhammer hobby since 2015 and joined the Spikey Bits writing team in 2018. He is known for his satirist takes on trending topics and imaginative yet amazingly affordable hobby solutions to painting Warhammer miniatures.
Imperial fanboy, tabletop fanatic, and the self-proclaimed King of Sprues. He knows for a fact that Mephiston red is the best-tasting paint and is the commission painting equivalent of a Wendy’s 4 for $4. If you like what he writes and want to contact him or have your tabletop minatures painted (to a mostly okayish standard), message him on Instagram.
