In today’s fast-paced world, hobbies are often pushed aside in favor of packed schedules and the constant pressure to stay productive. Yet, carving out time for personal interests can be essential to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Hobbies offer a chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy some “me time”, something many of us rediscovered during the pandemic. From trending book recommendations on BookTok to homemade sourdough starters, people turned to hobbies to cope and reconnect with themselves. While not every hobby stuck with me, one unexpected discovery led to a lasting passion for the Warhammer 40k universe.
Getting started with Warhammer 40,000 can feel overwhelming. I know because I once walked into a Warhammer store in Riverside and was instantly bombarded by shelves of miniatures, paints, and rulebooks. I had no idea where to begin. Fortunately, the staff and community were incredibly welcoming. These stores foster a supportive environment for newcomers, offering introductory sessions, such as Learn to Play and Learn to Paint to ease you into the hobby. The Learn to Play session introduces the fundamentals of the game—movement, positioning, and dice-based mechanics—all using store-provided materials. It made me feel like a commander leading an army into battle. Learn to Paint guides you through turning a plain grey miniature into a battle-ready figure. As someone whose artistic background consisted of stick figures, even my first painted model felt like a masterpiece. If you’ve ever doubted your creative skills, you might be surprised at what you can achieve with patience and guidance.
Like many hobbies, getting into Warhammer can be expensive—but it doesn’t have to break the bank, especially for college students or anyone on a budget. After those introductory sessions at the Warhammer store, you’ll need some tools, since the miniatures don’t come preassembled. They arrive on plastic sprues in separate pieces and putting them together requires a few essentials. The basic toolkit includes, nail files, tweezers, super glue, and a set of synthetic brushes. The first four help you snip, clean, and assemble your models. While the brushes are your gateway to painting and bringing your minis to life. Luckily, most of these tools are in the grooming or arts and crafts sections of stores like Hobby Lobby, Walmart, or Target, often at lower prices than what you’d find at a Warhammer store. That said, if you’re already in a Warhammer store (and not doing the Pikachu shocked meme at the prices), you can pick up everything you need there as well, including Citadel paints and starter sets sold at many local gaming stores.
Once you’ve learned the basics, the best thing you can do is engage with the community. Warhammer thrives on the community. The community is welcoming, helpful, and passionate. From my experience, hobby shops are full of players eager to share tips, teach new strategies, and cheer on each other’s progress. Sure, you can learn a lot online, but nothing beats sitting at a table, painting, playing, and just talking with others who love the game. I’ve met people from all walks of life, for example, students, service members, medical professionals, and even folks in special effects, and everyone brings something new to the table. But after a long day of studying or working, stepping into a hobby shop feels like walking into a friend’s house, a space where I can unwind, recharge, and reconnect.
Finding Your Own Community
For me, Warhammer 40k is more than just a game—it’s my creative outlet, a source of personal challenge, and a way I’ve made meaningful friendships. It gave me a space to grow, unwind, and connect with others who share my interests.
Everyone deserves a place like that. Whether it’s painting miniatures, joining a book club, or learning an instrument, finding a hobby that sparks joy can be life-changing. If you haven’t found yours yet, don’t be afraid to explore—you might be surprised by what (and who) you discover along the way.
Join online communities on platforms like Facebook, Discord, and Instagram, where hobbyists share tips, showcase their work, and organize meetups. Experience the excitement firsthand, join events, and build lasting connections with fellow players. These communities aren’t just limited to hobby shops; they often extend to university campus and other social circles, where you’ll find groups of students and professionals coming together to bond over shared interests. Even having common interest from those who do art on campus and tabletop gaming since this is a tabletop strategy game. So, take the first step today.
By: Jaime Damian