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Warhammer 40,000 is meant to be played on a table. A model of a Primaris Space Marine is about 4.5 cm in height. This scale does not correspond to the range of firearms: on the table, a boltgun has a range of 24 inches, which corresponds to only 120 feet (36.6 m) at 1:60 scale. For instance, a Land Raider tank model is 17 cm long but conceptually 10.3 m long. Officially, Warhammer 40,000 does not have a scale, but the models approximate to a scale ratio of 1:60. A player might spend weeks assembling and painting their models before they are all ready for play. The assembly and painting of the models is a major aspect of the hobby. For instance, a model of a Tactical Space Marine has a "Move" range of 6 inches and a "Toughness" rating of 4, and is armed with a "boltgun" with a range of 24 inches. In the rulebooks, there is an entry for every type of model in the game that describes its capabilities. Most Warhammer 40,000 models are made of polystyrene, but certain models which are made and sold in small volumes are made of lead-free pewter or epoxy resin.Įach miniature model represents an individual warrior or vehicle.
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Games Workshop also sells glue, tools, and acrylic paints for this purpose. Players are expected to assemble and paint the miniatures themselves. Games Workshop sells a large variety of gaming models for Warhammer 40,000, although Games Workshop does not sell ready-to-play models. The assembly and painting of models is a major aspect of the hobby, as much as the actual game. A new player can expect to spend at least $400 to assemble enough materials for a "proper" game, and the armies that appear in tournaments can surpass $600. These and other materials (dice, measuring tools, glue, paints, etc.) all make Warhammer 40,000 expensive as far as gaming hobbies go. The rulebooks and miniature models required to play Warhammer 40,000 are copyrighted and sold exclusively by Games Workshop and its subsidiaries. Note: The overview here references the 9th edition of the rules, published July 2020
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