Warhammer hobby questions: cases, time, opponents and books

The questions in this section

• Is it normal for my first model to look bad?
  Why first Warhammer models look rough, who else started that way, and a small plan that gets a decent result.
• What case do I need to carry a first army?
  When a first army needs a case, what the two Stormvault cases hold, and what else works instead.
• Can I paint Warhammer in a small flat?
  A session kit for a small table, where flat dwellers prime their models, and what light and cleaning you need.
• Can I paint Warhammer models and never play?
  Yes, and here is what a painter should buy and skip.
• How do I find someone to play Warhammer with?
  How to get your first games: who to ask, what to bring and what to say if a group is hard going.
• How do I deal with my pile of shame?
  A plan for a stack of unpainted models: sort it, paint in batches, and buy one box at a time.
• Which Warhammer 40,000 novel should I read first?
  Pick a first Warhammer 40,000 book by the kind of story you like, with the titles we list.
• Do I have to read all the Horus Heresy books?
  The Horus Heresy Saga is a 12-novel path through a very long series; here is where to start.
• Am I too old to start Warhammer?
  What eases the hobby on eyes, hands and spare evenings, with a four-week plan for an adult starting out.