Starter Set vs Individual Kits: Your First Wargame Purchase

Quick answer

Buy a starter set only if you will use most of its contents and the scale matches the rules you play. Otherwise, buy one or two individual kits that fit your chosen setting. For most beginners, a single themed building or small terrain piece is a safer first wargame purchase than a large box you may not finish.

What actually counts as a starter set?

A starter set is a bundled product sold as a single entry point: usually miniatures, rules, tokens, dice, and sometimes terrain or a building. The bundle is convenient, but its value depends on whether every component matches your game, scale, and table. If you already own rules or play at a club that provides them, the extra rulebook may be dead weight. If you have no terrain, a set that includes a building or two can save you a separate purchase.

When does a starter set make sense?

A starter set is worth it when you are new to a specific rule system and the box contains the exact models, tokens, and scale you need to play that system immediately. It is also useful when the bundle includes a piece of terrain you would otherwise buy on its own, such as a narrow townhouse for a European street fight. If the set is discounted compared with buying the same contents separately, and you will use at least most of it, the bundle is the simpler choice.

When should you buy individual kits instead?

Individual kits win when you already know your setting, scale, and rules. You can pick one building that matches your table and skip models you will never paint. For example, if you are building a North African desert table, a damaged barracks wall in 15mm gives you a ruined position without forcing you into a full fort or a different scale. Buying single kits also lets you spread the cost across several months and test your painting and assembly routine before committing to a large project.

How do you compare a starter set with individual kits?

List what you already own, then price the missing items separately. If the starter set includes a building or terrain piece, check whether that piece is available on its own and whether it fits your table. For example, a fire escape set can be added to almost any high-rise building, so it works with many city-block layouts rather than locking you into one game. If the set includes a building you would not choose, treat that part as zero value and compare the rest.

What should a beginner buy first?

Start with one kit that matches a setting you actually want to play. A single narrow townhouse gives you a complete building for a European town centre and can be expanded later by swapping floors with other narrow-style kits. If you already have a fort or desert table, a damaged barracks wall adds a battle-worn look and can also stand alone as a small ruined position. Buy the smallest useful piece, finish it, and then decide whether a larger set is worth it.

Do you need beginner hobby supplies before either option?

You need basic tools before you can judge any kit: a hobby knife, sanding stick, wood glue, and a primer suitable for MDF. These supplies cost less than most starter sets and are reusable across every kit you buy. If you do not own them yet, buy them first. A starter set without tools still leaves you unable to assemble anything, while individual kits plus tools let you start immediately.

What are the common mistakes in a first wargame purchase?

The most common mistake is buying a large set in a scale or setting nobody in your area plays. The second is assuming a bundle is cheaper without checking the individual prices. The third is buying models before deciding on a table theme, which leads to a shelf of unrelated kits. Pick your setting, confirm the scale, and buy only what you can assemble and paint in the next few weeks.

Starter set vs individual kits: quick checks

Will you use at least most of the starter set?

Check the scale, rules, and terrain against what you already own. If you will skip the rulebook or the models, the bundle is not saving you money. If you would use less than about 70% of the contents, buy individual kits instead.

Does the set include a building you would choose anyway?

A bundled building only adds value if it fits your table. Compare it with a single kit you would actually buy, such as a narrow townhouse for a European street. If the included building is not one you want, price the rest of the set separately.

Can you start with one kit and expand later?

Many individual kits are designed to combine: a fire escape adds to a high-rise, a damaged wall complements a fort, and a townhouse can swap floors with other narrow styles. Buy the smallest useful piece first, finish it, then decide whether a larger set is worth it.

Product facts

• City Block: Fire Escape Set: The City Block: Fire Escape Set comprises two platforms, each with an angled set of steps, and extra steps are used if you add an additional floor. Useful as an add-on to an existing high-rise building rather than a standalone starter, so it suits buyers who already have a city block.
• Fort Capuzzo - Damaged Barracks Walls 15mm: Fort Capuzzo - Damaged Barracks Walls 15mm is designed to complement the full Fort Capuzzo set, adding a battle-worn look or allowing smaller ruined desert positions. A low-cost individual kit that works with an existing fort or as a small ruined piece, letting you test a desert setting before buying a full fort.
• European Townhouse 3 Storey Narrow Building A: European Townhouse 3 Storey Narrow Building A is a narrow terraced house with a small footprint and multiple floors, and floors can be added or changed by swapping with any narrow style. A complete starter building for a European town centre that can grow later, so it replaces a large bundle if you only need one structure.