Because this is something that will always come up and the first thing new players ask, I would like to make some example army lists that are based on the boxes available
so having an army list to go with a “what to buy” list
Being not familiar with all armies and how they play I would like to invite everyone to add their suggestions
“guidelines”:
2000 points
stick with Mantic models as much as possible
use Mega Army/Army/Ambush Boxes as base (or 2 player sets)
armies can be mixed (like using the Goblin Ambush set for Ogres)
PMC and small conversion are allowed (like making heroes out of the models from the boxes or using Ironwatch with Ironclad shields as Sharpshooters)
staying below 300€ MSRP
General Beginner Guide:
first recommendation is to get stuff local, no brand recommendation is good if it is not available when you need it
that said to not buy large sets of anything, specially colours and other hobby materials, they are only good value of you need everything inside and most of the time you don’t (starter sets with ~10 colours are usually ok, mega paint sets not so much)
For colours in specific one of each base colour is a good start, black, white, red, yellow, blue, green, brown and a silver metallic (everything can be mixed from that and if one already knows what colour scheme they want go for the dedicated ones)
if you are going for normal paints or inks/washes (like speedpaint or contrast) does not matter much as both use different techniques that need to be learned and both need a primer
yet I recommend to get at least one black wash (be it Army Painter Dark Tone or Citadel Nuln Oil) for Blacklining
primer can be anything that is labeled as dedicated primers, be it brush on/airbrush or rattle cans from the hardware store (coloured spray cans won’t work well and always test those on a piece you won’t use later)
for tools, one utility knife with segmented blade, a frame cutter/clipper and a model drill are recommended as is a set of small files (the local hardware store usually has everything one needs)
also a 0,8mm drill and 0,8mm copper wire to pin models together (or on bases)
if there is no model/hobby store nearby, art or school supply is the next best and in general there are 3 different qualities available, school, student and artist grade/quality (naming differ in different countries) with artist quality is what the hobby colours are but student being good enough for larger projects like terrain or boards