The first 1000 points
The best way to get started with Dwarfs is the Battle for Skull Pass (BfSP) box set. This sold for AUD$85 when it was launched back in 2006, but as of Jan 2010 the RRP is AUD$115. In this box set you get the following:
If you were to buy the Dwarf models separately they would cost AUD$140 - AUD$150, so the BfSP is good value. Not only are you getting the Dwarf models at a discount, you've got the rule book and a whole set of Goblin models as well.
When playing Warhammer games, each player can pick units up to a predefined point limit. The Dwarf Army book is purchased separately from BfSP and will give you details of all the Dwarf units available, potential upgrades that you can use, and the points costs of the units and upgrades.
A typical point limit for new players to aim for is 1000 points. Games with 1000 points a side will have a variety of units, giving you a real feel for your army. The games can be played fairly quickly, taking less than one and a half hours once you know the rules. Some gaming groups run leagues for 1000 pts armies.
The Dwarf models from the BfSP are enough for an army of between 627 points and 728 points.
Sample 627 point army
Sample 728 point army
Exactly the same models have been used in the two lists above, but in the second list some of the models have been made more powerful or effective in the game by upgrading them with magic runes. For example, the Runic Armour in the above list provides the Thane with better protection than normal armour. The Runic Weapon attacks more quickly, more often and with more power than a normal hand weapon. The cannon with Rune of Forging is more reliable than a normal cannon. Refer to the Dwarf Army book for details of these magic runes.
There are many ways that you can upgrade your initial army to 1000 points. Two of the many options are described below.
Option 1: A second set of BfSP models
Given that the BfSP is such good value, one way of expanding your army is to get a second set of BfSP models. If you don't want the Goblins from your first BfSP box set you may be able to trade them with a Goblin player who has a spare set of Dwarfs. If you do want the Goblins from your first BfSP box set, you might as well buy a second BfSP box set and expand both your armies at once.
A Dwarf army of less than 2000 points is restricted to a maximum of 3 heroes and 3 special units. The Thane and Dragon Slayer are both heroes, and the Miners and Cannon are both special units. As such you won't be able to use all your units at once. A sample army list of 996 points is given below
You would put both Thanes in your Warrior unit. In close combat, the two Thanes are there to rack up kills while the main purpose of the Warrior unit is to provide combat bonuses from ranks, outnumber and a standard. Many opponents won't want to take on this unit, so the second Thane has the Master Rune of Challenge which forces one unit to charge the bearer or flee.
There are lots of alternatives to the above list. Instead of using the second Thane model with axe and shield, you could paint the Warrior standard bearer that you aren't using to stand out and use it as a Thane Battle Standard Bearer.
Another alternative suggested by Kazadvorn of Bugman's Brewery would be to convert the Miners to Hammerers. Before converting your models it would be worth playing a few games with the Miners proxying for Hammerers. (Proxying is where you use one model to represent another model, so you can try it out before making up your mind). Kazadvorn's suggestion is to cut off the points of the picks and use drawing pins for shields, to make them into Hammerers. In the same way you can use drawing pins as shields for the Thunderers.
A sample army list of 982 points would then be
To distinguish between the two cannons, paint them slightly differently.
Option 2: Longbeards and Organ Gun
You can make Longbeards from the Dwarf Warriors box set (which contains 16 models) and the Organ Gun from the Dwarf Cannon box set. The total cost of these two box sets is about AUD$85.
A sample army list for 995 points would be
This is just one of a number of options for expanding your force to 1000 points.