Best (cheapest) starter paints.

[rob_the_robgoblin]

I used Inscribes when I first started, but then, I was just a 7 or 8 year old with an over-active imagination.

Now I use a mixture of GW, Tamiya, Miniature Paints and anything else that's worthwhile or has colours you can't get anywhere but will need a lot of (for example, pinks for my Flintloque Todoroni uniforms, which Miniature Paints are great for!).
I've also had good experiences with Foundry, but they are pricey.

Coat d'arms are meant to be very good as well. 

[Captain Blood]

Coat d'arms are meant to be very good as well. 

Shiny 

[Ironworker]

For craft paints I like Delta Ceramcote and Folk Art Metalics.  Apple Barrel is crap for mini painting but I sometimes take advantage of it's unique properties when doing terrain projects.  I use Folk Art a lot on terrain especially their metalics and Ceramcote too. 
Ceramcote works pretty well for starter mini paints.  Honestly if you are painting to game with the figures then they are pretty nice paints for a great price. 

There are no magic paints that will make you a great painter.  Also pigments varry quite a bit from brand to brand so you may find a certain color in one line of paints that just works better for you than any other paint reguardless of brand. 

[TheSnackist]

And consensus is....

Reaper: 3
P3: 1
Various 'higher quality' craft paints: 5

Hmm... I will say this: I'm pretty happy with a few of my craft paints, especially the blue I have. I've never had a serious problem when painting a mini blue. Go figure. That yellow on the other hand... Comes out like unshaken mustard. Should just throw the stupid thing away. Pretty much useless.

A little disappointed to find there isn't a 'quick fix' or 'magic paint' that will greatly improve my painting. Guess I'll just have to muddle on... Watching the thickness of my paint. Don't thin too much. Do thinner layers vs thicker ones. Multiple coats. All the usual stuff.

Oh, and do some quality control on my own black washes. Sooooo hard to get the right ratio to bring out all the detail without pooling too thickly and in all the wrong places.

-TheSnackist

[DeafNala]

There is a little problem with Reaper paints...they're dropping them. Their new "umbrella" company already has the Master paint series...a real bummer for anyone who likes the Reaper colors.

[TheSnackist]

What about this?
http://usshop.thearmypainter.com/products.php?ProductGroupId=7

Anybody had experience with the starter sets? I was just browsing looking at the 3-step Army-Painter technique and I noticed they have the starter sets. Thoughts?

-TheSnackist

[dijit]

Thanks for the link Capt to Inscribe paints, wow they are much cheaper than I was imagining.
Duncan

[Wirelizard]

There is a little problem with Reaper paints...they're dropping them. Their new "umbrella" company already has the Master paint series...a real bummer for anyone who likes the Reaper colors.

Got a source for this news? Nevermind, just re-found their press release about "Hobby-Q" as the new Reaper umbrella company. From the sound of it, "Master Series Paint" is now a division of "Hobby-Q", alongside "Reaper Minis" and some other stuff. Doesn't sound like anything is going to actually change with regard to the Master Series line, thankfully.

They ARE dropping the Pro Paints - the bottles aren't avaiable anymore, apparently: Jan. 3 annoucement on TMP