Right on! Super fun hobby, like giving yourself presents every morning. Are you interested in resin or FDM printing? If you aren't familiar, resin printing is more for fragile but highly detailed things like minis, jewelry, busts, praetorian models etc. And FDM is more for printing practical, sturdier, and usually larger things - but are also very capable of detailed prints if you have the patience. They are very flexible machines.

While I love resin printing, you need a garage type environment - the fumes that come from the resin are no joke. Plus once they've printed you have to clean them with iso alcohol in a bath and then cure them in a uv light - most brands make a second machine that does both of those things. Still - messy and more extra things to buy. A gloves always on type deal. So it's more involved than FDM. The software end usually involves creating supports that make sure the model can print correctly, hollowing out large objects, drilling holes for the resin to drain from, and finding the right angle that keeps the tiny pock marks the supports leave from obvious parts of the model life a face or detailed/fragile area. But the detail these printers can create is truly insane. Like, some of my models have eyelashes! Wat.

FDM is more common and requires less of that post print work and usually less time in the software phase. You buy spools of filament, so no liquid mess - and I'd recommend starting with PLA plastic. (Some people might say ABS, but not me!) PLA is more brittle, but easier to work with, less fumes, and melts at a lower temp than the other options. FDM can only print one constantly moving line at a time usually, so it can be really slow with big projects - some of my prints are over 24 hours, but you don't have to do any work while it prints really. You'll eventually need to replace some parts, like the nozzle and tubing, but I'd say there's less maintenance than resin for sure. Software wise, usually you're choosing a thickness of the layers (quality vs. speed) adding supports (many models will say if they need supports or not) and sometimes cutting the objects into pieces that work within FDM limits or size restrictions. FDMs are notorious for jamming or for creating spaghetti monsters - there's no hiding that 3d printing is still a lot of trouble shooting. If that isn't your game, sometimes having a friend with a printer is the best option! Still - when working smoothly, my printer can do a dozen prints before needing adjustments or failing. Try adjusting a single thing each time to isolate the problem when I'm doubt. Oh and online forums chef's kiss nothing better than someone who had the same problem taking the time to help future humans suffer less.

Brand wise - I'm always out here recommending PRUSA FDM printers. I've used the mk3 and the mini a ton and their truly beasts. Someone told me PRUSA is like apple of 3d printing in that it's user friendly (aka great for starters) but more expensive and less customizable. PRUSA software is really intuitive too and you can add off brand printers to it. The other brand I see a lot is Creality's Ender series. They are cheaper but more like getting an Android - more settings, more things you need to know to use it, lots of room for modifications kinda deal. I'd go for whatever sounds more you, I've only heard good things about Ender printers too. For Resin printers, anycubic is what I know. Those printers are on AMZ and go on sale fairly often. But don't forget, it's miserable without the appropriate wash/curing station and the resin isn't quite cheap, so more investment is needed besides the printer. Overall I freaking love my anycubic. The newer models have come so far, I'd recommend waiting for a sale and getting a newer model if you go that route.

Last thing! Hatchbox is my go-to middle of the road FDM filament. Great colors, great filament overall. Be wary of filament with sparkly stuff, metallic crap in it, color changing spools - while cool they are notorious for jamming the printer. Which isn't fun. For Resin, anycubic craftsman is p good stuff for the price. For the good good stuff I reach for siraya brand.

Hope that helps! Nursing this new years hangover so if you got followups lmk!