I have bought pins that I have never played before. The ratings on here and www.pinballreviews.com normally give a good gauge on how good or bad a machine is. Its important that you like the theme and how the pin looks too. I think 3k is a tough price point, it will get you a really nice B title or sometimes a beat up A title. That said, High Speed 2 for 2k, Fish Tales in the 2-2.5k range or shadow or no good gofers in the 2.5 to 3k range would all be good choices. I have had them all and all are great. I personally don't think rbion is a good first pin.

Bad theme and kinda ugly. If you want to get something you will love and so will your non pinhead friends will love as well, the Getaway is the pin to get. Or Fish tales.