Reddit mentions of Fantasy Flight Games Space Hulk: Death Angel

Space Hulk: Death Angel would be my first pick, but a lot of the other options here are great too. (Except resistance. I will never figure out why people buy a game that can be played with a deck of poker cards.)

Tough luck if you're looking for d6s... to my knowledge all the WH40k RPGs run on percentile rolls. If you can get past the funny-shaped dice, though, there's a good variety of games depending on the particular flavor of grimdark that appeals to you.

And if you just really, really want to roll d6s in the WH40k universe, while spending less money than the wargames... maybe give Space Hulk: Death Angel a try? It's a card game, not an RPG at all, but you play Space Marines fighting Genestealers, and you do roll six-sided dice in it, and it's pretty brutal. You'll lose and you'll sweat through two shirts doing it.

30 bucks is a bit of an awkward number. Thematic games tend to be pricier as well. Here are some recommendations off the top of my head, some end up a couple bucks over 30:

Death Angel

[Red November] (http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-SL08-November/dp/1616610638/ref=pd_sim_t_60)

[Eminent Domain] (http://www.amazon.com/Tasty-Minstrel-Games-1005TTT-Eminent/dp/0984155856/ref=pd_sim_t_57)

[Infiltration] (http://www.amazon.com/Fantasy-Flight-Games-VA79-Infiltration/dp/1616613963/ref=pd_sim_t_17)

[Power Grid] (http://www.amazon.com/Rio-Grande-Games-RGG240-Power/dp/B0007YDBLE/ref=pd_sim_t_7)

[Flash Point] (http://www.amazon.com/Indie-Boards-Cards-PSI-IBCFPF1/dp/B005YXFW1U/ref=pd_sim_t_9)

[7 Wonders] (http://www.amazon.com/Asmodee-SEV-EN01ASM-7-Wonders-Game/dp/B0043KJW5M/ref=pd_sim_t_6)

I too recommend allocating a couple extra dollars if it means getting a game you really want. Anyway, hope this helps :)

Would a lap desk work? I'm not sure how much room you'd need for Lotr since i've yet to play it, but this is supposed to be the "Jumbo" size. And if you're looking for another solo card game to fill the time, I recommend this guy, Space Hulk: Death Angel. If you can hang in there and not get frustrated, you might really enjoy it. Good luck with the surgery!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1589946634/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1473463710&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=space+hulk+death+angel

It's not like it's gone

The cheapest one I can think of that has a similar feel and can be played solo is Space Hulk: Death Angel. It's pretty fun, and you can get it for less than $20.

Edit: Also, Gears of War: The Boardgame plays quite similarly to Zombicide and has awesome miniatures to boot; you can get it for less than $50.