I just got a Montblanc Hommage a Frederic Chopin pen. This is the first fountain pen I've tried using, so I have a rather stupid question. How do you get the ink to come out of the pen? I tried following the instructions, but nothing happened. Is ink not included?

Umm, are you trying a cartridge or a converter right now? If its a fresh cartridge, you might have to wait a little for the feed to get saturated. If you are going my converter, pretty much just make sure theres ink in it. If you are filling it by directly dipping the nib into the ink pot, you should be having no problems.
Enjoy your pen!
PRAG

It has a twisty thing that I think is a piston converter.

It won't come with ink in it.. did you fill it up?

Okay, good, it was that. How much does ink cost, and what kind should I get?

Welcome to the Club! MB ink does a fine job. It can usually be found for around $15 CND. You can use Waterman inks if you like; its a little cheaper. I personally like the design of the MB bottle, so I think its worth buying at least one bottle. If you do go MB, I wouldn't buy the Black-Blue. It contains iron or something that makes your writing waterproof. If left in your pen for too long/no regular flushing, it will ruin your pen. Other than that, enjoy or pen!
PRAG

PRAG,

Seems a bit harsh. In this warrior's experience, there's really no risk in using MB blue-black, especially in a MB pen. The diminutive iron-gall component isn't harmful and MB wouldn't sell this formula for use with its FPs (let alone warranty them) if it were. Still, any pen--running any brand of ink--should be flushed from time to time.

Have used MB blue-black on and off since, say, '73 (in 149s, EF and M)--never a problem. Currently working Diamine Registrar's (blue-black) and Rohrer & Klingner Salix (dark blue) and Verdigris (blue) with superb results. Along with MB blue-black, Registrar's and Salix have trace ferro-gallic content.

Ironically, iron-gall free inks like Noodler's and Private Reserve have been recent subjects of clogging- and flow-controversies (see Pelikan forum). Go figure.

Recommended for souls whose temperaments discourage experimentation are traditional inks like Waterman, Shaeffer, Parker and Pelikan. They're fine, if thinner and less vibrant than the storied stuff of elves.

Anyway, iron-gall's been taking names for 9 centuries; for those curious about its chemistry and evolution, some factoids live here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_gall_ink
http://www.knaw.nl/ECPA/ink/index.html

--BAM

Well, one should be more careful when using iron gall based inks. I am personally not comfortable using them, and I think it would be better to start off slowly.

In my Montblancs, 144, 145, 146 I used Waterman Florida Blue with outstanding results. With Noodlers I found the ink would "creep" out the slit on the nib something terrible. That being said, everyone has their own favorite ink and not all inks are the same. Some flow like a river while others come out with barely a trickle. So I would suggest trying different brands of ink. Once again there is no right or wrong, just how you like your ink to perform.