2018 in Review.

Well, here we are, another year (almost) done, so I'd better take a look back and see how things went, huh?

2018 has been a year of ups and downs really (so, pretty much like any other year) and it's seen me going from all-in to almost nothing.  There have been long periods of silence, which I've tried to make up for by still working away in the background.

Easiest way is to look at those #hobbyresolution2018 vows and see what I managed.

1 - Transfer my flip-top paint collection to dropper bottles. (83/550)

Resolution - A continuation from last year, I managed to do all the GW Base paints and Washes, and figured out a set-up that allowed me to do about 9 paints at a time.  The washes were easy, the base paints took slightly longer due to consistency.  I'm hoping the layer paints are a bit quicker.  It's a lot of paint to get through, but it does include the remainder of the newest GW line, almost the entire Foundry line (missing one of the discontinued WWII sets) and the original P3 line.  I guess taking the time to do a few sets of 9 every time I have a spare day will help to chip away at it.   Even if I can't get through it all I'd like to at least clear the GW ones, and ideally the P3 too. 

Well, I didn't get to tick this one off...  I made a fair amount of headway into the GW paints, but still have a few sets of 9 to do to finish the line.  I smell an ongoing resolution.

Reward - some new paints.  I figure that if I do either of the GW or P3 lines I'll grab another set of Scale75 paints to fill out the collection.  If I do both, I'll get two.   If by some Herculean effort I clear the Foundry ones, well, I reckon that's worth two sets in itself.

Well, beyond picking up the newly released (at the time) Army Painter paints, and replacements for used ones, I didn't buy any new paints, so I guess that's ok.

HobbyResolution2018 - 0/16

2 - Organise and run a two day Warmahordes event, (1/1)

Resolution - Run April Fuel Daze again.  For my first big solo two day event, things went surprisingly smoothly, and it was definitely well received.  The fact that it was the largest two day event in Scotland for WarmaHordes last year was also a nice bonus.  I'd like to make it part of the WMH event calendar if at all possible, and would be aiming to up the places from 24 to 48.

Managed this one, in April funnily enough :p  the event went really well, a huge thanks to everyone that came along to play, the event sponsors, and Falkirk District Wargames Club for the use of hall and tables, and chipping in to the prize support.

Reward - Attend a two day event as a player.  It's good to let someone else call the shots once in a while, and I enjoy travelling to events and meeting up with folk I don't get to see that often.

Well, between Welsh Masters and the World Team Championship, I got the reward for this one.

 HobbyResolution2018 - 1/16

3 - Make £500 selling old models. (20/500)

Resolution - Like most gamers, I have an insurmountable amount of tat lying about collecting dust, and like most gamers, I've always told myself that I'll get around to it some day.  The thing is, as I'm mostly about the aesthetics, most of the minis I've bought are because they look cool and I really do want to paint them.  Listing stuff for sale and dealing with the inevitable bargain hunting can you dig out one model from a collection of thousands for a pound just isn't worth the time or effort  (people, gah)  One of my main barriers to productivity ( after video games) is just the sheer amount of stuff sitting about to get around to.  Clearing some of that will hopefully clear my mind a little.

FAIL.  I can't even remember what it was I sold now...  I guess the problem with buying models you want to paint is you don't want to get rid of them, just in case you do paint them some day...

Reward - I guess the reward is doing this, I get £500 cash and free up some space.   Less clutter equals less distraction.

 HobbyResolution2018 - 1/16 

4 - Maintain the Blog with weekly and monthly updates. (30/52 and 9/12)

Resolution - Do a #workbenchwednesday post each week and a monthly update.   I always have the best intentions when it comes to blogging, but always seem to peter out after a few posts.  This year I want to try and break that by providing regular updates.  It's kinda hard to stay accountable to a general readership of 0, so, hopefully by posting more regularly, this blog will pick up some followers and I'll actually need to work at entertaining them.

Well, didn't complete this one,  but, it's been a better result than previous years.  Started well, as per usual, the only thing is, a Wednesday update can be iffy as I'm always just coming off a nightshift.  Still, workbenchThursday sounds naff, so, we'll stick with the Wednesday update.  Even if it is Wednesday in a different time zone.  I managed an (averaged) bi-weekly update at least, and hit 3/4 of the monthly ones.  Giving myself half a point for that. 

Reward - No idea.  She says get a new laptop.

No new laptop for me...

HobbyResolution2018 - 1.5/16

5 - Go to 2 Gaming Shows or Conventions. (2/2)

Resolution - Get out the house and go to a couple of shows, ideally including one of the Scottish ones this year.  I missed them due to being out of the country for various WarmaHordes events last year, so would be good to get back to them and see the familiar faces.  Outside of Scotland, I try to get to York with the club as it's a good day out, and there is a bit more variety in traders.

 Well, I made it to Vapnartak in York and Carronade in Falkirk, so, can tick this one off the list.

Reward - Again, no idea.

HobbyResolution2018 - 2.5/16

6 - Play 6 New Opponents. (6/6)

Resolution - Play a game against (or including) someone I've never played before.   A repeat of last year, but it worked well, and, well, I guess it helps me feel a bit less anti-social than I can be due to nightshift.

Well, I aced this one.  I played way more new opponents than 6.  Actually, I played 6 people I've never played before at both Welsh Masters and the WTC, so, win.  Add to that a few guys from the club, and one of the Norse that came over for April Fuel Daze.  Looks like I might not be completely anti-social.

Reward - No idea.

HobbyResolution2018 - 3.5/16 

7 - Play 100 Games (100/100)

Resolution - Play a total of 100 games across miniature and board games.  It's a big part of the reason why we paint these things so I'm told, so I guess it makes sense.

Managed this between WARMACHINE (well... HORDES), a fair amount of Shadespire, and a good weekend at Adam's.

Reward - No idea.  Not sure these rewards are gonna be any sort of incentive...

HobbyResolution2018 - 4.5/16

8 - Play 6 different Board Games. (6/6)

Resolution - Again, a repeat of last year.  Still, have to put those kickstarted dollars to good use.  With any luck Rivals will eventually turn up this year (not holding my breath for Torn Armor) and Rising Sun is due to be delivered.  I've still got to get around to trying out all the Undead for Runewars V2.  I can see Blood Rage and Chaos in the Old World being pulled out again.
 

Well, neither Rivals or Torn Armor showed...  but I did play (over) 6 board games, though, Rising Sun wasn't one of them...   Blood Rage, Battle Lore V2, Zombicide, Shadespire, Fury of Dracula, Pokemon Monopoly, King of Tokyo, Silk Road,

Reward - Pick up an expansion for one of my boardgames.

Does backing HATE count?

HobbyResolution2018 - 5.5/16

9 - Play 3 New Games or New Editions of Rules (3/3)

Resolution -  The past couple of years it has pretty much been 99.9% WarmaHordes when it comes to playing miniature games.  I haven't played 40k since maybe...  2004?  And I have umpteen sets of rules that have been updated without ever being played.  Plus there are new games coming out all the time, so this challenge should be relatively easy.  Seeing as I put the Deathguard together and got them painted, I figure the new 40k should be one of the games I play, and Saga has a 2nd edition coming out too, so that will probably make the list.  Malifaux, once I get the starter done would make up the 3rd.

Well, I got the Death Guard on the table, dabbled in historicals with Sharpe Practice, and indulged my inner Mad Max with Gaslands, along with playing SAGA V2, and probably other stuff.  Win.

Reward - Buy a new rulebook (and try to have models painted and playable before it is obsolete)

Yeah, I think I used all the unclaimed rewards on this one.  The Library Abides.

HobbyResolution2018 - 6.5/16

10 - Paint 4pts of Normans for SAGA. (4/4pts, 21/28 models)

Resolution - Paint at least another 2pts of Normans to give me a 6pt force, and aim for 4 to give me some options.  I currently have 8 Mounted Hearthguard (2pts) and 8 Warriors with Crossbows (1pt) part done from last year, and put together 12 Levy (1pt) the other day, along with a mounted Warlord and a...  well, I don't know, objective marker of some sort using one of the casualty figures from the sprue.  Can't find the dead horse in my bits though...  I'd probably throw in another unit of Warriors to this lot, as that would, over 3 units, give me the 24 models to run 2 units in Lion or Dragon Rampant, and having had a brief look, should be, with these new additions, enough to play a game.

Well, I painted up 2 units of Mounted Hearthguard, a Priest, a unit of bow armed Levy, plus a casualty marker and a mounted Warlord.  That's a pass.  Still need to add those crossbows though...

Reward - Pick up the SAGA 2nd Edition rules.

Done.  And the source books.

HobbyResolution2018 - 7.5/16

11 - Maintain Butcher's Guild being fully painted. (0/3 Models)

Resolution - Get the last 3 (current) models built and painted.  It's 3 models.  One of them is a single piece.  And it means my Guild is fully painted and I can maybe look at starting one of the other ones in the backlog.

I got the bases done...  Think after 2 years it's time to rehouse them off the workstation.

Reward - Pick up the Guildball Terrain pack from SFG.  It'll make a change from flat mdf that I use for Warmahordes.

Good job I didn't pick up any new Guildball stuff, right?

 HobbyResolution2018 - 7.5/16

12 - Paint remaining Deathguard for Warhammer 40,000 (0/49 Models)

Resolution - This one is more for her benefit as she's keen to play, to the point that when she picked up the latest edition, she swapped out the Primaris Marines for more Deathguard and immediately gave them to me so that I'd have an army.  I managed to get one box worth finished last year, and have the 2nd to work through, alongside a few extras like Deathshroud Terminators, some of the Easy to build kits and the Limited Set, plus a donated monopose Hellbrute and the Nurgle Daemon Prince from when it first made the transition to Finecast.

Nope, they are still in the box, gathering spider webs.

Reward - Probably pick up a Plagueburst Crawler as a nice centrepiece model (I would have said Mortarion, but I'll save him for when I have a much larger force)

Well, I've been handed all the Deathguard stuff from the Conquest magazine, so, that's actually added to the pile of shame.  But I didn't buy it, so...

 HobbyResolution2018 - 7.5/16

13 - Paint Waiqar half of Runewars Miniatures Game Starter (0/26 Models)

Resolution - Picked this up last year to split with her because I loved the models (part due to Battlelore V2) and got started on it, but that hit a wall.  Steve at CGG is trying to get it up and running again, so I figure might as well get it tableworthy.

 Did a little bit on them, but not enough to actually finish anything.  Haven't seen the game being played, so, not sure if it is worth bothering with.  Duffy was talking about getting into it, so, maybe?
 

Reward - I'll probably pick up the Waiqar Infantry Command Unit Expansion, or, if I can find one cheap, a 2nd Core box.

Good job I didn't pick up any new Runewars stuff eh?

 HobbyResolution2018 - 7.5/16

14 - Paint a 15mm Hordes of the Things Army (13/14 Elements)

Resolution - It's one of those games that has been on my radar, probably because of the amount of older grumpier gamers that wax lyrical about it, although the cover kills it for me because it looks so 70's...  but it gets rolled out at the club every now and then, so, I figure it might be something to get me playing people outside my usual group, and knock some of the huge 15mm backlog down.

Well, I managed this one fairly easily, despite still not having played.  A bit of confusion on my part meant I'd miscalculated the units/points, so I didn't do the 14 elements I had planned, but I did 13 worth 28AP, so still enough to have choice for a game.

Reward - No idea.

HobbyResolution2018 - 8.5/16

15 - Paint a 75pt Warmahordes List (73/73 Models)

Resolution - I already have plenty of Circle and Minions table ready (I mean, I still have huge backlogs of both, but...) Recently I made up a 2 list competitive (for me) pairing for all 13 Factions, and spent the last of my PG points picking up the models I needed to complete the Legion and Grymkin pairs, along with one of the Trollblood ones.  I am close to having everything for the Retribution, Minions and Circle lists.  I also came into possession of the new Trencher army box for Cygnar...  I guess it would be nice to paint up a real Warmachine faction after playing Hordes exclusively (demo games aside) for a few years, but I think Cryx or Khador is more my style.  So, contenders are Cygnar, Grymkin, or the Blindwater side of Minions.

Well, I aced this early in the year, picking Grymkin, and then painting up 3 lists for Welsh Masters to go with the solitary Skin & Moans heavy warbeast I'd painted as a tester.  Turns out I painted 226 points of Grymkin, plus 4 Warlocks.  

Reward - This is a weird one, because the reward is gonna be part of the project.  Depending on what I choose, I'm either going to need to pick up a few more models to finish a planned list, or a bunch or resin bases, so, once I've chosen, I'll work on what I have and then pick up the models/bases as required to finish the list.

I spent the last PG points I had on filling out a few of the things I was missing with the idea of continuing towards fully painted max FA with this.  Not sure about a second Deathknell, but, time will tell...

HobbyResolution2018 - 9.5/16

16 - Paint the Hog Wild Malifaux box (6/6 Models)

Resolution - It always comes back to pigs doesn't it?  I picked these up mainly for the boars for the Marcus box I had, however, I reckon they'll be more fun to do.  Not to mention quicker.

Managed this one easily enough.  Another win.

Reward - No idea.  A new Malifaux model? 

Don't think I picked any Malifaux models up this year.  Probably bought a new rulebook though.

HobbyResolution2018 - 10.5/16 


Well, the results are in, a mighty 10.5/16 Resolutions completed.  It's not amazing, but, it is a small step up from last year's 9.5/16.   That being said, I managed a few things that weren't listed, so I'm happy all in all.  Some highlights include -

- hitting a #hobbystreak of about 140 before real life kicked in.

- Painting a grand total of 378 miniatures this year (actually over 400 if I count the individual figures for the Hordes of the Things bases, but... it's already a big number, so I'm not that desperate)  The fact I didn't lift a paintbrush for at least one entire month says a lot.

So some of the commissions and industry stuff has been posted out but...

- Painting up a completely unplanned Draugr army for Fantasy SAGA/Blood Eagle/Fantasy Dark Ages gaming.  Somewhere in the region of 70 models from a variety of manufacturers.  It's a fairly dark and basic colour scheme, but it works as intended.

 - the article I wrote about Scatter Terrain getting well over 1000 views.  Was kinda taken aback by that.

- Clearing all the outstanding commissions (and getting and finishing more) from my workstation.  Feels kinda weird, but I do have some stuff pencilled in for next year.

- Taking part in the Warmachine & Hordes World Team Championship and representing Scotland (maybe not the best representation, but I beat Tom Guan, so...)

- meeting a bunch of cool new people.

Luke Borrie, Aussie Troll

I only vaguely remember seeing CFB at WTC...

All in all, I'm happy with my results over the year, and a full of optimism for the upcoming one, just got to get a nightshift out the way, and I'll be back tomorrow with the new and improved #hobbyResolution2019 version.

All the best,


John

 

#workbenchWednesday 26/12/18

Merry Christmas reasders, here we go with the final #workbenchWednesday of the year.

Had a bit of a clear up to get ready for a new set of #hobbyresolution challenges starting, so it currently looks like this -

 

There are a few grave/objective markers for the Dark Age Draugr, that will also be used as markers in Age of Sigmar, along with one of the Lord of the Rings statues, another Footsore Shaman, kitbashed to stand in as a Necromancer, and a test Zombie Levy model.  Because I have a lot of them to paint.

59 Restless Dead on a workbench, 59 Restless Dead...

Being that I plan to paint up 120 Zombies, that pictures shows just under half of them...  Plan to get the other 60 built and primed before New Year.

I hoe that Santa was good to you all, I managed to end up with the Nightvault box for Shadespire, along with a map pack, the Broken Egg Grymkin faction tokens and some widgets, and a bunch of status tokens, along with a nice haul of Xyston Gauls in my 15mm Advent Calendar.

That's pretty much it, I'll be back Monday with the December update and then it's into a newer, more productive year. 


Cheers,

John

#workbenchWednesday 19/12/18

Back again with another update.  Been a busy week, so let's crack on, right?

It might look like not much has changed, but they have red trousers now...

In a move designed to shock and confuse everyone that has been following up to this point, I actually applied some paint to the Butcher's seeing as they are closing in on 2 years sat on my desk...  Just blocked in the trousers for now, as I've been working away at other stuff.  Spent some time tidying up the primer on the Grymkin stuff too, so that they are ready to go next year, and did a little bit of work on the Reaper Faery Familiar.

None more black.

Gaming wise, knocked out a few more games of Shadespire.  Orruks into Skaven down the length of the board isn't fun...  and took my Oni out for their inaugural battle at the club before it wrapped up for Christmas.   Sadly the Oni failed to penetrate the Sacred Grove and huckle out the Shinto Priest and his secret Wasabi sauce recipe, and were almost cut down in their entirety by a bunch of marauding Monks...  The Oni Mage was the star of the show, dispatching 4 Orange robed riflemen and archers before disappearing in a puff of smoke (AKA I had to leave for work).  My Oni Lord performed exactly as newly painted models do the first time you put them on the table, by fumbling his attack 3 times in combat before being bludgeoned into the Otherworld with a Masterwork Yari...

Note to self - Reaper Bones = rubber weapons...

Magic?  I just made half your war party "disappear"  

So, after that poor performance, I'm glad I'd already ordered some reinforcements for the warband, in the form of the other 2 Bones Ogre sculpts.  A website error resulted in me getting another 2 of the same sculpt I already had, but they've been returned to get the correct one.  The massive Giant is for Blood Eagle.

It might look like a big sword, but it is bent more like a massive boomerang...

On the subject of games room acquisitions, I've picked up a few things recently when Xmas shopping. I grabbed the Saga books I needed from Footsore Miniatures  because paying RRP is offset by the free figures.  The Irish Warlord was missing, but hey, it's Christmas and it's busy, so no big deal, it is getting sorted.

Fantasy proxy Crusades army incoming.

Not sure what Faction I want to paint up for the Crusades, I have a pile of Fireforge Games Mongols still in the packaging, although, a quick scan shows them as mercenary options...  I'll have to go over the book in more depth.  I wouldn't mind painting up something that would also allow me to play Outremer:Faith and Blood, getting more double duty out of models.  Along with the free figures that came with the books, I also picked up another shaman, the blood eagle piece and Lady Guinevere.  The Shaman will be getting changed up slightly to be used as a Necromancer, and the blood eagle will be an objective for SAGA.

In keeping with using lipped bases whenever possible, I picked up the 50 and 60mm oblong bases from Fenris Games as I wanted to see how the cavalry looked on them.  The 50's were useless as they aren't lipped, but the 60's are great, essentially, 2 30mm rounds together with the gap filled.  I also picked up some Runestones for Objectives/Basing and a War Griffon Druid, she's 54mm scale, but should be perfect for a Norse Goddess in 28mm for Of Gods and Mortals.  

On the subject of 28mm Norse, I dug out a pile of Wargames Foundry Vikings that I've owned since...   pfft...  errr.... the very early 2000's if not earlier, with a view to doing a Jomsviking force for SAGA, that will also give me a selection of models to use in OGAM and Blood Eagle.  Although Jomsvikings have a 3 star difficulty rating, I can go Hearthguard heavy and have 6pts done in 25 models.  Or be really lazy and add a legend and priest and do it in 18.  I've sorted out the models to do a Warlord and Priest, 6pts of Hearthguard ( 2 with Great Weapons), a standard Warrior unit, and a unit of Berserkers if I want to use them as basic Vikings.  Plus they look awesome.  Threw in a Standard and Musician too, not necessarily for SAGA, but I might as well get them done to give me options for other games.  I've tried to use as many of the chain-mail armoured bodies as possible to represent the Hearthguard, I have a feeling there are even more hidden in the loft, because I couldn't find the massive Viking hero I was looking for.  As far as shields go, the plan is to use the embossed ones on the Hearthguard, the split ones on Warriors, and the blank ones for Levy.  It's maybe a bit too uniform to be historically accurate, but it will help tell them apart on the tabletop.  I've owned these minis for about half my life, it is really time to get some of them painted.

4 Hearthguard units (2 sword/2 axe per unit)

2 Hearthguard units (great weapon) Warlord and Priest.

Berserker Hearthguard, Surplus Command, Warrior unit (4 sword/4 axe)

The final purchase was a Fox Ranger, Bat and terrain piece from Oathsworn Miniatures , as I'm tempted by both Burrows & Badgers (which I have the rules for) and Rangers of Shadowdeep (which I don't) but it is pretty much Shadows of Mordor from what I gather.

I can probably just paint her as a Wolf, right?

Finally, here's the image of my most liked pictures from Instagram over the course of the year.  Nice to see a bit of a mix of things, rather than just everything being the same.

So that's it for now,  Merry Christmas when it comes, and I'll be back next week.


Cheers,

John

#workbenchWednesdays 5 & 12/12/18

I didn't update last week, as there wasn't realy anything on my workbench, and it is kinda the same this week again.  I think I am winding down for the year, plus my sleeping pattern is shot (moreso than usual) because of work and stuff.  Gotta love the retail side of Christmas...  Anyway, the workbench currently looks like this -

 There is a base sitting ready for a Ringwraith model for my Saga Rampant Draugr, the part done Reaper Familiar, and the woefully neglected remaining Butchers for Guildball.  Not sure what it is with them, just can't seem to find the oomph to get started with them.

 Off to the sidelines are the first two Stormcast Eternal warbands for Shadespire, along with a random Foundry Viking, two units of Piggybacks, the Wanderer, a Rattler and a Witchwood for my Grymkin army, that all need the primer touched up, and some 15mm stuff, a Copplestone Northlander Hero and some 4a Miniatures Dwarves that I picked up earlier in the year at the Penrith show.

 

I have been very busy on the assembly front the last few weeks, in fact, I've had to start using 2 trays to hold all the models ready to go.  I've built up 72 Mantic Zombies to use as Levy for the Draugr force, along with 10 Wraiths, a couple of the easy build Deathguard kits (I've put these ones on lipped bases, as I already have some on bevelled ones for my Deathguard army) plus a few other random things.  I also made some Objective/Scenario markers using the Renedra Gravestones and Zombie parts and based a couple of LotR statues, with a mind to doing 3d terrain over the next year.

Finally, here is the current state of my assembly area.  A second unit of Werewolves assembled and awaiting greenstuff, some Mantic Wights (I think, not sure they were ever released) and a couple more terrain pieces, a small ruin from Lord of the Rings, and a Games Workshop staircase piece festooned with Grim Reaper motifs.


So yeah, that's about it really.   Couple of weeks left of the year to get set up for a productive 2019, I've already started working on new hobby resolutions, as well as filling out a diary for when I should be blogging/events/etc.


Fingers crossed eh?


Cheers,

John