I finished the seven miniatures I got from the Kill Team starter set in order to get my Death Guard army back to 1000 points after having so sell about 750 points of them last year. This time I am sticking to 1000 points. I helped organize a 1000 point 40k game league at the store, so have a reason to be at that point level, and stick to it (I know, famous last words..) Well here it is. A small tidy force, including enough stuff for the Combat Patrol, Boarding Actions, and 1k games.
By far my favorite project of 2025 was this GW Navigator and Cartographer Voidsmen Porxies. I loved painting the, enjoyed the process thoroughly, and are keeping them after my decision to give up on a second 40k army for now (my IA stuff are getting donated to store army or sold off to Noblke Knight).
I finished my Jade Obelisk Warcry Band. This is the last project of 2025. I wish all a Happy New Year!
2025 was a year of rapid increase and then rapid decrease in
hobby collections and spending.
The good news! I got more games in, mainly in
Challenges and Games and Comics
Warhammer 40000: Mostly multiplayer games and
two-player games in the 750-1000 point level.
I also organized a small Combat Patrol four player tournament.
Battlefleet Gothic: Finished my two fleets (Imperial
Navy and Death Guard), helped four other people start BFG, and played four of
five games.
Historicals: Played Bloody Big Battles (two games),
War and Conquest (one game), and Bolt Action (two games).
Misc. Tried Trench Crusade, Kill Team, and One Page Rules Grimdark
Future
Hobby Groups and Store Support
I was able to get going a monthly meeting for BattleTech,
and for Historicals for Challenges Comics and Games. While attendance is not as
good as I would like (we have to do it Thursday evening), it has become
regular, and that is the most important thing.
I was able to support Challenges at a higher level than my
first year, mostly by buying stuff with others and sharing. I started a 40k
Store Army for the store, and I am glad to say we are close to getting it to 1000 points.
I helped prepare some Bolt Action demo forces for the store.
I gifted my terrain set to the store, as I do not expect to
play at home.
Projects
Here were the mixed news. I started and then I had to give
up on many projects in order to raise money fast for family issues (I am
thankful to NobleKnight games for always willing to buy stuff from me).
I sold my 28mm Late Medieval Army, the Imperial Guard stuff I collected and half
painted (all Wargames Atlantic Death Fields or Iron Core stuff), my Clan
Battletech Stuff, the War and Conquest rule book, the DBA rulebook, and my
Escher and Alternative Armies stuff. Also most of my Imperial Agents stuff.
I essentially limited my hobby collection to one1000 point army (Death Guard,) One Warcry Band (Jade Obelisk), One Kill Team (Rogue Traders), one BattleTech force (Inner Sphere), my Bolt Action 28mm Greeks, and the 10mm Bloody Big Battles collections.
Failures
I had promised a Goito 1848 LJdPB scenario for BBB and I
failed to do that.
So what are the 2026 plans?
Projects
A) I aim to complete my 1000 Warhammer 40k force (Death
Guard, in the most affordable and store-supporting way
possible. I envision about 60 USD spent for this (Death Guard)
B) I aim to get one more squad for my Bolt Action 28mm
Greeks so that I can have a complete Platoon). I expect to pay about 30-50 USD
for this
C) I will built a 1250 pint Conquest Last Argument of Kings force (200 USD)
Gaming
I am trying to get a monthly Skirmish Gaming event at Challenges started from
2026. I will probably play Kill Team and War-Cry there.
Will probably start a 1000 point Warhammer 40000 league in
the store. Might combine it with my Illustris Campaign stuff.
Bloody Big Battles, will hopefully see a transition to ACW
if my mother-in-law brings me my ACW 10mm collection. It will need rebasing.
Bolt Action will be on the rotation.
We are still hankering for a rank-and-file game. Some of us,
including me, are ongoing the new 10mm Wargames Atlantic Hundred Years War
stuff. But we also have a huge want to play Conquest. We will see.
So my expectation for Hobby stuff in 2026 are
I quick-painted two small forces for demoing Bolt Action at Challenges Games and Comics. Some early war Germans, and US Rangers in 1943-44. Very lazy and basic painting by me, but good enough I dare say.
We played our first game of the Illustris Campaing in the Warhammer 40000 universe. Jimmy brought his Eldar and we palyed a scenario I wrote where they were trying to stop Battlefleet Illustris from landing forces on artificial planetoid in the Illustris system. The Eldar were succesful which gives them a points advantage in game two of this track of the campaign, which is a 40k battle.
A narrative report can be read here Report on the Action at Kerkops
Me and Khayman met today at Challenges Games and Comics for our once a month historical meeting. We played my Oeversee 1864 scenario (see the Material for Wargaming page for link). It was quick game, with Khayman's Austrians hampered by bad dice rolls, but able to clinch the draw in the final turn. A flanking cavalry manuver from him drew away half the Danish force, which helped isolate the remaining Danish unit protecting the road. We were done in 1 hour. The dedicated mat really looked nice!
