Overview of 2025 Hobby Activites and Projects for 2026

 

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.

From my most recent 40k game. 750 points and a victory for my Death Guard over the Great Devourer! 

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).

Photos from my latest BA game. A Greek victory over EW Germans at the Metaxa Line

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.

 The 40k Store Army. All is painted by me, and significant protion donated by me. 

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.

I essentially limited my hobby collection to two projected 1000 point armies (Death Guard, Imperial Agents), BattleTech (Inner Sphere), my Bolt Action 28mm Greeks, and the 10mm Bloody Big Battles collections.

That  said in the name of supporting the store, and in also scratching my rank and file and fantasy itch, I did half-buy a Warcry intro box with the goal of slowly building it into a 1000 point army for Para Bellum Conquest, which we are enthusiastic for in the store.

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 two 1000 Warhammer 40k forces (Death Guard, and Imperial Agents) in the most affordable and store-supporting way possible. I envision about 150 USD spent for this (Death Guard will be completed using half of the Kill Team starter box, and Imperial Agents via a box of Armigers)

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 probably will seek to get one more War-Cry box and slowly work on building a Conquest Army. Again the goal is to support my local store. (I expect this to be 100-150 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

• ·         Warhammer 40000 limited at 1000 points, plus Kill Team
• ·         Bolt Action, Bloody Big Battles
• ·         BattleTech
• ·         Battlefleet Gothic
• ·         Some fantasy gaming, probably initially War-Cry with the aim of going to Conquest
• ·         Something else in Historicals?                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Small Project Done: Bolt Action forces for the store collection

 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.

Illustris War: First Campaign battle-Naval action at Kerkops

 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 

Bloody Big Battles but a small battle: Oeversee 1864 at Challenges Games and Comics

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! 

One Page Rules at Challanges Games and Comics.

 On Frday me and Nathan played One Page Rules Grimdark future. We enjoyed the fast 1000 point game, and liked the simplicty of the system. My Havok Brotehrs/Death Guard lost to his Soulsnatchers/Tyranids. While we do not see it replacing 40k, it provides an option for multiplayer games, and games when time is short. 

Bolt Action! On the Anniversary of the Onset of the Greco-Italian War of 1940-1941

 On 28th October, me and Khayman at Challenges Games and Comics set down and played our first Bolt Action game, pitting his Italians vs. my Greeks. The scenario was essnetially a King of the Hill, wth the Italians aiming to silence the Greek gun. We had a ton of fun, and enjoyed the game. The rules were simple but generated tactical discussions. The Greeks lost.After a very long while I played a historical wargame other than BBB. Bolt Action will become a staple for us. 

750 Point Warhammer 40000 game: Orks vs. Death Guard

 Pictures from today's 750 point game. My Death Guard lost to Thom's Orks 40 to 44 points.