Wars of Eagles and Empires - with Slaughterloo figures

 I played a test game with the Wars Of Eagles and Empires rules. Very good, exciting game with lots of back and forth. 

Also used some of my new hills and wheat field. 

December 2024 and year end wrap up

A very active hobby month. Besides the annual club Christmas game, I hosted a game at home for the first time...A Very British Civil War with the Combat Patrol rules. 

90 dark ages warriors

Some other highlights for the year:

I tried  Command and Colors Napoleonics like I have wanted to for some time. I enjoyed it, but it will not replace Field of Battle so I think I will sell off the two sets. I played the game with my original Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm figures using the CCN rules on my HEXON terrain. First time the figures had been out in a dozen years!

The big purchase: a 3d resin printer. I treated myself to a retirement present and then got the assorted accoutrements for Christmas. This will become a 2025 extension of the hobby. 

The 28mm MDF pre-colored buildings from Micro Arts Studios were the other big purchase for the year. Built them all and have gotten them on the table a few times. I will look at more from their range. 

I updated my storage system to now have almost all figures stored in plastic containers with steel sheet/magnets. Only the Slaughterloo collection remains unmagnetized, but they are secure in RUBs. 

Part of my post-retirement clean up included some minor work in the basement. I took the opportunity to do some cleaning, organizing, and put down foam mats around the game table for insulation and comfort. 

My main focus on the miniature front this year have been the 28mm sci-fi Quar figures. Released in plastic and resin, they are fantastic sculpts with lots of character and lore. Lets the imagination run wild. 

As a filler project, I have been working on the 28mm generic fantasy figures...mostly plastic kits. I still need to finalize a clear direction for the project. I also finished off all of the on hand Burrows and Badgers figures (until the next kickstarter). 

PAINTING 

90 x 28mm Saxons/Vikings as generic fantasy warriors: 90

Total: 90

YTD: 528

GAMING 

1 x Club holiday game

1 x AVBCW with Combat Patrol with guests

YTD: 23

BUDGET

$192---, $11 Quar tribe subscription, $160 bases, $10 magazine

YTD:  $2004 (Sold: $440)

Plans for 2025

1) Next wave of Quar 

2) Focus on some terrain upgrades: trees, rivers, roads

3) Host a club game in Feb

4) Work on 6mm sci fi home brew rules with 3D printed figures

5) Spending <$2000, sell $500

6) Attend all 3 HMGS conventions

    Cold Wars (this one is a maybe)

    Historicon

    Fall In

7) Complete on hand 28mm fantasy figures

    a. Plastics

    b. Metals

8) Add to 28mm sci fi by getting select sprues instead of full boxes

PLANS FOR 2024

1- Attend Historicon:

-----Complete:  Attended

2- Spend <$2000:

-----So close!:  I did sell off $440 worth of items so met my goal on net.

3- >12 games:

-----Complete: almost double!

4- Work on projects: (focusing on adding to some smaller projects instead of a large figure count)

---a. Quar: start when released:

-----Complete: Painted first two groups, will continue in 2025.

---b. Burrows and Badgers (paint the last kickstarter, and order next!)- 26 figures:

-----Complete: all on hand painted, next batch in 2025

---c. Paint two batches of fantasy figures-49:

-----Complete: painted several batches, big jump on this project

---d. Paint one batch of sci fi figures- 21:

-----Complete

---e. Paint a AVBCW BUF platoon- 30?:

-----Completed 60

5-Put together the rest of the Battlesystem card terrain

-----Not Complete: I bought and built a big batch of MDF buildings. I may sell the Battlesystem. 

Purchase plans:

1) Quar when released...soon!: done

2) Next Burrows and Badgers kickstarter in Feb.: done

3) BUF platoon, need to decide on figures. look at historicon or order with Quar from Wargames Atlantic if BEF are released.: done

4) Several 28mm plastic Stargrave/Wargames Atlantic boxes (5).--- look at historicon, WA order: pushed to 2025

5) Some paints, brushes, bases.: Purchased

6) Maybe upgrade my trees, rivers, and roads: still in planning.

Project Update: 9 projects

Quar:

---Last Painted: June, 2024

---Last Gamed: Sep, 2024

Slaughterloo:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2024

28mm Fantasy:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2024

---Last Gamed: Feb, 2024

Burrows and Badgers:

---Last Painted: Sep, 2024

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2023

Pulp:

---Last Painted: Jan, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jun, 2020

A Very British Civil War:

---Last Painted: Oct, 2024

---Last Gamed: Dec, 2024

28mm Sci Fi:

---Last Painted: Feb, 2024

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2022

Fantasy 15mm:

---Last Painted: Jul, 2019

---Last Gamed: Jul, 2021

Kingdom of Katzenstein 15mm Imagi-nation:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2018

---Last Gamed: Nov, 2024

Yule Time Peace Treaty

The Unionist forces near Tenterfeld find themselves almost surrounded by superior Associates brigades. The Associates have an opportunity to destroy the Unionist main body in the final game of my Slaughterloo solo campaign. 

Unionist commander says "NUTS!"

Strong position on the river line, but both flanks are under pressure. 

Early clashes cause losses to both forces. 

The river will be hard to breach. 

Joccian cavalry are routed by opposing militia!

Holding the flank. 

Pressure increases. 

The Manicotti Line are routed in their first engagement (but rally later to hold the center!)

Associate cavalry move to cut off the Unionist line of retreat. 

An opportunity to cross the river is fleeting. 

Militia are routed.

Albion cavalry charge the Al-Gharvey defenders. 

The defense is holding but the line of retreat is blocked. 

Could this be disaster?

Holding out.

Unionist cavalry start to counter attack. 

They defeat the Associate cavalry on both flanks. 

Heroes are made this day. 

The road west is reopened!

Todoroni hold at the river, causing heavy casualties. 

The Goblins of Al-Gharvey do the same, but one regiment is forced to surrender. 

Todoroni militia hold the line. 

Supported by the Guard on the flank.

Flanks are holding.

The sun is setting. 

A parley on the bridge, almost surrounded Unionist force will be allowed to withdraw with all honors of war. Peace breaks out on Christmas day. 

December 2023, end of year wrap up, and a look into 2024

A close out of another year. My painting and gaming output dropped, but finances held steady since I sold more than I bought. 

With the huge Slaughterloo project complete, I am going to focus on adding smaller additions to existing projects...and starting one new one! I am enamored with the 28mm sci fi Quar from Zombiesmith Miniatures...they are Anthropomorphic ant eaters with  WW1 era technology locked in a perpetual war. Very strange...grimsical as the webpage says. 

After painting the first batch, I am now selling my Albedo sci fi project. It is a great concept, very nice figures, but I have been frustrated building the figures. I am not sure any more will be produced in the range, and I don't want them to just sit on the shelf, I have to want to work on each project in my list. 

Manicotti Line Regiment—-routed in their first engagement!

Princess Julianna Line Regiment

Generic fantasy warriors.

PAINTING

36 x 28mm Slaughterloo Figures

25 x 28mm Generic warriors

Total: 61

YTD: 501

GAMING

1 x pulp Christmas game at the club

1 x Slaughterloo with FOB3 solo campaign

YTD: 12

BUDGET

$46, bases, TMP

YTD: $2466

(Sold: $2750) +$284 for the year

STATUS OF PLANS FOR 2023

1- Finish the Slaughterloo project by end of June- DONE

2- Start the year with the 30 Pulp figures I received for Christmas-DONE

3- Finish the B&B figures by end of the year.- NOT STARTED

4- Maybe start the Albedo figures in 2023, or this becomes 2024 main goal. - STARTED...now selling

5- Attend Historicon.- FAILED

6- >15 games for the year.---FAILED

7- Spending <$1000 plus Historicon costs -Sold enough to break even

8- Work on the 28mm fantasy figures if I need a break.- STARTED

9- Sell some more 15mm stuff.- DONE

PLANS FOR 2024

1- Attend Historicon:

2- Spend <$2000:

3- >12 games:

4- Work on projects: (focusing on adding to some smaller projects instead of a large figure count)

---a. Quar: start when released:

---b. Burrows and Badgers (paint the last kickstarter, and order next!)- 26 figures:

---c. Paint two batches of fantasy figures-49:

---d. Paint one batch of sci fi figures- 21:

---e. Paint a AVBCW BUF platoon- 30?:

5-Put together the rest of the Battlesystem card terrain

Purchase plans:

1) Quar when released...soon!

2) Next Burrows and Badgers kickstarter in Feb.

3) BUF platoon, need to decide on figures. look at historicon or order with Quar from Wargames Atlantic if BEF are released.

4) Several 28mm plastic Stargrave/Wargames Atlantic boxes (5).--- look at historicon, WA order

5) Some paints, brushes, bases.

6) Maybe upgrade my trees, rivers, and roads

Project Update: 9 projects, in order of last painted or gamed

Quar:

---Last Painted:

---Last Gamed:

Slaughterloo:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2023

---Last Gamed: Dec, 2023

28mm Fantasy:

---Last Painted: Dec, 2023

---Last Gamed:

Burrows and Badgers: whole range on hand (next kickstarter in Feb)

---Last Painted: Dec, 2021

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2023

Pulp:

---Last Painted: Jan, 2023

---Last Gamed: Jun, 2020

28mm Sci Fi:

---Last Painted: Jul, 2022

---Last Gamed: Jan, 2022

Fantasy 15mm: Large number of figures on hand to be painted.

---Last Painted: Jul, 2019

---Last Gamed: Jul, 2021

A Very British Civil War: Continue to add figures occasionally---could use a BUF platoon

---Last Painted: Jul, 2019

---Last Gamed: Jun, 2021

Kingdom of Katzenstein: My 15mm "Napoleonic" imagi-nation.

---Last Painted: Dec, 2018

---Last Gamed: Dec, 2011

November 2023

 I have now been in the hobby as an adult for 15 years. Figure I have another 30 good years in me :)

Alost done the two additional units for my Slaughterloo project...just have to base this weekend, so they will count in December. 

I also have 25 generic dark age warriors for the fantasy 28mm project ready for over Christmas.

Sold off the 6mm sci fi project...again. I could not muster the motivation and my concept was just not coming together. Never again. 

Had a Star Wars space game at the club with a guest game master. Thanks to Dave/Hawk for hosting us. 

I also have the what may be the final game of my current Slaughterloo campaign on the table at home. 

PAINTING

0 completed

YTD:440

GAMES

1 x club game of Star Wars.

YTD: 10

BUDGET

$10 primer

Sold $170

YTD: $2420

(Sold: $2750)

August 2023

 A second round of COVID kept me away from the club game this month. This was especially disappointing since I missed Historicon due to work last month.

I did get in some good painting time and a large battle in my Fantasy Black Powder campaign.

Spending was OK...but I have been tempted by yet another project. I jumped into 28mm sci Fi Quar figures (grim dark WW1 type sci fi) from Zombiesmith. I posted my interest on TMP, and received 25 figures for free from another gamer...and bought a batch of 30.

28mm generic fantasy figures, all done with speedpaints. This is another reboot project (like the 6mm sci fi). I will start with 5 Leagues from the Borderlands, then build up into some larger skirmish games with Feudal Patrol. I envision it as an exploration, kingdom building game with lite RPG elements.

I have to decide if I start the 6mm sci fi project reboot, next batch of Albedo figures, or start on the Quar.

PAINTING

85 x 28mm fantasy figures: 85 points

YTD:440

GAMES

1x Slaughterloo

YTD: 8

BUDGET

$90 on figures and glue

YTD: $2220

(Sold: $2500)