Monday 28 December 2015

A Hobby Review of 2015

This is now the 3rd complete year of blogging about my hobby output. Without wanting to sound too self-congratulatory, it feels like the most rounded year I've had since I first picked up the hobby. I'm enjoying painting and modelling more than ever. I've managed to play some excellent games. I'm still collecting fun ranges and cool pieces of artwork.

A choir of Astropaths.


At the end of 2014, I set myself 3 ambitions relating to painting/modelling, collecting and gaming. To summarise, I wanted to:

- Round out my figure collection for RT/Confrontation, in particular civilians.
- Paint at least 40 varied and interesting figures.
- Play as many quality games as possible.

The Nobles of House Ulanti
Anarchy in the Underhive at BOYL 2015
The mysterious Eldar

How did I fare in 2015? Pretty well! If you like stats, I painted 173 'things' in 2015, including 101 figures and 69 items of scenery. Even if you pull out the 38 rioters I painted for the 'Anarchy in the Underhive' game I speed painted in July, I still exceeded last years' total. And what I painted was many and varied too - gangers, mercenaries, aliens, nobles, Astropaths, tech priests and many more besides!

My hobby performance graph, 2013-2015

As for games, I had the real treat of being able to participate in an Inquisimunda campaign run by Andy Hoare at Warhammer World. Inquisitor Dirske and his gang of mutated and chaos-tainted misfits burnt swathes in search of the mysterious Golden Phrogg, only to be pipped at the last by an unruly gang of Space Orks.

Inquisitor Dirske saw repeated action in 2015. Sadly, he failed in his goals at the last.

So what then, for 2016? If I project forward, I should be aiming for over 200 painted figures and around 70 games!


I suspect, however, that I should focus on maintaining my 2015 drivers - fun games, enjoying modelling and painting.

I would like to paint up at least a pair of small matched warbands of Melniboneans and Pan Tangians for Frostgrave games. I would like to get round to painting some Genestealer hybrids. I am hoping to participate in a new Inquisimunda campaign, starting in January. I would love to finally track down the last of the Citadel and Iron Claw Space Pirates I am looking for.

Most of all, I would like to continue having fun, and sharing it with all of you who take the time read and comment on my particular slant on this niche hobby of ours.

All the best for 2016!

22 comments:

  1. That was another fantastic year to share with you Jon ! Stats are fun, I like them myself but they don't reflect the most important thing which is the bond that's been created between many of us. Or maybe they do and that steady growth of fun and models is the reflection of that !
    Anyway, I wish you the very best for the coming year, may every bit of 2016 be great to you !

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    1. I like stats, but you're absolutely right, shared interests, goals, motivation and fun are far more important :)

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  2. Well done Jon, I'm digging the graphs in particular :D

    That's an extremely healthy total output and crucially it's nice and varied. Fantastic work!

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    1. Graphs appeal to the inner statistician in us all ;)

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  3. I don't understand graphs, charts, or even basic arithmetic, but I do understand fun, and this year has been a lot of fun, especially the parts where I got to know fine chaps like you better, Jon :) Here's to an even better, more productive 2016! :D

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    1. Absolutely! Fun is what it's all about. Can't refute that in any way :)

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  4. Awesome year Axiom! Hoping 2016 brings more amazing Oldhammer time!

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    1. Fingers crossed Mr Grove! Fingers crossed :)

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  5. Hobby stats, you can't do wrong with em. Although 70 games in a year would be a dream! More than 1 game every week! That would be heavenly!

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    1. Yeah, 70 games a week is a pipedream. I reckon 30 or so is probably the sweet spot - one a week, with enough slack for holidays ;)

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  6. Great work, Sir! Sterling contribution to the hobby.

    I seriously want another go at the Anarchy in the Underhive game, it is awesome!

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    1. We must be able to arrange something one evening or weekend. Whiskey Priest and I were talking about meeting up half way one evening at a random gaming club somewhere like Kettering :)

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  7. Agree with all that's been said above! Congrats and all the best for 2016!!

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    1. Thanks Suber. Your stuff is a constant delight also. Same to you!

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  8. Good stuff Jon - thanks for all the inspiration, and for enriching the scene with gems like C87 and RogueQuest. Been a joy getting involved with 'the movement' this year, and you're a big part of that mate. Here's to 2016!

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    1. Thanks Alex! I've loved seeing your output too. Can't wait to see what you're planning for 2016 :)

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  9. Some very impressive painted models here, and some even more impressive use of statistics to help justify your lead addiction ! (; You have an unique style of painting and it has been a real pleasure watching your develop as a hobbyist over the last three years! Here is to the next three!

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    1. Thanks Orlygg. I've really enjoyed the random approach to painting this year. It's been fun to actually be able to corral the randomness and use the figures in games too.

      Long may it continue! :)

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  10. Love the Eldar. Saim Hann has the coolest fluff/background I did a mechanized army of theirs backed up by jetbikes and hyperspace 14 years ago but yours look far superior in their oldhammer goodness.
    House Uluru looks like something straight out of dune aristocracy and I love the display base. Your project with Asslessman was quite enjoyable too.
    Your sheer output and the quality of it is absolutely fantastic, all the best in the new year.

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    1. I'd love to do more Eldar. Like you I have a Saim-Hann army, but it's pretty basic paint jobs. A RT landing party would be a nice project.

      Thanks for the comments :)

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  11. Wow! O_O More than 150 things painted. What's even more impressive is the quality you managed even with so many painted.:)

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  12. I'm not sure how I missed that, but it seems your considerable painting and modeling skills are complimented by some equally impressive graphing skills. Here's to a 2016 that improves on a lovely trend. :)

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