Sunday 30 December 2018

A Hobby Review of 2018

Phew! It's been a busy old year and I'm very much enjoying taking a bit of a festive break. Since the very start of this blog, I've taken the opportunity to take a look back at the end of each year, and its hobby highlights. This year is no different, and it feels like it was another good year.

At the end of 2017 I set myself some ambitions:

- To attend Bring Out Your Lead (BOYL).
- To travel to Ireland again for another gaming weekend
- Join participate in a new Necromunda campaign.
- To continue with Choose Your Own Adventurers.
- To paint some RT forces.
- To paint some Dracula's America in Space figures.

Oh, and to have fun and play some cool games!

Gaming in 2018

In 2018 I played a similar number of games to previous years. I didn't get across to Ireland, but I did attend BOYL, and a real blast it was too!

My car boot full of figures and terrain to be used at BOYL!


Dracula's America in Space at BOYL.

Bounty Hunting in the Underhive at BOYL.
I also had a few gaming sessions with my mate Graham at his place.

Necromunda was the key theme of the year though. My gaming group is now mid-way through our 3rd campaign of the year, and I'm on my 3rd gang (Confrontation Hunters, Techs and now mutie cultists). 

In April I also attended the first Necromunda tournament at Warhammer World since the new game came out. The best part about it was that one of my opponents, Mike, has since joined our Necromunda gaming group - it was worth it to meet a great new gaming buddy!



3rd best Necromunda player in the world (current rankings!).
I'm looking forward to more Necromunda to come in the New Year, and hoping for an improvement in my mid-table rankings in our campaign!

Painting and Modelling

The year was full of fun painting and modelling projects, some of which have been on my wishlist for years! I finished off three Confrontation gangs (the Hunters, Bratts and Techs) using in the main period figures. I didn't paint up my RT space elves, but I did make a nice new Eldar Kill Team using RT scouts. I also managed to paint Buck Rogers starfighter, a selection of mutated cultists, Johnny Alpha and a host of terrain. Not any Genestealer cultists though!


The Hobby Chart

But I know all you really want to see is the chart. Here you go:


In 2018 I painted a total of 160 'things'. A thing is a thing - a large terrain piece counts the same as a barrel. A single 28mm miniature is the same as a vehicle. I'm pretty pleased with a total of 160, even if it is a drop of last year's high (207 things).

Number of games is holding steady at 40. Less than the 2015 high of 46, but it roughly equates to one game a week excluding holidays.

I'm just hopeful that I maintain enthusiasm and have time for a similar level of output next year.

Plans for 2019

Speaking of next year, what does it hold? I say this every year, but as long as I managed to have fun games and enjoy what I model and paint, that's a success for me.

That said, I know I'll be working on some post-apocalyptic / fringe world terrain in the New Year, and I already have plans for the next Necromunda gang (I fancy making some fighters from House Helmawr).

I'll attend BOYL 2019, keep up the Necromunda campaigns, and I'm sure other opportunities will present themselves!

I'll sign off for 2018 now - have a great holiday period and wishing you and yours a great 2019!

20 comments:

  1. Nice look back and forward Jon. That bounty hunter game was one of my highlights for the year, well done on that!!!!

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    1. The bounty hunter game was a lot of fun! It was great to see different characters of each hunter emerge :) Hopefully we'll get some more cool games in 2019.

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  2. Hmmm I quickly copied your chart and overlayed my two things painted onto it. The results are unsurprisingly not as impressive. Keep up the blogging and have a great 2019.

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    1. It's not necessarily just about totals. If you're happy with your painting output, then that's great :)

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  3. Your 2018 looked like a resounding success. I'm hoping to make it to BOYL 2019, but I need to get serious about flights, lodging and travel around the countryside.

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    1. Let's hope all the international planning works out!

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  4. Happy new year! Very productive year, I'm jealous - really like everything but some of my favourites have been this year (tech gang and the caravan especially). Any plans to pick up 40kcthullu in 2019?

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    1. Thanks! The caravan was a lot of fun to make too.

      I'm not sure about 40kthulhu- it's on the back burner for now, but you never know!

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  5. Happy new year and I look forward to following your excellent blog in 2019!

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    1. Thanks Kym! Hopefully I can keep you coming back :)

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  6. Was waiting for it to appear on the fb group but never saw it. Anyway, I've seen it now. Another fine year as always Jon. You always cram so much in. My favourite fig of your year? Tough one to call; Love the starfighter and there's some great figure selection there too but for technique I'd say the Strontium Dog characters. All the best for 2019!

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    1. I might not have posted in the group. I'll do that!

      Glad you like the Stronts, I'm really pleased with how they came out :)

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  7. A very analytical look back at 2018 ... may you have an even better 2019.

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  8. You really make it look like everything's going according to the plan in an impeccable manner and with such a clear view. I'm still a fan. ��

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    1. I don't think I'm strategic enough to have a long term plan :D

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  9. What a chart!

    I really like your all-one-photo. You've had a balanced output of indivduals, gangs, vehicles and terrain. And it rams home your thirst for 1980s Citadel! Looking forward to seeing what you do in 2019.

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    1. Thanks Curis! It's nice that it ended with a pleasing mix of stuff, in spite of it being a completely unplanned approach!

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