Last time I set very vague goals, which I hit, since they were pretty much unmissable.
2025 - A Challenging year
But in a good way.
I managed to complete five challenges this year, three external and two that I set for myself.
At the start of the year I joined Dave Stone's 'Paint What You Got' Challenge. Boxing Day to the end of February to paint, well, stuff.
I used it as an opportunity to build and paint stuff for the first Rangers of Shadow Deep mission.
Next up was Jez of Carrion Crow's Buffet's Forgotten Heroes, the idea being to paint, and if necessary convert, a mini to represent a hero, but you can't use an official mini. I chose a minor conversion for Mina Murray from the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
Around the middle of the year I challenged myself to produce minis and terrain for a live face to face Dungeons and Dragons session for my normally online group. As I built a bit of terrain I entered Dave Stone's Season of Scenery Challenge as well.
Then I challenged myself (so just a time limited project really) to paint undead during October. This was nominally to provide minis for the classic second edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle campaign Terror of the Lichemaster. I managed to collect and paint enough classic minis for the first two scenarios, and it's been a seed for an old school Undead army.
Challenges apart, I finished the minis for the second Orc's Drift scenario, and I got a few extra bits done, mostly for my orcs.
Playing games is also a big part of the blog. The main thing this year was the Dungeons and Dragons game. It may only have been one day, but I put a lot of preparation into it, and I think it paid off.
I got a few games of Warlords of Erehwon played and some 7TV.
The MEGAforce is largely a board and card game group now, and we've tried several fun new games, mostly thanks to Grim. We have managed some Rangers of Shadow Deep, and I'm sure we're all looking forward to Beneath the Mountains of Madness, which T'Other One is organising.
I got to BOYL again and also RECON, but that was it for shows and similar.
Blog wise I passed 100 000 views early in the year, which was great. It's now hovering just under 180 000, so quite an increase in viewing.
Summing Up
The biggest highlight of my gaming year has to be the D&D Day. Hobby wise, I'm a role-player first and foremost, so this was extra special.
Other high points include going to BOYL again and just generally feeling that I'm making real progress sorting through my collection; thinning it, certainly, but also making it better fit for actually playing games with.
So what does 2026 promise?
The success of the Dungeons and Dragons day means that there's sure to be something similar in '26. I've no idea yet what that might be, but the heroes are currently exploring further afield in the Vale, so there's plenty of possibilities. It's also an excuse to tackle more of the RPG minis mountain, get stuff painted, get rid of surplus and identify any gaps.
We'll hopefully I'll get to play through Terror of the Lichemaster, or at least the first couple of scenarios, soonish.
I'll continue plugging away at the Orc's Drift project. Probably with Linden Way next, always my favourite of the scenarios. There's a bit of crossover with the Lichemaster stuff, so that lessens the painting requirements somewhat.
Bodvoc has suggested we look at the old Warhammer Fantasy Battles campaign Dark Shadows. I'll need an army for this, but what? Realistically my choices are orcs or undead, as they are the most finished.
There's a new edition of Kings of War out now, and I've been looking through my various armies, deciding what to keep, what to expand and what to get rid of. I think I need to cut down to two main armies, although I have a few smaller forces that allow for allied contingents.
In any case, my orcs could do with consistent basing, and there's definitely some repairing needed. I've got far too many unpainted stuff for this army, so I'll certainly be thinning out the greenskins.
I'm also looking at rationalising my Fantastic Battles armies in both 6mm and 10mm. A proper terrain set and at least two reasonable armies in each scale is my goal. It might be some while though, so don't be surprised if I make the same vague promises next time.
I'll take advantage of the challenges again. Paint What You Got has already started, and I've got a couple of possibilities.
Mission two for Rangers of Shadow Deep is a good plan, but so is finishing off the Terror of the Lichemaster, which would incidentally expand my Undead army. It's about time I got back to Middle Earth again as well.
I've already decided on my entry for Forgotten Heroes. Nothing too exotic, and it follows the same theme as my previous entry.
The Season of Scenery would allow me to do the aforementioned terrain sorting out too.
It would be great to get more games in. There's the aforementioned 7TV campaign, hopefully Mission Two for Rangers of Shadow Deep, and various games for Warlords of Erehwon, with, hopefully, Bodvoc's campaign starting up. All plenty to look forward to.
So once again I'm sticking with vague and fuzzy goals, which served me well in 2025. I've certainly enjoyed my hobby time this last year, more than in many previous years. The same holds true for my music, maybe a result of the aging process?
* Not Really!
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