Goals Update #2

   Well, it's the two month mark, one-sixth of the year gone already. I thought that sounded like a good time to revisit my goals for the year, and check on my progress. Overall, I am pretty happy with it.

10. Win a game of Ogre.

   DONE!

9. Paint 100 25/28mm miniatures.

   25% complete. Doing pretty well, so far. The Lead Painter's League competition is helping me drive this forward.

8. Paint 100 15/18mm miniatures.

   49% complete. Not bad at all.

7. Play at least 10 VSF games.

   50% complete.

6. Paint more minis than I purchase this year.

   So far, so good...

5. Spend less, play more.

   So far, so good...

4. 'Finish' at least one of my 25/28mm VSF factions.

   41% complete. Edging closer to this goal. Again, the LPL is helping. Besides the LPL, I have already painted up seven of the seventeen figures I figured I needed to call the Automaton faction 'finished.'

3. Finish my Flames of War 8th Army (Indian) Company

   86% complete. Going for a 1500 point force, I have painted up about 1277 points. All that is left is the mortar platoon and two more 2-pdr portees (need to buy those still). That will be a base Rifle Company (Indian) with some support.

2. Publish another issue of The Aethergraph

   DONE! You can get a copy of Volume 3, Issue #1 now.

1. Enjoy Gaming.

   So far, so good...

Off to A Rousing Start

   Well, I am off to a rousing start this year already. I've even accomplished one of my goals for the year already. That would be Goal #10: Win a game of Ogre.

   I've made two internet purchases already as well. The first was some bases that I will be needing for some 15mm minis that I have almost finished (the 11 British Naval Brigade troops). They just need to be based and clear coated, and that puts me a good little step on the way to my 100 mini goal.

   The second purchase was from WargamesVault. I bought the PDF of the Olde Towne Bundle of Stoelzel's Structures. I need some 25mm Victorian city buildings, and these look as if they will fit the bill. I will print some out this morning and hopefully by this afternoon will have a building or two assembled. Eventually I want to put them on foamcore, but I think I will start with simple card buildings. One thing that I like about them is that I can print out a bunch of cardstock, and take that and some white glue to a convention. Spend the night before a game gluing it together, and just give them away afterwards. Ultra-portable convention terrain - it might get me to bring a game to Historicon again!

Top Ten Wargaming Goals for 2014

   It is that time of year when everyone looks forward to the new year, all bright and shiny and full of promise. We all commit ourselves to buckling down and finally tackling some big project or problem or whatever "for sure this year." I'm no different, I suppose. So here are my Top Ten Wargaming Goals for 2014 (and in no particular order).

10. Win a game of Ogre.

   I know this sounds petty and miniscule, but I have yet to win a single game of my new 6E Kickstarter Massive 27 Pound Box of Wonder Designer's Edition Ogre. Partly this has been a result of my truly wondrously abysmal dice rolling skills. Never say "anything but a One." I should know this by now.

9. Paint 100 25/28mm miniatures.

   This is how many minis in that scale that I painted in 2013. I would like to match that. I do count cavalry as two figures, because I hate painting horses (and most other mounts as well). Artillery pieces only count as a single mini in my estimation. Vehicles in the bigger scales

8. Paint 100 15/18mm miniatures.

   I have started on this goal already, though nothing is finished yet. It ties into another of my goals, somewhere below...

7. Play at least 10 VSF games.

   This has been my favored genre for the past decade or so, and I am not tiring of it yet. I finally got my second IHMN company painted up, so I am ready to host that. Except for terrain. Looks like a meeting in Regent's Park - I have trees and walkways, even a few benches and lampposts.

6. Paint more minis than I purchase this year.

   Also known as The Pledge. I have set this goal many, many times. I've never achieved it. Even taking minis I received as a gift out of the equation. Not planning on any major convention this year may help somewhat, as it will reduce the purchases, theoretically.

5. Spend less, play more.

   This goal will be, in one respect, much easier than last year, because I am not going to Historicon. That was  a pretty good chunk of my gaming expenditures last year, between airfare, car rental, hotels, and the dealers room and flea market. In another respect, it will be more difficult, because I usually get at least six games out of the convention. I will have to make it up at home somewhere.

4. 'Finish' at least one of my 25/28mm VSF factions.

   I am about 17 or so minis from finishing my 25mm Automatons, so I definitely want to finish them off this year. I would also like to finish either the British or the Germans as well. Neither is as close as the Automatons, unfortunately.

3. Finish my Flames of War 8th Army (Indian) Company

   This army is about 18 months old, and the guys that I play with have moved on from desert war, but I think I can still get some use out of them. I just primed two of my 25-pdrs., and finished the Staff HQ set in December.

2. Publish another issue of The Aethergraph

   For those of you who don't know, I put out a small e-zine called The Aethergraph. I published 3 issues so far, but haven't done a new issue in almost two years. I would like to publish at least one issue this year. If anyone wants to help with some artwork, battle reports, background or rules pieces... I'd be glad to have some article contributions.

1. Enjoy Gaming.

   The whole point of this hobby is to have fun. I want to concentrate on that when I spend precious time on hobby activities.

The Tally Thus Far...

   Midway through August, just about two-thirds of the year gone. Time to review my project progress, I think. And, it seems pretty good, actually! I am grading the year on four criteria: Painting accomplished, money spent, blog posts made, and games played.

   I have already painted more 25mm, 6mm, and fleet scale miniatures this year than in all of 2012. I am very close with 15mm, as well. More terrain has been readied for play, and more vehicles. In all, the only category that I am lagging behind in is re-basing, and that mostly because I did the majority of what was necessary last year!

   Expenditures are pretty high, granted. But that includes a good bit for a round trip airfare, hotel and car rental to attend Historicon. Plus the hefty spending done there. So, not too bad, and certainly less than I would have spent on a hunting lease or a fishing boat.

   Games played: I did not track these very well last year, but I would hazard a guess as to say I am playing more as well. Which was the point of tracking them - a spur to activity!

   Finally, I am already over the 2012 mark on posts this year. Thanks to those of you who follow regularly, and to those who occasionally pop in but don't actively follow: why not? What would you like to see mroe of here?

End of May Review

   In short, May was a horrible month for painting. Too many guests, too much work, etc., etc. The excuses abound. But the fact is I only sat down at the table for about three hours in the entire month. Here's the official tally:

• MG Platoon Goal: 15mm Indian Machinegun Platoon for FOW. Primed only.
• Great Cannon Crew Goal: Finish these two buggers. Untouched
• Free Taffy Goal: Finish these ten sods, too. 90% complete. A few touchups and basing.
• 6mm French Walker Goal: Epic GW Eldar War walkers, x4. (new!) Still in packing
• 6mm British Walker Goal: Epic GW Imperial Guard Sentinels, x5 (new!) Still in packing
• 6mm Rocket Goal: Epic GW Pulsa Rokkits, x2 (new!) Still in packing

  In addition, I started work on a 25mm scout aeronef from Ironclad Miniatures. You can find out more about that on Victoria's Boys in Red. Finally, I did work on a random piece, just sitting there looking for some work to be done. It was a GW Epic Squat Overlord airship. Well, I suppose it still is one, just with some fresh paint and a new purpose: to serve l'Empereur. Yes, a French airship for 6mm VSF. It is actually quite small, but heavily armed for its size, with six field guns, a few Mitrailleuse, and an assortment of bombs.

6mm French Armoured Zeppelin

May Goals

   I suppose I ought to start with a wrap-up of last month. I did finish the Indian Rifle Platoon, as expected. I also painted a 25mm building for VSF on Venus. Still incomplete are the Welsh Regulars for VBCW, and the Empire Great Cannon's gunners. Have not started the Indian Machinegun Platoon. Which brings us to the May Goals:

• MG Platoon Goal: 15mm Indian Machinegun Platoon for FOW.
• Great Cannon Crew Goal: Finish these two buggers.
• Free Taffy Goal: Finish these ten sods, too.
• 6mm French Walker Goal: Epic GW Eldar War walkers, x4. (new!)
• 6mm British Walker Goal: Epic GW Imperial Guard Sentinels, x5 (new!)
• 6mm Rocket Goal: Epic GW Pulsa Rokkits, x2 (new!)

  My friend Zach bought me some toys when he was on vacation - a lot of GW Epic stuff. I will be using this as support weapons for my 6mm VSF forces. It will even be the start of the 6mm French, for which I have no infantry, cavalry, or guns. Oh well, I can always order some later, right?

   Not a lot of new stuff, and what there is should be fairly easy, but I want to get those 28mm figures DONE this month. Maybe I'll snap some WIP shots and post them. If that's all that gets completed, I will be happy. Happy-ish, at any rate.

April Goals Update

   Haven't really been spending a lot of time at the painting table. Lots of Real Life getting in the way and all. And grad school. Which is interesting, but has been kicking my mental butt. One more week, then semester is over. So here is how everything is going:

1. 6mm British WTNW Goal: Finish last two battalions from March. 100% done.
2. VBCW Regulars Goal: Finish the unit of 10 Free Welsh Republic Army Regulars. Not much progress, about 60% done. I added an armband on them, and did a little painting.
3. FOW Indians Rifle Platoon Goal: Finish the last section of the platoon. 95% done. Needs basing and clear coat.
4. Brass Soldaten Goal: 8x Parroom Station Clockwork Soldiers I purchased at Historicon 2011 Flea Market. 100% Done.
5. WFB Empire Gunners Goal: Finish two gunners for Empire Great Cannon. Still sitting there, about 50% or so.
6. FOW Indians MG Section: At least one section of HMGs to support the Indians. Still sitting in their package. That is so sad.

   So the FOW Rifle Platoon is just about finished. I will say that goal will probably be met by the end of the month. I could see the MG Section getting primed, but doubt it will get painted.

   I started stating goals again so that it would motivate me to get work done. It has, to be honest, but Real Life has been very intrusive into my play time. A problem we all face. In all, I am honestly not too upset about the progress this month, all things considered.

 

April 2012 Goals

   As prophesied yesterday, here are this month's goals:

1. 6mm British WTNW Goal: Finish last two battalions from March.
2. VBCW Regulars Goal: Finish the unit of 10 Free Welsh Republic Army Regulars.
3. FOW Indians Rifle Platoon Goal: Finish the last section of the platoon. And the new stuff...
4. Brass Soldaten Goal: 7x Parroom Station Clockwork Soldiers I purchased at Historicon 2011 Flea Market.
5. WFB Empire Gunners Goal: Finish two gunners for Empire Great Cannon.
6. FOW Indians MG Section: At least one section of HMGs to support the Indians.

    I know its a lot of goals, but two of them are mostly finished, and one is a simple project. I have another, super secret project that I am not ready to unveil just yet, that I hope to have more work done on over the next few weeks. I'll reveal that when the time is ripe...

March Goals Wrapup

   Here we are, the start of a new month, and, of course, the end of the previous one. In March, I did fairly well on my goals, considering, and I think I am still motivated to put paint on lead, which is the idea of the whole "Small Short Range Goals" movement I started here. Now, I didn't finish everything, or even most of the four goals for March, because of a variety of factors. Still, I made some pretty good progress on them.

1. Zulu Rebasing Goal: 100% completed. Ready for battle. But I could use a unit of rifle armed Zulus, as all of mine are armed with melee weapons only.
2. FOW Indian Rifle Platoon Goal: 73%+. That's 27 of 37 done, with ten remaining in various stages of painting.
3. 6mm WTNW British Goal: 75%. Two battalions finished, two about 50% done, maybe a bit more.
4. VBCW Regulars Goal: 30% +/-. None finished. Added greenstuff armbands on Saturday night after realizing I needed to differentiate them from English soldiers - same uniforms and equipment, you know. But a lot of painting still to do on them.

  Not bad, considering the obstacles I had to overcome this month. That lost week really hurt me, though. I think I would have finished the 6mm and maybe the FOW Indians.

   What's on deck for this month? Two new items for sure. Check back in tomorrow for the scoop. Oh, and some pictures I hope of March's work.

March 2012 Goals Update 2 - Final Week!

   Coming into the final week of the month, and things are not looking good for the finish line. Here's where I am at so far...

1. Zulu Rebasing Goal: 100% DONE.
2. FOW Indian Platoon Goal: About 55% done. Doubtful that I will finish No. 3 Section, but rest of the platoon I think will get done.
3. 6mm VSF/Colonial British Goal: Call it about 60% done. 2 battalions done, 2 battalions about half painted, but still need basing, shading, etc. Probable to finish.
4. VBCW British Regulars Goal: 25% done. Most of the figures have their uniforms blocked in, and flesh. Lots of painting still to do on them. Little to no progress on these. Highly doubtful I will finish this month.

   So that's where I am, with only 4 days to go, and most of them weekdays.

March 2012 Goals Update 1

  Half way through the month, and not a single project finished. I would be more discouraged, but honestly I have been too worried about the memsahib here at the Clinic for the last week. I am only posting notices here and elsewhere as a distraction while I sit here and stress out about her. See how well that's working?

1. Zulu Rebasing Goal: about 25% done. All 20 have been removed from their old bases. I don't remember if I glued them on to the new ones yet, but I don't think so.
2. FOW Indian Platoon Goal: again, about 25% done, and almost all of that is the first squad which I essentially finished in February. Once I get home I can finish the bases on that first squad and shoot some pictures.
3. 6mm VSF/Colonial British Goal: Call it about 30% done. 4 bases (one battalion) just need base decoration.
4. VBCW British Regulars Goal: 20% done. Most of the figures have their uniforms blocked in, and flesh. Lots of painting still to do on them.

   Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me for this month, and only two more weekends!

March 2012 Goals

   So, first day of the month, time to get my goals set.

1. 15mm Zulu Basing Goal: Rebase last 20 Zulus.
2. 15mm Indian Rifle Platoon Goal: Paint support bases and remaining two Rifle Squads.
3. 6mm British Infantry Goal: Paint three battalions (18 bases, 3 figs/base)
4. 25mm VBCW Goal: Finish 10-man Regulars squad.

   Again, this may not seem like much, but I will be leaving town and going to Minnesota for one week in March, and none of my painting supplies will be traveling with me. So, taking a week out of it, plus time for grad school, grading student papers, and the occassional few minutes of sleep here and there, and I think I will be pretty satisfied with achieving these baby step goals.

End of February Goal Summary

  All right then, you've all been waiting with baited breath I am sure to see how I did with my not horribly ambitious monthly goal for February, instated about a week ago. And, as of 2145 in Houston, by God Texas, the results are in - seeing as how I have decided I am done for the night, and it's the 29th.

   Drum roll, please... (rat a tat a tat a tat a  rat a tat a tat ...)

1. 15mm Zulu Basing Goal: 80%
2. 15mm FOW Indian Infantry Squad Goal: 90%
3. 25mm Ironclad Steamtank Goal: 100%

   Even though I did not totally finish two of the three projects, I am still pretty happy with my progress. On the Zulus, I got all of the loose Zulus based, flocked and clear coated. That's 81 of the total 101. I have 20 more that are already on square wooden bases that need to be removed and then attached to the small washers I changed to in mid-project. So, that will be at the top of the order for next month's goals, which I will post tomorrow.

   On the Indian Rifle Company squad, I have all 10 painted and, in addition, I got the Platoon Command Rifle stand painted as well. Just need to base them and clear coat, and they will be done. So, 90% of the goal completed, plus some extra figures as well. I also have the mortar team and Boys ATR team about half painted up.

Goals Update, II

  Just a quick rundown:

• Ironclad Steamtank Goal: 100% complete.
• Zulu Basing Goal: About 60% complete. Not sure I will make this...
• FOW Indian Rifle Squad Goal: About 50% complete. Should finish, except maybe for basing.

   In addition, I have been working on some more FOW Indians (the Platoon Command, 2" Mortar and Boys AT Rifle) and a few more 6mm Brits. Best part is, I am enjoying myself.

   And for those of you worried about my using GW paints, let your heart not be troubled. I borrowed the appropriate Vallejos from a buddy (thanks, Zach!).

   On a totally separate and not-gaming-related note, my pool finally passed final city code inspection. Now we can fire up the heater, clean the pool, and get in the hot tub by the weekend, I hope. Good day!

Goal Update

   After the whinge-fest I indulged myself with on Friday, I thought I would Do Something About It today. The results were favorable, for a first day of getting back on the wagon.

6mm British Battalion

   The Zulu Basing Goal stands at about 41% completed. That is, I have 41 out of 101 totally done. Yes! I like that. The other 60 are in various stages, so I suppose I could claim that I am further along than 41%, but considering that 20 of them need to be removed from their old bases first, and that I am out of superglue to attach to the washers right now, I am going to go with only what is actually done on this goal. But a 25% jump from yesterday is a good start, I think.

   The Indian Rifle Squad Goal is now about 15% done. I have most of the base coat down on the MG section, but I thought I had a Rifle section with NCO primed. Wrong! Had to clean up another Rifle section and get it primed. That's done now, though. I might do the Platoon HQ base as long as I am after this. But I do have one major problem: lack of two paints! And the LGS does not carry Vallejo - I've asked, they are basically a GW pimp. I suppose I could prostitute my love for Vallejo and just get the equivalents in GW pots, but that hurts. So a start, but a good bit to go still.

   The Steamtank Turret Goal is almost done, call it 95%. Just waiting on that superglue to attach the gun barrel to the turret front, then I can spray the whole tank with Testor's ModelMaster dullcote (my clear coat of choice these days) and it will be table ready at last.

 Ironclad Miniatures Steam Tank

   In addition to the above, I also finished off a Warrior Priest for our WFB Empire army, and the first battalion of 6mm British for my long-stalled 6mm When The Navy Walked project (top photo).

  In all, a good day. I think though, that instead of instituting monthly goals, I might want to do weekly goals instead. Shorter range, more targeted. Something I want to think about at least.

Setting Goals

   If you read my VSF blog, Victoria's Boys In Red, this may look familiar. But I promise it isn't a mere repost. Even if it seems very similar.

   Really.

   One of the things I have been upset with for the last year or two is the lack of progress I have been making on my (far too many) gaming projects. I have let that get me down, and that has led to me not feeling like doing anything. In other words, I am not doing anything because I feel bad that I am not doing anything. The strange effect of the doldrums, I know, but there it is. I think the sentiment is a common one in our hobby. I know I have talked about it with Eli and some of my other gamer friends.

      I think it might help to set specific, achieveable, short-term goals, rather than having innumerable, never-ending 'projects.' So that's what I am going to do. It may not be as glamourous as the sweeping flights of creative fantasy that I have posted before. But it may get the creative juices flowing again.

    Here's the plan: by the end of February, I want to have done the following:

1. Zulu Basing Goal. Finish basing 100 15mm Zulus. All painted up, just need basing and clear coat to be done. 15% done.
2. Indian Rifle Squad Goal. From start to finish, paint one squad of Indian infnatry for FOW. This is a newly begun project, and a test of concept. 0% done.
3. Steam Tank Goal. Finish the turret for my Ironclad Miniatures Steamtank and complete the model. 40% done.

   Not much to start with, but there is only about a week left. I will be very happy to accomplish these goals in that amount of time. If there is any time leftover, I want to knock out a pair of WFB gunners for the Empire Great Cannon.

   Anyway, I plan to keep updating here and on VBIR. Maybe this sort of thing would help your projects progress as well.

Two Years already?

  Has it really been two years since Hurricane Ike ripped through Galveston County like a starving great white shark through a bunch of baby seals?

  The answer, of course, is "yes." Tempus fugit, as they say. Not that Ike has anything to do with the rest of this post, but still...

  Speaking of tempus fugiting, I ran out of month in August for my painting projects. Not an epic fail, but certainly not a goal reached month. Call it about 70%.

  And September has been very dry so far, paint and game wise. However, I am looking forward to Game Saturday this weekend, and my buddy Jim is finally coming home in two weeks after a two-year deployment! Hooray! We're already talking about getting some D&D going or something. We have decided that the boys really are not ready for a more modern, tactical type RPG like Twilight 2000. Greyson might manage it, but Dane just wants to blast stuff, and that kind of thing ends up with you making a new character every week.

  Also, this month I should be receiving my copy of the new Renaissance rules from Fields of Glory (Osprey Publishing). Looking forward to that, although it means yet another project. I am torn between Thirty Years War Imperials (Catholic forces) and Gustavus Adolphus' Swedes for the first armies in that project. Can you tell I have been reading Eric Flint's 163x series of books?

August Goals

   Okay, so it has been a few months since I set any goals for painting. And guess what? Not much painting got done in those moths. You would think that the summer, what with me being a teacher and having the time off, would be a very productive season for me. You'd think wrong, but you would think it.

   Anyway, I am getting ready for school to start back up and back into the swing of things. And my thoughts turn towards painting again. So here's what I want to accomplish this month:

• 10x 25mm Martian Shield Gunners (RAFM, Space 1889 line)
• 10x 25mm Canal Martian Archers (RAFM, Space 1889 line)
• 5x 25mm Masked Minion Diabolical Weaponeers (Parroom Station, VSF)
• 2x 6mm Prussian Gun and crew
• 1x 6mm Prussian limber
• 24x 6mm Prussian Line
• 24x 6mm Prussian Jaegers
• 48x 6mm Martians (Mahdist infantry re-purposed with paint)
• Finish 6-8x Empire Flagellants (GW)
• Finish 5x Kislevite Horse Archers (GW)

   That's quite a good bit. I'm feeling ambitious. We'll see how it is going in a week or so. One other thing, if any of you has an extra Battle for Macragge force field pylon or two laying about, I could surely use it. Please let me know and we can work out details.

April Projects Update

I actually made some progress on my painting projects this weekend. Which is good, because I am almost out of time this month!

VSF:
The Masked Minions are just about done. Ten infantry are completed, and most of the gun crew is as well. I just need to add the shell to the loader figure and do the cuff trim on the gun captain. Other than that, they are finished. There is a major snag on the smoke projector, though... I can't find one of the wheels!

The nine remaining 'dug-in' half-jacks for Maton are done. Still need to assemble, prime, paint and base nine of the 'in the open' half-jacks. Luckily, the paint jobs are extremely simple and fast. Also need to decide for sure if I am going to provide them with visible external weapons or not. I am leaning towards saying "Yes", but I don't have a sufficient quantity of similar bits to arm them identically. Any suggestions, ladies and gents?

BattleTech:
Finished off bases for five already painted BattleMechs. Three other BattleMechs are just about done (final detailing and clear coating all that's left). Finished two SRM Carriers and two Manticore tanks. Coolant trucks are primed, and should not take long to paint. No infantry done yet.

WFB:
The Grandmaster of the Blazing Suns is almost finished, too. Final touchup, static grass and clearcoating all that's left. The Kislevites and flagellants haven't been touched.

Photos soon. I promise.

Painting Report, March

Not much finished.

Well, I actually did really well for my VSF projects. Got all of those finished in the nick of time for the month. But Warhammer suffered to a lot of terrain projects and stuff. All I finished was 9 Empire halberdiers and the Stegadon. I also painted two BattleMechs (a Phoenix Hawk and a Panther).

I did manage to get a lot of work done on the new blog (this one!). And the new European fields mat is nearly done. A good bit of terrain work accomplished. Photos tomorrow, I promise. Just too tired to go get the camera and download pictures right now.

As far as the poll goes, I guess there will be a few more labels. I'll try not to go too crazy with subtopics.

Next month's goals are:

• Paint two more BattleMechs
• Paint BattleTech coolant trucks, SRM carriers, and Manticore tanks (2 each)
• Finish BattleTech factory complex and defense turrets
• Finish 5 Kislev horse archers (about 80% done now).
• Finish Grandmaster of Blazing Sun Knights (about 95% done now)
• Finish halberdier banner carrier (need to print banner and clear coat).
• Finish Euro-field mat
• Paint ten Masked Minions for VSF (25mm)
• Paint four Masked Minion gun crewmen
• Paint one smoke launcher (VSF artillery - poison gas!)
• Paint ten halfjack automatons (more VSF)
• Paint ten halfjack 'mines'.

Wow. That is a lot. We'll see if I can manage it! The list helps keep me focussed, though, and if I can get the VSF things done... well, that pretty well ends my Automaton army (excepting one conversion vehicle that I need pieces for still).