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Other Stuff => General Wargames and Hobby Discussion => Topic started by: Easy E on November 14, 2022, 08:52:10 PM

Title: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Easy E on November 14, 2022, 08:52:10 PM: As I wrap up my Ancient Persian force, which was my project for 2022, I have started thinking about what my project for 2023 should be. Normally, this is an easy task as I have something that is going to be published, so I need miniatures ready to support it. However, as of this writing my publication timeline is in flux and nothing is imminent. This is leading me to wonder what projects I should dedicate 2023 to.

In the past it was:
- The Games: Blood and Spectacles- Crusader gladiator models
- Men of Bronze- Lot's of Greeks, and Macedonians
- Turf War - Copplestone Casting gangsters
- Wars of the Republic- Republican Romans, and lots of them
- Castles in the Sky- Brigade Models Aeronefs
- Fury of the Northman - Vikings and Dark Age Irish
- White Star/Red Star - Korean war aircraft
- The Ionian Revolt - Ancient Persians

With no pending publication on the horizon, I am left wondering if I should be doing a project for a future release or instead just focus on something for myself? This has left me pondering and in a bit of analysis/paralysis on the topic.

Therefore, insightful readers of the LAF; what process do you use to choose your projects..... beyond "Oh Shiny!".....

I am hoping your wise words will lead me to where I want to go in 2023.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: commissarmoody on November 14, 2022, 09:17:55 PM: Maybe something to fight against your Persians.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: tikitang on November 14, 2022, 10:55:50 PM: Quote from: Easy E on November 14, 2022, 08:52:10 PM
what process do you use to choose your projects

Whims, moods, visions; wherever my mind carries me!

Right now, though, I am more focussed than I've ever been, so my own 2023 project will really be a continuation of what I started in 2022, only manifesting more of it from the hazy realm of ideas into the tangible world.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: armchairgeneral on November 15, 2022, 10:33:06 AM: It is hard to advise someone on a new project as one’s tastes are so individual and there is so much choice out there. Your past projects seem quite eclectic. Maybe just try something very different again?

With the imminent release of Xenos Rampant I was thinking of giving sci-fi skirmish ago as I haven’t done this before. I find Lion Rampant great fun so expect these rules to be similar in enjoyment.

I also notice you don’t appear to have done any horse and musket periods? So maybe AWI/Napoleonic/ACW using, Sharp Practice/Muskets and Tomahawks/Rebels and Patriots.

Also you don’t appear to have done any WW1/WW2 so maybe also consider platoon level games using Chain of Command/Bolt Action?

Just a few ideas :)
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: v_lazy_dragon on November 15, 2022, 12:10:56 PM: ...mostly just succumb to the shiny?
My usual vetting on a 'shiny new project' is:
- Feasibility? I don't mind a few conversions, but am I going to be scratch building every single figure (as that will likely drag)? Or can I buy what I want straight off the shelf?
- Terrain? Will it work with what I have, or atleast aspects of what I have? What else is needed? Can I modify the idea to work?
-Can I repurpose stuff I already have? Are there things on the lead pile that could do double duty, or atleast be redirected in support of the new thing
- What's the draw? A bit of an introspective on this one. What is making the project shiny? Is it new models; if so could I use them with an existing project/build out an existing project to accommodate? Is it the aesthetics of the setting? etc. This really is to work out if it's an itch I can scratch by buying £20 worth of models to paint, or if I really need to go all in for both forces, new rules and bespoke scenery...
-Research? Sort of in parallel to the above, reading and image searches to find out more/develop ideas (or, for sci-fi and fantasy, I guess tv watching/video game playing. If I am working on a Colonial marines project, Avatar and Starship Trooper might be good additional watching for example. Maybe play some of the AVP games or Halo)

Not that they all work; nor that projects so vetted will last for ever, but it might help atleast give a sanity filter
-
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Mindenbrush on November 15, 2022, 12:40:33 PM: I usually start a new project because:
1) I have played a new set of rules - my SYW, ACW and Congo forces all started from playing new rules.
2) A period that the gaming group I game with - Chain of Command and General D’Armee - and have gamed the period in the past but no longer have the figures.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: tikitang on November 15, 2022, 02:15:56 PM: Quote from: tikitang on November 14, 2022, 10:55:50 PM
Whims, moods, visions; wherever my mind carries me!

Actually, having read the other posts, I do put a bit more thought into this now than my earlier post might suggest.

My first post refers to my earlier, less disciplined self from bygone years. I am still quite prone to that "fluid" way of thinking but have started to harness it more now in order to be more productive and practical.

My new, more methodical method of starting a project is based on the following:

1. Can I set the project inside a dungeon or castle interior (which I have tiles to represent), so I don't have to invest in or make terrain?

2. Can I make the idea fit into a ruleset I already have?

3. Can I use my existing miniature collection?

4. If I need new miniatures for the project, can I get ones which I genuinely like, in and of themselves, rather than just because they fit the concept?

I think I've finally "found my groove" with my current project, so I am starting to think that any new projects I come up with will probably answer "Yes" to questions 1, 2 and 3.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: SJWi on November 15, 2022, 06:52:21 PM: My advice built upon "bitter experience" is that however you choose your period, to have a 7 day cooling off period before spending your hard cash. I recently returned from a holiday into the Habsburg lands inspired to game Seven Years War, the Franco Austrian War of the 1850s, and /or the 1848 Revolution. I researched background materiel, figure ranges and rules. I waited 7 days and I realised that none were a priority and I would have to buy and paint two large armies.

That said I am intrigued by the Hussite Wars for Never Mind the Billhooks....
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FierceKitty on November 16, 2022, 01:02:03 AM: Quote from: SJWi on November 15, 2022, 06:52:21 PM
My advice built upon "bitter experience" is that however you choose your period, to have a 7 day cooling off period before spending your hard cash. I recently returned from a holiday into the Habsburg lands inspired to game Seven Years War, the Franco Austrian War of the 1850s, and /or the 1848 Revolution. I researched background materiel, figure ranges and rules. I waited 7 days and I realised that none were a priority and I would have to buy and paint two large armies.

That said I am intrigued by the Hussite Wars for Never Mind the Billhooks....

Downside of the Hussites is that unless there's a total idiot commanding them, they never lose. Upside is they look super, and it's good to have an unbeatable army to introduce beginners to the hobby.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: SJWi on November 16, 2022, 05:29:21 AM: Ah, I'm certainly not on the look-out for a super-army. I recall back in the 1970s the Society of Ancients monitoring which armies tended to win their competitions, and gamers trying desperately to justify the use of allies to fill known gaps in armies' capability. I've always liked the Kingmaker Miniatures/1st Corps Hussite figures and when last week I saw them included in the upcoming "Never Mind the Billhooks Deluxe" army lists my interest was re-kindled. The plan probably won't pass my "cooling off" test!
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Redshank on November 16, 2022, 06:26:44 AM: For me it's easy - it will be finishing my 2022 projects (Russo-Japanese naval and Mex-American War).

At least I did more-or-less finish up a distraction that turned into a full-scale project (Victorian SF), achieving 2 painted-up forces, although there is quite a lot of lead left in the pile.

Having only got back into the hobby fairly recently (2021), I have had to learn just how long it takes me to paint figures and therefore how disciplined I need to be to get to the stage of having armies ready for a game. The risk is I identify a battle/conflict I am interested in, bite off more than I can chew by scoping out the amount of minis required for both armies, and lose motivation.

Being driven by my historical interests in particular conflicts and the visual appeal of available figures ranges is not a good approach for me.

Instead I have learned I need to pick out rules I find appealing to play and see what I need to do to get enough minis down on the table for a game.

So, my goal for 2023 is to rescue MAW by getting enough units ready for a game using Rebels and Patriots or Live Free or Die, rather than try and jump to the whole order of battle for Palo Alto or something. Hopefully this will give me enough motivation gradually to press on with the rest of the lead pile and I will get to Palo Alto eventually.

This is probably very obvious to you guys, but it has been a bit of a learning curve for me to get here.

All that said, I am left with the nagging concern that companies producing figures I like will go out of business before I buy their stuff. It's already happened.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: SJWi on November 16, 2022, 08:15:01 AM: Redshank, unfortunately your last comment is sadly true, particularly in the past 2 years. Last year I was slowly collecting a force and the Company closed. When the range was acquired by a large UK Wargames supplier figure prices rose by about 70%. I just had take the extortionate increase on the chin. This year I was planning an opposing force from another smaller supplier, and was in correspondence with him about his figures. He told me business was so slow he was likely to close so I rushed off an order for the whole army.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Tactalvanic on November 23, 2022, 02:27:45 PM: 2023 primary project - Ancients and minor distractions from the pile.

I am trying to plan my approach better and tame the ooh shiney stress relief of past few years.

Along with all the above considerations, and recent burn caused by Royal mail absolutely fudging a delivery beyond all normal expectations of FUBAR, for both the seller and me...

- supplier issues
- auction site issues
- courier/delivery issues

So anything WOTR won't be happening next couple years...until the burn fades - might take longer - I smoulder for a long time

Anyhoo.. did successfully get some other stuff, so with that, and looking at my existing pile - will be looking at some ancients stuff in the new year, work willing.

I have a pile of suitable rules, sufficient selection of Roman, Persian and other bits to suit.

So achieving two (or more) suitable opposing forces that work with rulesets i already have is doable.

- Skirmish and large scale battle levels to achieve.

In future, will be returning to old ooh shiney process of years gone by - consideration.. procrastinate, procrastinate, procrastinate.

The consideration then being applied to the modern situation:
- is the vendor still vending/in business
- formulate, exactly what want/need and get all of it. no faf, no piecemeal - all needed and done - and if I already have some of it - even better.
- otherwise, the project just comes out of the pile or off the printers.

If an ooh shiney appears that is tempting - then it just has to wait until end of year - if its no longer available/unattainable - then its off the list.

I want to support small business and UK suppliers as much as I can, but yeah. Have to support me first.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Harry Faversham on November 25, 2022, 01:36:11 PM: My first project for 2023 is finishing, a project I began in 1968!

:o
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Easy E on November 25, 2022, 09:25:58 PM: Happy Black Friday all. I hope it is going the way you wanted it to go.

For the first time in a while, I do not have a pressing deadline! Therefore, when I think about 2023, I can also think about projects I want to do for no one else, but myself! How liberating. Of course, that liberation is leading to a bit of analysis/paralysis.

So, thanks to some of the helpful advice above; here are some general thoughts. Feel free to add comments or insights one-way or the other, but no guarantees I will follow-up on any of them! LOL

Potential projects for next year:
1. Chariot Wars- Finalize my rules, get two armies (6mm?), paint said armies, add some terrain to the collection that fits the theme. This is an area that I really enjoy, but I would have to have all the stuff to drag my group into playing a few games. Could make me some money as a pitch or on the Vault.

2. Late Roman/Barbarian Migration- Create my rules, get two armies (28mm), paint said armies, maybe a new play mat to match. This seems to be big right now in historicals, with some great new ranges. Again, I would have to supply it all and drag my group along for any games. Like above, this could make me some money as above.

3. Space Mecha battles- Finalize my rules, get a new terrain mat, add some "space terrain" to my collection. I have models for this one all ready. This one is an easier sell to the locals, as they like sci-fi games. Money is less likely on this one, unless I figure out a way to incorporate "build your own" into the rules.

4. Napoleonic/War of 1812- I own plenty of rules, but I need to start some armies (6mm, 10mm or 28mm?), paint armies, and maybe a bit or two of terrain. No one in the area does this at all, but that has never stopped me before! I have tons of rulesets so could easily step up from skirmish to Big battle with rules, but have never taken the plunge on the mini front. The history, investment and button counting of it all makes me nervous.

5. Wild West- Use Drac's America as the base, get some minis (28mm), and a lot of terrain for a small town. This would be easy to get the locals to play, considering we LIVE in the Wild West. Plus, small warbands are not a huge investment for them to paint up. No money potential on this one, just cost.

6. Not-Epic! 40K- I would use Horizon Wars or Restless Galaxies to play this, so no new rules. However, I would need to build two "armies" of not Guard and Not Orks and paint them all up. This would be fun to play to finish off Operation: Hemlock with a couple of big battles. My skumgrod would be happy to play, but I do not expect much help in the building/painting front. No money in this one, just cost.

7. Conquest of the New World- Finalize the rules I have for it. Get two armies in 28mm and paint them. I would need to rebuild my terrain board for jungle. No local interest, so I would need forces for both sides and drag them along if I wanted to play. However, if I bring it, they will often play it. I could potential make some money off this project as well at some point as a pitch or vault as well.

8. Expand or build on one of my existing games/collections to create more variety to fight against. This would require me to buy a force and paint it. Some advertising for the games I can use them in, but mostly cost drivers. In this bucket would be one of the following:

- Samnites for Wars of the Republic, a couple bags from the Victrix range should do the job. Probably take up half a year?
- Arabs for Fury of the Northman. Again a few boxes from Gripping Beast do the job. Maybe a half year job?
- Anglo-saxons for Fury of the Northman. These could come from Gripping Beast, or Victrix. Again about a half year to complete.
- US Navy for White Star/Red Star. The Tumbling Dice models paint up fast and are relatively cheap. Very do-able project, probably 3-5 months to complete.
- 3D print/sculpt some things for Aeronautica Imperials or Aquanautica Imperialis. Probably another 3-6 month project. The hardest part would remembering how to sculpt or getting the 3D printer to work the way I want it to!

9. Naval wargaming! I always wanted to do something in the Modern Naval genre. There are a few rule sets out there to hunt down, navies to buy and build, simple painting to do. I am thinking I would use GHQ which are great models, but not cheap. I would need a new water mat as well. I might even try my hand at some rules myself, so some very limited potential for some income, but that would be far down the road.

So, anyway, those are the projects I am considering for next year. Some are full year commitments, some might take more than a year (I am looking at you Napoleonics!), and some are smaller "fill-in" projects. I am still rolling all of these around in my head. Let me know if any really stick out to you as "cool" or random thoughts you may have on them. It might help sway me one way or the other.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: vodkafan on November 25, 2022, 11:23:58 PM: I got so many projects already without starting any new ones. I would do better to just pick one of those and finish it completely.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: RSDean on November 26, 2022, 01:38:55 PM: I am as much distracted by “new shiny” as the next wargamer. I have two projects just freshly started lol and I hope to make progress on one of them. If I really wanted to be sensible, I would try to have only one NEW (not yet ready to play even a skirmish game) project going at a time, with the option to set it aside for a while and add something to an existing table-ready project if I wanted to paint something different for a break.

What are they?

The first one is a retro project. I want to cast 19th century armies (either FPW or imagi-nations; casting capability is still a little murky) using vintage Schneider and related semi-flat molds. I have castings for a few stands, so my immediate goal is to paint them before the weather opens up again for casting outdoors. That’s usually around April here.

The second is another idiosyncratic project. Before the current war, Michigan Toy Soldier imported a line of inexpensive 54mm flat figures from a company called Warriors and Battles in Russia. I bought examples of most of the Kievan Rus range and a semi-fantasy more generic European medieval range, including a large selection of non-combatants. My son recently took a few off to have a go at painting, since this sounds exciting to him. If he’s hooked, that will move this one up in the priority list. Here are my samples painted so far, with a Reaper “heroic 28mm” figure for size comparison.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Luigi on November 28, 2022, 02:40:11 PM: Whatever project i might have deceived myself into believing i'd complete will have now to take the back seat as my main project chose me.

I'm having my first child this April so there's that.

I do wonder though if a miniature human could go well with the same colour scheme I picked for my dwarfs
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FifteensAway on November 29, 2022, 01:25:53 AM: I have the exact and precise answer you need to guarantee your future happiness with your 2023 project. Unfortunately, I have to charge $487.13 US for the information. So, if you are interested, we'll sort out how you will pay me.

And, yes, I will provide a written guarantee. [Not my fault if I accidentally use invisible ink.]
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Easy E on November 29, 2022, 03:25:35 PM: If it involves rolling a d10, I might be interested...... lol
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Cubs on November 29, 2022, 03:41:23 PM: These days I have little time for my own projects, inbetween grown-up work, painting commissions and family time, but when I do, it's mostly back-filling old projects that have been gathering dust. Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) I have such an eclectic mix of fantasy, historical, sci-fi and 35, 28 and 20mm scales that if I'm bored of one project, I can jump to a completely different one. The downside is stuff rarely gets completed.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Codsticker on November 29, 2022, 04:54:36 PM: I am basically in the same boat as Cubs and vodkafan in that I generally don't pick a project for a year but pick away at long term projects. I may focus on one or the other for a period of 2 or 3 months and I may have one that gets more attention than the others over the course of a year.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: levied troop on November 30, 2022, 02:04:37 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on November 25, 2022, 11:23:58 PM
I got so many projects already without starting any new ones. I would do better to just pick one of those and finish it completely.
This is my issue. Currently I’m trying to finish Royalist and Parliamentary forces for the ECW and get baggage and a Cambridge suburb finished before the Hammerhead show. Although I’m being distracted by Scots for the same period thanks to Those Bloody Miniatures! (Not many people know that’s the company’s real name).

For 2023 I’m planning to devote a month to each of my projects with the aim of getting them ‘finished’.
So far the plan is:
Jan - 1640 ECW
Feb- 1940 Sealion
Mar - 1066 Normans and Saxons
April onwards - I’ll see where my fancy takes me :)
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: syrinx0 on December 01, 2022, 04:39:45 AM: I too will be continuing on with 2022 projects (SWL for myself and Battletech for friends). The BT project might see action at Adepticon so it will probably take priority. Longer term in 2023 I am planning on photographing my existing painted armies & collections prior to possibly selling ones I don't expect to play again.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: vodkafan on December 02, 2022, 02:07:36 AM: Quote from: Luigi on November 28, 2022, 02:40:11 PM
Whatever project i might have deceived myself into believing i'd complete will have now to take the back seat as my main project chose me.

I'm having my first child this April so there's that.

I do wonder though if a miniature human could go well with the same colour scheme I picked for my dwarfs

Congratulations Luigi! I am a father of seven that's why I look like I do now worn out.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Harry Faversham on December 02, 2022, 05:22:54 AM: Got pleasantly pissed the other night after the England match. As usual tipsy cogitations wandered to wargaming, as they do. Because of the trayn strikes in Blighty, and swopping the old Herself for a new one, actual gaming has ground to a halt. The last game played being yonder Crimbo's wargame. Things don't look much better for next year, gaming wise, so I've settled on a stratagem...
After this year's Crimbo game I'm going to complete my Airfix Waterloo project, started in 1968. The wargames table will be set up, and left up till Papalotte farm's added and the the rest of the figures are fettled. Then the battle will be played solo using the cheap and cheerful OHW rules.

::)
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FierceKitty on December 02, 2022, 06:40:07 AM: 2023 project: 10mm Tang Chinese and Yarlung Tibetan. The former are on the agenda for Newline, the latter may be feasible by proxy and conversion.

Hittites? Hmmm, why do they never spark my imagination?
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: vodkafan on December 02, 2022, 10:59:41 AM: Quote from: Harry Faversham on December 02, 2022, 05:22:54 AM
and swopping the old Herself for a new one,

That can be a very expensive project Harry! lol
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Harry Faversham on December 02, 2022, 11:36:28 AM: Tell me abart it, I've had to sell mi' Bren Gun to finance her!

:o
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Luigi on December 02, 2022, 02:03:37 PM: Quote from: vodkafan on December 02, 2022, 02:07:36 AM
Congratulations Luigi! I am a father of seven that's why I look like I do now worn out.

Thank you Vodkafan.

And WOW, 7?!?! I guess I have a lot of catching up to do. Does it work the same with kids as it does for my miniatures? Do they just go into my pile of shame lol
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Golgotha on December 02, 2022, 09:42:44 PM: Love the sound of the Airfix Napoleonics - I really must get around to finishing more of mine. I also have a fair amount 1/72 ACW I must get finished.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FifteensAway on December 04, 2022, 03:28:50 AM: Star Wars (a long time ago, remember?)
Stone Age
King Arthur
Vikings *
Robin Hood
Three Musketeers
Pirates ***
French and Indian War ***
Seven Years War (12 mm) ***
American Revolution * (mostly primed, some paint started)
Mountain Men
Indian Mutiny *
American Civil War ***
Old West/Pony Wars
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (early)
French Foreign Legion (early, in Africa) **
Slightly Cracked Colonials (Scramble of a sort) edit: ***
Boxer Rebellion
German East Africa WWI
US Prohibition
Vietnam (10 mm)

2023 goal - completely finish one of the above projects! Yes, I have all those projects. Mostly 15 mm except as noted. Asterisks indicate some painting done, the more asterisks the more painted. Listed in chronological order - or nearly so.

About 7,000 (ack! another edit: closer to 8,500, forgot the Scramble finished stuff) out of about 40,000 figures painted (some acquired painted or painted by others). Just none completely finished. Pirates, FIW, and ACW very playable. SYW playable but needs some work, very recent acquisition already painted.

My Lead Mountain Range! There are some dangerous crevasses in the glacial areas, steep cliffs in other areas. Trackless expanses in others. Adventures galore possible.

A second goal is to get the collection over the 25% painted mark but that is more of a stretch. Have to have a goal to achieve a goal. (edit: with the 8,500 edit, much more achievable - in the last 25 months I've painted 2,800 figures, that's just over 100 figures per month - and I had five goose-egg months this year)

Insanity? Well, of course. Isn't that part of the fun? ;)
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Reed on December 04, 2022, 10:18:09 AM: Quote from: FifteensAway on December 04, 2022, 03:28:50 AM
Star Wars (a long time ago, remember?)
Stone Age
King Arthur
Vikings *
Robin Hood
Three Musketeers
Pirates ***
French and Indian War ***
Seven Years War (12 mm) ***
American Revolution * (mostly primed, some paint started)
Mountain Men
Indian Mutiny *
American Civil War ***
Old West/Pony Wars
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (early)
French Foreign Legion (early, in Africa) **
Slightly Cracked Colonials (Scramble of a sort)
Boxer Rebellion
German East Africa WWI
US Prohibition
Vietnam (10 mm)

2023 goal - completely finish one of the above projects! Yes, I have all those projects. Mostly 15 mm except as noted. Asterisks indicate some painting done, the more asterisks the more painted. Listed in chronological order - or nearly so.

About 7,000 out of about 40,000 figures painted (some acquired painted or painted by others). Just none completely finished. Pirates, FIW, and ACW very playable. SYW playable but needs some work, very recent acquisition already painted.

My Lead Mountain Range! There are some dangerous crevasses in the glacial areas, steep cliffs in other areas. Trackless expanses in others. Adventures galore possible.

A second goal is to get the collection over the 25% painted mark but that is more of a stretch. Have to have a goal to achieve a goal.

Insanity? Well, of course. Isn't that part of the fun? ;)

Oof, I got second hand anxiety from this. I wish you the best of lucks, and that you may accomplish it.

My projects for 2023? I will settle small goals, and expand upon them if there are proper advances:

-Print and paint enough scenery for at least five Infinity tables. We have a kinda big tournament here around May, and the organizers are some pals of mine, therefore I’d like to lend them a helping hand.

-Paint a couple warbands to introduce friends to games like Song of Blades and Heroes and such.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Cubs on December 04, 2022, 10:26:32 AM: Quote from: Golgotha on December 02, 2022, 09:42:44 PM
Love the sound of the Airfix Napoleonics - I really must get around to finishing more of mine.

Same here - I have an Airfix Highlander battalion still unfinished that I was hoping to turn into an article years ago!
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: robh on December 04, 2022, 12:31:01 PM: Quote from: Codsticker on November 29, 2022, 04:54:36 PM
I am basically in the same boat as Cubs and vodkafan in that I generally don't pick a project for a year but pick away at long term projects. I may focus on one or the other for a period of 2 or 3 months and I may have one that gets more attention than the others over the course of a year.

Same for me, I will not be starting any actually "new" projects in 2023 as I have dozens already underway. What I am hoping for is to actually paint the last figure or piece of scenery for something, anything.
Just to call one of my collections finished would be good. :?
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Shahbahraz on December 04, 2022, 04:01:23 PM: I seem to have accidentally strayed into three new projects, Aussies in Vietnam, 28mm, Star Wars in 35mm 'Legion' scale, and WW1 in 28mm.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Marine0846 on December 04, 2022, 05:47:56 PM: Well a month ago it was Star Wars Legion and AWI.
But I start playing Dragon Rampant about that time.
Dug out some old GW Drawfs in about 7days painted a 24 point "army." (35 figs, King on throne and Anvil of Doom)
Played first game and won, so I am off to the races.
I picked up a Gremlin army off Ebay, added some high lights put them on the table in a 3 player game.
Now I order some other races, so guess they are one of my 2023 projects.
The other one will be AWI, I need to finish the armies I started a few years ago.
So Star Wars goes on the back burner.
But, (there is always one) something new will pop up and I chase it for a month or two.
For me that is part of the fun of the hobby for me.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: fusilierdan on December 05, 2022, 01:41:39 AM: I'm thinking hard about the new Knights of the Round Table figures
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/knightsroundtable/daniel-merseys-knights-of-the-round-table/description (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/knightsroundtable/daniel-merseys-knights-of-the-round-table/description)

I've already started in on Marks Little Soldiers which will take up much of early 2023.
https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/list.php?cat=23&page=1 (https://www.copplestonecastings.co.uk/list.php?cat=23&page=1)

And there's always the fall back to Thirty Years War which I've been putting off for the last 30 years.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: swiftnick on December 18, 2022, 04:36:42 PM: Well 2022 was all about retro Science fiction figures with lots of Warzone featuring and a surprisingly large amount of GW terrain.
For 2023 I will be reaching even further into the past. As a chance discovery of an Elastolin castle has given me the excuse to start a Garrison sword and sorcery army.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: tikitang on December 18, 2022, 06:27:27 PM: For 2023 I'm aiming to get at least two fantasy warbands painted up for potential Song of Blades & Heroes games.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FierceKitty on December 19, 2022, 01:11:06 AM: After resisting for years, I've ordered FFL, Moroccans, and some components to be assembled into Fort Zinderneuf.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: zemjw on December 19, 2022, 10:13:10 AM: Like some of the others here, I don't really have any projects, more "settings".

I prod and poke away at fantasy, modern/post apocalypse and science fiction, but just in a general sense. It's all about filling in the gaps, rather than setting out to do one specific thing. Maybe that's why I never seem to get anything finished ;D

Next year is more of the same, bulking out figures for the "settings" and never actually playing any games :(
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FifteensAway on December 19, 2022, 03:56:28 PM: I think my most important goal for 2023 is to add a minimum number of figures to be painted each month, not just a goal of how many to paint in a month with a stretch goal to push things to higher numbers.

As to which project to focus on, so many to choose from makes it hard to settle. Still hoping to achieve the goal of having a playable group for AWI and Old West added to the collection - well on the way to get my Slightly Cracked Colonials to that level. Still weighing and considering. And waiting on an order for that newly acquired SYW collection that can be quickly brought to playable and complete - just have to hope the ordered figures match to the already acquired figures.

Having goals works and I hate feeling guilty of missing a goal so hope that minimum per month, which will be a modest number (for me) of maybe 25 but probably closer to 50, makes a difference. Still plan to have a larger monthly goal and a stretch goal because I don't want the minimum per month to be 'negative' crutch that lowers production numbers.

And I am contemplating setting a pretty high stretch goal but somewhat ambivalent on that front so no decision yet.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Kikuchiyo on December 19, 2022, 08:14:12 PM: My goals for 23 an't a long list

All I want to be able to do by the end of the year is to get to grips with painting WW2 cammo patterns on 20mm figures
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FierceKitty on December 20, 2022, 02:00:45 AM: I think the future will include Parthians. They really fought a heck of a lot of their contemporaries, and the idea of Scythians and Parthians has possibilities.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Elbows on December 23, 2022, 05:17:27 PM: I don't pick a "project" for any given year, but I will assign myself a few simple goals.

I always aim for 10 minis painted per month (minimum). So, I want to knock out 120 minis a year, regardless of any other considerations.

For 2023...I decided my goal is to publish two more games. I've got four games that are essentially done, but the painful/annoying process of putting it all into a sellable format and doing all the technical editing, etc. is my kryptonite. I end up just playing my own games with locals, friends, conventions...and never publishing the damn things despite them being 98% done!

So...publish some friggin' games.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Easy E on December 23, 2022, 05:21:31 PM: I feel you!

I can write rules faster than I can play them! It is the post-production that always slows me done with publishing rules.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: tikitang on December 25, 2022, 12:46:23 AM: Quote from: tikitang on December 18, 2022, 06:27:27 PM
For 2023 I'm aiming to get at least two fantasy warbands painted up for potential Song of Blades & Heroes games.

In addition to this, I have cooked up another couple of mad fantasy themed ideas for 2023 which I am excited to get started on in the new year.

2022 didn't prove to be a good year for me in terms of the hobby. There was a lot of upheaval due to an epic house-move and some unforeseen family issues, but I am feeling really positive for 2023 just now. I have some ideas to look forward to executiing, and while I am not certain they will work, sometimes the real thrill of a project (for me) is in the ideas stage.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: mikedemana on December 25, 2022, 04:05:18 PM: My goals for 2023 are to run more regular games from my Post-Apocalyptic project. Much of last year was spent furiously painting scenery and gangs for this period. I even ran one game for the Sunday night crew, which they pronounced enjoying and willing to do more. So, 2023 should see more games and probably the occasional piece of terrain. Here's the link on my blog for a rundown of the project:
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/search/label/Post-Apocalyptic

I started a new project at the end of the year - Sci-Fi skirmish with Space Station Zero rules. I created battle boards, am in the midst of doing terrain, and hopefully will see the first game within a month. I plan to test it out the rules in "cooperative mode" with my girlfriend on those weekend evenings we can't be bothered to go out. You can see what I've done so far here:
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/search/label/Space%20Station%20Zero

For Saga, I have collected the lead for a medieval Spanish army. I haven't begun painting it, but I plan to paint it as either the Knights of Santiago or Calatrava. That way, I can use it for three different factions in Saga Age of Crusades (Medieval Spanish, Crusader, and Milites Christi). I'm holding off getting started on that front because painting Saga armies has been my main focus that last couple years. I'm enjoying the variety and freedom of being about to work on whatever strikes my fancy. I tend to be very goal-driven once I begin a project.

What else? I have an idea for a supplement to my Song of Drums and Tomahawk rules. It would be a horror/fantasy spinoff delving into the world of Native American mythology. The historical grounding will be that when Tecumseh's younger brother, the Shawnee Prophet came back from the dead, he broke the barrier to the Indian spirit world. The forces of Native American myth will be helping Tecumseh and his brother drive settlement from Ohio (which also happens to be where I live).

Other rules sets for First Command Wargames that I will be working on will be a scenario book for the same Song of Drums and Tomahawks rules. It will compile scenarios we've run at various conventions for the last half decade or so, including our 4-plalyer Raid on Deerfield. Here's an example post of when we ran that scenario:
http://leadlegionaries.blogspot.com/2017/02/raid-on-deerfield-convention-game.html

I'm sure the "ooh shiney" bug will hit me at some point in 2023, as well. I hope everyone else has a great year ahead, whatever projects they choose!

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Mr. White on December 25, 2022, 11:15:29 PM: The past year or two I'm trying to come to grips with my minis hobby and what is worth the time sink vs what isn't. I play a lot of Blood Bowl universe games. Attend local tournaments, but also travel. I played in several league seasons this year and during the off-season, I play Dungeon Bowl and Blitz Bowl. So, obviously, any work on BB models is time well spent.

However, I also want to paint up two Lion Rampant sides, two Ronin sides, two En Garde sides, a Dracula's America Posse, Post apocalyptic XR sides, another Gaslands gang, and am eyeing the Battletech Alpha Strike box.

The clear problem is not in painting these...but playing these. I don't doubt I couldn't find a player amongst my circle to come over and humor me so long as I had the minis, but even after over 30 years of playing BB (you'd think I'd be good at it by now), I still prefer to play it over most titles. So, it seems like a bunch of waste of time to sink into these other projects only to then reach for a Dungeon Bowl box or something when I have a free, unscheduled weekend.

Still, I have these other rulebooks. The minis. And I really appreciate thinking about them as hobby projects and playing them (especially LR and Ronin as the main two), but it seems like if they're only gonna get a small fraction of the play time, they should only get a small fraction of the hobby time. I mean, heck, I might be better off painting up frivolous thinkgs like DungeonBowl doorways than a warband for some other game.

I guess it's the problem of living in a BB rich area.

The other complication settling with me is that my son is only with us for about two and a half more years before he ships off to college. I kinda feel like hobby time away needs to be meaningful. Something that'll get used if I'm gonna spend that time apart. I dunno...
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Sgt_T on December 29, 2022, 12:32:26 PM: The Too Fat Lardies Chain of Command Far East handbook is announced to be released in 2023, so I will be building and painting 28mm Japanese and Australians in the upcoming year.

Other miniatures in the painting queue are:
28mm Samurai,
28mm Cowboys,
28mm Mantic GCPS.

I hope to play more games in 2023. I read a post where the poster calculated the amount of games he would probably be able to play in his remaining years and concluded that he wouldn't be able to get all miniatures from his collection to show up in at least one game.
I fear I might be facing the same problem...

T.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Mr. White on December 29, 2022, 02:50:00 PM: Quote from: Sgt_T on December 29, 2022, 12:32:26 PM
I hope to play more games in 2023. I read a post where the poster calculated the amount of games he would probably be able to play in his remaining years and concluded that he wouldn't be able to get all miniatures from his collection to show up in at least one game.
I fear I might be facing the same problem...

This isn't quite a problem for me yet, but I'm very cognizant of it. I turn 48 in two days, and I want to be able to put my brushes into semi-retirement when I hit 50. Oh, I'll occasionally do up the odd couple of minis or small group here and there, but no more large projects or bulks of minis. From 50 on, I want to focus on actually playing games and shift that time I currently spend hobbying to taking care of my health and developing some other skills I haven't so far (such as playing a music instrument and being proficient in more languages).

So, 2023 and 2024 are going to be a bit of a hobby sprint for me.

With that, I've settled on my 2023 plan being lots of loose odds and ends:
* 2 Ronin Buntais
* Ronin terrain
* Dracula’s America Posse
* 2 En Garde warbands
* Battletech Alpha Strike Box (13 mechs)
* Another lance or star of BT
* 4 Blitz Bowl teams
* BzB terrain
* Finish out two DungeonBowl teams
* DungoenBowl terrain
* 1 Gaslands gang of 3 vehicles
* about 30-40 1/72 post apoc minis

2024 is gonna be two Lion Rampant warbands (English v Welsh) with auxiliary fantasy units for games of Dragon Rampant.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: CapnJim on December 29, 2022, 03:34:38 PM: I don't set goals. I have too many periods for which I have stuff to paint. I choose a dozen or so minis, or a vehicle, or some terrain, to paint based on my whim of the day. When they're done, I choose something else based on my whim of that day. So we'll just have to see what I end up doing in 2023... :D
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: mikedemana on December 29, 2022, 05:16:27 PM: Quote from: CapnJim on December 29, 2022, 03:34:38 PM
I choose a dozen or so minis, or a vehicle, or some terrain, to paint based on my whim of the day. When they're done, I choose something else based on my whim of that day.

So, we should call you CapnWhim, not Jim?? lol

Mike Demana
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: CapnJim on December 29, 2022, 06:07:34 PM: Quote from: mikedemana on December 29, 2022, 05:16:27 PM
So, we should call you CapnWhim, not Jim?? lol

You so funny... ;D :D
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Vanvlak on December 29, 2022, 06:18:22 PM: I plan about as much as a 2nd edition 40K ork.
I seem to have finally come to the realisation that real life will get in the way of anything more ambitious than planning to paint a couple of small foot troops or very small scale vehicles at any one time, I will leave planning for when I retire from work :D
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: The Voivod on December 29, 2022, 06:27:26 PM: I have a new years resolutions of sorts...
Quantity over quality.
I'm going to get the vallejo xpress paint set and experiment with it and gets some bulk done.
I have several projects laying about waiting for the perfect paintjob, that is realistically never gonna happen and I decided I like "good enough" well enough.

So once I get the paint set I am going to paint my Zombicide and Dungeon Saga.
I might get into my Myth boardgame mini's should they arrive, but the main goal is painting a lot of stuff and not mind the tiny details. I still want them to look good, but I'm going to save my best for a selct couple of models.
Marvel Crisis Protocol and Masters of the Universe Battle ground at the moment.

I'm also focussing on finally getting some finished scenery sets.
I've grown a lot as a modeller/painter, but this means I've started to ask more an more of myself and this decreased my output tremendously.

So the theme for next year is going to be:"it doesn't have to be perfect."
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: 3Fingers2 on December 29, 2022, 09:31:16 PM: So far I have thought about selling everything and jacking in the hobby?

Projects I have thought about

40K Logan’s world
A GW confrontation type either hive or post apoc style?
A post apoc /neo Japan gang warfare maybe with Japanese folklore monsters thrown in .
Weird war Vietnam /Death in dark continent crossover idea .
Reliving my youth and doing Gw Dark future again .
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Khusru2 on December 29, 2022, 09:56:13 PM: Armchair general's first comment sums it up.
Other than that, expand your current armies or enemies thereof & terrain for those periods.
Game more than last year while thinking about 2024
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Robosmith on December 31, 2022, 04:27:55 AM: I'm really bad at sticking with projects so I think big picture rather than small. This year I want to improve my photography, get an article published (not just the guest pages) and I want to work towards self publishing a painting guide.

That big picture lets me cheat on the little picture because any project can fit within the bigger picture so I can skip around and not feel like I did.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Jemima Fawr on December 31, 2022, 05:06:40 AM: This year's the same as every other year, Pinky:

Paint industrial quantities of SYW and Napoleonics and try to take over the world.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Cat on December 31, 2022, 05:06:56 AM: When it comes down to it, the projects choose me.
~ , ~
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FierceKitty on December 31, 2022, 09:07:36 AM: Quote from: Jemima Fawr on December 31, 2022, 05:06:40 AM
This year's the same as every other year, Pinky:

Paint industrial quantities of SYW and Napoleonics and try to take over the world.

In case you've never encountered it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqMs9WsJg2k
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Easy E on January 03, 2023, 05:39:43 PM: Happy New Year..... it is now 2023. The barren wasteland of an empty project table spreads before me. Only two, lone Wiz Kids miniatures stare at me.... longingly.... and as yet unpainted. These have been my insurance models for the last 2 years, just enough to keep me alive; but models I inherited and never intended on painting.

The rest of the table is only bare, white plastic. A brand new mega set of Speed Paints sits by, waiting eagerly for me to break it open. Alas, I have nothing to paint with it. Checking my Blood and Spectacles account, last year was a strong year for me. Yet, I am reluctant to buy more models and begin anew.

My mind remains unsettled, and the question rings through and echoes across the lonely corridors of my imagination.

Decisions must be made.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: fred on January 03, 2023, 07:49:41 PM: Scary times!

I position I’m not sure many of us can really relate to though! I thought my desk was pretty tidy, but can see figures for 7 or so projects and books for some more without really looking around.

I’m sure there must be a set of figures that is calling out to you?
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: FifteensAway on January 03, 2023, 11:30:21 PM: Here is my 'officially' posted goal set, posted up last Thursday:

Here is my 2023 goal set:

Number One - a minimum of 36 figures per month. With 5 zero months in 2022, I need that to keep me on track. [432]
Number Two- 125 figures per month as my base goal. Again. [1500]
Number Three- "Minor" stretch goal, 150 figures per month. [1800]
Number Four- "Major" stretch goal, 250 figures per month. [3000]

We will know in December next how well I do. Or not. I will count the lowest bracketed number as a minor disappointment and the highest bracketed number as a Strategic Victory.

My major trepidation is that my wife retires tomorrow and who knows what upheaval that will bring to my painting!

: Posted to the local gaming IO group. So, it is very public. 15 mm and 'good enough' paint jobs make the numbers less daunting, maybe, than you think. ;)
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: syrinx0 on January 05, 2023, 02:03:52 AM: Quote from: FifteensAway on January 03, 2023, 11:30:21 PM
My major trepidation is that my wife retires tomorrow and who knows what upheaval that will bring to my painting!
My wife usually likes to catch up on her reading and puzzles when off work for the summer. I hardly increased my hobby output but I was totally crazy the first year I was retired. Finished all of our planned home projects and then some. Drove my wife nuts with my weekend & summer break lists for when I had her 'help'. I'm probably not helping your trepidation am I? lol

Good luck with the2023 goals though.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: ced1106 on January 05, 2023, 02:13:13 AM: Battle System's Maladum dungeon miniature skirmish KS starts next month, so I'm finishing up a review of their Fantasy Village set, as well as a campaign of their Core Space: First Born. Once the campaign is over, it's a review of First Born to write up!
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Cat on January 09, 2023, 05:58:05 AM: The Muse has spoken, DBN will be the prime project to kick off 2023. This has been bubbling under with assorted bits of work over the last couple of years. Time to get it to the table before Spring rolls around.

The omens are favourable. Having decided this afternoon dive back into rebasing figures (15's on 60mm wide bases) — this evening Alex had posted a new battle report video on his DBN Wargaming channel on YouTube.
: 3
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Pijlie on January 09, 2023, 02:42:49 PM: I have to pick one? lol
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: tikitang on January 09, 2023, 10:02:41 PM: 2023 appears, so far, to be pushing me toward Forbidden Psalm, a fantasy skirmish game set in the world of the Mörk Borg RPG.

Being in this situation (that is starting a new project with a skirmish system designed for solo play) seems perilously akin to a year ago when I was all excited about The Silver Bayonet, a project which I utterly failed to see to completion, so I don't hold high hopes that I'll see this one through either, but it's where I find myself regardless!
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: dadlamassu on January 09, 2023, 11:25:28 PM: I have very nearly run out of storage space. So the tasks this year will be to convert the boxes and piles of unbuilt and/or unpainted figures into units (maybe armies) that fit in the many unfinished projects. Thus converting stored stuff into playable stuff. Perhaps creating storage space for later.

Of course I reserve the right to be influenced by our grandchildren.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: Spinal Tap on January 12, 2023, 07:31:03 PM: Quote from: tikitang on January 09, 2023, 10:02:41 PM
2023 appears, so far, to be pushing me toward Forbidden Psalm, a fantasy skirmish game set in the world of the Mörk Borg RPG.

Being in this situation (that is starting a new project with a skirmish system designed for solo play) seems perilously akin to a year ago when I was all excited about The Silver Bayonet, a project which I utterly failed to see to completion, so I don't hold high hopes that I'll see this one through either, but it's where I find myself regardless!

I too am identifying Forbidden Psalm as this years project.

I love that's its small and independent and a bit odd, will allow me to fart about converting models and learning new stuff.

Most interest and information is on the Facebook group and patreon which could put some people off.

The Facebook group is great though, everyone is enthusiastic, not least the author; I could see me drifting there more than here for this particular project for peer support and interest in such a niche game.

Tikitang. Just do what you do. If you feeling lacking in oomph you can always drop me line either on the forum or via PM.
Title: Re: Choosing your 2023 project?
Post by: supervike on January 12, 2023, 08:16:50 PM: Last year, I started out with Fantasy, with Rangers of Shadow Deep as the focus, but just general Fantasy.

I got distracted by Games Workshop which I haven't really paid much heed to in a decade)and that lead me down a rabbit hole of Necromunda and Kill Team and trying to keep up with the latest and greatest. FOMO seems to be a business practice of theirs and I fell right into it.

This year I plan on slowing it down abit and moseying into the OLD WEST. I'm really more about painting minis and building terrain for a specific genre, and then trying out different rulesets for what i have. I think I'll start with Draculas America and see where that takes me.