How much is too much?

[Gunbird]

I've received some comments and PM's about my refocussing (see http://20mmandthensome.blogspot.nl/2014/08/focus-points.html, in that 12 projects is too much.

Is it? How many do you have in a year?

Since I like to make a basic force that you can do a skirmish with, these tend to be rather small, 2 dozen troops, 3-4 vehicles, these kind of projects are quite manageable. For others I just paint maybe a few miniatures a year cause I enjoy painting them, and not neccesarely gaming with them. Other projects are armies that I'm slowly expanding. I tend to hope from one project to another one anyway, I just want to do that in a more focussed manner from now on.

Is it somehow not ok to paint models just cause you like to make and paint them? Is gaming with them such a must?

I don't think 12 is too much. Now the 35 I had before I culled them, now that was too much. :cool:

[joroas]

Lost track of mine, but easily around 20 plus.

[Major_Gilbear]

Pfft, variety is the spice of life!

Seriously though, even if they intersect, having lots of projects helps you to avoid your hobby getting stale by letting you jump project when you get fatigued with the one you're on. Project burnout is not fatal as you can come back to it in the future, but proper hobby burnout is very hard to get back from! 

[3 fingers]

Hmm interesting , each persons different, what overwhelms one person , another relishes the challenge.
I buy miniatures I like , so long I have the storage its fine.
ive shelved my idea of a sharpe in space/napoleonic sciencefiction and will be just doing necromunda, due to time constraints. But the joy of this hobby is I can go back to it when I want.
it doesnt involve lots of bulky equipment lying around or continous outlay , I spend money on it,when I have it to spend.

[Pijlie]

I've received some comments and PM's about my refocussing (see http://20mmandthensome.blogspot.nl/2014/08/focus-points.html, in that 12 projects is too much.

Is it? How many do you have in a year?

This is entirely dependant on your timeframe 

I think I have about 6 or 7 running now. But there's no hurry.

[matthais-mouse]

On my table right now I have 9 small projects on the go.

When one finishes another one or two comes along. And I havent gamed for three years, just enjoy the making, painting and writing background for them.....

Dont let people tell you how its done, its your hobby, your way

[Oldben1]

I'll be honest with you, I go for 3 at a time:

1 near completion
1 started, but am a couple years away from getting anything finished
1 the covet stage, looking, thinking, planning.

I have a few finished projects(not working on them or investing in them)

Star wars
Strange Aeons
10mm Lotr

So I guess maybe its closer to 6
Keep it light, it is supposed to be fun.  The problem is there are always more models to buy, and inspirational blogs to follow.

Oldben

[Conquistador]

<snip>


Is it somehow not ok to paint models just cause you like to make and paint them? Is gaming with them such a must?

<snip>

Paint them or not; play them or not; one size/scale or many - Nobody's business but your own.

Gracias,

Glenn

[DoctorPete]

I have plenty of models I painted just for the fun of it.  Will they ever get into a game?  Maybe not, but there is something to be said for just indulging in the process of dreaming up another project or buying some new toys just because they strike your fancy.   

[FramFramson]

One on the go (Pulp Alley) and one on sabbatical (Mage Knight). 

I dont dare try more. I simply haven't got the space, the time, or the money.

[lethallee61]

Like you, I used to have a lot more projects on the go, but have realised that, for me at least, it was actually counter productive, as I began to feel overwhelmed, and nothing was ever getting finished.

Now that I have narrowed my focus to only a couple of projects (DMH & Napoleonics) I have found a new energy. Having just returned to full time work as well, a more manageable number of projects is essential to keep me on target.

But honestly, whatever keeps you going. And yes, I'll often paint something new, just for the fun of it. If it isn't fun, why bother? 

[Arlequín]

In theory the optimal number of 'things' an average person can remain focused on and to devote equal attention to is three; hence why most militaries use the rule of three in their structure (three squads, three platoons and so on).

This is your hobby though and while becoming more focused is helpful, unless it is how you like to do things, or at least how you want to do things, then it can impose a false barrier to your enjoyment of it.

We all have different limits imposed on our hobby, be it space, time, money, a partner's sufferance, or whatever, so do you really need to add an artificial one on top of that? 

I had a similar desire to be more organised a while back and I simply wrote a list of ten periods/sub-periods (twelve could work too), in order of preference. The first three or four were pretty easy, but it got harder to prioritise and even define everything else after that. Simply put, the first three or four were obviously my main interests.   

I imagine that other people might only have one or two, or up to five, using the same method, everyone is different. It also does not mean you have to try to ignore the others that made the rest of the list and on occasion something might cause you to have burst of interest in them for a time over everything else, before they slip back into relative obscurity. By and large though what you will end up working on are 'your interests' on any given day.

As for things that don't make the list, but yet grab your interest, buy them, paint them and enjoy the process, for as long as that lasts, then do what you've done already and sell them. It depends on what the enjoyment is; is it buying it, painting it, seeing it sat there for eternity doing nothing?

I used to have a massive collection of DVDs, yet most of them rarely got watched again after the first showing, although I intended watching all of them again at some vague future point. I sold almost all of them and as yet I haven't wanted to watch any of the ones I sold. I don't get to show off my huge DVD collection, but then who is impressed by that anyway?

 

[Captain Blood]

Three 

[Conquistador]

<snip>
We all have different limits imposed on our hobby, be it space, time, money, a partner's sufferance, or whatever, so do you really need to add an artificial one on top of that?  

<snip>
 

I don't think a desire to focus is artificial as such.  For some people, it is a drive to not have their time and efforts diffused to Chaos and non-completion. We like to see physical symbols of our success (some more, some less so) and it can be armies/Companies/War bands for some and single figures/dioramas for others.

If it is a desire to prioritize then I guess that depends on if you see that as artificial (I don't) or personality trait driven.

An awareness of my own mortality is a factor for me - 15 years in nursing layered on/into 35 years Federal service (Military, DOD Civilian, IC Civilian,) service seeing how fragile life can be - makes me want to not spend any more time on "shiny but not ever going to be played on the table" projects.

Gracias,

Glenn

[grant]

Three 

Three shall be the number of the counting and the number of the counting shall be three. Four shalt thou not count, neither shalt thou count two, excepting that thou then proceedeth to three. Five is right out.