2017 wrap up

This is my last post for this year, as we are about to head over the ditch to the land of Oz for Xmas. As such, this post will be a reflection on 2017 - achievements and otherwise.

1. The 6 x 6 challenge
This idea from Kaptain Kobold at the Stronghold Rebuilt to get people blogging more about games rather than, 'look what I just painted', was a brilliant one, and got me playing the most games I've managed in a year this century. I didn't actually finish the challenge, but I ended up playing 40 games - four more than the 6x6, but just not in the right categories. As such, the 6 x 6 was a fantastic challenge and helped me develop some of my own rules, explore DBA v3.0 and have plenty of fun along the way.
The highlights for me were playing through Clobberin' Time and slowly building figures for the NDC Universe - the comics characters Dan and I began to invent 30 years ago. It is a bit of a kick seeing them come alive on the table. The other highlight was the discovery of Tony Aguilar's and Musashi's DBA battle reports on Youtube, lately added to by NZ's own Greg Kelleher and Mark Baker.

Aphid (foreground) was one of our first ever creations. Tiger Girl came into being this year.

Crazy fun - Delta Wave versus the Snowmen from Mars in a random dinosaur park.

2. Acquisitions
This is a big category this year, fueled by being gifted stuff and purchases made with commission money. Most importantly, I completed my Practical Wargamer magazine collection this year. So inspirational that I have several magazines next to my bed at the moment where I've been reading through some American Civil War articles and getting sidetracked by things like 15th Century Ireland - FOCUS!
Paul's gift of 15mm American Civil War armies has launched me straight into a new period, and I only have about a third of the armies that I need to complete for this project.
The English Civil War in 28mm are all sitting there partially assembled now - 2000 points for Warhammer English Civil War per side. That one is going to be a biggie, and is ear-marked for 2019.
Multiple DBA armies have also found there way into the cabinet, with most of my favourite eras in ancient history now covered.

Collection complete!

3. Painting Commissions
A slightly quieter year commission-wise in 2017. I started the year by finishing off some German 15mm Flames of War figures for Craig, then some 15mm British Paras, followed by painting some 28s for Geoff mid-year, and then the Walking Dead figures at the end of the year. Wanting to get some of my own projects finished got in the way a little this year, and I have a queue waiting for me in 2018 - John's Napoleonics and some more 15mm WWII from Craig, but I'll get there...

The top tray of Walking Dead figures just prior to sending.

4. Painting for my collections
I rounded out a number of Seven Years War 15mm units, although I still have more to go (next year). I painted 28mm Marlburian armies for the Pikeman's Lament (and then sold them), 4 DBA armies, Chaco War and Vietnam War armies for the Portable Wargame and several factions for Song of Broken Legions. Alongside this there have been numerous experiments and other bits and pieces just for something different to paint. In total, it has been a good painting year, aside from the month where my back packed up.

5. Blogging
Including this one, there will be 55 posts this year, 5 down on 2016. I haven't posted anywhere as many photos of painting as I have in the past, and this is in keeping with my resolution to try to have more games blogged and not just pictures of figures. I do now wish that I had some record of the 15mm Britsh paras, though, as I had forgotten that I'd painted them!
The 6 x 6 has been a great blogging event to participate in. Thanks you Kaptain Kobold for organising it. In August I started a 'Project Management' blog challenge to try to get people to link to each other's blogs a bit. I have to say that Mark and Jonathan have been the best at sticking to their plans. Me, not so much...

6. 2018
Two big anniversaries dominate next year's plans: 100 years since the end of WWI and 260 years since the battle of Zorndorf. Hence my goal is to have the 15mm Russian Seven Years War army ready to fight by August, and my 18mm Russian and German armies ready to go in the same month. If I get the time I will also try to complete the Flames of War Great War British and Germans. Alongside these I aim to have the American Civil War armies finished by the end of February.
Commission-wise, I have 15mm Grenadiers, a platoon of 28mm Luftwaffe infantry and several helicopters to paint for Craig, 28mm Napoleonic Rifles, Highlanders and artillery for John, 9 Samurai for Dan, a platoon of 15mm Goums for Chris, and some Prodos Space Marines for Glenn. It looks like another busy year of painting, but hopefully also of gaming.
Without the 6 x 6 I am going to set myself a target of 3 games a month, and see if I can make it work.

Merry Xmas everyone, and we will see you in the New Year.

Nate