January 2025 Wrap Up

As January comes to an end, it’s time to look at what I got done hobby wise and plan what I would like to get done in February. I didn’t get to play any games, though I put into motion games and campaigns to play later in the year. Here’s what I’m working on, I don’t know how much of it will actually get done this year.

• 1015 Conquest of England – I’m still painting figures. I’m halfway through the Vikings and still have most of the Anglo-Saxons to do. I may purchase character specific figures for Canute the Great and Edmond Ironside. I plan on using THW’s Captains and Kings rules with bits from Great Hall Burning.
• The War for Bazingbi’s Daughter – Most of the figures are painted. I need to refurbish my African terrain and build some new pieces such as a boma. For rules, I’m planning on using THW’s Fortunes Won and Lost revised with the game mechanics from Chain Reaction 2023.

In addition to the two main projects, I’m also tinkering with a point-to-point campaign for WHAT; how to use To Be King for Greek hoplite battles; how to revise Muskets and Shakos for the Seven Years War, and maybe someday use Nuts Big Battles for the Korean War.

Anyway, let’s look at what happened this month.

Miniatures and Terrain

Science Fiction

I painted a single science fiction figure this month – a biodroid goblin relaxing in a pool. Figure is from Twin Goddess.

Old West

I completed four Old West figures, two mounted and two on foot. They are from Westwind’s Cowboy Wars range sold by Old Glory.

Medieval

More Vikings! Ten figures completed – six from Foundry and four from Artizan Designs. The Viking on his back is not a casualty figure, he’s the loser from the drinking game pack.

Fantasy

Completed four fantasy figures from Reaper – two from the Bones range and two from the Dark Heavens range.

Amazons (NSFW)

A Not Safe for Work Warning is warranted here. Greek Amazons seem to eschew clothing when going to war. Seventeen Amazons from Eureka and one mounted Amazon from Casting Room Miniatures were completed this month.

Terrain

I completed one terrain piece, a medieval well from Reconquer Designs. This well can be used for many different historical periods and fantasy games.

Summary

The first month of the year sees the completion of 38 figures and pieces of terrain.

• 1 – 28mm Science Fiction figure
• 4 – 28mm Old West figures
• 10 – 28mm Medieval figures
• 4 – 28mm Fantasy figures
• 18 – 28mm Amazon figures
• 1 – Terrain piece

Hobby Purchases

I’ve decided to keep track on how much I spend on my hobby. I feel as though I’m going to need a great deal of restraint in spending over the next four years. In other words, I think the economy is going to be tricky for us senior citizens on fixed incomes.

I spent $26.95 on a board game from Noble Knight Games. Miniature gamers often use board games to track movement and logistics in campaigns while using their favorite wargame rules to fight the individual battles. The game title itself tells you what campaign I’m wanting to run someday.

Armchair Musings

Here are few things I’ve read or watched this month from my armchair, the very same chair I use for tea and afternoon naps.

I’ve read sections of Professor Kagan’s book, The Peloponnesian War, but I’ve never read it from cover to cover.

When I was in the third grade, the space race heated up and many of us dreamed of living and working in space. I hope someday my descendants will be able to do so. In addition to watching Neil DeGrasse Tyson’s Star Talk, I also follow Isaac Arthur’s series on space colonization. I’ve been playing some games set in the not-too-distant future where my characters reside in an O’Neill Cylinder.

Parting Thoughts

It has amused me to no end that from mid-December to January 20th, my social media feeds have been filled with memes and messages declaring that eggs would be 99 cents a dozen on January 21st. On January 21st, all of those memes disappeared and just a few days into the Felon President’s term, the price of eggs increased 40%.

The old Chinese curse is “may you live in interesting times”. Indeed, we are living in interesting times.

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. Let me know what you think. Let’s cross our fingers and hope we get to play a game in February.