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Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Sayonara, 2013

Last year was a great year for gaming and painting.  With my son at college, I've gone from monthly to weekly gaming.  I've gotten in a mix of SAGA, Field of Glory, Maurice, Dux Brittanarium, and Longstreet. 2013 was the year I shed my Guy with the Worst Dice label.  While gaming is about having a good time, cutting up and tipping a beer or two, it's nice to win occasionally. I believe the law of large numbers has kicked in because my dice have been red hot!

I  painted 931 15mm figures including new Gallic, Dailami and ACW armies. In 28mm, I painted 585 figures including Vikings, Anglo-Danes, Jomsvikings, Normans, Welsh, Irish, Scots, Byzantines and Dark Age Swords for Hire.  SAGA has been my gateway drug into Dark Age reading and gaming.  SAGA also pulled some of my buddies into 28mm and having crossed the Rubicon, we're looking to port our 28mm warbands into other rules.

Thanks to painting contracts, I was able to substantially upgrade my paints and hobby tools.  I paint more than I can play so I appreciate the opportunity to paint for profit.  To put my efforts in perspective, my furnace went out Monday night.  With temperatures below zero, I frantically called to get Emergency $ervice. I told the bleary eyed furnace repairman my ignition was out and after 10 minutes, he'd replaced it at a cost of $430.  I compared his rate to mine and I felt a bit ill.  At least I had heat to go with my queasiness!

The painting table is loaded for 2014.  I've got Norse Gael, Jomsvikings and Bretons to paint for myself thanks to Mrs. Claus.  And I have 2 Ronin starter sets plus WW II British Paras to paint on contract.

If you were up too late last night and you're looking for something to put you back to sleep, I've got my tallies below the break.  Otherwise, cheers to you and to 2014!



28mm total: 585

Viking
77 

Anglo-Dane
35

Jomsviking
25

Old West
36

Norman
Foot: 28
Mounted: 32

Welsh 
Foot:  58
Mounted: 13
King: 1

Swords for Hire
Monks:  12
Sons of death: 8
Bard
Mounted Bard

Irish

47 foot

Byzantines

Foot: 36
Mounted: 13

Livestock: 11
2 Wagons:  8
Casualty/fatigue markers: 8
Monk 1

HYW:
39 Mounted Knights
12 Mounted English Knights
6 Foot Knights
12 Pavisiers
12 Crossbowmen

Scots:

55

15mm total: 931 

Gauls
12 Chariots: 60
Naked Gauls: 224
Soldurii: 24
Slingers: 16
Cavalry:  36
Skirmishers 16
Command stands 13
Bowmen 16
Camp: 8

Iberians
Slingers: 16
Large Shield Cavalry: 18
Small Shield Cavalry:  8

SYW Russian
6 batteries:  30

Dailami

96 Dailami
56 archers
2 ellies
12 cavalry

ACM

186 foot
32 Cavalry
36 dismounted cavalry
6 artillery-18 figs
3 limbers-18 figs

6 heroes

43 comments:

  1. Wow! That's some impressive numbers Monty. And what's even more impressing is how you manage to keep up the quality during such a large output.

    I wish you all the best for 2014!

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    1. Thanks Jonas! I don't think I'll top this year and it might be best if I don't try. ;-)

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  2. That's a lot of figures painted Monty. It makes my totals for 2013 seem very insignificant.

    Have a great 2014!

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    1. Tamsin, your output is staggering as evidenced by your massive pikemen push and the subsequent magazine article about it! Thanks and here's to more good stuff!

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  3. Here's to another good year in 2014 my friend!

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  4. You're a true painting machine, Monty! I haven't even bought 900+ figures in the last few years left alone painting. So a great 2014 to you and your family and keep up the good work! I'm looking forward to follow this blog and your projects through the year ahead.

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    1. Thanks much Moiterei and I''m looking forward to yours as well!

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  5. Those numbers are really impressive. Here's to a new productive year.

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    1. Thanks Seb, and I see our gaming interests intersect again, with Longstreet and WW II. If only we weren't an ocean apart we could push lead and hoist a beer.

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  6. Just the amount of one scale of figures you painted is staggering, but coupled together quite spectacular; not to mention your high quality. Impressive indeed, Monty. Looking forward to your future works in 2014. Happy New Year, Dean

    P.S. I recently paid $50 to plumber for basically unscrewing a defective water heater compressor and screwing on new one. Took him about 5 minutes, but I didn't want to mess anything up so am fine with it.

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    1. Well Dean, your Warhammer work this summer blew me away. I was amazed how quickly you'd kitbash and paint up huge models in a single go. Superman with a paintbrush!

      I agree about the plumber, and the furnace guy as well. I'd have paid more with the plummeting temperature in my house. It just hit me that in 10 minutes, my Scots commish was mostly gone.

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  7. Awesome painting output and a Happy New Year!

    Christopher

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    1. Hey Chris, thanks and here's to more DB and maybe Impetus painting!

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  8. Monty, that is a machine-like production! How do you find the time to add in a weekly game on top of this? Mind boggling...

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    1. Well, El Machino, I'm addicted. Looking at your production, I'd guess you are as well. In addition to your painting, your collection and diversity is mind boggling!

      To anyone who has less numbers, I'd say they have a more diversified life.

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  9. Thats alot of figures painted, well done.

    Steve

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    1. Thanks Steve, and I'm looking forward to more Impetus goodness from you and your blog!

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  10. Not sure you'll do in 2014 as well as in 2013...it was really awesome!

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    1. I should probably not try to top this if I want to remain a happily married man. My wife and I were talking about getting our old PS3 Rock Band back together again. She's a great singer and I used to be an expert drummer for Guinness Fight Club. ;-)

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  11. I'm always in awe of your productivity - well done Monty, and happy New Year.

    FMB

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    1. Thanks Marcus, and I'm amazed by the diversity of games you play. Every time I visit your page, temptation calls me. Here's to your most excellent painting and projects in 2014!

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  12. My God Monty, that's a load of figures! And as I remember you grew a great deal as a painter last year as well.

    You really got effed on the heater bill. You're not going to believe this, but I live in a 3,000 square foot Victorian and we don't have heat. Yeah, it gets really cold. What we have is 3 space heaters and we close the rest of the house for winter. When you walk out of one of the heated rooms into the hall, you have to wear a coat, gloves, scarf and you can see your breath. Also we turn off the water at night so the pipes won't burst. I won't pay the rates on heating. I may be daft, but I spend $2700.00 less than I did my first year here.

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    1. I had no idea you could heat a home in the midwest with space heaters. That's brilliant. I'd be drawn and quartered should I even suggest such a thing in my house. We have Thermostat Wars as it is.

      Painting has a shelf life so I want to make the most of it while I can. I think of some of my fellow bloggers and how things go wrong which can take this away from us. Your growth as a painter both breathtaking and inspirational. In 2014, I'd like to take a page out of your book and explore. Even if some of the techniques don't seen regular rotation, I'd like to dabble just the same.

      Keep your brushes warm, Anne!

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  13. Thanks Andrew! As the guy leading the painting challenge, you are on a pace that hurts just to watch.

    I found your blog in 2013 and seeing your Viking project was a great inspiration. Here's to more inspiration in 2014!

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  14. Happy new year, Monty. Wishing all the best! Regards, Brent

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    1. Happy New Year Brent, to both you and Sandy!

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  15. Monty, the mind boggles. That is simply stupefying!

    I need to pay more attention to what others are up to - always good for inspiration. Thanks for all the posts over the past 12 months; though I'll never match your output, it gives me motivation to push myself as a painter!

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    1. Ev, thanks so much! The truth is there is a TON of great painting and gaming going on in the blogosphere. We need to quit our day jobs and focus on what really matters in life-good painting and gaming. ;-)

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  16. Looking forward to another year of following the saga of The Twin Cities Gamer.

    Happy New Year!

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    1. Thanks Iowa, and Happy New Year back to the heartland!

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  17. Very impressive work matey!

    Happy New Year !!!

    Best regards Michael

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    1. Happy New Year, Michael. Since I'm low on Viking reading, I'm now listening to an audio Great Lectures series by a Prof at Tulane on Vikings. Great stuff so far!

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  18. Michael is right, your review is very impressive. Happy New Year !
    J-B

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    1. Thanks Jehan, and I've added you to my blogrolls. I like your Carthos force and SAGA as well!

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  19. Happy New Year.
    I hope get more Saga games in 2014.
    cheers

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    1. Thanks Kiwi! Here's to more great gaming in the new year!

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  20. That is a fantastic output for the year Monty. Your work is always top quality and inspirational so I hope you keep it up for 2014. I have 3 kids under 6 so I am at the other end of the parenting spectrum right now, looking forward to that time when I have, well, more time. Happy New Year!

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    1. Dan, thanks! I was there not too long ago. Pokemon to video games to briefly father and son and daughter Warhammer painting. Enjoy these years as they do grow up awfully fast!

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  21. You seem to have had a splendid year Monty, here's to an even more productive 2014!

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    1. Thanks Michael. It was a good one and I hope that carries into the new year!

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  22. I admire people who can paint for hire, and have used them on occasion. I couldn't to save my life. Too much undiagnosed ADHD, I suspect.
    Best in 2014,
    Michael

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    1. Thanks Michael! I'll see your ADHD and raise you an OCD. A light touch of it is not the end of the world and helps you see a project through! ;-)

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