The the issuing (and settling) of side challenges, paint duels and grudge matches extends waaay back to the first Challenge and has since become a time-honoured tradition.
These affairs de la brosse help participants to keep motivated over the length Challenge and create a fun atmosphere of smack-talk and brush-baiting.
For those who are new to this silliness, the paint duels allow a pair of individuals or small groups to test one another against a self-defined set of criteria. Maybe it's to see who can paint the most sailing ships over the length of the Challenge, or to paint figures within a particular historical period/genre; other duels might be created to see who can reach a specific points threshold first. Really, the sky's the limit - it's up to your imagination.
Over the years the side duels have become more formalised, with many of these clashes of brush and paint now enshrined in Challenge lore.
I suggest that those involved keep close track of their duels, but if you want to send me updates over the course of the Challenge then we'll be happy to keep track of the madness on the blog. We even have a special page dedicated for this. You can find the link to the Duels page on the top navigation bar.
Okay! Let's have some fun with this! I want to see jersey's pulled over heads, gauntlets thrown and seconds selected.
Looking over my 'to do' pile, I can see a number of minis from Games Workshop. Would anyone be interested in a Games Workshop Miniatures side duel? Say, most AHPC points of minis made by GW (past or present, any game system, Forge World, Marauder and Citadel minis okay)?
ReplyDeleteSure. My aim is to do a load of necromunda gangs, so this side challenge will help push me along :D
DeleteI think this could help with my backlog...
DeleteStuart can you be the main recordkeeper for this? Then you can report to me biweekly and I'll update the blog.
DeleteI'm in, need to have a red line in the middle of this squirreling madness.
DeleteSure thing Curt.
DeleteI'm in for this!
DeleteOk, so I have the duelists down as:
DeleteStuartL, PaulS, Barks, TeemuL and PaulO'G.
Any more challengers?
Late to the party here, but I've got a bunch of AoS I'm planning to paint over this challenge.
DeleteOk, that's DrQ added to the roster.
DeleteI think Reilly wanted in on this too -I'll confirm
DeleteA Naval Arms Race has already been declared. Not sure yet if it will be based on points or Number of ships.
ReplyDeleteNumber of sails!
DeleteNot normally interested in toy battleship building races, but I’m in for the camaraderie. With Miles in the mix I’ll just be a sacrificial offering.
DeleteI’ve got several eras at play so more interested in number of hulls than sails.
May I suggest that losers organize a Zoom game for the winner using ships painted in the challenge..
The Zoom game as prize is an awesome idea!
DeleteThe brain cells are wearing out but sometimes they still fire up ok Curt. I just figure that this year contact is better than stuff.
DeleteAn excellent suggestion Peter!
DeleteAdam, can you be the recordkeeper for this duel? Just update me biweekly and I'll post it to the blog.
DeleteI do have some Dystopian Wars ships that need attention...
DeleteHeck what ever boats you float Paul.
DeleteHow about a 6mm challenge - total number of points?
ReplyDeleteAt the very real risk of making a complete fool of myself, and against anyone's better judgment, I'm in!
DeleteEmjenic, there’s no risk it’s a certainty!
DeleteI feared as much. Ah well, damn the torpedoes!
DeleteMartijn
I've got a big pile of 28mm gendarmes, Napoleonics and late Romans/Romano Brits, anyone for a 28mm cavalry duel?
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Anyone for an Infamy! Infamy! duel out there?
ReplyDeleteI need the inspiration to paint my auxilia and legion.
DeleteI have a Roman force that needs doing, and possibly added to, so I would be up for that!
DeleteBluewillow below is propising a "Rome and her enemies" challenge. Why not combining both?
DeleteWhat about either a 25mm Donnybrook or Napoleonic duel anyone?
ReplyDelete25mm Napoleonics? I’m in.
DeleteMight I join you gentlemen for a 25mm Napoleonics Duel or is it considered bad form to invite oneself?
DeleteWell, if no ones interested in cavalry, I've got a shed load of Napoleonics primed, if I commit to a duel some of it might get painted, I fling my glove at your face sir!
DeleteBest Iain
All are welcome Sander as are your Cavalry Iain! Not too many of them though????
Delete28mm Napoleonics suits my current anticipated workload.
DeleteI'm in for Napoleonics. Maybe for cavalry, too - have to have a review of what's likely.
DeleteRay, can you keep me updated on the scores for this? Then I'll post your report to the blog.
DeleteJust checked my cav plans - should be plenty enough for the challenge!
DeleteI will do just that Curt!
DeleteThanks Ray!
DeleteOkay Noel your on ,we can both do Napoleonics and the cavalry duel,I'll be happy to keep track of it Curt!
DeleteBest Iain
Up for a 28mm Napoleonics Duel cavalry or infantry
DeleteCheers
Matt
I’m going to fire up the Skull-o-meter again. See how many Skullz you paint! Scenery, grimdark details, skeleton regiments- all fair game.
ReplyDeleteDo things like skull shaped badges on marine armour count, or does it actually need to be a "real" model skull?
DeleteAny skull emblem counts!
DeleteI'm in then!
DeleteIt wouldn’t be the Challenge without the Skull-o-meter! Would deaths head insignias on Prussian Hussars, Black Brunswickers etc count?
DeleteWorth a shot, need to finish my skellie army :)
DeleteBarks, I'll put you on the hook for keeping track of the stats for this challenge. Just send me updates biweekly and I'll post them to the blog.
DeleteAfter my total last year of 543 metric noggins I could retire victorious, but I feel honour bound to offer someone else a chance to wear the jaw encrusted crown!
DeletePeter- yes, absolutely.
DeleteCurt- Wilco.
Paul, Stuart, Robert- welcome! There can be only one!
I'm bringing out the 'Squirrel Challenge' this year.
ReplyDeleteDesigned specifically for hobby butterflies. You get a point for each unique entry. It has to be at least five figures to score (vehicles count as two figures). Terrain works as well (two 6" cubes worth for an entry). 'Unique' covers any sub-genre as well (i.e. Peninsular War and 1812 Retreat are both Napoleonic, but they each are unique for scoring purposes).
The squirrel challenge is fun! Sign me up.
DeleteHow do walls score?
They have to be period specific and make up the equivalent of two 6" cubes.
DeleteBut I was going to be laser focused this year...
DeleteSQUIRREL.
I had plans for exactly what I was going to paint...
SQUIRREL!
Sigh, I'm in!
Too easy. I knew I had you from the start Stuart. :)
DeleteSo, hypothetically, do the five (or more) figures in a Squirrel Challenge entry have to be thematically related, or do five total randoms count?
DeleteAsking for a friend.
Oh hell I join this madness if only to keep track of how many balls that I am juggling!
DeleteEv, you can tell your friend that the five figures have to be thematically related. Saawee!
DeleteI'm in for the squirrel.
DeleteJust for clarity.
Delete5x 6mm figures count?
Um, no.
Delete5 x 28mm figures would count.
As a points equivalent, 25 x 6mm figures would count.
Erm... yeah. Put "my friend" down for the Squirrel Challenge please!
DeleteI might look for clarification on naval projects. Thirty points of 1:2400 sailing ships is a lot of work.
DeleteI don't understand. Who said 30 points?
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteAnother one for Squirrel! I still have some 54mm models primed from 2 years ago.
DeleteCurt you said the equivalent of six 28mm figures. Isn’t that 30 points?
DeleteI think I may have caused some confusion with my question.
DeleteCurt said 5x 28mm figures or 25x 6mm figures.
So you're looking at 25 points per Squirrel.
I hope that clears things up.
If SquirrelMeister StuartL is in, then I have to be.
DeleteAnd I was only going to focus on two projects this year: history and fantasy...
And here I was thinking I was going to have an easy time of it this year. I can see now that I'm going to have to unleash my full squirrelly might to hold onto my title after all.
DeleteOkay, so far for the Squirrel Challenge we have:
DeleteCurt, Rob, Stuart, Evan, Peter, DrDave, Pete and Noel.
If anybody else is interested just let me know!
Also, to keep things simple, let's just say that in order to score a 'Squirrel Point TM' you have to submit 25 points of figures within a unique theme (or two 6" cubes worth of terrain). Fair?
Sounds good.
DeleteI need to join in the squirrel challenge purely based upon the fact that I have been fulfilling the criteria (without knowing it) in every Challenge so far!
DeleteI've got loads of randomness squirreled away. Sign me up!
DeleteExcellent! I've added John and Millsy to the Squirrel Roster
DeleteAm down for some Squirrel challenge as well.. as I have quite a few different pieces kicking about that needs doing.
DeleteSounds great Kyle.
DeleteOkay, we now have Curt, Rob, Stuart, Evan, Peter, DrDave, Pete, Noel, John, Millsy and Kyle.
I’m going to be laser focused. Not getting in on this squirrels lark, no sireee!
DeleteI challenge myself to paint anything at all, frankly!
ReplyDelete🤪
Can I join you in that one Evan?
DeleteNobody want a Donnybrook duel? Can't believe it?
ReplyDeleteRemind me Ray, what years is Donnybrook targeted for?
DeleteThe rules state 1660 to 1760.
DeleteI was thinking about using Donnybrook for my Siege of Malta stuff (1565). Would you allow that?
DeleteYes of course.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! Well I'm in for a drubbing then. :)
DeleteLol
DeleteRay, we should have the winner put on a Zoom game of Donnybrook for the loser. :)
DeleteI wanna take part in that game!
DeleteJamie and I are pleased to launch "The Past vs. The Apocalypse" duel - stay tuned for details!
ReplyDeleteHeck yes. What this challenge needs is an asymmetric duel with the Apocalypse elbowing it’s way into the picture. It is 2020 after all.
DeleteAnybody interested in a Rome and Her Enemies duel?
ReplyDeleteCheers
Matt
Matt - would 10mm figures count?
DeleteI propose an Infamy!Infamy! duel, but we can easily merge both themes if you agree and go for Rome and It is Enemies
DeleteIsn't there already an Infamy!Infamy! duel above?
DeleteYes, it was actually I who proposed the Infamy challenge. But after reading Bluewillow proposal, I thought it may be a good idea to combine both. Ultimately, the theme is the same as Infamy: Rome and her enemies
DeleteAH, I'm with you now.. and sounds great!
DeleteI'm doing a very large 6mm ancients project this year - Romans, Parthians maybe even some Dacians!
DeleteBe scared, be very, very scared. If Miles says it’s very large it’s ginormous.
DeleteI know, I know from previous years. Miles is a sort of Stajanovist painter
Deletewell I have two hundred 28mm Romans to complete. I do not play Infamy so I thought this makes more sense as a proposal.
Deletecheers
Matt
I propose any scale, just scoring as normal, including terrain even. As I have a gallic fort and a roman marching camp also to complete.
DeleteAs long as it Roman or an enemy of Rome would work IMHO.
cheers
Matt
I may be being stupidly ambitious, but please add me to the list. I've a load of Punics and some Late Romans that are anxiously clamouring for attention in the (long, long) painting queue.
Deletenow someone to score our meagre offerings to the gods....
Deletecheers
Matt
Star Wars and FIW are my targets this year? Any duels I can lose there?
ReplyDeleteFabulous blog
ReplyDeleteHey Curt were you still wanting to do a 40k unit challenge? Peter you want in? Can see some of those goofy orks and gits
ReplyDeleteSure thing! I need to get another unit done for my Sisters of Battle. How many of what are you wanting to get done?
DeleteHmm I am hoping to do some more Guard, possibly some Chaos stuff. But I'm also hoping the overall focus of my challenge this year will be my Aliens vs Predator stuff. So should we say 150 - 200 points? If you have other things you want to focus on I'm fine with leaving it for now.
ReplyDeleteHow about 100 points of 40K stuff. First across the finish line gets a painted figure for his army?
DeleteChallenge accepted. I guess I'll add the figure for you to my queue cuz I know how fast the two of us paint! But don't worry I'll at least try. Lol
DeleteI dunno, my 40K stuff is petty far down the queue, but maybe this will get me motivated.
Delete