The 16th Annual Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge

Hey there! If you want to get some figures painted over the winter, and have a bit of fun along the way, you've come to the right place as we're a month out from the 16th edition of the Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge!

The Basics

The Painting Challenge runs from the first day of Winter, 12:01 am December 21st, through to the first day of Spring, 12:01am March 20th, Central Standard Time (CST).

Miniatures (i.e. figures, vehicles, artillery, etc.) can be prepared, assembled and primed prior to the start date, but you cannot start painting until December 21st. In order to gain full points. The figures should be based (if appropriate) and any planned groundwork completed. The figures have to be painted by you. 

The Challenge follows the honour system in the completion and entry of figures. 

Miniatures can be in any scale and from any genre (pulp-adventure, science-fiction, fantasy, etc.).

The Challenge provides a simple (if imperfect) scoring system so participants can establish a benchmark to work towards. To be clear, the Challenge is NOT meant to judge peoples' painting, but to simply help inspire them to get stuff done.

For purposes of scoring, participants will create draft blog posts of their work on the  Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge blog. Up-to-date scoring (or as up-to-date as we can manage) will be handled by our intrepid team of Minions and displayed the blog's main page. 

I will send out an email to new participants a week or so prior to the event to provide additional details on submitting your entries to the Challenge blog.

Please Note: All participants must have at least one entry submitted within the first four weeks of the event (i.e. January 21st). Failure to do so will result in being dropped from the Challenge roster. Yep, remember, this is not called a Challenge for nothing. :)

 

The Scoring

Below is an outline of how the scoring of entries are handled:  

• 6mm foot figure = 0.5 point 

• 6mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 1 point 

• 6mm vehicle = 2 points

 

• 10mm foot figure = 1 point 

• 10mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 3 points 

• 10mm vehicle = 6 points  

 

• 15mm foot figure = 2 point 

• 15mm mounted figure, artillery piece or large crew served weapon = 4 points 

• 15mm vehicle = 8 points 

 

• 20mm foot figure = 4 points 

• 20mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew-served weapon = 8 points 

• 20mm vehicle = 15 points 

 

• 28mm foot figure = 5 points 

• 28mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 10 points 

• 28mm vehicle = 20 points 

 

• 40mm foot figure = 7 points 

• 40mm mounted figure, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 15 points 

• 40mm vehicle = 25 points 

 

• 54mm foot figure = 10 points 

• 54mm mounted figures, artillery piece or crew served weapon = 20 points 

• 54mm vehicle, limber, etc. = 30 points

Other scales, miscellaneous models/figures will be scored on a submission-by-submission basis. 


Terrain Submissions

To the delight of many previous participants, scored terrain submissions will be returning to the Challenge! Long-time Challenger Byron will be in charge of adjudicating terrain submissions on each Sunday. In a few days he'll be posting his arcane and sadistic methodology for scoring terrain, so stay tuned.

The Return of the Theme Rounds

Those doughty Challengers who wish to to gain bonus points can gird their loins to participate in three theme rounds where they are asked to paint an entry specific to a particular theme. These are scheduled for January 11th, February 8th and March 8th. 

The theme rounds are voluntary. Participants do not need to enter them to enjoy the Challenge. It's an extra diversion for those wishing to try some theme-based challenges.

In a few days I'll follow up with a post laying out the specifics of the three themes.

Our Marvelous Minions

While I am the first to nudge the wagon down the hill, the actual hard work of steering the Challenge along is done by a group of great people who manage each day's submissions. Here are the 'Daily Minions' for Challenge XVI:

• Monday: Dallas

• Tuesday: Peter

• Wednesday: Sylvain

• Thursday: Greg

• Friday: Millsy

• Saturday: Sander

• Sunday: Dave

• Terrain (Sundays): Byron

We also see the return of MilesR who will be our spreadsheet wrangler (it's a cantankerous thing that always needs appeasing). Thank you guys for stepping up to help for this year's edition!

Signup, Personal Targets and Duels

For those wishing to participate please send me an email, providing the following information: 

1) your full name (no, not your cool nerdish handle, your actual name),
2) your country of residence, and 
3) your points target for the three months of the event (see below).

My email address is:
curtcampbell at mac dot com 

I will post a comment below when the roster has been filled and will follow-up with an email in a couple weeks detailing the specifics of the event.

Points Target: Many participants have found the personal points targets to be a great incentive to maintain their pace over the three months of the Challenge. I encourage participants to pick a target that is just beyond your comfort zone, but still achievable. As a rough benchmark, 300 points is considered a manageable amount for someone who is new to the the event and/or has a busy work/life schedule. Also remember that a significant amount of points can be secured by tailoring submissions to this year's various themes (more on this later).

Duels and Side Challenges: Related to the points targets, many people have a lot of fun issuing 'paint duels' or side challenges to other participants. This could be racing to meet a declared target, painting the most figures for a specific period, etc. Feel free to dream up your own bit of fun and we'll cheer you on!

The Cost of Entry

Last year we had great success with our donations to Doctors Without Borders and the Glow Mission. Thank you again to all those who supported those worthwhile causes. This year I ask participants to donate to a charity of their choice and mention it in an early entry. 

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Challenge XVI begins at 12:01am December 21st!

Now, sign up for the Challenge and get you minis prepared for painting! We'll see you on the start line in a few weeks!