Stats Update: Through Four Weeks, Let's Take a Peek

That's right stats fans, it's time for a statistical update on Challenge IX.  Well, technically, it's past time as we used to do these every two weeks.  I've decided to do these updates on a monthly rather than bi-weekly basis.  Why? - after extensive research and several secret conclaves with medical experts, it Has been determined that this group just didn't have the constitution to bear bi-weekly stats updates and the only merciful thing to do was reduce them to monthly.  There were just too many cases of fainting, vapors and even (shudder) pearl clutching that continuing with bi-weekly reporting would be irresponsible and potentially deemed a stats-crime against humanity.

Frankly, YOU JUST CAN'T HANDLE THE STATS.

I know you all are terrible disappointed but this course of action is for your own good.  You can trust me, I'm a financial services professional.

This update covers the first four weeks of the challenge and includes the results of the Recon and Sports bonus rounds, both of which saw record participation levels.

So without further ado, here's the stats snapshot table:

AHPC IX: Stats Summary		Weeks:
		4
Total Points		25,425
% of Target		33%
# of Submissions		325
Participation Rate		92%
Avg Pts per Submitter		322
Avg Pts per Submission		78
Projected Points		79,428
Proj % of Target		103%
Figures Painted
28MM
Inf		1991.5
Cav / Art		225.5
Vehicles		43
15MM
Inf		1355
Cav / Art		160.5
Vehicles		181
6MM
Inf		618
Cav / Art		23
Vehicles		149
Terrain "Cubes"		45
Points Distriution
28mm		51%
15mm		19%
6mm		2%
Terrain		4%
Bonus Round "bonus" Pts		18%
Other		6%
Total		100%

The above chart is stunning in all it's tabular glory.  The pure beauty of the numerals isn't marred by the inclusion of tawdry charts and other low-brow graphics to try and make the numerical truths comprehensible to the mathematical luddites of the world.  Lets us not stoop to the level of Trump-like simplicity and obfuscation - you are all better than that.

Simply put, we are off to a grand start and on on-pace to hit close to 80,000 points this year.  I think breaking Challenge VII's points record of 83,200 is very doable.  To be honest, after  peeking at the first few submission of week 5, the term "doable" could be changed to "likely"!

Equally encouraging is the record setting level of participation from the participants with 79 out of our band of 86 making at least one submission and an eye-popping level of participation in the first 2 bonus rounds.  89 entries were submitted on the first two bonus rounds.  We typically average around 25-30 per round.

Very impressive work indeed.

Now we need to have a moment of silence for the 7 lost souls who have yet to submit a single entry.  Thet shall not be named publicly as the shame may be unbearable.  Let us all pray that the Vallejo gods bring these reprobates back to their painting workbenches so that they can rejoin the community of Challengeanistas.  Can I get an Amen for that!

So how does Challenge IX compare to last year?  Pretty damn good but with one huge change in trend.....

Comparison to Challenge VIII, through week 4
		IX	VIII	+/- Var
Total Points		25,425	18,716	6,709
Projected Points		79,428	70,917	8,511
Participants		86	80	6
Particiation Rate		92%	84%	8%
Submissions		325	279	46
Avg Points per Submisison		78	79	-1
Score Distribitiuon
28mm		51%	61%	-10%
15mm		19%	7%	12%
6mm		2%	6%	-4%
Terrain		4%	4%	0%
Bonus Round "bonus" Pts		18%	12%	6%
Other		6%	10%	-4%
Total		100%	100%	0%

There is a huge upswing in the amount of 15mm figures being painted - more than double what was being painted last year!  Also the increased level of bonus round participation has lead to a significant uptick in bonus round points.

But does 15mm's gain come at the loss for the 28mm world?

Figures Painted through Week 4		IX	VIII	+/- Var
28MM
Inf		1991.5	1,891	101
Cav / Art		225.5	128	98
Vehicles		43	51	-8
15MM
Inf		1355	404	951
Cav / Art		160.5	25	136
Vehicles		181	70	111
6MM
Inf		618	1,483	-865
Cav / Art		23	52	-29
Vehicles		149	187	-38
Terrain "Cubes"		45	33.75	11.25

Not really - the actual number of 28mm figures painted is roughly ahead of last year, but the 15mm world is 3x last year.  It seems that 15mm is now the "cool" scale, especially for those fashion forward gamers focusing on 15mm Napoleonics.  Truly, there is no more majestic site than the visage of a 15mm Napoleonic gamer prowling along side a gaming table, dice in hand.  Throw in some 15mm Napoleonic Naval miniatures and you've got someone who takes your breath away....

Ummm, lets get back to the stats.  6mm also saw a significant reduction in figures painted - I blame Lee - he needs to add another ancient army project to get these figures up to snuff.  Come on Lee - the 6mm world is counting on you!

I'll be back with another stats update after week 8.  Maybe, if you're nice, I'll throw in a graph or chart with pretty colors for those of you who struggle with the stunning clarity of the tables.

Maybe....

From SimonM: "Fantasy Flight Games" Emperor Palpatine (5 Points)

This 35mm tall hard plastic miniature of Darth Sidious is produced by “Fantasy Flight Games” and can be found inside the company's "Emperor Palpatine Commander Expansion" for "Star Wars: Legion". "Scheming, powerful, and evil to the core", the Sith Lord was originally played by actress Marjorie Eaton in Irvin Kershner's 1980 American epic space opera film "The Empire Strikes Back", with Clive Revill providing his voice.

The "primary antagonist of the Star Wars franchise” was initially undercoated using a double layer of "Vallejo" Black and then heavily dry-brushed with some Heavy Charcoal. I then applied some “Citadel” Nuln Oil to the Emperor’s inner clothing so as to darken it down, but decided against applying any shading to his outer robes in the hope it would provide the figure with something akin to the bluish hue the character is often seen emanating…

I took some excellent advice from Dave Stone (“The Game Cupboard) and ‘picked out’ the former Supreme Chancellor’s skin using a combination of “Citadel” Rakarth Flesh and Reikland Fleshshade, before applying a tiny amount of Druchii Violet beneath Sheev’s sunken eyes. Finally, I pigmented Palpatine’s walking staff with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna and later washed it with “The Army Painter” Strong Tone Quickshade.
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The third act of tonight's entertainment sees the villain take the stage, and he's a doozy!

Emperor Palpatine gets my vote as one of the more fun villains of recent cinematic memory. His ability to declaim gloatingly while leaving no piece of scenery unchewed marks him down as one of the greats. Nice work on that robe, he certainly looks sinister!

So that's another 5 points for you, Simon, for giving us the galaxy's greatest panto villain!

Ev

From SimonM: "Lucid Eye Publications" Lord Rascal's Skeleton Warriors (20 Points)

These four "cartoon scale white metal" figures of Lord Rascal's Skeleton Warriors are produced by “Lucid Eye Publications” and can be bought from the company's "Toon Realms" range. Sculpted by Steve Saleh and destined to form part of the Necromancer's ever-expanding army of Skeletons, I thought these Undead soldiers would probably form part of a second Light Foot unit I'm currently planning for my 'Lord Of The Toons' project using the "Dragon Rampant" rule-set.

Originally primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Dark Sand, the quartet were heavily washed in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and subsequently enthusiastically dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Dark Sand. I then dry-brushed them rather more lightly with Dead White, before 'picking out' their spear-tips and shield emblems using a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

In order to give the pole weapons something of an edge, and to 'highlight' the details on the skeleton's ornamental armoured boss, both of these areas were later delicately dry-brushed with a little bit of "Citadel" Ironbreaker. I also painted each of their shields in either "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Heavy Blue, Heavy Violet or Black, and eventually dirtied them all up with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

Finally I used "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna to pigment both their leather boots and spear-shafts, and also applied some Heavy Brown to their spear-straps. All of these areas were subsequently shaded in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.
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Good to see you bulking up the forces of the undead with some spears! How else are you supposed to keep cavalry at bay?

That's another 20 points for these ossified fellows, Simon, and on to your third submission for the week!

Ev 

From SimonM: "Lucid Eye Publications" Sir Bones & Lord Rascal's Skeleton Swordsmen (25 Points)

This "cartoon scale white metal figure" of Sir Bones is produced by “Lucid Eye Publications” and can be bought from the company's "Toon Realms" range. Sculpted by Steve Saleh and destined to lead Lord Rascal's ever-increasingly contingent of Skeleton Swordsmen, I thought this Undead knight would probably form part of the Necromancer's Undead Light Foot unit I'm currently painting for my 'Lord Of The Toons' project using the "Dragon Rampant" rule-set.

Initially primed with two coats of "Vallejo" Dark Sand, the miniature was arguably drenched in "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade and subsequently dry-brushed using (more) "Vallejo" Dark Sand. I then dry-brushed him rather more lightly with Dead White, before 'picking out' his sword, armour, belt buckle and shield emblem using a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

In order to give Sir Bones' hand-weapon something of an edge, as well as 'highlight' the details on the skeleton's ornamental armoured boss, armour plating and buckle, all of these areas were later delicately dry-brushed with some additional "Citadel" Ironbreaker. I also painted the warrior's shield and ragged under-garments in "Vallejo" Heavy Violet, and his billowing cloak with Heavy Red.

Both of these areas were eventually dirtied up with a splash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil, before I patiently dry-brushed the knight's hooded travelling cape with (more) "Vallejo" Heavy Red. As a final touch I pigmented the flesh-less soldier's belt with a mix of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Alongside Sir Bones, I have also managed to complete four more of Lord Rascal's Skeleton Swordsmen, bringing the Light Foot unit's total to nine. All of these Undead combatants were painted in precisely the same way as their knighted leader, with the only difference being that their shield's were randomly base-coated using "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Heavy Blue, Heavy Violet or Black before being treated to a wash of "Citadel" Nuln Oil.

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The first of three for this week from you Simon, and I see you've given us more of the Toon Realms range - these are tremendous fun, and I suspect they are the ideal gateway drug to get the kiddies into wargaming!

25 points for these bony little beggars, so let's kick on and see what other treats you have in store!

Ev

From TeemuL: Kill Team Terrain (22 points)

Terrain entry today. I was planning to do some terrain for this Challenge, but not this much at the same time. Unfortunately the weather outside (snowing and way below 0 Celcius) prevents me from priming newly assembled miniatures outside. I have some primed miniatures of course, I did some planning before Challenge, but who wants to paint old miniatures, when there are all those new shiny things? Especially when I'm supposed to do some Squirreling, not just paint the similar stuff all the time. But I did have some terrain primed and I decided to finish them, since it is always nice to finish something and terrain painting is relatively quick. And I'm probably starting an Urban Conquest campaign with a friend of mine soon, with Cityfight you can't have too much terrain anyway...

So here's the lot in all, ruins from the Kill Team starter and some containers, crates and barrels from

Killzone: Sector Munitorum Environment Expansion (the same armored container sprues you get elsewhere as well). I used different colors, partly to make them more interesting and partly to match my existing terrain and the forces that are likely to fight around them.

Here are three ruins, painted black and heavily drybrushed with bright green to pick up the details. With the next set I probably use some metallics to pick up the mechanical and electronic bits, but these look good enough. They match my old ruins from 3rd ed starter.

5 barrels, painted black and drybrushed with grey. Some Ushabti Bone to the skulls and eagles and they were done. Black barrels fit everywhere.

Yellow containers and crates, these have equipments for my Astra Militarum army, which are mostly yellow and red, with some blue details and black guns. Containers are basically just yellow washed with Reikland Flesh Shade and then drybrushed first with Kislev Flesh and very lightly with Ushabti Bone.

Crates are similar, the red was painted before wash and they don't have the lightest highlights, just Reikland Flesh Shade, if I remember correctly.

Finally two more containers, those who remember what I painted last week, might guess who owns them...

Quite wet drybrushing with bright green before Reikland Flesh Shade wash and they were ready. Well, I picked up the lights with purple and control panels with brown, but that's pretty much it. Nothing done after the wash. I really like how the green looks like moss. I was tempted to add some tufts to these, but I didn't have the guts to touch them...

 

I guess no one really likes to open (or even get close of) these containers... 

When getting all together, they fill quite nicely one Terrain Cube (one container is almost 5" long). Might get bit over from some side, but not much. 20 points, I'd say.

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Nice assortment of terrain, Teemu, and yes, it looks like an imperial cubesworth.

That's 20 points plus a couple extra for the weathering on these pieces, very nice work!

Ev