Scott Ascends Snow Lord's Peak

The balloon sets Scott down, and then begins a quick ascent, his luggage cascading over the side in a messy heap.

'Hey, what's the big hurry?!' he calls up.

Sarah looks over the basket edge, 'It's Monday. He'll be miserable and grumpy. I don't want to be around for that. Good luck and hope see you later!' The balloon quickly gains altitude and sets off for parts unknown.

Today's Snow Lord's Peak brought to you by Mount Logan, Yukon Territory

The blue monstrosity emerges from his cave. 'She's being overly dramatic. I just ate a brace of 'Age of Sigmar' fanboys, I'm in a great mood.' He picks his teeth with a GW ruler.

Scott grimaces, but puts on a brave face. 'I'm here for the prize. What do I have to do to get it?'

The Snow Lord tosses his toothpick away, 'I got some other of you guys painting Japanese stuff and I noticed you had an interest as well. How about some of those fancy samurai chaps? I see you're putting together another force for your collection.'

He then smiles wickedly, his sharp teeth gleaming in the winter light. 'I'll give you extra points if you do some on horseback. No pressure...' 

__________________________________________________

Scott, we look forward to you wowing us with some high warriors of Nippon. See you soon!

From BenitoM: Warband Spotted at Millsy's Millpond (80 points)

A savage warband party of ferocious Gauls have been recently spotted at Millsy's Pond today.  This entry represents my second stop in my tour through Challenge Island.

These are yes, ferocious. But if you look close enough you will discover the scars of the age, minis from long forgotten eras in which I used to play Ancients, with rule-sets lost in oblivion  (I can only recall DBA 1.0 and a yellow booklet from a publisher called TTG I think) well before the Warhammer Ancient Battles explosion.

The models are part of my old Celt armies which as commented in a previous post, I decide to repaint allover again, horrified by the bad taste in choosing colors by that earlier incarnation of myself as a quite young wargamer.

The models are Wargames Foundry of an early range which is not even today in their catalogue (at least I couldn't find them in the website). They are pre-2000; but I cannot be 100% positive that they were acquired pre 1990 so won't score the extra points.

This vintage unit will join the swelling ranks of my Celt Briton & Gaul army for Infamy! Infamy! (the incoming set of Ancient skirmish rules by Too Fat Lardies). A typical Barbarian warband unit have a total of 10 models.

The models are based individually (to save the trouble of rebasing if in the future we move to another set of rules... you know, the butterfly wargamer). I'm using now for my units the Warbases MDF movement trays. Incidentally, note that Infamy! Infamy! is basing-agnostic as long as all players agree on using the same system.

The score for this entry is 80 points if my maths are correct:

10 x 28mm models @ 5 points each = 50 points
Millsy's Millpond Extra = 30  points

***
Great work here on some true classic figures Benito. Going back and painting over some old figures must be quite the trip down memory lane.  I hope you enjoy them, I have a feeling that old figures which have managed to stay in your collection for so long will bring you extra luck with dice on the gaming table when the time comes!

Another 80 points for you sir! Well done. 

GregB

From MilesR: Stats Update

Bang the gongs!  Ring the church bells!  Blow the trumpentts!  Do whatever the hell one does to bagpipes and, finally, alert the media!

That's right stat's fans, it's time for another mind bending journey on Mr Reidy's Wild Stats ride.  There will be numbers, there will be standard deviations, and there will be precious little insight.

Yes come on now and put your hands together for Challenge X's first statistical update.  Can I get a AMEN!!!!

Well we're one month into to Challenge X and there are some exciting things to report.  So buckle up, buttercups, and getting ready to get some math smacked upside your head .

The first thing to talk about is the size of Challenge X.  Reflecting the global movement towards resource conservation and fighting global warming, Challenge X if sporting a more compact and aerodynamic size of 67 participants vs the gas guzzling SUV size of 86 for Challenge IX.  Let it not be said we didn't do our part.

So without further ado - here's the summary table through month 1:

AHPC IX: Stats Summary: 1 Month In
		X	IX
Number of Participants		67	86
Total Points		20,449	25,555
% of Target		32%	33%
# of Submissions		295	325
Submissions per Participant		4.4	3.8
Participation Rate		93%	92%
Avg Pts per Submitter		330	323
Avg Pts per Submission		69	79
Projected Points		68,429	79,428
Proj % of Target		107%	103%
Figures Painted
28MM
Inf		1,324	1,992
Cav / Art		135	226
Vehicles		42	43
15MM
Inf		391	1,355
Cav / Art		134	161
Vehicles		24	181
6MM
Inf		786	618
Cav / Art		108	23
Vehicles		88	149
Terrain "Cubes"		28	45
Points Distriution
28mm		43.1%	51.2%
15mm		7.4%	18.8%
6mm		3.3%	2.5%
Terrain		2.8%	3.5%
X-Marks / Bonus Round Pts		22.5%	17.4%
Other		21.0%	6.7%
Total		100.0%	100.0%

Gosh, who doesn't love a wall of numbers.  I know I sure do.

What insights can we gleam from this dazzling display of numerlogical beauty?

1) X-Marks the Spot aspect has been a huge hit and has really changed the dynamics of how people or doing their work.

  - Just over 50% of the submission to date involved a challenge location.  That's a huge increase over the 20% or so that were bonus round submissions

  - People are submitting more submission with their being 4.4 per challengers vs 3.8 last year

  - I really think that the X-Marks the Spot concept is a huge hit

2) The huge choice thats out there in miniature games is starting to chip away at the dominance of 28mm as the scale of choice.  15's also took a huge hit while the other category zoomed.  Most of this is due to submissions covering scales that we haven't really had categories for like Black Sails, Cruel Seas etc.
  - some of the increase in "other" may be due to minion training but it will not be that much and indicates we may need to add more point categories.

3) While everything does change, it kind of stays the same - just like last year were sitting at 1/3 of the targeted points total and each submitter has achieved roughly 330 points to date - essentially the same as last year.

Total Points Projection (TPP)
The famed TPP machine has been cranked up and it's gears greased with kittens.  After some grinding and dark incantations a result did pop out.  Well it more like oozed out, but I digress.  I predict when the dust settles and Challenge X is in the history books we will have collectively achieved 68,429 points

Write it down that you heard that here first.

From RichardP: 28mm War of the Roses/Medieval (120 Points)

Managed to get these finished just in time!

My main project this year is a 28mm Medieval theme focussing mainly on the War of the Roses. First up 24 figures making up two units (6 bases) of archers for Lord Roos. Figures are mainly Front Rank with some Crusader Miniatures and a few plastics.

Time to get cracking on the rest!!!! 

***

Ah the War of the Roses. I can never understand it, but wow, does it look cool on the table. Even if the (relatively) lowly archers are colourful and impressive.  They look great all ranked up here. That will be a 120 point kick off, we look forward to seeing more. 

GregB

From JonathanO: Collecting Rocks at Cooke's Crevasse (40 Points)

Following the route to Cooke's Crevasse (my second point of interest on Challenge Island), the path started to rise gradually and also passed through some woodland.  Through the trees I could see another much wider path, but I was sure I was on the correct one.  In the distance there was a campsite by a river.  The tents looked very large and smoke was rising from a fire, perhaps a nice meal was cooking.  I decided to stick to my route as it led to the bridge I would need to use to cross the crevasse. 

As I was about to reach the end of the wooded area, the wind picked up and the sky clouded over.  A sudden, but brief, snow flurry followed and then stopped.  I heard what sounded like rocks being banged together and then a loud growl.  I froze in amazement,  there in front of me was a giant creature standing next to a pile of different coloured rocks.  He was holding a large dark rock in his left hand, and he looked very threatening.

Had he been sent by the Snow Lord to disuade me from heading to the Snow Lord's Peak before completing all my challenges?  Or perhaps getting past him was the challenge at Cooke's Crevasse.
Of course!  He was an Ice Troll guarding the bridge.

 

The Ice Troll growled and I was sure he was about to throw the large rock at me and my Challenge tour would be over.  Then he looked at his pile of rocks and said "I collect rocks".  He lowered his hand and held out the dark rock as if he wanted me to identify it.  When I did not say anything the troll again raised the rock, ready to strike.

The ice troll growled again, but his growl was drowned out by a louder call from the direction of the camp I had seen earlier.  "Al, your supper's ready!  I've cooked that fish you and your dad caught earlier.  The troll smiled, turned around and took off in a clumsy sort of skipping motion down the wide path towards the camp.  As he went he was actually singing!  "Something's fishy at camp Wiganishie".

I looked on in shocked silence and then turned and headed across the bridge, pausing briefly to admire the view of Cooke's Cravasse.  I was thankful to escape that encounter.

 _______

The miniature is the Reaper Bones Ice Troll (77344).  It is a good choice on the Path of the Forgotten.  I had started it in an earlier Challenge, but was not happy with it so set it aside.  I re primed him with Vallejo Silver Grey and decided he would be a good model to try out my newly acquired GW contrast paints.

Points estimate:
Ice Troll miniature (he is more like 54mm in size)   10
Bonus for visit to Cooke's Crevasse                         30

TOTAL                                                                      40

QUIZ TIME:
Fingers on buzzers, no conferring, and no use of the internet to find the answer!
There is a prize for the first Challenger to answer the following question:
Why is the Ice Troll called "Al"?

***
Very nice brushwork here Jonathan - it always interesting to see the character-packed offerings from Reaper Bones. You know, I may have seen this fellow in the parking lot at the local Sobey's this morning...

And we await the answer to the name of the Ice Troll!

GregB

From MilesR: A bunch of US War of 1812 and Nappy Himself (216 Points)

This post is yet another build out of the Napoleonic / War of 1812 figures needed for this summer's Historicon game (more on that below)

First up are 30 US Militia based in 7 stands of 4 and a command stand of 2.  Sorry no flags but as these chaps will be used to stand in for Jean Lafitte and his Baratarian pirates, I'm researching the right colors (if any) to use.  The figures are 15mm in scale and from Old Glory.

Next up are 16 US Light Dragoons, again from Old Glory.  These lads together with the ones submitted earlier in the Challenge will allow me to field 3 units of 5 stands each and that's what I need.

Lastly, another 10 stands of Native Americans (again from Old Glory).  I'm not the best painter, as these photos show, but these will look good enough on the table top.

I did spend a bit more time on the last part of this submission.  The figures are from AB in 15mm and depict Napoleon and his staff.

The base is big (115mm x 88mm) and has 8 mounted figures, including the Corsican Ogre himself.

As with other AB figures the sculpts are superb and they were a joy to paint.  It really should be a crime to allow these mini works of art to be sullied by my finger painting skills.

 The two trees are scratch built - some old twigs and ground foam but I think they came out nicely.

 I was going to add a wagon or broken cannon but think that would make the base look too crowded so just went with mixed ground foam from my "debris box"

What's a debris box?  When making terrain I use a lot of different ground foams and what I can't separate cleanly while cleaning up (because it's mixed with other types of terrain materials or paster chips) goes into a mid sized bin.  Over time it becomes a really interesting mix of materials that is useful for "special" units like this one.

The total points for this submission are:

60 infantry figures = 120 points
24 Mounted = 96 points
Total = 216 points

A shot of all the 15mm Napoleonic stuff Ive done in the first month of the Challenge.  I've got everything done to run both the game and campaign I'm planning, which is a good thing as I'm kicking off the campaign at the club in a few weeks.  Based on how that goes, I'll tweak the rules and hopefully be ready to run the campaign at Historicon in July.

By the way, I will reserve choice commands for any Challenge participants if you're planning on attending Historicon this year - just let me know if you want to play in a game.  The convention is in a great new venue which you can see here in a video from the club.

I'm heading out of the country tonight for a business trip and have a busier than expected February so you may see a drop in my productivity.  I still think I can hit my 3,000 point goal but probably not much more than that.

***

Ah Miles - you expect you can hit your 3,000 point goal, but "probably not much more than that." An underspin from a Titan of the Painting Challenge that would make all sorts of 19th century Corsican-descended-Empire types chuckle :) 

Very nice work here in yet another stonking submission.  As you modestly note, the overall effect is what counts, and I feel you are consistently a bit too tough on your brush skills. The miniatures look great, the complete effect is excellent.  And it's always impressive to see the Emperor himself make an appearance in any scale, well done!

That is indeed another 216 points for you - but probably not much more than that for tonight :) We wish you safe travels!

GregB

From JezT: A Very British Civil War (85 Points)

Dear All,

Really happy to be able to post up these 25mm scale figures and vehicles so I am now all ready to start using Bolt Action rules to play games set in the mythical 1930’s campaign of "A Very British Civil War". This project was started last challenge and I am acting as the “establishment” with armed police and “Territorials” as my squads.

This photo gives an overview of the post.

First up is a nice machine gun squad. I think these are old Renegade WWI figures that I got second hand. They are great to paint and  it’s a shame no longer being made? Next up are two odd infantry figures that I did not do last year, posed against the Command car vehicle from 1^st Corps.

Next is some serious firepower! This is a Lanchester armoured car model from Warlord Games – this is historically from 1929 and was used in early WW2. I just painted this the same basic brown colour as the army uniforms. This has one heavy and two medium machine guns. I bought the model before I really understood the Bolt Action rules so had to accept that this is the equivalent of putting a King Tiger down in AVBCW terms! I did not want to start an arms race with my opponent so downgraded the model by removing the turret and adding an open top version. 

Finally I have a lorry, this one from 1st Corps.

Points wise that is 3 x vehicles, plus 5 x figures = 60 plus 25 = 85 points. Now to get round to playing the first game ....

Cheers Jez

***

Disarming to help your opponent? That is mighty sporting of you :) Personally, our group enjoys a good "arms race" among the rival collections - its the sort of thinking that helps fill our basements with stuff! But it makes sense to avoid models which can be a touch too dominant on the table, particularly as you set out for your first game. I'm sure the arms race can begin after that first game gets completed...

Some fine work here Jez, covering an assortment of minis and models for a very unique setting. That will be 85 points for you!

GregB

PeteF Makes it Atop Snow Lord's Peak

Reaching the summit, Pete unbuckles his crampons, sits down and stretches his legs.

Today's Snow Lord's Peak brought to you by Mount Logan, Yukon Territory.

'Bit of a slog, eh?' the Snow Lord amiably sits down next to Pete.

Pete massages his toes, nods and looks over to the huge, blue-skinned creature, 'Yeah, that was a hike to be sure. Why do you insist on living up here? It's so isolated.'

'I quite like it actually. Low taxes, fresh air, brilliant internet, and it allows me to see way ahead and waaay behind.   

Unconvinced, Pete merely nods politely, blowing into his hands to keep them warm. 'Sure. Sooo, what would you like me to do so I can get off this frozen peak?'

The Snow Lord thinks for a moment and says, 'You know, I like the project you've been working on to complete your late dad and brother's vision to stage Waterloo using old school Minifigs. How about you do up an interesting unit using those great old minis. Once you complete that task then I'll award you your prize.'

__________________________________________________

There you go, Pete. We all look forward to seeing some of that old lead you've been acquiring get it's due attention under your brush.

-Curt

From MikeF - 30k Militia Brute Squad (42 Points)

Continuing with my Imperial Militia army for Warhammer 30k (and more red paint apparently) is the Militia Brute Squad. These are equipped with boarding shields and Ogryn clubs for bashing noggins. Given the size of them, they probably only have to bash it once!

They're the close combat offering for the army, but with their boarding shields they can also act as a layer of ablative armor for the non-abhuman members of the army. My commander is very"woke" however, so he probably won't have them march out in front...probably. These models area about 40mm so I figure 42 points.

***
Holy cow, seldom has a figure's name and appearance matched up so well - "brutes" indeed! I had no idea these were an option for Imperial Militias in the 30k game - it will add a unique aspect to our game, that's for sure. I love the oversize shields, the clubs...it all speaks to "keeping order". Given the size and apparent temperment, I think I might have the World Eaters try and engage these particular fellows...

That's 42 points for you Mike! Need a top up on red paint yet?

GregB

From Barks: Chaos Command (12 Points)

More Pinkstone Fortress!

I tried to feel the love for these two, but couldn't fully muster it. I don't like the idea of a Commissar fallen to Chaos, who does the same thing only more evil. I'm not happy with the flag, it isn't good enough. I do like his stubble and facial scars, though! The Ogryn is cool with the icon impaling him utterly.

1x 28mm = 5
1x 40mm = 7

Skull-o-meter™: 3
Cumulative Skullz: 12

***
Always fun to see more work from your Barks. For myself, I'm not a huge fan of the "Chaos look" in the current 40k universe - and I agree with you on the Commissar - but certainly the brushwork here looks great, and it's fun to enjoy your latest installment of "Pinkstone Fortress".  The Painting Challenge often includes many particpants' own special projects, and this is one of the fun ones to follow. 

I'm also an OSL skeptic, but I have to say, you nailed it on the big brute's sword/pole/bashing-people-bar-thing. One of the many small but excellent painting bits you have executed so nicely on these figures.  Great work. 

GregB