The year in review

Let's start with the most important announcement: I've reached my target and painted 365 miniatures this year!* Here's the panorama, and we'll talk other stuff later on.

Painting a commission wolf demon

I had to paint this black, werewolf-like under the moon. I opted for blue/grey highlights. I tried it once before with mixed results, but this time I did a much better job of it.

A Song of Ice and Fire miniatures game: Starks vs Lannisters

For the probably last gaming event of the year, I tried out something new. First impressions of the A Song of Ice and Fire miniatures game was a small board and barely any terrain, at least compared to Warhammer. But the board is just big enough for some heavy maneuvering, especially for cavalry. And all the terrain pieces had a big impact. The miniatures are fine, and I like their esthetic. Nothing overengineered. 

But, on to the game.

I scratch built a Lannister list without reading up on meta stuff. The theme: all 3 siblings were present, Jaime leading Halberdiers, while Tyrion and Cersei did non combat stuff. Up against me were the Starks, with Tully cavalry support.

Painting a commission chimera

A classic monster in white Reaper Bones.

Dungeon of the Mad Mage: Going, going guano

After a month of missed sessions, we finally got together for this year's last game. The adventurers rested, healed up, and descended once more into the maze level. First encounter: some House Freth guards setting up Christmas decorations, complaining that Halloween just passed.

Painting commission dwarves

Miniatures from Reaper Miniatures Kickstarter 5. I personally dislike their scale - they are absolutely HUGE. However, the sculpts are awesome.

Makeup

 

The Conspiracy of the Red Book: The One Ring 2E two-shot, part 1

For variety, we tried out The One Ring 2E. I only read the starter set rules, so no advanced stuff was happening here. And I only read through the first adventure in the set of 5. After a brief self-presentation, the hobbits, as in:

• Paladin Took II
• Rorimac Brandybuck
• Drogo Baggins 
• Primula Brandybuck

started on their adventure through the Shire: appropriating a map from Mathom-house and delivering it to Bilbo.

Converting and painting yet more Kriegers

After taking the Kriegers out for a couple of games, I realized that I dislike their equipment options that I got modeled. So I bought another box, and made it so my 20-man blob can be decked out the way I want. And I can also field a 10-man squad for backfield objective holding if needed.

Light brown wood

Better on highly textured surfaces due to the lighter colors which don't obfuscate details.

Note that some steps are invisible on smaller surfaces and can be skipped.

November review and December goals

This one's going to be quick.

November had some D&D one-shots and that's it. Multiple cancellations and illness did in for everything else.

Painting moved on, although with me being sick for almost two weeks, it did slow down.

However, I am really, really close to achieving my painting target by the numbers. Just finish what is in progress, and paint about 4 more miniatures.

With the winter holidays, hobby time will be limited. So that's it. That's the goal. Reach the target.

Owlbear woods: a D&D 5E one-shot

Three adventurers take up a quest to slay a man-eating bear. Yes, I know the adventure is titled "Owlbear woods" but I only have a regular bear miniature, so it's an alpha bear, I guess. Our brave heroes:

• Buut Rhaal, human barbarian
• Bloody Bob, half-orc barbarian
• Pussycat, tiefling bard 

After a short talk with the one-eyed halfling mayor of a village on the border of Neverwinter Woods, the adventurers investigated where the most recent bear attack took place. They found a roughed up clearing and a bloody hand still holding a woodcutter axe in the bushes. The barbarians, both proficient in Survival (this will be handy later on), decided to sleep for the night and start in the morning. Bob got drunk, Pussycat got laid.

In the morning, the party started on this roll-on-tables-driven adventure. With the barbarians helping each other out, they immediately penetrated the deep woods, coming upon a burned clearing. They were immediately beset upon by a smoldering earth creature and flaming spirits. They ran away.