The State of my Hobby, part 2

 (More plain old text follows ;) )

Besides the list of projects given in Part 1 of this series, there are more ideas, more miniatures in boxes  just waiting for a chance:

GREEKS  -  Despite having an actual plan for this project, it was set aside in the flood of Battlemechs that are continuing to cross my table.  However, it is not dead yet, and I am dusting it off for another go.  Originally, this project was a way to participate, if distantly, in the Society of Ancients 2023 Game Day - 2nd Mantinea, which took place about six months ago!  I intend to continue with the general theme of the project without the focus on that particular battle and move towards more of a Peloponnesian War outlook.  There was a brief moment recently where I thought 28mm might be a better match, especially with the quite close pricing of Victrix figures vs. Xyston (at least here in the US), but I am coming around to a preference for a more dense look for 15mm figures compared to the typical 28mm bases.  The issue of 'what rules?' has come up again, but I am thinking that Triumph and/or Basic Impetus will be suitable for my personal preferences.  This project will be almost 100% a solo effort, as, although I expect that my sons would be more than happy to play, I do not expect them to collect any units.

OGRE  -  Yet another sci-fi blast from the past, from Steve Jackson Games, OGRE is a game of near-future armored combat in a very different style from BattleTech.  In my view, it is sufficiently separate from BattleTech to warrant its own time on the table, with the added benefit of my idea to use historical WW2 camouflage schemes for the basic units (which should mollify my desire for WW2 micro-armour!).  With that being stated, it does have a low priority for my attention and might see some paint time once the Cold War project heats up.  I am intrigued by the idea of having a series of games using the same terrain for my Cold War/OGRE/BattleTech forces in separate scenarios.

SCW  -  Patiently waiting in the wings are my 20mm Spanish Civil War figures.  Plenty of figures are here but none are completely painted and I do not have suitable terrain yet.  This project also suffers from not having a set of rules selected, but one of the great strengths of skirmish games is the ability to switch easily from set to set.  Once I get more of the figures for the GW projects completed I want to get just a handful of troops finished for some small games.  This is another solo project.

TROJAN WAR  -  More dusty figures from the past, awaiting some primer & paint.  I have a large variety of 28mm figures from a number of sources that are ready for paint, but the original intent was to play large battles and stray away from the Iliad a bit.  As I type this, I am thinking that skirmish games might be a better option; the collection is large enough to support either direction although I do not have much in the way of chariots.

AVIATION  -  Several separate projects are lumped into this category - SCW, WW2 Pacific, and Aeronautica Imperialis.  Models are here and waiting (a common theme...) but my usual indecisiveness is slowing the process.  Basing is the issue with the historical projects, and lack of interest from others (and the shutdown of most of the AI models from GW - quelle surprise!) for the sci-fi stuff.  But, like most of my projects, once I decide on a path, then I will get going.  Similar to most if not all of the projects listed in this post, this is a solo endeavor.

NAVAL  -  These projects have run hard aground.  Naval gaming has been a staple of my gaming experience for decades (and I even have a separate blog for it), covering all time periods and scales.  But, for the past few years, I have not been able to get my head around even the simple thought of getting some ships on the painting table, and I just do not know why.  With plenty of ideas in my head, one would think that it could be easy to get on with it, but no.

MESOAMERICAN  -  This was a joint project between my lovely wife and myself.  Despite being amazingly colorful and interesting in spades, it has been difficult to think about working on this after my lovely wife passed away some time ago.  Whenever I look at the figures already finished, I can still hear her talking about Huītzilōpōchtli (the Aztec god of war) and other myths.  The recent closing of Outpost Wargame Services, the supplier of the vast bulk of our figures, after the sad and untimely passing of Jeff Bevan very nearly was the end of this project.  However, there is news of Badger Games (in the US) purchasing the 25mm figure lines, so there is a bit of hope.  This fire is not out, but definitely on a back burner for the time being.

WARCROW  -  Unlike most of the other games on this post, I have yet to receive any figures for this game, as it has yet to see publication.  Warcrow is the next game to be published by Corvus Belli, the maker of Infinity.  Warcrow is a fantasy skirmish game which will be launching next year.  My sons and I are eagerly awaiting this.

MEDIEVAL  -  This one is a conundrum.  On one hand, I have a small amount of painted 28mm 14th century Scots.  On the other hand is a large collection of unpainted 28mm Normans/Saxons/Irish/Norse.  The discovery of the 1066 cache is a recent surprise, as I had thought that they were already sent off in one of the sell-offs from either last year or the previous.  But no.  As this was another joint project with my lovely wife, she took some pains to keep it safe, and I discovered it during our Labor Day holiday week-end as I was sorting through more items that I just do not have room for anymore.  Oddly enough, I also discovered the 'long-lost' bolt from my father's venerable .22 cal single-shot rifle!  (My lovely wife was vehemently anti-gun, while I am just as vehemently for keeping old family heirlooms).  So, a choice beckons, as I can not possibly finish both projects.  I am leaning towards selling the Scots and proceeding with the 1066 project, as they would have more interest from my sons and myself.  

HORSE&PIKE&MUSKET&SHOT  -  The last project, of this list at least.  I have wanted to work on a 18/19th century project for some time, but I never quite decided which one, until a few months ago or so.  And that era would be circa 1691 in Ireland, the tussle between James II and William of Orange.  It ticks off many boxes for me, with plenty of books on the subject, a very well supported line of figures and other gaming supplies from League of Augsburg, and an interesting mix of English, Irish, Dutch, and Danish units, with enough space in between historical battles for other scenarios from my own hand.  

Well now, that is quite a selection.  By my unofficial count, there are 14 projects listed from this post and the previous one.  So much choice can be a bad thing - I remember long ago when WW2 micro-armour and predreadnought/WW1 naval were the mains, and I was just starting to dabble in 5mm ancients and ACW, courtesy of Wargames Illustrated and Heroics&Ros.

There is plenty of room for pruning this list, and there is plenty of opportunity for me to get cracking with a brush.  As always, coming up with a plan for each project will help, and then slotting that plan into the Big Hobby Picture.  To make sure that I am progressing, I am going to try and post more here as, sometimes, having an audience is a good thing and the simple act of typing should have an impact with keeping on target.

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