We’re almost at the end January already!
In the office this got the team talking about their New Years resolutions and whether we’d actually stuck to them. We can safely say, by the number of fast food wrappers in some of the bins, that some people were telling porkies when they said “Yes, definitely.”
That conversation quickly turned into listing off the games we wanted to play and hobby jobs we hoped to tick off over the Christmas break. It didn’t take long for us to spot that we all had fairly similiar reasons for not getting what we wanted done.
So this year, to help everyone in the same situation as we regularly find ourselves in, we’re going to start talking about #smallhobbywins. This will be all about the quiet, ordinary parts of the tabletop hobby that rarely make it online.
Like most people, we want to paint a bit more regularly. Get a game back on the table. Finish something that’s been sitting half-done for far too long. Not because it needs to be perfect, but because it would feel good to make some progress. There is a gap between intention and reality and this is where most projects stall. Then when they stall, it’s easy to start feeling like you’re doing the hobby ‘wrong’. And no one should feel like that about something that is a hobby.
Alot of the team have said that they’re happy to share what they’re getting upto in their hobby outside of work, the answers are all slightly different, but the shape is the same. Fewer grand plans. Fewer ‘one day’ projects. More small moments that fit into real life.
Lets take a look at what everyone is going to be working on:
Michael
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
I would like to play more games! Miniature Wargames in particular. This obviously includes learning game mechanics, assembling and painting miniatures and gaming with other human shaped beings.
What’s been stopping you so far?
I played a little when I was a teenager and have slowly collected a wide range of miniatures over the years. However, as an aspiring illustrator/graphic designer I’ve had to choose between creation and consumption, and so unfortunately gaming typically takes a back seat to painting and drawing practice. Nowadays add a small child to the mix and there is even less time to play with.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
I’d like to paint at least one miniature, whilst at the same time settling on a colour scheme that I can use across the rest of them.
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
I’m excited to give Trench Crusade a go first. I have gone for a warband from the Court of the Seven Headed Serpent.
James
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
I really want to focus on my painting. Learning to become more confident and actually painting rather than just collecting.
What’s been stopping you so far?
KIDS! And a lack of confidence in my ability to paint so procrastinate painting completely rather than just taking the time to learn and practice.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
Dedicate at least a session every fortnight to paint for a few hours.
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
I am most excited to paint and play with my Kill Team, and eventually have a full painted box of Maladum minis.
Wayne
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
Play more board games with my friends and family.
What’s been stopping you so far?
Time. And feeling knackered in the evenings.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
Actually stick to game night!
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
Jumping in front of the camera to play in the upcoming First Born campaign we’re filming alongside Four Short of a Strategy.
Dan
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
More painting.
What’s been stopping you so far?
Well I broke my hand last year, so hopefully we don’t see a repeat of that!
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
I’m going to paint 1 new squad, unit, warband, gang… whatever! I just want to get back to painting.
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
I got Warhammer Quest Darkwater for Christmas (yes I know, it’s a dungeon crawler that’s not ours, but have you seen those minis!?)
John
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
Play less different games so I can focus on a few more campaign games – (For context last year I played 296 different games!)
What’s been stopping you so far?
Sucked in by the hotness!! Buying too many games although I do enjoy learning new games.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
I’m doing “Dry January”! – Purchasing no new games for a month, almost made it!
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
Most excited to play Project Penguin, obviously can’t say anymore but it’s soo good!
Other than that some games I’m loving at the moment are Covenant, Druids of Edora and March of the Ants Evolved Edition, I’m also working on painting a bunch of outstanding Moonstone Minis which I’m looking forward to get to the table with some of our new terrain!
Tom
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
I want to hobby with other people more this year. I have way more fun playing games with people than I do solo. Painting wise any time I’ve made a major leap forwards it has been because someone has been kind enough to share a tip with me. So this might be a bit of a cop out answer but I’m going to hobby more, by trying to get out of my comfort zone a little more and be around more people.
What’s been stopping you so far?
I am very much a person who recharges his battery in a dark room, with the door locked, cuddling his favourite teddy. So getting to the end of the day and considering going to a gaming club, board game cafe or any other social setting feels like quite a task. When, if I am honest with myself, it really isn’t.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
I’ve arranged to have a hobby evening with some of the people from Battle Systems at least once a month. And there is a Trench Crusade narrative event coming up in a town near me that me and Michael are hoping to get too. Other than that… I need to do some research into where is good to go. Please note I am open to recommendations in the comments and do enjoy a day trip!
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
I’m excited to finish painting my Trench Crusade minis, seeing Michaels I am pretty confident the big guy with the sword is going to trounce me. But I’m happy with my progress so far. For playing I am excited to get back around the table for Four Short of a Strategy, which we unfortunately have had to push back due to one of the team being out of the office, but we have the map setup ready to go!
Miniature credit – Factory Fortress’s official Trench Crusade sculpt.
JON
What hobby thing do you want to do more of this year?
I’d really love to get paint on some of the miniatures that have been patiently waiting in my cabinet for years now! I frequently paint as is, but there are some simpler, smaller sculpts (Goblins, Skaven) that I could complete and display quicker than some of my current projects. The Warhammer One Million Miniatures painting challenge is helping me to stay focused with painting targets.
Plus, I’m part of a local gaming group running a Mordheim campaign using the Battle Systems ruined village terrain. Once our new range is available I’ll be using it for games set in lands outside the cursed city.
What’s been stopping you so far?
I’m quite disorganised when it comes to painting. I’ll get an idea or come across a new painting technique and start on a miniature, only to lose steam or get distracted by another idea.
As for gaming we’re still re-familiarising ourselves with the rules, and deciding what optional rules we would like to include.
What’s one small, realistic step you’ll take this month?
I’ve selected some ‘quick wins’, so the older Goblins and Skaven sculpts, some squigs. I’ve already nearly completed 5 Goblins, so the ball is rolling!
Gaming: Select one new location to focus on, to research new rules and terrain setups.
What are you most excited to paint or play right now?
I’m most excited to finish the first 5 Gobbos, as it’ll be encouragement to keep up the momentum!
That’s it for the January check in. We’re going to come back every month to follow what everyone has been getting up to.
You can join in on these late resolutions too!
Comment below answering the same questions, and check back every month and update us on your progress.
Recommend places for Tom to go and play games, lets get that over grown mouse out of his house!
And most importantly use the #smallhobbywins to post your WIPs, games with friends, your cup of tea and biscuit while reading the rule book for the game you’re getting into on social media.
Start the conversation