Happy New Year 2025/2026

 Happy New Year. Somehow, it is now 2026. Linear time continues to surprise me.

 But I got quite a lot of done throughout the year (even if it didn't all end up here on the blog, the disadvantage of doing many smaller things). The total numbers:

• 293 Human Infantry-sized (incl. 1 Cannon & Crew, counting as 4)
• 30 Cavalry/Ogre (or equivalent)
• 3 Bigger beasties (at least 60mm round base)
• 9 Objectives
• 9 15mm tanks/AFVs

Not bad at all. Almost managed to hit 365 minis, aka a mini a day (somewhere in November, that looked quite possible, but then there came some slower projects). The absolute majority of these were in one way or another intended for SAGA, and other than the 9 tanks, all in 28mm. I had plans to branch out to smaller scales, but that obviously didn't happen. My massive pile of Epic Hail Caesar still lies untouched...

But what did I get finished, then? 

Beginning with the biggest: my Normans

These were a huge undertaking (mostly painted in 2024), and was a relief to get done (and to a quality that I am satisfied with). I then had the joy to bring them to my first international tournament in SAGA: The World Cup! A Team tournament, and my team was mostly there because Sweden needed some representation, and the A-team were busy organising the whole thing. Still, I did my part and we didn't end up last. We'll see if it happens again...

There were then the matter of the Undead horde. They began more or less by accident, but got finished over the summer (again, a significant part were painted earlier than 2025). Quite fun to paint (and very relaxing, a lot can be accomplished with washes, and gore hides the mistakes), especially the big dragon. Still, they haven't seen a game yet, so I guess I need to get to that in 2026

Last major SAGA army: the Irish. As expected, they were very fast to paint, especially as I nailed down my Speedpaint technique with these (and did a guide for it). They also got to see the table, and got to melt some opposition (reminding me that they are not a suitable opposition for someone playing their second game of SAGA... oops)

 There were also the barbarians I finished early in the year, for Frostgrave. However, that game has been quite calm since, so they remain in their box.

What else has been painted? Well...

There were some Texas Rangers, for Dead Mans Hand (that we play pretty much every summer, letting me have my own minis for it for the first time). And I just had to make them in two versions, both mounted and on foot (it even got relevant in the game, that I could mount up them!)

And also some uniformed Cavalry (amusingly enough, on foot), for the same. These are recently finished, so haven't had a game yet. Also, very old sculpts, and new plastic replacements arrived a few days ago... we'll see which ones get to see the table.

 

Also, I did mention some tiny tanks and AFVs. We'll see when I get around to doing the rest of the company...

And also a variety of smaller stuff and one-offs (incidentally, the collection of Lizardmen is starting to get up in size...)

And finally, I made what was, in hindsight, possibly a bad idea. I painted some samurai (from the ever loveable Bad Squiddo Games). Because I had an itch, and thought this would take care of that itch...

It did quite literally the opposite. So now I have a "samurai" army, that is rapidly expanding in scope to two, or possibly 3-4. With an initial idea to run these as counts-as SAGA: Age of Chivalry (several of the factions there could do quite well as various samurai clans). But it also got me looking into Test of Honour, and oh dear. At least it's a "true" skirmish ruleset, where you don't need too many minis. So we all know how that will end...

But what about 2026? 

I think my my  main goal for the year, will be to paint at least 6 "big things". Be it dragons, buildings, ships, mechs, or whatever comes in front of me. I have a fair amount of buildings that need to be assembled and painted, as well as several Blood & Plunder ships (no, I am not giving up hope about that game). And we'll see what else happens. I doubt I'll reach that 1 mini/day, since the big things will still only count as 1, as they say. I currently have 6 projects that are in focus, hopefully I manage to remain focused on those:

• Teutonic Order (possibly my most ambitious yet, in regards to already planned parts)
• French (I should be able to finish them relatively soon, I think... but I've said that before)
• The Samurai (I only count them as 1, but they could probably count for at least 2...)
•  Saxons (should be small and simple, even if I expand them into "generic Germanics" as it rolls along)
• Knights Templar (another small one, since they're an elite army... even if I consider doing some advanced basing on them)
• Arabs (I have big plans for them, but the immediate goal is a small 6 point warband for SAGA, with very few options... we'll see how that ends up going)

Then there will of course continue to be the various small stuff and cool minis I just had to paint... But that should be the gist of it.

Once again, Happy New Year

/Fool  

SAGA Irish for Age of Vikings

 A small project that, for once, stayed small. It helps that there's pretty much one way to run Irish, with most variations purely lessening their power (which, mind you, isn't necessarily bad, since the Irish can be quite strong). 

It began as an idea when Wargames Atlantic released their plastic Irish. I just took some time getting around to it... (and now Vitrix have teased their own...)

The fact that Irish have a limited palette, and very few clothes, too, do mean that it was a quick warband to paint up, too. The initial kick to get going, assemble and paint all the minis I had, was delivered in May. And had I focused on painting just the Irish (and not jumping between projects as is my wont), I'd have them finished in July at the latest, more likely within a single month (four batches of 12-13, and about a week for each batch)

For SAGA, Levies are the go-to. As things stand now, slings are preferable, but this is the one area I see myself maybe expanding, with some Levy armed with javelins. Also, I had to do some kitbashing here, with several of the slings being from the bits-box, since the WGA kit is a bit low on slings

The warriors are also armed with javelins (even if some of them are well hidden). As peasants, they were mostly limited to natural colors (greys, whites, and blacks), but were also allowed yellow... as I said, a limited palette, and very quick to paint.

And then there's the dogs. One of those "less good" options, but very easy to paint, so I see no reason to not have them ready to use.

The Irish stand out a bit in that they not only have their King (Warlord, in SAGA terms), but also Curaidh (champions and lieutenants). They were the one thing missing from the WGA kit (at least if one wants them in armour), but Victrix Late Romans provided some very useful bodies, especially when kitbashed with some viking bits, and also cloaks from the WGA Irish. 

Finally, there was a golden opportunity for some special objectives, with classic celtic crosses. Good thing I have a friend with a laser cutter and plenty of 3mm MDF (and enough skill to design these for me).

All in all, that is a nice little warband, that will be interesting to field (and not just encounter on the opposite side), that also has helped me figure out how to best utilise Army Painter Speedpaints (a separate guide for that will be coming soon)

/Fool, Out 

Undead Horde for SAGA (and what else may appear)

 This began as a bit of almost-mistake. A long time ago, I painted some rangers, soldiers, and peasants for Rangers of Shadow Deep, and they of course needed some enemies to fight. So I got some Fireforge Living Dead... and to my dread found them fun to paint. 

Then I needed to paint some objectives for a painting challenge, and had some MDF graves lying around...

Next thing I know, I'm making plans for ALL the zombies (and finally found a use for that necromancer I had lying around). Oops?

The plan is to run them for SAGA: Age of Magic, but they can of course be used anywhere and everywhere a bunch of zombies on round bases can be used (and with base adapters, I have even more options).

Where it all started, with some dead peasants that didn't lie down (and then, somehow, there were more dead peasants refusing to lie down... as well as some worn down soldiers). It helps that Undead levies in SAGA: AoM comes in packs of 20 (then fireforge sell their peasant zombies in packs of 18...)

And then there were the graves. Simple extra additions to a Frostgrave Mausoleum, but put them on a round base, and they make excellent low-profile SAGA objectives.

Of course, if doing a real undead horde, one might want some heavier zombies, that may still remember how to swing a blade, and not just drown you in numbers (I said just drown you in numbers, these still do some of that). 

As an adaptation for saga, I needed some zombie archers as well (even if most undead seem to not favour ranged weapons). It was a bit of kitbash, but the end result is quite nice. And it gave me a good opportunity to mess up some models.

All the various soldiers are a mix of local and not-so-local warbands, so if one wants a closer look at each provider (it is very nice of Fireforge to make their zombies in a mix of armours, giving a natural variation) 

I am especially proud of the fellows with purple and yellow shields. I imagine that they are what remains of a mercenary company famous for their "golden" armour... that is now all verdigris, as it was apparently more brass than gold. 

There are a few undead that seem to have known what they were up for, even before they died. They form to hearthguard knights of the warband. And the rust makes them look absolutely badass. It is no idea to run, you'll just die tired...

An alternative to knights as Shock Troops, would be some strange spiders found deep in the darkest forests. Their poison seem to have natural reanimating properties, and they're surprisingly willing to follow strong necromancers... (these are also a remnant from the start of this as Rangers of Shadow Deep, since necromantic spiders are a foe there in some missions)

Then there is, of course, the driving Characters (can't really call them heroes...) of it all. 

The Necromancer (and his raised doggo) responsible for it all (Warlord in SAGA terms, since Undead do have the option of a spellcaster warlord for obvious reasons). It is a bit uncertain if he's still alive, or if he's immersed himself in necromancy to the point of being technically undead himself... 

His Apprentice (a Sorcerer in SAGA terms, for when I need twice the magic... and just a cool model). Very pale, but probably still alive. Very loyal to his master, and it might not even be magic control.

And the Black Knight, an old (dead) nobleman, raised and kept control as the Necromancers lieutenant, in both Mounted and on Foot versions. Somehow, this character told me his entire life story as I painted him (aside from his name, but I know he had a Bar Sinister in silver over black as his heraldry). How he murdered his own half-brother, because he was better suited to rule, and how it was only right and proper that he then try to conquer the world, as he had the power, the will, and the right, noble blood. He also ranted a fair bit about the heroes that put him in his grave, but somehow just because they had the power and will to defeat him, it didn't make it right... and now his blood is all gone, and the Necromancer keeps him very strictly bound to prevent backstabbing (or frontstabbing, or sidestabbing... the Black Knigth isn't particular how he stabs to gain power).

 And then I got to paint a dragon. Slight wear and tear, as with most of the force, but for a dragon, death isn't really that much of a stop. Or possibly, the Necromancer has just pumped the corpse full of necromantic energy, as he is wont to do.

Now I just need to figure out how to transport them all (the dragon is really the tricky part, that fellow is HUGE). And somehow, I still don't have everything I need for that Rangers of Shadow Deep scenario...

/Fool Out 

SAGA Normans, headed for Sicily

 My Normans for SAGA were painted a long time ago (for Version 1, even), and I've been dissatisfied with them for a while. Both in what I have painted, and in how they look (I can do better now). And then Victrix started releasing their plastic Normans... well, the results speak for themselves.

At the same time, I had a golden opportunity to do something different. Most Norman warbands for SAGA are painted as Bill the not-legitimately-born's merry band of England-conquerors, but those weren't the only Normans setting out for new ground. There was in fact another. Down in Italy, Normans first served as mercenaries (for the Lombards against the Byzantines, and for the Byzantines against the Lombards, and for both against the Saracens of Sicily), only to manage to conquer a realm for themselves. So I decided to (losely, as always) base my band on those. At the same time, this means they can flawlessly be used as Crusaders for Age of Crusades, and the Spanish (also AoC) would fit them in fighting style quite well, too.

The Warlord is (as is about 50-50) a Warlady, because I found Brother Vinni's Mathilda of Tuscanny great-looking (and from almost the right area... close enough). The infantryman on the base can be changed between a bodyguard with a command pennants, and a standard bearer with an actual flag, in case a change is wanted. Also, a priest can make for a good advisor model, be it as a Priest, or a scenario hero (and I had one over, from the Victrix Anglo-Saxons).

The mailed fist of the Normans are their knights on horseback. I doubt I'll need 10 very often, or the extra 11th one with a flag, but the idea here is to paint up everything I'll possibly need. And they're gorgeous models. For some splashes of color (other than steel or horseflesh), they've got plenty of pennants from their spears.

Of course, if the mailed fist is the knights, the arm, the body, and the legs that allow for that blow are the Mounted Warriors, harassing the enemy to death and out of position. 20 of them, with Javelins (and enough waving not-javelins, so they can serve as non-javelin cavalry without making me twitch). And, of course, more pennants and a flag. Should be good enough...

And if it's not enough, there's the Breton contingent, 8 more Mounted Warriors with Javelins (either to be mixed in among the warriors, or serving as Breton Mercenaries with their own special rules).

Norman Infantry in SAGA is... let's just call it unsupported and rarely seen. But I might occasionally need some, so painted they are. The Victrix models are great, so I might even be tempted to make some more. The armoured ones could serve as either Hearthguard (Normans can field their knights on foot. I keep being surprised by this fact), Flemish Mercenaries, or just be mixed with the unarmoured ones.

(Fun fact, the armored fellow with his axe in full swing is the very first model I assembled for this project, knowing full well that he wouldn't be seing much use. He was also the last one painted. Seems fitting, somehow.)

If you do need infantry, some mercenaries are much better. Such as these fine fellows from Kyiv and thereabouts. As Vagrant Warrior mercenaries, they are 8 strong, and can have either Heavy Weapons, or shields. The idea is to field 5 with the correct option, 2 leaders (the flag bearer and the one with the extra head), and a single one with the wrong option. Thus I only needed to paint 12, instead of the full 16. Efficiency!

 If Norman infantry is sub-optimal, crossbows are almost memetically so. But they are an option, and if I want to field these as Spanish or Crusaders, then they'd be much better. Only one unit is necessary, but that can be up to 12 Levy for the later factions. Assume the fellows in armour are old, tired, and/or less motivated. Always a good excuse, that (and since Victrix sends fully half their crossbowmen with armour, I need to find a use for some of them at least)

 Now, the much better part to the crossbows: remove the cross and go full bow. If the Norman Crossbows are bad, it is at least half due to these fellows, bow-armed levy. With actual support from the battle board, and more shots for the same price to compensate for the (slightly) lesser individual power.

Now, to be fair, in hindsight, I should have made some of these fellows, and possibly some of the warriors, more arabised, to represent that part of the Sicilian forces. However, I did not realise that until these were assembled and half painted. Well, if I ever decide I need another 12 Levy...

And finally, something to fight over. Stationary supplies, for objectives, and mobile supplies, as Baggage in special scenarios. The sharp-eyed will notice the kitty sleeping on the bigger objective. I might have to do that on more of my objectives, because everything's better with a cat...

But with that, one of my biggest projects (so far) is finished. All in less than a year, and with other projects in parallell... but I'll admit to being a bit tired of painting horses, now. For full transparency, the SAGA Thorsday Warband Challenge (paint 6 points and a Warlord over 7 months) provided a lot of motivation for getting going, and getting through all that horseflesh. But this is obviously (if you know SAGA) more than 6 points, so there were a few extras intersperced (and a fair bit finished after the formal challenge ended).

 Now, to paint something not mounted...

/Fool, Out.

Frostgrave Barbarians

 First finished project of 2025 (nevermind that these have been in the queue for at least 6 months, and been worked on since november). While my urge to play Frostgrave is currently low, the urge to paint never goes away.

These are a mix of the "official" Frostgrave male and female Barbarians, with some headswaps from Shieldwolf Shieldmaidens. Anyway, on to the pictures.

All in all, it makes for a nice tribe.

First up, the ordinary tribesmembers (Thugs and Thieves in Frostgrave parlance) that doesn't require much to get going.

Then there's the support, infantrymen and -women wielding spears, as well as those armed with ranged weapons.

And then the core veteran fighters. Either wielding shields (and being either Knights, or Men-at-Arms, depending on what's needed. One can always claim the extra armor is experience, and the lower speed the scars from gaining said experience) or having anger management issues (what Frostgrave terms Barbarians).

Finally, the leaders of the tribe. A Witch, an Apprentice, and an Chief on Fuzzy Unicorn (Kornovik, Barbarian Outcast, on a whooly rhino).

(And finally-finally, a pair of mercenaries that can be hired by anyone who's got silver. They were strictly speaking not part of the barbarians, but got painted in parallell and based at the same time).

And with that, until next time.

/Fool Out