I call 2013 the Life and Death of a blog.  Because really, I tried to get it up and running and recruit lots of people to blog, write and talk about what they are doing with their hobbies, but that hasn’t really worked out like I thought it would.  Turns out blogging is like work, and we all try really hard to avoid work at all costs.

 

However we here at HH are not to be deterred.  I am gonna look at the design of the blog, look at getting some more articles up and running, and see about motivating (with a whip) some of the guys whose content I know was well-written and well received by the small audience we have out there.  That being said, let’s talk about what I did accomplish in 2013:

• Managed to get the blog up and running without totally wrecking it all and making an arse out of myself.  Got off to an okay start, yet fell short of my stated goal of 3 posts per week.  Needs work for 2014.

 

• Stuck to my goal of only playing fully painted Convergence of Cyriss models on the table.  Sort of slowed the play with them after a whole lot of losses with just the battle box and 31 points I have painted, but now with some more units and solos being released I have a whole slew of Convergence Deathbots on the painting queue.  More of this to come in 2014.

 

• Worked on learning more of Legion of Everblight as a faction, and getting more games in.  Having played a number of games with Saeryn I feel I am still not clicking with her, and may have to hold off on her until I get the timing of her feat down properly.  Really enjoyed playing with Thagrosh1 in the games I used him, as well as playing with the amazing Archangel my good friend Plastichero painted for me.  It may be an unloved gargantuan, but I have some plans for this winged terror.

 

• Continued to work as a member of the Press Gang, adding a second store to my rotation and running all the machinations season leagues for my FLGS as well as run tournaments and the High Command release events.  Seeing our local forums and realizing the Warmachine and Hordes area has almost 10 times the number of posts and activity as any other area makes me very proud of what we as a group have accomplished.

 

• Somewhat balanced life, work, hobby, podcasting, blogging and my other interests.  I think financially I didn’t budget and balance well, but my patient and tolerant wife helps with that, and I see ways I can improve in 2014.  May be the kernel of an article idea in there to explore, I’ll let you know what I come up with.

 

• Played in a Pathfinder campaign storyline, Curse of the Crimson Throne, and made it to 9th level before my character was irrevocably killed in action.  To go along with the game I painted up the models for the party so that the player characters all have special, painted-by-me models for their dudes.  Sadly my Ranger is dead, but I am okay with the two-weapon fighter I built to replace him.

 

 

• Painted my Thagrosh1 model up after having started him a few years ago.  Since painting him I am 3-0 with lists he runs, and am wondering at the old adage about painted models playing better than their unpainted counterparts….
  

  How sad he looks when grasping for straws…

 

• Picked up an Iwata Revolution airbrush and compressor to make base coats and painting easier(?) for me.  I absolutely dread the thought of painting more than a single model at a time, so hopefully this will assist me by getting base colours down and speeding the batch painting process.  Also, with 2 x Throne of Everblight, 2 x Storm Strider and an Archangel and second Stormwall to paint, this thing seemed almost like a must have purchase for the year.  Getting some good practice in with it now, but man there is still a lot that needs to get done for me to feel comfortable and competent with this thing.  And yes I am aware it doesn’t replace a trusty brush, and I don’t want it to, but any little assist is a great help and work towards being fully painted.

 

So it’s been a good year, though I have missed a few deadlines, skipped a few challenges and basically not gotten this site to where I wanted it to be, but I am not done yet.  As you can see above, on top of being a father, husband, volunteer, employee and friend I still managed to do a fair bit of Hobby activities.  It’s in relation to my miniatures gaming for sure, but there have been other accomplishments as well.

Stay tuned to the blog as we try to get back on schedule, I hope to have some more video content of Warmachine and Hordes games played as well as more articles on a broader range of subjects for all to enjoy.

 

As always if anyone wishes to send in an idea for an article or something you’d like us to review or try, send it in to northblade@hobbyhysteria.com and I will do my best to get it done for you ASAP.

Here’s wishing you a very prosperous New Year, much personal and hobby success in 2014 and all that your heart desires and deserves.

 

Till next time,

Northblade.