Closing words : 2nd edition of the OWAC

Another great edition of the OWAC is over. When I started this challenge, my hope was that it would grow into a tradition, a yearly ritual for many Oldhammerers, and I believe we are moving in that direction. Once again we had tons of awesome painting, close deadline, gnashing of teeth, drama and in the end a whole crop of new veterans, as well as many veterans of now two campaigns. 

The camaraderie and friendship we see on the Facebook group of the challenge is awesome, and the bond challengers now have with one another is great to see.

Congratulations to all those who participated, whether you pulled it off or not, and thank you for your enthusiasm and efforts during those six gruelling month. Soon, new veteran names will be etched on this blog for all eternity.

Hopefully you've had so much fun that you're already planing your next force, because yes they will be another edition.

GO FOR THE TRILOGY OR GO HOME!

See you next year for PART III (hopefully in 3D)

Keep painting
Iannick, your benevolent Overlord

For anyone interested in joining OWAC III, you can either PM me on Facebook (Iannick Martin) or contact me through the blog. But be warned the hazing is pretty hardcore.

Iannick's Undead Wrap-up

Well here we are, the end of the line, my final post of the second OWAC. Yeah! I won't lie, this year was a real challenge for me. I got a nice promotion at work this winter, and as all things with more money comes more responsibilities, which means more work! Then some knee issues (recurring problem). Ha yes, I also thought it would be a good idea to run a painting challenge while preparing a wedding! (Narrator : it was not a good idea). So in a surprising twist, this challenge was a lot more difficult for me than last year's, even though I painted a lot more figure last year (goblins) than this year (skeletons). I've also realized I prefer painting goblins to skeletons! Who knew? 

Yeah, I'm happy. New army, and soon a beautiful wife

But anyways, enough of the bitching, I nonetheless managed to finish a second OWAC and I am quite happy with myself. It always makes me chuckle when I hear people say "oh 200pts per month is a breeze". NO IT IS NOT. It's the grind of the challenge, the marathon that gets so many motivated challengers (just look at this year's Field of Bones) and so I realize how difficult and rewarding the end of the line really is.

How did I do? Well I always like to go back to my original plan and see how close I got to it. The plan was to paint :

- 15 Skeletons warriors, equipped with shields, including standard and musician : 187pts
- 15 Skeletons warriors, equipped with shields, including standard and musician : 187pts
- 1 Plague Cart : 100pts
- 12 Zombies : 48pts
- 3 Mummies : 240pts
- Ethereal Host : 1 Ghost (50pts), 1 Wraith (150pts) for 200pts
- 1 Lv5 Undead Hero, equipped with shield & heavy armour : 34pts
- 1 Lv5 Undead Hero, equipped with shield & heavy armour : 34pts
Planned total : 1123 pts

And I managed to paint :

- 15 Skeletons warriors, equipped with shields, including standard and musician : 187pts
- 4x Death Riders, equipped with light armour and lances : 100pts
- Level 10 mounted Undead hero, equipped with horse barding : 69pts
- 1 Plague Cart : 100pts
- 12 Zombies : 48pts
- 3 Mummies : 240pts
- 1 Gorgon : 110pts
- Ethereal Host : 2 Ghosts (100pts), 1 Wraith (150pts) for 250pts
- 1 Lv5 Undead Hero, equipped with shield & heavy armour : 34pts
- 1 lv 5 Liche : 90pts
Total : 1228pts

So all in all I managed to follow pretty closely my plan, and this always pleases me. I would've liked to paint that other unit of skellies. but those unplanned Death Riders took a lot more time than I had anticipated. It should make for a nice small force, or a very useful undead contingent to my Nurgle force. Also, many of these figures are really useful in my D&D games, which is always a nice bonus.

I really like my ethereal host

So, what about next year? Well I have many ideas for my next force ; Barbarians, Halflings, Forest Goblins Part II, or maybe even Skavens. Oh man oh man this is going to make for an agonizing choice! 

Thanks to all who read my stuff, commented on it, and congrats to all challengers who reached the finish line!! Great group of guys once again this year.

goblinpaladin's Wood Elves Wrap-Up

This has been such a great ride. I've never worked on a project like this, with peers and cool people doing the same thing at the same time. It's exactly cool as I thought it would be, back in the late 90s, reading those first A Tale of Four Gamers articles. My only regret is that we can't all get together and have a huge multi-player game with our shiny new armies.

these guys sure are... flashy

Actually, no, I have a second regret - I have very nearly had to use my mulligan on the triumphal Project Finished Hooray! Month. August and late July have been horribly busy for me and my partner, and she's the one with actual photography skills. I was hoping to get the elves to my local store, set them up with some terrain, get some fun photos (including an 80s-style author photo).

Obviously, I have not done that. There is something beautifully retro about a photo of brightly coloured elves taken with a flash though, right? That's in the spirit of The Old World Army Challenge?

If my partner and I can manage to organise to be in this city for a weekend and not have sixteen other things to do, I'll try and get a real photo for you guys.

In the meantime, what does my final list look like?

CHARACTERS [280]
Kaia Stormwitch, ~98 points.
Celarn, ~91 points.

Jos'Mel, ~91 points.

REGIMENTS [783]
15 archers, 165 points.
15 archers, 165 points.
16 wardancers, ~320 points.
6 glade runners, 96 points.
1 beastmaster + 4 boars, 37 points.

ALLIES [275]
Adzel, Zoat Wizard, 275 points.

TOTAL: 1058 points.

I painted a model that I'd had floating in my collection for twenty years. I painted some of my favourite sculpts in Games Workshop history. I tried new techniques and new colours. I painted a zoat! The best part, though, was watching what you guys were doing. You're all incredible! This has been the best!

I can't wait for next year.

Galadriel, as played by Cate Blanchett in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Directed by Peter Jackson. New Line Cinema, 2001.

namárië

John's Chaos Dwarf Wrap-Up

"Verily I do say thou art mine children from this time and for ever more. But be warned, I am a strict father and dost not suffer failure gladly. I hath set thou above all other races in mine dominion but tis only through strife thou shalt maintain thy position, for I am a loving Father and would seest thou prosper and tis mine love that guides mine hand to make it so, for from strife cometh determination, from determination cometh strength, from strength cometh pride and I would seest thou proud of all thy accomplishments.  So I command the, go forth and make me proud in mine love of thee."
- The Dark Father's Farewell to the Twelve Sons as presented in one of the few surviving fragments of the now lost epic Peregrination

The Chaos Dwarfs now reside in  Zharr-Naggrund in force.
The culmination of 2 challenges ready to collect slaves for the great Hashut.
All of this started with the first challenge thank you for the inspiration to paint and may there be many many more in the future.
you guys are all amazing

Skal's Wrap-up : Happy little Elves!

I am happy to write that this is it, my final post for OWACII. What a ride! I have had most of these miniatures since I was a lad. I dipped quite a few to be able to paint them again. I already have plans for adding more to my units to make them more viable in a game but this was an awesome start.

I learned a lot from this and I plan to paint up a Dwarven army to use against my Wood Elves as well as to augment them when I play games vs friends. Here is my army and the required drinking from the horn victory shot.

Here are some shots of my army so far. I learned two things taking these photos 1) I need a better camera 2) I need to paint more Wood Elves.

For now I will be running: 

Glam force commander 208

1 Zoat Mage 275 pts

Skaw 88 pts

5 Lords Bowmen with 4 Kin Band spearmen w/ Lvl 5 Hero 118 pts

 5 Lords Bowmen with 4 Kin Band swords w/Lvl 5 Hero 118 pts

Glade Runners w/Lvl 5 Hero 150 pts

4 units of 5 Wardancers 400 pts

1 Treeman 280 pts

1 Eagle 75 pts

1 Dragon 300 pts

Total points: 2,012

I look forward to painting random stuff for a while before diving into another project.

Till next time SKAL!

Jeff Allen's Dark Elves

Season 2 of the OWAC has come to an End. It's a weird thing, the Challenge. In November and December you start to get excited. All sorts of plans swirl in your head about how much you are going to paint. All the different options you have. Later, when your 4 months in, and real life is intruding on your hobby, the Challenge starts to weigh on you. You start to look forward to it just being over. And relief when you post that last monthly update.

A few weeks later, as you go back and get ready for your wrap-up post you look out over your troops and you have a brand new viable army for playing. Which is a great thing. And you make some friends along the way as well. The OWAC is not easy but it is rewarding.

So lets dive into what I got done.

CHARACTERS (344 pts)
Dark Elf General ~ 170 pts
Assassin ~ 56 pts
Sorcerer ~ 59 pts
Sorceress ~59 pts

REGIMENTS (843 pts)
Repeater Xbow ~ 130 pts
Black Ark Corsairs ~ 156 pts
Witch Elves ~ 132 pts
Black Guard of Naggaroth ~ 173 pts
Cold One Knights ~ 252 pts

WAR MACHINES (225 pts)
Cauldron of Blood ~ 125 pts
Repeater Bolt Thrower ~ 100 pts

Total ~ 1412 Points

54 Figures, 2 War Machines. And a scratch built Dark Elf Tower.

The Command Group 

 Repeater Xbows and Corsairs

 The Black Guard of Naggoroth

 Cold One Knights

 Witch Elves

The Cauldron of Blood

Thanks to Iannick for herding us cats. Thanks to all the Challengers for making this a fun event. See you next year....

Dave's Dirge of the Dead

Alas, the Second Old World Army Challenge has come to an end. I have truly enjoyed watching everyone's army grow from humble beginnings into mighty hordes. With two OWAC completed, all we need to do now is schedule a worldwide tournament day and march forth to glory or ignominious defeat!

On that day, ye shall behold KRAVAG'S CAIRN HOST!

Marching in the front ranks, ahead of the shambling masses, is the army general, Kravag the Voracious, and his simpering slave Zaghuul the Necromancer. If you have time, you may familiarize yourself with the tale of the dreadful Vampire Lord himself! On his left and right flanks are the hordes of skittering skeletons, and following in the center are the dreaded skeleton horsemen—now, with a working banner!

The back ranks are dominated by the howling wraiths in the center—three is a small number, but it is a number known for witchery and black hexes. These powerful specters are each as effective as a hero on the battlefield! They are flanked by carrion to one side and the screaming skull catapult to the other, making sure that no enemy troops are safe, no matter where they hide!

I want to give dear thanks to everyone who supplied the heartening comments and constructive criticisms, as well as my fellow OWAC champions. Another year done, another army painted!

CHARACTERS (443 pts)
Kravag the Voracious (Vampire Lord) ~ 375 pts
Zaghuul the Necromancer ~ 68 pts

REGIMENTS (795 pts)
23x Skeleton Warriors (with Spears, Musician, Standard Bearer) ~ 225 pts
10x Skeleton Warriors (with Bows) ~ 100 pts
5x Skeleton Horsemen (Shields, Spears) ~ 110 pts
3x Wraiths ~ 225 pts
3x Carrion ~ 135 pts

WARMACHINES (74 pts)
Screaming Skull Catapult ~ 74 pts

TOTAL: 1,312 pts

Ben's Wrap Up READY!!!

This challenge has been a great motivator to finally paint some classics I've had lurking in boxes long hidden and packed away. I chose to do a Slaanesh themed Chaos army this time around based on the 3rd edition Armies book with an eye on being able to use them in a Realms of Chaos battle one day.

The army in all its glory. Six Chaos Warriors, 18 Thugs(Red Redemption), 12 Beastmen(Chaos Snakemen) and 6 Minotaurs(5 really, one is a Keeper of Secrets). I think it's a good effort for the OWAC and an army that I'm already eager to add on to. I have also managed to make all my units in multiples of six to keep you know who happy.

The Keeper of Secrets was added over the last couple weeks and has been one of those figures I've always wanted to paint but never have. 

Hopefully my battle line holds up better than my hair line.

The proper army list:

5 Chaos Marauders(39 pts each) led by the Kinky Chaosette(Warrior w/Hvy Armor & Shield, 74 points).

Unit Total: 269 points

5 Minotaurs (Double Handed Weapons, 48 points each)

Unit Total: 240 points

11 Beastmen(w/ Light Armor and Shields, 13 points each) including Standard Bearer and Musician led by Zygor Snakearms(Lvl 10 Hero, 113 points).

Unit Total: 282 points

17 Chaos Thugs(w/ Light Armor, Shields & Double Handed Weapons, 11 points each) including Standard Bearer and Musician led by a Chaos Marauder(equipped as the unit, 40 points).

Unit Total: 249 points

Army Total: 1040 points

I've got plenty more I will eventually add to the army including Daemonettes, Fiends, Centaurs...the list goes on.

Well done again Overlord and congrats to everyone that made it. I grumble and gripe my way through but there isn't much better than actually painting an army except maybe playing with them. As always thanks for looking. 

Nathan's Hobgoblin wrap up

Well this is the last post for the hobgobs. I have to say I'm rapped I got to the end of the challenge as there were times when I didn't think I would make it. And at the end of it I have a whole bunch of figures painted up that I collected over a number of years (over 10 I reckon) that I didn't think I would get around to painting. Included in the pictures below are a handful of figures I painted prior to the challenge which I've included in the army pics.  Anyway here they are

Army shot with me wearing my retro Hartford Whalers jersey

Hobhounds at the front were done years ago

Looking forward to using these in a game

33 renegades looking for action

22 Hobyars that are a bitch to rank up

General and Army Wizard

Another shot of the renegades