Sunday, January 12, 2020

Hobby Plans for 2020



Expenses:

After 3 successive over budget years, I must do better in  2020! I will increase the allowance to $2000,  and hope to come in below that. At the moment, there is really no lead that I need to purchase (some of what I was planning to buy this year was purchased in December due to the year end sales), By the end of the year a large Old Glory order is likely, but I need to move figures out of the pile to make room for that!


Painting:

With no major project on the drawing board (at least at present), I expect painting output may fall this year as well; still, I'd like to do at least 2000 points worth. 

1)  Once again, the lead for a large Macedonian Army I picked up several years ago is high on the list. Some progress was finally made on that front, but the bulk of the lead remains unpainted!

2) Add to my French and Austrian Napoleonic armies (already my largest, mind you), in preparation for both the 1809 Campaign in a Day on the Danube (see below), and a 2021 or later return to the Battle of Wagram. 

3) Rebase the Chariot era troops from Bill McHugh's Collection to my system.

4) Maybe some additional ECW reinforcements late in the year (needs the Old Glory Order)

5) Paint the Murawski Polish Horse Artillery and Krakus. Of course, should they chose to do the Baden Hussars, those will rise to the top of the list!

6) Paint some of the backlog of Great Italian Wars troops (recurring unmet goal!). I have some of the exquisite Eureka Gendarmes assembled and primed, though!

7) Avoid starting any new projects! 


Games:

Try to exceed 12 games run/assisted with/played in again this year. 

We are due to start a Warplan 5/5 based multiplayer game this year. My country is the Kingdom of Obajosa, based upon Napoleonic Spain, and using my Spanish army, 

Run a Campaign in a Day at The Portal in Manchester, CT, again this spring, based upon the April, 1809 "Crisis on the Danube" .  

Run the same (doubtless with some changes) at Historicon in July; most likely that will be the last time I'll do a Campaign in a Day at Historicon, but you never know!  :-)  

Probably run a Siege game using Vauban's Wars at Historicon

The Historicon theme this year provides little inspiration for me for other games, aside from the outside possibility of a French Revolutionary Balloon Corps appearance; color that unlikely! That means one or more smaller  1809 games with Field of Battle 3rd edition are likely to be on the roster. One or more games with To the Strongest/For King and Parliament are likely. 

With the return to Lancaster, I might even run a Sunday morning game!

Jared and I have discussed doing a version of the 1809 Campaign in a Day at his Game club this summer, possibly with different rules. 

I haven't decided yet whether to attend HAVOC in April this year and run a game there; I find the drive there and back to be long, and would probably be better served just doing a game at home. On the other hand, a game from Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen is a possibility. 


Blogging:

Maintain about the same number of Blog posts - circa 80 - 100 per year. 


Rules:


I have a lot of sets that I want to try out, and did none of that last year (see last years planning post!); maybe 2020 will be the year!

15 comments:

  1. I'm sorry, I don't quite understand. What is this thing... budget?... that you mention?

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    1. LOL! It's what you have so that you don't have to worry about how much you spend on Toy Soldiers!

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  2. Finally! The solution to routinely exceeding budget is to increase the budget! The gaggle of end of year sales are too tempting to pass up. A splurge at year-end is expected and justifiable. Tell yourself that you are saving so much!
    As always, looking forward to seeing what the New Year holds for Blunders on the Danube.

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    1. Inflation, my dear Freiherr! :-)
      As we all know, plans are a blue print for the coming year; construction itself is often different than anticipated. :-)

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    2. That is why it is a “plan” and not a “realization!”

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  3. Having followed your blog for many years Peter I don't doubt you will achieve the above. I'll look forward to the siege game as your postings tod ate have really piqued my interest in the gaming possibilities.

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    1. Thanks, Lawrence. I am finishing a final solo playtest of the Siege rules now,

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  4. Mo money, mo lead, mo games....sounds like a plan....

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  5. Zero-based budgets are for others, Peter. I am eager to see your massed chariots.

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    1. LOL!
      Rebasing the new Hittites, etc is a definite project for the first half of 2020!

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  6. Always the man with the plan, however you do know no plan survives contact with the enemy (in this case time/money) :-)

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    1. Money is a limiter for sure, but TIME is the key one. Hopefully come October when I cut back my hours a bit, my work week will drop from about 60 hours to 55 or so!

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  7. FoB 3rd edition: any information on this anywhere or any insights you can share? Just wondering what's changed from the 2nd edition -- and if they are minor tweaks or an overhaul.

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    1. It isn't completely final, but I have assisted with proofreading it. Pending publication, significant changes are:

      1) new rules and Army lists for the English Civil War
      2) A new Camopaign system for FoB, "Season of Battle"
      3) changes to the standard UI of Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery
      4) The disappearance of the "Maneuver Card", and new options (and tough choices to make) on the Leadership card.

      There's more, of course. but those are the biggest changes that struck me.

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