2010 passes, 2011 begins

Things have been rather quiet on here this past year. I have posted some reports but seem to have been more focused on the Talomir Tales and Rather Large Towton Project blogs instead. Together with trying to actually write my thesis and starting teaching at the university, these time-sinks have occupied most of my time.

Looking at my painting log, I don't seem to have managed nearly as much as I did last year, where really should have made better progress on the Towton material. We shall be putting on the Towton game at Salute in April and still need to build the terrain for it. I also have rather a lot of figures to paint while still staying on course for handing in my thesis at the end of this year or very early next year. Sounds like rather a tall order to me. What it does mean is that I need to focus my efforts solely on painting figures for Towton and not to get distracted by any shiny new things that I happen upon or old projects that take my fancy along the way. Perhaps I should hire a time management expert to monitor my every move! One problem I feel that this year has suffered from is a lack of focus. I have known that the Towton project needs to be done and the rate at which I need to paint it. However, I have not really set myself any proper targets and deadlines. I think I should do this and allocate time to the project out of my meagre spare time allowance. This should keep me focused. I also think that this would be a good way to keep myself on track with the lead mountain after Towton is up and running. So, expect to see a return to the monthly project system this year.

Talomir Tales is a time-sink in a different way. The whole campaign is just fun and I want to spend a lot of time on it because of this. However, in the first quarter of 2011, I really need to focus on Towton, which means that all games in the campaign should only involve figures I already have painted, or I shall (shudder!) have to use them unpainted/ part-painted. I hate doing that and could never do it for character figures. I suppose it is just ok for the NPC enemies if I do not have time to paint them.

So, where does that leave me in terms of resolutions?

1. I shall get the Towton figures painted by the end of March.
2. I shall get the Towton terrain built by the end of March.
3. I shall return to the monthly project system.

With this in mind, I can map out the first quarter with the figures I need to paint for Towton:
January
1. Sir Alexander Hody's contingent (2 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).
2. Holland's contingent (2 stands knights, 4 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).

February
1. Sir Lionel Welles' contingent (2 stands knights, 4 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).
2. Sir Richard Welles' contingent (2 stands knights, 4 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).

March
1. Lord Grey's contingent (2 stands knights, 4 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).
2. Viscount Beaumont's contingent (4 stands billmen, 4 stands archers).

Right, better get myself organised for this. Once Towton is done, I can look forward to a variety of other projects, as well as more boardgaming. Some of the options for this year are:

* 15mm post-apocalypse (possibly with zombies and probably with a 70s theme)
* More 6mm 18th century (possibly with a lacepunk twist)
* 15mm sci-fi (Imperial Commander and 5150: First Contact)
* Lots more Talomir Tales gaming and new armies for the campaign
* Possibly finally getting my 15mm Basic Impetus armies started
* Painting my 15mm Qin Chinese army for FoG/DBA
* 6mm WW2 using Blitzkrieg Commander and/or Command Decision
* Aeronef and Land Ironclads

So much to do, so little time!