"Taking Stock..." Topic

In an attempt to be more organised about what I paint this year and work on I sat down yesterday and went through all the drawers and boxes to work out what collections I had and what state they were in…

I then put everything into a spreadsheet just listing period, rules, scale, whether they are complete, can I play a game with them, do I have both sides, etc.

To my surprise I have 21 distinct collections covering everything from Biblicals in 15mm to WW2 in 20mm and Little Wars in 54mm…

Of those I can play a game with 14 of those, of which I only have both sides for 10 of them.

The ones that need completing mostly need scenery though some need figures finishing off. Out of the 21 only 2 are really complete.

I am left wondering how this happened after restarting wargaming with a few Napoleonics and ECW back in autumn 1995…

Mike

Wargaming is a black hole that once your in its orbit drags you in…

I would do this exercise but I am afraid of the 'oooh shiny' and 'I need more or these' coupled with 'I forget why I have these'….

ditto

I only meant to buy a couple of 1/72nd plastic aircraft kits for an inter-war pulp gaming scenario.

I ended up with a cupboard full of them – from biplanes to jets in at least 3 different scales.

I've never played the scenario.

That's wargaming for you !

This is why I only play one scale and then only one genre at a time.

Last 5 years was 6mm naps, this time it is 6mm sci-fi.

In 5 years, who knows?

I've just realised I missed the 25mm Dr. Who project off the list as well.. :-)

I am resolutely NOT playing the same armies/period in different scales which is why I sold off my 25mm VSF forces recently so I could concentrate on Martian Empires.

Mike

I think my downfall came after joining a club. Up until then I only played 15mm Napoleonics and 15mm ECW.

Then we started Darkest Africa as a club project (though 12 years on one person still hasn't painted his armies!) and then the floodgates opened…

Mike

Been there got the Tee Shirt, selling most of mine off again lol

This is why I only play one scale and then only one genre at a time.

Michael – that attitude is far too sensible and must be resisted. Where would we be if everyone was so grown-up and mature about things..? It's not natural and it's not normal. Go and buy something silly in 40mm immediately.

Doug

Are Phoenix Follies 40mm?

54mm but with Phoenix Follies, the bigger the better!

54mm but with Phoenix Follies, the bigger the better!

Doug is right – its your duty to buy frivolous things.. :-)

Mind you, think how big my list of projects could be if I hadn't studiously ignored the siren call of games I've played at the Guildford club – so I've ignored SCW, VBCW, AK47, Napoleonic ships (okay, I painted 6 of these for the Trafalgar refight but then sold them), Back of Beyond, Zombies, AWI and ultramoderns…

Mike

This is why I only play one scale and then only one genre at a time.

And we've found him – the wargamer with will power !

This is why I only play one scale and then only one genre at a time.

And we've found him – the wargamer with will power !

He must be arrested by peasants with pitchforks and fiery brands, given a fair trial, found quilty and sentenced to something 'orrible – suggestions please…

Doug

stuffed full of melted down 25mm figures?

"This is why I only play one scale and then only one genre at a time."

I can't understand how this can even be possible.

found quilty

Warm and snuggly ?

I fear that I must respectfully suggest to the presiding Judge that we are straying into an area that only Mrs AB can properly comment on.

Hmmmmm. Not sure I am happy about you lot trying to lead my husband astray….

Husband. I am not sure about you ever being aloud on the internet again!!!!! :-)

So here is the plan –
1 – no phoenix follies
2 – you may stray into different scales so long as they are smaller than 6mm
3 – you may stray into different genres so long as it is Egyptian or Medieval
4 – you may make me a cup of tea

The rest of you – shame on you! but also Mike, well done on the super organised spreadsheet. I like that.

curse number 4

I had to put together the spreadsheet as I was starting to forget everything I had and what state it was in… :-)

Just been through working out number of units on hand for Napoleonics which I also intend to do for each period so I can set a "completion" size for each army.

Mike

Shrug. I have only one scale, though in 28mm.

Organization is frightening. Embarking on such a project takes time and not a little ruthlessness.

The dread powers of Disorganization, Entropy, Dust, and Melancholy lie in wait around every old box and uncompleted project.

Be wary. Be vigilant.

AB, might as well accept your fate now! Now go and make that cup of tea!

I'm a lot more ruthless/focussed than I used to be hobbywise. Still not ruthless enough though!

I have a spreadsheet for my Naps collection that also estimates mass and amount of magnabasing used…

I only play one scale and genre at a time. That's all that will fit on my gaming table. After I finish playing AWI I play Moderns, then I play naval, then I play…

But only one at a time.