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@W.A.Rorie, I really appreciate that you've shared this here, and thank you for doing so. This is one of the things that still 'sweep me off my feet', that after so many years in the hobby, there are still stories like yours, which remind me how much more the hobby is: it is not the plastic crack that we hoard, nor the glue we sniff or the brushes we lick. It is the people that make it what it is, the community, places such as B&C, and what brings us together. Maybe is the autumn that's getting closer, maybe not, but your story made me feel a warmth inside. I'm really glad that everything worked out for the best. Really happy.

I know exactly where you are coming from, @WBRBloom. I hit 47 years old, earlier this year and was like I have been in the GW world for almost 30 years. Lots of Highs and Lows in the gaming world and personal life. Sometimes, I want to quit the game, hobby, and move on. Then I am back in. One of the stories that I would like to share is: I got into the Hobby during my late into Senior year in High School, earlier that school year I began dating a long time female friend and she would become my HS Sweetheart and eventually Fiancé. We would break up not long after our 1st year of College. My Friend and I gamed at our FLGS alot. It kept me sane and helped me recover from the break up. In 2023 my HS Sweetheart reconnected. She was happy to hear I was still gaming. We are now married. And the FLGS Owner decided to retire and close up shop. Before the store closed, I went in and tell him about how his store meant so much to me, how it helped me recover from the break up, having a safe place to get away from, and all the memories I had that he help create and I was going to miss it. I was teary eyed and told him saved me. I then told him she was now my wife. He smiled and said so everything works out in the end.

This is working out well. It’s very easy to do ( if you forgive the wonky lines). I could use tape but pfffft. Bit of the old “Battle damage” and none the wiser.

How much free time do you have? Of your answer was: "All of it," might I suggest stealing the style of the Salamanders before they became the boring green Marines. Here's a tank done up in the classic style:

I have been in the hobby since 1st edition and I am well familiar with the ebb and flow of motivation. Big events like a bereavement can easily take their toll. Sometimes I find that even the seasons affect my motivation as I struggle paint in the winter when it is dark (a real shame since there is not much else to do). Basically you have the right approach. Hobbies are meant to be fun and there is no shame in parking stuff for a while if you lose your mojo. If you try and force it, chances are you won't enjoy it and won't do as good a job as you would otherwise. Take some time to be kind to yourself and be with the rest of your family. One day you will wake up and feel the urge to pick up the paint brush again.

Thank you so much for spending time to reply to my post. You've helped me out more than you know. I've recently been prescribed medications for my anxiety and panic, but they say it will be weeks before I notice a real difference. I have a terrible time making decisions, so at some point after I've assembled these models and grabbed some Sisters, I'll come ask again for help trying to build a cohesive force.

You shouldn't worry about word counts. Just pick a single story beat you want to hit in your lore and write until you feel the story is told. Everything else is secondary.

Oof! That quoted comment hit me hard. I’m 54 and have been hobbying in the GW world since 1988 when I first picked up Rogue Trader. Based on family history I too have a much shorter section of hobby road remaining to journey on. The GW universe was always a creative outlet for me and a way to decompress from life. It’s been a part of me for so long that I doubt I will let it go as long as the eyesight holds up. However, living with the moments of nostalgia from memories of now departed gaming friends is a thing and to a degree it puts a damper on excitement for new editions and new miniatures. I can paint and play as time permits. Re-igniting the spark of excitement for the next version without having some of the inner circle of hobby friends I grew up with has been challenging. Accepting that I have less than half my life left is sobering. This has been top of mind a lot recently as I debate getting back into the 40K side with 11th edition. It may be 12th edition before I figure out what I want to do!

What you said, @W.A.Rorie, reminded me of this!

I prefer the former, based on the group shot in your library, squads will stand out on the tabletop. Depending on whether they are codex compliant, you could reserve the black pad for Sergeants or other ranks - it does look good with the gold border. Just my tuppence - both look good!

Thank you for sharing @WBRBloom and @W.A.Rorie. Maybe are the painkillers in my system talking but I love to hear stories like that and I think the good memories of our hobby and of course our life too are what give us the strenght to survive our darker days. The hearth in which we stay warm during the long nights.

Yeah I'm not knocking anyone who has grown up and tired, just adding some perspective . I'm still trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up after all these years, maybe I'll figure it out before retirement. Maybe in my case it has something to do with all that lead dust I got all over my fingers from handling those minis from the 80s. Kept me youthful in the brain?

My first army was only 12 models and I played Imperial Guard... Eldar, Imperial Guard, Dark Eldar... all those became codephrases so we can identify our own.

Oh, definitely @Adeptekon, I couldn't agree more! I just wonder that in a world where everything tends to be just consumption rather than essence, how long one might remain relevant. I simply found that, in my case at least, I will take stability wherever I can find it. If this is from a wargaming edition, so be it! Is it my way of controlling things in my life? Perhaps! Do I have the rest of my life in front of me? Maybe, maybe not! Can I moan about how old I am and how things were better 'back in my day' from the age of 19? Abso-diddly-doodly!

I'd experiment on a piece of painted sprue, or spare caepe first, but washing Carroburg Crimson over your Ghost Scheme might do what you're after, just be 100% sure the Ghost scheme is dry before doing the wash.

I'd was thinking perhaps some recess shading to really darken the shadows and then either an all over drybrush of runefang steel or that colour on the pauldron rims, halo, the rim of the shield and maybe the shield emblem.

Camo is used by chapters. Howling Griffons use a Black Night World camo on occasions. Raptors use camo alot. So your chapter can make use of camo.

Update from the faction packs being released The combination of Kroot Hunting Pack and Advanced Acquisition Cadre is definitely allowed and it does open up Recon as a disposition. With only a few weeks to go I have decided to lock in on this and do all my planning around this. There might be stronger options but I want to go into the tournament having a strong idea how to play my list and the missions and that means I I can't defer making decisions forever. The exact list might vary due to points changes or due to reflecting on how it actually plays on the table in practice games. But the basic direction of this is now locked in for Birmingham

Like @Karhedron, I have felt the effects of ebb and flow of motivation, but I started in the tail end of 2nd. In all these years I can say only my Grey Knights are my "Finished army" as I really worked on them during covid and continued through covid. Real life takes a toll and we have to step away sometimes. One of my other hobbies is playing paintball with my team, but since the passing of best friend/ team mate, I just struggle going out there. And when I do I feel like, I am disrespecting his memory because outside of his daughter and his dog, it was his favorite thing. And I spiral more. Sometimes you do have to step away from the hobby or the army you are working on, as they are not fun or stressing you out and hurting your mental health more than helping. We are here for you, and you are not alone in this struggle, @firestorm40k. Take care of yourself, your family and loved ones.

I Sea what you did there..... Looks like you are off to a good start and it has a very nice harbour feel to it.

Sending you internet support tokens @Lathe Biosas, what a great idea for an army. I can't help on colour choices but @W.A.Rorie seems to have covered it! I hope you can enjoy the project and it isn't overtaken by your anxiety. Would it help to sketch out the colour schemes? I quite often attempt to sketch out a mini and then block in colours to get an impression of what it might look like and how adjoining panels interact. It can be useful if you aren't simply copying a Space Marine from a codex. I'm sure this will be a fantastic looking army, very impressive as a fully painted force - especially with a Knight!

1st- Mental health is no joke. I used to put others first, be everyone's savior/ caretaker or keep quite about issues i was having never realized what it was doing to my body. The impact of that is horrible for your overall health. My wife has been getting me to talk to her about things, which is a struggle in its own, but I am getting a little better. I truly hope it is getting better for you. 2nd- I am not a competitive player. I care more about having fun and hanging out with my friends. I hate playing people get mad cause a dice rolled bad for them but they are still winning by a lot. I rather do anything else then be playing that game. So I say build what you want they are your toy soldiers and have fun with them. As an example: Did I need a Captain Sargotta from the Masters of Maelstrom box? No. Do I play Chaos.? No. Is she going to make an awesome Strike Cruiser Captain for my Howling Griffon's? Yes. On of other Projects is switching out Thunder Hammers for Swords one on my Terminator Assault squad just to make them more unique. Rules wise they are just a Terminator Assault squad with Thunder Hammer and Storm Shields. So follow your dream of building YOUR Army. Ignore the naysayers. 3rd- Assassins, Sisters of Silence, and Ordo Xenos Inquisitor all would be a great fit. My suggestion as this is Webway Strike Force the Inquisitor would have to be Puritan because of the Custodes and Sisters of Silence, so no xenos tech. ( I have not read the Master of Mankind so I do not knwo if any of the Imperials used xenos tech). A But this is also YOUR army so if you want xenos tech go for it. A Knight- I think a Knight would be a great addition as it could bring heavy guns and draw fire as your going to be outnumbered constantly as it is. Sisters of Silence- Bolters or Flamers variants. small squads i would not go more than 3 squads Ordo Xenos Inquisitor another way to get some heavy weapons and bodies with some Imperial Agents Navigator just for the psyker ability. 4th- Colors- If I was doing the force Custodes- Gold Armor, red Cloth/ Plumes Sisters of Silence- Black Armor, Red Cloth/ Plumes Inquisition- Red Cloth, black and gold accents Knight- White, silver, purple

One of the 2 land raider kits I wanted so bad…the other was the Mk IIb which is in my Grey Knights Night world camo, but there has to be more than the doors Quartered….like a big crux terminatus on top…. The Excelsior will be the quartered scheme. Too ornate not too. The price for the kit was crazy. I was expecting it to be more and it was a little more than buying a land raider by itself. Luckily they were able to ship it to me in the states. And I forgot another Land Raider…Since I am playing an Ultramarine Successor….Terminus Ultra. Probably based on a spartan kit since it is now twin linked and Tri-Barrel

Looking forward to seeing them! I share @Mazer Rackham's jealousy about the Land Raider. Always wanted a Land Raider Excelsior, as ornate as it is.

Jealous of your LR Prometheus kit! Will you be doing the quartering, or replicating the Night World Livery?

Writing groups can be very eclectic indeed. I used to be a library Volunteer and facilitate a group myself, and there was a big poetry influence to it, not much prose altogether. It depends on what the group is actually for - since our libraries run social objectives of getting people out and about, and they're listening out for if folks have trouble (when they chat during the break) so they can signpost them to help. It's social first, with the work coming second. This is good if you're finding your feet. Feedback however can be...an bit hit and miss, as no-one wants to critique someone else's work. You'll need an incisive group lead or a handful of folks that want to get better, and not just present. It's a tall ask for people who come for a brew and maybe listen to each other talk. Group discipline is loose, but that's the point, but it's comfortable and non-confrontational. That's a big plus in certain circumstances. That's not to knock what goes on, nor anyone's talent, but that's generally what I have observed, so salt to taste. I have also attended dedicated writing groups. These have a completely different flavour to them. The focus is on disciplined production of work, (although never forced, but there is sometimes a push for contributions) and critique of that work. The table will read sequentially, listening attentively, and all will comment on it, giving good and bad. There's a tendency in the writer's groups to actually find folks who want to move on and develop, and the crowd will push (if they're good, and you're lucky to get editors in the group). Again, take with salt. That's not to say you can't push that further in a library group - but the problem is the library group has different objectives and sometimes hands get tied with what you want to do, but you need to get people in the chain engaged. On presenting in these groups: In the library, as you have encountered, folks aren't so bold and braying as those of us who read well, but don't let that make you a shrinking violet so you don't outshine them. Offer to read their stuff sometimes if they can't or don't fancy it, or better yet, if they ask you to, it's a compliment. Sometimes they want to hear the words they've written read powerfully, and well. Obviously it depends on your 'audience' (and you have the advantage of knowing an audience well) so do your thing, and read the room. Sometimes your library groups are not competent or comfortable readers and their diction is difficult, but that's not their fault, I make no claims it is. People are how they are. You may be able to encourage them with your own presentation. They might be intimidated at first, but you might be surprised what you inspire. A solid reader in a group can make all the difference, and entertaining in a social setting is bread-and-butter work for those library groups. You know what you're doing. Your voice is not on the airwaves - it's just in print, now. Presenting to a writing group is very different. You will have shy folks, yes, but you will also have very competent readers who will complement you in presentation, and won't be afraid to put their oar in afterwards, so you might feel you're up against it! I did, but then again I'm no good at voices. On that subject, doing voices can certainly enhance your storytelling. Audiobooks are all the rage amongst these young whippersnappers, and it can really engross them in the world you're constructing, so I would suggest (again, this is just me, take it or bail it), that the library setting is far better for this. The writing group is not interested in your storytelling - it's interested in your skill and craft. Voices can distract from what they're listening to, and editors, if present, listen differently to other authors. Use inflection, by all means, drive the sharp edge on a curse, but don't alter the voice. If you've written the line correctly, it won't matter if you're a man reading a woman's part. It's not a script - it's a book - and the reader's voice reads in their voice, not any other, and the character will speak. My tuppence - and good luck! You're doing something great!

I cannot not upvote a post with a cat in it. Give Kwazii pets for me - though don't wake him up to do so.

Just to bring a precision: any mention to "serious issue" from my side is of course pure irony. Otherwise, I am thinking about a second instalment for continuation of this post: storylining of my painting program... Because this one is only about managing short term program but it does not give insight on how this program is planted through the year... And how B&C is a source of stimulation and reprogramming. Thank you Call to Arms challenges...

I don't. I'm horrendous at finishing anything, and jump onto new projects all the time. I'm currently working on 3 seperate Kill Teams, I've got to finish my Space Marine army (most painted to at least "battle standard" ie 3 colours min), and I've got Tyranid army that needs started painting. Not to mention the multiple 40k "display" pieces, and non-40k stuff like Marvel: Crisis Protocol etc to finish painting. I struggle to finish things. I tried to organise better and plan things out... it didn't work. I hope you have better luck than me!

My painting plan: What army has my interest? What new units/ rules did my army get? What is the purpose of painting? Paint scheme difficulty? Currently my Adepta Sororitas has my current interest (1), received the Celestian Insidiants (2), want to play them in my groups upcoming league/ Campaign (3), and painting scheme is not hard to due. Compared to my Grey Knights, Newer Codex (2) and True Scaling (3), and scheme is easy (4). My GK have my interest but revisiting my Order Minoris, Order of the Parthenon, has taken priority, as this was my Personal Order, I created. The issues that hinder my progress: One issue is I buy a lot of models and accessories for armies and store them for later. So when I get the itch for an army I raid my stash, which messes with Gamer ADHD. Another issue is time. Still learning to be a (step)dad, taking care of newborn, wife returning to work (even if from home), and well all that this life entails. Going from having a lot of time in a no kid relationship to being married, a (step)dad, and trying to learn how to make time for myself. Along with my own personal Mental Health struggles. Paint scheme difficulty is a major issue as well. My Valorous Heart is Airbrush heavy and when I started them I was using GW paints and I have shifted away from them. I need to eventually. My Exorcists are a metallic scheme, so have some difficulty to them and time consuming unlike the GKs metallic scheme. The break through I needed and what triggered it: I have been dealing with Mental Health issues, lack of time, work, and being a dad/ husband lately. This stopped my hobby time. I knew I needed out of the funk and GW did something that motivated me. GW releasing rules for Red Corsairs and Iron Warriors. Not armies I play but Heretic Astartes and the @The_Oni_of_Hindsight's favorite Legion/ Traitor Marines. A long time rival force, played by one of my best friends/ regular opponents, and he deserves to face my Favorite Army.

Welcome to the Ravenspire, @Lathe Biosas! May the Sons of Corax find you many victories

I've a fledgling Agents army but focused on my GSC/Brood Brothers at this time. The Agents are a great range and almost beg to be converted and customised. They've got such a great look to them and, to my mind, they hearken back to the older John Blanche illustrations. I like the idea that each Rogue Trader or Inquisitor has his or her unique retinue built by their beliefs and experience. I've a jokaero (or however you spell it - orang-utan - just don't call him a monkey or he'll go all Discworld on you) I'll paint up once I am ready to wheel them out. Looking forward to seeing more.

Great story!

Very easy to work with, and paint just like anything else once the clay/polymer/etc is set. The above bases were done into milliput, which gives them a somewhat grainy finish I'm not crazy about, but once painted it was barely notable.. Application is as easy as spreading your preferred substance on the base ensuring it is smooth/even across the surface, then applying the textured roller over that. Repeat as necessary and clean the tool afterwards with soap, water, and a stiff bristle brush. Once milliput or greenstuff gets dried in in the nooks and crannies of the pin its VERY challenging to get them out. I tried rolling out a layer onto sculpy (an oven dry clay) before doing the milliput versions, and while the detail was better and the clay was overall easier to work with, the fact I couldn't apply it directly onto the bases beforehand meant that my sheet was WAY too think for the bases and it was too brittle to be able to effectively trim down. I've done greenstuff as well in the past and I think I probably like that the most, but I was running low on it before starting these bases and didn't' want to go buy more....so milliput won the day.

Jr and I have watched the Warhammer+ episodes of Cursed City and Blackstone Fortress. Cursed City looked great fun and Jr really enjoyed it. I then bought Blackstone Fortress and we watched the WH+ episode but neither of us enjoyed it - I just think it didn't translate to TV. We have yet to attempt a go at the game (I've assembled the minis but not painted them). I do love a boxed game.

I canoot recommend the Warhammer Quest games enough as entry level introductions. They include dice rolling, and special rules for different units, require planning and strategy. My son has no interest in the hobby side of things, but will play as the enemies on both Blackstone Fortress and Cursed City. Another viable option are the even smaller boxed games like Space Marine Adventures Rise of the Orks, or Doomsday Countdown for 40k and WH: Lost Relics and WAoS: Crypt Hunters. These smaller games are 30-45min runtime, which helps with attention span with the younger ones.

Retro Rocket Man is best Rocket Man.

Land speeder finished to a good enough standard. I’m pleased with the choice of dazzle camo. Here. I’ve realised I’m not such a fan of the look of these floaty vehicles. I have this and an Impulsor kit. It seemed that an Impulsor was de rigour for an army but the tracked transports look better and hold more models. The floaty bits don’t indicate the “fly” keyword. You would think that a floaty impulsor would be “faster” than a tracked vehicle but the transports seem to have M12” across the board except the Vanilla Land Raider. Is it a points thing?

Very nice highlights, and blended effects. You really nailed the NMM.

I love this series of articles about Terrain, you have been doing @Bouargh!

That head does make a lovely change to the Calgar Model!

That's a great deal! Looks quite suitable for Custodes with all the gold and bronze you've got. Vallejo's older metallics might be a bit thick, so you could consider thinning them with medium/testing them out to see if you like them, but they'll do the job.

Really enjoy your Combat Patrol reports, please keep them coming. I've got the Vardenghast CP to paint and I've nearly finished Mordekai's Judgement. I've got the old Ork (Deffkoptas and Dread) CP ready to go but at my work rate I'll be ready for my first game of 10th a month after 11th is released.

The easiest way is to go free hand. This is a colour test so it could be as abstract as you like - a Custodes helmet is a triangle sitting on top of a circle for a face which is on top of a rectangle for the chest, etc Or you could do a loose sketch of an area where colours interact. Here are my Kroot test heads What I will do is create a template image - pencil overdrawn in black pen - that I can then trace on to paper multiple times. For a more complex reference image to use as a template you could try tracing. For example, find a reference image in the build instructions and put it against a window with your paper over the top. Hopefully there will be enough light for you to trace what you need. You can even trace off a screen but that brings risks so I don't recommend it. Unfortunately, my more complex examples are in my desk at work and I won't be back there for a week. I say just go for it and have a bit of fun! Oh, and there was a recent WarCom article with alternative colour schemes and there might be some in the Codex too. There might be scans of old Codex on the internet too. Edit: found more template examples

To be honest, I've no experience with 3D printed stuff, but will keep an eye on this thread to learn more.

Not sure how much use this is going to be, or if I can convey exactly what I'm thinking, but I think I can understand what is meant by a little stiff. There is a good chunk of the writing is short and sharp, giving the writing a quick pace and moving forward rapidly, at the expense of fluff (character reasoning/world building etc). That's not to say this is necessarily a bad thing! I think it works well for the short snippets type of story you have so far. It'd be more of an issue if/when you wanted to write something a bit longer. You'd need to provide a bit more meat on the story bones, give the reader time to digest and take in what's going on and why. Like I say, I quite like the quick pace and minimal background information on these really short stories, because as the reader I'm well equipped to make assumptions based on what I'm reading and implied context, so I don't need a deep understanding of the why's, just that a thing needs to happen, and it's happening now! Hope this helps.... ?

I was so intrigued I had to go looking at boxes on the internet...(Filter by Astartes, Select Price: High to Low...)

Conversely, there are also others who paint significantly less in the same timeframe and with less detail. What matters is your personal satisfaction with the progress. I think what you have gotten done in the past year is great and more than table top worthy! I’d have no complaints playing a game against this force. Some of the quality of painting aspects comes naturally with time and practice. But…that has to be measured against your personal goals.