Pre-Project/ Idea Burnout

[Charlo]

So guys, event season is almost upon me and I need to get 3k together for November (and maybe mid September if I'm real ambitious...!)

 

As you all know I'm a bit of a Hobby butterfly, or at least an ideas butterfly... I guess my problem is I like all the Legions/ Armies of the Age of Darkness too much and just can't decide what to do! When you combine it with the fact I could sink money and time into a project only for the DA or something else to be released and be exactly what I'm looking for makes it hard to commit.

 

I've got some Malinax Knights on the go and my Talons of the E, but both of these armies come with a bit of a Reputation (or is that just online conjecture?!)

 

Basically what I'm asking is... How do you know which project is right for you and how do you commit to them? How do you get INSPIRED?!

 

I love the Heresy but I think the sheer amount of choice available is crippling, so I get burnt out on just IDEAS?!

[Harrowmaster]

It depends, could be army play style or background (or a combination of both as was the case with my XXth). I have an awful habit of flitting between projects and armies though, which means nothing is really painted, I wanted to get a legion apothecary done but instead worked on a Venerable dread. What I would recommend is to start with your favourite unit and tackle the army piece meal so it doesn't get too overwhelming. 

[Vykes]

Hmm, good question though, I'm definitely looking forward to what others do, too.  

 

As for me, well, I get to be a bit of a hobby idea butterfly, but when I start something I tend to go 'all in' and end up with some excessive stuff in the end.  I'd like to say I had some process, but a lot of what it is hinges on an intangible quality that just grabs me.  Still, once I get that bug that's kinda it.  

 

For the most part, I like just about every legion and faction but the first question is: can I think of a theme that really grabs me, feels unique, and I would want to build it in force?  Because if I like them in personality but don't see myself building a huge number of them (Alpha Legion, Night Lord Terror squads, World Eater Inductii, etc) then I resolve to build a 40K Kill team and have them as a sort of 'shelf unit'.  But if I think the theme has some merit, and the colours are a challenge, then I'm mostly there.  

 

That theme is usually a big sticking point as I want each of my Legion forces to feel and look distinct.  Of course, every legion can fulfill any role due to the nature of the beast, but there is that specialization and special unit which usually sells it.  For example, I wanted my Emperors Children to be elite and motorized, I wanted my Sons of Horus to be heavy assault, I wanted my Blood Angels to be air cavalry.  As much as I want to build an army like the Ultramarines, I can't make a list I'm happy with that doesn't feel like my Sons of Horus, or Raven Guard that aren't just a slightly different take on my Blood Angels.  Taking similar armies or a lot of the same signature units feels like it dilutes them all.  So that consideration usually narrows my choices further. 

 

Most of the time I'll construct some theoretical 'companies' or battalions; not just army lists, but what I think the whole force should look like.  That way I can plan on including a few signature units that feel unique to the force.  Meanwhile, I'm typically listening to music or the like and some song will just strike like lightning and I say 'that's it'.  It'll be something that refocuses the theme and lets me build towards that while keeping my enthusiasm up.  (I committed to my Blood Angels air cav army thanks to Shinzo wo Sasageyo, and Sons of Horus via Attero Dominatus.)  

 

Then it's a matter of actually starting: the first stage of the army gets plotted out, the first models picked up (usually a mix of line troopers and one HQ or vehicle that I want, near that ~500 pt mark) and I'll try it out.  If it goes well, then I build in a mix of point and theme 'blocks' towards a final end goal.  That end goal is a reward, usually a primarch and a bodyguard unit, or a noteworthy Lord of War. 

 

That theoretical organization helps a lot to keep me in a general principle for what would be interesting vs. my flitting 'what do I want right now' impulses and gets me mulling over other distinct projects down the line. Currently, I've got a 'cybernetica' thing percolating in my brain while trying to get the rest of the 65th up to what feels like its natural conclusion. 

[Markus_]

Know this, you are not alone.

Vykes here seems to have a good handle on it.

Currently I'm working on Death Guard and Word Bearers. I've also got some OOP Daemons planned, a cultist army to compliment, House Makabius, Sisters of Silence, some OOP Orks in the backburner....

 

I might hoard bits or boxes of models for the idea mill, and then come to different conclusions and sell or swap them off. The list for what you can do is endless but there's nothing wrong with coming up with ideas, I think that's the whole 'salt' of the hobby. Always pick stuff that is cool to you, not the new meta of the month, and let the theme carry you on.

I think of it as a hobby marathon of running with a certain project until it is done or close to what you had planned, then switching to the next one at a moderate pace.

[Charlo]

Great responses so far guys.

 

I think for the moment I'm going to knuckle down and finish my Custodes, other's opinions be DAMNED! I've spent too much on them not to run them at events :P

 

Plus I just saw Matthew Kane's new conversions and am bloody inspired!

 

Will probably finish my ZM DG too - they were made for a campaign but RL prevented me from getting a single game in!?

[Vykes]

Thanks Markus, mate!  Man, I have no idea how you keep up the momentum on those incredible Truescaled Deathguard.  They look so labour intensive, like trying to build an entire squadron of Storm Eagles with the amount of cutting, spacing, and gap filling :P  I'm not sure if I said it before but it bears saying again, awesome work.

 

I think Markus also nailed that it's a hobby marathon, not a sprint and not a monthly flavour (got a friend of mine who hounds me to put 40K Centurions and Storm Ravens in my Blood Angels army, more cultists in my Chaos army, because they're more optimal.... ugh, that word leaves a bad taste in my mouth when it's the only thing you hear.)  If you really like the project, it's not going to go completely out of style, even if you have to adjust certain parts.  

 

While Custodes and Knights do have a reputation (our local hardcore use them and are always trying to pinch more power differentials as almost everything is a build up to LVO this or Onslaught that), I'd definitely say 'do it if you love it'.  Then finish those Deathguard.  See, got a nice clear line of what to focus on!  :)

[1ncarnadine]

It takes models, but I highly, highly recommend pulling a Kizzdougs style "March of the Legions" until you find a scheme that you're very happy with. I wouldn't even go through EVERY legion or army choice, but if you're feeling Blood Angels, build one (ONE), paint it, and see where you're at. Was it good? Do more! No? Keep going. 

 

I have more thoughts on this but limited time, so there are my thoughts for now

[Charlo]

It takes models, but I highly, highly recommend pulling a Kizzdougs style "March of the Legions" until you find a scheme that you're very happy with. I wouldn't even go through EVERY legion or army choice, but if you're feeling Blood Angels, build one (ONE), paint it, and see where you're at. Was it good? Do more! No? Keep going. 

 

I have more thoughts on this but limited time, so there are my thoughts for now

 

I've considered this a LOT....

[Marcus Arias]

If its any consolation @Charlo, I quite like your Talons Force especially now that the Real Jenny K is in the house!

 

Have you got a decent gaming group around you? How about starting a tale of many (or few) gamers with each starting a new legion?

 

Or a Victory is Vengence Campaign?

 

I currently have no less than 4 Projects on the go, none are near completion. I don't even have the time to post pictures on B&C as I am too busy!

[Charlo]

If its any consolation @Charlo, I quite like your Talons Force especially now that the Real Jenny K is in the house!

 

Have you got a decent gaming group around you? How about starting a tale of many (or few) gamers with each starting a new legion?

 

Or a Victory is Vengence Campaign?

 

I currently have no less than 4 Projects on the go, none are near completion. I don't even have the time to post pictures on B&C as I am too busy!

 

Thanks dude, appreciate it. It's just the perception of Talons and it's players that puts me off.

 

I do have a good club near-ish to me where I play and in our last heresy campaign I won every one of my matches (some were close) but I feel like this is a lot to do with how strong the Custodes are (though I did have Sisters against 1KSons too, twice, which is brutal).

 

We had a ZM campaign that is just finishing that I was supposed to run my DG in but literally every game has fallen through to logistics!

 

My next campaign weekend is in September, which I was really tempted to try and get a Blackshields or similar force done for - but probably won't happen in that imeframe, though is we somehow got heresy rules for Armigers before then I could use my Malinax with some Blackshields to pad out the points...

 

Then I'm going to Bad Dice in November for Heresy too - which is 3k, so would need a lot of new stuff if not doing Talons...!

[Trevak Dal]

I see about how people have a connection with their chosen chapter/legion/army, and I just don't feel that. I like elements of a couple armies (Dark Angels, Alpha Legion, World Eaters and Ultramarines).

 

Edit: I'm saying I wish that I did have that connection.

[Kizzdougs]

 

It takes models, but I highly, highly recommend pulling a Kizzdougs style "March of the Legions" until you find a scheme that you're very happy with. I wouldn't even go through EVERY legion or army choice, but if you're feeling Blood Angels, build one (ONE), paint it, and see where you're at. Was it good? Do more! No? Keep going. 

 

I have more thoughts on this but limited time, so there are my thoughts for now

 

I've considered this a LOT....

 

Yeah, I can definitely recommend the test model approach. My 'March of the Legions' project started off with a couple of test models when I was looking for a new project to move onto after my Emperor's Children. I also thought it would be a good chance to teach myself some weathering techniques (my Emperor's Children didn't have any weathering). I started with the World Eaters, Sons of Horus and Space Wolves and it snowballed from there... In the end I went with the Alpha Legion as my next project because I enjoyed painting the Legion test mini.

 

So if you're stuck for inspiration or have too much inspiration and can't choose a single project I'd definitely recommend painting one or two minis from the forces that you've been considering. All it needs to be is a single Betrayal at Calth or Prospero legionnaire, nothing too fancy/detailed/expensive.

 

You could also use it as an opportunity to try your hand at some new techniques (like I did with the weathering). If it doesn't workout it's only a single mini, but if it does workout you might have learned something new that'll open up other options for you. For example, I've always been a fan of the World Eaters but I never started collecting them because I didn't think I could do them justice with the skills I had at the time (I feel like World Eaters need to be weathered). I still haven't started a World Eaters' force but I've used the weathering techniques that I learned on almost every mini that I've painted since :tu:

[RipOffProductions]

what about Alpha Legion? after all, they can take the other legions' special units in the rules, and normal units can be painted in other legions' colors/iconography and be excused as being "false flag operation".

[Charlo]

what about Alpha Legion? after all, they can take the other legions' special units in the rules, and normal units can be painted in other legions' colors/iconography and be excused as being "false flag operation".

 

I've heavily considered it!

 

I really like the AL models & rules.