=] Call to Arms 2025 - XENOS STRONGHOLD [=

[Dr_Ruminahui]

 

The Call to Arms 2025

XENOS STRONGHOLD

 

Time to bust out those brushes and paints and stand ready to represent your Forum/s of choice and aid them on the path to claim Victory!!!!

 

 

What is The Call to Arms, I hear you ask?

 

The Call to Arms is a multi-forum event designed to  encourage us all to start a new army, or bolster our current forces.

 

The Forums of the B&C are divided up into five Strongholds;

 

The Astartes Stronghold

• Adeptus Astartes
• Black Templars
• Blood Angels
• Dark Angels
• Space Wolves
• Ultramarines
• Grey Knights
• Deathwatch (note, Deathwatch models can be vowed either in the Astartes or Imperium Strongholds)

 

The Imperium Stronghold

• Adepta Sororitas
• Adeptus Mechanicus
• Astra Militarum
• Imperial Knights
• Talons of the Emperor
• The Imperium of Mankind
• Deathwatch (note, Deathwatch models can be vowed either in the Astartes or Imperium Strongholds)

 

The Chaos Stronghold

• Chaos Daemons
• Chaos Knights
• Heretic Astartes
• Death Guard
• Emperor's Children
• Thousand Sons
• World Eaters
• The Realm of Chaos

 

The Xenos Stronghold

• Aeldari
• Drukhari
• Genestealer Cults
• Leagues of Votann
• Necrons
• Orks
• T'au Empire
• Tyranids

 

The Heresy Stronghold

• Age of Darkness
• Epic Scaled Heresy Games

 

These five Strongholds will act as the hub for each of the five main Factions, and will for the 3 Month duration of the Call to Arms, run independently of the four other Strongholds. Each Stronghold may have different targets and goals, and even their own mini/complementary events, all with unique badges and achievements, but at the end of the 3 months, the five Strongholds will face off, and overall winners will be declared.

 

Dates

 

Start Date: 15th JUNE 2025

End Date: 15th SEPTEMBER 2025

(Timezone will be GMT -8 [so, North American Pacific Coast time], please make local adjustments for time)

 

 

 

So, how is it all going to work?

 

1.   As each of the Strongholds are acting (initially) as their own Events, you may choose to focus within a single Stronghold, or participate in all five Strongholds, and any complementary/mini-events that you would like to. Your Vows will be treated independently in each Stronghold, meaning a Failed Vow in one Stronghold will NOT effect Vows in the other Strongholds.

 

2.  Models pledged to a Stronghold must come from the army books associated with those Forums covered by each Stronghold. The exceptions to this are Titans and models not associated with a given faction (such as Necromunda models and terrain), these models / units may be pledged to any Stronghold.

 

3.  You may join in any of the Events at any time within the 3 Month time-frame of The Call to Arms

 

4.  For each Stronghold, you have a MAXIMUM of 3 Vows, you must finish your active vow before pledging to a second or third vow.

 

5.  In addition to the three Vows, any model in the 10pt Category or higher will fit into the "Job's a Big'un" Vow, and will run separate from the 3 Vow limit and have the entirety of the 3 months to be completed. 

 

6.  Once recorded, Vows may not be altered, however special considerations may be made upon request.

 

7.  There is no minimum pledge, you may vow 1 model, or your entire collection, but beware, failing your last active vow will invalidate any completed vows you may have already submitted.

 

 

 

How do I join in?

 

Each model has a point value based upon its size, and the comparative amount of effort and time it takes to paint said model, listed below are are the points-per-model, more specific lists can be found in each Forums Rally Point thread, but I've added some generic examples below,

 

1pt   Infantry

2pts   Cavalry/Bikers

3pts   Heavy Weapons Teams / Walkers (Dreadnaughts, Sentinels)

4pts   Skimmers / Light Vehicles (Landspeeders, ATV, Armigers)

5pts   Small Tanks (Leman Russ, Rhino Variants)

6pts   Large Tanks (Rogal Dorn, Sicaran, Land Raider)

8pts   Superheavies (Baneblades etc) 

10pts  Imperial Knight etc

 

Characters

5pts   Leader/Character models

10pts Primarchs

 

Note: Characters with Retinue, I.E. Saint Celestine.  The Leader model is worth 5pts, the other models are pointed as to their type - for example, Saint Celestine and her bodyguard would be 7 points - 5 for the Saint (leader), 1 each for her 2 seraphim buddies.

 

40K Scale Titans

20pts Warhound Titan 

30pts Reaver Titan 

40pts  Warbringer Titan

50pts Warlord Titan

 

Terrain

1pt    3 Munitorum Barrels, 4 Munitorum Crates, Zone Mortalis/Gallowdark Column, Octarius Ramshackle Bridges

2pts   Aegis Defence Line Section, Aegis Defence Platform, Galvanic Servo-haulers, Thermic Plasma Conduit Section, Imperialis Ruins Wall Section, Zone Mortalis/Gallowdark Wall, Octarius Scrap Heap/Barricade

3pts   Fronteris Vox Antenna, Fronteris Auspex Shrine, Thermo-exchanger Shrine, Octarius Oil Rig, Necromunda Fuel Tanks

4pts   Munitorum Container, Mechanicus Transterranic Gantry, Galvanic Servo-crane, Big'ead Bossbunka, Skull Alter, Noctilith Crown, Octarius Ramshackle Walls

5pts   Tidewall Droneport, Tidewall Shieldline, Feculant Gnarlmaw, Miasmic Malignifier

6pts   Fronteris Landing Pad, Mechanicus Forgeshrine, Mechanicus Galvanic Magnavent

8pts   Fronteris Hab Bunker, Manufactorum Administratus,

10pts Zone Mortalis Gang Stronghold

 

Note: Custom/Scratchbuilt terrain- use this list as a guide as to how many points tour terrain is worth, but please make sure to mention your terrain is custom when Vowing.

 

 

You may vow ANY MODEL that is covered by THIS STRONGHOLD, but you must allocate your points to only one SUBFACTION.  These Subfactions are the ones listed under the various Strongholds above, and are the various B&C forums/subforums, with 2 exceptions:

   a) Deathwatch is a valid Subfaction for both the Astartes and Imperium Strongholds, despite not having a dedicated forum/subforum; and

   b) in the HERESY STRONGHOLD, the Subfactions are "Emperor" and "Warmaster", not the 2 B&C forums listed above.

NOTE: Your chosen Subfaction doesn't have to correspond to your vowed models, although it typically does.

 

Please make your vows in this thread in the following format;

 

"I, {insert username}, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint {insert units/models} for {xxx pts} for the Glory of the {Subfaction name} and the {Stronghold name} Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

For example:

 

"I, Dr Ruminahui, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 6 pathfinders, an ethereal, Imotekh and a Necromunda Fuel Tanks for 19 pts for the Glory of the T'au and the Xenos Stronghold on or before September 15th, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

The post that contains your Vow must include starting pictures that contain all the models from the Vow.

Starting models may be in any of the following conditions;

• In the box
• On the Sprue
• Assembled
• Single Colour Primed
• Sub-assemblies primed in different colours will be acceptable, I.E. chassis in Leadbelcher, with armour plates in secondary colour.

Additionally, you may pledge models you have not yet received I.E. Warhammer: Imperium Subscription, just make sure a image is edited in to your Vow post once you've received the models, and make a post indicating that you have done so.

 

Your Vow is considered complete when you declare it so, and post completed pictures of all models contained within the Vow. Although "Complete" is to your own standard, we would like you to aim for GW's "Battle Ready", with the miniatures based. If basing is something you don't do, or won't be doing within the Event's timeline, please return the bases to flat black or brown as this will greatly enhance the Completed presentation.

 

Required Completion Pictures: Please include 1 image with a complete shot of the entire Vow, I also encourage everyone to include additional images for each squad/unit in the vow,. 

 

Once you have made your vow, pop this badge of Participation into your Signature,

 

 

 

Will there be any awards?

 

Yes!!  There will be Badges and Achievements within the Astartes Stronghold.  Note, all badges/ranks/achievements are a different thing and entirely separate from the ranks and achievements tracked by the forum software.
 

Event Failed: Xenocide 

10 points:  Warden of the Stars 
25 points  Warrior of the Stars
45 points:  Hero of the Stars
75 points:   Champion of the Stars
100+ points:  Master of the Void

 

Artificer - Top 1, 2, or 3 best painted models from each Forum, chosen by the forum Moderators, Administrators and Librarians. 
Princeps - Awarded to all completed 40K scale Titans 
Xenos Champion - Awarded to the Frater who individually paints the most points worth of models in the Xenos Stronghold

Champions of the Horde - The Subfaction for each Stronghold with the highest overall points worth of models

Champion of the Call - The Subfaction for each Stronghold that has the Highest Participation vs. Completion Percentage.

 

 

As to the overall competition between the Strongholds, there will also be Badges awarded for the following;

 

Masters of the Horde - The Stronghold that completes the highest overall points worth of models.

Masters of the Call - The Stronghold that has the Highest Participation vs. Completion Percentage.

Master Artificer - Voted best painted Model, chosen from the 5 Stronghold Artificers.

 

In addition to the Badges and Achievements above, there will be additional Awards for the following 4 categories. At this stage there are no physical prizes like last year, but that *MAY* change by the end of the Event.

Favourite Young Blood - This category is for Participants who have been building and/or painting models for less than 12 months. Anyone wishing to participate as A Young Blood will need to specifically declare that are are doing so when making their Vows. At the conclusion of the Event all Young Blood Entries will be placed into a Poll for the B&C at large to vote on and pick a Favourite. The voting criteria for this category is not about picking the best painted model, but the model that inexplicably pulls a smile on your face, one that makes you think, damn that's cool.. 

Master of the Forge - Best Conversion or Kit-bash. Anyone wishing to participate for the Master of the Forge Badge and Prize will need to specifically declare that they are doing so when they vow the model.

 

Stronghold Artificer - Awarded to five Participants, one from each Stronghold for the Best Painted Model in from the Stronghold, chosen by the Frater via Poll.

 

Grand Marshal - Individual with the Most Points of Models Painted across all Strongholds

 

 

That's it, you've done it, you've made it to the end!!!

 

 

If you have any questions or queries, contact me,  @Dr_Ruminahui and I'll be more than happy to help you out.

 

 

F.A.Q.s

 

Q- If I have models with different coloured heads or shoulder pads, can they be primed different colours IE. Black templars or Eldar Guardians?

A- Yes, this is acceptable.

 

Q- I want to paint Traitor Guard, is there a way to pledge them to Chaos?

A- Yes, for the purposes of Traitor Guard, the Astra Militarum units may be pledged to Chaos. The Realm of Chaos is the most appropriate forum.

 

Q- Are 3D prints allowed?

A- Yes, as long as they are board appropriate, 3D prints can be pledged to the Call to Arms. Use the points associated with the unit they represent.

 

 

THIS THREAD WILL REMAIN LOCKED UNTIL JUNE 15, 2025, AT WHICH TIME VOWS MAY COMMENCE

Edited May 29 by Dr_Ruminahui

[Dr_Ruminahui]

PARTICIPANTS

 

Aeldari - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

Brother Argent - Vow 1: 25 pnts [with MotF entry] - Incomplete

 

1x Autarch on Jetbike [Master of the Forge]
1x Farseer on Jetbike
4x Howling Banshees
5x Wraithguard/Blade
1x Wraithlord 
1x Fire Dragon 

 

Drakheart - Vow 1: 98 pnts - Incomplete

 

3x Autarch
1x Autarch skyrunner
1x Farseer
1x Asurmen
1x Baharoth
1x Lhykis
1x Fuegan
6x Jetbikes
1x Wraithlord
2x War walkers
5x Warp spiders
5x Swooping hawks
5x Fire dragons
5x Wraithguard
11x Guardians

 

 

Magos Takatus - Job's a Big One: 10 pnts - Incomplete, Vow 1: 26 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Skathatch Wraithknight

 

10x Striking scorpions
1x Wave serpent
5x Swooping hawks
1x Fuegan

 

Drukari - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

Bouargh - Vow 1: 44 pnts [with MotF entry] - Incomplete

 

10x Wyches
10x Kabalites
1x Archon [Master of the Forge]
1x Succubus 
1x Raider
2x Venoms

 

Dr. Clock - Vow 1: 13 pnts - Incomplete

 

3x Grotesques
1x Succubus
5x Warp spiders

 

Genestealer Cults - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

 

Leagues of Votann - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

 

Necrons - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

Firestorm40K - Vow 1: 69 pnts - Incomplete

 

30x Necron warriors
12x Scarab swarms
2x Overlords 
1x Royal warden

 

lokkorex - Vow 1: 84 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Lokhust destroyer lord
40x Necron warriors
12x Scarab Swarms
5x Lokhust Heavy Destroyers

 

 

Orks - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

Rusted Boltgun - Vow 1: 25 pnts - Incomplete

 

20x Ork boyz
1x Warboss

 

YoungWolf7 - Vow 1: 38 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Ork Warboss
1x Attack Squig 
10x Ork Boyz
2x Runtherds
20x Grots

 

 

T'au Empire - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

 

Tyranids - Pledged: pnts / Completed: pnts / Secured: pnts / % Completed

Participants:

 

Antarius* - Job's a Big One: 10 pnts - Incomplete, Vow 1: 68 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Hive tyrant with wings

 

3x Carnifex
8x Ripper swarms
3x Hive guard
3x Tyrant guard
19x Neurogaunts

 

Khulu - Vow 1: 30 pnts - Incomplete

20x termagants

10x hormagaunts

 

Mike Zulu - Vow 1: 6 pnts - Incomplete

6x Winged warriors

 

Zerowolf - Vow 1: 44 pnts - Incomplete

 

20x Hormagaunts
9x Von Ryan's Leapers
5x Barbagaunts
1x Winged Hive Tyrant

 

 

Edited Monday at 04:18 AM by Dr_Ruminahui

[Dr_Ruminahui]

* ALL STRONGHOLDS ARE NOW OPEN, YOU CAN NOW MAKE YOUR VOWS*

 

Happy painting!  Be sure to cheer on your fellow stronghold participants!

As a reminder, all vows must be completed by September 15th.

[Antarius]

"I, Antarius (or rather, my voracious companion, the Queen of the Blackened Moon), heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint a Winged Hive Tyrant for 10 pts. for the Glory of the Tyranids and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

This vow is intended a a "Job's a Big'un" vow and a "regular" Tyranid vow will follow shortly 

The model was part of my huge Tyranid haul last year and it had something like four coats of paints on it, so it was a hell of a job getting it fixed up.

After priming, I noticed some rather annoying gaps where the back carapace joins the top of the torso, so I guess I'll still have to do some gap filling, but such is life.
In any case, now we're rolling and it'll be great to finally get a centrepiece model done!

[Magos Takatus]

I, Mago Takatus heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 10 Striking Scorpions, a Wave Serpent, 5 Swooping Hawks and Fuegan the Burning Lance for 26 points, for the Glory of the Aeldari and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

I also submit the pledge to paint a Skathatch Wraithknight for the Job's a big'un vow for a further 10 points.

 

 

May Khaine guide my brush.

[Antarius]

"I, Antarius and my ravenous companion, the Queen of the Blackened Moon, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 3 Carnifexes, 8 Ripper Swarms, 3 Hive Guard, 3 Tyrant Guard and 19 Neurogaunts, totalling 68 pts. for the Glory of the Tyranids and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

One of the Carnifexes can also be headswapped into "Old One Eye", who's a character as well, but I'm guessing it's stil 5pts. - realistically speaking I don't think I'll be lavishing more attention on him than on the others...

 

[Rusted Boltgun]

I, Rusted Boltgun, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 20 Ork Boyz and 1 Warboss for 21 pts for the Glory of the Rock Waaaagh and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

If I can turn these Goffs round speedily, there may be further pledges to get me off that first tier!

Good luck, everybody and have a wild time!

 

 

[firestorm40k]

I, Firestorm40k, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint the following:

 

3 x Necron Warriors (10 per squad) 

2 x Scarab Swarms (6 bases per swarm) 

2 x Overlords

1 x Royal Warden

 

For 69 points, for the Glory of High Phaeron Nepharekh's Celestial Hegemon and the Xenos Stronghold, on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

Depending how quick I can get these done (for reference, these are a drybrush and Contrast/shade paints army ) I'll hopefully be able to add another vow (got the full army from my Imperium magazine subscription to do!) 

[ZeroWolf]

I, Zerowolf, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint the following:

 

20x Hormagaunts

9x Von Ryan's Leapers

5x Barbagaunts

1x Winged Hive Tyrant

 

Totaling 44pts for the glory of the Tyranids and the Xenos stronghold, on or before the 15th September 2025 or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

 

Will see how things shake out if I can do further vows 

[Bouargh]

I, bouargh, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint some Drukhari models listed herebellow for 44 pts for the Glory of the Dark Eldars and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

• 10 Wytches
• 10 Kabalites (Hand of the archon KT box)
• 1 kit bashed Archon - This one is to considered for being enlisted as an entry into the Forge subchallenge too
• 1 Succubus 
• 1 Raider
• 2 Venoms

For a total of 44 pts.
 

Spoiler

 

Spoiler

 

[YoungWolf7]

I, YoungWolf7, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint the following models for 38 points for the Glory of the Orks subfaction and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

Vow #1:

• 1 Ork Warboss [5]
• 1 Attack Squig [1]
• 10 Ork Boyz [10]
• 2 Runtherds [2]
• 20 Gretchin [20]
• [38 points total]

Spoiler

 

[Dr. Clock]

I, Dr. Clock, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 3 'Grotesques', 1 Succubus, and 5 Warp Siders for 13 pts for the Glory of the Drukhari and Asuryani and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[lokkorex]

I, LokkoRex, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint:

 1 Lokhust Destroyer Lord(5),

 40 Necron Warriors(40), 

 12 Scarab Swarms(24) and

 5 Lokhust Heavy Destroyers(15)

for a total of 84 points for the Glory of the Necrontyr and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@Rusted Boltgun, the warboss is worth 5 points, so your vow is 25.

[Rusted Boltgun]

I was obviously just testing you there @Dr_Ruminahui, thanks for spotting!

[W.A.Rorie]

6 hours ago, Rusted Boltgun said:

I was obviously just testing you there @Dr_Ruminahui, thanks for spotting!

 

Well played, @Rusted Boltgun, Well played! 

[Brother Argent]

The skeins of fate have shifted once more and I have followed the ebb and flow of destiny to another Call to Arms.

 

I, Brother Argent, shall rail against my fated doom of failure and sing life into the Wraithbone for the glory of the Craftworld Aeldari.  I shall, through the guidance of Khaela Mensha Khaine muster a Warhost of:

 

1x Autarch on Jetbike (an Entry for the Master of the Forge catogory as well) (5pts)

1x Farseer on Jetbike (5pts)

4x Howling Banshees (4 pts) - realised one still painted.  So need to wait on paint stripper for one

5x Wraithguard/Blade (possibly magnetised) (5pts)

1x Wraithlord (5pts)

1x Fire Dragon (1pt)

 

For a Total of 25 points.  This I shall (hopefully) do before September 15th.

 

That should do me to begin with.  Trying to ease back into the hobby and don't want to burn myself out yet.

 

I'll get a pic up once they are assembled.  I wasn't sure I was going in the event this year, so hadn't got that far.  Not sure if I will hit up the other Strongholds like I usually do or just try to focus on a non-Imperium force for once.

Edited June 17 by Brother Argent
Adjusted vow when realised had one banshee painted so added the MoM Firedragon

[ZeroWolf]

Good luck 

[drakheart]

I, Drakheart, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint A ton of Aeldari (see below) for {98 pts} for the Glory of the Aeldari and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

Full list here:

 

Type	Number	Pts	Total
Autarch	3	5	15
Autarch Skyrunner	1	5	5
Farseer	1	5	5
Asurmen	1	5	5
Baharoth	1	5	5
Lhykis	1	5	5
Fuegan	1	5	5
Jetbikes	6	2	12
Wraithlord	1	4	4
War walker	2	3	6
Warpspiders	5	1	5
Swooping hawks	5	1	5
Fire dragons	5	1	5
Wraithguard	5	1	5
Guardians	11	1	11
Total	49		98

 

The Wraithguard are not shown here as they hadn't arrived when the photo was taken.

[Antarius]

On 6/15/2025 at 8:17 PM, Dr. Clock said:

I, Dr. Clock, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 3 'Grotesques'

Love those old models!

[Dr. Clock]

On 6/17/2025 at 10:34 AM, Antarius said:

Love those old models!

I only coveted them for 30 years before buying lol.

 

I think they'll be right at home in my 'pirate theme Drukhari' since they are basically the bridge trolls of the setting, and they are indeed pretty Grotesque. All my Coven stuff is like weird undersea gribbly business rather than gimp-mask horrors, plus River Trolls are supposed to have weaponized corrosive vomit which is a great handwave for them to all have liquifiers (until they lose them in the Codex?)... I'll share some WiPs on the weekend when the colours are all blocked in.

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[Khulu]

I, Khulu, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 20 termagants and 10 hormagaunts for for 30 points for the Glory of the Tyranids and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

 

I really struggle with painting infantry so I'm hoping this will help me knock these out without putting it off forever!

[Mike Zulu]

I, Mike Zulu, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 3 Tyranid Warriors/Shrikes for 6 pts, for the Glory of the Tyranids and the Xenos Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

[Antarius]

A really strong showing for the tyranids so far! I am grinding away on my own vow and sending out lots of productivity vibes to my fellow hive minders - let’s hope we’re in synapse range 

[Dr. Clock]

It begins!

 

Still need work on the bases, hair, fish and a few tiny details, but these have been alot of fun so far:

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.