=] EVENT: Call to Arms 2026 [=

[Dr_Ruminahui]

 

 

Call to Arms is returning for 2026!!  I’ll be running it again this year, so you can expect it be largely the same as last year.

 

Only one big change - in addition to standard and Jobs a Bigg'un vows, there is a new "Rapid Deployment" vow. We've all had that instance where there's something we suddenly need to paint RIGHT NOW. A Rapid Deployment vow will allow you to make an Emergency Vow that you may work on immediately, out of sequence with the standard vows.  Unlike Job's a Bigg'un, it must be completed before completing any other vows in that Stronghold.

 

 

WHEN: 15th June to 15th September 2026

The Stronghold threads will be posted and locked for two weeks prior to the Event to allow everyone to familiarize themselves with the rules and points value for the Event.

 

WHERE: Work in Progress Forum in the Forge

The Strongholds will once again be located in the WIP Forum in the Forge. Rally Points will be located in each Forum for that Faction and will contain Faction specific points values.  These are also intended to  act as hubs for strategizing and organizing the Forum's efforts with a Stronghold. 

 

WHAT: For those who didn't participate previously, each model is assigned a points value, based on it's size, complexity, and time it takes to paint (generally).  For example, a Primaris Intercessor is worth 1 point, but a similarly sized Primaris Captain is worth 5 points, this is because typically the Captain will have more detail, and generally be painted to a higher standard, taking more time. 

 

Models MUST be pledged to their Stronghold, designated by the Forum's location within the B&C's structure: Astartes, Imperium, Chaos, Xenos and Heresy.  Any models that fall outside of the Strongholds, such as Necromunda, Blackstone Fortress, terrain, etc, may be pledged to ANY Stronghold.

 

You may participate in as many of the Strongholds as you wish, having 5 Vows per Stronghold:

• 3 Vows that must be completed sequentially,
• 1 Jobs' A Bigg'un Vow, this is for models worth 10+ points that may take the entire event to complete, and
• 1 Rapid Deployment Vow, described above.

All Stronghold vows are "all or nothing" - you must complete all models in all vows for a given Stronghold to score for that Stronghold. 

 

For the duration of the Event, the Strongholds are competing amongst their consituent Rally Points to pledge and complete the most points worth of models, with Badges and bragging rights going to the Victors.

 

Once the Event has concluded, the Stronghold will be measured against one another, for fancier badges, and ultimate bragging rights. As I'm not very good at arranging such things, I don't have any actual prizes lined up - should that change, we'll let you know.

 

Here are the five Strongholds from the 2025 Event for you to peruse to get a better idea of how it all works.

 

ASTARTES  |  IMPERIUM  |  CHAOS  | XENOS |  HERESY

 

Feel free to contact me, @Dr_Ruminahui, if you have any questions.

Edited May 16 by Grotsmasha
Updated Image

[sitnam]

Looking forward to CtA again, it's been a highlight of my hobbying the last few years.

[Lord Marshal]

They asked me "Lord Marshal, is it possible for you to fail CTA four years in a row?" and my answer was "Damn right I can."

 

(They being the voices in my head). 

[Norman Paperman]

I LOVE CTA!! 

 

Rapid Deployment is a fantastic addition. I'm prone to burnout on projects and having a combo breaker to get the creative juices going again is a terrific. 

[firestorm40k]

Very tempted to take part in this again this year - I’ve been in a bit of a hobby slump, so hopefully this will help get my hobby motivation back on track. Plus, I’ve been hankering to get started on an Imperial Knights army that’s been sat in my pile of shame for best part of 18 months 

[SgtSharp]

me and my 200+ unpainted and mostly unbuilt heresy 1ksons marines are ready for this, 'operation: why the  do I do this to myself' will be a go

Edited May 15 by SgtSharp

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Good luck, @SgtSharp - lets see if you can get most painted (aka most insane ) for yet another year.

 

The question I am really curious to answer is whether the @GodEmperorOfMankind supports Warmaster Horus (which was a hilarious twist last year) again this year. 

Edited May 15 by Dr_Ruminahui

[Focslain]

Ok,, so with Rapid Deployment I think I know which stronghold I'm doing this year. 

 

Xenos gives me the most bang for my upcoming buck it seems.

[Halandaar]

Was very pleased to break my vow-failing streak in last year's edition. I have a disgraceful amount of stuff to paint this time, hoping to have a good one on par with my old ETL outputs.

[Brother Argent]

... What to do? What to do? What to do?...  Just getting my mojo back in the hobby.  Lots of models to paint.  But just starting down the path of the Combat Patrol Magazine and want to actually keep on top of this.  The CtA has been a major driver of my hobby progress the last few years but it was part of what brought me undone last year.  I may need to consult the Emperor's Tarot (The Combat Patrol Magazine thread) to see what the fates have in store for me, to go from there.

 

At least with the magazine this time I'm focussing on painting to enjoy painting again.  Though I imagine there will be plenty of people vowing orks and new marines when the new Armageddon box drops.  

 

Fun and crazy times ahead...  Now to decide just how crazy (do I go all three current sub factions again... )

[WrathOfTheLion]

Looking forward to it, I should be able to try to get some stuff done this year.

[Lord_Ikka]

Hmm. Will have lots of CSM available, as well as some regular SM and always have a little bit of random odds 'n ends. Don't know what to vow yet...

[Antarius]

Really looking forward to CTA his year just like every other year! It really is the highlight of the hobby year for me, so now I just need to get a shedload of stuff assembled and primed over the next month.

 

This year, I’ll be continuing my long war on the Imperium with CSM and perhaps some more Daemons (the last couple of years, I have gotten the Tzeentch and Nurgle contingents of my Daemons collections ready for battle, so perhaps Slaanesh will make an appearance this year?). I’ll probably also paint up some imperial lapdogs of one stripe or another, as well as a bunch of terrain and maybe some xenos scum, if I can find the time…

 

In any case, I can’t wait to get cracking, as well as seeing what the rest of you come up with, which is always a pleasure!

[Madao]

I expect a lot of Waaaghs! to be launched during this Call to Waaagh! challenge. And I will join. 

You have my Choppa!

[Antarius]

50 minutes ago, Madao said:

You have my Choppa!

And my Shoota!

(probably, maybe. It all depends...)

[SvenIronhand]

Probably some Greymanes for this year. 

[Dr. Clock]

Guys... my favourite badge farm has returned! All praises to @Dr_Ruminahui for stepping up again. This year I'm going to be doing mostly Storm Lords obviously, but I know my first vows in 3/5 Strongholds anyway. That's how you're supposed to do this, right?

 

Cheers,

 

The Good Doctor.

[Rusted Boltgun]

I had set aside some Tyranids for this year's event. Maybe even a Combat Patrol's worth.

 

With the school holidays coming up, thinking about getting back into Kill Team, trying out the new edition and the co-op rules. So I'll need to get my Hivestorm terrain painted, some Termagants and maybe a Red Terror.

 

But 11th is coming....

 

I suppose I have some time to make up my mind. Maybe ask Junior for his preference.

[Malice Jr.]

Currently working on Genestealer Cults. Good as time as any to finish these guys up.

[Dread]

I miss this. I'll be in it this year. Cap used to run one, lots of fun. Looking forward to it.

 

Oh and Eldar coming up.

Edited May 19 by Dread

[Dr_Ruminahui]

On 5/18/2026 at 9:30 PM, Dread said:

I miss this. I'll be in it this year. Cap used to run one, lots of fun. Looking forward to it.

 

Yeah, Captain Semper's ETL was great.

 

This one is pretty similar, though with a more granular pointing scheme that isn't tied to in game points.  That and missing vows really punished your team in ETL, which we don't do in CtA.  The difference in points tracking does make it a lot easier for the CtA organizers (aka me), though.  Hopefully CtA has the same feel and is just as much fun.

Edited Friday at 03:53 PM by Dr_Ruminahui

[Agnostic Doggo]

Question, do Titans have to be vowed to their faction? My read seems to be it is a little free floating like side game models like necromunda. Is it some kind of middle ground of chaos titans to chaos, imperial ones to imperial or space marine strong holds etc

 

Edit this question definitely not related to me trying to figure out where to focus for my yearly badge hunt

 

Edited May 26 by Agnostic Doggo

[Teetengee]

Still haven't finished my vow from last year *however*, I did get more paint down attempting it than I have since ETL days. So I'm definitely in again, and hopefully I can finish painting my current stuff that is too far along to revow before this one starts up!

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@Agnostic Doggo - Imperialis scale titans need to be vowed in the Heresy Stronghold.  30K/40K scale titans can be in any Stronghold that is appropriate for that titan - for example, an imperial titan could be for either the Astartes or Imperium Stronghold, an Eldar titan would need to be in Xenos and a Chaos titan in Chaos, and both Imperial or Chaos titans that are appropriate for 30K in the Heresy Stronghold.

 

I guess, thematically speaking, it would make sense not to allow titans to be vowed in the Astartes Stronghold and requiring all imperial titans to be vowed in the Imperium or Heresy Strongholds, but that has never come up so I would need to discuss that with Grotsmasha before making such a ruling.

 

As a side note, within a Stronghold, your titan doesn't need to match your supported subfaction.  So, for example, you could paint an Eldar titan even if you are supporting Necrons in the Xenos Stronghold, or a Chaos titan if supporting the Emperor in the Heresy Stronghold.  Be warned, though, I will tease you if you do - not because its wrong, but because I find such things humourous.  

Edited Friday at 03:55 PM by Dr_Ruminahui

[Brother Argent]

Hey @Dr_Ruminahui, couple of questions as I madly get things ready to abysmally fail again this year;

 

Do characters from the Limited Edition series count as Characters, even if they aren't designed to be used as such eg Sgt Ripper.  Its probably a more detailed minature then most actual Captains/Characters so just wanted to check.

 

If I suitably convert/kitbash a character from a model (eg, turning the MoM Slaanesh marine into an Aspiring Champion if that is still even a thing) does that count as character or troop.

 

Happy either way, just trying to figure out points of things.  Going to try to hit all the catagories this year (including Heresy...)