=] Call to Arms 2026 - HERESY STRONGHOLD [=

[Dr_Ruminahui]

 

The Call to Arms 2026

HERESY 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. At the end of the 3 months, the five Strongholds will face off, and overall winners will be declared.

 

Dates

 

Start Date: 15th JUNE 2026

End Date: 15th SEPTEMBER 2026

(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 treated independently (except for final rankings), you may choose to focus within a single Stronghold, or participate in several. 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 30K/40K scale Titans and models not associated with a given faction (such as Necromunda models and terrain), which may be pledged to any Stronghold.

 

3.  You may join in any of the Strongholds 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.  For each of these vows, you must finish your active vow before pledging to a second or third vow.  In addition, there are the following additional vows:

 

       a)  Job's a Big'Un:  you can vow a model with a value of 10 or more points, which you can work can work on alongside your other vows and complete at any time.

 

       b)  Rapid Deployment: this vow can be for any number of points and can be made at any time even if you have an uncompleted vow.  However it must be completed before completing any other vows (including any Job's a Big'Un vow).

 

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

 

6.  There is no minimum pledge, you may vow 1 model, or your entire collection, but beware, failing ANY vow in a Stronghold will invalidate ALL completed vows for that Stronghold.

 

 

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,

 

1/2pts  GW provided markers and token (for example, teleport homers, eldar shrine tokens, mine tokens, grot orderlies, squig bombs, etc.)

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 1: 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.

 

Note 2: "Named" models are only characters for Call to Arms if they have the character keyword (or equivalent) in their game rules.  For example, the named models in the Wardens of Ultramar, while Epic Heroes, do not have the character keyword and are not characters for this event.

 

30K/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.

 

Subfactions

 

In any Stronghold in which you have vowed, you have to choose which SUBFACTION you support with your vows.  This Subfaction must be one of the appropriate subfactions (listed above) for that Stronghold, and is chosen at the time of your first vow in a Stronghold (though may be changed upon request).

 

NOTE: Your chosen Subfaction doesn't have to correspond to your vowed models, although it typically does - for example, if you support the Emperor subfaction you can still paint traitor legion models as part of your Heresy Stronghold vows.

 

How to Vow

 

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."

 

In addition, please indicate if you vow as a Young Blood or if it contains an entry for the Master of Forge (see below for both).

 

For example:

 

"I, Dr Ruminahui, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 6 legionaires, a converted praetor, a rhino and a Necromunda Fuel Tanks for 19 pts for the Glory of the Warmaster and the Heresy Stronghold on or before September 15th, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

The converted Praetor is my entry for the Master of the Forge."

 

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.

 

Required Completion Pictures: Each vow completion must contain pictures of all completed models - either in the form of a "group" photo or of each model/unit individually.  Indeed, both is recommended, as the group photo really shows off your progress, and the individual photos best show your hard work and facilitates choosing candidates for best painted.  All completed entries for Master of the Forge (see below) must have their own photos.

 

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

 

 

 

Will there be badges?

 

Yes!!  There will be Badges awarded for various achievements during the event - many members put the badges they have earned in their signatures.  Note, these are separate and different from the ranks and achievements tracked by the forum software.

 

Badges are awarded for the following:
 

Event Failed: Servitor

1-9 points: Completed

10-24 points: Legionaire
25-44 points  Sergeant
45-76 points:  Consul
75-99 points:  Praetor
100+ points:  Legion Master

Princeps - Awarded to all completed 30K/40K scale Titans 
[Stronghold] Champion - Awarded to the member who individually paints the most points worth of models in the Stronghold

Champions of the Horde - The Subfaction with the highest overall points worth of models in a Stronghold

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

 

 

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.

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

 

 

Finally, the following will be chosen by vote by the members:

 

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.

 

Artificer - Top 3 best painted models from each Stronghold, chosen from a selection of models from the Stronghold made by the forum Moderators, Administrators and Librarians. 

 

[Stronghold] Artificer - Best painted model/unit for each Stronghold, chosen by the members from the 3 Artificers for the Stronghold.

Master of the Forge - Best Conversion or Kit-bash. Anyone wishing to participate for the Master of the Forge Badge will need to specifically declare that they are doing so when they vow the model.  Each member can only submit one model/unit

 

Master Artificer - Best painted model/unit for Call to Arms 2026, as chosen between the 5 Stronghold Artificers.

 

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, 2026, AT WHICH TIME VOWS MAY COMMENCE.  

 

In the meantime, please continue to use the main announcement thread and the Faction rally points to discuss your participation and to ask questions.

Edited June 8 by Dr_Ruminahui

[Dr_Ruminahui]

PARTICIPANTS

 

TOTAL STRONGHOLD RESULTS - Pledged:  pnts / Completed:  pnts / Secured:  pnts / % Completed -  Participants,  (%) completed all Heresy vows

 

 

The Emperor - Pledged:  344 pnts / Completed:  39 pnts / Secured:  pnts / % Completed

Participants (9 Total, Secured - %):

 

Brother Argent - Vow 1: 10 pnts- Incomplete

 

1x Ahriman (5)

1x Space Wolf character (5)

 

 Dr.Clock - Vow 1: 6 pnts- Incomplete

 

3x Saturnine terminators (6)

 

 Lautrec the Embraced - Vow 1: 25 pnts- Incomplete

 

10x Support Legionaries (10)

10 Recon Legionaries (10)

5x Dark Furies (5)

 

 librisrouge - Vow 1: 23 pnts - Complete, Vow 2: 25 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Rhino (5)

1x Librarian (5)

1x Ares Gunship (8)

1x Shield Captain (5)

 

10x Pyroclasts (10)

5x Firedrake terminators (5)

1x Apothecary (5)

1x Centurion (5)

 

lokkorex - Vow 1: 167 pnts- Incomplete

 

58x Tactical Legionaries (58)

5x Indomitus Terminators (5)

5x Tactical Support Legionairies (5)

1x Consul Mortificator (5)

1x Centurion (5)

1x Castraferrum Dreadnought (3)

4x Sicaran Battle Tanks (24)

4x Predator Executioners (20)

4x Scorpius Tanks (20)

4x Armigers (16)

1x Malacador Tank (6)

 

Lord Ikka - Vow 1: 5 pnts- Complete

 

1x Marduk Sedra (5)

 

 richmarine - Vow 1: 11 pnts - Complete, Vow 2: 20 pnts - Incomplete

 

1x Praetor in Saturnine armour (5)

3x Saturnine Terminators (6)

 

1x Champion (5)

10x Tactical Marines (10)

5x Heavy Flamer Marines (5)

 

SvenIronhand - Vow 1: 4 pnts- Incomplete

 

4x Veteran Breachers (4)

 

The Pounder - Vow 1: 48 pnts- Incomplete

 

1x Mounted Praetor (5)

1x Mounted Primus Medicae (5)

9x Cataphractii Terminators (9)

9x Assault Marines (9)

10x Tactical Marines (10)

5x Outriders (10)

 

The Warmaster - Pledged:  39 pnts / Completed: 15 pnts / Secured:  pnts / % Completed

Participants (4 Total,  Secured - %):

 

 Dwango - Job's a Big 'Un: 10 pnts- Incomplete

 

1x Fulgrim Transfigured (10)

 

  Lord Marshall - Vow 1: 14 pnts- Incomplete

 

1x Rhino (5)

9x Tactical Marines (9)

 

Operative23 - Vow 1: 10 pnts - Complete

 

1x Knight Castigator (10)

 

Spazzmolytic - Vow 1: 5 pnts - Complete

 

1x Archmagos (5)

 

Edited yesterday at 12:13 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.

[Dwango]

"I, Dwango, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 1 Fulgrim Transfigured, as a jobs a big un, for 10 pts for the Glory of the Warmaster and the Heresy Stronghold on or before September 15th, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

[The Pounder]

“I, The Pounder, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 1 Mounted Praetor, 1 Mounted  Primus Medicae, 9 Cataphractii Terminators, 9 Assault Marines, 10 Tactical Marines and 5 Outriders for a total of 48pts for the Glory of the Lion and the Heresy Stronghold on or before September 15th, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

Starter pic:

 

Dark Angels vow 

Edited June 16 by The Pounder

[Lautrec the Embraced]

"I, Lautrec the Embraced, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint 10 support legionaries, 10 recon legionaries and 5 kitbashed Dark Furies for 25 pts for the Glory of the False Emperor <oops wrong legion> our most benevolent Emperor and the Heresy Stronghold on or before September 15th, or bear the badge of failure until year's end"

(Yes, these are the same guys I posted like two months back. During that time I only managed to prime some of them... No, I will not elaborate)

[Lord_Ikka]

I, Lord_Ikka, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint Marduk Sedras for 5pts for the Glory of the Emperor of Mankind's Dark Angels and the Heresy Stronghold on or before 15th September 2026, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

 

 

Edited June 15 by Lord_Ikka

[lokkorex]

"I, lokkorex, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint:

 -58 Tactical Legionaries. 19+20+19=58

-5 Indomitus Terminators. 1x5=5

-Tactical Support Squad. 1x5=5

-Consul-Mortificator. 5

-Centurion. 5

-Castraferrum Dreadnought. 3

-2 Sicaran Battle Tanks. 6x2=12

-Sicaran Punisher. 6

-Sicaran Arcus. 6

-4 Predator Executioners. 5x4=20

-4 Scorpius Tanks. 5x4=20

-4 Armigers. 4x4=16

-1 Malcador Heavy Tank. 6

=167

for points for the Glory of the Emperor and the Heresy Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end."

If anyone would be so kind as to double-check my points calculation I would appreciate it!

Edited June 16 by lokkorex

[librisrouge]

I, librisrouge, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint a rhino, librarian, Ares Gunship, and shield captain for 23 pts for the Glory of the Emperor and the Heresy Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

 

[SvenIronhand]

I, SvenIronhand, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint four Veteran Breachers for 4 pts, for the Glory of the Emperor and the Heresy Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

[Operative23]

I, Operative23, heed the Call to Arms and pledge to paint a cerastus knight castigator of the legio fureans for 10 points  for the Glory of the Warmaster and the Heresy Stronghold on or before 15th September 2025, or bear the badge of failure until year's end.

 

 

[Brother Argent]

Well to prove I can fail in the past as well as the present:

 

I, Brother Argent, vow for the glory of the Imperium:

 

1x Ahriman from Burning of Prospero (5pts)

1x Unimportant Space Wolf Character Guy from Burning of Prospero (5pts)

 

 

I vow these 10pts for the Loyalist Faction because Magnus did nothing wrong...

[librisrouge]

How many points would a thunderhawk be? I've got one I've been meaning to get to and am considering vowing it.

[Dwango]

2 hours ago, librisrouge said:

How many points would a thunderhawk be? I've got one I've been meaning to get to and am considering vowing it.

 

This must happen! 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@librisrouge  - Frankly, I'm surprised there isn't a point cost for CtA for Thunderhawks yet... so we'll need to come up with one.  How big is it?  My guess is somewhere between a knight and a Warhound titan (so, 10 and 20 points).  If you (or anyone else) have/has any photos next to big models, please message me.

Edited June 17 by Dr_Ruminahui

[The Pounder]

6 hours ago, librisrouge said:

How many points would a thunderhawk be? I've got one I've been meaning to get to and am considering vowing it.

Do it! Do it! Do it!!
 

@lokkorex woah! Really hope you manage to get all that done! Huge respect for your ambition.

[librisrouge]

I’ve got a painted Warhound and the Thunderhawk primed. I’ll post a side by side later tonight or tomorrow but I’d say the T.Hawk is bigger.

 

EDIT: Quite a bit bigger. I'd say the size of a Reaver Titan but I've never seen a Reaver in real life to be sure. A few pics on the net make them look comperable.

Edited June 18 by librisrouge

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@librisrouge - I'll give you 30 pnts for the T-hawk - Reaver sized seems in line with what my limited Google fuu turned up as well.

 

* PARTICIPANT ENTRIES UPDATED AS OF THIS POST *

 

Please double check the Participants post to ensure that your vow is recorded correctly, for the correct number of points, for the right subfaction, correctly marked as completed (if completed) and is linked to the right post(s).

[Dr_Ruminahui]

@librisrouge - I don't have you down for your T-hawk yet - if you want to enter it, you'll need to make an actual vow.

 

* PARTICIPANT ENTRIES UPDATED AS OF THIS POST *

 

Please double check the Participants post to ensure that your vow is recorded correctly, for the correct number of points, for the right subfaction, correctly marked as completed (if completed) and is linked to the right post(s).

[Dr_Ruminahui]

-  STATE OF THE EVENT -

 

Like last year, I'll be doing reports on the event at the end of every month into the event - so, 2 weeks in, 1/2 way through, 2 weeks left,.  I will still be posting reminders at the 1 and 2 months marks, but with no type of extra reporting or recap at those times.  So its time for useless (but hopefully interesting) statistics! 

 

So, 2 weeks into the event we have 41 participants with 59 vows, for a total of 1977 points (this is down from last year, where at this time we had 60 participants with 71 vows for 3,091.5 points).  This means the average vow size is 33 points, with an average of 48 points vowed per participant).  We have 6 entries into the Master of the Forge category, and 0 for Young Bloods.  If anyone else has a Master of the Forge entry, or wants to participate as a Young Blood, please let me know.  Or, if you told me and I missed recording it, please let me know again. 

 

The Stronghold leading in vowed points is the last year's winner, the Xenos stronghold, with  527 points (compaired to the insane 1167 points for Heresy this time last year).   The ranking after that is Astartes at 509.5, Imperium at 400, Heresy at 302 and poor Chaos at 238.  In terms of vows and participants, things are more even - Astartes has 13 participants and 14 vows, Xenos with 13 of each, Chaos with 12 of each, Imperium with 10 participants and 12 vows, and Heresy with 9 of each.

 

Xenos and Imperium Stronghold are the only strongholds with completed vows, 2 each, but Xenos has 36 points completed to Imperium's 12.  Although its way too early for this to be determinative (or even particularly meaningful), this gives Xenos the highest completion rate at just under 7%, Imperium a 3% completion rate, and everyone else at 0%. 

 

The most points vowed for a subfaction is 282 points for the "For the Emperor" subfaction in the Heresy Stronghold - but only 1 point behind is the Astartes subfaction in the Astartes Stronghold with 281.  Orks are third at 211, but have the most points in completed vows, at 31

 

The largest single vow is 167 by @lokkorex in the Heresy Stronghold, while @SgtSharp once again has the most vowed models at 244.5 points (down from her insane 410 vowed last year), but that is split between 3 Strongholds.  Vow splitting seems a lot more common this year, with 2 frater vowing in 4 Strongholds, 2 in 3 Strongholds, and 6 in 2 Strongholds (in other words, 24% of frater are vowing in more than 1 stronghold).  The participant with the most completed vows are by @Lord_Ikka who has completed 2 worth 12 points, while @Focslain has the most points completed, at 31.

 

Highest individually pointed model vowed is worth 20 points, in the form of a Tau Tigershark flier - our only full sized titan equivalent so far.  That said, hold this space as it looks like a Space Marine Thunderhawk may be vowed in the Heresy forum.

 

As an interesting aside (for me, anyway), the most common exact point value for a vow this year is 42 - with 3 vows, all in the Astartes Stronghold.  Coincidence?  No - that's the value of the space marine contents from the 11th ed box set.

 

Anyway, great to see all the participants and their enthusiasm.  Happy painting and I look forward to many more completed vows and beautiful models.

Edited July 1 by Dr_Ruminahui

[The Pounder]

I’ve finished my first 9 models! 
 

Here’s the pic to prove it!

 

Dark Angels Assault Squad 

 

Check out my WIP thread for more pictures.

 

Next up, 10 Tactical Marines!

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Love your dark angels, @The Pounder - the green shoulder and jump packs really helps differentiate them from all the other black marines in 30K.

 

* PARTICIPANT ENTRIES UPDATED AS OF THIS POST *

 

Please double check the Participants post to ensure that your vow is recorded correctly, for the correct number of points, for the right subfaction, correctly marked as completed (if completed) and is linked to the right post(s).

Edited July 7 by Dr_Ruminahui

[The Pounder]

Thanks @Dr_Ruminahui! I was worried about using green, glad you liked them!

[Dr_Ruminahui]

* PARTICIPANT ENTRIES UPDATED AS OF THIS POST *

 

Please double check the Participants post to ensure that your vow is recorded correctly, for the correct number of points, for the right subfaction, correctly marked as completed (if completed) and is linked to the right post(s).

[Dr_Ruminahui]

WE ARE NOW 1 MONTH (and 1/3 of the way) INTO THE EVENT

THERE ARE NOW 2 MONTHS REMAINING

As a reminder, all vows must be completed on or before September 15, 2026.

Edited July 16 by Dr_Ruminahui