From SteveG: More ancients (165 points)

1. Antiochus III The Great. 28mm. Basileus of Seleucid Empire. Solidified his crumbling empire in campaigns from Bactria o Thrace. He sadly, came up against the growing might of Rome and came off 2nd best at Magnesia in190 BC. He even employed Hannibal Barca after his exile from Carthage but failed to utilize his military genius to the full. If he’d been willing and able to do so ancient history may have a vastly different flavour. Model from Aventine w head swap from Victrix Heavy Greek Cavalry set. Relic Miniatures also make a nice looking version of this character.

1. Boii Gallic Spearmen. 28mm 3D printed by Battlecat Miniatures. Unlike most companies that make generic “Gauls” , Battlecat have elected to make a series of specific tribal national groups. The Boii caught my eye as they are clad in linothorax armour, which is rarely associated with Gauls. Being from northern Italy they were likely more heavily influenced by Etruscan and Italic cultures than their Transalpine gallic relatives. Nice figures, each of which is unique. Only detractions are the fact that each figure is fully formed, which makes painting some parts hard to access ie behind their large shields. These shields are all identical and don’t lend themselves to the use of transfers. Also the facial features are a little soft and the helmets have only a few variants. I’ve therefore swapped about ½ of them for heads by Victrix, Wargames Atlantic and Warlord Games. Boiorox ( king of Boii) is a Victix fugure. His banner bearer is modified and the flag is based on the Boii icon from the excellent computer game mod Europa Barbororum II.

2. Chariot by Warlord Games ( I think). It's been knocking around my cupboard for a decade. Finally painted up and it looks pretty good.

1. Illyrians by Gripping Beast. 28mm metal “ old school” figures. Light on detail, not very interesting poses and odd proportions such as huge heads. All in all mediocre minis that I’d not recommend. Despite this I enjoyed getting them painted up. Resin Warfare will bring out some superior 3D printed 28mm Illyrians in 2026.

SteveG

From Millsy:

Oh wow! This is even better than your first entry Steve. So much to like about this from the banner to the shields to the clothing. You've packed in so much detail I'm wondering how you managed it all in just a week mate.

If I was forced to pick a favourite it would be the Gallic command stand. Absolutely smashing. I think this may well prove to be one of my favourite entries of the whole Challenge from my charges.

Well done indeed. 140 points seems like a paltry return. I'm awarding another 10 just for effort and going the extra mile literally everywhere including the basing. You also miscounted the foot (didn't include the chariot crew) so that bring you to 165 all up. Brilliant!

Cheers,

Millsy

From TashaH: Wizards, Druids and Witches, Oh My! [Arda] (34 points)

Hello! My name is Natasha (TashaH) and I live in Saskatchewan, Canada.

I am incredibly new to this hobby. I played my first tabletop game (Eldritch Horror) in July of this year with Sarah and Curt and I was hooked. Since then, I've played Moonstone and a few ECW games from a campaign. I am looking forward to expanding my horizons and trying more scenarios in the future. 

I'm incredibly fortunate that the group I have been invited to game with is well established and puts on all the games. As such, you will see that my contributions to this year's Challenge have no rhyme or reason and are not tied to any game whatsoever.  At some point, I will settle in on a theme, or perhaps not! 

For my initial entry, of my first Challenge, I will be landing on the planet, Arda. I’m leaning toward the ‘fantasy’ admission requirement for this planet.

My first figures are prints from STL Miniatures at MyMiniFactory 

The majority of my paint is acrylics. I have a few Citadel Contrast paints and a couple pots of P3. I am hoping to add to my paint collection regularly!

I started with the Wizard's Bookcase in this grouping that I've put together. It is 80mm long, 50 mm tall and 10mm wide. Initially, I highlighted with two shades of grey and then utilized Snakebite Leather Contrast by Citadel. This proved to be an unfortunate decision. The wood did not look like wood at all. After many layers of many colours and washes ... this is the final result. All of the accessories in the bookcase were done willy nilly, with no real pattern or intent. I kept adding colours and layers until I was content with the result.

Next up was the Druid Table. I tried to remember the process I'd employed with the bookcase. My memory is unreliable at best (I really need to remember to write things down in the handy, dandy notebook I was given for such things). For the table, I used the Snakebite Leather Contrast midway through the process and it seemed to work much better for a rich wood look. Having only one brown Contrast makes a person get creative! Also, isn't that stool adorable? The table measures 30 mm across and 10mm to table top/27mm to very top. The stool measures a wee 10 mm across x 5mm high.

I really enjoyed pulling the details out of the book on the table. Note the mushrooms on the tabletop, they come into play next!

These are the Druid Mushrooms that are harvested on the Druid Table. The caps are painted using Contrast paint (such a delight to use). I used a metallic white for some of the highlighting to help boost the shimmer of the mushroom caps. I tried to mimic the same wood tones in the undergrowth as in the Table and Bookcase.  The mushrooms were great fun to paint and measure at 50mm x 35 mm.

Lastly we have a 40mm, Nana the Witch from Printed Obsession at My Mini Factory. This figure was a challenge for me. I almost gave up on her. After following some sage advice to walk away and come back another day, I was able to finish her. The number of layers of paint on this miniature is a bit embarrassing. 

Because I won't be using these for gaming, but rather as display pieces. they are freestanding and not based. 

Now for the points total. I'm really unsure about this, so chances are I'll mess it up! 

If I understand correctly, furniture counts the same as terrain. I anticipate if you packed in all the furniture like you were loading a U-Haul, it would fit a 2" square, so that would be 6.5 points. 7 points for Nana, and 20 points for the Arda (outer ring) landing bonus would give me a total of  33.5 points.

Thank you for letting me play!

(13.5 points towards the Chocolate Cake Duel with Sarah!)

__________________________

First, welcome to the Challenge, Natasha!

I quite like this entry, your opening gambit towards your target. This is especially the case as I helped source the models for you!  This is also the case with Sarah's upcoming entires as well. Yes, I am very much 'The Enabler' here. :)

While it is true that you currently have a limited collection of paints, I think you've done an absolutely wonderful job on these models. I particularly admire the wood grain on the furniture, the shiny (and mysterious) accoutrements on the tabletop, and the charming colours of the mushroom grove (the metallic hue of the spotted blue mushroom is particularly eye-catching). 

I'm going to round up your scoring to an even 14 points.

I know Sarah has her post waiting in the wings, so the battle for the chocolate cake should be a fierce one. :)

Terrific work Natasha!

- Curt

From EdwardG - 28mm Celtic druidic chap [Caprica] (25pts)

 Merry Christmas all! 

My first entry for this year is a left over from a previous project. I found him loitering near the bottom of the lead pile and decided it was his time to finally receive some paint! Also he has served as a nice piece of procrastination fodder, as I am ever so slightly daunted by the number of primed 28mm, 15mm, and 6mm figures I have on my painting desk ready to go for the challenge! :D 

I believe the figure is originally a Foundry miniature. From their Celtic druid pack. He is a reasonable sculpt and there is a certain vagabond feel to him with his ripped and ragged clothes. 

I am putting him forward for my first planet fall on Caprica, as I think of him as one of the last of his order. On the run after the Anglesey massacre. Fallen from his previous high station. Doomed just as his culture is doomed to pass thanks to the Romanification that would occur over the next 400yrs. 

He has been painted with a mixture of contrast paints and normal acrylics. I do like the speed from the contrast, but I am still getting used to them. I am finding that a dry brush of white over the grey primer really helps to pull out the details.  

As for the points total, this figure =

5pts for the 28mm minitature

20pts for the planet fall on Caprica

Total = 25pts :)

I hope everyone has a great festive period, and can celebrate as well as possible in the current circumstances. I think, it is time for second lunch...then perhaps a nap ;)

Best,
Ed

______________________________

First, welcome back to the Challenge, Ed!

What a terrific mini for Caprica. As you say, he has a wonderful ragged, destitute look about him and I like that you've fit him into the twilight of the druidic period. Makes me think of Cornwell's 'Winter King'. Yes, the Contrast paints are wonderful, but they often need a little teasing out to bring out their best as we can see with your excellent efforts with his cassock. Great job Ed and Merry Christmas!

- Curt

The tomb - stone circle and Chaos Sorcerer! Mark Backhouse (27 points)

For the tomb I thought a henge or stone circle would tick the box nicely. This is another wee tiny 2mm treat on a 60mm x 60mm base. A stone circle with a few enthusiastic druids. 

I’ve also painted an inhabitant - albeit in a completely different scale! An undead Chaos Sorcerer!

This ugly wizard is from Heroquest! He’s been given a reboot paint job and a Nurgling for good measure just in case you didn’t realise his allegiance to Nurgle! His horrible pox was cured by Nurgle (see the scars on his legs) and therefore he seeks to serve the dark gods! He will be a nice addition to my Nurgle Realms of Chaos warband.

A few skulls there to keep the Oldhammer skull collectors happy too.

I’m claiming 5 points for the 28mm figure and 2 for the standing stones. 20 for the tomb challenge making a glorious total of 27 points.

Cheers

Mark Backhouse