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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nOverview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After two<\/a> years<\/a> of ridiculous hobby productivity, this year’s output has come back down to earth. Between the world opening back up, and frankly some hobby burnout, I completed a lot less this year. But it’s still a pretty good haul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve done some more solo gaming, with a few<\/a> sessions<\/a> of Rangers of Shadow Deep producing some of the most evocative stories I’ve gotten out of miniature games. I suspect it’s because I’m spending less time trying to outthink my opponent, and more time trying to make sense of the semi-random outcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adepticon happened this year and was a blast. I probably managed to underschedule myself, though maybe that means I got enough sleep for once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I still haven’t returned to playing at the shop, though I have a standing weekly garage game with a buddy, and an occasional drive out for a more distant friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Malifaux, long a staple of my minis world, has taken a back seat this year, with zero completed models (though I’ve got some that I need to finish basing). For whatever reason, the new stuff wasn’t grabbing me. Plus, I think I burned myself out on painting Malifaux during lockdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The regular RPG game I host with my kids is ongoing, though full weekend schedules means it’s been a few weeks between sessions. Maybe some day I’ll write it up here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Total: 265 models, a 35.4% decrease from last year, but still a 51% increase from pre-covid 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n With more garage game time, Arena Rex is getting some play. With this year’s hobby I have nearly a complete set. I hope to fill in the gaps soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Crisis Protocol is a fun game that lets you throw terrain (and other superheroes) around the board. Sign me up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I’ve eyed Carnevale for years, and finally bought it on a whim while visiting a hobby shop away from home. All the factions speak to me, though so far I’ve managed to resist buying them all. I also suckered my friend into buying in with me. It’s got a narrative drive. There’s a story campaign at Adepticon this year I’ve very tempted by, even though it’s an 8 hour event which I usually skip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Underworlds remains my hobby popcorn, although with price hikes I feel it’s less good of a value. On the other hand, I’ve been playing some Rivals format, which is great fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I bought Bushido at Adepticon years ago, but then never played it. Then a friend picked it for a “pick a skirmish game, and we’ll each paint up a force” and play. So I got the Ito starter for the new edition and painted it along with the stuff I hadn’t gotten to before. I like the game, though I feel it’s a bit heavy on the bookkeeping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Garage gaming means lots of excuses for terrain. Crisis Protocol has some great looking sets, plus I got a scattering of other stuff. I even played with making stuff out of foam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sludge, from Metal King Studio<\/a> (of Relicblade fame) is a game published in Blaster<\/a>, the fantastic skirmish games magazine. It captures the brutality of war in a fantastic napoleonic setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Freeblades is a game I had seen at Adepticon for years, but had never looked into. This year, I played a demo event. It tries to play like a D&D party but a minis game. Reading the rulebook, it takes a very detailed simulation approach, unlike the looser feel of Relicblade. I think it might be too detailed for me to drive in the garage, though I think I might have fun in a league or something. In any case, I couldn’t say no to soldiers riding dinosaurs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nArena Rex<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCrisis Protocol<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nCarnevale<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nUnderworlds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nBushido<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nTerrain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nSludge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nFreeblades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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