Looking back and looking forward

Sleepless at a quarter-past-midnight, I've decided to get out of bed and write myself to a standstill.

Looking back over the past 12 months, I am as ever somewhat amazed at how much I have acheived on the one hand, and how little I have actually finished on the other.

On the credit side of the ledger, I have been very productive; taking the Spencer Smith project, I have either bought or painted nine regiments of foot, six of horse and a pair of batteries all of which are in a state where I would not be ashamed to put them on a table and play a game with them. On the debit side, I have yet to do so! Likewise the "Old School ACW" project - I spent most of 2010 getting theresources in place and have so far played exactly one game with them.

While I am being hard on myself, there is the "1565 Project" which in my usual style got off to a flying start and is now little more than a disjointed collection of (albeit nicely-painted) bits.

I suffer from a lack of an opponent and a regular close peer group (sorry online world, but you're just not the same as the real thing!) who would keep me better stimulated. I'm sad to report that I find solo gaming both a bore and a chore. Note - join a club! This is a state of affairs that I really need to address to move forward.

On the positive side (and looking forward) I am currently involved in a group project to put three (!) demonstration games on at CanCon 2013. They will be Isandalwana, 55 Days at Peking and a yet-to-be-finalised action from the Franco-Prussian War - the last I am especially hopng to be deeply involved in as I want the chance to paint some of the Spencer Smith "Classic" FPW figures.

Equally on the positive side, I am fizzing with enthusiasm for my Willie Landsknechts just now. Whether they will develop into a "proper" army or just a collection of stuff I like... well, let history be the judge of that. If nothing else, at least they will tie in with the figures I have for the "1565 project". Or maybe that may morph into some sort of Wars of Religion beast.

Again, on the plus side, I have just about finalised a deal on some old Ral Partha Renaissance/Condottiere figures. And, yes, I do realise that this is doubling up something terrible. Nonetheless, these are really lovely sculpts and do I really need a reason? True 25mm by Ton Meier. They look like Swiss and Landsknechts for the most part that I have an eye on to mess about with for the early Italian Wars. I am seriously thinking of turning them into DBR armies as they would fit the basing really well. The small army sizes for DBR mean that I could create 3 or 4 factions should campaigning appeal.

A final mooted project would be a Willie Old West Cavalry versus Indians grand skirmish. Again, I love the figures and I am certainly NOT thinking of the Little Big Horn. Really. Not.

No, really.