Thursday, December 12, 2013

'There Will Be Grass Before Breakfast' * - Side Challenges and Painting Duels

*The old phrase, 'Grass before breakfast' simply meant that a duel would be fought at first light, usually in an out-of-the-way place like a meadow or field.
I've been having a great time following the blogs of many of the Challengers as they prepare for the Painting Challenge to start. It seems everyone is madly gathering, cleaning and priming figures, all the while exchanging healthy and boisterous banter. I've also taken note of various personal side challenges and the issuing of small painting duels. This is not completely new, as we've had them since the first Challenge, but they are becoming a little more structured and formalized which I find very entertaining. 

I can't get no...satisfaction.
With this in mind I thought it would be fun to list some of the upcoming duels that we'll be seeing played out over the next few months. The list below is just the opening gambit. The complete list will have its home on the right sidebar during the length of the Challenge and I will keep it updated as the event progresses.

So, here we go:

  • Curt has declared he will beat both ChristopherS and MartinN to the 500 point mark.
  • RayR, FranL, LeeH, ClintB, StefanK and DaveD will be dueling to  attain their 600 point target. The winner will get a painted figure from the others
  • AndrewS and KevH will be racing to their 1K targets.
  • MichaelA, StefanK, MarkG, AndrewS, Burkhard and IanW have declared that they will submit for each of the seven Theme Rounds.
  • JaccoK, MichaelF and RobP (aka ‘The Dutch Water-Bicycle Detachment’) are racing each other to the 501 mark.
  • TamsinP and IanW are competing for overall points.
  • AlanD, PaulJ and JamesL are racing to the 500 point mark.
  • Curt has challenged SidneyR to see who will meet their 700 point goal first. Whomever wins will receive a painted figure from the other to add to their Great War collection.
  • PhilH, GregB and MichaelA are competing to see who can accumulate the most points in painting Victorian-themed entries.


There you have it - the first of the 'side challenges'. If any other participants wish to add to this collective March of Folly then please drop me a note.


'Sooo, remind me again, which is the shooty end....?'

62 comments:

  1. My second will be in contact with yours shortly Curt to work out the details sir. Choose your brush wisely.

    Christopher

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    1. I think you should "do him left-handed" Curt...

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    2. 'Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya...'

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    3. "Hello. My name is The Waco Kid...."

      Christopher

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  2. Slapping BigLee across the face with a glove later....but my hand may be in it!

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  3. Paul of the Man cave fame, did throw out the idea of an informal challenge of Aussies vs Kiwis... not sure if this has been formalised, but since we've got Kent on deck this year, I reckon the Kiwis would do alright! ;-)

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    1. Curt, perhaps you could add a country identifier to the names in the tables, and then see how we do, by country, per capita even, if you are able to crunch the numbers?

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    2. I'll see your Kent and raise you a Millsy ;-)

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    3. The "losers" get the Bloody-Slow Cup.

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    4. I should be safe if I go for more points than England get runs ....

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    5. Double figures isn't much of a target mate!

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    6. Crikey! Look at all the bloomin (not what a I really said) Aussies! Maybe we need a running points tally of Poms vs. Convicts too...

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    7. Glad to see my international challenge aspect growing in interest!

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    8. Yes Paul, you certainly lit a fuse here!

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  4. Just wondering if Millsy and Samuli want to join in the race with myself and Ian, given that they are aiming for similar targets.

    Scott's idea of an average-by-country contest sounds like a plan - if it can be implemented without much effort. If you're keeping track in an Excel spreadsheet, it's not too difficult if you know how to do pivot tables.

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    1. Thanks for the offer. Count me in!

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    2. Pivot tables, what? I do this stuff with an abacus and with my socks off so I can count past 10. I'll see what I can manage.

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  5. We'll I am on 600 too as per the reject crowd.. But they said their bonus points won't count, so I should be fine!

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    1. Bonus points not counting for the Rejects you say... gulp... Ok no worries that does make it a tad harder, but I still think I can do it and enter every bonus round as well.

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    2. Dave your quite welcome to join the 600 club, the bonus points are going to count in our totals, all apart from BigLee's that is!

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    3. Lets make it 900 for the Reject crowd inclusive of the bonus rounds!

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    4. I think there should be a Forfeit in the 600 club if you fail to reach the target, or a bonus if you are the first one to reach 600 points!

      How about if at the end of 3 months you have failed to reach the target you have to paint a 28mm figure for each of the other members of the 600 club!
      or
      Each of the 600 club has to paint a 28mm figure for the person who reaches the 600 points first.

      But what do you think?

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    5. I like the idea of a wager (Sidney and I are doing ours for figures) but I'll leave it to you chaps to sort out.

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    6. I have had confirmation back from Ray and Fran. So the 600 club will each paint a single 28mm figure for the first person in the 600 club to reach 600 points.

      I would be grateful if you would update the duel section. I appreciate that this is extra work for you during the challenge. So if you don't get a chance no worries.

      Kind regards Clint

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    7. Updated and good luck to all involved in the 600 Club!

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  6. No gauntlets thrown in a downward direction, or glove slapping are on the horizon yet; just getting to 1000 points in 3 months is daunting enough. I will take up the challenge of an entry for each of the seven Thematic bonus rounds (though what I can do for "The Last Stand" theme escapes me for now, unless it's Brendan Behan managing his last pint...)

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    1. Done! You've been marked for greatness. Now, get planning for that 'Last Stand' theme...

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    2. Well the path to greatness will have to wait a few days as I have to go down to Brno from Prague for 3 days training. The paint brushes will have to stay on the starting blocks until Wednesday :-(

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    3. I have plans, stick me down for the 7 please Curt, I just need to get my head down LOL

      Ian

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    4. Andrew, you're a loon more than anything... ;P

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  7. great to see so much fun is being had, I for one am looking forward to rebuilding in 28mm what were me and my Dads fav 15mm periods and then its going to be a gaming year for me in 2014
    Peace James

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  8. As the representative American Sailor in the competition, I challenge any nautical minded Aussies or Kiwi's for a painting challenge version of the America's Cup - First to 750 points and some points must include a ship/nautical model.

    Come on - any takers? I'm sure you'll do better than the most recent challengers to the Americas Cup in San Fran this year.

    :)

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    1. Sadly I don't do any nautical gaming... and any ship I tend to feature would be a scratchbuild and probably more classed as terrain!

      My ante would be a Becky Boo

      ;-)

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    2. Would some Steampunk Dystopian Wars naval toys count? My target is only 600 though so 750 is really pushing my possible limit.
      Cheers

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    3. Steampunk Naval would definitely count as I think it's in the spirit of the Franken-boats used in the current version of the America's cup

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    4. Kiwi, as it looks like Miles is good with Dystopian Wars ships are you good with increasing your target to 750 for this duel?

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  9. The competitive spirit seems amped to the max here! I shall spend this challenge happily sitting on the sidelines, cheering y'all on.
    Blessings to all your brushes.

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    1. Yup, it's a bit mental actually, but great fun!

      BTW, nice to hear from you Mike!

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  10. My dalliance in the Sudan is greatly influenced by the fine work of Mr Awdry. So I throw down a challenge to him: match my Sudan output. Enough zombie and dinosaur-related frippery Mr Awdry - time to return to Martini-Henry's and moustaches.

    I'm a reasonable man, so considering there are only with 2 days to prepare, I'll accept other Victorian Wars.

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    1. Ah - the Sudan - a fabulous setting!

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    2. I think there should be a Victorian Wars paint duel for you lads who entertain such imperial pretensions. Greg, I'm sure you could keep pace with Mr Hawkins and Mr Awdry...

      Respectfully,

      An Agent Provocateur.

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    3. Aha, the more the merrier! (Don't mention it to James Brewerton though - he'll smash us out of the park! :-D )

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    4. I'm in! I will match - and exceed - your Victorian efforts!

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    5. You Sir, have yourself a challenge! A Victorian secret then?

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    6. Oh dear, I might regret this. Back to the prep table, I need more rifles!

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    7. Chaps, we don't seem to have set a prize. Doesn't seem right not to have an additional...incentive. Let me suggest one: as we're all rather fond of those Perry brothers sculpts, perhaps the losers each buy the winner a single pack from the Sudan range. After all, we'll have exhausted our lead piles by Challenge end!

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    8. Sign me up, even though I've just clocked your targets, but we are still talking all Victorian era miniatures aren't we?

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    9. I'll take a box of Beja command, mounted - thanks...

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    10. Best get the Perrys to sculpt one! :-)

      All Victoriana (I'm long to suffer here as a goodly portion of my box is not Victoriana at the moment).

      May the best Gentleman win!

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  11. That's getting more and more interesting here...

    I'm looking forward to the side challenges. That will be bloody interesting three months...

    :-)

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  12. Very entertaining these side challenges...
    In order to keep with the spirit I already ordered my entourage to prepare the brushes, shake the paints and stir the varnish to beat you to the 500 pts. my dear Mr. Curt C.

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  13. I think we are certifiable where will this all end?

    Any others going for around 1000 points want to join in our fun, should we add a side bet for the fun?

    Ian

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    1. I always like the idea of wagers/side bets as it adds spice to the match.

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    2. Well, that is what you get for only reading through the comments in the morning after posting in the evening.

      Sire, we shalt take thou challenge! (Pease feel slapped in the face with a mitten. ;-))

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  14. If you guys do the average per country, that's just me and Fran! I'm in for 200, he for 900 and our total would be 1,100. Divide that by two and you get-Ireland loses!

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  15. Well, I am planning to complete all themed bonus rounds as well, so you can put my name down for that, too

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  16. As only member of the Spanish team, I´m going to put an "Spanish theme" in my painting. Because it is not easy witht he periods I normally play and paint, I´m going to be prudent, so I expect to paint almost half of my points as Spaniards.
    Good luck to all of you!

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  17. May the force be with all off you!

    Greetings
    Peter

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Thanks for your comment! As long as you're not a spam droid I'll have it up on the blog soon. :)