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Let's Finish This! - Soldiers prepped for the big battle, two arch-enemies in a duel, a sniper ready for that one, perfect shot. In meta terms, we could tackle something we have been meaning to get around to, or else those last few models from a starter box. If this wins we’ll also suspend the “must be painted in the month” rule and allow you to finish a project that was previously started, but stalled. However if you choose this option, you must post a proof picture of the start point, preferably early in the month. This is an option, and not required. You can start something new that fits the theme and participate as normal.

April Fools! - Jokes, puns, clowns, shenanigans. Pranks, deceptions, and misdirections. Tricksters, rouges and scoundrels. Embrace your inner mischief and join the fun.

All out of Bubblegum - “I’m here to kick and chew bubblegum, and I’m all out of bubblegum. Your entry should be a specialist who does one thing, and does it really well. Normally cashing out nameless thugs in over the top displays of violence, but we can open it up for other options. They'll lie prone with their sniper rifle for five weeks to get the one perfect shot, they'll keep shouting coordinates into their radio even while the enemy's charging into melee range, they've got a chainaxe and every single other thing on the battlefield is a skull to put it into. They have unwavering (possibly insane) focus on that one task that, as long as they've got one unbroken bone and half a functioning organ in their body, they're gonna keep doing it.

Fuzzy, Fluffy, or Feathered - Little bunnies hopping around hiding eggs, direwolves prowling the dark, anthropomorphic samurai bunnies stalking the wolves, vultures and ravens waiting for it all to end to pick at the corpses. It does not need to be entirely creature based; a fur cloak or a feathered headdress will work. But let's get some natural elements and practice painting fur or feathers for a month.

Poll will run 2 days

Furballs for me. Since I suggested it I have little choice in the matter.

If the first one lets me finish previously started projects and still enter it, then that's the one for me!

I have so many part painted models I keep meaning to get round to finishing...

 Geifer wrote:
Furballs for me. Since I suggested it I have little choice in the matter.

It’s also an older one that’s come close, but never made the cut. Which I think might be fun for pushing people’s skills a little, as fur/feathers/etc are a little outside most comfort zones.

I personally voted for Finish, as I’ve got a couple of stalled projects from prior comps that I need help with motivation to finish.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:
If the first one lets me finish previously started projects and still enter it, then that's the one for me!

I have so many part painted models I keep meaning to get round to finishing...

Let’s Finish This is getting it’s second chance, but I added the waiver for partially painted stuff for this try on the vote thread. While we do occasionally waive the 5 model count, I thought “why not other rules?” Seeing that one of the goals of this comp is to encourage motivation against the Pile of Shame, I though this would be a good time to try seeing what would happen if we suspended the “must start this month” rule.

Don't we always have something to finish?

Also I am not fond of throwing every rule out of the basket just because something has not been finished, if everyone can just enter stuff they only still need to finish up then how is it still a challenge?

I like theme's so I voted for bubblegum and have the perfect unopened package for it; a solitaire.

 Leopold Helveine wrote:

Also I am not fond of throwing every rule out of the basket just because something has not been finished, if everyone can just enter stuff they only still need to finish up then how is it still a challenge?

I’m sorry you are not happy with that.

“Challenge” is just part of the monthly painting event. We are more like a book club or knitting circle then a cutthroat painting competition. Mutual support and motivation are IMHO more important then dogmatic obedience to arbitrary rules. Every month there are a number of people who drop out, unable to complete their entry. This topic gives them a second chance. A little extra push to get something across the finish line. Which we all need. Is there a chance that someone will abuse this because I waved this rule? Yes. I’m willing to risk bad faith actors taking advantage of loopholes if it helps a lot of common hobbyists get the motivation they need to finish something. I know there are people who could use this, but only potentially people who can abuse it.

I know you dislike my lax handling of the rules. I have my reasons for playing fast and loose with them, which I try to explain when I do break/stretch them. Later this year I’m going to try to get another one (the photo limit) waived for a month to get people to focus on their photography. We’ll see how that does in the polls. Would have floated it this month, but ran out of space.

If "Let's Finish This!" wins, I'll finish the Avatar of Khaine, which was an entry from last April that I never finished.

 ShadowsAndDust wrote:
If "Let's Finish This!" wins, I'll finish the Avatar of Khaine, which was an entry from last April that I never finished.

A year is a long time to stare down an unfinished mini...

I also voted for Let's Finish This. I have a lot of boxes with just a few models left, waiting to join their painted-and-based bretheren.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Leopold Helveine wrote:

Also I am not fond of throwing every rule out of the basket just because something has not been finished, if everyone can just enter stuff they only still need to finish up then how is it still a challenge?

I’m sorry you are not happy with that.

“Challenge” is just part of the monthly painting event. We are more like a book club or knitting circle then a cutthroat painting competition. Mutual support and motivation are IMHO more important then dogmatic obedience to arbitrary rules. Every month there are a number of people who drop out, unable to complete their entry. This topic gives them a second chance. A little extra push to get something across the finish line. Which we all need. Is there a chance that someone will abuse this because I waved this rule? Yes. I’m willing to risk bad faith actors taking advantage of loopholes if it helps a lot of common hobbyists get the motivation they need to finish something. I know there are people who could use this, but only potentially people who can abuse it.

I know you dislike my lax handling of the rules. I have my reasons for playing fast and loose with them, which I try to explain when I do break/stretch them. Later this year I’m going to try to get another one (the photo limit) waived for a month to get people to focus on their photography. We’ll see how that does in the polls. Would have floated it this month, but ran out of space.

You throw another rule out every single month, I don't mind making exceptions etc however a challenge is clear; you get a theme and you try to nail that theme. How about you throw out all rules then and we can just enter models we've finished in the past because maybe there are people that can use that? Come on, be reasonable.

The most fun thing on this site has always been the -challenge- thread to push your limits and try something new. Without rules its just about scoring feel-good-points. Noone here really cares about the scoring as far as I know, neither do I' the enjoyment is in the journey.

Come on, Leo, you're exaggerating, Nev hasn't thrown out a rule every single month, nor is he suggesting throwing out all the rules. Any rule that has been 'broken' has been reinstated the following month. You have a particular idea of what the painting challenge should be, but other people may (in fact they're bound to) have a different view.

Personally, I care about the scoring, because it gives me an external measure of how my painting ability is progressing, an outside perspective that's free of my own unwittingly myopic view of my art. I also get a sense of achievement if I manage to break into the top three. If nobody cared about the scoring, there'd be no point having the scoring in the first place.

If anything, I feel like the comments after the voting are more about 'feel-good-points'. People only ever have positive comments to make about other people's work, which is understandable as nobody wants to offend, but I often wish I could get more critical responses to my work so I could see areas where others thought I could improve. I've tried to go down that route once or twice in the past with my own comments, but nobody ever seems to go with me on that, and I suspect people have thought me an idiot, or opinionated, or maybe even rude in the past for trying it.

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:
Come on, Leo, you're exaggerating, Nev hasn't thrown out a rule every single month, nor is he suggesting throwing out all the rules. Any rule that has been 'broken' has been reinstated the following month. You have a particular idea of what the painting challenge should be, but other people may (in fact they're bound to) have a different view.

Personally, I care about the scoring, because it gives me an external measure of how my painting ability is progressing, an outside perspective that's free of my own unwittingly myopic view of my art. I also get a sense of achievement if I manage to break into the top three. If nobody cared about the scoring, there'd be no point having the scoring in the first place.

If anything, I feel like the comments after the voting are more about 'feel-good-points'. People only ever have positive comments to make about other people's work, which is understandable as nobody wants to offend, but I often wish I could get more critical responses to my work so I could see areas where others thought I could improve. I've tried to go down that route once or twice in the past with my own comments, but nobody ever seems to go with me on that, and I suspect people have thought me an idiot, or opinionated, or maybe even rude in the past for trying it.

My point is that you cannot -improve- unless you are -challenged-.
The allure of the -challenge- thread is to be -challenged- and therefor to improve. If we can all just do whatever and its fine, then how is it still a challenge? How are we improving anything when cutting infinite corners down to the core.

Because it's for fun? It's a nice thing to do and the slight monthly pressure means someone is more likely to finish what they started and put time aside to paint for the challenge.

As Nev says, it's more like a knitting circle rather than a competition.

All out of Bubblegum
Because I just got this last week and ready to start cooking.

Even though I suggested Bubblegum, it wasn't with a mini in mind, I just thought it was funny - so I voted Let's Finish This, since it seems a fun variation on the contest. Might I suggest if it gets up, the proof pic is included with the finished pics in the eventual voting thread? I feel like even setting the 'unstarted minis only' rule aside, it'd still be good to be able to see what work was actually done during the contest month.

I agree with Daia (assuming it doesn’t create an undue amount of additional work for Nevelon), if we do relax the one color rule for the proof pic, it would be good to include the proof in the final voting thread to give an idea of the starting point.

Looks like “Let’s Finish This” gets the win. Bubblegum with get a second chance in May.

I’m not sure how I feel about having proof pics in the final vote thread. Seems like it would detract from the entries. That said, while I’m normally very lax on proof pics, I’m going to be a lot more strict on it this month, as it is a key part of the theme for those polishing off old projects.

 Nevelon wrote:
Looks like “Let’s Finish This” gets the win. Bubblegum with get a second chance in May.

I’m not sure how I feel about having proof pics in the final vote thread. Seems like it would detract from the entries. That said, while I’m normally very lax on proof pics, I’m going to be a lot more strict on it this month, as it is a key part of the theme for those polishing off old projects.

I'd like you to be very clear on the rules this month in the topic main post because I really get confused when anything is unclear.

 Leopold Helveine wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:
Looks like “Let’s Finish This” gets the win. Bubblegum with get a second chance in May.

I’m not sure how I feel about having proof pics in the final vote thread. Seems like it would detract from the entries. That said, while I’m normally very lax on proof pics, I’m going to be a lot more strict on it this month, as it is a key part of the theme for those polishing off old projects.

I'd like you to be very clear on the rules this month in the topic main post because I really get confused when anything is unclear.

I’ll do what I can to state what’s changing for this month.

If you plan to change the rules in the future, maybe at some point there could be challenge titled "think big" or something like that - big models, o something that requires much work but there will be two months to complete it.

 halfling84 wrote:
If you plan to change the rules in the future, maybe at some point there could be challenge titled "think big" or something like that - big models, o something that requires much work but there will be two months to complete it.

Nothing is off the table.

That said, going to something that spans more then one month is a big format change. I do like the concept of getting people out of their normal comfort zone, and scale is one of those things. Something like “size matters not” to encourage people to either go big (busts, large figure repaints, etc) or small (epic scale, other 6-8mm stuff) might be fun, and open enough not to exclude people.

 halfling84 wrote:
If you plan to change the rules in the future, maybe at some point there could be challenge titled "think big" or something like that - big models, o something that requires much work but there will be two months to complete it.

You could always start another challenge thread. I don't think it's still active, but the League of Extraordinary Riveters comp/challenge-- which was mostly for terrain-- ran for three months. I suspect you could find a number of entrants here on Dakka.

 Nevelon wrote:

 halfling84 wrote:
If you plan to change the rules in the future, maybe at some point there could be challenge titled "think big" or something like that - big models, o something that requires much work but there will be two months to complete it.

Nothing is off the table.

That said, going to something that spans more then one month is a big format change. I do like the concept of getting people out of their normal comfort zone, and scale is one of those things. Something like “size matters not” to encourage people to either go big (busts, large figure repaints, etc) or small (epic scale, other 6-8mm stuff) might be fun, and open enough not to exclude people.

Nah, a single month is plenty.
I'm not a particularly good painter, but i did a pair of knight styrix in a month, build and paint.
I recon a warlord titan is possible inside a month if the build part was done already.

 JoshInJapan wrote:

 halfling84 wrote:
If you plan to change the rules in the future, maybe at some point there could be challenge titled "think big" or something like that - big models, o something that requires much work but there will be two months to complete it.

You could always start another challenge thread. I don't think it's still active, but the League of Extraordinary Riveters comp/challenge-- which was mostly for terrain-- ran for three months. I suspect you could find a number of entrants here on Dakka.

I just wanted to reinforce this.

We here at the monthly challenge do not have an exclusive monopoly on running events. The LoER, while currently inactive, used to also run regularly (with multi-month schedules) But also people ran one-offs, like drunken speed paints, mantis warriors, or more that I’m forgetting/were before my time. We’ve also run at least one side gig here (SLAUGHTERPRIEST WITH HACKBLADE).

--

It’s a good idea, but honestly I’m not a fan of actually doing it for a few reasons. One is that it would disrupt the normal schedule, and I’m a big fan of maintaining routines. Another is that it is a restrictive topic. Your entry must be something, and a fairly well defined thing. Not everyone has something like that on their to-paint list, so how many people would skip the month? But in this case, they would be skipping 2 months. Ouch. I’m very sensitive to the fact that people have limited hobby budgets. I try to keep topics vague enough that someone can find something to match. Regardless of what they play. 40k, AoS, random RPG minis. You might need to stretch a bit, but should be able to make something work without going to hit the hobby store (or print, if that’s your thing) Asking for people to get a centerpiece model to paint is a big ask. Or go buy something exclusively for the comp, just as a painting exercise.

--

You know what? All this rambling over coffee has convinced me. Let’s do this as a side project! Not part of the monthly comp, but we’ll have a multi-month comp (not for points on the table, but just support/bragging rights) Same basic format otherwise. I think we should wait for the summer to start though. People’s lives are normally a little quieter with school out. I’ll post something in May and we’ll run it in June/July. Or do you think July/August would be better?

 SirDonlad wrote:


Nah, a single month is plenty.
I'm not a particularly good painter, but i did a pair of knight styrix in a month, build and paint.
I recon a warlord titan is possible inside a month if the build part was done already.

I have actually wondered wether I could do the Glottkin in one month.. probably not.

Hmmm, multi-month side challenge? Might motivate me to get some more terrain done.

 CancelledApocalypse wrote:


Personally, I care about the scoring, because it gives me an external measure of how my painting ability is progressing, an outside perspective that's free of my own unwittingly myopic view of my art. I also get a sense of achievement if I manage to break into the top three. If nobody cared about the scoring, there'd be no point having the scoring in the first place.

If anything, I feel like the comments after the voting are more about 'feel-good-points'. People only ever have positive comments to make about other people's work, which is understandable as nobody wants to offend, but I often wish I could get more critical responses to my work so I could see areas where others thought I could improve. I've tried to go down that route once or twice in the past with my own comments, but nobody ever seems to go with me on that, and I suspect people have thought me an idiot, or opinionated, or maybe even rude in the past for trying it.

I also appreciate receiving feedback, but am reluctant to give any myself, as I don't feel that I'm sufficiently advanced to offer advice.

So, I do have a Hive tyrant that was sleeping on a cupboard that only has been basecoated with its appropriate pallet of fleet Gorgon and minimally drybrushed.. and also still needs some limbs to be attached etc etc, and ofcourse its base has not been done yet.

Would that be eligible for next month (nevelon)? :

 Leopold Helveine wrote:
So, I do have a Hive tyrant that was sleeping on a cupboard that only has been basecoated with its appropriate pallet of fleet Gorgon and minimally drybrushed.. and also still needs some limbs to be attached etc etc, and ofcourse its base has not been done yet.

Would that be eligible for next month (nevelon)? :

If you want to use the comp as a motivation to finish it, and feel it would be a good focus for a month’s work, go for it!

Different people have different levels of skill and motivation, and we welcome them all here. There are people who post WIPs I’d be proud to call finished, but for them there is a lot of work left. I know I’ve stalled out on projects that only had a couple sessions at the workbench left, but could not muster the motivation to get done. It look like you’ve got a solid start there, but it’s obviously not finished.

I’m not here to judge, just be supportive. If you feel that’s a good entry for you, then run with it. You know you better then I do. It will fit the technical rules of the challenge as modified for the month.

 Nevelon wrote:

 Leopold Helveine wrote:
So, I do have a Hive tyrant that was sleeping on a cupboard that only has been basecoated with its appropriate pallet of fleet Gorgon and minimally drybrushed.. and also still needs some limbs to be attached etc etc, and ofcourse its base has not been done yet.

Would that be eligible for next month (nevelon)? :

If you want to use the comp as a motivation to finish it, and feel it would be a good focus for a month’s work, go for it!

Different people have different levels of skill and motivation, and we welcome them all here. There are people who post WIPs I’d be proud to call finished, but for them there is a lot of work left. I know I’ve stalled out on projects that only had a couple sessions at the workbench left, but could not muster the motivation to get done. It look like you’ve got a solid start there, but it’s obviously not finished.

I’m not here to judge, just be supportive. If you feel that’s a good entry for you, then run with it. You know you better then I do. It will fit the technical rules of the challenge as modified for the month.

It's very far from finished
I have the same indicator on my hive fleet so I want it to look like the rest of them, as for instance the biovore I did for another chal.
I will reserve that wip then for the next month's thread.

Currently trying to finish my 20 sisters of the hunt (I seriously regret buying them sigh) currently basecoating their bows, most of their bodies are alraedy finished, also still need to do 20 freaking heads (aos type nanoparticle eyes included) and did not want to enter that for april because I hate working on these units. I sometimes hoped I would be hit with a burglary who would then steal them so I didn't have to finish them.

The Tyrant I actually like working on, its a crazy kitbash.