Hobby Pledges 2026

[lawnor]

It’s  December, so it’s time to put this out there once again (Last years page for reference).  It’s that time of the year when I start thinking about my hobby progress for the current year and my hobby goals for the next year.

As some of you may know, for the past few years I’ve been running a thread like this, this, this, this, this, this, or this.  This is a communal place to post your hobby new years resolutions. Please set yourself some goals below, add them to the spreadsheet and post your progress across the year here.  If we can all see each others progress towards these goals then it provides encouragement and motivation for us all.  I’m looking at the progress sheet for 2025 (2025 tab at the bottom) and I can see a lot of progress ongoing, and I’ve seen lots of results in the thread, although it’s been a bit quieter than past years.  I know I’ve been focusing more on playing that painting so I’ve had less to show off in posts.  There’s been a lot of great work though.

Here are some guidelines:

• Set yourself some realistic hobby goals for 2025, allowing yourself plenty of wiggle room to buy and focus on new stuff because its going to happen.  For example, I usually paint just north of 300 models a year, but I realise I’ve slowed down now I’m out of bulk paintables so in the past I’ve try to pledge under 150, but I’m aiming for well below 100 this year, but with contingencies to grow, depending on what I’m playing and what arrives when.  It’s early December right now and I’ve finished all the goals I could, except the paint-more-than-I-gain one.  Black Friday messed that up for me, but its a WIP.
• Don’t let this force you to do things you don’t want to do, or to paint faster or harder than you are comfortable.  It’s meant to add encouragement and fun to the hobby only, not to ruin it for you.
• Feel free to change your pledge as time goes by to keep it attainable and fun.
• Consider adding conditions, such as “I’ll only aim for this if my KS arrives before July” to give yourself options and breathing space.
• You know those models you’ve been putting off painting for a while?  Perhaps they intimidate you?  Perhaps they’re a lot of work?  Pledge to get them done.  Setting yourself a deadline and allowing yourself to feel publicly accountable for missing it can be the push you need to get them done.
• If you pledge something open ended like “hit 100% complete in my Tyranid army by the end of 2025”, do not count models gained in December 2025.  That’s not realistic, or fair on yourself.
• Don’t be afraid to change your pledge as the situation changes.  Once again, it’s meant to be fun, not a burden.  I know mine will not be static until the start of the new year at least.  I’m still working out what my goals want to be.  They largely depend on what Kickstarters arrive when.  I know I want to embrace playing more.

Anyway, here’s the link to the editable shared Pledge Spreadsheet for 2026 (2026 tab at bottom).  Get thinking about what you want to achieve, and add yourself, and post a summary below.  Tweak as you see fit until the start of the new year.  Check out last years post and sheet for examples, and my pledge below.

Let me know if the links don’t work or aren’t editable.  They work for me but it’s my sheet.

• This topic was modified 1 month, 1 week ago by lawnor.

[lawnor]

Here’s my pledges, which are still a bit of a WIP right now so expect some changes over the next few weeks:

 

Gaming pledges

1: Play a Campaign of KDM, Earthborne Rangers, Stargrave, or Rangers of Shadow Deep etc
2: Play a Campaign of KDM, Earthborne Rangers, Stargrave, or Rangers of Shadow Deep etc

—Optional extras
3: Play a Campaign of KDM, Earthborne Rangers, Stargrave, or Rangers of Shadow Deep etc
4: Win Black Knight Campaign
5: Any other mini campaigns that arrive
6: Complete KDM Nukalope Vignette

 

Hobby Pledges

7: Paint at least as many models as I gain
8: If a faction/game starts the year 100% painted it should end the year 100% painted
9: Do not paint prebuilt board game minis unless I’m sure I game will get enough play for it to be worth my time, or I just really want to.  I have Reichbusters Reloaded, 12 Sins of Herakles, and Enormity turning up at some point.  Maybe this year?  I’ll probably paint the Reichbusters expansions as the core game is already painted, but the rest I’ll wait and see.  I expect 12 Sins to be played once only, so isn’t worth the time and effort, unless I want to.  I’m not sure on the replay value of Enormity.  I wanted to back for standees, but the only did models for the expansions.
10: Allow more time for other hobbies without abandoning painting (I may have developed a slight addiction to EVE)
11: Treat KDM pinups and 30mm painters pieces as modular minis. Once I know what weapons I want them to hold, modify them, then paint them.  Do not count them in my totals until I know how I will build them.
12: Paint any unlocked Frosthaven minis (10/(10+?) done)
”

—Optional extras

13: Have no unpainted non-modular gaming pieces left by the end of the year, ignoring anything that arrives in December

Actual Models from above already in queue:
KDM Red Witches Expansion
KDM Pariah Expansion
KDM Nukalope
KDM Black Friday Purchases (17 models)
KDM Messenger of Humanity
KDM Death Drifter

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by lawnor.

[pagan8th 13578xp 2]

Given my abject failure at pledges this year, I feel that I should set the bar low.

1) Find a way to enjoy being a GM.

2) Get through a session with someone else as GM and not be bored.

3) Paint something I am proud of.

4) Play some games.

5) Enjoy life more.

[zoidpinhead 12765xp 2]

I’ve been giving this some thought and am aware that my enthusiasm to get loads done seldom equals my time or ability across the hobby year.  Nevertheless I’m going to try to go large and hope that minor irritations like selling my house and moving don’t get in the way of the really important things 😀

Main pledge:

• Paint at least 365 28mm miniatures (or equivalent) in 2026

Side quests:

• Paint a Trench Crusade force, make my trench terrain and play the game
• Finish my current army project – Fae Elves
• Complete upgrading the main Slaine project armies to 300 points for Midgard
• Assemble and paint the Krieg forces I’ll get for Christmas and my birthday
• Paint one of the historical armies I assembled in 2025, (Carthaginians possibly?)

As we go through the year I find any reports or pictures of everyone’s progress very inspiring.  Do join us if you haven’t had a go before.  Good hobby in 2026 everyone.

[lawnor]

@pagan8th It sounds like Roleplay perhaps isn’t for you?  There’s nothing wrong with that.  We like what we like.  We can’t control that.

• This reply was modified 1 month ago by lawnor.

[pagan8th 13578xp 2]

I’ve been GM and player for 40 years (mostly GM) and I used to like it, but over the last few years the fun has faded.

[lawnor 25981xp 1]

That’s a shame.  Maybe a break would do you good?  Or a new system?

[grantinvanman 8007xp 2]

Pledges for 2026:

1. take less commissions and paint for myself. Deal with the mountains of minis I have.

2. actually game with my stuff

 

3. think about selling off some of the mountain if it’s not doing it for me.

that’s my 2026 goalset.

[lawnor 25981xp 2]

Sell it off?  That looks like a shop display already and I’m pretty sure you’re better stocked than many FLGS’s.

[grantinvanman 8007xp 2]

@lawnor lol it is my walk in closet/hobby space. Well organized, and I had a good year doing commissions which paid for most of it.

All the books for the games are in a separate area, and take up almost as much space…

[sundancer 44204xp 2]

When I left the Bundeswehr I had some time to myself. First two months I watched every DVD I could get my hands on. After the third month I started working as a bouncer in a club because I needed something to keep me busy XD

Sudden influx of spare time can hit differently when you’re on your own suddenly

[grantinvanman 8007xp 0]

@sundancer did you watch “A Bridge Too Far” and cheer every time the British Airborne were shocked to find Bittrich’s troops at the bridge? Because that’s a high point for the Germans, and a low point for British Intelligence. Huzzah!

[pagan8th 13578xp 1]

i don’t turn on TV until about 7pm most days, unless i’m playing a game for an hour.

[grantinvanman 8007xp 0]

@pagan8th I’m the opposite: I watch what I am into on streaming in the morning over breakfast, and then get on with my day.

Although, to be fair, I used to bike in the mornings, until I got out of shape, by getting hurt playing hockey.

[sundancer 44204xp 1]

@grantinvanman  I probably have seen that movie at some point prior to that period in a late night screening on linear TV but I couldn’t tell you what’s it’s all about. Most WW II games blurr to a “a lot of guns, Germans/Japanes bad, everything goes boom” at some point. Noticeable exception: “Kelly’s Heroes” They all just want to make a fuckton on money and leave the war.

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