Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Painting Competitions... Oh My Goodness!

Ten days ago, in my capacity as US Editor of Wargames Illustrated magazine, I ran the "Wargames Illustrated Presents The Historicon Painting Competition". Thanks to all the wonderful promotion work done by many folks before the event, we had 130 entries! That's more than the Crystal Brush had in 2012 (and they were offering $13,000 in prizes). While certainly not all our entries were the same quality as the CB comp, we had plenty of lovingly crafted miniatures in our cases. So many we had to build our back-up case just 15 minutes after entries opened. It can only grow from here : )

Anyway, to take a look at the winning entries, just click HERE.

Then, last Friday, I went on down to Memphis for the North American Games Day for 2013. After some calculations and reminiscing, I worked out I've attended 39 Games Days in my 40 short years (5 in Australia, 2 in Canada, 3 in England, and 29 in the US). I've only missed to of these cool events since I've been in America (both in 2005).

This year the event promised to be a wonderful reinvention of Games Day, a re-imagining if you will.

It was much like the other 38 Games Days I've attended. Was I disappointed by that? No. In my humble opinion, if you're promoting all the various aspects of "GW Hobby" at a GW Games Day, then you're probably doing it right. Cycle out some of your older events, introduce some new ones, bring back the old ones in a few years, once they have a champion to make them fresh again. Ebb and flow, that kind of thing.

Amusingly enough, I had half a dozen GW staffers ask me what I thought of the new Games Day. I don't think they were too surprised when I expressed the opinion above.

But you all know I go to GD primarily to catch up with old friends, meet new friends, and talk all day about cool toy soldiers. That was all achieved this year, so a win in my book : )

Additionally I was lucky enough to pick up a Silver Demon for my Lamenters Contemptor Dreadnought. It was nice to get another Demon. After my drought the last few years I was starting to think I was "over the hill". 

UPDATE: HERE's a link to the photobucket of my friend Brice, who captured many of the entries on camera. 


And now, it's back to the grind ; )

Cheers
Dave

20 comments:

  1. Glad to hear your Contemptor made silver, it is much deserved, rarely do you see yellow so nicely achieved.

    38 Gamesdays?! That is a crazy number; I have probably only been to about 5, all in Baltimore. It is a shame they do not hold them at the convention center there anymore. Many good memories...

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  2. Congratulations on your Golden Demon, hows work on the rest of the army progressing?

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    1. Thanks Ed. As for the rest of the Lamenters army,it has been on hold since Adepticon.

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  3. Congrats and really nice post.
    Lots of cool entries in the comp.

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    1. Good question. I might cover that in my next post ; )

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  5. Grats Dave! And thanks for the links for us that did not get to go.
    cheers
    Ths

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  6. Congrats! I still miss the GTs the way they used to be (last great one that I went was the one you ran in Chicago :) )

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  7. Congrats on your silver demon mate! ;)

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    1. Thanks mate, best of luck with your Open entry this year : )

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  8. To come away with a silver at that level of competition is fantastic. Well done Dave.
    Cheers,
    Pat.

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    1. Thanks Pat, I an very happy. Now I just have to work harder for next year ; )

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