Tale of Painters - NEW PROJECT SIGNUP

[Cyric the Mad]

Well folks, it's about time to start taking signups for the next Tale of Painters project!

For those of you who have been involved with the first two projects, this one will be slightly different. This project will tack on to the 2nd company project. The specs for this new project are:

Please note: Points values in this project are represented as "40k/FB (Hordes/Warmachine/LotR)"
-- So if you see 1000 (500) it means 1000 points for 40k and Fantasy armies, and 500 points for Privateer Press and Lord of the Rings armies. --

• LEGAL 1000 (500) point armies
• 200 (100) points per month
• First deadline: November 15th, 2008
• Last deadline: April 15th, 2009
• 1 joker to use in the 6 month period
• Since this tacks on to the 2nd Company project, the deadline for entries is the 15th of each month at 11:59 PM MST (GMT-6).

And just to make things more confusing, there are three types of entries to this project:

• New Entries: The basic rules apply - A legal 1,000 (500) point army, 200 (100) points per month
• Current 2nd Company Entries: You may enter an additional 1,000 (500) point army if you wish, but the two armies must stand alone
• 1st Company Members who have completed the 1st Co. Project: You may either start a fresh new 1,000pt list, or increase the size of your existing force to 3,000 points with this project.
  • 40k painters may add Apocalypse units and formations
  • Fantasy Battles painters may add allied units or monstrous hordes, per the Legendary Battles rules

So when you sign up for this project, please list your username, if you are entering for 40k, Warmachine, Hordes, or Fantasy, the army you are entering, and whether you are a new entry (brand new list), an additional entry (2nd company entrant starting an additional list), or an add-on (1st company completer adding to your list). For example, mine will look like this:

Originally Posted by Sample Entry

Cyric the Mad
40k
Dark Angels
Add-on

This all feels like it might be kind of confusing, so questions are welcome. This project is meant to get all of the current Tale of Painters entrants on the same schedule and will be a bit of a nightmare of record keeping for me, but definitely worth it in the end.

Now for some rules:


---------------------------
THE RULES:
Tale of Painters is a project designed to encourage you to work consistently toward a completed army. The project includes monthly goals for a time determined by the size of the project.

The Tale of Painters project is divided into two groups – Fantasy and Sci-Fi. The currently accepted game systems and their goal (in points) per month are:

Fantasy
Warhammer Fantasy Battles (200/month)
Hordes (100/month)
Lord of the Rings (100/month)

Sci-Fi
Warhammer 40,000 (200/month)
Warmachine (100/month)

The final goal of this project is a fully painted legal army. At the end of the project you will be asked to present your army and list, including any fluff you’ve written for your army or insight you’d like to share about the project. Entrants are currently limited to one entry per project – that is, if you enter a 40k army you can’t also enter a Hordes army. The reason for this is to prevent burnout as much as anything else.

Since people have real lives with real problems and unforeseen events, each entrant starts the project with 1 joker per 6 months of the project. These Jokers can be used as free months during the project, allowing you more time to work on a complicated model, or as a fallback for the months that you just can’t hit the deadline. If you miss a deadline after using your jokers, you are disqualified from the project.

A new thread will be opened on the last day of each month (and will remain open for a week) for each painter to post one, and only one post with the next 200 (100) point ‘update’ for the army they are painting and a picture of the army to date.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q : Is it a competition?
A : Not as such. The painters are only really competing against themselves (and all the other challenges and distractions in life which regularly get in the way of painting an army). However, at the end everyone still involved in the thread (IE everyone who completes a 1000 (500) point army). Will be asked to choose their favorites in the following categories:

• Best painted Army
• Best themed Army
• Best converted Army
• Most Improved Painter
• Best General (IE Character model)
• Best joker or Best excuse used during the competition.

Q. Can I still join even though the project has already begun?
A. New entrants may join the even so long as there are jokers (free passes for the month) to cover the time they have missed. If the project includes two jokers and the project is passed its third deadline, it is too late to enter. In all cases, please PM the mod running the project for late registration for the project.

Q. How to the Jokers work?
A. Jokers are used as a pass for any given month. If you have nothing to enter, you may play one of your jokers and be forgiven. Additionally, if you fail to post at all in that month, I will use one of your jokers to cover you. A clever excuse or accompanying image (or both) are expected.

There are a set amount of Jokers handed out at the beginning of the project – one per 1,000 (500) points. If you have used all of your jokers and subsequently fail to meet any deadline, you will be dropped from the project.

Q. What if I paint less than 200 (100) points in a month?
A. The idea is to motivate you to paint, so as long as you have something new to show, nobody will come down on you too hard. However, multiple months of falling short of the deadline will put you in a rough spot at the end of the project. Remember, even if you enter something each month, if you don’t complete a legal list by the end, you don’t complete the project. Entering just a few points worth will save you from having to use a joker, but will hurt in the long run if you don’t make up the points.

Q. What if I paint more than 200 (100) points in a month?
A. Please make your entry for the month as close to 200 (100)pts as possible without breaking up units. If you paint more than 200 (100) points in a month, good for you. However, to avoid discouraging others, please stick as closely as possible to the goal.

The ONLY exception to this is entrants who are behind on their painting and entering more than 200 (100) points to catch up. Please state so clearly in your post if this is the case.

Q. What if I enter a model that is worth 400+ points? Do I get a free month?
A. No. The purpose of the project is not to enter as many points as possible and then ride a few free months. The idea here is to get you working steadily on an army. If you enter a single model or unit worth 400 points or more, you will still be required to either enter 200 points in the following month, or play a joker. Jokers can also be used to buy you an extra month to work on such models.

Q. Are there special exceptions based on the number of models or the size of model I have to paint?
A. No. This means that a goblin army is more difficult to finish than a High Elf army, but this would be true regardless of your participation in the project. Making it solely points-based is the easiest way to keep it as fair as possible.

Q. Can I switch armies mid-way during the project?
A. Like joining after the project has begun, you may switch armies as long as you have enough jokers to cover the months you spent painting the previous army. Points spent painting the army you abandon will not count toward the army you switch to.

Q. I’ve jokered out of the project and want back in. What can I do?
A. Most times, once you’re out – you’re out! However, in cases of uncontrollable circumstance, you may petition to entire project to be forgiven. Should you wish to do so, you will have to post in the following month’s thread a world-class explanation, after which it will be put to a vote and your peers will decide if you may re-join. If you re-join, you will have to make up the non-joker months you missed by the next deadline.

Q : What if I have an army I have already started?
A : As this is a motivational tool and not a way of life, it is to be expected that not everyone will have fresh armies to start from. As long as your army isn’t halfway completed already, I don’t think anyone will mind if you have a bit of a head start. This is all on the honor system, so we’re taking your word that you have put in an honest month’s work on your entries.

Q : Does my post have to be pictures only?
A : No. Posts may include background or explanations of theme or any other information you wish to include n support of your photo’s. (Maybe even a bit of literature for those into writing about there characters/units) but none of this is compulsory.

It MUST include at least one picture of that months 200 (100) point update AND one picture of the complete army to date.

It MUST also include the description, from the appropriate army book of the unit or characters including any equipment, magic items or wargear etc., and points costs involved AND the total points value of the army to date. (To ensure people aren’t falling behind or racing ahead too much).

Think of these posts as the 'edited highlights' for those who just want to see where we are up to.

Q : Do I need to post an army list?
A : No. Not everybody writes an army list at the start of a project and then sticks to it rigidly. Some people let the army list ‘evolve’ as they collect and paint their figures. The army list is constantly developing as the army expands. As long as you post the points for the units you have done as you go along so we can see the army taking shape you do not need to post the whole list up front. However, remember that the goal is a legal army.

Q : Do I have to set up a project log for this?
A : There is nothing stopping people having their own project Log for their work. But maintaining a thread should not be seen as compulsory or even contributing to this 'working thread'. If individuals just want to pitch up once a month and say 'here you go guys this is what I have done this month' and then clear off again till next month and have nothing more to do with it that is cool. Different people will have different amounts of interest and enthusiasm for this project and have different amounts of time to give to it.

Q : Does it matter that I have already started a project and have some units based and undercoated and have even started painting some?
A : There will be as many different starting points as painters. I think we must all accept that. We cannot expect anyone to start a brand new project just for this. As long as people do not have a half painted army! I have no way of monitoring what people do so it must be left to 'trust' and 'honour'. If everyone tries to enter the 'spirit' of this undertaking. It will be fine. I trust that everyone who has found or been invited to this thread will try and do just that.

Some people will paint an addition to something they have already started. Some people will 'confess' in their commentary that the mini(s) they are posting were started 12 months ago but completed for this. Some people will apologize that the first unit they are posting was completed before this officially started because they were already beginning a new army. etc, etc.

All this is OK. I don't want anyone to feel they have to start a brand new army or that they are disqualified from taking part because they have already painted a block of Night Goblins. I hope everybody else is cool with the relaxed attitude towards this. This is a bit of fun to help motivate all of us to get some painting done and a get a completed army on the table.

[Jaxsem]

Jaxsem
40k
Khorn Skull Claimers

This sounds like fun and hopefully encourage me to paint more.

[ShadowZora13]

ShadowZora13
40k
Death Guard
New Entry

Sounds like its shaping up to be a good new start. Very comprehensive rules you wrote too, cyric. Good job.

[Tekore]

Tekore
Fantasy
Bretonnia
Add-On

Thanks a ton, Cyric, these things are the best idea on the forums, and you make them happen. I get the "You can't give Cyric any more rep for now" option coming up quite often.

Tekore

[Walex]

Walex
Fantasy
Dogs of war
New Entry

[xbanditsx]

What's the deadline to sign up for this? I'd like to get in with some Marines, but I want to make sure I get the Elves done first.

[Cyric the Mad]

Apologies, folks. I had my months wrong in the original post (which has now been fixed).

The only real deadline to enter is to have 200 points submitted by the first deadline. Just to be clear:

First deadline is November 15th, 2008
This gives you some extra time to get your first month ready, and you ToP1 guys don't have to cram out your models two weeks after your project ends.

[Sangren]

Sangren
Fantasy
Warriors of Chaos
New Entry


Thanks for setting this all up! Hopefully by the Nov 15th deadline, Warriors of Chaos will be shaped into it's new edition and I can get some stuff settled.

[Sam16]

This is perfect incentive for me to carry on painting the Goblinz

Sam16
Fantasy
Goblins
New Entry

Thanks for setting this up!

[warmonkey]

Apocalyptic Fury!

Warmonkey
40k
Black Legion
Add On

Gonna go make me my Baneblade!