Data Sphere

So I've been trying to get the motivation to paint the plethora of Infinity miniatures I have, and was wondering; would anyone like to do an Oath thread?

If you've never heard of them, its basically where a bunch of people come together to agree to paint x amount of miniatures in y amount of time and post pictures. The intent is to be an encouragement to each other, and maybe even share tips on how someone can improve.

Issues I can see is some people take longer to paint than others, so setting the challenge would probably be monthly rather than weekly. Also, these usually have prize support(via a raffle), but I don't really have anything to offer in that regard. Perhaps we could do categories, like Single Miniature, Group, etc?

Anyway, this is an interest check, so let me know if you're interested.

I'd been involved in a Yearly Painting Challenge on another forum, and you had to produce completed minis every 3 months. Sadly, Real Life(tm) got in the way, so I had to drop out of the contest. As far as I know, the only rewards for the peer-voted best mini or collection in the entire forum was a forum ribbon to show off how many of the painting contests you had participated in.

They also do smaller, shorter term contests. Sometimes it's a month or more, sometimes it's 2 weeks or less. The smaller contests are themed, so you can do something like "Objectives" or "TAGs." Build and paint one TAG in a month or so.

Section9 wrote: Build and paint one TAG in a month or so.

Looks at the Gecko box sitting on his workshop since late May

I am participating in the Mayacast contest where you paint a 300 point army by the end of November. Once that one ends, I would participate in something here. Monthly sounds good.

I'd love it, even if I fail most of them because of being lazy various circumstances outside my control

ed: well, there's always a "ban me if I don't finish in time" clause

I'm all for painting challenges! I just did WGC's month (and a half) long challenge to assemble and paint a 300 point list.

I've got a couple things needing to be painted. Let's try to organize something for November?

"No Shave Just Paint November"

I'm down.

Red

Claudius Sol wrote:I'm all for painting challenges! I just did WGC's month (and a half) long challenge to assemble and paint a 300 point list.

I've got a couple things needing to be painted. Let's try to organize something for November?

"No Shave Just Paint November"

Can't do the no shave thing, but I am definitely game for a simple-ish contest. Say, one TAG or maybe a link team of 3-5. Pilot/operator model optional, though I'd also be game for pilot/operator model required.

Errhile wrote:

Section9 wrote: Build and paint one TAG in a month or so.

Looks at the Gecko box sitting on his workshop since late May

Don't feel bad, I have an Anaconda in primer staring at me that I had ninja-shopped at Gencon when they were the early release!

I'd be up for it. Maybe something simple like '50 pts a month?'

Would also be up for this, sounds interesting.

I'd stopped painting my Haqqislam for a couple of weeks to try and get some work done on my Space Hulk terminators but I'd like to have a bit more of an incentive to get painting them again (I just bought 3-4 packs to expand my Haqqislam and it seems a bit overawing atm)

Need to move in another flat and then I'm in.
@Section9
My converted Mangler (Warmachine Mercs heavy warjack) sits on the shelf for more than 6 years. I've already oathed to paint him several times, but haven't decided the colours yet.

I think I'll post something about this in the miniatures section later, after we've ironed out all the details.

So... Let's have a bit of a painting campaign! One model a month? We each vote on the "best" model or the "most improved" model, perhaps? After a long campaign (6 months or something) we close all the votes (based on the painter, not the models) and declare a winner?

I'll try talking with Scorch and see what we could do to offer a prize or something to the winner and make this an official Data-Sphere contest.

Sound savvy, everyone?

This sounds great! Looking forward to it.

Red

Splod wrote:I'd be up for it. Maybe something simple like '50 pts a month?'

Not a good idea. 5 Algulaciles require way more time than a single Hac Tao.
If you want to do it that way - go for model size categories.

Maybe instead of using the point values we use the Silhouette values. So say 6 "points" a month for example could be 3 S2 models, 2 S3 models, or 1 S7 model.

@Wookie
Good point!

@Claudius
This would be very tempting!

Claudius Sol wrote:I think I'll post something about this in the miniatures section later, after we've ironed out all the details.

So... Let's have a bit of a painting campaign! One model a month? We each vote on the "best" model or the "most improved" model, perhaps? After a long campaign (6 months or something) we close all the votes (based on the painter, not the models) and declare a winner?

I'll try talking with Scorch and see what we could do to offer a prize or something to the winner and make this an official Data-Sphere contest.

Sound savvy, everyone?

Yeah, I'm game for that!

Maybe I will even figure out how to take photos of my minis...

Section9 wrote:Maybe I will even figure out how to take photos of my minis...

You want a few pointers?

Starting to be put off if it involves me painting 3-4 models a month as I'm unlikely to be able to do that.

One model a month sounds realistic and hopefully we'd get less drop outs that way?

Happy for it to be more but I wouldn't be able to join in at least if it got to much more than that

I was thinking something a little less formal, and if there were prizes, make it random for participation; otherwise the same couple of guys are ALWAYS gonna get Best category.

Maybe do themed months? Of course, make sure its a theme every one can do.(Motorcycle March would leave a few people out, for example). Like Team Spirit Month(Cheerleader), Innawoods Month(camo models), etc.

Could make the theme not mandatory, but gets you an extra entry into the drawing(One for Completing the Monthly Oath, one for Fitting theme, two max)? Just an idea.

Themes sound good to me, what do we want to start with? I'm good with team spirit (3 man link).

Red

I am also down with that, as I was intending to put paint to these O:I guys.

Hero of Man wrote:Maybe do themed months? Of course, make sure its a theme every one can do.(Motorcycle March would leave a few people out, for example). Like Team Spirit Month(Cheerleader), Innawoods Month(camo models), etc.

Themed is always more interesting.

We could even do a separate category for deployables and/or markers, since I prefer modeled camo-markers to the plain paper ones (or even the nice ones from Warsenal)

I like the idea, but I am still waiting for my minis...

We're working it out amongst all the staff right now and trying to figure out the most fair way to determine winners and such.

Themes are a great idea that I'll likely be implementing, but I don't want to potentially limit people from entering, either. Any sort of theme is potentially limiting to people. We're still working it out on what to do.

You can look forward to this contest in January, likely.
Of course, don't let that stop you from painting until then!

Anyway, just letting you guys know that we're working on getting this organized.

This sounds interesting since I just picked up a bunch of Haqqislam as my first foray into the wonderful world of Infinity.

Welcome to the community! As much as it pains me to suggest this: You might want to hold off on painting beyond a simple priming/preshading. EDIT: Unless you'd like to get in practice beforehand! Go ahead and paint!

As a general update: We're still working out the kinks, but most of the staff seem to like the idea. I'll try to keep you all posted.

Well this escalated further than I expected.

I was just throwing around the idea of a monthly thing, just to get myself motivated to paint. Might still just post that thread anyway; I have enough unpainted stuff/variety to match whatever theme we'll have for the contest.