The Road Ahead in 2024

While I have not put down a formal prospectus for my New Year's goals for several years, I figured this year I would make an exception and return to an old tradition.  Having thrived on vague objectives in the past, I offer a little more clarity on what 2024 might hold on the wargaming front.

Battles to Fight
On the miniatures' gaming front, 2023 saw an unprecedented number of games played.  The final count reached 103.  Certainly, the most gaming in a single year for me but not too far ahead of 2022's 89 games or 2021's 97 games.

Playing more than one hundred games in any year is a big undertaking.  With this volume, other hobby areas suffer.  For 2024, I ought to dial back the number of games played.  What is a more sustainable number?  Since gaming emphasis has seen a shift to more hosting and game preparation takes extra time and effort, I put down 70 games played as a target for the year.  That works out to a little less than three games every two weeks.  I am already off to a poor start since no games have seen the table thus far in 2024.

2023 saw the fighting of large, historical battles multiple times with a variety of different teams of players.  2024 will continue this trend.  The 1744 WAS Battle of Madonna dell'Olmo remains out on the table for more replays once I have returned to full strength.  With one playing in the books, I can see this battle being refought a few more times before packing it away.  After that wraps up, there will be more battles to plan and field.  Thoughts of fighting an operational campaign with remote players has been a recurring thought.  The campaign would feature PBeM for the operational aspects with major battles resolved on the gaming table in miniature.  Top of the list is the notion of refighting the 1796-1797 Napoleonic campaigns in Northern Italy.  We will see if I make any headway or find interest in this venture.   
   
What other periods to consider?  Having many collections, sifting through all of the available options is difficult.  Narrowing choices down to a few periods and rules is a challenge.  While a number of my collections saw action in 2023, still, several did not.  Perhaps an attempt at working some of these overlooked collections into the gaming rotation would be good?  With SYW/WAS painting still going strong, expect more battles in these periods to hit the table.  Napoleonics were neglected in 2023.  Having three distinct Napoleonic collections, perhaps, at least one of them can get to the table.  I have been looking forward to getting my FRW collection out on the table, perhaps, this is the year?  The notion of a campaign game as mentioned above would tie in nicely and kill two birds with one stone. The Great Italian Wars collection has not hit the table in more years than I recall.  I need to rectify this situation in 2024.  Getting my untested WotR project out on table for its first battle would be fun too but whaich rules?

Despite making an effort to bring some of these neglected collections to the table, expect to see Ancients coming to the table in regular rotation whether that is in the form of Sumerians, Biblicals, or Punic Wars.  The Basic Impetvs games in 2023 were a blast.  I want that fun to continue.  The BI games are quickly brought to the table without a lot of preparation and research.  Maybe another ACW battle will be singled out for study?  I really am spoiled for choice.  Looking at the boxes of figures, I do not even remember the last time my French & Indian Wars collection saw action.  Same goes for the WWII collections.   

Figures to Paint
2023 saw an expansion of the SYW/WAS projects.  The French were begun in 2022 with Spanish, Hanoverians, and Piedmontese mustering out in 2023.  Plenty of work remains on building up these armies.  Expect more 18mm SYW/WAS units to march out in the New Year to continue filling in the ranks.  In addition to the armies mentioned above, perhaps British or Jacobites could slip into the production queue?

Biblicals (and Sumerians) will continue to see action at the painting desk.  If I could make a sizable dent in The Lead Pile on these fronts, maybe I can reach the Trojan stratum in 2024?  Maybe.  Still plenty of Assyrians, Babylonians, Hittites, and Sumerians remain to be painted.  The planned expansion of the Franco-Austrian War project to include the Franco-Prussian War has remained stalled for several years.  In anticipation of launching a Prussian project in 2023, more figures came in house.  With an ample supply of figures, I really ought to get serious and get on with painting Prussians.

Now, not all of these plans can be fulfilled in 2024 especially since other units tend to slip into the painting queue to help break up any monotony.  Making a start on at least some of these would be a good step forward.  One goal I would like to tackle is shifting to a more equal mix of 15/18mm and 25/28mm figures.  2023 was decidedly geared towards fielding 18mm units.  I would like to see that mix shift to include more of the larger figures.  

For number of painted figures to target, I had trouble reaching 1,000 figures in 2023.  Given that, I may dial that goal back a bit.  Reaching 750 painted figures especially with a redirection toward 25/28mm seems doable.  I can reassess at midyear and see where the counts stand.  That goal may move back up.

One goal never made before is to actively attempt to shrink The Lead Pile.  While placing a moratorium on figure purchases is unlikely (especially if Newline Designs offers the regular January sale), let me see if I can manage to paint more than I buy.     

Rules to Design, Develop, Test
Having been playing Fields of Honor for a number of years with frequent outings on the table, 2024 may be the year that I work to move the rules from my revisions contained on QRS to a codified body of rules.  A coherent body of text with detailed design notes may help players (and me!) understand the design philosophy underlying the rules.  2024 saw the rules used in several settings including SYW/WAS, ACW, AWI, and FAW.  While all share a common game engine, each maintains its own feel.

Boardgames to Explore
Each year I hope to rekindle my enjoyment of regular boardgaming sessions.  Like prior years, it did not happen.  For 2024, I want to focus some of the slack gained from reducing painting and gaming output toward hex-and-counter wargaming.

One of my favorite types of board wargaming is refighting historical operational campaigns.  WWII operations top this list.  Games under consideration include some oldies along with current offerings.  Topping this list for further study include a return to MMP's Operation Combat Series, a first look at Clash of Arms' Winter Storm Series, and a return Jack Radey's Eastern Front Series but in a new setting.  Each of these games require a lot of study.  I would also enjoy giving MMP's Battalion Combat Series a try.  

Blogging
Like clockwork, 2023 saw 120 posts yet again.  Updates posted ever three or four days remains a comfortable pace.  Still, I never want for material to ramble on about and I have yet to run out of material to publish.  I may reduce the frequency a bit in 2024.  We will see.  2023 saw a continuation of monthly analyses featuring the data crunching of the Great Wargaming Survey.  Expect more of the same in 2024.  Thoughts for January's topic are rolling around in my head.  I plan to examine gaming metadata.  Hopefully some of the findings will be of interest.

Enough rambling on vague objectives.  All of this is likely plenty to keep me busy in 2024.  Planning is an iterative process; expect change!