Update: House of Blues & Pestilence

The House of Blues & Pestilence

Tales from the raiders of the lost week

Pestilence...

It has been quiet at masterminis & paintingbuddha last week. Uncharacteristically quiet. So quiet that there were even no Facebook updates of any sort. 

What happened? 

Flu. That happened. The lord of Pestilence, Ben, was sick at home for the full week, I got completely knocked out from Thursday through Sunday with what I can only describe as fever-induced absence from reality. Mati, slightly under the weather himself, worked from home to not get sick as well...

It was so bad, that we even had to cancel our last event for the year, FiMaJe in Antibes, a show for which we had been looking forward to and preparing for as it was supposed to be the first show with our own sales booth (with custom printed banners, table decoration and Show Only versions of our Season 1.1: Target Identified DVD set - all the bells and whistles). Ben and I are really sad that we could not go :(  

To round things off, our plane tickets were non refundable. So all-in-all, the last week pretty much sucked badly - and if I could remember any of it, I would try to forget it.

Blues...

"Well, it couldn't get any worse!" I hear you say? One would think, wouldn't one...

Besides 'Flu' there's another three letter word that we learned to curse the last couple of weeks. 

And that is DHL. After having no problems for half a year, DHL got a new driver. And he just refuses to 'find' us. Since 10/24 no DHL drivers showed up for picking up packages. Quite literally dozens of calls with our 'corporate contract' representatives, including that department's management have not changed the situation. Inspite of daily promises that "today our driver will pick up the packets for sure!" as of today no DHL driver has shown up. 

That is why for the last three weeks we have been taking your orders to the post office directly, sometimes in multiple trips, as my car won't hold that many boxes :( 

We are not sure how, if and when DHL will come to their senses, but rest assured that we will send your packages ourselves, if DHL does not show up. 

All orders from last week will be sent out tomorrow.

and Hoopyness...!

But there is a silver lining! A future full of Hoopyness! 

Now that we are all back in the office, we are preparing something very special for all of you. Starting December 1st, we will run an unprecedented event - but that's all the information we will leak for the moment ^^

Stay Tuned!

The future of Games Day and Games Workshop: Games Workshop fires Italy and France event managers!

The future of Games Day and Games Workshop - Part 7.5

After spending a few hours writing my report about our trip to Monte San Savino Show 2013 (so far the best show of 2013!), I got this breaking news: 

I actually planned to continue my mini-series on the Future of Games Days and Games Workshop later this week, but ***breaking news*** rudely interrupted the flow of my day! No practicing Starcraft II on the ladder for me (yet)...

Games Workshop fires Italian and French event Mangers! 

The problem reportedly was 'motivation'. It is open whether this means they actually had motivation and it did not fit the company spirit or the lack thereof...

Well, I am sure that's not the last we heard about that. Will be interesting to hear what Mauro (Italy) and Jerome (France) have to say about this. I am quite sure that their story will sound somewhat different. 

It seems that Games Workshop has cancelled the role for both countries completely. Whether this means there won't be any more Games Days in Italy and France or the role will be centralized at Nottingham HQ is currently unclear. 

Games Day Italy. All that was missing was tumble-weed and a vultures.

Full on double speculation all the way across the sky - WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

I have no further information - but I am allowed to speculate wildly... And I am just in the mood for some random and unfounded ranting as this is my last day being 42. Also, my fingers are still warm from my report about the awesome Monte San Savino show. So let's call this a cooling down exercise :) 

If you don't like speculations based on nothing please do not read any further... 

OK, let's see...

<random ill-informed rant>

First of all, I feel bad for Mauro and Jerome. I don't know either of them personally, but being let go gotta suck. So why would GW cancel such an important role as the role of event/community manager? 

(Update: I just heard that for both, Mauro and Jerome the respective 'last days with the company' are on their birthdays! Minus several million out of 10 for sensitivity training, GW! È tutto sbagliato)

Let's look at the facts: GD France was cancelled for 2013 but I was told that there is a 99.9% chance that GD France will be back early 2014 (March/April). 

GD Italy was - and I am really heartbroken to say that - a total disaster. But so was UK. 

If HQ makes the rule that every Games Day must be profitable and turns it from a nerd event into a pure sales event then I don't think you can blame the individual country event organizers for out-of-touch-with-reality rules. 

Games Day UK - where fans can do what they like most: "Buying Games Workshop products"

I don't really think that the country event organizers are to blame for the poor Games Day attendance across the globe (with the exception of US, I guess, that was quite nice). 

"Motivation issues" could indicate that they did not agree with the official "Games Day Codex" from HQ - and if this is the case all I can say is "good for you!". 

Go home, common sense. You're drunk!

We all heard stories that if you work for GW and happen to know that snow is NOT black, it's a good idea if you don't share this with your peers or managers, or else... 

Just for the record, I also feel bad for the hundreds of awesome guys and gals working for GW. They are nerds like us, no hating from my side! 

Is the hobby dying?

Simple answer: NO. Shows like Painting Crusade (15/16.03.2014!), Spring Angel, Euromilitaire, Hussar or now Monte San Savino are breaking records in attendance and number of entered pieces year after year. The quality of entries is sky-high and each event caters to the needs of the nerds. 

All it takes is applying common sense. And that's what GW's management seems to have lost. 

All of the other shows make their visitors feel appreciated. Games Workshop makes their visitors feel stupid for having gone to a sales show where you don't get rebates and even have to pay an entrance fee... 

Go home, management, you are DRUNK!

I will update you as soon as I hear more (which should be soon™) :) 

Time to download the blog again, I guess. For I fear GW's Legal Inquisition. :D

</random ill-informed rant>

You too can speculate wildly - in the comments below!
It's a liberating experience :) 

SHARE & try to ENJOY

Report: Monte San Savino 2013

Report - Monte San Savino 2013: Ciao Ragazzi!

Rusto's Best of Show Entry
sculpted by Joaquin Palacios

First things first - pics or it did not happen

People, Party, Idramele (183 photos)

Junior & Standard Painting (99 photos)

Master Painting (561 photos)

Award Ceremony (72 photos)

Official Results (Thanks to Baldinoart!)

The miniature painting event year so far...

If you don't follow us on Facebook yet, I think this is a good opportunity to do so! We report from events. A LOT. :)

We have been to a lot of events this year. Some great events such as Painting Crusade (no report), Spring Angel, Euromilitaire, Hussar, GD US, and to somewhat less exciting events such as GD Germany, GD UK and GD Italy. 

So I think it's fair to say that we see a lot of different shows. I would separate this year's shows in two groups: On the one side we have expensive Games Workshop events, which sadly turned into a pure sales-marketing-disaster (with the exception of US) and thus are struggling to attract, well, anyone, really. 

No saving throws for Games Workshop in 2013
Smaller events show them how it's done!

On the other side we have free or very cheap events that are run by nerds like you and me. People that love the hobby more than anything else. Pure commitment. 100% nerd essence. Events, where the hobby comes first and business tactics have to stay outside.

Monte San Savino 2013 - Best Event of the Year?

'Best of Show' awards, 'Slayer Swords', Gold, Silver, Bronze - there are very few events where there is no discussion on the judges' verdict. 

Similarly, the 'Best Show of the Year' award, which we just made up, would be a very subjective award. Also, we don't want to be hasty and give Le Fimaje 2013 in Antibes a chance - the last event of our event calander which we will visit in on November 23rd.

But it is hard not to congratulate the organizers of Monte San Savino Show 2013 for the best show that we had the pleasure to visit this year so far. 

Recipes for success: #1 - La Familia

Leaving Castello Gorgonzola for Monte San Savino

We arrived at our weekend residence, the Castello di Gargonza (which we lovingly called "Castello Gorgonzola"), on Thursday evening in our trusty Fiat 500L. In contrast to popular opinion, the 'L' does not qualify for 'large' but for 'lento' (which means slow) :D

After storing our bags in what we can only describe as dream-apartments, we went straight down to downtown Monte San Savino to sample some of the incredibly tasty Italian Cuisine. 

We left our car and by pure coincidence bumped into some organizers, friends and helpers of the show at the Restaurant 'il Cassero'. We would return to the same place a total of four times. It's pretty good :) 

And within minutes at the restaurant it dawned on me - the secret ingredient #1 for a good experience at a show: we have hardly arrived, no-one knew us (well, they knew Ben, but not Mati and me), and we became family right then and there: We felt welcome. Just that.

Ingredient #2: An awesome location

Monte San Savino is, ... well ..., in the middle of nowhere. Located between Florence, Rome and Sienna it is definitely not the most accessible venue that we went to this year. 

But flights to Bologna, Rome and Florence are not so expensive and rental cars aren't that bad either - so we flew into Bologna and drove down to Monte in about 2 hours. Without a car we would have been screwed, as the Castello di Gargonza is 9km out of town and taxis are not to be found in this small but incredibly beautiful city. 

Organized by Gastart and LegioPictorum, the event is held in a beautiful ceramics museum right in the middle of Monte San Savino. Restaurants, Cafes and local stores selling food and drinks that will make your mouth water can be found throughout the city. 

Junior and Standard Painting hall

The venue itself consists out of two main halls - one for the Master painting categories and one for Junior and Standard. 

On the top floor you can visit workshops which run throughout the event - and if more room is required, presentations, such as by the famous character creator John Rosengrant, the local and incredibly beautiful theater of the city was used.

Check out this and the following videos!

Secret recipe ingredient #3: Awesome people

No English? No problem! Cin Cin!
Dino's and his home-made Grappa :) 

Well, if you follow our event reports, you pretty much know that miniature hobbyists are among the finest people in the world one can meet. Everywhere we meet, we are having fun - birds of a feather flock together!

Now imagine awesome, nerdy, talented and friendly hobbyists and put them into the body of an Italian. Still awesome, nerdy, talented and friendly. On average slightly better looking but now he will dine with you, drink with you, invite you to be family. La Dolce Vita. 

The hospitality of our Italian friends cannot be overstated! You had to be there to believe it! 

Idramele makes your hair grow back - it's true!

Secret ingredient #4: Fun, fun, fun 

- and 'Idramele'

When you visit MSS Show for the first time, you will be made an official 'legionnaire' in a ceremony that involves nerds and a giant jug of 'Idramele'. 

Idramele is a home-made honey mead with loads of tasty spices (cinnamon, apple, pepper and more). And it's pretty strong :D

One by one (I got the honor of being the first!) the 'new guys' had a sip from the jug. Well - some of us didn't have a sip, but a giant gulp. Or even two or three. To bravely drink what no nerd has drunk before :D I think it is save to say that the 'Pij, nie pierdol' from Hussar 2013 has now turned into a MSS tradition as its chant echoed through the narrow streets of Monte until late into the night. 

No-one got injured, only a coat got soiled a little. What happens in Monte, stays in Monte. :D

Ingredient #5: Miniatures, miniatures, miniatures!

We have reported from a lot of events with a massive amount of top-level miniatures. But quite frankly, nothing could have prepared me for the MSS Show 2013!

Over 1000 pre-registered miniatures were joined with a couple of hundred works that showed up during the event. And the quality of the works was incredible. I have not seen this many masterclass minis at a single event ever. Period. 

Robot Repair Shop - Interactive miniature by Picster

Our friends from the Massive Voodoo crew are always good for something spectacular. This time Raffa reactivated his electric skills and created an insane MP3-playing, video showing, picture taking Robot Repair shop and received the coveted "Best of Fantasy" award. 

The judges had a pretty tough job and did it very well!

Speaking of insane - check out Kirill's busts to the left. One might think these are photo-shopped soldiers where someone had just cut off their abdomen and put a display pole into them... The one on the left got Yellow One the "Best of Painter" award - a great honor. 

It's impossible to write down all the names of everyone who turned in masterpiece after masterpiece...

In the end, my personal favorite for best of show, Fabrizio Rusto's paintjob on Joaquin Palacios' sculpt from famous Brom's artwork rightfully won the "Best of Show" award. By the way: Did you know that 'Brad' from our Season 1.1 DVD set "Target Identified" was inspired by the same artwork? 

Check out all of the pictures of some of the most incredible sculpting- and paintjobs 2013 had to offer in the links provided at the beginning of this article. You won't regret it!

Final recipe secret: Make everyone addicted and screaming for more!

Everyone who attended Monte San Savino Show 2013 was a winner.
These guys just got a prize on top of that.

Monte San Savino 2013 - what a show! Francesco Farabi, Luca Baldino, Fabio Nunnari and the countless helpers and supporters on and off stage created an event that makes you want to stay there forever. Words cannot describe what we all experienced in Monte and I can only say one thing: 

Grazie! Grazie mille!

Thanks to everyone who attended this year's MSS 2013 - I am sure we will all see you again next year!

If you have your own pictures / videos / reports and would like to SHARE & ENJOY them with us, please post links in the comments below or message me on Facebook. I will add them here, then. 

<yourlinkcouldbeherehowcoolisthat.jpg>
Federico Sorgi's photos

Shameless marketing plug

If you like these kind of reports, why not support our cause by checking out our miniature painting instruction DVD set? We give 42% of our profits back to the community, 42% will be re-invested and 16% go to charity! We LOOOOOOOOVE miniatures! :)  

Spoiler Alert: You SHOULD REALLY follow our facebook page and this blog very closely in the next couple of days as the Painting Revolution turns 1 year old! Stuff will be revealed, other stuff will be given away and even more stuff will be going on!

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Epic battles of Miniature History: Hussar 2013 vs Games Day Italy 2013 - Part 2: Italy

Epic battles of Miniature History: 

Hussar 2013 vs Games Day Italy 2013 

Part 2: GD Italy 2013

A perfect weekend in Milano Modena.

One weekend, two miniature competitions: Yesterday I wrote about my awesome time at the Hussar 2013 in Warsaw, Poland. A perfectly nerdy weekend with more fun than you can shake a brush at. 

So, I sent my minion Ben to Italy to report for you. 

Unfortunately, it's going to be a rather short and disappointing report. 

Concerning FUBAR - full disclosure  

Masses of nerds converging
on Games Day Italy 2013.
NOT

We had a long talk about how to write this article. We don't want to hurt the hobby and the Italian scene which, after all, has some of the most awesome painters this side of Alpha Centauri. 

But if you followed our epic mini-series about "The future of Games Days and Games Workshop", you probably start to feel the same way as we do right now. It is not US who are hurting the Hobby. 

It clearly is not that our hobby is dieing. 

Games Workshop is killing our hobby. Not slowly - but quickly. The international Games Day Codex (which was downgraded from "mandatory" to "just to give some ideas") allows no armor saves for nerds. And I really don't understand why. Unforced errors.

So I want to apologize to all of our Italian friends (I hope you will still drink some vino with us when we meet you this weekend in Monte San Savino!) and I also want to apologize to all of the cool Games Workshop staff who are trying to make the best of rules that their management fucked up beyond any recognition, maybe - at this point - even beyond repair. 

GW's 2013 global campaign: "The damage is done."

PLEASE GW management - for the love of everything that's holy: WAKE THE FRAKK UP!

So like the B-52's, we will just "tell it like it 't-i-s". Don't kill the messenger ;) 

Less than 50 people waiting to get into GD Germany.
0 line in Italy. ZERO. How low can you go?

Empty chairs at empty tables, all my friends are dead and gone. 

Wandering the empty halls.

When Ben came back from GD Italy he basically only said one thing: "This was the most frustrating and depressing miniature event I have ever gone to."

When I looked at the pictures and heard the tale about what went down at GD Italy, I caught myself shaking my head again and again in disbelief and sadness. The song "empty chairs at empty tables" from Les Miserable has been in my head ever since. 

According to a GW official from Nottingham, only a total of 430 participants attended the event, including GW and FW staff. 1000 tickets were available. Another unparalleled success-story for GW. Black Snow coming down on Italy.

At Games Days, our fans can do what they like most: Buy our products

GW prepared well for the masses
storming the sales areas. Alas,...

OK, let's shine a positive light at this outrageously delusional statement from Games Workshop's master GD architect: There was Zero waiting time in any lines for anyone whatsoever. Let's book this under 'excellent customer service'. 

But seriously, GW, you want to save money at GD's? You even want to make a PROFIT out of them? 

DID I NOT TELL YOU that that is the worst idea ever, GW? I am sure the less than 400 attendees made massive purchases to make this event profitable. NOT. 

Damn, I really need a sarcasm sign for this post - some people might not get it, otherwise. 

50€ worth of fun

Even Bette Middler knows that "From a
distance, the world looks blue and green.

We all came to terms with the fact that we won't get T-Shirts, Miniatures or any other nerdy swag for our addiction. So let's see how much fun and entertainment 50€ bought you at GD Italy.

Armies on Parade

We would have liked to show you some nice close-up pictures of the Army on Parade entries - some of them seemed quite good said Ben.

Let's think about what we can do to hinder fans to take a look. 

How about putting up a trench of large tables with GIANT voting boxes in front of each entry? Miniatures should impress the benevolent viewer from a distance after all. 

I don't even know what to say. That's a first, I think.

Fun events

We all love speed-painting. Adrenalin rush for the long-distance painter like me. But let me introduce you to hard-core speed-painting. It's kinda like the Iron Man in Hawaii, an event that only few know how to truly enjoy. 

Speed painting Modular Gaming Boards. That's right.  Hardcore.

Again, I don't know what to say. Looks like fun. (Warning: Sarcasm!)

Geeesh, I really don't know what to say! :(

Q & A

One of the better additions to GD events in 2013 are the Q&A sessions with designers and authors from GW/FW and Black Library. 

After all, the designers are all hoopy froods who really know where their towels are. 

And with the lack of other activities, a few nerds attended these talks. 

Some even got a nice little nap out of it :D

Oh, yes, Golden Demon!

You can actually overdo zenithal light, GW. Shine on!

One of the reasons - maybe the only reason - I still would have loved to go to GD Italy this year is to meet some of my all-time-hero-nerd-painters. Italian painters are among the best of the world - and I really would have liked to see their works in person. 

Unfortunately, LEDs seem to be still illegal heresy at GW so the miniatures were lit with yellow, spot-on-halogen goodness. 

Unfortunately, with the lack of attendees, the amount of entries was very low. But fear not, the standard was insanely high, as per usual in Italy! 

Just look at Rusto's epic duel between Ork and some evil Skaven mama. The colors! The conversion! The composition! Simply stunning!

Martin Goumaz, entered a hand-full of mind-blowing paintjobs out of which his single fantasy mini, a skeleton, received the coveted Slayer Sword. Well done, indeed! 

It has to be sa(i)d though, that at Hussar 2013 there were more entries than at Games Day Italy. Things that make you go hmmmmmm...

Nerd breakfast!

Super-effective wild salami tactics!

When we meet up for events, it's 90% about meeting up. 10% is also going to the event. So what does the Italian nerd do, when there's nothing else to do? Of course, they treat their friends to some awesome italian food! Salami, crackers and Vodka (from Anna, with love)!

And suddenly, like through magic, the spirits of the painter nerds were lifted, people gathered and had fun. See, it's so easy - it does not take much to make us happy! 

Quo vadis, Games Workshop?

It's not the fault of the food that the event left a bitter after-taste with Ben - and from what I heard about it - also for me. 

Quo vadis, GW? Seriously, quo vadis? I really wanna know!

Maybe my brain is just not capable of comprehending the ingenious master-plan that Games Workshop has conjured up for us. 

Result of GW's Global Games Day Codex:
Cracks in the facade, FUBAR.

In short - I have absolutely no frakking idea, what the frakk GW is doing. None, whatsoever. Whatever they are trying to do, I begin to have the feeling that it ain't working... But maybe it's just me. 

Single nerd tear

With the official Golden Demon / Games Day year over, I am just left with this incredible mixture of feelings of sadness, disbelief and rage. Nerd-rage.

But I feel that I am slowly losing my strength trying to convince myself that I am the one living #1 fan-boy of GW. Maybe it's time for me to move on. Maybe it's not. Maybe it's just winter depression, who knows. 

I don't know if there will be another Games Day Italy next year. I hope that Games Workshop will sit down, someone who tells their management that snow in fact is not black will not be fired for a change and they come up with new and exciting plans for all the Games Days 2014. If they don't, I will now predict the end of Games Days as we know it. Heck, we have already witnessed the end. Question is: Can GW turn the ship around. Iceberg ahead!

I am sure we will regain our trust in all the good in the miniature world this weekend, when we attend what I heard is one of the best miniature shows on this planet: Monte San Savino 2013.
I predict that it will be an epic weekend. STAY TUNED for a massive report on this channel!

RESULTS of the epic battles of Miniature History: Hussar 4 - 2 GD Italy.

Pictures of the Games Day Italy can be found here

Let us know what you think: COMMENT BELOW!

What do YOU think about all of this? Am I too critical about the whole thing? Do you understand what GW is trying to do? Did you go to Games Day Italy? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!

Again, I am sorry for the depressing undertone of this post. Paint on!

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Epic battles of Miniature History: Hussar 2013 vs Games Day Italy 2013

Hussar 2013 vs Games Day Italy 2013

Part 1: Hussssaaaargh!

Catching up - part 2. Part 1 is here. :) 

Grab your Russian AK-42 vodka,
kick back and ENJOY!

Last year, at Hussar 2012, I promised to come back to Warsaw in 2013. Back then, Nakatan and myself were the only non-Polish participants of this awesome event - and maybe as a result of my report last year, this year there were ton's of people at the event from Sweden, Russia, Germany - and of course many of the awesome Polish painters. 

What I did not know back than was that Games Day Italy 2013 would take place at the same weekend. After GD US, GD Germany and GD UK this  was maybe my only chance ever to visit ALL GD events in a year. But - one president, one word! I lived up to my promise and arrived in Warsaw, after almost very very VERY nearly missing my flight. 

So, I sent my trusty minion Ben to go to Italy. Starting today, let us tell you the tale of two extremely contrasting events, starting with Hussar 2013. Contrast is good in miniature painting, isn't it? We'll see! Prepare for moderate wall of text.

Paint, nie pirdeol - by nerds, for nerds!

150€ for LEDs. Games Workshop can't afford these for
over 10 years in a row now. THAT's how it's DONE, baby!

Somethingsomething 'nie pirdeol!' means 'Do somethingsomething, don't frakk around!'. Usually, the saying goes "Pie, nie pirdeol" which means as much as "Drink, don't frakk around!" and I was assured that this is a very inapropriate thing to say - so you have been warned!

But I think "Paint, nie pirdeol!" (with 'paint' obviously not being a Polish word, I am afraid) describes the event best: Janusz and his team (Sławomir, Camelson, Piotr, Bohun and the many helpers behind the scenes) created an event for nerds. 

Lighting at GDs. FAIL. 

David vs Goliath in Terminator Armor

Located in a community center, the Hussar 2013 cannot compete with the big venues that GW rents for their events. I can assure you that this event did not cost around 100k€.

The Hussar Crew compensates for that with commitment to the point of exhaustion and by the surprising use of common sense. It's super effective!

For example, they bought LED lighting strips for the display cases. White, cool light.  Not yellow halogen spots like at GDs... 150€ worth of frikkin' LED strips and a few cables. PERFECT light for looking at miniatures. That's how it's done, baby!

Although the Hussar goes much longer than the Games Day (until 6pm at night), there was not a single second of boredom. And that's even though you don't spend three hours in some line waiting to buy product at non-discounted rates... 

DJ Janusz is in da HOUSE!

Who let the fun out?

How about some free workshops, spread over the whole day - with legends such as Karol Rudyk and Julio Cabos (Andrea)! For the organizers of the Hussar no problem. 

Speed painting competitions? Again, the Hussar has it! Even though I found it very questionable that my entry did not win. VERY suspicious! :D

It's almost like someone sat down and actually thought about what would be FUN for the visitors of a painting event, so they could mischievously coerce and lure them to attend this FREE event (Well, it cost 1,50€, but hey - that's as close to free as you'll get in a long time.) If that's not enough, they created, casted and hand painted a beautiful trophy for the winners. 

Stefan will defend his Crystal Brush ticket
with an awesome Hussar 2013 saber!

Did I mention that the "Best of Show" winner get's a real frikkingly awesome, engraved sword (yes, I know it's a saber)? Not some cheap Chinese aluminum stick? 

Oh, and did I further mention that the "Best of Show" also get's a free return ticket to Chrystal Brush next year?

At Hussar, nerds can do what they like doing most: Celebrate the hobby and meet fellow nerds and nerdlings.. 

"At Games Day fans can do what they like doing most: Buying Games Workshop products". No, I did not make sh*t this up, this is a quote from the organizer of Games Days. 

The competition

Now let's look at the competition - the main body of the event. And what a competition it was!

Top view of Karol's epic Orc Wyvern.

Some of the best painters - and many of my personal painting hero nerds - gathered in Warsaw. 

The incredibly talented Polish painters had to measure their skills against the likes of Kirill "Yellow One" Kanaev, Nadja "HopeRiver" and Angelica "Ringil" from Russia, Stefan Johnsson from Sweden and even our own Bruddha Klaus "Begbie" Dorn. 

120 top quality entries battled for beautiful trophies and the coveted Hussar Saber for the Best of Show. 

If you see pictures of Karol Rudyk's epic Orc Wyvern and then hear that it 'only' took silver, you know that the standard of the competition was amazingly high. I would say that 84% of entries were of a quality that should have taken a trophy home - since not everyone can win, the organizers of the event even presented "Honorable Mention" certificates to worthy painters during the award ceremonies!

The illuminati pass their mercyless judgement.

Equipped with two of the brightest energy saving daylight lamps I have ever seen, the Hussar Judging Crew had their work cut out for them. 

Believe me, it was not an easy job and they took their time to look at all areas of every miniature. Even the ones you might not want them to see ^^. 

This year's killer categories were "Fantasy single" and "Large Scale/Monster". But it's really hard to pick a 'weak' category - because there was none. 

Like everyone else involved with the event, I think the jury did an outstanding job. 

Can you imagine that these guys don't
run a multi-million-Euro business?

Seven shekel for a false beard!?

A few selected vendors offered their wares to the captivated crowd at reasonable discounts. And if you were skilled in the art of beard-fu, you were able to even barter them down for a few shekels. Many colorless miniatures were exchanged for colorful pieces of paper and shiny coins. 

Nerd heaven.

And the awards go to

...first of all the organizers of the event. I just have one word for these guys: "Hoopy". Incredible commitment. 142% nerd extract. Wonderful. OK. That's not one word. 

As long as my poor legs will carry me, I will attend the Hussar. Long after I am 2x42 years old. 

The award ceremony was a warm and wonderful experience. The pictures of all miniatures were shown on the large screen in the auditorium that was previously used for the workshops.

There were many happy winners and many receivers of honorable mentions.

But, there can only be one 

Swedish SAMURAI

But wait, there's MORE!

After-party part 1: The mingling.

About 20 minutes after GD UK was over - we were just talking to the winners of the Golden Demons and the Slayer sword - we were ushered out of the event hall. Event is over, go away.

Not at the Hussar. Stay a while, and listen!

The secret word of the night was 'after party'. At the small restaurant at the end of the show, we all enjoyed a few Polish beers and mingled merrily. This was not to be the last party of the night, I tell you. 

Eddie showcases his flashy
dancing and licking moves.

After-After-Party - who let the Pug out?

And then a few after-after-parties happened. Klaus, Stefan and I got invited to join Bohun and Gosia and many nerd friends to party the night away. Other parties were held at different places.

Galactic Gargleblasters were served, Pizza was devoured, fun was had. I slept for about 90 minutes before I needed to catch the train.... But as far as details are concerned - what happens in Warsaw, stays in Warsaw! Good times :) 

WE are the hobby

Bruddhas, THIS is our hobby. That's really all I can say. It was simply a wonderful weekend. Thanks to all participants!

So if you read this and don't go to Hussar 2014 next year, it's your own fault. I informed you thusly!

Pics, or it didn't happen

Here follow a list of very splendid and worthwhile picture albums about the Hussar 2013: 

My own subtitled picture extravaganza

Slawomirs's awesome showcase photos of all winners & honorable mentions

(extra points for using "SHARE & ENJOY" for this album, Slawo! :D)

Adam Sledziak's pictures

Lukasz' pictures

White Tree's report & pics (in Polish, but hey, Google Translate =] )

Michal's FB album

And if I forgot someone, just leave your link in the comments below! Ah, what the heck - the Internet is free! EVERYONE LEAVE A COMMENT :D

A hoopy hint by nerds for nerds

If you like to support a company that works only to bring all the nerdy miniature goodness to you that you deserve, I might just have a worthy cause for you! 

42% re-invest - 42% community - 16% charity

The Painting Buddha will help you prepare for Hussar 2014 and many other competitions next year! :D Another shameless marketing plug brought to you by Mati, Ben and myself! 

By the way: We will be back in stock with T-Shirts, Bases and Miniatures MONDAY NEXT WEEK! And then it's: WHILE SUPPLIES LAST! It looks like we will sell out by the end of the year - and there will be no reprints of the Supporter & Budget Box editions! 

Christmas is coming soon. Just sayin'.... True story, Bruddha! 

SHARE & ENJOY

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