Annual Review of 2017, Preview of 2018

Wow, another year passed and what a year it was. Almost 60 updates on here, available in both English and German. A busy year for me and my family, both personal and hobby-wise. A lot of things happened. I got engaged early this year, went to New Zealand for a month in late summer and got married two month ago.

So what went on on here, at, on and in the Chaosbunker. It was again very focused on reviews and Bolt Action, and I'm looking forward to open up on that in the upcoming year.

Where did I go wargaming wise this year? Travelling started early this year, with the 5th Narrenball Blood Bowl Tournament in Remscheid. I used the opportunity to stock up on some NAF goodies. In march we drove once again to the north, to the 11th Bitbox in Muelheim an der Ruhr, adding a few oddities from the times past to my collection of 90s Games Workshop stuff. And the bitbox isn't the only regular show that I revisited this year, I was at the Ad Arma Con in Speyer, where I visited the Technik Museum in 2016. The image show the show with the connected "haul" in the picture below.

After visiting Salute in 2016, I took a break for this year, but got my haul anyway (thanks to good connections), but am planning to re-visit in 2018. And with the 18,000 km / 11,000 miles journey in July, first time abroad for wargaming business in 2017. Amazing trip, amazing country and with the Gallipoli diorama at the Wellington Great War Exhibition (Part I and Part II), a breathtaking experience. And of course, no New Zealand without the hobbits and a visit to Hobbiton.

But travelling outside of Germany not for the last time in 2017, as we went to Antwerp for Crisis 2017 Part I and Crisis 2017 Part II. This was more about a men's weekend as about the wargaming, just a week after my wedding. Had a blast in the old town with my best man and met with some fellow wargamers (best wishes to Guy and his "entourage").

I missed out on Spiel this year and the year before, but it is currently looking very strongly, that I'll put it back on my agenda for 2018. Last time I went to Essen was back in 2015. Salute in April is pretty much set, as thanks to the airport connection and my best man living pretty close to London. Currently it looks like Tactica won't happen again, as we're not enough people to set up a road trip.

Half of the ~60 articles were reviews, 28 to be precise. I began the year with the Triumvirate of the Imperium, Inquisitor Greyfax and Belisarius Cawl. Went on with a load of plastic and resin vehicles for World War 2 by Warlord Games / Bolt Action and Rubicon Models. And managed to squeeze in two sets by North Star, the Frostgrave Barbarians and the Oathmark Dwarfs, and even the long awaited former Pro Gloria Landsknechts.

To give you a brief look out on what is coming for you next year, starting in early January, I shared my ideas with you in late october. Instead of the advent calendar, I went with themed weeks, I did a week on the conflict in Africa (with Duel in the Sun, M3 Stuart, SdKfz 250/3 and SdKfz 251/1, and the AEC Dorchester) and are currently preparing other themed weeks. I'll be handling a bit on the superb War of the Roses and Agincourt miniatures by the Perrys, and the usuability for scenarios beyond that (*cough* Westeros / Game of Thrones *cough*), as well as to continue the Bolt Action coverage (combining the New Guinea book with pacific sets, or late war kits with The Road to Berlin). I'll be covering some Games Workshop / Citadel stuff as well, and depending on how the communication with the community manager for Germany works out, may be even a bit more.

Paintwise I started a few of thing, but didn't get 100% on that many things.

Really finished are "only" the captured M8 and the Ersatz StuG. The later one will mark with proper pictures the start into the 2018 coverage.

That's it for 2017. Hope you liked my coverage and had a good time on my blog this and the past years. I wish you the best for the new year, have a great start into 2018 and like John Green says, don't forget to be awesome.