The Tale of the First Tale of 4th Gamers Painting Challenge

In 2023 I started The Tale of 4th Gamers Painting Challenge that I run in 4th Edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle Community Facebook Group.

The premise is to create armies for Warhammer 4th Edition and leans heavily on the much loved Tale of Four Gamers series from White Dwarf and the first incarnation of the challenge was run as follows:

You will paint a 4th Edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle Army in 12 months.

Each month you will have a set (fictional) amount of Gold Pieces to spend to grow your army (the costings can be found in the 4th Edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle Community Facebook Group).

From month 2 onwards you should always have a rules legal army come the end of each month. Any gold not spent each month can be rolled over to the next month and you don't even have to spend the full budget come the end of the challenge.

In month 1 must paint your General. This model will represent YOU in your army and so the model should remain your General for the purposes of the challenge until the challenge is complete. This first model is Free of Charge.

In month 2 you get an imaginary 50 gold piece budget to spend on anything you like from your chosen army.

From month 3 onwards you get 25 gold pieces to spend each month.

I would rather avoid Special Characters but if you really must use them they can not be your General. You can repurpose a Special Character model to represent your General, they just can't actually be the Special Character.

Models can be from any era and any manufacturer but your list should be a 4th Edition List and your final army can be of any size you like, it just needs to be rules legal.

Like an idiot I decided to paint two armies - an Empire Army and an Orc & Goblin Army. This was mainly because I still had large amounts of unpainted models for both armies.

So how did it go?

Month 1

Here are my Generals:

Baron Ludolf Scholz - General of Middenland.

Gordreg Deffmaka - Black Orc Warboss of the Bonekraka Tribe.

The Baron has been sent by Graf Boris Todbringer to eradicate Greenskin activity around the Howling Hills and the surrounding Drakwald that has been reported by the villages scattered through the area.

The Orcs in question are, of course, the Bonekrakaz.


Month 2

I actually did do a blog post which can be found here Link to Month 2


Month 3

Again I did a Blog post for this month Link to Month 3

Month 4

For my Orcs and Gobbos I've managed a unit of Wolf Boyz who have used up the full 25 GP budget for the month.

For the Empire I just wasn't happy with what I was doing so took it off my painting table. I have however managed an Amber Wizard, at a cost of 2.50 gold pieces it gives me 22.50 gold pieces to roll over to next month - I'll be going big in December for the Empire!

For my Orcs and Gobbos I've managed a unit of Wolf Boyz.

These boys have cost:

1 x 5 Wolf Boyz = 10.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wolf Boy = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wolf Boy Standard Bearer = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wolf Boy Musician = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wolf Boy Champion = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wolf Mounted Goblin Hero = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 25.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 0.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 0.00 gold pieces


Month 5

A repaint of a smaller unit of Flagellants and some I'd used as Ghost for my Undead but Ghosts are a bit crap for the points in 4th so they've been resurrected as Flagellants once more.

6 x 4 Flagellants = 27.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Flagellant = 1.15 gold pieces

Total Spent = 28.15 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 22.50 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 19.35 gold pieces

I've bitten a bit into last month's Empire carry over but not much.

My Orc and Goblin offering for December are 3 Common Trolls.

I've painted Stone Trolls, River Trolls and Bog Trolls already in the last few years but wanted to add yet more Trolls and found these fantastic plastic TT Combat Trolls with an online search because you can never have too many Trolls!

These guys will likely end up in my Chaos Army but for now they'll go into my current painting project for my Orcs & Goblins.

3 Trolls = 18 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 0.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 7 gold pieces

This easy painting month on the Orcs leaves me 7 GP's from December T'roll(!) over to next month.

Month 6

A unit of Knights of the Blazing Sun is not the most likely unit in a Middenland Army but here they are anyway.

Original Knights of the Blazing Sun are rare to see painted up, it's usually the other three big orders so I'm rather chuffed to get these guys done. Yes, I know, I need to get the Banner painted as usual, I hate painting Banners............

1 x 4 Knights of the Blazing Sun = 10.00 gold pieces

2 x 1 Knights of the Blazing Sun = 6.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights of the Blazing Sun Standard Bearer = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights of the Blazing Sun Master (Mounted Hero) = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 22.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 19.35 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 22.35 gold pieces

For the Orcs & Goblins I've gotten the other three Trolls done. At some point I'll have to do a big Troll photo with Stone, River and Bog Trolls in a photo with these Boys.

3 Trolls = 18 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 7.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 14.00 gold pieces

Here's a photo of all 6 Trolls together

Month 7

For my Middenland Empire army I've gone for 25 Swordsmen........................in Nordland colours (as that's the army they will end up in).

The unit consists of 22 Swordsmen (1 of whom will be Champion), a Standard Bearer (Banner still to be painted when I can find the courage to freehand something), Musician and a Hero representing a Captain.

I think they'll have to be called "The Sea Lions" (probably not).

5 x 4 Swordsmen = 22.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Swordsman = 1.15 gold pieces
Command Group (Standard Bearer, Musician and Champion) = 4.50 gold pieces
1 Hero = 2.50 gold pieces

Total Spent = 30.65 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 22.35 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 16.70 gold pieces

I love these Goblins, released in the early 90's a few months after the 4th Ed boxed set was released.

I've had them to be painted for over far too long and I'm very happy that I've now gotten paint on them.

4 x 10 Goblins = 20.00 gold pieces

1 x 5 Goblins = 5.00

1 x 1 Goblin = 1.00 gold pieces

1 x Goblin Command Group = 4.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 30.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 14.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 9.00 gold pieces

Month 8

Knights Panther have a very special place in my heart. I was really starting to get into Warhammer mid to late 3rd Edition and these boys were the only "good guy" cavalry my Brother had at the time (the only bad guy cavalry he had really were skeleton horsemen from the awesome skeleton army box).

That meant these guys would routinely get trotted out most weekends for our games. Sometimes I would be the good guys, sometimes it would be my Brother, but they were usually involved. When 4th Ed came along we started to buy more Cavalry between us but even then, these guys were our only Empire Cavalry until probably 6th edition, but then our collection had split and went their separate ways................................

Now I have my own unit of them of my own painted up and I am a very happy bunny, the Banner still to be done as usual but overall I'm pleased with them and they definitely scratch that nostalgic itch for me.

2 x 4 Knights Panther = 20.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights Panther Standard Bearer = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights Panther Master (Mounted Hero) = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 26.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 16.70 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 15.70 gold pieces

Challenge costing wise they're 26 gold pieces. Points wise they're somewhere between 400 and 500 points depending on character level and Magic Items. Nostalgia wise they're priceless to me, even with the orange feathers!

Introducing Gonk Von Bonk, Maker of Man-Splat and his buddy/enemy Targ Da Slicer.

They're a couple of Oldhammer style Giants from Old School Miniatures.

2 x 1 Giant = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 30.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 9.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 4.00 gold pieces

Month 9

I've added some much needed artillery and a support unit to my Empire forces month.

The Greatswords aren't an amazing unit in 4th but I do love them cause they look good and possibly useful if you can charge an already engaged unit in the flank or rear.

All that said they're really nice models which is reason enough to get them painted. It just happens to be a coincidence that the Middenland Army in Revenge of the Doomlord requires 10 of them!

The Volley Gun was rushed and maybe needs more work on the metal which I may or may not get to as this isn't my main Empire Army, but as a secondary contingent or for use in a campaign they'll be perfect.

3 x 4 Great Swords = 13.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Volley Gun = 6.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Great Cannon = 6.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 25.50 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 15.70 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 15.20 gold pieces

For the Orcs & Goblins I've painted up 2 Orc Boar Chariots.

One of the chariots will belong to Madzbog and will be his Hog Wheelz, so Madzbogz Hog Wheelz. 

The second chariot needs naming, pun suggestions will be gratefully received.

The (Not) Night Goblins were sculpted by the talented hands of Mr. Geoff Solomon-Sims and are (I believe) still be available through Oakbound Studio.

2 x 1 Boar Chariot = 20.00 gold pieces

1 x 10 Night Goblins = 5.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 25.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 4.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 4.00 gold pieces

Month 10

White Wolves are the final unit of Empire Knights to get painted up from my lead pile.

I'm not the biggest fan of the Knights of the White Wolf, double-handed weapons instead of lances and the fact that they just aren't Knights Panther, that said, they're iconic and nostalgic from gazing at photos in White Dwarf from late 3rd into 4th Ed.

I found these a bit of a chore to paint and I'm not 100% happy with the result but they're table ready and thus reduces the lead pile.

2 x 4 Knights of the White Wolf = 20.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights of the White Wolf Standard Bearer = 3.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Knights of the White Wolf Master (Mounted Hero) = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 26.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 15.20 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 14.20 gold pieces

For my Orcs and Goblins I've opted for a couple of alternative Orc Rock Lobbas. I already have 4th Edition ones, Marauder Ones, Iron Klaw ones and little Citadel ones painted up so thought I'd go left field!

The Lobbas are from Scottia Grendel and the crew are Battle Master's Orcs as the Commanders and 3rd Ed Blood Bowl Orc Linemen as they were WFB 4th Ed contemporaries. I think they work rather well as crew.

2 x 1 Large Rock Lobber = 20.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 20.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 4.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 9.00 gold pieces

Month 11

The Empire Middenland Army gets 4 more "counts as" Reiksguard Knights and 8 more Crossbowmen.

1 x 4 Knights = 10.00 gold pieces

2 x 4 Crossbowen = 9.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 19.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 14.20 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 20.20 gold pieces

For the Orcs we have 10 more Black Orcs 

2 x 3 Black Orcs = 12.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Black Orc = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 15.00 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 9.00 gold pieces

Carry Over to Next Month = 19.00 gold pieces

Month 12

I've added another 25 Halberdiers including full Command and a Hero and a mounted Celestial Wizard. 

2 x 10 Halberdiers = 10.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Halberdier = 1.15 gold pieces

1 x 1 Command Group = 4.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Hero = 2.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Mounted Wizard = 3.00 gold pieces

Total Spent = 21.15 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 20.20 gold pieces

Budget Unspent = 24.55. gold pieces

For my final Orc contributions I've added a unit of Orcs made up of Battlemasters Orcs with a Boss using an Orc Big'un from the Lair of the Orclord Warhammer Quest supplement and a Big Boss and musician from Heartbreaker.

I've also painted up the Wyvern riding Orc Shamen from 4th again (I've owned a few of these long before the made to order came along).

2 x 10 Orc Boyz = 10.00 gold pieces

1 x 1 Orc Boy = 1.15 gold pieces

1 x 1 Command Group = 4.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Big Boss = 2.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Orc Shamen = 2.50 gold pieces

1 x 1 Wyvern = 12.50 gold pieces

Total Spent = 30.65 gold pieces

Month Budget = 25.00 gold pieces

Carry Over from Last Month = 19.00 gold pieces

Budget Unspent = 13.35 gold pieces

Final Army Photos

This was the first time I'd run the challenge in this format and it worked well, however. I was an idiot by painting two model heavy armies at the same time. The second time I ran it I drop it down to 5 months and only painted one army at a time. Now running in it's third incarnation I've stuck to the 5 months and 1 army format.

That said, I'm very proud of what I achieved but I can't deny that painting fatigue had definitely set in at this point and I was glad to finish the project. I didn't really pay attention to the fact that I still had budget left for each.

I think I'll revisit both armies when my Dark Elf Project is over and spend those remaining gold pieces!