We don’t want to alarm you, but we’re already three days into the new year, and Parade Day for 2023’s Armies on Parade is just 10 months away. It’s time to start flexing those painting muscles and plan out your theme and display board.
Feeling sluggish and replete? Procrastination pinning you down? Worry not, for we have a system for getting your Armies on Parade entry started right now, in just two (and a bit) simple steps, based around January and February’s theme of New Year, New Army.
Step 1: Be In a New Year
You’ve done this already. Well done you!
Step 2: Start a New Army
Told you it was simple.
Okay, maybe there’s a little bit more to it. This part breaks down to two sub-steps, which we’ll tackle in order, because it’ll get confusing otherwise.
Step 2a: Choose Your Army
This may just be the hardest part, because there are a few elements to consider here. First, what faction will you enjoy painting, and maintain enthusiasm for across the year? Second, can you think of an awesome colour scheme or theme for your force that will blow away the judges in November? And finally, will you want to use the army for games as well?
All of these will influence the army that you select, and what you add to it, across the year.
Have a think. It’s okay, we’ll wait. Just let us know when you decide.
Got it? Cool. Let’s move on to…
Step 2b: Start Collecting!
More properly, this should be “Vanguard, Combat Patrol, Battlehost, or Start Collecting!” because those are the best boxed sets to begin your Armies on Parade entry. Each of them contains a key selection of models for your chosen faction, including a character and some essential units. They’re a great core to any army, and can be expanded to fit your theme across the rest of the year.
Here are some examples of ways you can use these boxes to start your themed parade army.
Haunted House
Grab Vanguard: Nighthaunt and start painting in various shades of ectoplasm, while planning how to use the various Warhammer Age of Sigmar scenery kits to build a suitably spooky house or ruin for them to haunt.
Across the Dunes
Combat Patrol: Adeptus Mechanicus and some Martian Ironearth paint will get you cracking with a host of Skitarii, servitors and mechanical marvels to paint emerging from the dusty dunes of the Red Planet.
An Army Ten Thousand Strong
Okay, ten thousand might be a stretch (how would you fit them all on the display?) but the Isengard Battlehost is the perfect starting point for an army worthy of Mordor… but sneakily loyal only to the White Wizard. And you. You can even build a Rohan Watchtower for them to raid.
What are you waiting for? Go forth, and start building and painting! Remember to share your progress on your social media platform of choice with #ArmiesOnParade2023. We can’t wait to see it, and to see you – yes, YOU – join the pantheon of Armies of Parade winners, alongside the hobbyists behind these incredible creations from 2022.
And for all you eager types who’ve already done all this and are nodding sagely right now, go grab some characters to get a head start on March and April’s theme: Supreme Command.