6x6 Challenge for 2026

 Happy New Year, everyone!

A little less than a decade ago, Alan over at The Stronghold Rebuilt blog ran a "6x6 Challenge" in which participants would aim to play six games six times over the course of a year and record them in some way (blog posts, social media posts, etc.). The chosen games could be miniature wargames, board games, card games, or role playing games. They could be games that see regular play or games that you'd like to get a chance to play more of.

I thought I would resurrect that challenge for myself this year, with a mix of historical and fantasy/sci-fi miniature wargames. This should reduce my "hobby butterfly" tendency to flit between projects. Six games that I can focus in on should provide plenty of hobby engagement over the year. 

I will allow myself a mulligan in case it looks like a certain game just won't see the table, or if something comes up that really catches my attention.

So, here's the six games for my 6x6 Challenge in 2026:

Fire in the Sky

Fire in the Sky is a set of WWII aerial rules for engagements larger than dogfights. Rather than individual planes, players control squadrons and flights. I spent a bunch of time last year painting a bunch of 1/600 planes, and I intend to see them used on the table. What I'd really like is to take them to the annual "Wings & Things Arts & Crafts Festival" in Cape May. 

Chain of Command

A third set of WWII rules! Chain of Command received a long awaited update last year, and I really enjoyed playing the "29 Let's Go" campaign with Ted a few years back. Since that campaign doesn't require much in terms of extra support options for two basic platoons, and only one side really needs to worry about tracking casualties, I'm going to be playing out the campaign in 15mm this year.

Atomic Tank

I reviewed the rules for Atomic Tank last month and I'm genuinely excited to try out these rules. Hydra Miniatures plans for more releases supporting the Galacteers and Robot Legion, so my starter set can expand as I play. Maybe we'll get to add new armies!

Clash of Rhyfles

Ever since discovering the world of Alwyd and the delightful Quar, I really wanted to play more with them. Wargames Atlantic has been busy releasing plastic boxes full of Quar, and I want to get them to the table. While I do have miniatures for the setting's go-to factions with some Coftyrans and Crusaders, the new box set featuring Western Arnyaran and Creevish troops is great place to start. 

Starship Troopers

This is an set of rules still in development from the Little Wars TV crew. It's intended to recreate the battles from the Starship Troopers movies, with platoons of rifle-armed, footslogging Mobile Infantry facing off against hordes of arachnids. As it's designed for solo-play, I could complete this relatively quickly, but I do have a second platoon painted and ready to use with another player. 

Space Gits

Last year the creator of Gaslands, Mike Hutchinson, released a new game called Space Gits; effectively, an updated version of Gorkamorka with dexterity based gameplay. A single box of Ork Boyz (the older, better version) gives two warbands, so I'd like to give it a go. 

And I have two extra games that will act as mulligans or bonuses:

'O' Group

Yes, a third set of WWII rules! I spent a large part of 2025 painting French and German battalions for use with the 1940 supplement. I determined to get them used this year! It's helpful that this is coinciding with Battlefront's return to Early War, so I'm hoping that I can get some useful kits in plastic. 

Battletech

I have a decent collection of Battletech mechs and vehicles that have been collecting dust for some time. Rocky's interested in playing the Alpha Strike version of the game, so that may be a focus for this year.

That's it! Let's see how it goes. And if you're interested, try your own 6x6 Challenge!

2018 6x6 Challenge - Retrospective

I hope everyone's been enjoying the holidays!

Since I did one of these last year, I though I'd follow up with another look at how how my 2018 6x6 Challenge went.

While Alan over at the Stronghold Rebuilt didn't run the event, I still liked the idea of picking six games to try and focus on over the course of the year.

So, the games for 2018 were:

1. Arena Rex - 1
2. DBA - Completed
3. Muskets & Tomahawks - 1
4. Test of Honour - Completed
5. Warmaster Revolution - 3
6. WWII - 5

Like last year, I'm not wholly satisfied with the results, but not entirely unhappy with them either. While I only completed two of the six games (where, last year, I managed to complete three), I played each of the games at least once. 

So, let's break it down, game by game.

Arena Rex

Yet again, I'm disappointed by my ability to get Arena Rex out on the table. It's a fun, fast game with a ruleset that's easy to learn but has some surprising depth. To be fair, I'm the only one with models to it and it's an extremely boutique game with expensive, fragile models. 

Maybe I can work on getting another faction for the game in the next year. The Helleniki look pretty cool...

DBA

This year was a my big foray into DBA, and I don't regret it. They make for quick, vicious games in a small area that can look pretty good with the right terrain. I'm looking forward to playing more if I can, and I've got a couple Dark Ages armies that need to be worked on.

Muskets & Tomahawks

Another game that I only played once, and because I signed up for a game at Fall In! 2018. I've got forces for the game (although I need to finish the British Regulars I've got sitting in a foam tray), and the necessary terrain for it. But other games took precedence over the past year. 

Test of Honour

Test of Honour started off as fairly popular at the beginning of the year, which is why I was able to rack up so many games and complete this part of the challenge. However, with Half Day Studio closing, interest in the game quickly fell off. I've also cooled on the rules. They're alright, but very shallow. And because it's a pool-success based game, players can go for activation after activation with nothing happening. 

Maybe in 2019 I can explore different rulesets to use these miniatures with. 

Warmaster Revolution

Let's be honest here - I only managed to sneak any games of this in because of the tournament at Fall In! 2018. However, they still count!

I enjoyed learning the Warmaster rules, and my outing with the Ogre Kingdoms was fun. There was a decent amount of interest at the convention, with attendees stopping by and happily recognizing the rules and minis (apart from my Ogres). It looks like there's going to be another tournament at Cold Wars 2019, and I've got a Dogs of War army that I'm planning to use.

WWII

So, this category was supposed to be an attempt to find a new ruleset to use my 15mm miniatures with, since interest in Flames of War is basically at an all time low. What it (mostly) ended up being was a bunch of Konflikt 47, with a single game of What a Tanker! thrown in for good measure.

That's alright, but it meant that I ended up buying a bunch of miniatures for another of Warlord's rulesets. They're fun and I mostly enjoy them, but I think I burned out playing against Keith's British over and over again. Maybe I'll get it to the table in 2019, maybe not. 

So that's the 2018 Challenge, but there's not going to be a 2019 follow up. Instead, I'm taking a different approach, with a post that will be coming out in the new year.

By the way, this blog's birthday just passed. It's now six years old! 

A Charming Field for an Encounter - Muskets & Tomahawks AAR

On Saturday of Fall In, I participated in a game of Muskets & Tomahawks, run by Kimber VanRy and Jameson Proctor of the Metropolitan Wargamers group. 

The game was a recreation of the Battle of Fort Necessity, one of the initial skirmishes of the French and Indian War (and of the wider Seven Years War). 

The American and British defenders had to hold the "fort" (really, just a collection of tree trunks jammed into the ground in the form of a rough circle and a shoddy storehouse for supplies), while the French, Canadians, and their Indians allies wanted to capture the "fort" as well as the defenders' commanding officer - a young Lt. Col George Washington. 

The British force (of which I was commanding half) consisted of a mix of Regular and Provincial troops. While James Mackay - the other British commander - was out with the men in the half-made trenches, Washington would be directing the battle from inside the walls of the fort.

The French force consisted of Indian warriors and Canadian provincials, with a single unit of French Regulars to form a stiff backbone for the attackers.

The huddled British troops, soaked in their shallow trenches, couldn't do much more than stand and watch the mass of bodies gathering at the far treeline.

The game began with limited skirmishing, before the Indians and Canadians to the left of the fort charged en mass against the fort's meagre defenses.

To the fort's front, a single unit of Indians moved out of the woods to get into range, the rest of the French forces decided to stay in the woods and engage at range.

The defenders sent out volley after volley of withering fire, which smashed into the approaching attackers with deadly results, forcing several units to flee or rout.

However, the mass of bodies was enough that the attackers could approach while the British were forced to reload their guns.

The French Regulars, seeing that there British counterparts were duly engaged, emerged from the woods in a firing line and because their attack.

The defenders, while able to take cover, were under such heavy fire that the individual losses began to take their toll. The men in the fort waited as a reserve.

The Canadians, using the natives as a shield against the British fire, made it to the trenches and attacked the defenders in close combat.

The British repulsed the attack, but with casualties.

The attackers came again and again, until finally one unit of British Regulars were either killed or unable to continue the fight, and a unit of Marines was past the trenches.

The remaining British in the trenches rallied and sent the Marines off. With so few defenders left, the men in the fort were able to fire on the French.

While the attack on the left had mostly run out of energy and men, the Indians, Provincials and Regulars to the front began their advance on the fort.

Most of the men in the trenches were out of action, and only the Provincials in the fort were left to keep the attacks away.

Unfortunately, the French weight of fire was too much, and even with the protection of the fort, men began to fall. Washington, understanding the futility of his position, decided to surrender.

Kimber and Jameson put on a fantastic game, and it's only encouraged me to get my FIW miniatures on the table for more games of Muskets & Tomahawks.

2018 6x6 Challenge

Happy New Year, everyone!

As I mentioned in the 2017 6x6 wrap-up post, the Challenge won't be continuing this year, due to a variety of reasons. But that doesn't mean I can't make it a personal goal! 

Unlike some others in the group, I found the challenge's focus helped me finished painting models for some games, and helped me bring out rulesets for other games that I hadn't played in some time. 

So, here's the list for 2018:

Arena Rex

The only repeat from last year, Arena Rex is another one of those rulesets where, like Saga, I have a fully painted force, but it's sitting unused. Hopefully I can find some locals in the area who are willing to jump in. 

De Bellis Antiquitatis

DBA is an old workhorse ruleset that I kind of feel an obligation to play, especially since I have the newest ruleset and four armies (Early Imperial Romans, Ancient British, Anglo-Saxons, and Vikings). I've also got a fantastic 2'x2' tournament mat from Gorgon Studios that deserves to be used more often. 

Muskets & Tomahawks

The French & Indian War is a personal favorite period in history, and I've got enough painted miniatures to start with smaller games. Thanks to a kickstarter from AW miniatures, I've enough civilians and regulars to bring the games up to a larger size. 

Test of Honour

Yes, this is a bit of a cheat since I'm already involved in an ongoing campaign. But I've put plenty of time getting these miniatures painted, so I'm just going to give myself at least one easy goal. 

Warmaster Revolution

I've always enjoyed Games Workshop's Old World setting, but apart from a few games of 8th Edition back when I first started in the hobby, I never really had the chance to play in it. My plan here is to use some paper counters, and hopefully graduated to a miniature-only force by the end of the year.

WWII

A second cheat, but for a good reason. Ever since Flames of War died out in the area, I have a bunch of fully painted 1944-45 British that haven't seen the light of days in a couple years now, and an equal amount of unpainted Germans from the same period collecting dust on a shelf. I'm going to try and find at least one ruleset that I enjoy and lets me get these models out on the table again. However, this may also include any dabbling and experimentation with other scales and games, like playing Rommel in 6mm, or Bolt Action in 28mm. And, potentially, it may get a little "weird."

So, that's the plan. A little more daunting than last year (especially since I failed to complete 2017's challenge), with less skirmish sized games. But even if I don't make it, at least I'll be able to end the year with more miniatures painted and a few games played. 

2017 6x6 Challenge - Retrospective

Earlier this year I announced that I would be taking part in the 6x6 Challenge proposed by Alan over on The Stronghold Rebuilt.

I was a fan of the idea, and submitted a list of six games that I hoped to play at least six times over the course of the year.

Those games were:

1. Arena Rex - 1
2. Blood Bowl - Completed
3. Blucher - 0
4. Fistful of Lead - Completed
5. Saga - Completed
6. Strange Aeons - 5

So, how did I do?

Well, not too bad, but not great, either. I completed three of the six games, and came very close to completing a fourth entry on the list. Some of that was due to a move in early November for a new job, displacing me from my regular gaming group.

Let's take a look at each of the games.

Arena Rex

I had expected to see more Arena Rex this year, but my games played fell flat. I'm still looking forward to getting this out on the table in 2018, especially since I have the entirety of the Ludus Magnus faction painted and ready. 

Blood Bowl

The first of my completed games for the 6x6 challenge! I owe some thanks to Games Workshop, as their re-release of Blood Bowl generated enough interest for me to participate in not one, but two leagues. The Baltimork Reavers came close to taking the championship in the first league, and the Zharr-Angkor Immortals are performing fairly well at the moment.

Blucher

Ah, Blucher. Another game I had such high hopes for. Unfortunately, the rapid pace of changing games with my old group meant that I could never find the time to get this game on the table, especially since I would need to be the one explaining the rules and providing the terrain and units. 

I may attempt to play this in 2018, especially with the New Jersey Wargamers Association. 

Fistful of Lead

Another success! I owe it to Carl and his collection of Wild West terrain and miniatures, along with Gary, Russ, Kevyn, and everyone else who decided to play games of cowboys and banditos. Fistful of Lead is a fantastic ruleset, and I'd like to play more games of it during 2018.

Saga

The last successful entry in my 2017 6x6 Challenge was the entirety of the Age of the Wolf campaign played between Kevyn's Vikings and my Norse. Although the Vikings had a rough start, Kevyn rallied brilliantly and ultimately crushed the Norman warlord by the end of the campaign.

Strange Aeons

Ah, so close! Strange Aeons was another game that was being fueled by a campaign between Kevyn and me. Unfortunately, due to scheduling problems, we never managed to get our last game in, leaving this entry incomplete. 

So, that's 2017's challenge! It seems that Alan's not planning to run the challenge in 2018. That's a shame, but I appreciate the effort Alan put in to tally and link the games from various sources.

2017 6x6 Challenge - August

Games Played in August

Run the Gauntlet - Strange Aeons AAR

Snakehead Shootout - Fistful of Lead AAR

Graveyard Rave - Strange Aeons AAR

2017 6x6 Challenge - July

Games Played in July

Shantytown Massacre - Strange Aeons AAR

Oh, Shiny! - Strange Aeons AAR

2017 6x6 Challenge - June

Games Played in June

One on One - SAGA AAR

Pining for the Fords - SAGA AAR

The Final Campaign - SAGA AAR

2017 6x6 Challenge - May

Games Played in May

Ambush! - SAGA AAR

Flames of War - SAGA AAR

Barn Storming - Fistful of Lead AAR

2:10 to Jaeger City - Fistful of Lead AAR

Flames of War - SAGA AAR

Kevyn and I met up for the third season of our Age of the Wolf campaign. With the Normans defending and the Viking raiding, we rolled the Harry and Burn scenario. Floki and the northmen were on the attack, looking to burn down the buildings and fields on the table. Louis needed to keep the village safe for the sake of his reputation. 

The Normans started with their crossbowmen in the village, while the rest of the mounted units were on the table edge. The Vikings started with their warriors and warlord in the woods, while the hearthguard had gotten as close to the village as possible.

The armored Vikings moved in towards the waiting crossbowmen.

The Normans wasted no time, galloping towards the oncoming Vikings. The crossbowmen fired a volley, managing to down a hearthguard with a well-aimed bolt.

The Vikings retaliated by wiping out half the crossbowmen, and set a field on fire for good measure.

The sound of horses surrounded the village. Louis readied his knights for a charge into the woods, while another group engaged the lone Viking hearthguard in the village center. The crossbowmen launched another volley, felling the single Viking hearthguard.

Another group of Viking hearthguard moved in towards the knights, readying their weapons.

The Normans attacked, but to less-than-desirous results. The fight against the warriors in the woods was indecisive, and the knights in the village failed to put a dent in their Viking opponents. The mounted soldiers on the right were left waiting to see if the Viking warlord would come out of the woods.

Meanwhile, the Vikings managed to set fire to one of the buildings, and routed the knights, leaving the Norman warlord exposed.

Wheeling his mounted around, Louis called back his knights to focus on the Vikings in the village. Another Viking hirdman fell, a crossbow bolt in his back.

The Vikings turned and wiped out the crossbowmen, as the warriors in the woods emerged, hoping to get at the Norman knights from behind.

But mounted men weren't going to be caught off-guard. The knights in the village charged the hirdmen, riding them down. Another unit of knights moved in to attack the lone Viking, while the mounted Warriors moved closer to the Viking warlord.

The remaining Vikings moved out into the open, hoping to reach the Normans before their mounts could be reined in.

Seeing an opportunity, the Norman warriors charged the Viking warlord. A fierce combat followed, with the Viking warlord falling in combat, but taking more than half the mounted warriors with him.

The Vikings launched one last attack against a unit of knights, before both sides retired from the village.

After tallying up the victory points, it turned out that the Vikings had won, thanks to the bonus points from burning the field and building. Far from hampering him, Floki's wounds turned out to be superficial, and the Viking warlord increased his reputation and wealth. Unfortunately, a Levy upgrade went unused with no Levy in the Viking forces. Louis managed to gain a bit of reputation despite his losses.