Looking back at the start of each year has become a tradition for me. As I noted in my 2024 hobby review, life has a way of shifting gears, and 2025 was certainly no exception.
Life Between the Brushes and Dice
If you’ve followed the blog lately, you might have noticed it’s been a bit quiet. 2025 was a whirlwind on a personal level: a new job and the beautiful, busy chaos of family life with two children meant that my time at the hobbydesk was limited. However, while the blog activity took a backseat, my hobby productivity reached an all-time high. It seems that picking up the brush and dice became my primary way to decompress from the challenges of a hectic year.A Journey Back to Aventuria: Das Schwarze Auge
Beyond the painting desk, 2025 held a very special highlight for me. After a 25-year hiatus, I finally returned to the world of Pen & Paper roleplaying.
The Statistics: Breaking Records
Looking at the painting data, I was shocked to see that 2025 was actually my most productive year on record. I managed to finish 109 miniatures, surpassing my previous high of 102 back in 2021.
| Category | 2025 Highlights |
| Total Painted | 109 (A new personal record!) |
| System of Choice | AoS with 79 models |
| Main Army | Soulblight Gravelords (66 models) |
| New Horizons | Asoiaf (13) and Blood Bowl (14) |
Systems and Armies
The most striking shift this year was the move away from Warhammer 40k. After a heavy focus on my Adeptus Custodes army in 2024, I dove headfirst back into the Mortal Realms of Warhammer Age of Sigmar.
My Soulblight Gravelords army, the Klingenberg Legion, were the stars of my desk. After painting only a single model for them in 2023, finishing 66 models this year and in doing so completing the army felt like a massive achievement. It’s incredibly satisfying to see a "shambling horde" finally come to life.
Beyond the armies, I finally completed my fantasy terrain and gaming board. A project years in the making. I’m incredibly proud of the result; it has completely transformed my photography, replacing boring, monochrome backgrounds with cinematic shots of my miniatures.
I also branched out into new systems. I painted my first units for A Song of Ice and Fire (Targaryens) and a full team of Black Orcs for Blood Bowl. Diversifying the projects really helped keep the "hobby burnout" at bay.
The Pulse of Goldmunds Welt: 2025 Stats
Despite my lower posting frequency, the blog's reach remained strong throughout the year. We reached a total of 71,269 page views. This results in an average of approximately 6,000 visits per month.It’s truly rewarding to see that the content continues to resonate with the community. Here are the posts that received the most attention in 2025:
- My Top 10 miniature painting artists! – 8,499 views
- The Sylvaneth of the Cherry Blossom Grove – 3,377 views
- A Sylvaneth Realm Comes to Life – My New Age of Sigmar Fantasy Terrain – 2,842 views
- Rediscovering My Classic Warhammer Fantasy Wood Elves – 2,123 views
- Starting a Tyranid army: Colorscheme – 1,989 views
Looking Ahead to 2026
While 2025 was a record-breaking year, my "pile of potential" is still calling. I have some very specific goals for 2026 to keep the momentum going:
- House Targaryen: I plan to finalize my Targaryen army for A Song of Ice & Fire by CMON. After the first 13 models this year, I’m eager to see the full force united on the table in Q1 2026.
- Dungeon Crawling: I’ll be heading into the depths by painting up Warhammer Quest: Darkwater till Mid Year.
- The Pursuit of Excess: In the world of Warhammer 40k, 2026 will be the year of Slaanesh. I’m starting my Emperor’s Children army along with some Slaanesh Daemons. It's time for some pink and purple on the painting desk!
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