#MFXTOP April Weeks 1 & 2

Minions!

Month 4, our biggest yet, well at least in sense of amount of models in an entry, so can we make it our biggest in all senses?
If you don't know the rules, don't know this month's theme etc. I will be adding it again at the end of the blog.

For now, let's see what entries we already have for this month:

Weeks 1&2 Entries

In the last week last month, but the first (couple) this month
@tigerstyle40k has entered a cracking unit of Molemen.

The bases across this crew are a delight and I look forward to more.

A couple of &*$£"#@s here by @balefirestorm.

He may not love the Moon Shinobi as the rest of us call them,

but it doesn't show in his fantastic paint jobs.

Suited and booted, looking flash for Lucius,

it's some Guild Riflemen painted by regular #MFXTOP entrant

@Laundry_King, very slick Joe.

Speaking of regulars, it's @zacgoldenhall

I guess I inspired him after being on @Malibites last year?

Here he has done a nice mixture of old and new steam arachnids.

@Scorpius_GLC is one of the first to be eligible for

"Best Newcomer" (explained again later),

Here he has nice bright mixture of everyone's favourite mercs, the Ronin.

More models that I may need for Marcus,

it's @Sandals_ajw with 3 lovely Silurids.

A classic paint job, tidily executed.

Next up we have @ZenPau1

reminding me of miniatures I need for my 10 Thunders,

The characters on the fan and the markings on the dresses are a fantastic touch.

Just in time for this week's update @Andythe3DMan  

gets in what seems to be the theme of the day Gremlins.

Love the pale green skin, I wonder if he's read Wyrd Chronicles yet?

#MFXTOP: What is it?

#MFXTOP or Malifaux: Tyrants of Painting is a monthly painting competition that I (Ben Sime) started running from the very beginning of this year.
Using the ever-growing Malifaux community that is ever-growing on Twitter, it's an excuse for people to share what they have been working on, get inspired, inspire others, share tips, get advice and all those lovely things that social media can help us hobbyists with.

Here on the blog I tend to do a weekly update, gives everyone a little taster of what's going on if they missed out on twitter, means stuff gets shown off more than once and also months down the line, we can all look back and smile.

Rather than be a one time thing, #MFXTOP is monthly, meaning that if you miss one, there will be another coming and each month it's a little different.

Rules

Each month the entrants are given a theme, for January we had "Heavy Hitter", February "Shoot 'em up", March "Wave 2" and this month; April it's "Minions".

The theme each month gives the people painting (hopefully you) a few rules and restrictions, as a reminder of April's it is as follows:

For April we will have the first competition where you must paint more than one model.
The rules are, more complex, but still very simple, the restrictions:

1. Your models must be Minions (like the title) or Peons
2. Your models must be the same name (e.g. Illuminated)
3. You must paint between no less than 2 models
4. You must paint no more than 4 models
5. Your models combined cost must be a minimum of 6ss
6. Your models combined cost can be no more than 21ss

Examples:

• 4 Bayou Gremlins (not less than 2, not more than 4) combined cost of 12ss
• 3 Rail Workers (not less than 2, not more than 4) combined cost of 15ss

One exception to these restrictions is Performers and Mannequins breaking rule 2.

As always, if you find another exception that fits the theme, tweet me.

The idea of this is to keep the competition fresh each month. Usually the competitions will be a single miniature, but as April gave #MFXTOP an extra week, I thought I'd change it up a bit.

Also with the theme being different each month, you could in theory paint something for the same crew each month and then, end up with a competition quality force.

As a reminder, each month the basic rules are as follows:

• Paint the models yourself.
• They need to be started during the competition, already built and undercoated is fine.
• Proxies are welcome, but please double check with me on twitter first.
• Once painted take a lovely photo.
• Then tweet either @psientologist or @TheMalibros with the hashtag (#MFXTOP), your photo attached and maybe a nice little message.
• Don't forget to vote when the day comes (more on that later).
• The final date entries can be sent in will be the last Monday of the month (this month 28/4).
• Each month's new theme and start date is announced the Friday after that (this month 2/5).

Prizes 

Thanks to the fantastic people over at Element Games and the lovely Mike Marshall of @Malifools,

each month I actually get to reward a few people for their fantastic work and effort.

From April onwards there will be a minimum of 2 Prizes handed out, one for the overall winner and one for the "Best Newcomer", which is someone who has never entered the competition before.

Both of these entrants will win a voucher to spend at Element Games on whatever they like.

Next I have my "Stretch Goals", additional prizes I will hand out if:

• We hit 25 total entrants. Second place will get some @Malifools swag
• We beat our entrant record, currently 27. Second and Third will get swag
• 35 Entrants. Possibly a high aim, but I will hand out swag for Second, Third and every other entrant who get's "Best in Faction". This opens the possibility for 8 prizes and a chance for "Best Newcomer" to even double up!

The way these winners will be decided is by public vote. In the case of a tie I will be the decision breaker.

The way the vote happens is on the final update day (the last Tuesday of the month) I will also post a blog which will contain every entry in alphabetical order (of the entrant's twitter handle) and a link at the bottom which opens up a poll.

This is all meant to be a bit of fun, you shouldn't vote for yourself and you shouldn't vote more than once.

That folks, is about it.

Wrap it up

That's this Tuesday's update, get those entries in, retweet and spread the love.

We've had loads of newcomers and I'm loving it.

This Friday I may even continue the Wave 2 for Wave 1 masters series, the "everything you do matters" or even get some #ToMB things going.

Lastly check out Wyrd Chronicles 11 here I got a model in it as did many former #MFXTOP entries.

Good Bye.

-Ben (@psientologist)