This article is all about bringing the best of your Hobby to the tabletop at ArcFest.
ArcFest is coming again in 2025, because it is developed from the highly success format used by Arc40k for more than 25 years - and it’s based up 4 key principles. Let's talk about one of those golden rules for a great event and how it applies across ArcFest and every event being run there.
Codex Fez Rule #3 - "Paint Your Army!"
We all know ArcFest is all about a fun hobby experience. And that means facing off against fully painted armies?
It's like stepping right into the heart of the Universes in which each tabletop game exists – an experience that's hard to beat!
Right now we’ve people working in the background - gathering resources and making plans to ensure that the tabletops on which you will be playing are covered with interesting and detailed scenery that sets the scene for the diverse universes in which each game system is set.
That’s going to see hundreds of pieces across all of the gaming systems - actually it’s hundreds of tables and thousands of pieces of scenery.
So the landscape of the event will be there to enact classic match ups of forces - creating landscapes upon which epic struggles and stories can be created - and because of all that potential to create epic battles we ask everyone field and army worthy of that honour.
That’s why Rule #3 is:
Paint Your Army!
Not everyone has an interest or talent for miniature painting. It’s true there is a range of talent, patience, perseverance and time that every participant can bring to bear when it comes to painting and presenting a force for the tabletop.
But because the scene being set placing toy soldiers into a landscape designed for them to stand out in we have set our minimum painting standard. So, we set a standard that is easy to achieve with little effort or skill. Anyone new to the hobby can and should be happy to paint their army and prepare it for playing some awesome games.
Over the years our focus on recognising and rewarding people’s hobby effort as part of being our overall champion at Arc40k is one of the reasons why so many players put in the time and effort to make their models shine, especially for this event.
And guess what? This dedication doesn't go unnoticed or unrewarded.
Along with points towards your overall placing (more on that later) there’s the Player’s Choice Award which I can tell you is a big deal.
At Arc40k we can say that it's become one of the most prestigious honors in the Warhammer 40,000 hobby scene down under.
Winning it? Well, that's a hobby achievement on a whole other level!
Let’s just say that we expect to see equally as awesome hobby efforts and prestige in that award for each of the gaming systems at ArcFest.
We’re keen to see the miniature painting hobby executed on a whole new ranges of fantasy miniatures.
We can’t talk about Painting Armies without talking about those elaborate display and presentation boards at the Parade of Armies.
It's like a grand unveiling of your army's finest moments. For many, this is the culmination of months, even years, of hobbying – an event within the event, if you will. It's no wonder there's so much excitement as everyone strolls through, checking out the incredible range of armies on display.
Now, here's the magic of Player’s Choice – every participant gets a vote! Sure, it's a popularity contest at heart, but it's amazing how the community always picks out the army that truly deserves that Player’s Choice Award and titles of the best-presented army.
But here’s the thing – this is just the kickoff. ArcFest keeps the hobby vibes going strong. Not every army can nab the Player’s Choice, but every participant deserves props for bringing an army ready to play the tabletop.
Then there’s the Paint Your Army points and they come into play to reward your efforts.
They count towards your overall event score. This is the deal-sealer, folks. These points have broken ties and even catapulted players into the winner's circle.
It's also how the painting team decides the Best Painted Army winners. Why wouldn’t you snag those easy points before your army even hits the battlefield?
For more details on the checklist and Best Painted Army scoring, check out the Player Packs which will be available on the website for each of the gaming systems.
Remember, at ArcFest, we expect your army to be fully painted and based before the event – so let's get those brushes moving and paint your models to a points paying victory! 🎨💥
ArcFest will be held 3-4 May 2025, Sandown Racecourse Melbourne Victoria. Tickets are on sale from 7.00pm AEDST Thursday 30 January 2025.
ArcFest will host a variety of exciting tournaments and hobby events, including:
Arc40k: Australia’s premier Warhammer 40,000 event remains the heart and soul of ArcFest. For over a decade, this fun, relaxed tournament has brought players together for a weekend of epic battles and camaraderie.
Arc of Sigmar: Bringing a Path to Glory narrative experience to life, this Age of Sigmar event invites hobbyists to grow their warbands, embark on quests, and immerse themselves in an evolving storyline.
ArcPoint: A Star Wars: Shatterpoint event - celebrating May the 4th! Gather your forces, choose your allegiance, and prepare for battle in a galaxy far, far away.
ArcFinity: The Infinity ITS tournament returns, showcasing tactical skirmishes in the Human Sphere.
MiddleArc: Join the journey with this Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game tournament. Will the forces of good prevail, or will darkness take hold?
Arc in the Old World: New for 2025, this event brings Warhammer: The Old World to life with battles steeped in nostalgia and glory.
Operation: Arc: Test your skills in this competitive Kill Team tournament.
And for hobbyists, ArcOpen is back, with an expanded space to display breathtaking miniatures. The painting community continues to thrive at ArcFest, and we’ll have some big announcements for other activities you can participate in soon.
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