[UPDATE: The 2025 Great Pirate Paint Off is over, but keep an eye out for another painting contest/event in early 2026. You can see the final winners for the 2025 contest here.]

Get your brushes ready and clear your painting desk! The Great Pirate Paint Off is back! Starting January 1st, 2025, the worldwide painting contest for Blood & Plunder and Oak & Iron (and Port Royal) will be back for its third year!

Hosted here on Blood & Pigment, The Great Pirate Paint Off event runs from January 1st through April 30th, with different categories being awarded prizes every month. There will be paint nights, periodic updates highlighting peoples’ work, galleries of painted minis to use as inspiration, a whole slew of prizes from sponsors, and shared work from around the Firelock Games pirate community.

TLDR Summary

• Blood & Plunder/Oak & Iron Painting Contest starting January 1st.
• Staggered deadlines with Commander/Character deadline first on January 31st.
• Substantial prizes awarded to randomly drawn participants at the middle and end of every month.
• Trophy medals awarded to winners chosen through public voting on top 5 entries of each category.
• About $1,200 in prizes from Firelock Games, Blood & Pigment and several other generous sponsors
• Submit Entries using this Form starting January 1st

We will be using the same basic format and contest structure as last year with a couple updates.

Painting Contest Rules

The basic contest rules are pretty simple:

• Your entry must have been painted by you in the 2025 calendar year.
• Entry must include 1-4 photos
• Your entry must be an official Blood & Plunder or Oak & Iron miniature or ship (with some noted exceptions.
• Entries can be submitted through the entry page here.
• Categories include:
  • Commander or Character (single model)
  • Unit (4-8 models)
  • Blood & Plunder Ship
  • Oak & Iron Ship
  • Battle Force (25+ B&P minis or 5+ O&I ships)
  • Terrain
    • Plunder Den special terrain challenge
  • Best B&P minis of each Nationality

In addition to prizes for each of these categories, there will be some other special prizes handed out during the contest for certain accomplishments or to random entries.

Keep reading for the finer points of the rules near the bottom of this page.

Great Pirate Paint Off Painting Contest Schedule

This schedule looks a little convoluted, but it helps spread through fun out, gives people some goals to focus on, and helps avoid everyone submitting all their entries on the very last day of the contest!

• January 1 – Contest Opens
• January 31 – Last day to enter in the Commander/Character categories
  • First Week of February- Judging, voting & prizes awarded on Commander/Character category
• February 29 – Last day to enter the Terrain and Oak & Iron Ship categories
  • First Week of March – Judging, voting & prizes awarded on Terrain and Oak & Iron Ship categories
  • Special Plunder Den Terrain event – Details here
• March 31 – Last day to enter the Unit category
  • First Week of April – Judging, voting & prizes awarded for Unit category
• April 30 – Last day to enter Blood & Plunder Ship and Battle Force categories (last day for any entries)
  • First Week of May- Judging, voting & prizes awarded for Blood & Plunder Ship and Battle Force categories
• May 10 (or before) – Final Special Prizes awarded

We’ll try to squeeze in some community paint nights on Discord over the course of the event as well.

Judging, Voting and Prizes

The winners of the categories listed above will be selected through public voting on the top 5 entries as selected by a panel of judges. At the end of each month, all entries will be assembled and panel of 3 judges will choose their top 5 entries using a scaling voting system. Their top 5 choices will be posted for public people’s choice voting for a few days to select the final winner of a category.

There are THREE prizes for each main category. One will be awarded to the top entry judged by public voting. Two prizes will be awarded to other participants drawn at random. Here are the details:

• On the 16th of each month, a name will be drawn from all the participants currently entered in the category, and awarded a prize. Number of entries doesn’t increase chances. If you have entered one or more submissions in the category, you get one chance for the prize.
• At the end of the last day of the month, the secondary prize for the category will be awarded through the same method. One chance for all participants in the current category.
• As soon as the month is over, judges will vote to decide on the top 5 entries. Those 5 will be presented to the public for voting for the final winner of the category. The winner will receive a custom 2025 Great Pirate Paint Off medal with the Blood & Pigment logo.

At the end of the contest there will a couple additional prizes given out for special achievements.

The Prizes for Each Category

• Commanders & Characters (January)
  • Mid January – Set of 2 high quality Winsor & Newton paint brushes ($40 value)
  • End of January – Set of Blood & Plunder Pro Acry Paints from Firelock Games ($50 value)
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal
• Oak & Iron (February)
  • Mid February – Full set of 3D printed buildings for Oak & Iron ($40 value)
  • End of February – 3D Printed Kraken ($40 value)
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal
• Terrain (February)
  • Mid February – Genuine Silver Piece of Eights ($60 value)
  • End of February – Everlasting Wet Palette ($45 value)
  • Plunder Den special event
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal
• Blood & Plunder Units (March)
  • Mid March – Light Box ($40 value)
  • End of March – Prepainted Spanish House from MBA ($150 value)
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal
• B&P Ship (April)
  • Mid April – Airbrush setup ($60 value)
  • End of April – Black Balandra Sails from Seamons’ Quality Sails ($65 value)
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal
• B&P or O&I Battle Force (April)
  • Mid April – Game Mat from TABLEWAR ($60 value)
  • End of April – Feldherr 200 mini case ($60 value)
  • People’s Choice Winner – Medal

Additional Prizes at the End of the Contest

At the very end of the contest, there will be (at least) 2 additional prizes awarded for catagories.

• Best entry from a New Painter – Painter’s accessories set ($50 value)
  • This prize will go out to a participant who has started painting miniatures in 2024 or 2025. It will be be judged by organizers. The prize will include a set of painting tools including a set of drybrush brushes, a rotating stand for priming and painting miniatures, and a handle/clamp for holding a miniature while painting.
• Most Entries – Spanish House from Things from the Basement ($30 value)
  • Whoever enters the most submissions will receive the “Two Story House” from Things from the Basement. This is one of the great designs used in the Blood & Plunder “Ports of Plunder line of buildings that 4Ground produced for Firelock Games.
• One Random Winner from All Entries – 6th Rate Frigate from Firelock Games

Als at the very end of the contest, there will be some small national prizes awarded. A prize will be awarded for the top entry from each Nation in Blood & Plunder. The incoming commanders from each nationality for the Summer of Plunder event will select their favorite entry from their nation to receive a small prize.

• Top Pirate Entry
• Top Spanish Entry
• Top English Entry
• Top French Entry
• Top Dutch Entry
• Top Native American Entry

Each winner will receive a set of matching nationality Activated Tokens and a deluxe Fortune Token from our Blood & Pigment Shop.

In addition to these, there will be a few bonus categories to be awarded including:

Plunder Den Terrain Flash Challenge

In February, Dexter at the Plunder Den is running a Terrain Flash Challenge where you can create some terrain pieces using a brand new hobby guide. You can see more details here.

All the details and the tutorial here!

Great Pirate Paint Off Sponsors & Prizes for 2025

We are lucky to have a great lineup of generous sponsors for this contest, providing some excellent prizes again this year! As of publishing this, we are still getting things lined up and locked in but we have these prizes ready for sure!

Returning as sponsors this year we have:

• Firelock Games
• The Plunder Den
• Things from the Basement
• Timber & Sail
• TABLEWAR (possibly)
• Feldherr

We are still in communications with some of these organizations and things are not 100% settled

And new contest sponsors for 2025 include:

• Miniature Building Authority
• St. Augustine Mint

Contest FAQ and Details

The rules are hopefully pretty simple, but here are some additional details and clarifications.

What Minis Can I Enter?

Official Blood & Plunder or Oak & Iron miniatures that you painted this year (2025). We’re trying to encourage people to get painting! It’s OK if you started the mini(s) during 2024, but you need to have finished them in the 2025 calendar year. We’re just asking for you to be honest with that!

As of organizing this contest, Port Royal has not been released, but if it arrives during the contest, we will open it up to entries from that game within Firelock Games pirate empire as well.

Mini modifications and kitbashed models are great, but they need to be “mostly” a Firelock mini. A Firelock hard plastic miniature with a head or arm used from a different line of minis would be OK but a entire mini from a different manufacturer would not be OK. 3D printed ships are not allowed and different sculpts for Oak & Iron (like Dark Seas) would not qualify.

When Can I Enter My Minis?

Any time before that mini’s listed deadline for its category. Early entry is great (a Blood & Plunder ship could be entered in January), but after the posted deadline, the entry will not be eligible to win (since prizes would already have been awarded).

Where do I Submit My Entries?

Here on Blood & Pigment, using the 2025 Great Pirate Paint Off entry form. If you have any questions or issues, contact us via the contact page, or Facebook, or Discord.

How Many Minis can I enter?

As many as you can paint up within the timeframe! There is no limit! In fact, there is a prize for the person who submits the most entry, so enter them all.

How Will Peoples’ Choice Voting Work?

Categories will be cut to the top ~5 entries by our judges (depending on numbers). There will be a 3 day window for each category for people to vote on their favorites from these selections. Each person may vote once per category. All entries from each category will be featured in contest galleries.

What If I Can’t Take a Good Picture?

We’re here to help! With a little effort and a google search, you can learn some technique for taking decent pictures of your painted minis. Here is an article on the topic here on Blood & Pigment.

A good photo makes a big difference so do your best! Your camera phone should take a fine picture IF you can have a clean/scenic background and plenty of light. You can find plenty of articles and videos on taking pics of minis online.

Does My Ship Entry Need to Have Sails and Rigging?

No, it does not. But it will likely be more impressive and more likely to win if it does have sails and rigging. But you can enter a Blood & Plunder ship entry as a hull with masts only if you like.

What is a “Battle Force”?

A Blood & Plunder Battle Force entry must include at least 25 models. It may (but doesn’t need to) include a ship or some terrain feature (like fortifications). A Battle Force for Oak & Iron must include at least 5 ships. Each minis/unit/ship from these Battle Force entries can be entered individually as well.

What Counts as “Terrain”?

Any natural terrain like stands of trees and bushes, rocks, shoals, custom battle board in addition to any buildings or fortifications that you want to paint. This is a little bit of a squishy category that could be both crafting and/or painting. If you made/painted it and it goes on your Blood & Plunder or Oak & Iron battle boards, it probably qualifies. If you simply assembled it (like a simple pre-painted mdf building), that wouldn’t really qualify.

This category is exempt from the “Firelock only” rule. Any piratey terrain, either scratch built or from any company is eligible.

Final Thoughts

We’re really looking forward to seeing the pirate paint jobs coming out of the Blood & Plunder and Oak & Iron community this year and I hope you’re ready for some stiff competition for some great prizes. Get ready for the 2025 Great Pirate Paint Off painting contest! If you jump on in, you will have your forces looking great in time for the 2025 Summer of Plunder event starting in June!

It’s time to tackle the pile of silver and grey miniatures!

Additional Recommended Reading

• 2025 Great Pirate Paint Off Entry Form
• 2025 List of Sponsors and Prizes
• 2025 Entry Gallery
• 2024 Entry Gallery
• 2023 Entry Gallery
• 2025 Winners