Dwarf Basing Test

Always Good to Try New Ideas

One of the elements that I really enjoying doing is working out a basing scheme for each army. For the dwarves I wanted more browns than greens on the base. To represent a more heath or moor like setting. Looking at some reference pictures I probably need some dried long grasses and brackens. 

To make the scatter,  I mixed a selection of brown scatter, autumn grass, yellow/orange sponge, brown lichen, beech pollen and grey gravel.  And then tested on a couple of spare bases. I decided to make a waypoint for one of the bases as this could be used as an item of scatter  terrain later. Some small dwarf statutes would also add a bit variety. 

Rob 

A Slann Army Update

 A Homer Moment 

There is no other word* I can think of but ‘Doh!’, as I have been thinking about finishing some of my army projects after deciding to finish off the wood elves. Attention has also turned to my Slann Army. One of the first units to be started was the Slann slaves which I made by using Wargames Atlantic Aztec bodies with ‘Cannon Fodder’ heads with the control collars. Plus a few other bits. I did an initial eight but didn’t get round to ordering any more.

While the Aztec bodies were a good basic fit, they didn’t quite hit the mark. Which is part of the reason they haven't been finished. However, whilst looking for other stuff I now realised that the Tribals minis from Frostgrave – Ghost Archipelago would be a much better fit. And with some nice spare items on the sprue. So, time to finish another unit. 

And while I have been thinking about finishing off these armies, I decided to rework the army lists to finish units that I have started and leave out un-started units (for now).

New Army List

Original Army List

*Apart from many, many swear words of course!

Rob 

Test Dwarf Done

Steady Progress

Making using use of my hobby time this week, I managed to finish of the first of the Elven Lord riders and the test dwarf. 

And having given up looking of the elusive green stuff, I continued on with the Milliput Fine to add the fur to the skulls on the remaining horses and do the next few dwarves. I still have a few EM4 dwarves from a previous project. So, I can make a start on them will I wait for my order to come through. 

I am going to multi-base most of these dwarves as shield walls look much better on multibases. But leave enough on single bases to remove casualties. 

Happy Friday Night!

Obviously drinking beer but still on the Estrella. So, no new photos this week. 

Rob 

Dwarf Test Model

 And I Still Can't Find the Green Stuff

Couldn't find the green stuff (again), so I had to use the Milliput Fine which is starting to go off to make the fur cloak and boots for the dwarf warrior. Giving him a more of a mountain warrior look. 

And all the Wild Elf Archers Done

Finished the last unit of elf archers just the Elven Lords to complete. 

Friday Night Beer

And Still Drinking the Estrella. 

Rob 

Thinking About the Next Project

 Getting Some Painting Done

For the infantry only two archers and the sorceress left. 

Now that I have actually managed to get some painting done this week (3 wood elves finished!) and the end in is in sight for the wood elf project. I was thinking about what will be my next army project. 

I will finish them if I find the missing Green Stuff. 

In the end I decided to add the skulls for all the members of the cavalry which gives a suitably barbaric look to these wild elves. It does use most of the remaining Beastmen skulls (from the Citadel skull set) but I think the end look will justify the choice. 

One of those army project ideas has been put together another 1000 point WFB 3rd Ed. army and this time I was thinking dwarves. 

I do have a few dwarf minis kicking about but nothing like enough to make an army. And I was thinking how to put together a cheap army. The obvious choice (at least for me) was to buy some EM4 plastic dwarves which still be bought for about 25p per mini. However, as they are all mono-pose it does make them look a bit static. 

Test mini

However, I do have a load of dwarf heads and weapons left over light dwarf infantry set from Oathmark. So, reckon I could combine the two create enough variety make a nice looking army. 

Rob 

In My Defence

 Probably the Best Reason Not to be Painting 

And I did paint two more wood elves this week for my army.

Rob 

Return to The Wild

One Final Push?

So, the wood elves have been sitting on the side lines for some while now and I am thinking it is probably to try and just finish them. At least to the original plan. Technically only 10* minis (counting horse and rider as one mini) left to do. So, this shouldn't take too long...

The last few hold outs

There a few other minis that I am still working on like Pippin but I shall try to focus on the elves for next few weeks to see if I can finish them off.  Like many people I read about on other blogs, painting cavalry seems to be a bit of mental block.  And therefore it is no surprise the very useful mobile cavalry reserve is still waiting on the paint queue. 

*Ok so there is a few extras but I not really counting them. 

And speaking of elves, finished off the next C08 high elf. 

Rob 

Becoming a Friday Night Habit

Back to the Classic high Elves

Again limited painted time this week, but I decided to concentrate on one the classic series one C08 high elves. Hopefully a bit more time over the weekend...

Off to Spain' for tonight's beer

Rob

Getting Paint On

 Recast or Shoddy GW Standards?

I chose Pippin because I reckoned,

 I could get most of him done in 30 minutes. 

I have been away on business for most of the last two weeks, but I finally got some painting done tonight. So, I used my 30 minutes to get some paint on Pippin.

I picked up Merry & Pippin on eBay a few weeks ago and can't decide if GW's quality standards have really slipped or if they are recasts. As both minis had loads of deep flash in the recesses and bits of white metal hanging off them. Overall I think they must be recasts because if I had bought them direct from GW at full price, then I would be sending them back.

Not tonight's beer but a very nice beer while I was away

Rob

Ok - 75 Minutes Later

Two Hobbits Done

Tookish Hunters skirmish with ruffians on the border of Tookland.

Ok, so that worked. 30 minutes might not seem a lot but at least I can see progress over the last couple of days.

Next up as the Shire campaign draws to a close. Some heroes need a bit of attention.

Rob 

30 Minutes Later - Part 2

Keep Going

So, after the first 30 minute session last night, I repeated again tonight. And finished the first hobbit moved on the second one. 

And Friday Night Wouldn't be Friday Night Without...

Something a bit different. 

Rob 

30 Minutes Later

Some times You Just have to Get On with It!

Before - Decisions what to paint - left or right?

With limited time to paint it is sometimes difficult to get started, as everything seems to take too long. So, I sat down tonight just with 30 minutes and  decided to take a before and after picture to try mark my progress. Tonight, I managed  to get most of the next hobbit archer done in just 30 minutes.

And After obviously

I like the small details like the pipe in his hat and the mutton chop side burns. Which give him a very authentic feel.

Time to try this again tomorrow. 

Rob 

Raising the Shire

 Tooks Are on the Move

Paladin leads the Tooks as they sally forth

Work continues on painting up more hobbits for the next part of the Shire campaign.

Rob 

Game 11 - The Big Game

The Burning of Woody End 

Pre-Game

So, I finally managed to play the ‘big’ game and against a real opponent, my son who was back from Uni.  We played game 11- The Burning of Woody End. With him taking the ruffians and me with the hobbits. We played using the standard rules with addition of two minor heroes to each side. 

For the Ruffians they used One-Eyed Ned and a new bully Odd John. And for the hobbits it was Alf Grubb, and the new local hero was Finnick the Smith. 

Rolling Dice

Baldo & Finnick await the ruffians

These ruffians have no respect for a fine vegetable patch!

The game started well enough for the hobbits as the archers found their mark and the ruffians swarmed forward. But as the ruffians started to get into combat things began to tip in their favour.

Turn 2 was a real turning point for the ruffians as they managed to get four ruffians against four different hobbit holes. And rolled…

Setting four of the hobbit holes alight.

Over the next couple of turns the hobbits managed to put a few of the fires out but not before one of the hobbit holes burned out of control.

A sneaky ruffian takes advantage of the confusion

The last few hobbits face difficult odds

But as the game progressed the hobbits simply run out of numbers to both mark the ruffians and put out fires. So, by turn 10, one hobbit hole had burned down completely and three others were ablaze giving the ruffians the win.

After Battle

Both Finnick and Alf were removed from play and rolled on the injury table, with Alf rolling ‘The Wounds of the Hero’ which give the hero a full recovery and extra D6 influence points (He rolled a six) and Finnick rolled then ‘Favour of the Valar’ and also made a full recovery and gained a Fate point.

Only One-Eyed Ned received enough experience to roll on the experience table and gained the Blade Master skill. 

Both sides used influence points to restore lost Might & Fate points.

This was another tricky scenario for the hobbits as they were outnumbered and there are plenty of places for the ruffians to hide whilst still setting fire to the hobbit holes. And very quickly all of the hobbits were tied up marking the ruffians or putting out fires.

Rob