Brutal Bullies ... New Ogre Guards

In continuation of my latest fantasy project, I painted two Reaper Bones Ogre miniatures. They are excellent value and the large, solid form of the ogres removes the plastic softness common to the Bones range. I like the sculpts as each ogre oozes a flabby muscularity and menace displayed in the skulls each carries. 

How will these fit into my project? And ... what is my project? It started as Mordheim - but is well beyond that now - although ogres do feature in that game. I decided to buy and paint these two to fit into Rangers of Shadow Deep .. if I ever play that game. I have all the terrain and figs for it (well, I just ordered some $3 plastic spiders to fulfill that final need.) 

They do fit into my new beastman warband rather well ... hmmm. 

If not, will they take the field in Frostgrave - if I ever play that ... or something else? I'm sure they will get some use and I do like the figs - even though I found so much skin and muscle a struggle to paint. The idea of role play bounces around my head ... but is then thrown out again - I think I'd feel silly at 50 sitting around a table trying to be a gnome. 

In any case, the ogres have arrived ... whether they will be brutal line breakers in a battle or dull witted guards to bypass remains to be seen. 

 

Heroes ... to stand against the tide of Evil!

 

After completing my Middenheim Warband, and a couple of sundry barbarians, I felt my human forces still needed to be bolstered to face evil. 

After all, I do possess - skaven, undead, ghosts, ghouls and now beastmen - representing evil. 

A square up was needed - so I consulted the Reaper catalogue. 

Responding the the call was the witch finder - I don't have a name yet. This figure is part of the Bones range and is an excellent plastic miniature. He is stylish and elegant but full of latent menace. 

The second warrior was a brave woman representing the fierce spirit of the North ... a valkyrie. I won't be using her as a supernatural being but rather a warrior champion of the northern kingdoms. 

The model oozes Wagnerian charm and is cast in a suitable heroic stance to take on evil. 

Above you can see them confronting the power of a shrine to darkness. 

The first, I'm certain, of many travails ... 

Both are wonderful additions to the human mercenaries and the miniatures embody boldness and fearlessness in the face of any foul denizen of the night. 

The Beastman Warband Grows

My warband of raiders, underlings and all purpose seeders of destruction grows. 

I have 14 out of 20 beastmen completed. Although not varnished ... i can't leave the lockdown to get the varnish I need to finalise. So here they are ... nude. 

I'm very happy with the appearance. I used a slightly different technique than I normally do. I tried to leave more areas of shadow and highlight more sparingly. 

It works really well 'by eye' but not as well under the sharp lens of a shitty phone camera. 

I made a shaman model but neglected a banner. I thought this would communicate more organisation than I wanted this group to have. 

So far, 7 bowmen and 7 melee warriors. 

Six more melee men to come. 

The harsh warhorn has sounded in the wilderness ... and guttural bleating wild cries have echoed in answer from bleak wind torn places. The warband is summoned ... no doubt for ill purpose. 

The First Beastmen ... All Purpose Bad Guys

 Here are my first 7 of 20 Beastmen ... they look better to the eye than they do under the lens. 

GW Ungors from Troll Trader. I'm happy with the models and the poses are active with a wide variety for the bowmen ... not as broad for the melee types. There are on the bench awaiting a base coat later tonight. 

Last of the Barbarians

 Hunted by crusading forces and lured by the desires of civilisation, the once sparse but overall numberless inhabitants of the far north and west have dwindled. Now few remain keen to the old ways. 

The three warriors are my final current investment of human warriors. I find these more evocative than the easily stereotypical and typecast forces of non-humans. Mortal men are capable of such a range of roles and actions that they fire my imagination. Also, alike Batman, humans in fantasy are easily outmatched by all other races but struggle on with praise worthy courage and determination. What illustrates the energy, consistent struggle and raging heart of humanity more than the noble barbarian?

Not just the last few of their tribes but also the last of my frostgrave miniatures, these three barbarians have just been flocked and name tagged. Not part of my Middenhiem or Reikland warbands, these barbarians could be employed by the former or charge from the forests to defend their sacred places. 

Two poor quality images of figures I chose to paint in a range of browns to reflect their frontier lives. Did it work ... partially? But I'll save my final judgement until i varnish. 

On the left is Gort - the old - in the centre is Ulrich - a talented warrior and dextrous hunter while on the right is Conrad - a fighter possessing bearlike strength and capable of savagery. 

Mercenaries from Middenheim

 

In the streets, cemeteries and surrounds of Mordheim, evil is thriving. Swarms of cannibalistic ghouls, ghosts, necromantic hordes and conniving ratmen have forced the struggling Humans and Dwarfs further and further back. But ... perhaps no longer ... ?

From the chill forest depths in the North a new band has strode into the chaotic streets of this city of death. The men from Middenheim have come ... 

I decided to try the plastic ranges of Frostgrave and I think the result is wonderful. I purchased 2 sprues of soldiers, 1 sprue of female soldiers and one sprue of barbarians. All fit together well and have lots of different options. I did think the barbarians were the best with the highest definition of facial and body features. This made them very good to paint. But, I must say all of these products are very high quality. 

The range of different sprues enabled me to make a Mordheim warband - with plenty of variety - but also enough ranger and soldier miniatures for Rangers of Shadow Deep or Frostgrave - if I ever choose to move in those directions. 

Above is the command team of my force - although none of the miniatures have their name tags yet. 

The force will be led by Gustav Metz supported by two barbarian champions - Ox and Sigurd. Beside him are two other possible heroes (young bloods) Apollonia and Peregrin. 

Here are the rouge-ish elements of my force. Lena, Jutte and Hedwig are brave women of the forest and frontier - deadly with axe, blade or bow. Here also is my burglar and marksman - not 100% on names yet. 

On the other side are the heavy hitters ... Several swordsmen will bear the brunt of any assault and another possible champion - Ursula of an indeterminate order of warriors nuns - stands boldly in the black and red livery of her order. 

Note: The soldier bearing the lantern, ready to thurst light into the shadows of Mordheim - or any tomb or aperture where evil abides really. I think he rather has his dander up in regards to doers of dark deeds. Perhaps over future games, I'll find out why?

I do like the latent fury and potential violence of Ox with the suitably enormous hammer. 

Then lastly, the whole band - ready to carry the torch of civilisation - well, northern civilisation - against the arrayed forces of cunning and wickedness. Fired by their faith in gods of storm, gale, mountain and surging foam (plus suitably confident due to malted ale and sharpened blades) the men from Middenheim will burst upon Mordheim like a stroke of lightning. And leave no coin unfondled ...

Blucher Rides Again

This week myself and my good friend Nick returned to Blucher. We both agree that it is about the best wargame we have ever played. It is perfect for a week night game supplying a thoroughly satisfying experience, with tense command decisions, within a reasonable time and in sufficient magnitude. 

In other words ... it supplies a BIG Napoleonic experience without oppressive rules. 

I've been trying to fit a 20 or 30 point general personality into my 200 point allotment. This means the army is down a few units and must use the character advantages to the full. 

I haven't achieved this yet ... but I've had great fun with the MOBILITY rule. 

Quite simple ... each turn you can activate almost your entire army. 

This game shows an enormous Prusssian right hook. I shifted my four commands across in that direction - promptly telegraphing my entire intent - in the least subtle display of tactics ever made. And as the above picture shows I got into a bit of a traffic jam. 

The French pressed up in the centre to take pressure for their left. 

The Prussians surged on regardless. I used Blucher who also supplied my forces with the LEGEND trait increasing my force's morale/break point. 

Bloody mindedly - I threw in my troops again and again ... until they were spent. 

I just couldn't break the French cavalry on their left in combat. Nick wisely drew back making my assault more difficult. I had unluckily attacked the wrong flank - coming up against Guard cavalry which proved too tough for me to break. 

My losses mounted ... but I stuck to my plan ... and charged once more ... 

... and died. Blucher lost ... 

... but Marshall Vorwarts will return. Nothing could be surer.