TWD's Frostgrave (Skellies - 2 February)

[TWD]

After watching things unfold, seeing the game at Salute and playing it at Partizan I finally committed and ordered a Level 3 wizard set of Frostgrave. I’ve gone with a Chronomancer wizard because they sound the most interesting, even though the model isn’t as nice as the artwork.

However while I wait for the models and rulebook to arrive (due in early July) I remembered an old wizard I’d half painted and some Gripping Beat plastics I’d started assembling before I realised I couldn’t face painting a whole unit of them and thought I’d have a go at throwing a quick warband together so I can start playing when the package arrives. And also so I have a spare warband for the offspring to play with.



So here’s the wizard, a splendid old Ali Morrison (I think) Citadel wizard. It originally came in a set with a mounted version on a flying carpet. I painted that up years ago when I bought the model, but it’s now long since lost to the mists of time. (If anyone has one sitting in their lead pile they’d be willing to part with, get in touch..)
About a year or so ago I started painting this guy up but ran out of steam, but I think he’ll go very well with the plastic GB Arabs.

And here are the Arabs in question.


Thugs


Archers


Infantrymen


Thief

I was wondering where to get an apprentice and then it occurred to me to use another plastic arab, but to cut his spear down to make a staff. I’m going to raid my plastics pile and see if there are some packs and the like (and maybe a bound book or similar) to laden him down with.



Finally I grabbed another GB model, a plastic Viking and added an Arab head to create a knight model.



All of which comes to slightly too many points, but I'll figure that out later.

None of them particularly look like they’d survive very long in a frozen city, but I’m fine (and slightly amused) by that. My greenstuff skills aren’t up to adding warm clothing and furs and the like, and anyway this is supposed to be a “get you by” solution, rather than a definitive warband.
Going to try and slap some paint on this weekend.

[gorgarrak]

An excellent start, I'm still kicking around ideas for my warband, but like you I think plastic may be the way to go.

[Smith]

Cool warband! Look forward to seeing it painted.

[Nord]

I hope they have their vests on under their tunics. 

[TWD]

Ready-Brek every morning.

[affun]

Looks great. It's a nice theme.

I want to toy around with some of the GB plastics at some point, but haven't been able to justify getting a whole box (I play skirmish, I don't need 40 blokes!). It's good to see stuff like this: Looking forward to seeing the whole lot painted. 

The wizard is superb: Great mini, great paintjob

[TWD]

The wizard is superb: Great mini, great paintjob

Thanks affun, hopefully I'll get him finished soon.

Anyway, I've made some progress on some scenery. I fear that scenery, being very specific to the setting, may be a barrier for some. If I were an enterprising MDF scenery manufacturer I think I'd be drawing up some quick and dirty plans for ruined fantasy buildings. Fortunately I quite like making scenery so I'm just going to get cracking.

Both boys are quite excited by the game, and eldest said he wanted to build a tower. So here it is WiP. All his own work I helped a bit with cutting out and holding together while the hot glue dried. Needs some corner stones adding but it's a good start.



In the meantime I've built a very basic hovel.



And filled the bullet holes on some 40K ruins

[TWD]

I finished my first model for my warband.
A thug. Quick and dirty paintjob, but he'll pass muster.



Two more of his fellows on the way to being finished


And finally a bit more work on the ruined building.





Anyone got any good recipes for making snow..?

[TWD]

Some snow added to some scenery.

[TWD]

Quick snap of the warband. Struggling to stay focused on finishing these before starting on the proper ones

[TWD]

Had a first try-oput of the rules today with my two boys.
We played with small warbands (3-4 models), no apprentice and just two spells each. Just a chance to get familiar with the rules.
We got the wounding rules wrong, but all had fun and i think they'll be up for another game soon.



Now I just need to assemble (and paint) the new models...

[TWD]

I assembled some models for the smallest boy's warband















The models went together very easily, with minimal scraping needed of some very tiny mold lines.

The plastic seems to me to be particularly hard - less "buttery" than some  - but that's just an observation - it made no difference to assembly.

I really like these models - I'm no fan of Bob Naismith's sculpting style when applied to historical models, but the slightly cartoonish style works well for these. The faces are great - very characterful and evocative of menacing desperados.

[TWD]

The boys and I had a game on Saturday. Great fun was had by all.
They're so keen to play that many models and scenery remain unpainted, but what the heck - I'm hapy to seize on their enthusiasm.
Here's a few pictures.







Finest praise came from the 12y/o "It's a lot more interesting than 40K"

There are more pictures and a bit more analysis on my blog.
http://tomstoysoldiers.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/frostgrave-three-player-game.html

[Sir_Theo]

Interesting report thanks!

Keeping track of the spells is something that worries me. I think I need to get some idiot cards made up to keep.in front of me!

[TWD]

Interesting report thanks!

Keeping track of the spells is something that worries me. I think I need to get some idiot cards made up to keep.in front of me!

Thanks Sir_T. I've got the files for the fabulous cards Audrey has made, so I'll be printing some of them out.
But TBH eight is probably more than my old brain can cope with even with idiot cards. No doubt my kids will have all 80 memorised in no time