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Miniatures Adventure => Fantasy Adventures => Topic started by: Digits on July 26, 2020, 12:34:08 PM

Title: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on July 26, 2020, 12:34:08 PM
Don’t panic, not really another project from me.......I have enough on the go.

But, my lad has just got into D&D with his mates in London, and I said I’d paint him a mini for his character, a half elf Paladin.  Difficult to find a suitable mini and in the end opted for this mini from a Reaper, as being hooded, you could say he has pointy ears! Lol. On,y thing he wants is a red cloak.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/1A932731_F731_4773_8507_E72B990BB901.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

So I will get this done for him.







But whilst thinking on, I got to reminisce about my first experiences of gaming when I was a ten year old at boarding school.  D&D was really my first exposure.  We didn’t have many minis at all, relying on a lump of plasticine to quickly mould any required monsters and playing out on card cut out dungeon plates. 

A few years ago, a chap I know got me excited that we would play some D&D once again but it fell by the wayside, after I had painted a crap load of floor tiles and bought a few minis.  Shame because I love the idea of painting simple one off figures and monsters, and a few packs of hobgoblins perhaps...

I know the chances of me playing again are remote at best, but I think I will paint up the odd mini as I feel the desire.  You never know, I may one day have grandchildren I can pass it on to....


Here are the floor tiles I painted

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/FF26E3AB_6D05_4229_AC61_AA71FEE6BC34.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/B3371864_C349_4FBB_8FB3_437054C1BB00.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/C36CB9CD_5D84_48FE_A16A_91FAC91D0799.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

And one of minis I’ve bought over the years trying to recapture some of that old spirit...but never putting paint to.  One of my favourites Reaper do....but I’m biased as I played a ranger when I was younger.  I also played a wizard....never had a lot of luck with him...but what I do remember was, there was this older kid called “Packer” (sp?) who could paint.   We all spent big chunks of our pocket money with this kid to have one of his painted minis.  I bought the wizard and was chuffed to bits.

Years later, I came across the mini in one of my lead piles, and though “what a piece of crap!” .  He hadn’t even used an undercoat! Lol

Ranger
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/DB1A9B99_C49D_467A_9ADD_DDA510EDAECA.png?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing
Post by: PhilB on July 26, 2020, 05:31:21 PM
Looks cool! I like the tile with the polar bear rug.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing
Post by: Digits on July 26, 2020, 08:10:04 PM
Cheers fella.

Think I will pop my paint scheme here as a reminder in case I want to do more....

Prime Halfords grey.

Paint whole tile Mecanicanicus grey

Then picking  out individual flags with the following colours and # of flags per average large square

Dinge 6
Reaper 3
Dawnstone 4
Karak stone 2
Rakarth flesh 1

Then it will be a wash of Devlan mud.....with splotches of other washes (greens/reds/blacks)

Finally a light dry brush with ulthuan grey.



I have a box full of dungeon walls but I’m not so keen on painting those.  I also have a load of the sewers of Altmar  too somewhere.

I also have some doors to paint

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/57A3EB4C_3BF8_40FB_BB58_0343AF97DE29.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

What I actually need to buy, would be some wooden floor board tiles and cave tiles from Ainsty if I was going to expand....
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing
Post by: PhilB on July 27, 2020, 11:41:29 AM
The flat dungeon style (with no walls) and self-standing doors is an excellent sollution, especially for transportation and storage. The main drawback with Dwarven Forge pieces is they take a lot of room and are quite heavy when packed in boxes. When I go to "away" games, my trunk is full to overflowing.

I think you could do some fine irregular cavern pieces using mdf sheets and a jigsaw, along with some low-relief plasterwork.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing
Post by: gamer Mac on July 27, 2020, 11:49:24 AM
Floor tiles look spot on :-* :-* :-*
Looking forward to see what you do with the figure
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing
Post by: Citizen Sade on July 27, 2020, 12:19:03 PM
Lovely approach and execution. If I were starting out, I’d do it your way.

The main drawback with Dwarven Forge pieces is they take a lot of room and are quite heavy when packed in boxes. When I go to "away" games, my trunk is full to overflowing.
Their newer Dwarvenite stuff still has some heft, but you can sling it all in tote bags or boxes for easy storage and transport. I’m glad I moved over to it from the old style resin.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: Digits on July 27, 2020, 02:04:03 PM
I like the idea of irregular cut out caves Phil....

This stuff is from Ainsty....resin, been about a bit but pretty good stuff.  There is a limited amount of matching wooden floor tiles from their mine set.

Anyway.....couldn’t help myself and painted a Zealot Miniatures mini I’ve had for a while.

I’m useless at skin, but I think it looks ok.  Most I’ve seen are painted like the blue fella in Aladdin.....not my taste but a little blue smoke.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/2104901C_7978_4C3E_A598_780D568BAA41.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: LouieN on July 27, 2020, 05:21:56 PM
it looks great
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: Digits on July 27, 2020, 05:55:37 PM
Thanks Louie!

Think I may try my hand at a few critters.  I have some rats needing painting...
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: snitcythedog on July 27, 2020, 07:01:55 PM
Your dungeon floors are lovely.  The Djinn is well worthwhile too. 
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: has.been on July 27, 2020, 07:53:59 PM
If you want to scratch that D&D itch we could play Frostgrave or similar.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: Digits on July 28, 2020, 04:56:41 PM
Cheers Snitchy.

Pete, Frost grave hasn’t really appealed to me from what I’ve seen.

I’d love to get into D&D again but realistically, I will just paint a few minis, maybe have a go at a solo dungeon crawl (though I have never really tried solo gaming)  and imagine what it COULD have been like all those years ago had I had the pennies!  ;)
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: PhilB on July 28, 2020, 06:09:14 PM
Digits, I get the impression that you're close to my age (60) and I have to say that it might not be as hard as you think to find a group of D&D or Pathfinder players close-ish to your age in a large city like Manchester. I live in central France and managed to get a group together, been playing for some 15 years now after taking a lengthy break from the hobby.
You can see some of our recent games on my blog (https://dragontoothgrognard.blogspot.com/), and although it's in French, the translations available in Google Translate aren't too awful.

Again, love the work you've done. That djinni looks just right!
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Djinn
Post by: Digits on July 28, 2020, 07:04:13 PM
Thanks...certainly over 50 anyway!  And I moved away from Manchester...down near Stratford on Avon now.

If it happens then great.  This is a small distraction though.....I’m actually in the process of building a napoleonic army.  If I end up with something people want to play on / in....then we will see.  I will be sure to check out your blog.....
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Rats
Post by: Digits on July 29, 2020, 12:22:40 PM
Meanwhile....no dark dingy corner would be complete without rats.  Ok, admittedly, giant rats.....

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/52D7EBCD_1987_471A_9A3C_8C7172B06F96.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Rats
Post by: Steam Flunky on July 29, 2020, 01:03:06 PM
Nice work on the tiles and rats.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Rats
Post by: Elbows on July 30, 2020, 08:28:40 AM
Nice work - source for the rats?  I've been putting off adding bats-n-rats to my dungeons...but I know it's inevitable.
Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Rats
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 09:08:40 AM
Cheers fellas.

The rats are from Otherworld Miniatures.   They have some lovely minis....some a little pricey, but for low level monsters, humanoid adversaries and critters, they are pretty useful.  I have a handful off other bits from them that will eventually get painted.

Title: Re: Dungeon Bashing - Rats
Post by: gamer Mac on July 30, 2020, 09:38:36 AM
Lovely job :-* :-* :-*
I bought some otherworld stuff a while ago , don't know what I have done with it ,need to dig it out
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Rats
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 10:47:52 AM
Yeah, it’s good stuff.  I have a few henchmen, skellies, critters etc which will all get painted up sooner or later.

I really didn’t want to spend too much time with this.....but.....I’m enjoying myself.

So, slow burn maybe, but I think I will now use this as a virtual “tour” through a relatively low level dungeon.  First of all, I’m going to need a guide.......
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Rats
Post by: Bloggard on July 30, 2020, 12:05:32 PM
those are great rats.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Rats
Post by: hubbabubba on July 30, 2020, 12:56:29 PM
Cool rats, I have the same ones, they're lovely sculpts.

Your dungeon floor is excellent, really nicely painted, it looks great.

If you're hankering after something that captures the nostalgia of old school dungeon delves, let me recommend the solo games Rangers of Shadowdeep or Sellswords and Spell Slingers. The give me they perfect excuse to paint up small parties of heroes and gheir foes.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Rats
Post by: OSHIROmodels on July 30, 2020, 12:58:23 PM
Great stuff  :)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Rats
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 03:23:02 PM
Thanks chaps....I will keep an eye out for the solo systems too, cheers.

Ok, so as I mentioned, I need a tour guide.  Meet adventurer “Michel Portilloo”.  You could say he’s tooled for bear.....and pretty much anything else he’s likely to encounter!  Hopefully his “Imp Box Brownie” will capture images as we meander through the depths of this dungeon, of both fellow adventurers, architectural fit outs and the myriad of foes he expects to meet.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/F50AC84E_1B3A_44F3_B917_B60DDCB4AB33.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)



I have had the mini sat in a box for years....”Complete Adventurer” v2.  (Or 3?).

Maybe not the dynamic adventurer you’d opt to take, but perfect for showing you around.....

So, let’s start again, and descend into what I hope will be a fruitful journey.  Let’s hope the door ain’t locked.....(door from Zealot Miniatures)

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/2B03A59E_DDB6_4C54_B356_E2A348FAE249.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: has.been on July 30, 2020, 03:39:10 PM
Oooooh, so the door leads to (as well as from) Zealot Miniatures!
Unfortunately it does mean you can't buy anything bigger than
about 30mm. It wouldn't fit through the door.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 03:44:14 PM
Though I’ve not played for years...I do recall wondering how all these bloody big creatures got into the rooms they were found in! Lol
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: has.been on July 30, 2020, 04:00:56 PM
When D&D was new, & I was much younger, my youngest brother refused to go
down ANY 10' wide corridors. Instead he kept to the 5' wide ones,
 'Dragons can't go down them' he used to say.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 04:11:02 PM
Sound logic....sadly deluded!
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: PhilB on July 30, 2020, 04:25:51 PM
I love that adventurer figure: he's looted *everything*, including the kitchen sink!
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: Digits on July 30, 2020, 07:56:17 PM
Yup, he’s a great mini.  Not always so easy to find minis with humour in them.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: Elbows on July 30, 2020, 09:00:40 PM
When D&D was new, & I was much younger, my youngest brother refused to go
down ANY 10' wide corridors. Instead he kept to the 5' wide ones,
 'Dragons can't go down them' he used to say.

Hah!  In my current dungeon crawl (work in progress)...this is a completely viable tactic.  There aren't a ton of one-space doors, but they exist. Sometimes they only lead to closets...but if it gets you away from the big baddies...a closet'll do!
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - Your tour guide is....
Post by: has.been on July 31, 2020, 11:34:09 AM
Closet love?
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on July 31, 2020, 01:51:09 PM
I don’t think leaping into a closet is any less dangerous myself!

As it happens, the doors were unlocked and Portilloo enters to find the first of my true adventurers, Barnabas Kepler, wizard.  You can’t really start a party without one.

I liked this mini soon as I saw it on Otherworld’s site.  I just love the nonchalant posing of his right hand, as if he’s about to flick a spell without getting too worked up!

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/01A99846_A3F6_4804_A118_18D353B129DF.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on July 31, 2020, 08:42:02 PM
Into the first hall.....quite a few doors to explore....but what’s this?  Looks like someone has been kipping down here...

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/8263ED29_0147_4935_A983_DB5C17EBC302.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

Doors and “beds” by Zealot.  Please note I’m not actually going to tell a story here...lol.  It’s just that I painted the beds and doors today! 
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: gamer Mac on August 01, 2020, 12:54:16 AM
Liking your progress :-* :-* :-*
Have you got rules to use?
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on August 01, 2020, 01:40:41 AM
No rules mate.  At least, not yet.

I’m not actually playing....today I painted a wizard, a handful of doors and three bed mats is all.  Introducing them as Portilloo ventures through the dungeon I thought was more interesting than just putting up painted bits.

The brilliant part from my perspective, is that as well as having a little retro fun, I’m also trying to kill a few birds with one stone.....I have lots of cargo, chests end supplies pieces that need painting, useable also in my pirates, and naps, some beasts useable in other projects and I want to expand these floor tiles to incorporate the Yakum  mine Tiles from Ainsty....which I’ve been wanting for my Cowboy game VC.   On top of all that, I want to have a growing wilderness which could either be tropical or recently pine forest.....so I can tinker those too.  So really, rather complimentary mini project.

If somewhere along the way, I get a game of D&D, then all the better!

Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: gamer Mac on August 02, 2020, 12:49:54 AM
Surely with this terrain and figures player will be knocking down your door to play with these?
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on August 02, 2020, 02:17:32 PM
We shall see fella...Thanks for vote of confidence though  ;)

Spent the last hour or so sorting out flash etc on a big chunk of my collected booty.

Let’s be fair...that’s what most adventurers are looking for!

Going to prime it and start on small chunks at a time which we will see in more detail as Portilloo comes across it.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/CA07D637_5AB3_4C48_BC21_8C0D4D30AFBC.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: has.been on August 02, 2020, 02:58:33 PM
Some of it could be also used for a modern (Arab?) market.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on August 02, 2020, 03:16:43 PM
It could though I suspect Bob has that covered!

My main use will be pirates.  I envisage lots of cluttered cargo on the dockside.  Barrels / boxes, crates, bales and sacks mainly.  I have a few, but will need more yet for that. 

I’m also looking for netting suitable for scale fishing nets if anyone has suggestions?

Anyway, that little lot is now primed and ready for some paint.

Before that though, I’m half way through a couple of minis first.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: has.been on August 02, 2020, 04:24:08 PM
For fishing nets may I suggest some of that layered crepe type bandaging.
Tease off some layers & you have netting. Dip it in thinned wood glue
& shape it as you want. When dry undercoat it dark, dry brush it light when it is dry.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on August 02, 2020, 05:19:54 PM
Sounds the same as camo netting then.....I may have to add a few glass bead floats.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: snitcythedog on August 02, 2020, 06:21:35 PM
Beads would work.  If you want to reinforce the theme you could make some lobster pots.
http://snitchythedog.blogspot.com/2014/07/lobster-pots.html (http://snitchythedog.blogspot.com/2014/07/lobster-pots.html)
You can replace the metallic tape with stencil paper. It would be a cheap alternative to purchasing more resin. 
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Bravo Six on August 02, 2020, 06:29:24 PM
Amazing thread Digits! WOW!  :o

I must have missed something. Who's Bob? And is it HE who does that amazing loot?

Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Digits on August 02, 2020, 07:10:49 PM
Cheers.

Snitchy...those lobster pots look the dogs!   I will be having a go at them! Cheers

Bravo...Bob is Flatpack on here...check out his Arab market in his Middle East thread....modern conflicts.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Bravo Six on August 02, 2020, 07:24:47 PM
Cheers Digits! I'll look 'em up!

Keep the eye candy coming. Wonderful stuff. Though I don't game fantasy per se, I love looking at what other folks are doing.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on August 03, 2020, 05:48:13 PM
Will do.

What’s this?   Looks like a powder magazine?  Now wondering whether bringing this lit torch in with me was a good idea?

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/2ECFFC1F_4417_45FB_8B92_C26ACCAD1248.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: LouieN on August 03, 2020, 05:52:49 PM
Did that henchman just being a torch into a powder room?

A great setup
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - “Well met wizard!”
Post by: Splod on August 03, 2020, 11:51:00 PM
(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/01A99846_A3F6_4804_A118_18D353B129DF.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)

I adore this miniature. I painted him up to be a character for a Pathfinder game: Sqirifax the Mad; the Unhinged; the Slightly Awry. He was great fun to play, and it's a cracking figure ;)

This is a fantastic project, and full of inspiration. I love the tiles in particular  :)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on August 05, 2020, 09:01:41 AM
Kind of you to say bud.  And yes, the wizard certainly is characterful mini.

The next room Portilloo Checks out...a fighters wet dream....an armoury!  A few rusted bits of tat for sure, but maybe there is a priceless artefact to be found among them....?

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/1D114B7B_7397_47CC_995A_03A6461CE4B8.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on August 11, 2020, 03:05:31 PM
Oooooooo!    Probably spend hours reading through all these titles.......must be a spell book or something in here!

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/1E136D9A_6C8B_4175_AD4D_A61060F45746.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: gamer Mac on August 11, 2020, 03:38:21 PM
Love that :-* :-* :-*
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on August 11, 2020, 05:03:09 PM
Cheers.  Library set from Manticores terrain crate.
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: has.been on August 12, 2020, 10:46:02 AM
Is it true that each book in that library is about one of your projects?
Peninsular war, Vulture Creek, Big trees, Jungle, D&D, Syrian hotel, Camel salt train etc etc etc
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on August 12, 2020, 10:47:07 AM
That’s cruel sir.....and you missed a few!
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: has.been on August 12, 2020, 01:55:26 PM
It was not meant to be cruel, but admiring/envious, & I missed a LOT!
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: Digits on September 27, 2020, 10:36:21 PM
My lad is up from the smoke, I had promised him a paladin to take back so painted it this am.

(https://hosting.photobucket.com/images/b76/DigitsDavid/C70A32EA_750D_4C84_906F_F70D7AC5BD6B.jpeg?width=1920&height=1080&fit=bounds)
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: vodkafan on September 27, 2020, 10:54:45 PM
Very nice. He seems to have a bit of a rodent problem there. lol
 
Title: Re: Dungeon Tours - just snooping....
Post by: LouieN on September 28, 2020, 02:44:58 AM
wonderful scenics and minis