Going deeper underground (Warhammer Quest/Generic Dungeoneering project)

[Modhail]

DeafNala, it's amazing what you find if you tidy up... 

Constable Bertrand, I'm still figuring out what roll the sorceress would take. I'm currently seeing her as more a more benevolent force, perhaps a source of mystical guidance or aid to other heroes. I've already got a dabbler in the dark arts and a crotchety old wizard in my (unpainted) Hero pool to fulfill the Merlin/Stormcrow role. Anyway I think the spies would be more worried about her, than the other way around... Weirdly, the discovery of spies has a positive effect on the newt population?

For retainers, if I can't source them from the classic Perry Brets,  I'm actually looking at Claymore Castings or Perry Agincourt first. I'm not too fond of the new Bret M@a/Archers, while the bits are great, the mini's themselves are not entirely to my tastes.

Thank you Blackwolf! I'm flattered you like them, your output is quite an inspiration!

[Sirolf]

Great work Modhall, you have a very nice project going on!

I was thinking the sorceress could be a noblewoman with the gift of magic. Maybe a widow who inherited her dead husband's fief, which is run by her trusted castellan (lover?) when she is not around. Or maybe the daughter of a rich Duke who never married because of her gift and therefore never left her father's household. This would allow you to make sense of the character and justify a lordly retinue.

Regarding the miniatures, I am afraid that the new Perrys are a little slimmer compared to the older GW ones, especially their weapons. You should take a look at the BTD Averaign range, their infantry is pretty nice, and with a similar style.. here's a painted example of some of their halberdiers (not mine)

 You can find them here: http://www.blacktreedesign.com/northamerica/home.php?cat=2324

You could also try the Front Rank HYW range, they even make crossbowmen, which are usually hard to find.

[Modhail]

Thank you Sirolf!

Or maybe the daughter of a rich Duke who never married because of her gift and therefore never left her father's household.

It wasn't the mind-reading that put potential suitors off, but her unconscious habit of reading out loud caused too much problems... 

That's a nicely painted unit... How's BTD's shipping and communication track-record these days, anyway?

Anyway, I really should be focussing on the "evil" warbands and monsters for the time being...

[Modhail]

Last weekend Gunbird came over and brought a little care package: a baggy of Harlequin spearmen. Thank you, Johan!
There were two halberdiers among them who, most likely, will reinforce the retinue of my already painted knight (if the size and style of sculpting is enough of a match). The spearmen, I think I'll use for a city watch. Most likely with pavises, to differentiate them from the knightly retainers with "heater" shields. I want them to be "mall cop" caliber yokels and the large heavy pavises would also give them a more static image. Maybe I'll paint the pavises in the heraldry of the knight that in the 14th century held lordship over the area that I live in:

Not terribly accurate, as city watch shields would not be decorated with a Lord's heraldry, but rather with symbols of the city they serve in. But I want to keep them flexible, and not pin them to a particular city. It would make a nice contrast with the scruffy yokels hiding behind them, though.
Anyway, they are still far from the painting table, and I might get a better idea in the meanwhile. Plus, I mustn't forget that I'm doing a fantasy game, not a historical 14th century Brabant game...

This weekend I had originally planned to make some more progress on the Warhammer Quest display unit for the glass cabinet. However, I had neglected to calculate for the various celebrations (an anniversary and two milestone birthdays) within our extended family... Which my loving wife dutifully reminded me of, as I was pulling out all the hobby gear on Friday evening.  

So the progress hasn't proceeded as progressively as planned. :-(

I did get the trees for the display covered in bark-like texture. I painted the wire skeleton with several layers of wall-filler made slightly thinner and goopier with the aid of PVA glue. I brushed on an initial layer of watered down filler, to act as a "primer coat" for the following layers to grab on to. Then I added several layers of a thicker mix until the wire frame wasn't protruding from the surface anymore. For the final layer I threw a handful of sand into the mixture, to give it some more texture. I put this on roughly and with visible brushstrokes to emulate the texture of bark. Once dried it is a bit more subtle than I'd hoped, but when painted it should suffice:

As I had several tree wireframes still lying around, I've textured them at the same time, as you can see above.
Here is a close up of the two trees (and separate branches) for the display, so you can see a bit of the texture I achieved:

As a bonus, while these were drying between layers, I managed to clip and clean 18 GW the Hobbit Goblins. I'll be using these as some sort of underground degenerates, and they can double as mutants for games of 40K or =I=Munda, so they'll be based somewhat generically. I also managed to greenstuff the torsos of 11 second-hand Battle for Skull Pass spiders, so they are ready for primer. Additionally (filler is applied quickly, but dries slowly) I filled the gaps in the Heresy Miniatures Lurkers I showed a while ago and attached them to their bases.

All in all, looking back, while I didn't do what I planned to, I've been quite productive. And all that in a weekend I, beforehand, considered as lost to having to sit up and play nice with relatives...

[DeafNala]

That was a pretty productive weekend...you made the most of the time available to you. AND the trees look TERRIFIC!

[Gunbird]

Your weekend was a lot more productive then mine, all I did was pack 3 models for shipment and a lot of family visits as well! Gosh, I love your trees.....

[Argonor]

Grand project! I admire your ability to stay focussed for so long! 

[Modhail]

Thanks guys!

I admire your ability to stay focussed for so long! 

To be honest, it's quite a surprise to me... I usually never last this long without abandoning/switching projects.

[Modhail]

Well, after a bad case of the flu, and getting distracted* by =I=munda (an Inquisitor/Necromunda crossover in 28mm), I got something done for this project again:
^{*: see the post above this one; Go figure...}

The old man sat in his chambers, reminiscing.
"He had been a good man once, long ago, when Ilse, his daughter, still lived. Dear Ilse... His friends and neighbors said he shouldn't blame himself, he couldn't have prevented her being taken. No, but he could fix it! Claim her back!
Thus began what at first was a quest, but soon became an obsession. He had learned so much, gained so much power! Seen such things! But it was not enough. Never enough be able to claim his daughter back, free her from her unending captivity in that cold, dark place. So he must go on, further and further, regardless the price! One day he will succeed, and she will be with him again!
On some nights, when his head was a bit clearer, and his obsession didn't grip him so tightly, he could be honest with himself... Even if he succeeded, even if he achieved the needed power and knowledge and the rituals went perfect, he wouldn't get his daughter back. She would live again, yes, but she would flee from him, not recognize him. Because he no longer was the warm, kindhearted man she remembered, she would see him as he had become; a creator of monsters and servant of monsters...a monster himself. Luckily, for nights as these, he kept a bottle of Laudanum nearby."
Stroking the preserved skull of his daughter, he reached for the bottle of milky fluid...

I present to you: The necromancer August Knochenmaurer



As you can see, he is in the middle of some incantation, performing the ritual steps/paces needed for some dire spell.
With him finished, my skeleton crew (pardon the pun) have some provisional leadership and magic support, until the Wight King and his entourage can be painted. I just couldn't see him as all evil, the figure struck me more as tragic but determined, which prompted the little bit of backstory...

[DeafNala]

The background story & the miniature are BEAUTIFULLY crafted. VERY WELL DONE!

[Argonor]

Interesting mini - is it a GW-creation?

[Gunbird]

Interesting mini - is it a GW-creation?

Seeing as I just bought that exact model at a GW store, yes, yes, it is

[Argonor]

Seeing as I just bought that exact model at a GW store, yes, yes, it is

Thanks, the skullz kinda gave it away 

[Modhail]

Seeing as I just bought that exact model at a GW store, yes, yes, it is

You, in a GW store!?   
(Yeah, I know, the official opening of the new local one. Kinda bummed I missed it...)

[commissarmoody]

I like em.