Pointy Pansies

[maxxon]

Dream Warriors are done! Apparently there was a Dream Warrior leader model, but it's super rare and I don't have it making this formation technically illegal in play...

The warriors are also an experiment in a new painting technique. They're supposed to be semi-ethereal or something, probably due to munching some magic lotus or such (I never paid too much attention to the fluff -- way too many cities being raised [sic] to the ground...) -- notice they don't have legs.

The Crystal Knight is a bit stiff and way top heavy. And what's with the weird ornaments hanging on everyone's backs?

The Lotus Eater is a multi-kit to accommodate different lotus colors/houses, but the only thing that really changes is the tip of the staff. Unfortunately the joint there is very difficult, so I ended up wrapping twine around it and superglueing the whole thing -- and it's still a bit iffy...

Enough talk, more pics:

[maxxon]

It seems I had the presence of mind to buy one of the super rare Dream Warrior leaders before Prince August closed the lid on Chronopia:



These are now in the next painting batch with some swordsmen:

[maxxon]

Yea! The Dream Warriors are done!





Now including the somewhat rare leader, making this actually a legal formation! Though I don't recall the unit size, perhaps with 8 troopers I should have have another leader... oh well, whatever. It's not like I'm going to use the Chronopia rules anyway.

These were an interesting experiment, though, done mostly with washes and drybrushing to capture their ethereal quality

[randycarter]

Very nice job! I find your experiment with wash-and-drybrush turned out well.
So now you only need to wait till christmas for Dragon Rampant 

[maxxon]

So now you only need to wait till christmas for Dragon Rampant 

Not likely to be a good fit with its locked unit sizes... maybe I'll dust off Chipco's Fantasy Rules!

[maxxon]

House Crystal Lotus is done! For now anyways... I finished some swordsmen for them.





These are much more traditional style.

More on the subject at: http://www.smallcuts.net/blog/?id=2036

Hmmm... what next? Should I finally get to the orcs? Beef up the good old Firstborn I started Chronopia with so long ago? Slave away the few remaining elves and dwarfs?

[randycarter]

Well done! When a whole army pic?

[maxxon]

Well done! When a whole army pic?

I've been thinking about that... maybe I'll get a proper photo shoot organized next week.

Here's a teaser I snapped when I was doing my storage reorganization:

[maxxon]

Back from vacation with a little painting done:





I finished my last axemen (axe-elfs?) trying to match the color scheme I painted... errr... maybe 10 years ago.

A few elven character models remain and a section of spearmen, then I will definitely have to move to something else... Firstborn or maybe finally the orcs?

[guitarheroandy]

Not likely to be a good fit with its locked unit sizes... maybe I'll dust off Chipco's Fantasy Rules!

Actually, you'd be ok with Dragon Rampant, I suspect, as you can field 'reduced model units' so if you don't have enough models for a unit of 12 of whatever troop-type, just field 6 and they fight exactly like a normal full 12 man unit, with each model in effect having 2 wounds - or field 4 with each model having 3 wounds. It's very, very flexible in that way.

[maxxon]

Actually, you'd be ok with Dragon Rampant, I suspect, as you can field 'reduced model units' so if you don't have enough models for a unit of 12 of whatever troop-type, just field 6 and they fight exactly like a normal full 12 man unit, with each model in effect having 2 wounds - or field 4 with each model having 3 wounds. It's very, very flexible in that way.

I read about that, but I'm not so convinced. Chronopia is built around units of 4-8 troops plus specials (some of which were never available or are super rare).

Let's take my Dream Warriors as an example. I have 8 troopers plus a super rare leader, nine total.

I could field them as a 6 figure unit, but that would leave 3 models unused.
I could try to find (and paint) three more to get to 12, but in addition to cost and work the figures may be unavailable.
I could field all 9 and count them as having 1.33333 wounds each -- yeah, that'll work.

Besides it's a look issue for me. Multi-wounds is okay if you're talking about ogres or such. But having 4 bog standard dwarf warriors stand in for 12 just looks stupid to me. Nevermind issues with the hugely reduced unit foot print.

It works much better if you're used to playing a fantasy game built around units of 16-20 figures. Especially if figures stylistically similar to your existing ones are readily available.

[guitarheroandy]

Ah well, I suppose it was worth the suggestion if only to be able to prove conclusively to you that the game isn't an option for you.

Interesting models, btw. I hadn't seen them before...very different to the usual Elven models.

[maxxon]

Interesting models, btw. I hadn't seen them before...very different to the usual Elven models.

The whole line is like that.

I really like that they had the balls to go for a unique look instead of generic fantasy.

Though now the downside is that getting stylistically compatible figures is virtually impossible.

[randycarter]

The whole line is like that.

I really like that they had the balls to go for a unique look instead of generic fantasy.

Though now the downside is that getting stylistically compatible figures is virtually impossible.

Yes, and that original look was, IMO, heavilly used by GW in the late nineties: I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that some artists (illustrators and sculptors) worked also for GW in that period (see some WHFB sixth ed. arrmy list covers, i.e. chaos warriors or orcs).

All in all I think that it esxist some Chronopia-like range - I don't know if still alive. A rapid search bring me this link:

http://marbles.frothersunite.com/apr04b.html

And, if you don't know it yet, I suggest to take a look here

http://www.chronopiaworld.com/index.php

[maxxon]

Yes, and that original look was, IMO, heavilly used by GW in the late nineties: I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that some artists (illustrators and sculptors) worked also for GW in that period (see some WHFB sixth ed. arrmy list covers, i.e. chaos warriors or orcs).

Well, the talent pool even in UK is not that deep. You see a lot of the same artists drawing for 2000AD and GW for example.

Or at least that's the way it was in 80's and 90's, haven't really kept up to date with it...

The Celtos figures are a very good match stylistically for the Sons of Kronos, and various chaos figures would sink into Devout (though that is IMHO the most boring and unimaginative of the ranges), but getting matches for the rest of them is pretty difficult, especially ones that would fit into existing units.

The Chronopia figures are also very large, especially for metal models. You will be hard pressed to find an elf of similar stature, nevermind the style.

The range is also unfortunately plagued by widely varying quality. Sculpts done by Kev White are super, but some of the rest have been rushed through by... less talented sculptors. They tried to have full ranges for five factions (including multiple subfactions) at launch, and it shows in places...