Paul D's April post - Leaders month the Prince of Darkness points, who's counting

I initially started this model a month ago and found  that I couldn't complete it because of by a surprising lack of 20mm square MDF bases, just one short, but that was enough. I've finally got my proverdial into gear and purchased more bases and have now added colour, sand and green turfs to the missing base and stuck it all down of the main base and finally applied a coat of satin varnish over all and sundary. This piece has sat in my to-do-box for more than thirty years, which makes it older than my kids!

 

 

The small figure carrying the axe is the actual main man, I've still to formulate a stat line for him, as he will be leading my demon horde at BOYL this year and given the vehicle and attendants my initial thoughts are a god! So where do you start? 

 

My initial throughts are unlimited power, knows every spell in the book and can only be harmed by another god, would appear to hit the mark, but what limitations can I add - their bound to remain close to the pentagram whilst in the mortal world, would appear to work. Otherwise, all mortals would see them in this form, which then leaves the question - what do they see now!

 I leave you with a section of my initial introduction for my game at BOYL this year which maybe a clue "The ancient one looks over to his pets, a cat and a young companion and calls the female to him, who receives a message for the young shaman in the camp of the barbarians – simply, obtain a suitable vessel to call the god’s avatar to the stone, the ancient one wishes to commune with his master at the spring equinox! The female moves her lithe body lightly over to the heavy door, lifts the latch, opens the door slightly and eases between the frame and door, keeping the draught of the main hall beyond to a minimum and leaves the study. She’s learnt her lessons well, considers the ancient one and recalls the single smooth scar upon her shoulder and tightens his lips, maybe too well, a test may be called for!"

 A simple paint job, which has been along time coming, that hits the mark in my book.

Paul D's army shot for the end of OWAC V

Having reviewed my efforts whilst taking these pictures I'm coming round to the idea that my struggles with getting them finished - was me, rather than the army choice, my mojo just simply evaporated in the last couple of months, and the only thing that got me there was sheer bloody grit (obviously, that's the Scot/northerner in me). So on with the show - a few close-ups of individuals and units to show off all my shaky brush work and casting lines I didn't file away.

First up, a general shot of the army without my face looming over it.

Ashigaru, hopefully, when it comes to actually playing with these chaps they'll provide a steady stream of bowfire.

One of my Samurai units - to slice and dice

A second Asigaru unit - you can never have enough bows

The mounted samurai to provide a mobile reserve

More ashigaru carrying more bows

A second unit of samurai to hold the other flank.

Finally, a photo of the army with my army pose!

Oh, and if you look very carefully, you might even find a ninga, good luck.

Next year for the tenth BOYL, these boys and girls will be playing the part of the rescue party of a big game, played over the course of the weekend, I've been planning for a number of years. So, if you're going to be there and want to play the part of a chaos wizard (wishing to commune with his god), a hard bitten Imperial captain (hoping to survive, until he retires), an ogre mercenary (looking for work), a gang of giants (looking for trouble), a family of trolls (on a camping trip), a band of wolf riders (escorting the wizard and his entourage), a clan of barbarians (bent on revenge) or an army of black orcs (playing the part of the local heavies), the choice is yours and if, the wizard makes the appropriate sacrifice there might even be a demon horde (next years OWAC), let me know? All will be catered for, with individual missions and targets over the course of the weekend!

My challenge for next year a Chaos undivided lesser demon horde, who could  show up in the game, if, the rescue party doesn't do their job! All inspired by previous entries, see you all next year.

Paul D's February post rank and file (R&F) for OWAC V (100 points)

Following my first post, Ian requested I post my intended list, I assume to confirm - I'll hit the minimum of a thousand points for the challenge, as my first months total was originally only eighty points! Also, to stop me adding more to beat Mr Beale in an arms race, so here's my minimums, based on Ravening hordes:-

Planned target for January - R&F, ten archers, with light armour and longbows at ten points each - one hundred points

Planned target for February - R&F, ten archers, with light armour and longbows at ten points each - one hundred points

Planned target for March - R&F ten archers, with light armour and longbows at ten points each - one hundred points

Planned target for April - Leaders ten samurai, with two-handed swords, light armour and longbows at fiftysix points each - five hundred and sixty points; five magicians at fiftyfive points each - two hundred and seventyfive points and finally five warrior monks with two-handed weapons (bamboo canes) for thirtyeight points each - for one hundred and ninety points.

Planned target for May - R&F ten retainers, with light armour and two-hands weapons at eight points each - eighty points.

Planned target for June - Elites, ten samurai, with two-handed swords, light armour and longbows at fiftysix points each - five hundred and sixty points

Which gives me a planned minimum of one thousand nine hundred and sixty five plans. But, following last year's efforts I won't just do that, I'll go overboard painting a load more - a couple of cannon, a few  mounted samurai, more foot samurai, a handful of ninjas (As our oppressive overlord appears to think every Nippon army should have at least one!) and a whole lot more retainers to give me a little variety when basing up my mono-pose C series on multiple bases each month, and where that little lot takes me points wise, if, I was to include them in the minimum build I've no clue, or care, as I'll only be counting the monthly minimum contingent.

So, here we have my published rank and file contingent for February - another ten archers, with light armour and longbows for a hundred points, These lads will be playing the part of faithful retainers to Lord Taik-is-ed following his hasty departure into exile from Nippon into a life of a sell sword. As his neighbours realized he had been sowing discontent between them for years to maintain his strangle hold of the local grain market, whilst they raided/ambushed each anothers fiefs and retainers, destroying crops and stores to inflate to cost of grain, thus filling his coffers. 

First applications of flesh base coats, in other words splashing it about a bit!

Base coats to clothes and armour.

Next stage - applying a wash of seraphin sepia and a few high-lights.

Finding a touch of detail - lacing, eyes etc.

Sticking them on bases with a few of my extras and over from last month to add a little variety to the overall look of the unit and a fresh coat of goblin green to each base, topped off with a scattering of flock. 

An occassional scattering of sand to follow and then a heavy splash of varnish to finish them off.

So, on with the next batch of extras and overs, until March and the next batch of archers.

Paul D's January rank and file post for OWAC V (100 points)

Please find below pictures of my initial splashing of paint over rank and file miniatures for OWAC V, these will be playing the part of retainers for my Nippon army for a large game I'm planning to put on at BOYL 2023, yes, this is a very small part of a much larger project.

I'm drawing inspiration from the Osprey - men at arms series, Samurai amries 1550 - 1615AD by SR Turnbull and illustrated by Richard Hook and the Osprey, elite series, Early Samurai 200 - 1500AD by Anthony Bryant and illustrated by Angus McBride. I'm sure my efforts will prove dis-appointing when compared with either set of colour plates, I can, but, try.

A series of pictures of my initial duabing of base colours over my first batch of rank and file archers, followed with a bit of highlights, detail, washes, based and varnished.

I've added a few additional figures from this months 'extra and overs' when basing, so that I can mix in the mono-pose 'C' series figures to give a selection of different poses on the multi-bases. This will give me total of ten figures for January at ten points each, giving a total of a hundred points.

 Final series of pictures following the addition of flock and gravel with pva glue.

So 10 archers + light armour = 100 pts

 Next month more archers.