Joe's introductory post - the Chevauchée of Duc Giscard de Rainault

My name is Joe McLaren. My OWAC project will be a third edition Bretonnian army using a variety of minis: some ex-Citadel Foundry stuff, and quite a lot of Essex stuff too.

The reason I've gone for Brets is that I have a lifelong love for Robin Hood, King Arthur, Ivanhoe, Prince Valiant, toy knights, Lego castles, Excalibur, Robin of Sherwood, Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, Covington Cross (10 house points if you remember THAT one) and anything of that ilk. A proper army of knights, yeomanry and peasants is long overdue. Also a Bretonnian army will work for different games. In particular, I'm going to build the army so it can break down into the lion's share of two opposing Lion Rampant retinues- so my units will all be 6s and 12s.

Stylistically, I want this army to look mostly historical medieval, but with a certain amount of 80s warhammer wonky weirdness in there, and a good helping of dirt and gloom. As much as I like the bright clarity associated with Bretonnia later on, I'm aiming for something odder and darker here, with touches of Gilliamesque grotesquerie. I don't really care about keeping the army within a particular historical timeframe- I like to see a peculiar mixture of Norman mail and Burgundian plate and everything in between!

Here's my test mini- I think it's a Foundry ex-Citadel knight. This army will be a test of my freehand skills- this is about as sharp as my eyesight and steadiness of hand will allow.

I'm not going to worry too much about stylistic consistency though. Although the basing will be standardised across the army and should help pull everything together visually, I'd quite like the army to look as if it's been built organically over time, throughout the 80s and early 90s. To this end, I've got an idea for using Letraset on a couple of banners, which is something I recall a few people doing in Ye Olden days but which doesn't seem to be remembered now.

My provisonal army list is as follows. I'm hoping to find the time to exceed this points count, but we'll see- no point in setting myself up for failure!

• Duc Giscard de Rainault: Level 25 Duc, mounted on barded warhorse with hand weapon and heavy armour : 143 points
• The Wizard Gibelin, riding the dragon Beatrice: Level 20 Wizard on a winged dragon: 540 points
• The Compact of Gisoreux: 12 Foot Knights with shields and banner: 129 points
• Les Copains de Pireux: 6 Chevaliers de Notre Dame de Bataille with barding, shields and banner: 263 points.
• Les Grand-Mères de Parravon: 6 Chevaliers d'Honneur with barding, shields and banner: 277 points
• The Seamstresses of Clochemerle: 12 Brigands with bows and banner: 115 points
• The Hornets of Hyères: 12 Brigands with Crossbows and banner: 127 points
• La Coquette et L'Enquiquineuse: Two cannon with three crew each: 480 points

total : 2074

Overlord note : Joe will donate a prize at the end of the challenge for a lucky challenger, hence the absence of an offering.

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 month Six, ten Samurai (500 points)

By hook and by I crook I got here, but, I'm not sure how! I'll be honest, haven't made the best job of this months entry - as I just wanted to get them done. So, no washes or fine details, just flat colour applied with all the grace of a household paint brush, or at least that's how I feel they look., sorry.

Here's their story in pictures from my initial application to their basing material being applied

                                            

Hopefully, when their mixed in with the others they'll be hidden.

May's contribution to the challenge has been a struggle (leader's month) (779 points)

Still not sure how I'm managing to keep in this fight to be honest, simply going through the motions and dabbing paint on to figures with little or no enthusiasm, really lost my sparkle on the painting front at the moment. Any way, less of me moaning and lets show you the results of my megre efforts - five magicians and nine samurai which have taken a battering before they reached a table!

Let their story unfold - First up, the magicians. on first inspection a fairly paint job, should be in order, but then you notice the beaded necklace, the flower decoration to the cuffs and bottom of the over garment and then you've got to make them look-like individuals when its the same figure!

The finished article, see the differences?

Then we have the slice and dice merchants - samurai.

If, you care to compare the figures you'll notice that a few are slightly damaged or have missing weapons - all down to an accident at the end of them receiving a coat of colour! these things are sent to try us, yes?

Anyway, according to Ravening hordes, this little lot pushes my total points up by two hundred and seventy five points for the magicians (level ones) and five hundred and four points for the samurai. Hope to see you next month.

Paul D's April contingent - More Ashigaru (170 points)

I'll be honest, after my initial enthusiasm with this challenge I'm really struggling to complete leaders month, so I'm throwing another batch of troops to simply make the cut for this month with a few extras and overs from my previous efforts to give a little variety to the final selection. A single mono-pose figure from the original C series collection.

 

 Here they are with a little colour behind the ears.

Finally, with the missing one and their mates.

Here's hoping I can complete the task, see you next month.