Ben's Alpine Gnomes - 0WAC VII - Introduction

 

The Introduction

As of 2023, wargaming has been a part of my life for over 20 years. I started during sixth edition for Warhammer Fantasy Battles, with the big red book and the monopose handgunners, watching the hobby heroes of my local shop duke it out with gobs of gorgeous lead soldiers. It was all over for me then and there. Since that time, I've followed projects like the Old World Army Challenge that celebrate old minis and rules and its only fed my fascination with the period. Now with the new year in sight, I'm feeling the itch to see something cool all the way through, and have subsequently dug out an army of gnomes in preparation for OWAC VII!!

The Project

So many Pikes, so little time.

 

  

When I said "an army of gnomes," I genuinely meant one of my armies of gnomes. Years ago I found Old School Miniatures range of alpine gnomes during the undead gnome hallowed-ween kickstarter (as sculpted by OWAC's own Byron,) and went in deep on both forces. Then I found Admiralty Miniature's 15mm Chaos Dwarfs, which matched the OSM range beautifully. Before reality set in (and I realized how broke I was getting collecting these armies,) I managed to crank out a Dragon Rampant force of Undead Gnomes. Shortly thereafter I was engrossed in other misadventures, and my misbegotten pile of lead sank to the back of the queue. This year however, I'll be composing the Alpine Gnomes I barely based, and get a tabletop ready army for Warhammer Fantasy Battles 5th Edition (rules for which live here.)

Baggage from my own baggage train, including a baggage train.

 

I'm still awaiting some models in the post, but for now I have a tidy little pile of lead to kick off OWAC VII, (I thought they'd arrive before Christmas, but then again I don't think many miniature companies ship via reindeer.)

The List

illusionist (56)

champion on foot with light armor and pike (37)

champion on foot with halberd and light armor (41)

champion on fox, with light armor and shield (41)

20 pike gnomes w/ light armor, bsb, music and cantonal standard (143)

14 crossbow gnomes (84)

10 guarden-gnomes w/ light armor, bsb, and music (150)

1 cannon (60)

1 organ gun (50)

1 alpine giant (160)

5 fox rievers w/ bsb, and music (98)

5 fox patrol (75)

Baggage Train (free)

995/1000

The Plan

Some old coots for scale.

 I don't know fifth as well as sixth, but I think the block of pikemen is probably incredibly potent, and between the artillery and the fox cavalry, the army will have plenty of ways to address incoming enemies. I have no idea how magic works, and so I kept that to a minimum. I did find adequate info on how the alpine giant works (its a lot like other giants tbh) and so I popped one in there for good measure. That said, I would really like to try this army out once the challenge is done, so perhaps that'll be the icing on the cake of this whole experience. A treat atop a treat.

In anticipation for OWAC I hunted down a copy. It mostly made sense, but much to my dismay I discovered that the rules for magic are in another flipping book. Ah well, back to ebay.

And So...

I can't emphasize enough how excited I am to embark upon this journey with you, so I won't. Suffice to say, it's an undertaking I've been eager to begin for quite some time now, and now that it's time to start, I'll cut out here and get the brushes going. See you in January my friends!

Sometimes you just gotta draw a gnome, y'gnome?

AdamH’s OWAC VII Intro Post – The rats are back in town!

Why do I hate myself... a question I have been asking for years without an answer. 

Here we are again, me plus over 100 rats. You might be thinking that surely I must have run out of Skaven models by now? Ha, I laugh, I could probably do the challenge another two times with what I have left in my box of shame.

But yea, once more around Skavenblight we go:

Just like my previous Skaven entry I am looking at filling out my existing force with missing units as well as bolstering the core:

Mainly this means some additional Clan Skyre units in the form of a unit of Globadiers and while not technically from 4th/5th edition a couple of Warplightning Cannons:

As well as a few Jezzails:

And who better to lead this part of the army but a selection of Warlock Engineers:

I am also filling out a few older units with additional options, mainly this means random command models:

and some more Plague Monks:

For this year’s challenge I am targeting the following list:

Every time I do Skaven for the challenge I increase the number that I plan to paint, and somehow I manage to get them done. This time is no different, this is the most models I will have attempted in an OWAC yet (as long as we don't account the many small Giant Rats from last time). But if I can get them done I think my army will be touching 5k points when fully equipped! (On a side note if anyone in the UK fancies a game hit me up!)

Best of luck to the rest of the competitors as always, and especially to my fellow #TeamSkaven!

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.