Graeme's Skaven (part three - Revolutions)

Graeme's Skaven - OWAC 7 Introduction Post

Paint something different this year! That was my plan. I wanted to get out my comfort zone and paint something new. Not more Skaven. Definitely not!

I put a poll up in the OWAC Facebook group and Slann came out on top, with Norse coming a close second. I dutifully dusted off both my Slaan and Norse models and started counting out and organising them. I had enough models to do either. I had some interesting models looked out to give both armies a bit more character. I opted to go for Slann, because they're ancient, sentient, space frogs, with an Aztec theme!

Then, halfway through my prep, I hit some snags with my Slann...

...and at the same time came across my remaining Skaven models.

I got to thinking...

I wasn't happy how I left off on OWAC 6...
...and I still didn't have a full 3000 point Skaven army I could play with...
...and I had a bunch of already prepped Skaven, just squeaking out for some paint...
...and I was tantalisingly close to having enough painted models to be able to field that Skaven army I dreamed of...

...and, in the end, yet again, the lure of the Great Horned One was too great!

There's definitely some masochistic tendencies needed when choosing a Skaven force to paint for an OWAC. The Jes Goodwin sculpts which make up my force are packed full of detail, which makes them a real pleasure to look at, but sometimes a bit of a chore to paint. And you need lots of them for a decent horde army.

So, ehm, I might have gotten a bit carried away with my prep...

I mean, I had a few Clan Eshin Gutter Runners lying around from my first OWAC...

And it was obvious I had to add to the Clanrats I had left over...

And maybe I could either add to the main Clanrat unit, or create a new Stormvermin unit...

Bulking up the unit was spears was needed...

And adding to the Skavenslave unit was a no-brainer...

Then I added to the bunch of Black Skaven I had lying around...

Obviously I'd need some firepower from Clan Skryre...

And some muscle from Clan Moulder, with something exotic thrown in for good measure...

And, of course, we have to have some leaders and special troops...

To be honest, I stopped counting after a while. It's the largest number of models I've ever prepped for an OWAC. The only thing I need to do in the next five or six months is paint (sounds so simple, right?). I have a few of conversions and something special in the pipeline, but only if I have time.

Realistically, though, I'm going to aim low. To complete a legal, practical force which I'm likely to actually play with, I'm going to focus on finishing these:

• 20 Clanrats, armed with hand weapons, light armour and shields (120 points)
• 10 Clanrats, armed with spears, light armour and shields (65 points)
• 5 Skavenslaves, armed with spears and shields (17,5 points)
• 2 Jezzailachis teams (78 points)
• 2 Poisoned Wind Globadiers (52 points)
• 1 Plague Censer Bearer (41 points)
• 1 Warpfire-thrower team (81 points)
• 1 General (level 20 hero, around 100 points)

This little horde of 42 Skaven only brings me to about 550 points - well short of the target 1000 points.

Either I paint a LOT more Skaven from the core units, or some elites (Black Skaven or Gutter Runners), or I recruit the swarm, Rat Ogres, and the Manticore (or Harpies that I planned to use last OWAC) to bump up the points. We shall see!

Fingers crossed I can make it through at least the stuff I plan to do. I'm hoping for more, but I've seen real life get in the way far too often.

Good luck to all the other challengers! (Especially the other member of #teamSkaven this year - AdamH).

There are some great-looking plans already afoot. I suspect this will be a sensationally good OWAC!

Graeme's OWAC3 Skaven wrap-up

My first OWAC is done! My lead pile is dented (if you look really closely)! My purveyors of pestilence may have got a little carried away though... sorry 'bout that!

Thanks to Iannick for organizing a great challenge and congratulations to all the challengers who overcame some serious adversity to deliver some truly impressive armies! This has been a weird year so far and it's been great to be part of a little community that share the same passion and have provided support, encouragement and the threat of shaming to keep everyone going. Special mention goes to the other members of #teamskaven, Adam and Brendan - together we managed to delivery the vermin triple whammy in the year of the rat. No mean feat.

Okay, on to the final muster...

- Gnawdoom (level 15 wizard), with hand weapon: 144 points

- Clan Chieftain (Level 5 Hero ), with spear and light armour: 31 points

- 1 Clan Chieftain (level 5 hero), with hand weapon, shield and light armour: 31 points

- 1 Clan Skyre Poisoned Wind Globadier, with hand weapon: 25 points

- Warpfire-thrower team: 81 points - Jezzailachis Team: 39 points

- 3 Plague Censer Bearers: 120 points

- 3 Clan Moulder Beastmasters, with hand weapon, and light armour: 31.5 points

- 16 Giant Rats: 32 points

- 8 Black Skaven, with halberds, and light armour: 60 points

- Clan Chieftain (Level 5 Hero ), with halberd, and light armour: 32 points

- 14 Plague Monks, with hand weapons, and light armour: 82.5 points (including extra 5.5 points for the standard-bearer)

- 10 Clan Eshin Gutter Runners, with hand weapons, light armour, and slings: 140 points

- 2 Clan Moulder Beastmasters, with hand weapon, and light armour: 21 points

- 5 Clan Moulder Rat Ogres, with hand weapon: 190 points

And of course the Offering to the Overlord (25 points) isn't shown, as it's already found its way to Iannick.

So here's what my 1060 points of Skaven look like:

I had been planning to paint more in the last couple of months of the challenge, but I lost my focus. I've got about 40 models in progress on my painting desk and a bunch of scenery sitting not far away. I made a start on some banners too. All these mini-projects vying for my attention meant that none got finished... Still, it leaves me something to do in the months before the next OWAC... :-)

Right, I'm off to feast my eyes on the other submitted armies. See you next time!

Brendan's June Clan Moulder (30 points)

It's is Complete!

For the competition I really only had enough models owned or purchased for 1000 points, so I technically finished my army in May, however I went searching and painted up an agent from Clan Eshin to help surprise my enemies:

Skaven Assassin: 30 points

Grand total of my army came to 1089 points, and I'm happy with the way they came out!

Andy's 3rd Edition WHFB Skaven ensemble

Greetings Fellow Oldhammer fanatics and zealots.

My name is Andy and I live in Yorkshire in the UK.  I’ve been collecting and painting citadel miniatures since 1979 and playing warhammer since it first inception to the 3rd edition.

For this challenge, which happens to be my first :), I’ve chosen Skaven!!!, at this point Andy’s sub conscious screams wtf why do you always go for the horde armies... 

I love the furry little Jez Goodwins’ bastards. I was lucky enough to see and buy some of the models before they went on general release. It was love at first sight, they had so much character and there lore was wonderfully crafted.

I’ve decided to build a 3rd edition army and only use models that were released at the time and sculpted by Jez and Marauder miniatures. The reason for the inclusion of Marauder models was to add some variety to the plague monk regiment which Jez only sculpted two. Jez also designed a handful of troop and hero Skaven models which were released sooner after the launch of the 4th edition of warhammer. The models are in keeping with his first two series of models and I’ve been reliably informed the models were designed and prototyped whilst the 3rd edition was legal so if my OCD and Autism will allow me I might included these in my project. I won’t be using any of the Colin Dixon Skaven which in my option are a crime against the miniature world.

Proposed Army list; 

(Subject to change)

Minimum troop types: 20 slaves 50 Clan rats *arrrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!

1x slave 19 troops: 1HW, Shield; 1 lvl5 champion, 1HW, shield 88pts

1x Clan rats 22 troops, std, musician; 1HW, Shield; 1lvl15 champion, 1HW, spear, shield 200pts *tbc

1x Clan rats 22 troops, std, musician; 1HW, Spears, Shield; 1lvl15 champion, 1HW, spear, shield 221pts*tbc

1x Black Skaven 19 troops, std, musician; 1HW, Halberds, Shield; 1lvl15 champion, 1HW, Halberds, shield 242 pts

1x Stormvermin 19 troops, std, musician; 1HW, double handed, Shield; 1lvl15 champion, 1HW, double handed, shield 263 pts

Total: 1014pts

Selection of Skaven regiments

Black Skaven Regimnet

Clan Skaven Regiment 

Clan Eshin

Stormvermin

Clan Skryre