Shadespyre's June Post - Wild Card Month - Army Name Suggestions on a Postcard Please! - Dark Elves (1472 points)

OWAC VI - Wild Card Month - The Leftovers

June

Wild card month! Full of all that crazy stuff that doesn't fit anywhere else? Well, not really - this time around, wild card month is mainly the things I didn't own at the start of the project, or wasn't sure I'd get around to. 

But let's start by righting a wrong!

Remember this lass? The first Dark Elf I painted, as a test of the colour scheme? She currently doesn't have a place in the army! Just for fun, let's include her as something else missing from the army - an Assassin.

While we're filling gaps with things that are just sat there in the army list, here's a unit from the Rank and File section:

Just five Dark Riders. I really wanted to include some "proper" Dark Elf cavalry in this force, and as I own a large selection of pre-slotta Citadel horses (chiefly from the very old Fantasy Adventurers Cavalry range) I was confident I could identify some good fits. However, once I brought a rider to the horses, it was rapidly clear that due to scale creep (yes, it's always been a thing) and the odd semi-kneeling pose of the Dark Elf Cold One riders, there was only ONE horse that really worked. I scoured ebay to assemble this 5 and left it there.

Drawing on the Drow inspiration, it makes sense that this mostly subterranean dwelling force has a limited number of "surface" critters, like these horses and the Giant Eagle, at its disposal. Maybe I should have gone for some polar bear riders instead? Anyway, cavalry - all Citadel, all pre-slotta - achieved.

Also in the "rank and file" section is a War Altar, as depicted in this classic line art:

Could I, I wondered, make something like this using the Witch Elf models? The poses available don't best fit, but it might have been possible with cutting off some arms and resculpting them. Not really my strength and also quite a lot of vandalism.

On the other hand, I had some Cold Ones left over from Dark Riders project, so maybe something pulled by those? Or carried by those? After much deliberation and some mucking around, this is what happened:

Yes, it's a little more elaborate than I originally envisaged! It just grew as new components suggested themselves! Once I'd decided to carry it across the two cold ones, that set the approximate dimensions. I hit upon the throne (from FS5 "Old Wizard on Throne reading Book on Lectern") as one of the few suitable pieces of pre-slotta furniture that would look the part - it's enormous, and to my horror is effectively unfinished on the back. Hence the addition of the bulky back piece. But I rather like the wonky lines of the throne, which put me in mind of the early AD&D artstyle as drawn by the great Erol Otus. 

The purple slab itself is made from foam sheet with a skin of Miliput - the foam allowed me to push it down over the saddles of the Cold Ones rather than file them off. The painting is meant to mimic the appearance of the purple-red rock porphyry, which was used for decorative architecture across the ancient world. I probably made mine more blue-purple than is usually seen in nature, to fit the army theme.

It doesn't really show in the pictures, but the slab is actually an inverted squard stepped pyramid with three layers - as is depicted on the icon painted on the altar cloth. Why? Because (in D&D) the inverted ziggurat with the eye is one of the symbols of the Elder Elemental Eye, to which the rebel drow of  the great city of Erelhei-Cinlu turned from their worship of the spider-goddess Lolth. Which in turn explains why my Drow-themed Dark Elf army has NO SPIDERS in it! Sometimes it's almost like I've planned things!

I have to admit the candles are resin  or plastic from some kit or other, but the two cauldrons full of blood are classic Citadel pieces (from FS33 "Witch's Items" I think). They are a nod towards future Dark Elf models of the Cauldron of Blood. We then have five more Witch Elves as altar guards, of course.

And although there is NO REASON and NO RULES to do so, I of course made a space on the slab to stand a Wizard:

So, as you can see, it all became A Bit Unnecessary, but I'm rather fond of it.

Now, let's introduce some really wild stuff. With all the wildlife in the Rank and File list, I've turned to another section for some more teeth and claws; Hosts.

A quick glance at the options shows that the fun choice is a Chaotic Host, which includes some Dark Elf favourite critters. But (thematicaly at least) you should have a Chaos Wizard to bind your Chaos Beasties, so here's yet another Wizard:

This is the second time I've converted this oft-broken miniature, there's another example in my Vampire Counts army. This time I've added a mass of tentacles in place of the broken staff, in reference to the Tentacled Rod magic item used by the AD&D Drow. Suitably chaotic I hope.

Now here come the bound Chaos critters:

Six FF8-2 Harpies. Got to have Harpies in a Dark Elf army. Now you see exactly why the Harpy Eagle became the inspiration for my Giant Eagle.

Something else you also have to have is a Hydra:

It's a C27 Hydra as featured in Bryan Ansell's Chaos army from the book. Very hard to get all seven heads to fit on! The colour scheme is based on the one I used for the Cold Ones.

And some less traditional choices - brace yourselves for the terrifying FF61-1 Giant Wyvern!

Yes that's a 50mm base. This was a big model back in 1981, honest! You can see why he was replaced by the Black Dragon though... if you think that's smol, please spare a thought for his colleague, the deadly C27 Chimera!

Cute eh? I spared him the indignity of trying to mount a character on his back.

And finally, I think, that embodiment of Chaos, the Jabberwock. Inspired by Thomas' glorious bright red model, I unleashed the full range of those purples that I bought for the project, and painted him in Lipstick Pink:

I still gave him "eyes of flame" though.

Army List Additions:

Scores for June:         1472  points   23 models

1 x Assassin (level 10)    (Light Armour, Repeating Crossbow)                    94 points

5 x Dark Riders  (Light Armour, Shield, Repeating Crossbow)                   150 points

1 x War Altar with 5 Guards                                                                                 100 points

1 x Wizard (level 15)                                                                                               208 points 

6 x Harpies                                                                                                                90 points  

1 x Hydra                                                                                                                 200 points  

1 x Wyvern                                                                                                               180 points  

1 x Chimera                                                                                                              250 points

  

1 x Jabberwock                                                                                                        200 points  

Running (Final?) Total:          7243  points  211  models

Next Time

Will be the final wrap up post

Jaakko and Slargash - Wild card month

Slargash's forces had returned victorious from the battle and spirits were high in the sad little camp they called home. Slargash and the twins managed to pry a few dwarves form the hands of hungry minotaurs to be offered to the Gods of Chaos on their fancy travel sanctuary. The Mad Spell twins chanted ancient incantations, drawing upon forbidden magic to sustain their arduous endeavor. Determination burned in Slargash's eyes, the emptiness that had plagued him had been replaced by a fiery resolve. "We need more Blood for the Blood God", he commanded.

Days had turned into weeks, and weeks into months as they immersed themselves in the grueling ritual. Slargash's warband, despite their fragmented state, had rallied behind their leader, embracing the hope that their fierce presence would finally be immortalised in colour.

Wild card month arrived, a pivotal moment in their quest. It was a time for experimentation, a daring leap into the unknown. Slargash, fueled by his newfound determination, urged the Mad Spell twins to push the boundaries of their magic. The land trembled with unpredictable energies as chaos intertwined with whirls of colour, creating a spectacle unlike anything witnessed before.

With each passing day, their efforts bore fruit. The once-monochrome army began to transform, as vivid pigments materialized upon their fractured bodies. From the seducing pinks and comfortable black to the eerie verdigris and rust of decaying metal, The Great Painter's touch breathed life into their chaotic essence.

Through exhaustion and doubt, Slargash and the Mad Spell twins pressed on. They found solace in the collective spirit of their endeavor, forging bonds that transcended mere war and conquest. Their perseverance became a testament to the indomitable nature of their quest and the power of unyielding determination.

And then, on the eve of the sixth month, as the final stroke of the ritual approached, they stood before The Great Painter. The majestic being, draped in robes of swirling colours, cast a discerning gaze upon the transformed army. A smile crept across its enigmatic face, and it nodded in approval.

 

And with the passing of another month we meet again!

I had promised earlier that I will paint a war altar and a host for the wild card month. For the host my initial plan was to have hounds and a hydra. I also wanted to surprise you with three giants and a jabberwock. The plans changed a bit on the way as I decided to add a handler to the hounds, I couldn't resist adding one of the giants already into an earlier post and as I fell in love with the old trolls I decided to acquire a couple more.

The dwarves are painted to match my own dwarf army (which quite closely resembles the scheme of  the legendary Wayne Englands army)

I was hunting for the same hydra that is featured in the chaos army in Warhammer Armies but settled with the realm of chaos hydra that is not quite as cool IMO but is delightingly fighting with itself. As added bonus and maybe more wild cardesque elements I painted two blood-greed tokens (aka dead dwarves) for the minotaurs to feed on and a single test model from a group of lesser demons that is to be summoned in the heat of battle (only 17 more to aqcuire and paint to please the 3d6).

This month in points:

- War altar and 3 altar guards: 90 points

- 6 chaos hounds and a handler: 153 points

- 2 giants: 500 points

- Hydra: 200 points

- Jabberwock: 200 points

- 2 trolls: 130 points

- Demon: no points

- Blood-greed tokens: no points

Total so far 4410 points, 92 models

 

 

A cheeky demon from the Valley of the Four Winds range

 

Hobol Firebreath and Rattlebones Bowlegs are more and less excited to join their kin

I had a lot of fun and enjoyed painting this month and I hope it shows. Until the end of June! It seems that I can't dodge Slargash any further.

JohnR's Month 4 - Leader and Monster Month (525.5 points)

A trip to wales for a get together for multiple significant family birthdays (18th, 21st, 40th, 50th, 50th, 50th and 80th!) was followed by two weeks in South West France this month, severely curtailing my painting time and I was going to take a mulligan*. But then we got back to Blighty with 6 days to spare and I just wanted to sit quietly and paint for some reason...

So here is my offering for April. Our eponymous (anti)hero, the pro/antagonist of my challenge, the man, the myth, the legend himself: Aksys the Evil.

Aksys is completely bonkers. His mood swings between black depression and gregarious friendliness, acute paranoia and a narcissistic, manic megalomania.

Sometimes he’ll wander through the camp, trying to strike up friendly conversation with plague monks or shake hands with goblins. Asking them about their day, what they do and whether they enjoy their job? At other times he’ll refuse to leave his tower, brooding in a black fugue, coiled inward, engaged in whispered arguments with himself. Then he’ll appear at his balcony and rant and rave, through spittle flecked lips, promising to drown the world in blood, all the while watched from below by his bemused minions.

Still he is a powerful mage and possessed of a devious cunning. His followers live in awe and fear of him: the fact he has a Jabberwock as a devoted pet probably helps in that regard.

Aksys raised Mittens from an egg and the creature follows him everywhere like a love sick puppy. During Aksys’ spells and rituals Mittens mimics his movements with gangly limbs, chattering and braying childishly as Aksys chants words of power.

Of course should anyone threaten Aksys, Mittens would tear their limbs off. A fact not lost on Aksys’ more ambitious captains and lieutenants.

I also put paint on a couple of Rat Ogres and their Beastmaster.

This month's tally:

Aksys, level 20 human sorcerer                240  points

Mittens, jabberwock                                  200  points

Skaven Beastmaster with 2 Rat Ogres        85.5 points

The army so far:

I'll try to get some better photo's next month...

*on the plus side it also meant several weeks off Facebook, which I didn't miss at all and don't plan on going back to :)

Graeme's Formidable Fimir

"The Fimir haunt bogs, fens, and desolate moorlands throughout the northern and western Old World. Their strongholds take the form of forbidding, craggy piles of rock, crudely built in the semblance of human castles. All Fimir settlements are wreathed in thick mist, a miasma which is magically generated by the Fimir, in order to shield themselves from sunlight. Indeed, when forced to travel beyond their fortresses, they surround themselves in an enchanted mist that moves with them."

Back for my second OWAC!

My Fimir collection has grown slowly and steadily over many years, as I picked them up here and there on eBay. I was originally thinking of putting together an ally contingent for my Skaven army. However, the cheapest Fimir costs 32 points in 3rd edition, so once you’ve got a unit of 5 or 6 troops, with a couple of characters, you’re already passed the 500 point mark, which is a bit much for an ally contingent… So you might as well go the whole hog and build an army, right? Okay, that’s just me then…

Since OWAC had been lacking in the Fimir department up to now, I was resolved to make a Fimir army. Using the army list in White Dwarf 102, I came up with the following list for OWAC4:

Meargh (level 15 Wizard), with hand weapon:                                                    195 pts

Dirach (level 5 Wizard), with hand weapon:                                                         75 pts

Finmor (level 10 Hero), with hand weapon and light armour:                            140 pts

Fian (level 5 Hero), with hand weapon and light armour:                                     82 pts

6 Fianna Fimm (+3 Shock Elite), with hand weapon and light armour:              258 pts

8 Fimm Warriors, with hand weapon:                                                                 256 pts

Total:                                                                                                                 1006 pts

With the new minimum model requirements that were introduced by our benevolent overlord, I should paint at least 5 Fimir a month (since they use 40mm bases). 

I’m left with a good number of unused Fimir warrior and noble models. Since I have a shortage of heads and tails, I'm going to have to do some sculpting and conversions to a good portion of these - which might be a bit optimistic, but we’ll see - to give some variation and add some numbers to the army.

The army list in WD102 is an early version of the format (June 1988), so doesn’t mention any Allies, Mercenaries, or Hosts. This makes it a little ‘flat’, with only Fimir and just two types of warriors. So I decided to use Warhammer Armies and some White Dwarf lists of some of the Fimir allies to pad out the Fimir list and give me some more options. I wanted to bring a Fomorian feel to the army, reflecting the description of them roaming the swamps and wildernesses. Using the Dark Elf, Skaven, Orc & Goblin, Norse and Chaos army lists as inspiration, I came up with these Allies, Mercenaries, and Hosts:

< Allies >

Chaos Allies Skaven Dark Elves

Undead Orcs and Goblins

< Mercenaries >

Giants Hobgoblins Ogres

Orcs and Goblins Norse

Out of these lists, I’ve picked the potential reinforcements, which I can bulk out the army with, and add some variety to the models.

Mercenaries:

Giant         : 250 pts

Allies:

8 Orc Boyz          : 76 pts
Hand weapon, light armour, bow

8 Orc Boyz         : 76 pts
Spear, light armour, shield

8 Orcs Boyz         : 68 pts
Hand weapon, light armour, shield

Chaotic Host:

8 Chaos hounds         : 184 pts

Jabberwock         : 200 pts

Monstrous Host:

8 Boars                 : 48 pts

8 Warhounds         : 32 pts

Total                                                : 934 pts

Now, this gives me plenty of options, and the freedom to paint what I feel like during the challenge, and the chance to hit the monthly figure targets with some easier models...

So here are the models so far:

Fimir Meargh and Dirachs

Fimir Fimm and Warlords

Fianna Fimm

Fimm Warriors

Orc Archers

Orc Command

Orc Spears

Orc Warriors

Giant and Jabberwock

Boars

Chaos Hounds

Warhounds

And something a bit special, if I have time...

Now, I’m already worried about how far behind schedule I am

 with preparation for this challenge. There's no chance I'll paint all of this stuff. In fact, I’m just hoping to avoid a very rapid trip to the Field of Bones. Hopefully, I'll be able to put together a formidable little force, centered around the Fimir models, but with some extra character from the options I've got.

In any case, many thanks to Iannick for organizing another OWAC! And here's my Overlord Offering:

It's an RT601 Squat Engineer, the first-ever Squat I've painted, and the first 40k figure in 30 years. I'll be honest, I enjoyed painting it a lot. Not enough to tempt me to switch to 40k yet, though... maybe next OWAC...  :-)

Good luck to the rest of the challengers! There are some great looking armies lined up this year. Hope everyone has a healthy and productive 2021!

Tom's Chaos Dwarfs: Month 5 (a whiffling 240 points)

This is a tease picture for one of the extras. Can y'guess what it is?

I think the finger should be straightened, but it's kinda comedy cool so it stays!

...

This month should see me over the 1000 point mark, which is amazing. Technically speaking I could call a mulligan for the last one and be done. But, rest assured, that ain't gonna happen!

(The last month I think will be used to paint odd models, flesh out units slightly, and maybe add a separate unit of something or other. 200 points of extras 😀 )

Last month was greenskin month, and this month sees a similar theme with the rise of the HOBGOBLIN. Who else is gonna keep those unruly , animosity riddled boyz in check.

The hobs think it's their aUtHoRiTy, but the greenskins know that they're plannin' something sneaky so it's best to stick togevva.

Kicking things off is this regiment of hobgoblin warriors. First up - the timestamp.

And onto the paint!

The back row

The standard and musician

The bosses. There's a lot of boss models, but for the points, only one champion - the guy with the horns!  :)

And the group shot:

I kept their hats as blue and white to tie them more in to the army as a whole, but to be honest I think they're so iconic and the red scales would've tied them in anyway. The eyes on these were a pain!

I did an experiment with the shields where I left the blue colour plain and flat. Usually I try and slightly graduate the colour into a darker blue (or, I guess,  lighter blue!). I wanted to see what the unit would look like without the shade. I think it's worth the extra time to put a gradient in the shield, but I'll leave these as is for now and try to do future shields with the fade.

Hat's off to dwarf lord Iain Aitken (darkblade) who was the influence behind the shield 'fade'- from way back in the OWAC2 :)

I also got the colour scheme for the shields, not from the army book but from Tom Evans. 

His current progress on his Chaos Dwarf Big Hats are posted up on his instagram: LINK  

So that's

14 Hobgoblins (including champion, standard and musician) for 97points

Next up is a thrower of bolts. Enter - the Bolt Thrower

I'm very pleased at how this came out. It wasn't the easiest thing to build but to be fair, once I finally put some colour on it, it came together very quickly.

42 points for 1 Hobgoblin Bolt Thrower

Finally, a unit of been looking forward to painting - Hobgoblin Wolf Riders!

I looked forward to them, mostly for the plastic wolf. I've memories of trying to paint them - the wolves - for my orc and goblin collection as an early teenager, and dismally failing. Undoubtedly I painted straight out the pot, slapped it on, and had no patience to let things dry before drybrushing... Unfortunately, all my GW stuff from way back then didn't make it through a house move, but I'd like to think someone else had many happy years with all those models through a charity shop buy!

Soooo, there's a couple of wolf riders I didn't get round to. (They might be completed in the last month, as it would be a shame not to paint the remaining ones!). Here's their timestamp:

And here to kick things off is the standard bearer:

And some boyz...

The champion (so far - he might get relegated next month...)

And the group shots!

(Nuts how the lighting affects the photos!)

I ummed and ahhed over tying the shield in with the banner a bit more by painting some red flames underneath the axe transfer (again taken from a 40k Ork decal sheet). Maybe next month if I paint the remaining wolf riders...

101 points for 5 Hobgoblin Wolf Riders (inc champion and standard)

That pretty much finishes this month.

Except.

For.

This.

Jabberwock!*

Here's another picture under some different lighting conditions..

* stand in cockatrice :)

Here also is his big brother, painted in a frenzy after finishing this guy 👆. 

His base is a square one.

I guess I'd incorrectly based the littler dude on a cavalry base.... Anyhow. Done. Dusted. On to the pictures!

And in full, glorious, Technicolor...

Jazz hands! 

I loved painting these two. They both took a day each - as in a single day, all painted in a frenzy. There've been some amazing colour schemes in the OWAC and undoubtedly it's had some influence on my own painting. I don't think I would have chosen a multicoloured scheme for these jabbers if it were not for them :)

The one unit in particular that has had a lasting impression is Joe's awesome unit of Chaos Beastmen.

Check them out here: LINK

I love everything about them!

(As an aside one of the jabberwocks is still in production and is about £8 from Ral Pathar Europe - the tall guy with the jazz hands: LINK)

Where you find orcs and goblins, inevitably you find a troll or two. With the influence of chaos, here's a nice chaos-tainted troll :) 

(mostly I remember him by an appearance in a white dwarf where there was a tomb. I think it was dwarfs, a wood elf, some undead and this troll was in a tomb which housed something belonging to the dwarfs...or something)

It's very tempting to paint the fur cloth as a tiger skin, but I chickened out...

I think I'll get rid of that scuff of paint on the front of the base. Probably add more grass.

All the monsters together! I'm super chuffed with them, and although they took a long,  furloughed day each to paint, there was probably still too many hours spent on them so burnout is probably looking over my shoulder right about now... 

Hopefully I can have a bit of a rest and crack right back on it!

I also painted up this goblin, so that I can reconfigure the unit to be 4 ranks of 4. 

aaanyway...Next month should hopefully see some rounding out of units and maybe some soopa sneaky extras :)

As a curio, here's that picture again from my OWAC introduction post, showing what my army plan was.

Things changed, other units I had no idea I'd paint were added, things I dreaded I enjoyed, and things I thought I'd love, I've hated. But such is the nature of chaos...

And what it looks like right now - all these have been painted, plus those surprise extra units (not pictured)!

Naturally, I save the completed army shots for the final month.

WHICH IS NEXT MONTH!! 

Holy moley, it's gone quick. 

There are a crazy amount of fantastic looking OWAC armies this year which I'm really looking forward to seeing completed!

Anyway - until then here's the standard breakdown

May:
97...14 Hobgoblin Warriors inc. standard and champion
101...5 Hobgoblin Wolf Riders inc standard and champion
42...1 Hobgoblin Bolt Thrower

Extras
2 x Jabberwock (stand in Cockatrice)

1 x Troll

1 x Goblin

A total this month of 240points!


April: link
Goblins
Orcs
Earthshaker Cannon

March: link
Warriors
Lamassu
Bull Centaurs

February: link
Bull Centaurs
Bull Taurus

January: link
General
Death Rocket

Intro: link

Stay safe everyone, and keep on keeping on!