Monday 25 December 2017

The Forgotten Marshal


I've never seen this model on table but it seems to bring a lot of interesting options for the Ressers. First off, it can bury and unbury next to any other friendly model at the beginning of next turn. The Forgotten Marshal also brings solid Sh with his Peacebringer. He can deal some damage and apply nasty conditions in melee as well. He has 7 Wds but he should be able to survive some beating with his Hard to Wound +1. There is also a funny ability called "Forgot it was in there", which means that a random model will be summoned when he's killed. It's either some kind of scheme runner or, if you're very lucky and flip Red Joker, Student of Viscera.




I had an idea of painting him to look like old undead cowboy so I used different shades of brown on his clothes and leather belts. Sick pale skin tone and empty eyes were added to complete this look. His base was painted to fit Molly's crew I painted a while ago.

Sólstafir - Lágnætti

Sunday 24 December 2017

Johana



I've painted the plastic version of Johan (with some Neverborn elements added) before. Johana is an alternate version of that model. As you can clearly see in the pictures, scale is an issue here. Johan is way too large for Ht 2 model, and Johana looks like a baby next to him, and her relic hammer like a toy. I like the way her proportions are defined as she looks more natural. The model has decent level of detail too.


#24/2017 A Brief History of Time


A classic, in which Hawking writes (using non-technical language) about things we take for granted. One can learn about space, time, black holes, the Big Bang, as well as major scientific theories used to describe the universe. There is also some space devoted to God's place in a scientific world and how some theories were eagerly embraced by the clergy, while others were rejected. The original book was published in the late 1980s but time has shown that many of Hawking's predictions have proven true, despite him limited access to advanced technology at that time. He's obviously one of the greatest minds of our times and while the language he uses here is not too scientific there were some moments where I felt the author assumes more than basic knowledge of certain principles from the reader and felt a bit lost.

Friday 22 December 2017

Ryle


I'd made my own version of Ryle a while ago before this model was released. I didn't care much for it as it seemed too large and somehow bloated. 
While painting it I wanted to make sure his skin looked damaged and partially rotten. After all, this guy's been through a lot during his journey through the breach to the world of Malifaux. After that it was just a matter of dealing with all the metallic elements on the model, which I painted using a variety of glazes and washes.



#23/2017 Norse Mythology


I've always been fascinated by Norse mythology. It is a harsh world where trickery, cunning, and sheer brutal strength are part and parcel of everyday life. It is also a world of complex relations between the deities, rivalry, comradeship, but also cunning and violence. Neil Gaiman interest in this area has led him to write this retelling of Norse myths. It reads really well as the author has succeeded in making the language modern, while still keeping the original spirit of the tales.


Friday 15 December 2017

Burt Jebsen

I've seen this model in most of the Gremlin crews I've faced. His lower Sh value of 5 is not that bad when you look at the potential triggers you can pull off, especially the ability to take the action again. His Ml is a solid 6 and with an extra ram he will hit for 4/5/6. There is also his tactical action that can clutter up enemy models (which is neat as his Sh attack has a blast on moderate and severe).
Burt is a Gremlin, so he can go Reckless. His is also Slippery, meaning he can choose another friendly model within 2' to be the target of attack instead of him. He is also immune to damage from Pulse effects. If he wins a Df duel on a Ram, he can deal 2/3/4 damage that cannot be cheated. And he's Hard to Kill. That's quite a lot for a 7ss enforcer. There's the mercenary tax to take into account if you hire him out of faction, but he may find his place in some of my Neverborn crews.


Painting skin was the main challenge while I was working on him. I used bright vivid shade of green to begin with, toned it down with bright brown glazes, and then brought it back by using base color mixed with increasing amounts of yellow. 


#22/2017 The Buried Giant


I'd be lying if I wrote that I'd been familiar with Ishiguro's works before he received the Nobel Prize in literature. I read a bit about him and gave his latest book a go. The Buried Giant is his latest novel and it belongs in the fantasy genre.
It started really well. Set in a post-Arthurian Britain, it focuses on the story of an elderly couple, Axl and Beatrice. They realize that the collective memory of their people is on the wane. They struggle with remembering events that happened only a while ago. Together they decide to leave their village in search of their son. 
At that point I was really captivated. The topic of memory/identity loss is very interesting and it was introduced really well in this novel. Unfortunately, what followed felt like very basic narrative with no dramatic events to push the story forward in a meaningful way. Perhaps there's some hidden symbolism that I'm missing, but reading the book felt like a chore.

Tuesday 12 December 2017

Bishops

Alternate Bishop used to be one of the rarest and most valuable miniatures from the Malifaux range. I managed to get him in a trade with another gamer from the US. Soon after that the mini appeared in Black Friday sale for $25... Oh well, at least I was finally able to paint him.
The model is based on a character from DC universe called Lobo. I'm not really familiar with it so after quick research I learned that he is some kind of badass alien bounty hunter. What I liked about him immediately were clearly distinctive features, style, and unusual colors. I decided to paint my miniature in a similar way and used this opportunity to simultaneously paint old plastic version of Bishop. I never cared much for that version of this model but it grew on me as I started working on it.


Bishop is a 10ss mercenary who is a versatile beater. He can choose a suit at the beginning of his activation and add it to all his duel totals until the end of his activation. Bishop can also choose whether he wants his opponent to resist his attacks with Wp or Df. His Ml value is a standard 6 with 4 different triggers that allow him to put slow on the target, push it 3' in any direction, deal one extra damage (not too bad on a 2/3/4 spread), or ignore Armor, Hard to Kill, and Incorporeal. The last one seems particularly nice. The only problems are Wk4 and his short range of only 1'. Still, he is swift and can flurry so a lot of damage can be caused as long as he is close to his target. His other Ml attack has a high value of 7, costs 2 AP, deals no damage but puts Paralyzed on the target.
His Df and Wp are solid 6 and if he wins a defensive duel in Ml, he can punch back for some extra damage.


#21/2017 Sleeping Beauties


I am a big fan of King's work and I consider myself a Constant Reader. So, whenever there's a new novel by him, I feel obligated to read it. Sleeping Beauties had been heavily advertised before its release. It also had an intriguing story of all women on Earth falling asleep. King has dealt with this type of post-apocalyptic scenarios in some of his other books (The Cell, The Stand, to name two off the top of my head) and it has worked out really well. Before starting this one I felt it was bound to be another solid piece from him. Unfortunately, I was very disappointed.
There's a plethora of characters and none of them are well developed. I also didn't identify with any of them. The language they use seems rather primitive, relations between them are superficial. I'm used to King's characters being more elaborate (teachers, businessmen, etc.). Having a narrator like that has always worked in favor of his work. In case of Sleeping Beauties they mostly seemed annoying (especially the "main" one - Eve Black). 
Apart from that I had an issue with the pace and how the plot developed. There are numerous short chapters. It seems like the story is cut into many shorter segments to avoid having to work on coherent plot, segues between events. I was even considering giving up and stopping after about 20% but forced myself to keep at it, hoping that it may get better in the second half. Well, it didn't. 
At the end of the audiobook there's an interview with Stephen and Owen King. It offers some nice insights into their work styles and family life but more than anything it gave me some food for thought on why the novel is so bad. They had been initially working on a script for a TV series and then decided to turn it into a novel. They were taking turns editing and modifying each other's chapters so that it would be hard to tell who wrote which section. Unfortunately, it didn't work at all. It's probably the worst novel by King I've ever read, even Desperation or Firestarter (terrible as they are), are outstanding in comparison.

Thursday 23 November 2017

True Mother(s)




I've been after this model for a while now and finally managed to buy her last month. Metal version of Nekima has always appealed to me. The sculpt is dynamic and full of character. The level of detail is impressive too. 
There is one major problem with this version though. It's a heavy model and it is attached to base only at one point. This means that it is bound to break at some point, probably sooner than later. Bearing this in mind I cut the leg at this spot and added a long pin to bring extra stability to the link there. It is not a perfect solution by far and I'm still a bit worried it may not last very long but it is better than the original solution anyway. I also slightly repositioned her wings. Nothing fancy, just a minor change that I thought would add more dynamism.
Painting both was rather tricky as they're large models with a lot of details and large wings that make it harder to access some areas.





The plastic alternative version is one of my least favorite miniatures from the range. I initially bought it to use instead of the original plastic one (which is very nice but much too small) but the model seems to be wrongly scaled. Her head and limbs are just too large. Hair on top of her head looks like it's going under her horns and her wings are not in a position they should be during a charge. I could live with these, the thing that really put me off was her sword that looks like a Christmas tree. I immediately replaced a blade using old WFB bits.

Here are two pictures that compare all three versions. Old metal one is by far my favorite, followed by undersized plastic one, and the latest alternative. I'm going to stick with the metal one as it should  be safe during transport in my A-Case.





I haven't been very active on the blog recently and here's why. Together with my three brothers we decided to take part in Runmageddon. Nothing too extreme, 6 km with 30+ obstacles, but it still meant I had to prepare for the event and spent many evening running and working out instead of painting. It was worth it as we managed to complete the race together. It meant a lot to me as I'd had two knee surgeries and really struggled to get back into shape after the second one. For a while I even gave running up but long months of rehabilitation allowed me to return to mu favorite sport. And being able to complete Runmageddon with my brothers was the icing on the cake. Oh well, enough rambling, just one more picture that summarizes the whole thing to me (I'm the one in the front with outstretched arms).


#20/2017 Mississippi Blood


The final part of  Greg Iles' Natchez trilogy takes place mainly in the court as the trial of Tom Cage finally begins. It is an excellent conclusion to the series as the description of the courtroom proceedings are some of the most dynamic and dramatic Iles has produced so far. Everything is shown through the eyes of his son, Penn, whose frantic attempts to understand what seems like self-destructive drive of  his father and his lawyer. As new witnesses present their testimonies, the atmosphere thickens and becomes unbearable for the family. Two lengthy novels have left so many questions unanswered that being able to finally understand the motivations of main characters is very rewarding in itself. The author takes his time and presents them gradually. Despite this, I was still surprised by the final revelation of who was directly responsible for the death of Viola Turner, which set stage for the whole thing.
The author also reflects on the nature of relationship between races as the trial shows that much of  hatred and rage kept in check for years still exists. All of this played a huge part in what motivated the protagonists to act in a certain way.
I found the descriptions of what happened in court truly captivating and many unexpected twists of plot kept it dynamic. However, I was a bit disappointed with final action segments. These seemed too chaotic and didn't make too much sense. 

Sunday 12 November 2017

Bishop!



I haven't been painting a lot recently as work's been crazy. Despite that I consider acquiring this model a major success. I don't know whether I'll use him much in game but that's one of the best alternative sculpts in the range and I can't wait to start painting him! Hardly any hobby progress but at least there's a collector's achievement to talk about :) 

Tuesday 24 October 2017

Mama Z


I found this old version of Zoraida a while ago on ebay. As with many Wyrd pewter models, this one has very well defined details. It is especially visible on her face, which has a malicious expression that nicely goes with the character of old hag. However, the model still suffers from the flat syndrome that was common for models from the first edition of the game. In the last picture you can see what I mean. Of course, it is connected with different casting technique and becomes apparent only when you look at the model from a certain angle, but still...


Just like all other old models, this one comes with a mini book, I mean a card... Introducing upgrade system for masters gave Malifaux much more flexibility and made life of players so much easier. However, the Hex skill could be an interesting addition to M2E Zoraida.


I typically play Zoraida as a support master, not very offensively, and I generally keep her in the back. I made the base for her out of balsa and cork as I wanted this part to somehow reflect this approach - ancient crone sitting at a safe spot, twisting the threads of fate from distance. After pinning her and making sure she stood firmly, I attached the voodoo dolls. I used tones similar to the ones on plastic Zoraida. You can see them both in the picture. I think I will stick to the metal one from now on as she has more character to the sculpt.
I haven't yet played her after wave 5 upgrades, but I look forward to giving them a go. The combination of Raven Form and Powerful Control seems like it might be effective.


#19/2017 The Bone Tree


Greg Iles continues the story right where it stopped in book #1 of the trilogy and jumps into action from the get-go. Penn Cage continues his search for true motives behind the death of his father's nurse, even though he begins to realize he will not like what he funds. Meanwhile, Tom Cage skips bail and there is an APB on him. John Keiser, an FBI agent enters the picture as he believes the investigation might help him solve some of the darkest civil rights crimes, including JFK assassination.
Bone Tree is a solid follow up to Natchez Burning. As the investigation continues, new troubling facts from the past are revealed. A lot of action focuses on Tom Cage and his escape and while reading about his desperate struggles was interesting, I found it a bit too far-fetched at times. His main motivation still remains obscure, which made it easy to sympathize with other characters desperately trying to understand him. In general, I found the behavior of many characters frustratingly irrational. While working towards a common goal, they keep on hiding key information from one another. Each time they seem to move ahead of Double Eagles, some mistake, reckless act of heroism or simple lack of communication cause huge problems. Still, the novel sets up the finale nicely and makes me eager to find out how it all comes together in the end.

Friday 6 October 2017

Grootslang

With Wave 5 of Malifaux models Wyrd has reached into African folklore for more inspiration. Grootslang is an Afrikaans word that means great snake. Legend has it that this primeval monster was too powerful and the gods were forced to divide it into two separate species; the elephant and the snake. Despite these drastic measures, some creatures managed to escape and hid in deep caves. These creatures can be up to 60 feet long and it is believed they lure victims to their lairs by filling them with diamonds. 
I like the way Wyrd expands their universe and includes these kind of tales in Malifaux. It feels better to work on a model that has interesting background story, rather than just another big monster.


Grootslang is a huge model. It towers over any other miniature in my collection, which is not what you would expect from a 6ss minion. The sculpt exudes raw power and... not much else. It actually reminds me of a Cave Troll from The Lord of the Rings GW range. I'd like it to be more unusual, perhaps if it walked on all four limbs it might be more interesting. Somehow I was put off painting it as I had hard time deciding how to approach it. I've seen him painted as Venom from Marvel universe but I'm not a fan of these comics so the idea didn't appeal to me. 
In the end I chose more natural look that will go well with the rest of my swamp-themed Neverborn. I looked at some pictures of frogs and lizards and decided to use bright, muddy look on Grootslang's belly to add some contrast to his green skin. I was going back and forth with various highlights and glazes and in the end left his skin dark green. Prior to painting I filled the gaps using thick plastic glue and applied GW's Typhus Corrosion on some of the flat areas to add extra texture there.


6ss is a erlatively low cost and the model seems to have at least a few interesting options to bring to the game (I've yet to try him). At the beginning of the game he places three 50 mm Lair markers on your side of the table and can later move back and forth between them. Grootslang can also place more such markers after eating Corpse or Scrap markers. He ignores penalties for severe terrain and is immune to hazardous terrain. He has two Ml5 actions but can easily get a + to the attack flip. His Wp and Df are a low 5 and 7 wounds won't carry him far so in terms of survivability he epitomizes the essence of old Neverborn playstyle (hit them quick and move to cover).

Monday 2 October 2017

Size doesn't matter...

...literally. This picture is a good example of how people responsible for production treat height of models in game. From left you can see: Chompy (Ht 4'), Mr Graves, Grootslang, Mysterious Emissary (all three Ht 3'). Don't get me wrong - these are all nice miniatures but I'd really like their actual size to reflect in-game description more accurately...



#18/2017 Natchez Burning


The novel is set in the deep south of the US - Natchez, Mississippi. Tom Cage, the embodiment of good and professional doctor, is accused of murdering an old nurse with whom he had worked in the past. His son Penn Cage, mayor of Natchez and a former prosecutor, is determined to find the truth behind this accusation. He soon discovers that there are no straightforward answers in this story and that the past of his father is much more complicated than he'd thought. His search for answers leads him to dark secrets connected with Double Eagles, an organized group that branched from KKK. Its members are still alive and despite horrific past, they've managed to become rich and influential.
Natchez Burning is a long read and as such, there are small problems with pace of the action. But it is more or less a given in a novel that spans almost 800 pages. It's a heavy book and it lacks any uplifting quality and it deals with a difficult topic of how unsolved crimes committed in the past still poison the whole society. It reads very well and offers interesting insights into what is commonly known as backroads Americana. If you like movies like No Country for Old Men or Hell or High Water, it is a novel for you.   

Saturday 23 September 2017

Fred & Wilma

I spent several late night hours last week painting these to make sure I manage to get them ready for Saturday's tournament. I did manage to finish them but in the end I had to pass on the tourney. Life got in the way etc...
I hope to try them soon with Titania as they fit her crew thematically. Cyclops are one of her old servants who avoided imprisonment and stayed in remote mountains, awaiting their queen's return. 
They are 8ss Fae Enforcers.They are solid beaters with a min damage of 3 (although their basic melee is 5 - it gets up to 7 when they are down to 5 or fewer wounds). They come on 50mm base and are Ht3. Their low df of 4 means they're going to be hit easily, so being hard to kill can be essential for their survival. Cyclops have the Frozen Heart trait, which means that they are immune to Horror Duels and cannot be Paralyzed (meaning that Nurses can heal them without worrying aout side effects). They can also discard a card to heal 2 damage or increase their rg by 2. 
Cyclops also have two interesting (0) actions. One allows them to reveal one card from the top of Fate deck for each Scheme Marker within 3'. Depending on the suit they can either place/discard scheme marker and add slow to enemy model, damage enemy model for 1, or heal a friendly model within 5'. If you manage to live your dream and reveal a Joker, you can choose two different effects. Their other (0) action requires a 7 of any suit and places two Ice Pillar Markers in base contact with them. It can be very useful for boards and schemes where such terrain can influence the game significantly.


I decided to paint them using bright shades of blue. I started with airbrushing them with a dark shade of blue from below and then followed with some bright shade applied from the top. After that I used two brush blending and applied P3 Arcane Blue mixed with white and A Scale Dark Leather in teh recesses.
I also added some runes (I used Anglo-Saxon runes for reference) and played around with them a little. The ones on their arms say "Fred" and "Wilma" respectively. Also, on Fred's hands there's a rune that means "grave" and his chest is adorned with runes meaning "ice", "hero", and "glory". Wilma's hand runes stand for "ice" and "glory" as well. So, a little bit of relevant symbolism as well as some tongue-in-cheek approach.
I tried to keep the crystals on their bodies and weapons in similar shades to their skin tone to avoid too much contrast there. Their bases are a mixture of rocks and swamp to go well with the rest of my Neverborn crews.



Monday 11 September 2017

More metal for Hoff

Here are some minis I painted for the Hoffman crew. One of his upgrades, Arcanist Assets, allows him to hire any construct with the M&SU characteristic. I was asked to paint these in Guild colors to match the theme of the crew.



Steam Arachnid Swarm was a pain to assemble. Their tiny legs are flimsy and I almost lost one to the carpet gods. I had to add some elevation to their bases to make sure they all fit in.


Moile Toolkit is a really nice model, I like his pose, makes it look like a tiny robot is bravely making his steps into a big adventure.It's a cheap Peon, which can give friendly models significant buffs.


And finally, Rail Golem - the main beatstick of this lot. While looking for inspiration I returned to an entry of fellow Polish blogger who painted this model using mainly red color. I really like the way it made him look like one mean, angry robot and used the scheme as inspiration for my work.

Wednesday 6 September 2017

Midnight WIPs


I got this gem on ebay a couple of days ago, I think this model may end up replacing the plastic one


.. and I've also finally put some paint on reinforcements for Hoff.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...