OWAC IX - Blood Bath at Orc's Drift - Intro post

 

Long time, no see. 

After a long pause for a year, I'm back on track with the objective of completing yet another batch of old metal miniatures.

OWAC VII Wrap up post

 

 

The first campaign against the ravaging hordes that attacked Tor Nimtala was a success, with the enemies in disarray and vastly surpassed by the elf combat prowess. However, it was a case of winning a battle but losing the war.

Many of the villages surrounding the last port in Tilea were attacked and their people fled to the city or to the forests. Eventually, the elves convinced to seek shelter in Athel Loren grew and the fertile land were progressively abandoned in favor of the younger races that took the land.

With the population diminishing and the constant menace of the orcs and ratmen, the elves loyal to Ulthuan eventually returned to the isle, but not without a fierce fight, as there were two sieges over the port of Tor Nimtala. It is written that the city didn't fell to the enemy; instead, the fire of Ymmrrarior was the ending chapter of its forgotten history as well as the doom for the skaven warlords that tried to pierce its walls.

 

This year it was a fun little project restoring lots of old plastic models and converting one of my favourite dragons of the entire Citadel line.

My main goal with the painting this year was to replicate an unusual style I started to develop some time ago. I was trying not to paint the usual plain blueish or white main colour that we usually see for high elves, as I'm not too keen on that style. 

I sought inspiration in japanese armours, bits of old fantasy art and also the old comics of Elric of Melnibone, with their colorful armours and clothes. But as you can see, it was mostly japanese art.

Also, the japanese inspiration was bit special, because I opted for the depictions of traditional theatre actors, not only traditional samurai or military clothes. 

The traditional japanese actors and their painting and overly decorated even for the usual samurai standards.

That's why I tried to decorate every cloth with a pattern, motif or particular fabric like the capes for the archers/shadow warriors/scouts. 

Finally, I appreciate all your comments and that you also enjoyed my take on the high elf army. Your armies were also inspiring even in the lowest moments of the challenge! 

 

The final recap is:

1800 points as per 4th edition army book

63 elves painted

3 houses

and more importantly, 4 bonsai trees

 ...

So, what's the plan for the next year. 

Simply put, I don't know. 

I am finishing some of the units for the second batch of dwarves to complete my previous challenge army. Another plan is to get the cavalry, the unfinished chariot and militia unit from this year and some bits for a second batch of high elves.

Or... a 40k 2nd edition army project that maybe if I'm lucky I could finally finish this year. But I am more confident for the other two projects at the moment.

Ah, I can't say goodbye withouth the mandatory Ansell pose. Long live his legend.

See you in the next Old World Army Challenge!

Adrian's out.

OWAC VII - A not so peaceful village (Wildcard's month)

 

The villages surrounding Tor Nimtala where completely decimated after the wars against the orcs and the skaven.

Few towns and settlements have been left intact after the war of the beard and the constant raids of orcs and other creatures. But none of the later threats were so massive as a full scale war against two full host of orc and ratmen raiders. 

The settlements along the Tarano river were fortified as chokepoints to keep the enemy hordes undivided and far from the city of Tor Nimtala.

After the war, the elves were victorious but the fertile lands of the northern Tile were left in favour of the younger races like the men.

 

 

The original plan got completely smashed. To pieces, almost completely, hehe.
Fortunately I could finnish part of the scenery. 

I initially wanted to paint a unit of custom militiamen or warrior kin made out of old middle earth elves and Chaz Elliot RP elves, the chariot, as well as some terrain pieces (including of the bridges over the Tarano river from my backstory).

IRL I had to prepare some fieldwork as well as several issues and a late arrival of the printed shields for the militiamen that item by item from the list, everything failed.

The worst part was the chariot, that was planned from the starting of the challenge but will not be finished for this edition.

I finished working some of the cardboard pieces and small bonsais.

 

The small bonsaid are designed and printed by Last Sword Miniatures and the treetops made out of old blister sponges, so technically it's at least 50% oldhammer.

The cardboard houses follow my other modular designs but for this set I glued everything together and are solid pieces. The windows are cut so I can fit small LED torchs if I want to make some experimental pictures.

That's the end of my challenge. I failed the chariot and couldn't paint a bridge that I got years ago. Next month, the recap.

Until then,

Adrian's out.

OWAC VII - Here be Dragons (Leader's month)

 

One of the toughest policies and direst duties of King Caradryel was the abandonment of the Old World colonies. A tragedy for many nobles that still had family ties with those elves that refused to leave the continent. 

Those who flew to the new populated forests of Athel Loren were somewhat safe. But the people of the coast were damned to perish against the hordes of barbarians, orcs and creatures of chaos awoken after the age of elves and dwarves.

It was not an easy task to enforce the recall of elven troops in the diplomatic table. Among the unrested nobles in Ulthuan, there was a risk of disobeyance and unilaterally send aid to the continent, or worse, open rebellion. One of those, Bel-Tebal of Nagarythe, a caring father for the princes of Tor Nimtala in the Tielan coast. It was vital to retain the few nobles that were still loyal to the crown in the ravaged lands of Nagarythe.

Caladryel was pragmatic and an intelligent leader. It was not possible to make an exception with the stubborn veteran Bel-Tebal. Nor undoing his command. But in the audience with the enraged former prince, he choose wisely the words.

"You, as all the people of Ulthuan, has been commanded not to sent your valuable soldiers to the continent. Yet, I cannot forbid the aid of a father to her daughter and his son-in-law. You can march yourself with your mount, take your best blade and fight for them. Your retinue can accompany you, but they will not be allowed to land in the continent..."

A mount. Not a steed.
Bel-Tebal reached the caverns of his tower and pleaded for the aid of his old friend Ymmrrarior. The ancient female great dragon hear that the offspring of his friend was in danger, so she must stay awake from the dragon dream a little bit longer.

The hordes of chaos creatures did not know that they've indirectly provoked the wrath of an ancient foe. Fire and nightmare made manifest. No ratmen could pass her scale armour. No enemy enough powerful to stand the wrath of the old prince and his terrible ally.

A small change of plans for this month. I needed some supplies for finishing a unit I had in the workbench for the wildcard. However, the printed old styled shields couldn't get in time, and I switched to the big guy instead.

I could have completed some of the other planned pieces, and I am unsure if I could finish the wildcard unit in time. Yet the dragon was a safe bet for this month, believe it or not.

I was also wanting to paint some creature. In the meantime I have been toying with some miniatures based on paleontological reconstructions. I despertely needed to put my hands on the dragon!

At first it was going to be based on some blue lizards that will also be in the same chromatic range of much of my army. The belly and wings in a sandy white or slightly ice yellow. But I was starting to paint my other commander, the elf mage, and I felt in love with the pink-grey I made. It was the perfect colour for the belly and wings of the dragon.

I love to put some small patterns in the horns, head and maybe tail or some key areas of the body of my creatures. I went for a slightly light turquoise strips and then the eye firey-motif.

The funiest or oddest reference was the prince armour. I love the colour combinations of the old Saint Seiya armours of the eighties. Unusual choices today, as we barely see more than two colours in fantasy/sci-fi, both western or manga armour designs.

The cloak and clothes have similar patterns like the other, japanese-styled clothes of my army.

Finally, the mandatory elf mage. I am basing each of my mages in a discipline of the Old World winds of magic. I chose a different approach to the lore of life. Instead of the usual greens, the japanese flowers allowed my to mix the pinky-gray tones with the flower pattern over the cloak.

That makes for

1x High elf prince and a great dragon - 760 points

1x High elf mage - 59

And now for the "easy part"? What would be the wildcard month? Stay tuned for the next update

 

Until then,

Adrian's out.

OWAC VII - Fear the Emerald Sword (4th Rank n File month)

The lethality of every elf warrior is legendary, but there are even deadlier and fearsome warriors among their ranks.

OWAC VII - Now you see me, now you're dead (3rd Rank & File Month)

 

Surprising an elf army is nigh impossible. Their territories are patrolled by some of the skilled and silent agents.

The elf seekers or the ranks of the nagarythean Shadow Warriors are the reason almost no enemy can escape the elf inteligence. They search for enemy patrols or columns, locate stashes, or inform of enemy repositioning. But most importantly, they're deadly sharpshooters and warriors eager to strike behind enemy lines.

During the crisis of the fall of Tor Nimtala, regiments of seekers moved behind the lines of the besieging orcs and ratment hordes and killed hundreds of vital reinforcements, supplies. But more importantly for the cohesion of the chaotic hordes, they destroyed or robbed the loot gained from the burnt villages, expanding an aura of mistrust between the attackers.

 They also coordinated with the few defenders of the villages. Creating chokepoints or false routes to overcome the defenders, the ratmen fall under the sudden strike of arrows coming from units of seekers supported by strategically placed bolt throwers.

March suddenly become the trap month, and I still cannot comprehend why. I intended to paint a unit of shadow warriors/seekers, restoring the old plastic elf archers, and then moving to the bolt thrower and some extras that I want to finally include (I have a spare elf warrior militia that I said I'd love to finish converting and panting).

Everything planned failed and I got enough time to paint the bare minimum. Well, not exactly, a unit of seekers plus the bolt thrower and crew.

For the unit, I opted for more muted and greenish or shadow colours that they may use as camouflage. The colours of the clothes are not as bright as other line units. 

I ended including some patterns in the least muted/more contrasting colour as with other clothes of the army, and in the cloaks, as if they were made from some fine cloth. Also, I glazed the cloaks so the pattern dissapear in the shadows, to boost the effect of the embroided fine clothes rather than a printed pattern like in the other fabrics.

 

 

The bolt thrower is supposedly made from some fine reddish wood, so I used the same technique as in the fabric of the cloaks. First, I made the pattern. then, I glazed the wood with a mix of AK laser magenta and hull red.

That's a total of

10x High elf shadow warriors - 110 points

1x High elf repeater bolt thrower - 50 points

Another month, 13 more miniatures finished. Next month I want to paint the swordmasters and the extras that does not fit with the baggage train.

Until then,

Adrian's out.

OWAC VII - No Step Back (2nd Rank n File month)

 

Stoic and resolute, none can surpass easily an elf spear phalanx, making the backbone of the elven hosts.

OWAC VII - Sharpshooters! (1st Rank n File month)

 

The high elves are proud of their archery skills since their rise as an empire. 

The Old World Army Challenge's 7th edition has just begun! - high elves edition

 

 

 

It's that time of the year again. 

OWAC V June's rank & file month - the might of the Dragon Company

Rank & File Month

 Who need a dragon when you have an entire Dragon Company.

Ulther: We will be eternally in debt for your kind help and guiding our company in such a dangerous adventure.

Snow White: I accept your gratitude and there is no need to worry about the perils of our journey. I am very happy to help my friends, your brave companions… and abandon such a boring fest. You know, I love my husband but do not expect me not to run away after four days of such boring court fests.

Ulther: Well, lucky we were there during the fests when the news about the orc advance reached the castle. Without your assistance, we didn’t know this path to the valley and probably won't reach our friend Lord Kazador in time. 

...About your friends… we will avenge those seven brave engineers, my lady.

Snow White: Do not worry also for my friends, if I am also showing you this path is because maybe we need to reach fast and help king Kazador even more than my friends. Specially if they have deployed one of their… how to say, creative solutions. 

Remember that story when my stepmother tried to poison me?, my friends chased her along the valley and in the end a rock fell by accident over her... Let’s say that I knew very well our home deep in the forest and I do not remember having a trebuchet in the garden before I fell asleep.

 
Ulther: Do you think that they may have repelled the mighty and unglorious orc warlord Gorfang?

Snow White: I suspect more than you want to know. I hope there is still a mine shaft and not a giant crater instead when we arrive there.

...

King Kazador: We must start to retreat to our lines. We can barely resist their massive waves.

“Doc”: My lord, but if we retreat now we cannot bring with us the part of the treasure that has not been sealed in the lower levels.

King Kazador: And what exactly do you expect me to do in order to stop these filthy orcs? Bring a dragon to burn ‘em all??

[bang bang bang]

A dragon! A Dragon!

King Kazador: Well, Doc, that’s your dragon. Now let start loading that frigging gold and run away from this damned hill.

Ulther! My friend! Your help is more than welcomed! Now show those beasts how does a proper dwarf shieldwall work!

 
The last month requires a final bang before saying goodbye to the current edition of the OWAC. And this unit was the perfect candidate for such an honour.

Thanks to Mariano, this unit was my introduction to the oldhammer community. It has travelled (almost) all around the world before settling into my desk. Probably 5?Even more years ago? Unfortunately , they were still in their box, untouched, eager to be deployed.

Let’s finish the OWAC with a regiment of renown.

Besides of the legendary miniatures, the Dragon Company awesomeness allows me to completely break my previous painting scheme, like I did with the Jes Goodwin's eldar pirates from the last year.
I will probably follow this strategy in order to not getting burned during a challenge/painting schedule.

I got catch by The Lost and the Damned painting of the Dragon Company and tried to replicate the approach to the shieldwall heraldry, but with a not-so-small twist. Adding an patterns to their imperial dwarf tabards and armour styles too, so almost every dwarf is unique.

I loved the opportunity to paint checkers, halved patterns, etc. and bring out their armour. The repeated sculpts are not so easily recognisable and therefore not a problem at all in the final result.
So, less talk and show you the migh of:

Prince Ulther (dwarf hero) and 14x Dragon Company with full command (count as Iron Breakers) - 430 points

Yes, yes, the last month I was 100% legal and didn’t claim the slayer hero because I didn’t paint him in the leader month. But Ulther needed to be with his fellas, doesn’t he? I am not cheating, did I?

I am not totally proud of the banner because at this point I was running out of time as I needed to finish everything one week ago!!

Probably I will touch it again in the future. Improve the dragon and add several motifs.

At least I had spare time to bring to the ranks this little friend that was magically recovered when me and his proud seller thought it has been lost in the UK mail system. Two months later it pops up, returned to the sender! So I wanted it anyways and in time before the challenge ends.

Also, there is now Seven Dwarfs without Snow White. Another year, another great idea by Lissane in the comments that I NEEDED to include in the army. I had this civilian laying around and thought, spot on for the cause!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t finish the freehand on my dwarf warrior banner, a personal shame that I should finish when I improve the Dragon Company banner or else take the slayer oath!

And with those words, let’s see you in the recap.
Until then, Adrian’s out!

OWAC V May's slayed rank & file month

Rank & File Month

 

Instead of troubleshooting, we called the troublemaking department.

It is not a proper dwarf brawl until the orange angry naked guys appear.

 

Oli: Do you think that this is the right direction?

Plissken: I cn assure you that I already smell those orcs, we're near them.

Oli: We shouldn't have gotten into that fight with the giants, maybe the main orc army has reached the mine! Or they're fighting and overnumbering our lord Kazador retinue!

Plissken: tsssh, then we're now on an infiltration mission to save the presid.. I mean, the King.

...

Look. Orcs.

Oli:We must kill them silently before they make any nois..

 

AAAAIIiiieeeh! ORCS! ORCS!

ONE IS MINE!

*extremely loud drum noises* I'LL SMASH YOUR 'EAD!

BRING IT ON!

OOOOOORRRCsssssaaAAAAAARGH!!!

Plissken: Fine, probably all the valley knows we're here!

Snorri: Don't worry, they're just ahead! We've caught them by their backs! TROLLS! Plenty for FOR EVERYONE, GUYS! KILL 'EM ALL!

I imagine that most of the time the slayers are something like the Gutbuster brigade from Forgotten Realms. Tragical and suicidal warriors ruled by their death-oath, yet silly and unruly, as you can't really take too seriously a bunch of orange haired kamikazes.

This month updated comes with

Snorri and his troll slayers (x10 Slayers) - 141 points

I do not claim the points of the leader as Giant Slayer because I didn't paint it in the month leader, so basically he's just a cool dude.

 

As I said in the intro iirc, this special slayer came without the dragon head, but Drew's unused troll heads from my orc and goblin army came to the rescue and are a pretty good substitute.

To my surprise it fits the 20mm base with the troll head. So I am quite happy with the result.

The unit overall was pretty fun to paint, with lots of options for tatoos, body painting, details in the clothes, etc.

 

 

Berserk tatoo!

 

 

 Svend D. "Snake" Plissken, of the special slayer forces of Karak Azul

I liked the idea of different races or skins for my dwarfs but too often there's nothing but small tonal changes like in WoW, and few to none real cultural changes. This slayer came from the very south karaks of the Old World, even farther than Karak Azul.

Not only I played with skin variation but also changes in the tattoos. The southerner has a slightly more central african "dwarf-ish" tattoo than the others (sadly I didn't check my photographs because the half angry face in his belly is hardly seen in the lot).

Whereas the most pale skinned dwarf has a traditionally viking-looking tattoo and freckles.

Again, didn't check that I had no good picture of him, the guy with the spiked ball, with the macro lens as I had to make the photos on the go. I can blame my assistant for not pointing out the quality of some pictures during the session.

Always blame the assistant.

Now, for the last batch of miniatures and the recap!

Until next month

Adrian’s out.