A Rare Pumpkinite and Keeper

The Pumpkinite is actually indigenous to the sector around Ursis Prime and were quite common in the pre-Imperial era. Colonisation led to a rapid drop in their numbers as human settlements, xenophobia and the effects of rapid industrialisation took their usual toll on the native ecosystems. Their death knell sounded ten years ago when it was discovered that their pustules contain a powdery substance which has unique psychotropic effects. The jaded tastes of the planetary nobility quickly created a huge demand for this Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkinite hunters scoured the region bare of any remnant populations. It is suspected that no more than a handful remain and this individual might in fact be the last of his kind. - Expedition log fragment, recovered in Upsela Heights sector.

The Pumpkinite is from Ion Age's Year Three Collection and the scientist is from their Xenobiologist set. Despite their comical appearance, the Pumpkinite was an apex predator in its time. They move quickly across rough terrain and can spray a pungent solution that stuns their target. Many an incautious hunter met a grisly end, paralysed by their musk and torn to shreds. The colour scheme is straightforward, a mix of Jokaero Orange, Warboss Green and Evil Suns Scarlet.

The Imperium does actually have a few "scientists" and I felt this was a apt time to paint one. We've got a Xenobiologist, dressed in Warboss Green and Teclis Blue. The equipment is daubed in Averland Sunset and Ironbreaker. Now, I suspect his approach to xenobiology is Imperial Standard which generally involves strong nets, sticking them in a cage and shocking them before the inevitable dissection. On a side note, I suspect that this guy was responsible for the infamous "blunt, clumsy claws" genestealer entry in the Imperial primer.

Alien Foliage

My Battlefront desert buildings might have sufficed for playtesting but I felt the time had come to start looking for more alien options. After two months, a very small shipment of aquarium plants wound its way to my door from Hong Kong.

As a proof of concept, I decided to make five bases of alien plant life. The base materials were quite simple. I pulled all the red leafy elements off the aquarium plant and made a small pile of bits. I dug out some Renedra 40mm round bases to use as a... base. (Not pictured: I prepped the bases with sand and washes before gluing on the "plants").

Using four leafy elements per base and a hot glue gun, I created the above. Emboldened by success, I went on to make another seven. All are now sitting awaiting use. Having little experience with hot glue, I don't know how they'll handle the rigours of play and storage but if they don't work out, I'll add a note to that effect here.

Brains to Burn

I present two classic D&D monsters here. A Mind Flayer from Dungeon Encounters 1 and a Grell from Dungeon Encounters 4. There's a few of these packs on the Splintered Light website which contain a lot of the staples. The only issue is that gathering groups of certain monsters would involve multiple sets.

So the Mind Flayer... well I saw the robes and cloak and thought of Dr. Strange. I think the scheme works, it's got that rich arcane vibe. The Grell was very quick to paint up with only three major elements, brain, beak and tentacles. Both sculpts are easy to work on and the Grell is just so pretty. Whether they'll see play is another matter.

Commissar Kaine

As I try to impress on the young whelps in my charge these days, it isn't the scarlet sash and the fancy hat that makes you a commissar, it's the way you wear them. - Commissar Ciaphas Cain.

This chap was actually painted back in the beginning of the project but managed to duck out of his photoshoot until now. You can't really have an Imperial Guard force without a Commissar. Well, I suppose you can but they're less combat-effective (even if a lot happier). Traditionally to be found dressed in black or red, I went a different path with this chap. Having spent too much time with the Mordian Iron Guard, he's taken to wearing his dressiest dress uniform, all day, every day. It's a tasteful Celestra Grey with Evil Sunz Scarlet trim.

He's taken from the Ion Age Cold Climes platoon pack. I must say that I really really like the final product. The colour scheme, the pose, a battered copy of the Imperial Creed in one hand and oversized plasma pistol in the other. Just lovely.

The Ancient and Dusty Dead

These are from my increasingly depleted Greater Undead set. I've got a few vampires/wights and necromancers left but the common archetypes have all been used up.

Not an overly difficult bit of painting, splash some yellows and browns on, wait, then a quick and dirty wash sees them finished. My only regret is not going with a desert base on at least one of the models. I'll keep an eye out for a Egyptian style necromancer to add to the group.

Disclaimer: The central figure might actually just be a severely wounded, heavily bandaged man desperately seeking assistance rather than an ancient, undead ruler.

Goblin High Command

My goblins are reinforced by some command types from Splintered Light's Goblin warband. 

Firstly, on the far left, a wizard in patchy robe, perched on a rock and festooned with amulets. I did consider a Night Goblin colour scheme but, again, any combination of 15mm mini, black clothing and my skill level would make for a poor finish. The second and third are leaders of some sort. The burly spear-goblin is straightforward enough but the running goblin with severed head is a great, animated pose. 

Stylistically, there's something about most of the Splintered Light goblins that suggest they are a cut above the usual green hero-fodder. The musician and standard bearer are in keeping with that style, well-equipped and warmly dressed. The flag could do with an icon but that's a job for Future Me as I don't think I've got the skills yet.

When added to my stash of painted goblins, this batch gives me another full size Dragon Rampant unit.

Dragon Rampant: Battle of Bail Eantua

My miniatures have been seeing regular action in a Pathfinder campaign for the past few months but as a wargamer at heart, I needed to try something a little grander than shuffling them across a quick-wipe hex map. As it happened, I had a friend willing to playtest Dragon Rampant.

We present the isolated dwarf settlement of Bail Eantua. Generally, the bearded folk are found below ground but these lumber camps are not uncommon in the Old World. The dwarves have been gnawing away at the forest for some time and, amid reports of shadows in the trees, people have started to vanish.

Some of my Dark Ages and WW2 terrain is repurposed for the cause. I was concerned that the table was a little too heavily forested but it seemed to work out well.

Determined to root out any threat to the relentless march of progress, the local Alliance garrison has arrived. The force is led by a Wizard (Elite Foot-Spellcaster) who has brought his bound Fire Elemental (Greater Warbeast) with him. The local human regiment (Heavy Foot) has been joined by a veteran dwarven militia (Heavy Foot).

With the interlopers approaching an ancient boundary marker, the arboreal guardians rouse themselves to action. The force is led by a Grand Ent (Cunning Greater Warbeast). His troop consists of a trio of Dryads ( Invisible Scouts), Treemen (Elite Foot) and Forest Wolves (Lesser Warbeasts).

Some teething problems with the rules handicap the forest folk for the first few combats as we were rolling six rather than twelve dice for their attacks but we manage to plough on to a satisfying conclusion, regardless.

The battle opens as the human regiment marches bravely into the sacred clearing, lay into all about them and are slowly reduced at great cost to the forest folk. They finally break and are encouraged off the table by some ranged fire.

The Fire Elemental takes heavy damage in a running battle with the wolves and falls back. The guardians of Nature hold the centre briefly but as the Wizard advances it becomes clear that the forces of the forest folk are spent and the Ent and Treemen are wiped out. The surviving wolf wisely flees.

By this time, the Dwarfs, having spent the game marching very very slowly through the woods find themselves called on to earn their keep. The Dryads have been playing a dangerous game leaping forward and shooting in a bid to bring down the heavily damaged Elemental in the enemy rear. The dwarves catch them in the open and their axes make short work of the willowy pests.

A single wolf flees into the brush, mournfully howling a tale of utter defeat. Another tract of the great forest is opened for logging.

Rules-wise, Dragon Rampant seems perfect for my purposes. The games are fast, book-keeping is minimal and I can use any models in my collection. The table space required is quite modest which pleases me as I tire of setting up 6x4s. I'm already looking at my Undead, Goblin and Elf stockpiles and composing lists.

Goblin Grunts

The poor huddled masses of many a fantasy setting, I've devoted some attention to my goblin grunts. These are from the Splintered Light Goblin Warband. They will provide the rank and file for my Goblin war party.

The Yellow-bellies have survived in their ancestoral region while their larger brethren and rival tribes have been hunted to extinction by adhering by their most sacred code: A good run beats a bad stand.

Nothing new to report here, the sculpts are as the others I painted previously, slightly smaller than other sculpts but detailed and free of any blemishes. I tried painting them in the traditional dress of their people (brownish rags) but the dirty yellow is more appealing.

Random Assortment

The first model is my work and was a leftover from a previous Dark Ages project. He's a Celtic farmer from Corvus Belli's Celtic Civilians pack which, as far as I can tell, is no longer in production. I had the old Asterix comics in mind as I worked. 

My girlfriend took an interest in painting so I handed over some models into her tender care. The four models on the right are hers. The first pair are from the Splintered Light Greater Undead set and the last two are from Ral Partha's Wood Elf Warband.

The second and third will see action as witches of some kind. I've worked up stats for Wailing Hags below but they are subject to change. I really liked the garish colour scheme on her elven warriors. It would never have occurred to me to go with blue hair and green robes or red hair and blue armour but the colour choice really works well.

Ghoulish Zombies

I've mixed manufacturers here. The third, fourth and sixth are Ral Parthas. I went back to the Southern Death Cult pack and plucked out the zombies. The rest are Splintered Light ghouls from the Greater Undead which could work reasonably well as zombies. The respective styles of both manufacturers is pretty apparent here.

I have to say that these battered undead have the best effort to reward ratio when painting. Green tinting over grey on the skin, brown on the scraps of cloth and some blood effect here and there.

I must say that I prefer the Ral Parthas to the Splintered Lights but your mileage may vary. The central figure is my absolute favourite. Look at him! Lurching forward, axe jammed in skull, gripping his precious handful of flesh.

Commando Joe and Paws

Thought for the Day: Against the traitor, the rebel and the alien, there is no fair way to fight. Harry them, hunt them, hang them.

I must confess that Death World Forest is my new favourite colour. It's got a wonderfully militaristic tone about it. Commando Joe (from the Year Two Collection) is largely inspired by what I vaguely remember of Wesley Snipes in Demolition Man. I left the hair basecoated white and used Dark Flesh on the skin. Having used a bright purple on a few models, I went with Daemonette Hide as it's that bit darker and duller. There's an arrogance to his pose that I really liked.

Paws (from the Year Three Collection) is intended as his robotic companion, some manner of jungle fighting bot. Some light silver drybrushing was needed to counteract the dull scheme. I'm not convinced it worked but he's going into action regardless.

Again, they're a nice scenario element. I've got a few more bits to paint for pleasure before I have the time to start focusing on squads.

The Howling Ack

These are actually the wolf mounts from the Splintered Light Goblin Warband. The goblin wolf riders didn't really call to me so I skipped them for the time being.

I was going to go with a plain grey but thought a little research couldn't hurt. It turns out that wolves have very distinct patterns of colouration with dark backs and shoulders being extremely widespread. I did my best to give them that natural colouring and I think it came out well. The mouths have been painted but as the pictures show, the details don't pop. I'll leave them for now and see if inspiration strikes later.

Slimes

So... let's quickly gloss over this joke of a post. Both models are from the Splintered Light Dungeon Encounters 3 set.

The problem with fighting slimes and oozes is that you're never quite sure if they're dead or playing dead.