Evil Dwarfs

Okay, I have spent a few paint sessions with @ginger_buddha and Tupp, and I followed miniature mentor video instructions.  I am too embarrassed to display any results, but I am a HUGE fan of the following painting techniques now:

- Thinning paint for better graduation and leaving detail
- Using a hair dryer to speed up drying
- Glazing to tint
- Shadowing down and highlighting up
- Using A LOT of light
- Mixing paints for color interest and increased subtlety in transitions

I am satisfied that extra effort is very much worthwhile, and that I can keep the increase in painting time per fig from becoming boring.  I'm going to try another test fig this weekend, and I'll post the results.

I've also gotten a lot of feedback on my army list.  Plus, I watched renowned dwarf general, Gary Luthor, play a game or two at the Midwest Rampage to pick up some dwarf tips.  The primary decision for me is whether to 1) spend max allowed points on a lord and runelord, 2) to increase unit sizes, or 3) to add a unit of hammerers.  My 2000 pt army list below is aimed at option 3) to maximize troops and having five unit banners for a fortitude of eight.

2000 Pts - Dwarfs Roster
Runesmith General, 127 pts (Shield, Rune of Stone, Master Rune of Challenge; Rune of Spellbreaking x1)
Thane BSB, 155 pts (Master Rune of Gromril; Rune of Preservation; Rune of Resistance)

10 Thunderers, 165 pts (Mus; Std; Light Armour; Shield)
10 Thunderers, 165 pts (Mus; Std; Light Armour; Shield)
20 Longbeard Rangers, 345 pts (Mus; Std; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour; Shield)
      Runic Standard (Ancestor Rune x1; Rune of Determination)

20 Slayers, 238 pts (Mus; Std)
20 Hammerers, 258 pts (Mus; Std; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour)
Cannon, 125 pts (Rune of Burning; Rune of Reloading; Engineer w/ Brace of Pistols)
Grudge Thrower, 160 pts (Rune of Accuracy; Rune of Penetrating x1; Rune of Reloading; Engineer w/ Brace of Pistols)

Organ Gun, 120 pts
Gyrocopter, 140 pts

Composition Report:

Points of Lords: 0 (0 - 500)
Points of Heroes: 282 (0 - 500)
Points of Core: 675 (500 - Unlimited)
Points of Special: 781 (0 - 1000)
Points of Rare: 260 (0 - 500)
Total Roster Cost: 1998

Evil Dwarfs!

It is time!  Time to start my next army.  I am really psyched, as I have been planning this one for some time.  I've got conversion plans and creative use of OOP figs and new components for the signature units.  I have locked on to a paint scheme, and I hope to spend the next eight months laboring on conversions and appearance to help me garner appearance soft score points at tournaments.  I am aimed at unveiling the army at Waaagh!Paca in January 2012 - hands down, my favorite tourney of the year.  Unfortunately, the tourney is only 2000 pts.  However, that means I have less figs to get done for the unveiling, and I can add later to build up for the 2400 pt tournies.

And the army will be - DWARFS!  What, yes I do already have a dwarf army.  However, I have plans for 7 separate dwarf armies.  The first one I painted is an above ground ranger expedition with no gunpowder.  This one is something I have never seen anyone do, and I have never heard anyone else talk about doing it.  I'll be fielding EVIL DWARFS using the regular dwarf army book.  I call them "evil" instead of "chaos" for this reason.  I will not be using the chaos dwarf rules - at least to start out with.  Also, you won't see the typical chaos dwarf hats or beards.


At this time, my 2000 pt list is as follows:

Dwarf Lord, 266 pts (Great Weapon; Shieldbearers)
 Runic Weapon +1 to hit GW
  - Master Rune of Kragg the Grim
  - Rune of Snorri Spangelhelm
 Runic Armor re-rollable 1+, no KB
  - Rune of Resistance
  - Rune of Stone
  - Rune of Preservation

Runesmith, 122 pts (Shield)
 Runic Talisman
  - Master Rune of Challenge
  - Rune of Spellbreaking x1

Thane Battle Standard Bearer, 155 pts
 Runic Armor re-rollable 1+, no KB
  - Master Rune of Gromril
  - Rune of Preservation
  - Rune of Resistance

15 Thunderers, 250 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer; Veteran with Brace of Pistols, Shields)

20 Longbeards, 275 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer; Shield)
1 Runic Standard (Rune of Determination)

18 Slayers, 216 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer)

19 Hammerers, 291 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer)
1 Runic Standard (Rune of Battle; Rune of Determination)

Cannon, 125 pts (Rune of Burning; Rune of Reloading)
1 Engineer (Brace of Pistols)

Grudge Thrower, 160 pts (Rune of Accuracy; Rune of Penetrating x1; Rune of Reloading)
1 Engineer (Brace of Pistols)

Gyrocopter, 140 pts (Flyer)

Composition Report:

Points of Lords: 266 (0 - 500)
Points of Heroes: 277 (0 - 500)
Points of Core: 525 (500 - Unlimited)
Points of Special: 792 (0 - 1000)
Points of Rare: 140 (0 - 500)

The hammerers, stone thrower, and cannon are for effectiveness. I have to have the slayers, thunderers, and gyrocopter because I have conversion plans for them, and I'm a fan of the gyro. I don't *have* to have the longbeards, but need to keep 500 core. I considered two unit of thunderers, but better to have one of each unit in a "painter's army". Could trade in the hammerers to make the other units larger...we'll see.  Reloading and engineers with BoP on the artillery to keep them alive and firing.

Wood Elf Update

Here are pics of my wardancer-themed wood elf army for Waaagh!Paca 2011.  I spent a lot of time on the conversions, and it was painted to this stage in just one week with intense nightly focus.  A huge thanks to my friends Joe Rogers for paint night input and inspiration and to Caius for help with the color scheme and help basecoating.  I went 2-2-1 with it, and tied for second place sports.  I'm looking forward to carrying through with more highlights, details, and an involved display base.

Wardancer-themed Wood Elf Army for Waaagh!Paca 2011

Eternal Guard (with Mage and General on front right)



Glade Riders (front)



Glade Riders (side)



Glade Riders (back)

 

Warhawk Riders



Wild Riders

Wardancers

Dryads (front)

Dryads (top)

Treekin Unit 1

Treekin Unit 2

Wood Elf Update

Got the dryads assembled and based except for their heads.  I am loving the dryad bits on daemonette bodies.

Wood Elf Update

I have gotten organized to assemble my dryads which are converted with daemonette bodies and to assemble my warhawks.  With luck, I'll get these mostly done tonight.

I've realized I will only have 1 week to paint the entire army.  So I will be using washes galore.

Wood Elf Update

I converted two standards, a wild rider and a glade rider.  I used decorated elf swords on the tops of the standards.  Note, the glade rider's quiver goes under his hair.

Wood Elf Update

So, after about an 8 month hiatus, I was able to get a lot done over Christmas break.

I revised my 2000 pt list as such:

1 Highborn @ 255.0 pts (Eternal Kindred; General; The Rhymer's Harp; An Annoyance of Nettlings)

1 Lvl3 Spellweaver @ 245.0 pts (Wildheart, Stone of Rebirth)

12 Dryads @ 144.0 pts
15 Eternal Guard @ 210.0 pts (Full command)
5 Glade Riders @ 147.0 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer)

3 Warhawk Riders @ 120.0 pts
7 Wild Riders of Kurnous @ 225.0 pts (Musician; Standard Bearer; War Banner)
4 Tree Kin @ 260.0 pts
4 Tree Kin @ 260.0 pts

Total Roster 1999 pts

Then I built 7 of the 8 treekin

I greenstuffed the loin cloths on the wild riders (shown) and glade riders along with applying cork and pumice to the bases.

Then I converted the 4 of the 5 glade riders to have bows, capes, spears, and a musician.  I plan to convert the standard bearer this week.

Then I planned the display base, and I got some woodland scenic tree materials.  In addition I got lightweight hydrocal casting plaster and rock molds.