The Last of the Savage Big 'Uns

Say that quick enough and it could be a novel by James Fenimore Cooper...

The standard bearer and musician were repainted from my original unit. This saved a little time, as I didn't need to repeat eyes or bone necklaces. Although I had to completely re-do the skin (the earlier ones were a much harsher green) to make them fit the others, and remove their red/blue tattoos. Other repainted bits included yellow bracelets, blue banner poles and red toenails.

(Red toenails - what was I thinking? Were these Orcs getting ready for Saturday night clubbing? The other kind, that is.)

The plastic standard was taken from the Goblin sprue.
Orcs have no standards. This is a goblin joke.

Other amends I made since painting the first batch of Savage Big Uns: I removed the jawbone tattoos, as it was messing with the look of their faces too much. Each unit will have a different style of tattoo, so I'm glad to have painted my last skull-face.

Skulls are tricky - I don't know why Baron Samedi from Live and Let Die was so cheerful,
 when he had to apply that slap every night.

The Biggest Big 'Uns

For the second batch of Savage Orc Big 'Uns, I decided to treat myself and go straight for the big fellas.

The champion with the horned hat was purchased in 1998,
representing my first attempt to expand the Savage Orc army.
15 years is probably the slowest paint job I've ever done.

Three of this lot were part of the conversions I did. These models are my favourite of the unit because they are:
a) slightly bigger than regular savage orcs, being command group models, and
b) most of them are holding two weapons.

And now for something completely different

In the meantime, as I start considering saving up for some of the new releases (child's education vs a warshrine - it's an easy call, education's free in Sweden), I swiftly slapped some paint on these: -

HEY YOU GUYS

The Waaagh! begins (slowly)

My painting progress more or less ground to a halt in November (due to a novel-writing sojourn, and a few other minor distractions), but having set the date for WoffBoot VII, I am determined to have my Savage Orcs painted and ready to play (lose humiliatingly).

This equates to around 50 miniatures, with a couple of special models thrown in. An easy feat for three months, you might think, although it doesn't take into account my glacial speed of painting. I'm breaking up progress into stages, just to push myself along.

So here is the first batch: one-third of my Big 'Uns regiment:

Their furs and skins are fifty shades of grey - one of them even has the Punishment Stick.

Empire vs Vampire, no Umpire

Battle Report - Empire vs Vampire Counts, 3000pts

Fresh from my humiliating massacre at the hands of the Orge Kingdoms, I immediately put the same 3,000pt force against a Vampire Count force.

Empire

The invincible Enterprise of Campogrotta!
(your experience of invincibility may vary,
actual invincibility may differ from invincibility experienced)

General
Full Plate Armour. Crown of Command. Talisman of Endurance. Sword of Might. Enchanted Shield.
Wizard Lord (Lore of Light)
White Cloak of Ulric. Dispel Scroll.
Captain (Battle Standard)
Full Plate Armour. Sword of Swift Slaying.
Captain
Full Plate Armour. Shield. Barded Warhorse. Gold Sigil Sword. Potion of Strength.
Warrior Priest
Two hand weapons. Heavy Armour. Shield. Van Horstmann's Speculum. Seed of Rebirth.
Master Engineer
Light Armour. Barded Warhorse. Hochland Long Rifle
Wizard (Lore of Shadows)
Barded Warhorse. Potion of Toughness.
Wizard (Lore of Fire)
Feedback Scroll.

10 Knights of the Inner Circle
Command Group. (led by Captain)
50 Halberdiers
Command Group. (led by General, Wizard Lord, Warrior Priest)
- 10 Free Company (detachment)
20 Crossbowmen
Musician. Standard.
10 Crossbowmen
Musician.
10 Handgunners
Musician. Champion with Hochland Long Rifle. (Led by Fire Wizard)
15 Greatswords
Command Group. War Banner. (Led by Battle Standard)
5 Pistoliers
Musician.
1 Cannon
1 Cannon
1 Volley Gun

Vampire Counts

Vampire Lord
The Hunger, Undead, Vampiric, Magic Level 4, HA, Enchanted Shield, Fear Incarnate, Dance Book, Fly
Vampire
The Hunger, Undead, Vampiric, Magic Level 2, Staff of Damnation, Summon Creatures, Tormentor Blade
Vampire
The Hunger, Undead, Vampiric, Magic Level 1, BSB, Obsidian Lodestone, Ironcurse Icon
Vampire
The Hunger, Undead, Vampiric, Magic Level 2, HA/Shield, Barded Nightmare, Obsidian Lodestone, Sword of Battle, Quickblood
Banshee
Ethereal, Ghostly Howl, Terror, Undead,
Wraith
Chill Grasp, Ethereal, Terror, Undead,
Wraith
Chill Grasp, Ethereal, Terror, Undead,
Wraith
Chill Grasp, Ethereal, Terror, Undead,
Wraith
Chill Grasp, Ethereal, Terror, Undead.

19 Skeletons
Undead,
24 Zombies
Always Strikes Last, The Newly Dead, Undead,
25 Zombies
Always Strikes Last, The Newly Dead, Undead,
30 Skeletons
Undead, Musician, Standard, Screaming Banner
24 Ghouls
Poisoned Attacks, Undead,
5 Dire Wolves
Slavering Charge, Undead, Vanguard,
5 Dire Wolves
Slavering Charge, Undead, Vanguard,
10 Hexwraiths
Ethereal, Fast Cavalry, Soul Reapers, Soulstriders, Spectral Hunters, Terror, Undead,
1 Spirit Hosts
Ethereal, Undead
1 Spirit Hosts
Ethereal, Undead
1 Black Coach
Evocation of Death, Terror, Undead, Vampiric, Ward Save (4+),
4 Blood Knights
Frenzy, Martial Honour, Undead, Vampiric Champion, Musician, Standard, Blood Keep Banner

Battle of the Unexpected Gun Lines

EMPIRE (Stylus) vs OGRE KINGDOMS  (Kasfunatu)
3000pts
27/01/13

Ogres at the top, Empire at the bottom. That blue biro on the right is not to scale.

The armies lined up in two huge flat lines almost filling the width of the canyon. Watchtowers guarded either end of the ravine, and the remains of gated paths could still be seen; in the centre a small oasis and a few trees had blossomed.

Despite the empire being more prepared and the ogres still yelling and bawling and hitting each other into position, they very quickly turned to action and started to charge across the battle field catching the empire by surprise.

Let There Be Light

I had officially closed the book on my Empire army, but rather inept way I handled the Lore of Death in my last two battles made me want to explore a few other Colleges of Magic in their final battle. And clearly I couldn't use my existing wizards - Fire, Death and Shadow, fine. But suitable for Hysh, the Lore of Light? Never!

I picked Light because I was interested to try out the mix of augments, hexes and missiles (this is without the benefit of hindsight - I'm sure in the upcoming battle, he misfired and blew up in the very first turn). I also had this plastic model kicking around, all ready to be painted.

Flying carpet, magic lamp and hissing pantomime crowd not included. 

From the North

On request  - a full army shot!

Everything I've painted and based in the last four months, ready for battle!

For future plans, I'm going to base a few more of my spawn models and increase the size of the Khornate marauders by at least another ten.

In terms of a wish list, I'd still like to get a small unit of Marauder Horsemen as an option, maybe a chariot and then the warshrine. In fact, the new giant spawn creature (coming next month, I hear) plus a warshrine plus a chariot set would give me some excellent modelling options. If I become remarkably rich somehow, that's what I'd buy.

I leave you for now (the nappies are calling) with this dreadful piece of photoshopping: -

GW Box Art it ain't. But look!
My bases aren't a terrible match for real life tundra!