Fantasy Paint log of doom dwarfs beer and the Mastersonss

[minitrol]

Hi Guys and gals

I tried to start a log about 6 months ago (probably longer) but was stymied by an on and off affair with pointy eared hooligans in space.

Enough of that for now...

My painting has always been very "painterley" I am not very clean or crisp and go more for a feel or a tone than perfect highlighting. I do try but it always comes out the same...still gives me something to aim for.

My hope is to produce tournament legal fully painted forces that will wow people into going OMG Dwarfs are so cool (please note i actually want them to say Oh Em Gee as well); )

Well here are my first pics hope they came out okay links and things isn't very dwarf like really.

I included one really WIP pic so you can get an idea of my um process

The fourth image shows my two "socloseyoucantaste" it finished models. What I would like is if people could tell me what looks better - the matt black rim or the scorched brown as I am torn ; (

[Tirnan]

Keep Posting up those Dorfs. I am about to start into my own 10K point pile of the little buggers.

Looks very interesting so far

[minitrol]

Thanks heaps for the comments keeps me going!

[minitrol]

So I thought I would pose my prospective army list along with my next work in progress:

Rune Lord with Anvil of Doom 2 Shield Breaking runes, a Master Rune of Balance and the Rune of Preservation

Thane Battle Standard: Strollaz Rune and Rune of Guarding

10 Thunderers
10 Quarrellers
10 Long Beards with Shields and Rune of Battle
20 Warriors – Great Axes, Shields, Full Command
20 Miners – Full Command
10 Slayers
2 Bolt throwers one with Engineer
1 Grudge Thrower with Engineer and Rune of accuracy
Organ Gun

It’s roughly 2000 points some fine tuning is required but basically it’s a modified assault gunline. I have had moderate success with it so far against High Elves and Dark Elves and Empire so hopefully it pretty well rounded.

What do we think any suggestions I wondered about making the warriors long beards and the smaller unit the warriors?

And as I said I would include an update here we go with the next set of minis and a close up of the miners (love these guys moderately unhelpful unit but just scream Dwarf to me).

Hopefully get these all finished tonight as the wife’s away on a conference and my son is enthralled by Thomas…Next up Bolt throwers!

[Vaari]

. I have had moderate success with it so far against High Elves and Dark Elves and Empire so hopefully it pretty well rounded.

I would have used the term "utterly decimated" my self.

Thanks for the painting pointers, and maintain the plog!

[minitrol]

Eeeeeekkk been far too long since I updated. Okay well I spent the last month painting every spare minute to get my tournament force ready. Pictures to follow!

[minitrol]

This was the final 2000 Point List I ended up taking:


Runelord: Anvil of Doom, Two Runes of Spell Breaking, Master Rune of Balance, Rune of Stone and Rune of Preservation

Thane Battle Standard: Rune of Guarding and Strollaz Rune

Dwarf Warriors: 20 with Great Axes, Shields and Full Command

Dwarf Longbeards: 10 with Shields

Thunderers: 10

Quarrellers: 10

Trollslayers: 10

Miners: 20 with Full Command and Steam Drill

Bolt Thrower with Engineer and Rune of Penetrating

Bolt Thrower with Engineer and Rune of Burning

Grudge Thrower Rune of Accuracy and Rune of Burning

Organ Gun

And now piccies!

These were finished in the usual tradition at 2AM the day before! First up the Warriors, Slayers, Quarrellers and Thunderers. I have a close up on the warriors as I want them all to get t this standard or higher they are a bit rushed. You have been warned...

[minitrol]

Next up, Miners, Warmachines and Characters. The miners were exemplery! I will feature a write up of the tournie tomorrow night but again the war-machines are not as detailed as I would like.

The grudge Thrower in particular is over weathered - too many washes made the whole thing bland

Hmmmmmm seems I forgot to take photos of the bolt thrower...oops here's a picture of Hammerers instead (they subbed as Long beards for the kids keeping score at home)

[Allonairre]

I like these dwarves, I cannot understand how you managed to not get top marks for painting in the weekend. Stupid opponents

Consider me subscribed.

[Vaari]

The painting scores probably reflect the cursory glance method of judging. That said, those Bret's deserved the win . You will just have to out shine everyone once you hit 5000pts (mantic dwarf spam army ahoy!)

[phantom_nuisance]

Now I can post too!
I thought the dwarfs came out real nice but they do come off better after a close up inspection (they are dwarfs and therefore small).
Personally I think it was the black bases, lolololololol

The slayers are awesome!

[minitrol]

@ phantom
Haha yeah the black bases...I know for years and years i made fun of black bases but i really like them I think they "frame" the mini to get all art wonk on you all...
@Vaari
That is most definitely true I wish we had a camera so I could show you when your jaw dropped when he told you it was handpainted iconography
@Allonairre
You need to include your mini's here so people can see how much of a lie that statement is ; )

[minitrol]

Soooo my plan is to take the details up a notch and weather the Dwarfs.

Shortlist:

Warriors: they need shields broken off and pinned the super glue went weird and crystallised so I lose a shield every time i move them!

Skull white high lights on facial details and glazes to bring back warmth on the flesh.

Add pouches and packs for that battle travelling look.

http://www.manticgames.com/SiteData/...n/GhoulCTA.jpg

Next up I take a break and paint two of these wee suckers which are awesomely detailed then ...some War of teh Ring...

[static grass]

Hey looking good. There is a lot of gold in this army and I approve I also have a dwarf army that also has a "painterly" feel to it and I used to get hammered in the painting scores. Crisp and Clean is the only way to a high painting score. Strong contrast colours are also a big help here.

[minitrol]

@static grass

Cheers matie! I can't help it I can paint to a very clean style but i get bored and go back and paint over and make them look lived in!

I agree your style is very similar so I approve also.

Question: do we think i should go back and add oxidisation to the bronze? I was thinking thinned rotting flesh

[Allonairre]

It doesn't automatically subscribe. You could try rotting flesh but I would have thought a deeper green, perhaps the one between Goblin and Dark Angel. I have forgotten what it is called.

I might post but I don't know where I lied, now I really am subscribed...I think.

[minitrol]

Okay so run-down of the tournament (apologies for my wall of text more pictures soon!)

Game One VS Empire

I really enjoyed this game it was basically a horde of crossbowmen and swordsmen with archer detachments 2 cannons and a Helbalster. I knew I would have to apply pressure as he could of he wanted to just sit back and shoot me to death. I castles up in one corner and deployed war machines across the furthermost flank. Got the slayers up nice and fast with strollaz rune and they became his target and soaked up nearly his whole fist turn of shooting. Turn 2 saw hi begin his advance begin with knights and pistoliers now in positions. The knights panicked from my shooting and the pistoliers resolutely dodged two bolt throwers and my organ gun dramatically got two shots rerolled and got …two shots. My miners began to chase down his artillery who dutifully fled his knights who were stuck in a morass from fleeing eyed them up. My shooting troops and his had continued to trade shots (amusingly one unit of crossbowmen had a marksmen who always hit but usually only 1-2 others and the other had a marksmen who NEVER hit but his unit would usually get 6-8 hits. We finally got to grips in combat and my stubborn war machine proves their worth holding up militia and swordsmen long enough for me to shoot his back line and chased with miners to secure victory.

Game Two Vs High Elves

This was another good game. I struggle against high Elves and was dreading this when the draw was read out. He had a Chrace themed force. Spearmen two largish units of White Lions, a White Lion Chariot, Two Mages Lord with Amulet of Hoeth, Maneater Ogres and some archers. He won the roll off. Now he chose the side with hills in deployment which makes sense against Dwarfs but then my side had two hills just before deployment and he was forced to funnel through so held his ogres with the slayers then hit him with waves of ranked units which after he had been softened by shooting the static combat resolution was my only advantage. It was bloody and ended in a draw.

Game Three Vs Orcs and Goblins

This was a wee bit scary. They spread across the horizon and outnumbered me 3:1 at least. This scenario was objective based and was always going to be tricky. There’s not much to say here I held him at bay for three turns and destroyed little units he was literally taking handfuls of models off each turn but to no avail at the end he had all the objectives and victory! I have to ay this was a great game and he was a excellent player who knew how to get the best out of his unruly mob and went on to win the tourney.

Game Four Vs Dwarfs

This scenario was based on table quarters. We have very similar lists except he had a Lord and gyrocopters whereas I had the Anvil and the Miners so we had fairly even mobility. We both agreed this would not be a shoot fest and we would attempt to take table quarters so as not to get the safe draw. It was fairly even and at the halfway point my units were in charge positions and he had disabled a lot of my shooting with very accurate cannons sniping crew. It was at this point I lost the game. I split my combat units to go after two targets and neither part was strong enough to crush them totally this led to a protracted combat that needed more units thrown at it and allowed a unit of his ‘slayers to cruise across the board with a massive overrun. I never got back from this as o could not kill enough slayers no one had arcs of shooting. This was a key lesson to me on deployment as I did not deploy with a sound plan and forgot the objectives as at the end I had scored the most VP;s but not the objectives. I also had deployed three war machines relatively in a line and meant he could get all three with his cannons – lessons learnt.

Game Five Vs. Bretonnians

This was my favorite game and a gracious opponent. He lucked out with a board covered in walls so again he was funneled into place. Io gave him the first turn and in hindsight that pushed it a bit close really! He ran up at full pelt then I shot him and caused minimum casualties but enough for panic and then two units panicked errant’s and realm knights! He was forced to carry on with what he had so the grail knights and Pegasus knights charged my warmachine – but only after they discarded their weapons and armed with cushions and teddy bears had the most dismal charges from knight I have EVER witnessed. My miners came on and took out the grail knights then they overran into the Pegasus knights and owned them too. Basically that was game as he had to come back across the board with his panicked units and avoiding guns then getting beaten in combat with anvil assisted charges. His trebuchet was the star attraction and consistently took out troops on 4 out of 6 turns. Dwarf victory.

Game 6 Vs Dark Elves

Unfortunately this was against a player who I do not get on well with and I find his playing style very difficult to handle. He had large units of warriors two units harpies two units dark riders a hero with battle standard and that annoying ward save and 1+ armour save, cold one knights and chariot. I was very tired and not really in the mood at this stage in fairness to my opponent and I really wanted a quick game it was not to be…we ended up in a massive sprawled combat with flanks rears on both sides and challenges. I eventually won the combat but unfortunately his fast cavalry had swept around the flank and taken out war machines and when he got to my anvil it was a push over as it has a wounded lord from 4 turns of repeater bolt thrower shooting. With that kill and the subsequent 500+ victory points the game was his.

I hope that was bit enjoyable

[kingofthesquats]

Sounds like you had some tricky games, I sometimes think they can be the most fun!

Your dwarves look great, I know u don't use loads of reds but I think your reds are awesome, how do u do them? I think your 'paintery' style makes for some very characterful and striking models! The flesh is another highlight, it's nice to see such an individual distinctive style used on an army.

[Elfboy]

This plog slipped right under my radar. I really like your painting style, suits the dwarfs really well too, brings some extra character to their faces in particular. You've kept the army looking unified at the same time too. Looking forward to more!

[minitrol]

@kingofthesquats thanks matie! Um reds...it was while back but basically I use a white undercoat then mechrite red, a bit of a messy over brush with blood red then wash with purple ink re-highlight then highlight with a touch of bleached bone and mecharius orange. I usually over-highlight and they start to look pinkey so a couple of glazes of red afterwards.

Tournaments with Dwarfs I find are really tricky a patchy record is pretty usual for me. I find even with the anvil it is hard to beat those top tier armies. 8th is even harder as there are no half victory points and Dwarfs struggle to wipe out opponents.