'Crazily Religious' and 'Technologically Advanced'; An army of the Empire (Stirland)

[Urgat]

I would have liked more magical defence as that was a key factor in the game

• Slann are good with magic (who would have guessed)
• I might need a Wizard of my own

Well yeah, seriously, against a slann, you need some dispel power. That's a lot of skulls on the base of that stegadon

[Astraeos]

That battle report program looks good. It makes following battle reports so much easier!
Gratz on the new rarities.

[Crazy Harborc]

Thanks for the battle report.

I had a lone unit leader do the same as that standard bearer, last Wednesday night. He needed snake eyes to pass leadership. SOOooo naturally he passed.

Sadly....it was a new (first battle ever) unit. ALL painted up last week and then DEAD.

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Looking good, buddy! Let me know how you deal with the issue of units moving twice in one turn (such as charging and over-running after winning combat). To undo things you have to go to file --> unlock turn, and then reset the turn. If you didn't mess things up too severely (though I typically do...) you can click "undo move" and it will just move whatever unit you last moved back to where it was in the previous turn.

Thanks! I will try that next time I do a battle report. If I encounter other options, I'll let you know... Thanks again for bringing the program to my attention, it's quite fun to use!

A bit out of left field, but do you need the left arm for your conversion?
Some time ago I was stripping my LE BSB and I appear to have lost the sword arm in the process.

Yes, sorry... Check out the update below...

[/LIST]

Well yeah, seriously, against a slann, you need some dispel power. That's a lot of skulls on the base of that stegadon

Yes, but with the 8th edition Empire book that means you're forced to bring a Wizard of your own and that's something I generally don't like doing (a bit like washing your hands after a visit to the bathroom, you know you should, but why bother)

That battle report program looks good. It makes following battle reports so much easier!
Gratz on the new rarities.

Thanks! I already put one of them to good use...

Thanks for the battle report.

I had a lone unit leader do the same as that standard bearer, last Wednesday night. He needed snake eyes to pass leadership. SOOooo naturally he passed.

Sadly....it was a new (first battle ever) unit. ALL painted up last week and then DEAD.

Yeah, new units have a tendency of getting slaughtered in a suitably bloody fashion the first time they participate in a battle... Hopefully they'll do better in your next game. Obviously your Champion is made of sterner stuff, you should make up some background for him or give him a title or something...

Anyway, I've got a small update for you...












My latest Captain... The conversion is based on the Limited Edition Empire BSB and includes a variety of plastic parts, mainly from the plastic Greatswords kit. The biggest challenge was making the Greatsword fit. The original spare sword from the kit is just a little bit too tall, making it impossible for the model to hold it in this way. I swapped the blade and shortened the leather guard by just a mm or so and the sword fit perfectly. Another issue was deciding what to do with his right arm. I considered a shield, a pistol and binoculars. In the end I managed to find another bottle and my model was finished!
The model is still a bit rouh around the edges and needs some minor filling but otherwise it's done...

I can't claim credit for the idea as I was inspired by a similar model posted on the Empire forum. I really like the relaxed pose of the model. He's so confident he could almost be a Dwarf...


Here's the converted Captain next to a standard BSB model. There are enough differences to the models that they can be used together without problems...

Thanks for watching! More updates coming soon! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread (105 votes and counting)...

[Lord Dan]

A man that awesome needs a name. I vote Count Stabula.

Cool use of all those parts! That BSB really is a brilliant sculpt in its own right, and that greatsword from the plastic kit just looks plain awesome.

[Urgat]

Well I vote for captain Drunkard Anybody who'd show up on a battlefield with his bottle of red in hand can't be too clean

[Astraeos]

It's probably a bottle of freshly warmed ale rather than a bottle of red wine!
Your new captain is looking awesome. Sometimes I think I say the same thing over and over in this thread!

[Lord Dan]

Well I vote for captain Drunkard

How about Captain Stab McDrunkard?

[was1974]

Orignally posted by Boreas_NL I was planning on making a cool (and big) monster based on the Space Marine statue from the Honored Imperium set, only to find out the model was not as modular as I thought it would be (though it's quite cool and it makes me wish I played 40K) and my own sculpting skills are virtually non-existant... Epic failure! Too bad, I will have to look elsewhere for an epic monstrosity to add to my Stirlanders..

As for the monster, I've failed miserably at the sculpting part of the project, forcing me to reconsider my options. The idea is not totally abandoned (well, not yet), but I will have to change my initial idea to something I can do... It's all nice to have an idea or vision of how something should look, but it's a lot harder to put it into practice..

If you like next time when I come round beside playing a battle we can have a go together. I have some good experience. I am planning on making my own Crypt horrors with the bitz I have left from the Vargheists. A metal wire Frame is important to make up dimensions en something for the putty to cling to.

Let me know what you want. Sounds like very cool and I might have some Ideas too.

[Scythe]

Nice captain! The relaxed pose is very nice indeed. Reminds me of that dwarf model nonchalantly leaning on his axe (one of the few Dwarf models I actually like).

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

A man that awesome needs a name. I vote Count Stabula.

Cool use of all those parts! That BSB really is a brilliant sculpt in its own right, and that greatsword from the plastic kit just looks plain awesome.

Thanks! I'm pretty pleased with the way he turned out. I'm not too sure about Count stabula though He will get a name and some background as soon as he's painted...

Well I vote for captain Drunkard Anybody who'd show up on a battlefield with his bottle of red in hand can't be too clean

No red, just hot ale... Stirlanders are never too clean, you should know that by now

It's probably a bottle of freshly warmed ale rather than a bottle of red wine!
Your new captain is looking awesome. Sometimes I think I say the same thing over and over in this thread!

Thanks! Yes, it's a little repetitive but I don't mind

How about Captain Stab McDrunkard?

Better, but it needs to sound more Germanish...

If you like next time when I come round beside playing a battle we can have a go together. I have some good experience. I am planning on making my own Crypt horrors with the bitz I have left from the Vargheists. A metal wire Frame is important to make up dimensions en something for the putty to cling to.

Let me know what you want. Sounds like very cool and I might have some Ideas too.

Thanks! I hope we can play another game soon, but you have certain duties to perform now As for the project, it has been put on hold, I need more bits for it anyway. Good luck on building your Crypt Horrors, I'll be sure to introduce them to my Helblaster next time we meet

Nice captain! The relaxed pose is very nice indeed. Reminds me of that dwarf model nonchalantly leaning on his axe (one of the few Dwarf models I actually like).

Thanks! That was precisely the look I wanted to achieve...

Small update...




I updated my Count's Champion (Unit Champion of the Greatswords)... The previous version can be seen in the first pic. He was armed with a greatsword and pistol but I decided he needed a small update. His sword kept getting in the way during combat and operating a pistol wearing plate gloves didn't seem all that practical. He's now armed with two axes and he stands out even more when amongst his peers. Aftes swapping his weapons I geve some parts of the model a much needed re-paint.

Work on 'The Crown Jewel' progresses on a slow but steady pace. Expect updates soon!

Thanks for watching! More updates coming soon! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread (105 votes and counting)...

[Urgat]

But... I honestly doubt ale would come in bottles in Warhammer

[Astraeos]

I think the weapons change was for the better. In the first pic despite how cool it looks, the weapons seem oversized even by Warhammer standards!

[Urgat]

I agree, the pistol was humongous, and holding a great sword one-handed, for a mere champion... naaaah

[Lord Dan]

The double axes look incredible. Great work!

[Scythe]

I concur, the two axes looks a lot better, and add a lot of individuality to the model, it made me think about Assassin's Creed 3 immediately

Good work!

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

But... I honestly doubt ale would come in bottles in Warhammer

It's not a bottle, it's a stylished thermos

I think the weapons change was for the better. In the first pic despite how cool it looks, the weapons seem oversized even by Warhammer standards!

Thanks! I agree he looks better now he's armed with more subtle weapons (as far as a pair of axes can be considered subtle)...

I agree, the pistol was humongous, and holding a great sword one-handed, for a mere champion... naaaah

A bit too much indeed, even for a Stirlander...

The double axes look incredible. Great work!

Thanks!

I concur, the two axes looks a lot better, and add a lot of individuality to the model, it made me think about Assassin's Creed 3 immediately

Good work!

Thanks! That reminds me, I must check out the trailers for that game...

Thanks for watching! More updates coming soon! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread (105 votes and counting)...

[was1974]

Your updates look great. I agree with the other comments, some of the weapons are really too big something I also encounterd with my witch hunter. Even when I scaled the pistol down it still looks big. We should send a mass e-mail to GW and urge them to make smaller pistols. But really like your conversions. Love the two axes for the champion. Hope to see them soon in real live.

[Lord Dan]

GW's blackpowder weapons have undergone some interesting transitions over the years.

The oldest sculpts I recall were the pewter ones just before the 5th edition plastic kit (the spearmen/handgunner combo) was released. Those were arquebus-style weapons accurate for the high renaissance period the Empire is based in. The wave of plastics followed a similar style, though the guns became larger and the stock looked more like it was off of an early 18th century gun. It should be noted that the firing mechanism in both cases was apparently a matchlock design.

Then the perry brothers released their militia kit, which contained weapons and clothing also in an early 18th century style. The pistol, for instance, is essentially of a flintlock design, and the blunderbuss is of a mid-18th century style though with a matchlock firing mechanism.

Finally the new empire handgunners were released in their skin-tight jumpsuits, wielding those massive block-stock matchlock firearms that look a bit like these. Strangely, the firing mechanisms aren't matchlock, but of a more modern design.

The point in all this historical jargon is to explain that the resultant guns we see in the handgunner kit aren't as ridiculously oversized as you might think, they're simply heroic-scale versions of a hybrid gun that incorporates a very old stock with, for the renaissance-Empire, futuristic firing mechanisms. Personally I prefer the old arquebus style, though it's unlikely we're going to see a change anytime in the next decade.

[Boreas_NL]

Thanks for the feedback!

Your updates look great. I agree with the other comments, some of the weapons are really too big something I also encounterd with my witch hunter. Even when I scaled the pistol down it still looks big. We should send a mass e-mail to GW and urge them to make smaller pistols. But really like your conversions. Love the two axes for the champion. Hope to see them soon in real live.

Thanks! I don't think the pistols and handguns are too big, in fact I dislike (for want of a better word) the smaller, classic guns...

GW's blackpowder weapons have undergone some interesting transitions over the years.

The oldest sculpts I recall were the pewter ones just before the 5th edition plastic kit (the spearmen/handgunner combo) was released. Those were arquebus-style weapons accurate for the high renaissance period the Empire is based in. The wave of plastics followed a similar style, though the guns became larger and the stock looked more like it was off of an early 18th century gun. It should be noted that the firing mechanism in both cases was apparently a matchlock design.

Then the perry brothers released their militia kit, which contained weapons and clothing also in an early 18th century style. The pistol, for instance, is essentially of a flintlock design, and the blunderbuss is of a mid-18th century style though with a matchlock firing mechanism.

Finally the new empire handgunners were released in their skin-tight jumpsuits, wielding those massive block-stock matchlock firearms that look a bit like these. Strangely, the firing mechanisms aren't matchlock, but of a more modern design.

The point in all this historical jargon is to explain that the resultant guns we see in the handgunner kit aren't as ridiculously oversized as you might think, they're simply heroic-scale versions of a hybrid gun that incorporates a very old stock with, for the renaissance-Empire, futuristic firing mechanisms. Personally I prefer the old arquebus style, though it's unlikely we're going to see a change anytime in the next decade.

Thanks for the background! There is a clearly visible change of style in the latest Empire releases. As I said above, I prefer the newer versions over the old style...

Update time...


After an unfortunate dropping incident (a couple of weeks ago) I had to replace the banner of my Swordsmen... A real shame, because I quite liked the old banner. Without their banner, my Swordsmen have performed poorly in recent battles so I decided to replace it before the next game (it might not have been the loss of their banner speeding their demise on the field of battle, the loss of I4 might have something to do with it)...




I decided to use the banner I originally created for my Sisters... The banner was finished but was never used as I removed it from the model soon after the pic was taken (about a year ago). The bannerpole from the previous banner was made with a bit of plastic rod, so it snapped easily when dropped. This version has a metal banner pole, making it much sturdier.


(my apologies for the crappy pic) The model is still WIP but I like the feel he projects. The bound skeleton gives the banner (and the unit) a lot of character. As soon as I've painted the new recruits, the unit will get some background and a cool name...

Also some progress on 'The Crown Jewel' and it's crew...


I finished two of the crew meant for the platform... They still need their wash of Devlan Mud but other than that, they are done.

I also continued work on the machine itself...








Most of the lower half of the model is already covered in a base colour and a wash, the platform still needs a lot of attention. The barrel is mostly finished, it has a nice, weathered look and the skulls are omni-present...


And a pic of the complete set. I'm getting pretty close... You can see the Ogre crewman and the guy hauling the wheelbarrow. Both are stil WIP but you can see where I'm going.

Thanks for watching! More updates coming soon! As always, your feedback is greatly appreciated, so please let me know what you think, and, if you're feeling adventurous, feel free to rate my thread (105 votes and counting)...