Last year Byron came for one of his visits and introduced our gaming group to 'Kingdom Death', an artfully composed hybrid of a horror RPG, tactical skirmish and board game.
While the gameplay is (brutally) ingenious and the figures are amazingly sculpted, the themes are very, VERY adult, and so definitely not to everyone's tastes. Nonetheless, we loved it and became hooked. So when the Kickstarter went up last year for the updated version I lost my wits completely, mortgaged the dogs and backed it to the hilt. Anyway, the first avalanche of stuff (suitably titled 'Monster 1.5') arrived at our door this autumn, so I thought I'd use the Challenge to complete some of the core elements of the game.
These first four figures comprise the 'Prologue Survivors'. These poor souls awake in a world of darkness, with no memory of their past, little clothing and only lanterns and a few shards of masonry as weapons.
Since I'm going to have a LOT of figures to work through, I decided to save myself the torture of determining what colours to use figure-by-figure and instead use a hybrid greyscale effect that incorporates lanterns' glow for a bit of visual interest.
The main elements of the effect was achieved using an airbrush and then switching to thin glazes to highlight both the greyscale and lantern glow. I realize it's a little over-the-top but I think it works okay for the game's setting.
The beginning scenario has the four survivors being immediately set upon by a huge lion. Using only their bare hands, some stone shards and lanterns they are forced to fight for their lives.
I decided to use the same lantern-lit greyscale effect for the White Lion, with a fallen lantern providing under-lighting to the lion's face, underbelly and flanks.
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| The light effect of the dropped lantern. |
These figures are quite large, with the humans coming in at around 40mm. The Lion is very large in comparison and he is considered a pretty small creature in the game!
I hope to get a few more of the monsters for the game done this Challenge - wish me luck!
Curt
Title: 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight'
Artist: The Nylons (1986)
Excellent "lit" greyscale work Curt :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tamsin!
DeleteWhat a good idea, brilliantly executed! I find apparently minimal stuff like this actually takes more effort and skill to get right than normal colours. Perfect for the game. I have a little non-backers regret on KD....
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid you're absolutely right, it's far more fiddly to pull-off. I spend a lot of time trying to fix my gaffes and get gradients right, whereas colour layering is so much more straightforward.
DeleteStellar work my friend! While I did my Zomies for Zombicide in greyscale I did never consider to give them any kind of glow effect. While it does look good en masse your approach certainly makes for a way more interesting finish.
ReplyDeleteLooks like it could be something I‘ll be ‚borrowing‘ from you... again.
Delighted that you like them Nick! The lantern effect is often done so I've really done nothing unique here. Nonetheless, I hope this inspires you to do some work in this vein - it would be a pleasure to see.
DeleteWOW Realy like this work here Curt. This game has great figurs nad you painted them in an amazing fashion.
ReplyDeleteThanks Adam, you're right, the figures just make you want to paint them.
DeleteDang! That lion and it's base are just downright brilliant! Mindblowing really!
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you very much Sander. Very kind of you.
DeleteGreat effect Curt and very glad to see you making use of the airbrush! It really suits the mood and setting of the game. Very interested to see how it looks across a wide array of survivors and armour types.
ReplyDeleteYup, love that thing. Fiddly to keep clean, but it really helps with certain tasks/effects. Thanks for your thumbs up, much appreciated.
DeleteS-PEC-TA-CU-LAR
ReplyDeleteThanks Benito!
DeleteWonderful piece, Curt !
ReplyDeleteCheers Stefan! Glad you like them.
DeleteWow! I really like the effect,Curt! Excellent use of grayscale and OSL. It gives them all a forbidding tortured soul look!
ReplyDelete'forbidding, tortured soul look'
DeleteYou could have used that phrase to describe me when I was painting these things. ;)
Thanks Dave!
Great stuff! I have these on my painting table as well, so you're inspiring me to move them up the list a bit ;)
ReplyDeleteOoh, I look forward to seeing your work on these, Paul.
DeleteThose are fantastic! Well done!
ReplyDeleteThanks Keith!
DeleteThe lantern effect is incredible. I'm very jealous of you having all those monstrous minis to paint.
ReplyDeleteCheers Pete. While I'm happy to have them, I'm finding the pile of monster kits a bit daunting actually.
DeleteSome fantastic effects on these figures, really nice
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken, I'm glad you like them.
DeleteStunning
ReplyDeleteThanks very much Martin.
DeleteReally quite mind boggling, I am quite curious on how you did it.
ReplyDeleteVery kind of you, John. The effect is very much helped with the help of an airbrush using layers of controlled directional sprays, then going in with the brush for fine highlights. I find the trick is not to overdo it too much (which I did in some spots) - less is more for this type of effect.
DeleteI wish I was as patient Curt, me and my airbrush just do not get along. I can prime figures put after that I am lost.
DeleteClansman, just lively. Amongst your very finest!
ReplyDeleteThank you Douglas, they were great fun to work on.
DeleteA fine bit of work Mr C...
ReplyDeleteThanks Dave!
DeleteWonderful stuff Curt! The lighting us just the best!
ReplyDeleteCheers Pete, I'm delighted you like them as you'll be playing with them soon!
DeleteLovely stuff, rather you than me. ..!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks!
DeleteYes.. the game is brutal.. yes.. the survivors are aptly named as they need to survive... but damn that painting is nice there!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kyle. Yup, it's a nasty, nasty game but so, sooo addictive.
DeleteHmmm... It's not truly greyscale. "Brownscale" maybe? Whatever I really like it Curt, especially the OSL effects.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's a bit of a mashup really. As long as it works on the tabletop I won't quibble.
DeleteSepiatone?
DeleteYep, that would be much closer to the truth.
DeleteOSL? Glazes? Where did Curt go?????
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could be a little MORE "zenithal" next time...just saying...
Meow. :)
DeleteAmazing lighting effects! I hope to see more KD stuff from you- you have a lucky gaming group!
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get a few more of the big monsters done this Challenge as I know the guys will be eager to encounter (and be eaten by) them. :)
DeleteMagic work! Magnificent transmission of light and perfectly matched colors!
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Alex!
DeleteWow! They just look flat out awesome Curt! Very, very atmospheric with the lighting.
ReplyDeleteChristopher
Thanks Christopher, I'm delighted you like them!
DeleteThis is really something. I can only marvel at painters who can do OSL, since it's eluded me so far!
ReplyDeleteJust curious - how are you going to manage the more (ahem) 'graphic' models in the range and not end up having to ask us our ages before we see the submissions?
; )
Haha! Yes, there are a few that were designed for a more mature (prurient? deviant?) audience. I may have to give those submissions a WARNING header to help avert tender eyes (and call forth the gawkers).
DeleteYeah, there are a few models which are quite frankly unpublishable without a slew of warnings!
Delete