Friday 15 March 2019

From DavidB: Come into the woods! (240 points)

Wes Studi (Cherokee) as Magua from Last of  the Mohicans.
Magua is a Huron or Huron Wyandot, or Wendat, or... With no written word and strong oral histories, Tribal names are often grouped into Alliances and tribal language and traditions get lost in the grouping. Much like the information on Potawatomi get lost with the Algonquin Nation and even confused and gathered with Wendat which were an allied Nation of traders and explorers. This of cours gets jumbled more when someone is looking for Huron, but totally pass on Wyandot because it "isn't" Huron.
Also it is forgotten on the colors and technology and even trade routes that the First Nations had. You would be amazed at all the shades of brown, grey, and green that can be pulled from different tanning techniques. even the coloring of salmon bones and other small bones, including small pieces of wood and stone and all the intricate beadwork possible with just modest use of clay scraps. Even the feathers were varied with bluejay, cardinal, and others adding to the turkey hawk and eagle. A found feather in the woods is still a special find. I have a cardinal tail feather lost from a fight or preening that has been around the world with me giving me a piece of home.

A modest force of Huron for the FIW. Unlike the Potawatomi and Iroquois I painted a few years ago, I kept these pretty subdued. I want them more natural without all the bright colors from felt leggings and bright colors of beads the Colonists would bring. By removing the musket armed, I can use the Flint and Feather ruleset for pre-contact fights. I may source some Roundheads and Cavaliers though so I can fight with and against the newcomers.

An Elder, a Warchief, and Medicine Man. I'm thinking the Shaman and Elder could be Apprentice and Master Mages for Frostgrave. I can also use most of  these for Saga as Skraelings. I was thinking of the latter and chose to go light on the warpaint. The Tribe looks more like they are spilling from their Wigwams or welcoming home the hunting party as there seems to be lots of village attacks in that game. Wearing warpaint all the time kinda clogs up the pores too! ;)

Bob Murch did an outstanding job on these sculpts and they are filled with lots of character and details. A few warclubs are decorated with a turtle and the turtle was the prime clan of most Eastern Tribes. Everybody not Native wants to be Bear or Wolf clan, but they don't realize that the turtle is very wise and snapping turtles are very fierce! The honor guard in the back has a turtle on his banner marking this bunch as Turtle clan warriors .The shaman even has a rattle made from a turtle shell.

A group of warriors with handweapons and a few shields.

I enjoyed painting all of the Murch sculpts very much.

I still like the wargames factory/warlord plastics, but they are best as filler troops and source for conversion bits.

A group of bow equiped warriors, Bob Murch even made a set of weapons, shields and bows which finally let me give quivers to the wargame factory warriors.

They do mesh well together and like my dual knife bowman very much more with the added quiver and bow.

This group will accompany the rest for blackpowder games or muskets and tomahawks

The Murch scupts blend very well with the Conquest sculpts too.

I need to get some French and English to massacre <er, ALLY with!

48 warriors for 240 points ready to play in the woods!


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And this final Friday Follies sees yet another ally of . . . the French. First American Continentals, and now Hurons.

You've done a splendid job here, both with making them look subdued and natural, and with blending in figures from multiple manufacturers. 

I do think it's a bit optimistic expecting these chaps to go spelunking in Frostgrave. It's a bit nippy there. But otherwise, quite a splendid band.

240 points incoming!

13 comments:

  1. This is great Dave - great painting, and great post, really enjoy the perspective. That feather...wow!

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  2. Nicely done, even with the blurry images.

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  3. Lovely looking tribal warriors and excellent that they can be used in so many periods!
    Best Iain

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  4. Wonderful post David. I've been very intrigued with collecting some pre-contact First Nations forces. Bob's recent work (and your great brushwork here) will probably push me over the edge sooner rather than later.

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  5. Lovely work David. Your warpattylooks great!

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  6. Fantastic work David - that is a force to make any enemy's blood curdle! I found Tribal allies challenging to paint but you nailed it and the warpaint looks perfect. Awesome stuff!

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  7. Wow David that's quite a lot of beautifully painted braves well done!

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  8. I only saw LotM a few years ago; it blew me away. Great work!

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