From Aaron P: Who knew... - (65 points)

Who knew that having the painting paraphernalia set up on a folding table, with dozens of models all primed and ready to go, in front of the TV would be conducive to painted miniatures. I probably could have guessed I suppose, and thankfully I have a supportive partner who tolerates my hobbies occasionally spilling out into common areas (only fair I suppose as I move the crochet off the record player for the second time today). 

My Kings of War army has sat unpainted in take-away containers for roughly a year. The painting challenge has been just the motivation I needed to get to it and get them painted.

 

So here are some elven archers ready to join the ranks of some spearmen I painted about 4 months ago. If you've never played KoW I recommend giving it a go. It has become a fairly tight set of rules, that gives the feeling of big armies battling it out, but since every unit is one base, you are only really moving like 10-15 "models" around, so the game moves quick. My wife and I love it as we can actually get a game finished even with a three-year-old running around.

Most of the games I have played of KoW have been with pieces of cardboard or MDF cut into the appropriate sized rectangle (or occasional square). I am pumped to get this army sorted so I can actually play a game with miniatures, even if its only 1000pts. Also in case you are wondering all my opinions of KoW are based on third edition. I currently have zero interest in 4th. 

Ok, so 13(28mm Archers) 

13(5) 

13*5

 =65 Points 

Quick math!

 

So long for now!

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Great to see you forging ahead, Aaron!  Great unit of elven archers. The turquoise and white work really well together and the snow/slurry bases are very evocative of a harsh climate. Kings of War is a great set of fantasy rules - very fast, easy to pick up, yet giving players interesting tactical choices as the games unfold. I look forward to seeing more units roll off the line over the coming weeks Aaron!

- Curt

From RayR - Jason & the Argonauts and the Children of the Hydra. 60 pts

For my first post of this years Challenge, I've gone back in time to Greece and its mythology.

I'd take a guess that 99% of the people reading this post has seen the 1963 Ray Harryhausen film Jason & the Argonauts and were in as much awe as I was watching it? My favourite scene was always, the fight with the children of the Hydra. So this for me was a good start.

"In the myth of Jason and the Argonauts, the "children of the Hydra" refers to the skeletal warriors raised from the ground by sowing the teeth of the slain Hydra, a magical defence King Aeëtes used against Jason in Colchis; they are a key part of the Golden Fleece quest, famously brought to life in the 1963 film by Ray Harryhausen's stop-motion animation, though the core idea stems from ancient Greek tales where sowing dragon/serpent teeth creates armed men."

I've wanted to do these for a long time, but these in fact are not for me!!!

My nephew Zach, who's 10 is really into Greek Mythology, thanks to the Percy Jackson books and films.

So I thought I'd paint him up a few figures for Christmas and see if I can get him interested in wargaming??? My Mrs said don't go too mad and buy too much........well too late. 

He'll have these 11 figures and then hopefully help me paint up the last 11, more Argonauts and skeletons. Then the world is his oyster!!!

Laertes, Argus and Polydeuces

Jason, Melampus of Pylus and Augeias

I played around with how to paint the skeletons, in the end I painted them white and painted over a grey Contrast paint (sorry Ken), to give them that subtle shaded effect.

All of the figures are from Wargames Foundry, excellent Mythology range.

So 11 x 25mm figures @ 5pts each gives me 55 points! and all before Christmas day too!!!!

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First, welcome back to the Challenge, Ray! Delighted to have you back with us this year.

Wow, Zach is a very lucky boy to have you as his uncle! These look fabulous, and do indeed invoke the spirit of Harryhausen. Those Greeks look like the work of Steve Saleh, one of my favourite sculptors, and your bold brushwork really does them justice. I especially like the bald guy with the grizzled beard - a veteran campaigner, for sure. Fabulous stuff and now ready for adventure!

55 points for your opening volley and since they are a gift for a wargamer-to-be a bonus 5 points. :)

- Curt