From MarkE: Romans and a Lady for Sarah's choice (45 points)

Squeaking  in under the deadline and before running out the door for another fun filled night at work, I present my last couple of submissions for the challenge.

A base of 25mm Old Glory Romans and a 28mm Dark Sword Miniature.

These Romans continue a project I started way back in the '90's  Here they are beside a base I completed somewhere before the century turned: New work on the left, old stuff to the right.

I had actually forgotten about this project until I started scouting out my lead mountain for the challenge.  If I recall correctly I was basing them for dual use for the old Chipco Fantasy rules and Classical Hack.  So a real blast from the past.  I've got at least 1.5 more bags of these to clean up, prime and paint so it will be Romans for a while on the bench.  It will help be get more of my brush skills back before moving onto some Perry Napoleonic that have been hanging around getting dusty for at least 10 years.

Last but certainly not least for this year's challenge is my submission to Lady Sarah.  She's a 28mm Dark Sword mini from their Elmore line that I purchased for the first time I entered the Challenge back in 2012.  Life intervened at that point and I failed to get one entry in.  I had to complete at least one mini from that failed effort.

I've always loved the artwork from that classic era of TSR.  I grew up with posters from Elmore, Easley, and the rest of that studio on my walls, and their evocative art fueled many a weekend D&D session with my high school friends. She was going to be my submission for the Toys theme round but I didn't manage to get her done by that deadline.

I'll be making my Curtgeld contribution to Doctors' without Borders.  I've worked with several physicians who donated their time to that organization over the years and they truly do great work.

Points:

8 x 25mm Romans @ 5 pts  = 40 points

1 x 28mm Lady      @ 5 pts =    5 points

                                            total = 45 points

It brings me to 229 for the challenge so a bit short of my 300 goal.  

Well it's off to work.  Unfortunately my night shifts don't afford me time to chip away on my hobby like (I think it was) Ray's epic nightshift challenge year.

Cheers,

MarkE

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A fabulous final entry Mark! Those venerable Old Glory Romans look the business (and the mentions of Chipco rules takes me back!). That being said, the female dancer takes the cake here. Wow, what a lovely job you did on her. Well done Mark. Also, thank you for the donation to Doctors' Without Borders - a very worthy organization doing important work.

- Curt

From MartinC Piper's DON'T Peak (79pts)

Like most of us during the challenge we acquire random figures that we don't get round to posting. Most of these are started when we squeeze out too much paint.This year we use them to navigate around the island but I have now run out of different figure types to fulfill other locations. I am sans boats, 15mm scifi or even floppy hats and I had to look up Horus Heresy (think I may be a heretic!).
So in an effort to clear my desk so that I can produce a massive 10mm paint bomb - that may be an oxymoron - I have decided to post them now.

This beauty is a 40mm high Balrog from Grenadier made in 1986 (been to Millsy's Millpond). I didn't buy it then but acquired it in the last few years in a job lot

This 40mm Amazonian Warrior also came in job lot and was an entry figure for Salute - never been there either. I've also been in a balloon and although Sarah is an amazing pilot the inflight bubbles go up my nose

This Damsel is from Dark Sword Miniatures. They are very expensive - £7 each but I bought this and many others in a Northstar sale for £1 each. 

Alex posted some Neanderthals he had made earlier in the challenge and he very generously sent me some. So I painted them up and they look cool

Finally the optimistic theme of the post

Another Medusa. DON'T PEEK. Hope that passes muster and as the Chief Flight Attendant is on duty tomorrow I'm optimistic

Scores on the Doors

2x 40mm = 14

7x 28mm = 35

Peaky Bonus = 30

= 79pts

Well, she definitely passes muster even though the theme is "taking a peek" rather than "not taking a peek". An excellent collection of random figures.

TamsinP

From Iannick : A Mother's Love at Mudry's Mesa (45 Points)

After finally joining the fun last week and enjoying a nice relaxing, although unfortunately dry, balloon ride, I land on Mudry's Mesa. I've been told of the wonders and dangers that awaits those who visit the Challenge Island, and I am not disappointed!

Barely 50 meters in front of me stands a female Owlbear. The animal, which populates large parts of Faerun, Allansia, Krynn, and many more worlds, is a stunning sight. Larger than a grizzly, usually foul tempered, this particular animal seems on the lookout, its head prowling left and right. For a moment I wonder why this beast seems so stressed. Is it hunting? But then the large creature turns, and I understand! And I feel so privileged to be able to witness such a wondrous scene, as two cubs prance and run around their mother without a care in the world. The cutest creatures you will ever see! And to think that, in barely a few years, these will transform into fearsome apex predators that will terrorize numerous party of adventurers!

As I hide in the bushes and take pictures of these marvelous creatures, I smile; this trip was definitely worth the price of entry.

A stop on Mudry's Mesa was an easy decision for me, since I've received around two weeks ago a little set of figures I was dying to paint! In the last two years or so I've been buying a lot less miniatures, mostly because I feel like I have to work on my leadpile a little (so many great projects, unfinished or often not even started) but here and there I get tempted. And Dark Sword miniatures is often one of those evil temptress. And that's how Iannick, on Christmas day, bought this fantastic little set. 

Nothing special or original about the painting scheme, but I am quite happy with the results. The Owlbear is obviously a RPG classic, and I'm looking forward to using these figures in a game. It's a lot easier to kill the big bad owlbear and gain the XP when you don't have to do it in front of its children, hey? Moral dilemmas are always loads of fun in RPGs.

Point wise, that would be :

• One Owlbear (lets call it a 40mm? It is a big one) for 7pts
• Two Owlbear cubs (small ones, 20mm?) for 8 pts
• Plus the points for the Mesa (30pts)

So 45 pts. Next up, I love the smell of Heresy in the morning...

***

Wow, another RPG classic here for us to enjoy! This is a great entry Iannick, very, very cool and I'm sure the many fantasy and RPG fans out there will enjoy this one!

45 points? Sure! Sounds right to me. Well done. 

GregB

From Iannick: A Fashionably Late First Entry (65 Points)

It is with barely two days left to the deadline that I finally submit my first entry to this year's challenge! I made the cut!

Obviously, it has to be a Curtgeld, since I do not intend to leave this island so early! With the choice of figure completely up to me, I went looking into my rather large unpainted stash, and picked something I knew I would enjoy painting. A few years back (Challenge 7 I think. How time flies) some of you may remember I went on a Halfling painting spree. It so happens I still have quite a few of the unpainted little fellows, what with me pledging for the whole range during the Kickstarter!

I'm a big fan of playing Halflings in D&D and Warhammer, probably because my favourite RPG character of all time, "Cedwick Bloomberry", was a halfling Fieldwarden. Never was a character so lucky, it was uncanny, and he became the stuff of legends amongst my RPG group. People always underestimated the little fellow, always...

Anyways, the Stonehaven Halflings are just a lovely range, and every figure is full of personality. I picked the "Mage apprentice" as my Curtgeld, in part because I have two of them (packaging mistake), but also because it's one of my favourite of the range. I believe the figures work especially well for RPGs, and this one should be of use to a DM looking to represent a first level halfling mage character, or NPC. Hopefully it can find a place in the collection of such a player (hint, hint).

I usually go with browns and earthy tones for halflings, but since this guy is a young mage, I gave him a blue wardrobe, it seemed fitting. I had as much fun painting him as I did 3 years ago, the little guys just paint themselves it seems. 

Next up we have Alice Duskbane, Paladin of Cormyr. The last few years I've been involved in a sort of personal RPG renaissance, after a decade long hiatus, and introduced three of my close friends to the hobby, and we've been playing twice-monthly ever since. Truthfully, I never thought they would all love it as much as they do! So I've been painting their characters, and this is the paladin of Marie-Claude in our D&D 5e forgotten realms campaign. 

The figure is from Dark Sword, probably my favourite fantasy figures manufacturer, and was picked by MC, and then painted by me, based on her character's description. It was a somewhat difficult figure to paint, first because painting pristine white is never that fun, but also because the figure is very slender and "petite". I also rarely paint redheads if I can avoid it, it never looks quite right. I'm quite happy with her nonetheless, and so is MC, which is the most important.

This lovely gal is also my ticket to Mudry's Mesa, as I will finally start my exploration of Challenge Island on Sarah's balloon. Sadly, I will have to make my maiden voyage sober, since I'm all out of bubbles (an ironic twist of fate considering it is one of my favourite drinks). But considering my RPG group is made-up of all women, I have plenty of unpainted female figures, and I do intend on using that mode of transportation more than once! Plus any excuse to drink bubbles...

So...

Curtgeld and 28mm figure : 30 pts

First trip on Sarah's balloon and 28mm figure : 35 pts

So 65 pts to erase the shameful "0" next to my name!

See you soon on the Mesa.

***

Bienvenue a noveau, Iannick! It's great to have you back among the Challenge and to share not only your fine brushwork, but your energy and passion for the hobby.  I do recall the earlier halfling painting spree, and I know many other Challengers and visitors will too. Your aspiring mage is just the ticket to honour that tradition, a fine Curtgeld for a lucky participant. 

The Paladin is really something, excellent work.  I have a feeling many fantasy and D&D fans will be looking Dark Sword miniatures if they haven't already...

That's 65 points for you, sir, and we look forward to more!

GregB

From DebD: Dark Sword: Female Ranger with Bow (10 points)

This week I had a bit of fun with Dark Sword's Female Ranger. I wanted to try to create a forest scene and use bits of nature. I really enjoyed this project. Surprisingly, bark is very fun to work with!

Scale: 28mm
Mfg: Dark Sword Miniatures
Product: Female Ranger with Bow
Material: Metal

The bow was added to the model. It is a metal spear that I clipped and filed down.

The trees are twigs, bark and moss found on a hike and later dried in the oven.  Some people bake cookies, I bake bark lol

The ferns are card stock paper that has been punched out with Green Stuff World's small branch punch.

The leaves in the trees and on the ground are birch seeds that have also been dried out. 

One of these weeks, I will have more than one figure to post :)

1 x 28mm from Dark Sword

Thanks!

Deb

_____________________________________________

Wow, what an absolutely stunning vignette Deb. 

The figure's ridiculous pose aside (What tortured mind comes up with these incongruous, quasi dance-class animations?), you've done a terrific job on the bow modification and the painting is top shelf, particularly her face.

The forest setting you've created is truly inspired and I really like what you've done with the various mixed media to achieve the overall effect (Note to self: I absolutely NEED that small branch punch thingy). 

On top of the standard 5 points for the figure I'm giving you another 5 for the groundwork and bow modifications. Lovely work Deb! 

(Monday from RodF) Huntmaster Farhop and Whisper (READY)

There very few who can claim to know all the paths of Cool Dip Swamp better than Hedger Farhop, the Royal Huntmaster.  There are even fewer who can claim to be able to name the species all the creatures that inhabit the swamp.  But none can claim to know the life patterns, migrations, feeding habits of all its creatures as well as Hedger Farhop.  A point he takes an extreme amount of pride in, especially after downing a few Muckfly Ales.

The Huntmaster can almost always be seen accompanied by his faithful companion, Whisper, the wasp.  Their work is well coordinated but often neither will mutter a sound, and yet when you see them at work it is almost as if they can read each other's minds.

He is a very quiet man frog who tends to keep to himself.  And would prefer to spend most of his time alone in the swamps instead of social gatherings.

But, when it comes to organizing and leading the hunt, he does come out of his quiet shell and excels at his work.  It is said that there  has never been a better and more skillful Master of the Hunt.

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That's 1 28mm frog from Darksword Miniatures.  [Although all these frogs a bit bigger...]

Another small output from me this week as I got a bit absorbed in this current bonus round. So far the Monday crew hasn't kicked me off their team yet, but I know I'm killing their output average!

Cheers.
Rod

MilesR: - A wonderful mini.  The details are amazing - very nicely done!

From IannickM : Female Assasin (5 Points)

Yes, two posts today! It didn't feel right to mix Napoleonics with fantasy. So a single piece for this entry, a female assassin from Dark Swords miniatures. The figure is not attached to any planned games or project, really, it's a Christmas gift from the girlfriend. Now usually when she gives me figures as gift they go into the lead pile (as all my purchases go), and she gets to see them painted many moons later, so this year I decided to do something different and put it in my priority pile!

So there she is, I painted her as a single so I did spend more time on her than most other figures, and I'm really happy I did as I think she looks gorgeous! The figure itself is an awesome sculpt and has that nice Old School vibe the fantasy masters at Dark Sword still manage to produce. It's a very simple sculpt, no skulls or extra belts and stuff, but it is very effective.

Yes, I couldn't resist using some pink on the female warrior, cliché you might say, but I just love the colour and any excuse to use it is good with me! I tried to offset the bright colour with a darker mauve cloak, a very simple basing and some grey pants. I quite like the final results.

Now, of course, being who I am it might just be the start of a Frostgrave or Songs of Blades and Heroes warband! Somewhere the old masters at Dark Swords are smiling, knowing I need at least 10 more of their figures...

So that's a small but satisfying 5 pts. 

ByronM: I would agree with that, you should be satisfied with this small but high quality submission.  The figure would suit itself to many different games and settings, and is very feminine due to the pink colour.  Once again I like the stark highlights, it is a method that a lot of painters that I realy like (like Curt, Greg, Sydney) all use on thier models to produce very high quality tabletop miniatures.  Calling it tabletop, is not a put down in any way, as this style is done for that exact reason, to look good at table top level, and in fact looks BETTER on the tabletop than many of the super detailed methods that a lot of the elite painters use.  All to say, I really like the look and style.

From RodF: Fantasy Figures, Big and Small (47 points)

Several months ago I started a Dwarf force for the game Warband.  I was trying to finish up my army just before the challenge started but my job interfered and then it was the holidays.  So finally this week I wrapped up my last stand of Dwarf Warriors.  At 10mm, they may be smaller than most Dwarven armies folks are used to playing games with, but I assure you that even though they may be smaller they still smell equally as bad of 28mm Dwarfs and continue to have the same Blood Alcohol Content.

Figures from Pendraken Miniatures.

I bought a separate pack of Pipers so each warrior stand could have one.

This is my second attempt at getting into 10mm, and I have to say that I've really enjoyed it this time around.  I love the look of massed troops on large bases.  I think I may be sold on this scale for big battles now.  As such, I went ahead and got a second army... Undead!  The first batch of troops are some Skeletal Cavalry.  These are also from Pendraken Miniatures.

More Undead are coming soon!

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(Just when you thought I was done with Frogs!)

Bart Rallop, Royal Wizard and Keeper of the Generally Eternal Flame

Bart has served as the royal wizard and adviser to King Tribbit for as long as any frog in Cool Dip Swamp can remember. Not only is he the leading authority in flora and fauna of the swamp, but he has a vast library of spells at his disposal.  Among his duties is keeping the Generally*Eternal Flame lit and available to all to see.  It is the beacon of enlightenment to the frogs of Cool Dip Swamp, proving to all they are more than just mere amphibians, but grasped the use of tools and fire.

* - Note:  "Generally" is given here with the knowledge that all swamp creatures realize fires tend to fall to accidental extenquishment in areas with large bodies of water.

The frog wizard is from Dark Sword Miniatures.

18 - 10mm Dwarves
12 - 10mm Undead Cavalry

MilesR: Rod these nicely painted figures will net you a tidy 47 points.  I really hope you're not done with Frogs as I always like to see them.

From AdamC- Two Frostgrave Soldiers (10 Points)

I'm Planning to use this fellow as a Frostgrave "knight" (Soldier with mail, shield and hand weapon) and I think he'll also find himself in games of Saga as a warlord.  He's a Dark Sword figure from the George RR Martin range called Alfyn Crowkiller one of the wildlings form beyond the wall.  I'm not a fan of the series (or I was but lost interest) but the figures are great and I have many of them.

He' has great detail on his face and I did the shield in colors that would match my Necromancer, I think he'll make a good leader for a unit of humans defending him either in Frostgrave or as part of a Dragon Rampant army.

The cloak looks like it will keep him very warm in Frostgrave and its environs.  He's a very good 28mm figure (actually he might be a 30 or 32mm scale figure but they call him 28mm so I will take Dark Sword at its word)

This is another figure form the same line a character called Yegrit (?) also a wilding.  I'm planning to use her as part of a all female war band for the game I am running at Huzzah!Con.

The figure has a great in action pose I feel like she just fire on the run and is skidding to a halt or maybe scrambling backward to stay out of hand weapon range

So that two more figures both of 28mm scale so 10 points.

Ahh, these are lovely figures Adam. I have this series of models sitting in storage and this entry reminds me why I got them in the first place (it's certainly NOT because of that pompous waste of skin GRR Martin). The knight's armour is excellent and I really like the shield design you've given him. Ygritte is also well done, I particularly like her vibrant 'firetouched' hair and her more humble leather gear. Great work. 

'You know nothing, Jon Snow.' 

AdamC (for Monday)- 28mm Frostgrave Figures (135 Points)

If you are following the Side Duels, you'll see a pretty good scrap on the Frostgrave Challenge between Adam and Paul A with BillA in the mix as well.  Here's Adam's latest volleys of arrows and magic missiles.

This one is big and varied but its all stuff I plan to use for Frosgtrave.  First up a bunch of Cultists

 First up we have three bad guys looking very intimidating with their big morning Stars

 Five Cultist Swordsmen, some duel wielding and two with shields. the Fellow in the centre has a sword and dagger set form the undead encounters set but they look great with him.

 Great details on the clothing both front and back.  Two of these guys have skulls on their belts.

 4 Cultists with missile weapons.  I did two with crossbows and two with bows.

 The guy in Blue needs a quiver I'll have to fix that at some point.  You can see the tendency of cultists to have chains, bones an other stuff.

 Lots of guys fight with sword and dagger but sword and axe that takes a Cultist!

 Once again the detail on the clothing is really impressive

 Cultist Templar with a two handed sword, the face mask of his helmet is part of his pointy hood.

 His Weapon is actually form the Frostgrave soldier pack and it works great with this figure.

 Spear and shield, I hand painted the shield its not really supposed to be anything just an off kilter pattern that looks odd.

 This is a really dynamic figure that is running into action.

 The backpack is a nice detail  and includes a dagger. A total of 15 cultists all 28mm figures so 75 points.

 Humans and the undead aren't the only dangers in Frostgrave, the ruins are effectively wilderness and natural animals like wolves wander in from time to time... Most of the time they want to get out fast but sometimes they are controlled by wizards or magical creatures like werewolves. These 4 Wolves were a gift from my friend Rob and they are fine sculpts form Northstar.

 I did these wolves using layers of dark gray, light gray and silver gray and a good brown wash and I am really pleased with how they came out. 4 Wolves 28mm figures so another 20 points.

 I had to pick this guy up when I saw him.  I'm looking for a fully armoured skeleton to act as this guy once he finishes getting out of his chair. I'm really pleased with how the red eyes came out.  The figure reminds me of the Atlantean form the Conan movie so he could also be a piece of terrain too.

There are lots of great details on this throne I kept the colors dark and muted so the skeletons would stand out.  He counts as one figure for 5 points I leave judging the value if any of the throne to Peter.  (given the bulk of the casting I rate this as worth 10 points)

Now something different as these guys are all good guys. 

 I've been working these Dark Sword Criter Kingdom figures into my warbands since my first game and they are great figures to use.

 This Rabbitman swashbuckler makes a great Treasure Hunter with this leather armour and sword dagger combo.

 The Blue cape gives him a pop of colour and matches the band in his hat.

 A Mouseman wizard or apprentice, I don't know why you would tie a rock to your head but there must be some reason.  (editorial comment, there is no accounting for some fashions and tastes)

 As you can see from this angle the staff is not broken just angled so it looked broken.

 The Mouse doesn't know he is small he wields a massive hammer and still can carry a shield! He'll make an excellent Knight for a Frosgrave Warband

 I kept the shield a simple green as not good design suggested it self to me.

 Mouse pirate Arrh Surrender the Cheese!   H'll make a good thief or Treasure Hunter.

 With that big bag off his (looks like it should have golf clubs) he might make a good mule too.

 Another mouse knight this one a veteran of many battles with a well scared shield. One of my favorites of this setl.

 I gave him some gold on this shoulder pauldrons as a mark of his veteran status.

 Finally the Bard a mouse who knows how to party.  Not only can he play that lute he is armed to the teeth with not one but two swords..

I went with a softer palette for this guy to offset the brown of his leather armour because a bard should look like a showman.  That's another six figure for another 30 points.  All and all that should be 130 Points.

Well done again Adam.  I have upped your points for the throne on the armoured smelly as noted above.  Your "regular" frostgrave" lads all have a nice consistent approach and I do like the snowy bases.  We have temps in -40s (Celsius including windchill) so your snow is a little too close to home!  I also like the big armoured skelly, who looks like he means business and has the chair to match.

However, it's furry components that I like best.  Those are great wolves and you've done very well with them.  Your wash has given them a brindled look and the basing is very effective.  I may need some of these wolves for my 1812 and FIW games.  

But my favourites are the Critter Kingdom set - I don't do much fantasy but I may need these guys.  The bunny has a rather startled look and the mice look fierce.  I like the pirate and bard best, the colours of the cloaks capture the movement nicely.  And I like the way you've painted the inside of the ears - now there's a phrase you don't hear on the Challenge often enough. 

 Paints bomb warning - I've been checking the queue and Adam's been a busy boy this weekend.