From PaulSS: The Last Danse Macabre - 114 pts

I was determined to get a few more units added to the Midgard undead army I've been working on this week before Challenge XVI ended and I'm writing this post while the glue on the bases to dry* so I can take some photos!

*Note: The glue was not dry when I took these photos :D 

Five more characters make it over the line in the form of a mounted Skeleton champion and four Banshees.

I'm not sure if I'll ever have a requirement for four Banshees, but here we are.

The grave stones are from Cromarty Forge.

Another unit of Skeleton Knights joins the Danse.

I broke the scythe of the base while adding the static grass! I've set it aside somewhere to stick back on, but it's in such a safe place I have no idea where it is!

Finally, a couple of units of Skeleton Warriors.

This makes six units of skeleton warriors, a good solid core for an undead army.

78 foot and 12 mounted 10mm figures will add another 114 points to my total, taking me to nearly twice my initial target!

Also another good collection of Skulls for the Skull Duel, there are 106 skulls in all here!

It's not been all painting though. yesterday evening I managed to take the Undead out to the club for a game against Midgard author, James Morris so we could give some new abilities a spin out. I had ~300pts of Undead from what I'd already painted against his newly painted Orcs of a similar size.

James Orc Warg riders

As I mentioned both armies were newly painted so one of us was going to do terribly, I'll drop the suspense, it was me :D 

First game my Necromancer double ravened a risk to heroes test in a combat he had no right to be in and my army reputation crumbled with him. 

The Danse deploys ready to face the Orcs

Second game I tactically decided to put him behind the front line where he would less susceptible to getting thumped. A unit of Warg riders took a shot at him and inflicted five hits from six dice, the army fought on  bravely, but with so much reputation gone, the writing was on the wall.

The Skeleton Knights are undefeated, less said about the rest of the army!

Stars of the show were the Skeleton Knights led by the Vampire, he can take a turn as general next time!

And so the Danse comes to an end for this year, I've been way more productive this challenge and feel so much better for it. Thanks all, until next time!

From Millsy:

I've thoroughly enjoyed your Danse Macabre stuff Paul. You chosen palette, the quality of your brushwork and the amazing detail on the miniatures has made it something that has rekindled my interest in Warmaster. Your knights and character stands in particular are absolutely smashing.

Your note about glue not being dry made me laugh. I'm equally guilty most years :-)

Well done on a great Challenge and thanks for sharing your work. You under costed your last post, the correct points is 114 according to the Spreadheet of Doom.

Cheers,
Millsy

From MartinN: Hairy arsed Barbarians (70 pts.)

For my penultimate post for this year I've got a bunch of hairy arsed Barbarians for you to enjoy. The figures are a mix of Victrix and Footsore Miniatures and were a lot of fun to paint. They're based on my usual 10x5 cm bases for use with Midgard Heroic Battles by James Morris. As I couldn't be arsed to hand paint all the different shield patterns I decided to use LBM (nowadays available through Victrix) decals instead. Backdrop is by Handiwork Games as ever

Points wise we have 14 miniatures for a total of 70 points

Lovely looking barbarians Nick, although I’m a tad disappointed that they are fully clothed given the title of your post.  I envy painters who can achieve those rugby shirt stripes on tunics.  Your transfers work well, and mark these guys as veterans of Roman units.  Love the basing and backdrop.

Peterd

ErikP - Digging Up Old Friends or Undead on the Rise for Midgard (points 35)

Hello Everyone,

For this week I have been digging these up from the grave.  Here are thirty-three (33) Wargames Atlantic 10mm foot Skeletons for the unit and command stand. 

When I was starting to base these figures, I realized that somehow I miscounted how many figures I needed to paint. I was short a 5-man strip short.  As you can see here, the stand on the right side is missing the second rank. I'll finish the missing 5-Skeletons up when I paint up the next unit. 

Other than that miscount, these figures have painted up pretty well.  

The only issue may be that these figures are a bit thin as compared to some of the other undead that I have seen for this scale.  I used grass tuffs to add a little contrast and detail to the bases.

Recently BruceR submitted some great 10mm skeletons that had very nice bulk to them.  He did a really wonderful job on his army, posted on Wednesday 28 Jan, his figures are from Forest Dragon, 3D printed and they are pretty nice.

I am planning on using my undead figures for playing Midgard Heroic Battles rules by James Morris.  This was a test unit and Command base that I wanted to try.  I also picked up Orcs, Dwarves, and Samuri & Ashigaru from Wargames Atlantic as well, so this is the start of another big project getting back into 10mm fantasy battles.

I plan on using movement trays of four stands for using Midgard rules.  I envision vast armies fighting the battle of five armies.  

These are going to replace the GW Warmaster Undead army I sold about 5-6 years ago, along with High Elves, and Chaos armies, what a mistake that was... Got to remember never sell projects you think you'll never go back too.  Leason learned, I hope. 

These were primed with GW Bone Color, then washed with Army Painter Strong Tone, followed by Speed Paints for shields and the banner. Since they are just skeletons, I kept it simple and just highlighted the bones with Vallejo's Off White, and Vallejo metallics for weapons.

Command stand banner Skull is decal from an old GW Imperial Guard transfer sheet I had in a drawer.  

Thank you for talking a look.

Summary of Points:

33 x 10mm foot @ 1 point = 33 points.

Total = 33 points.

Squirrel Points = +1 (Prussian Epic [13.5mm], Farmer Civilians 28mm, and Undead 10mm)

Total Squirrel Points = 3.

And + Skull Points = 35 Skull points. 

From DaveD . Nice skellies. Thin undead somehow seem right to me. Well at least you get to paint new skellies to replace the old . , and it’s a cracking job . The banner is excellent , getting decals on in that space and the rest to do it deserves a little something . 35 it is 

From JP: Early Saxon raiders (60 points)

  

I have always been fascinated by the Dark Ages, be it Tolkien's works and Farmer Giles of Ham or  Franz Bengstonn's The Long Ships (the book, not the movie) or later inspirations driven by Sub-Roman Britain. Along the way I have read some fascinating books like Marc Moris' The Anglo-Saxons and Thomas Williams' Lost Realms. 

Of course Bran Mak Morn and Worms of the Earth have also fed into my mind emporium... 

Anyways, that's my excuse for this distraction from Marians and Cimbrians... Victrix put out a set of rules called Pillage (not sure about their playability yet) but I am hooked on Midgard Heroic Battles. The Victrix Early Saxon and Sub-Roman Britons Pillage forces have been irresistable purchases in spite of my love for metal. As I assembled them in December, the need to apply brush to figures was overwhelming and I have interwoven them into my other projects. I will doubtlessly buy Picts and Scots as they come out (yawn, bloody typical gamer I hear you all say).

I started with the easiest chaps, skirmishers:

Then some basic Fyrd - using the small shield as they are still 'warband' in orientation rather than 'shieldwall'.

Points:

12 28mm foot x 5 points  = 60 points

Thanks for looking folks!

JP

A great Dark Age entry JP, I do like the gritty rough and ready look of these early Saxons. Your choice of natural colours is inspiring as it gives these miniatures real historical credibility. Another 60 points for the tally for you.

Cheers Sander