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 PaulSS: The Danse Macabre Marches On (135pts)

 The Danse Macabre marches on!

Since my last update a Vampyre and five new units have mustered for the Danse. Like the previous entries all are 10mm 3D prints of the Forest Dragon range from MGS Miniatures.

I'll mostly be playing Midgard with these.

A terrifying winged Vampyre stood atop crumbling masonry leads this contingent.

The level of detail in these prints is mind-blowing, they are a joy to paint.

My first unit of ghosts, I debated with myself as having entirely ghostly grey, but went for grey robes then skulls, limbs and weapons painted normally. 

Another unit of Zombies to shuffle along leaving a trail of discarded body parts in their wake. 

For the cheapest unit in the force, they are probably the most effort to paint of them all.

A fourth unit of skeletons were added.

I used a lot of the Raised Dead models in this unit, making the Front ranks and middle of the second rank look like upstanding spearmen, while the remainder of the unit rises from the ground to form on them  

Lastly two units of Vampire Bats to harry the foe from above.

Here is the force painted so far over the past couple of weeks, I'll be playing my first game with them tomorrow (Thursday) evening, of course being newly painted they will do terribly.

I didn't realise that the Skullz Challenge was drop in, so counting all the skulls on display so far, there are 282 skulls atop skeletons heads, standard poles, on standards, decorating masonry and as part of shield designs.

I hope to get at least two more units completed before challenge ends.

The models painted for this entry constitute 135 10mm foot to be added to my total.

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Sylvain: I can feel your suffering when you say: "For the cheapest unit in the force, they are probably the most effort to paint of them all." I find that in most (all?) armies, the cheapest units are the ones giving the "flavor". The "family picture" of your army at this point in time is just astonishing! It feels redoutable and creepy at the same time. Bravissimo!

 

From Mike W: 28mm Arthurian Infantry, Greenskins and others Skullz (278 Points)

This week sees me finish my last of my current supply of Arthurians  I'm already planning for a number of new units but I'm unlikely to get hold of these before the close of this year's challenge. 

Temporarily the last batch of Arthurian Infantry

The batch includes 10 close order Medium Infantry  all spear armed and including an officer, mustard standard Bearer with added cloak, these are all Gripping Beast Late Romans, with Victrix head swaps.

10 x Gripping Beast figures (with some head swaps) painted up with tan tunics, green trim and white/red shields. I need to look for some white/green white/blue transfers to get some more variety.

Rear rank brought to the front

Close-up on the command figures, not very clear in the photo but he standard bearer has had a Victrix cloak added, the musiciuan's horn is, I believe, from the Conquest Figures Norman set.

There are also 5 little guys with chainmail, including a standard Bearer, painted to join an earlier group of similarly painted guys to make up numbers of another unit.

Again these guys are all Gripping Beast with head swaps, I still need to source a suitable transfer for the standard.

Again rear rank to the front!

Next to the Greenskins, 4 x bases of Snotlings, these are mostly old metal figures, though there is the odd plastic guy mixed in with them.

Completed Snotling bases, (with 8, 7, 7, & 6 figures on each)

They were undercoated black  with Goblin Green added as a base coat before being drybrushed with a light tan colour.

Close-up on the left of the unit, I wanted the skin tones to be significantly lighter than the Goblins and Orcs in my army, I'll now have to retro-fit this skin tone tyo my two Snotling Pump Wagon Crews - but that is for another time.....

 

Skin was then given a coat of Army Painter Ghillie Green, leather / cloth with Nazdreg Yellow and wood with Gore Grunta Fur. Metal was done in Leadbeltcher Silver before mouths, teeth and other details added.

I have scored them at 1 point each as they are all about 10mm tall.

And the right end of the line.

I have also painted up  two Bolt Chukkas to give some long range heavy support,  each with a crew of 3 goblins. These were old eBay purchases that have floundered in the loft for many years, finally ready for the tabletop.

Goblin Bold Chukka battery

Close up of one of the Bolt Chukkas

And the other one! Note skull on this weapon.

To this is added a few Goblin odds and end infantry that I dragged from the bits and spares boxes, to add to the ranks of existing units.

5 Goblin odds and ends, painted to fill out the ranks of exiting units that have had real life casualties (well 2 were broken and 3 went AWOL!)

Another view

And another

Finally for this week's Greenskins are 10 more Wolf Rider, having enjoyed painting last weeks unit, it was a simple decision to paint up another unit in the same vein.

Completed unit with 2 Skullz on the standard!

Another view

I tried to give this unit much darker wolves,
this was only partially successful as the drybrushing ended up lightening a number of these beasties.

Final view

SKULLZ                                                                           +3

POINTS

15 x 28mm Arthurian Infantry @ 5 Pts ea                     75 Points

28 x Snotlings # 1 Pt ea                                                  28 Points

11 x Goblin Foot @ 5 Pts ea                                          55 Points

2 x Goblin Bolt Throwas (Artillery) @ 10 Points ea     20 Points

10 x Goblin Wolf Riders @ 10 Points ea                     100 Points

TOTAL                                                                          278 Points

A great final Friday post, Mike! It's good to see more of your ARthirians, tyhey look as good as the earlier ones. As do the wolf riders, you must have a veritable army of them now! The snotlings look good too, I have never quite grasped the concept but they are quite adorable. A rather respectable 278 points for you!

Martijn