Wednesday 2 November 2016

(Lead) Mountain Musings - "Frostgrave" Mo'Vember 2016

"Frostgrave" WIPs - These adventurers have so far just been based and primed
This month's themed attempt to try and reduce my ever-increasing horde of metal, plastic and resin models has been severely influenced by both Dick Garrison's suggestion that we once again dedicate part of our hobby time towards miniatures of a 'beardy' nature (in celebration of Mo'Vember), and some recent games of the skirmishing phenomenon known as "Frostgrave" by "Osprey Games".

I actually tried to dedicate myself to painting up a host of adventurers “battling through a ruined frozen city in search of magical artefacts” last year, but got so distracted with the game’s fantastically colourful Bestiary that it inevitably took me several months before I finally finished assembling my Witch’s warband. This time I aim to be far more disciplined and spend the next few weeks simply focusing upon just a handful of the fur-faced miniatures I received as part of the rule-set’s first ‘Nickstarter’.
The Mausoleum WIPs - A long-dead axe-man, spearman and swordsman
To begin with I plan to provide my travelling party with a pair of substitute wizards. My Witch has proved extremely valuable so far during my initial forays into the City of Felstad on account of his ability to successfully summon a Snow Leopard (and his Apprentice’s to conjure an Ice Toad) as an animal companion before any conflicts have even started. But I can’t always rely on such accommodating dice rolls and therefore thought a far more “hands-on” wizard might provide an invaluable alternative. 

As a result I’ve decided to paint up a long white-bearded Enchanter, complete with an assortment of craftsman’s tools, and his bulkier, bristle-faced protégé. Both of these 28mm sized pewter miniatures are produced by “North Star Military Figures” and disconcertingly come absolutely crammed full of detail. However once on the tabletop they should allow me to enchant the armour, weapons and strength of my warband, as well as potentially animate constructs before a blow has even fallen in anger...
The Mausoleum WIPS - A long dead cultist, great swordsman and armoured axe-man 
In addition to my magic-users I also thought I might try and bolster my treasure-hunting party's options by including some more missile-based troops. I already employ two crossbowman and have found their +2 Damage Modifier extremely useful when it comes to wearing down the opposition. For the cost of a single Templar (100 gold pieces) another duo of such hired soldiers would also prove doubly useful by providing me with an extra pair of hands with which to snatch any loot from under the very nose of my wretched opponent.

Sticking with “Frostgrave”, I am also hoping this month to paint enough skeletons to re-enact The Mausoleum scenario from the tabletop game's rule-book. This particular "unique and interesting" encounter depicts rival groups stumbling across "a small square or rectangular building" which is described as "overflowing with both gold and the undead..."
Zombie Charlie WIPs - The hapless comedian has been dry-brushed and had his undead flesh picked out
As the setting's Special Rules state that "at the every turn (right after the creature phase) another skeleton moves onto the board through one of the doors in the central building", in addition to the two models which start the battle alongside the Necromancer's resting place, I'm planning on getting at least ten of the long-dead creatures finished. This total should provide enough opposition for at least eight or so turns, and allow me to use some of the cracking undead heads and limbs found within the "Frostgrave" Cultists multi-part hard plastic boxed set.

Finally, as something of a 'baton passing' project from Zomtober to Mo'Vember I have started work on the first of my zombies by "Studio Miniatures". This particular figure arrived as part of my pledge for the "Hollywood Havoc" Kickstarter and depicts an unlucky Theme Park staff member dressed as one of "Hollywood's greatest stars", Charlie Chaplin.

24 comments:

  1. lovely stuff, Charlie Chaplin is a great figure

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    1. Many thanks Martin. Getting into the "Hollywood Havoc" kickstarter was a bit of a last minute impulse move, but I'm rather pleased I did, as this sculpt is great fun.

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  2. These are nice figs I like the apprentice but love the Chaplin zombie ;-)

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    1. Cheers Andy. Zombie Charlie is now finished and ready for a Mo'Vember posting. If I can I may try and squeeze in another "Studio Miniatures" fig. But as you can hopefully see the "Frostgrave" models are crammed with detail!!

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  3. Looking forward to your Frostgrave selection (and of course your zeds). Whilst not a great fan of the Holly wood set, I do like Chaplin!

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    1. Thanks Joe. "Frostgrave" has certainly caught my attention once again recently (actually playing it helps), so I hope for there to be plenty on show for you to see and enjoy :-) The Zombie Charlie is a cracker imho!!

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  4. As a big fan of the Hollywood Havoc set I was pleased to see you start work on the Charlie Chaplin Zombie. I have no interest in Frostgrave at all but I do like those skeletons you're working on. More undead figures are always welcome!

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    1. Zombie Charlie is not only started but already finished, Bryan, such was the fun I had painting him. You will soon find my particular area of "Frostgrave" is simply packed full of the Undead, so there should be plenty of skeletons and zombies for Conan to confront ;-)

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  5. Awesome I look forward to seeing these progress through your paint table. I have some big distractions this month and won't have any fitting figures for Mo'vember sadly

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    1. Thanks Simon. The first two themed months have worked out really well for me, so hopefully this third one will be just as successful. Its a shame you can't join myself Roger in Mo'Vember, but I look forward to seeing your own projects materialize over the month; more BMG minis I'll wager!?!

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  6. Great start Simon, more lovely Frostgrave miniatures (you might even finish them this year;-)). No real theme to my stuff this year, just hoping to get a few figs finished off of my painting generator (though I think my last weeks submission should be fun), definitely no conversions though!

    Charlie is a fun little chap though, I'm quite tempted myself by him.

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Most kind Roger. Hard to believe its the third Mo'Vember already!! I certainly hope to get a few "Frostgrave" minis finished this year, but like you may throw in a couple of unfinished models too. Zombie Charlie is awesome imho :-)

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  7. I look forward to the Charlie Chaplin zombie being finished, and your progress on the rest :)

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    1. Thanks Leon. Zombie Charlie is all finished and ready for posting, and I'm making plenty of progress on the rest.

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  8. Best of luck Simon, Mo'Vember sees you always produce some wonderful work. Still envious that you have your Hollywood Havoc pledge and I haven't. :(

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    1. Cheers Michael. I've a few minis for Mo'Vember which I hope people will like. Sorry to hear about your Kickstarter not turning up yet. We could always swap though; Conan or The Walking Dead? I don't mind ;-)

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  9. Excellent! I shall look forward to seeing oyou work your way through all those lovely FG figs!

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    1. Thanks Gordon. I'm about two-thirds of the way through my Enchanter, and have a few "Age Of Sigmar" minis to showcase too. Hopefully plenty to keep you tempted :-)

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  10. you can r-e-a-l-l-y see the Frostgrave/Black Plague sculpt similarities can`t you (same makers, same Chinese factory mounding). I do find them rather attractive I must say.

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    1. I wasn't aware of that Steve, very interesting. Tbh I haven't really looked too closely at my "Black Plague" sculpts but simply used them for a few games. Perhaps painting some of these "Frostgrave" sculpts up will inspire me to do some of the "BP" zeds ;-)

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  11. Nice! I really like your last Frostgrave efforts so look forward to seeing these take shape. The mass of details I think aren't as bad at least as those Guildball figs though?

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    1. Cheers Dai. As you say hopefully these "Frostgrave" won't be as bad as the "Guild Ball" minis for detail, though I may try and squeeze a "GB" mini in this month if I can.

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