(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.