A Twig Blight Is An Awakened Plant..."

"Its branches twist together to form a humanoid-looking body with a head and limbs."

These three 22mm tall metal models of some Twig Blights were produced by “Wizards Of The Coast” as part of their “Dungeons & Dragons” range and, before they went ‘out of production’, could be bought as Code WOC40049. Described as “a small, evil plant creature that looks like a woody shrub when rooted in soil” the diminutive monster with “a thirst for blood” first appeared in the Third Edition of Gary Gygax’s fantasy role-playing game, in the 2000 adventure “The Sunless Citadel”.

Originally undercoated with “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna, the Twig Blights were all subsequently washed with “The Army Painter” Heavy Strong Tone Quickshade, before being dry-brushed with more “Vallejo” Heavy Sienna. As a final step, in order to try and bring out even more of their ‘wooden’ detail, all three of the figures were highlighted with Heavy Brown.

"Mage Knight" Column WIPs - The bloody piece of scenery has been primed, washed and dry-brushed"

As I actually plan to use these miniatures to play "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks" using the rule-set "Mutants And Death Ray Guns" by "Ganesha Games", I have been busily pouring over the Plant Physical Mutation Table for some suitable traits. In "Dungeons & Dragons" the tiny tree-like creatures are armed with a poisonous piercing attack so in addition to having Short movement, the Forester, Dim-Witted and Photosynthesis characteristics, as well as being "immune to poison and unaffected by drugs" themselves, the small plants will also potentially inflict a poisonous wound upon an opponent "every time" they win "a Combat roll."

Sticking with "Dungeons & Dragons" I have also based and started re-painting some fantasy-themed objective markers. This column comes from the "Mage Knight" Dungeons Artifacts Set 1, and possesses "unique powers you can use in your game to create new and exciting adventures." It's actually been sat in my painting queue for a couple of years now, but I've finally found the hobby-time necessary with which to prime, wash and dry-brush it.

Hoagy WIPs - Sam Slade's assistant has been primed, washed, dry-brushed and had his eyes 'picked out'

In addition, I've found myself becoming increasingly drawn to the world of the British comic book "2000 A.D." and the miniatures I own that are based upon its characters. I actually bought this "Wargames Foundry" model of Hoagy at "Salute" 2016, and, despite undercoating it, soon 'packed' the badly over-sized metal figure away in a drawer with a load of other long-forgotten purchases.

Initially I had thought about using the robot as one of the worker automatons my adventurers would initially face upon entering the crashed spacecraft in "Expedition To The Barrier Peaks". But soon set such a notion aside due to Sam Slade's "idiot understudy" being too recognisable and woefully out of scale with all the 'officially licensed' "Dungeons & Dragons" miniatures I wanted to use.

This change of plan hasn't however, made me rethink painting Hoagy up, and having re-primed him, on account of the original undercoat peeling away from the figure over time, I am now in the position where the robot simply needs his eyes and chest plate to be 'picked out' before being finished. Hmmm... Perhaps I should paint up my accompanying miniature of Robo-Hunter and have the pair of them travel the the ravaged "mid-25th century" landscape of "Gamma World"..?  

The "Warlord Games" website - Featuring someone's "Awesome battle report..."

Recently I have had a little trouble with a couple of the plastic Daleks produced by "Warlord Games" for the excellent miniatures game "Doctor Who: Exterminate!". Ordinarily, I would have chalked such assembly issues down to bad luck, but on this occasion I followed the sage advice of Hils (of "The Game Cupboard" fame) and contacted the company's customer services department.

The result is that I now own a nice new sprue of Daleks, and, having been put in contact with the brains behind their promotion for the Doctor Who Miniatures Game, have even had my recent "Doctor Who: Exterminate! Battle Report: The Daleks Verses The Cybermen" featured on the "Warlord Games" website as a tweet. I genuinely don't think you can beat that for service and free publicity...