Friday 10 May 2019

“The Life-size Recumbent Effigy Was First Found In The Tombs Of Royalty…”

"...And then spread to the nobility."
This 34mm long resin model of a Mouse-oleum – The Tomb Of The Mouse Lord is produced by “Oathsworn Miniatures” and can be purchased as part of their “Burrows & Badgers” range. The small(ish) scenic piece was part of a handful of miniatures I picked up from the company’s stall whilst at “Salute” 2019, and has been super-glued onto one of the 50mm circular bases I predominantly use for my objectives markers.

The effigy was initially undercoated using two coats of the old “Citadel” Layer paint Charadon Granite and subsequently heavily washed with Nuln Oil. It was then simply dry-brushed using more Charadon Granite. As a final touch I later mixed some “Vallejo” White in with the “Citadel” Charadon Granite and very lightly dry-brushed this combination over the entire model so to help highlight its excellent detail. 
My Daemonic host prepares to advance supposedly safe in the knowledge that the Nurglings will protect them
Sticking with science fiction-based wargaming, I have also managed to play my first 'proper' game of "Warhammer 40K" by "Games Workshop", fielding a 736-point strong Khorne/Nurgle Chaos force against a similarly costed unit of Ultramarines, who were additionally aided by a pair of formidably tough robotic combat walkers. The ensuing battle for an ancient relic upon a planet increasingly lost to the plague-ridden sores of the Plague God and bleeding iconography of the Blood God was understandably bloody, but despite being unable to finish the game to its conclusion due to time constraints, it reaffirmed in my mind just how very much I am currently enjoying this "newest edition of everybody's favourite wargame" as the fight is never seemingly over whilst playing it until the 'fat lady sings'.

This ability to suffer serious set-backs yet still entertain the hope of ultimate victory proved itself time and again during this game, especially in its early stages when I unwisely utilised my Nurglings' "Mischief Makers" ability to place them just 9" away from my enemy's deployment zone. Seemingly shielding a rock-solid core of twenty Bloodletters and twenty Plaguebearers behind their tiny chittering bodies, I felt confident the "Gleeful Castoffs" would keep my opponent busy up for a couple of turns at least and give my larger daemons ample time to advance within reach of their foes.
The Armiger Helverin and Knight Errant start firing upon the Bloodletters and Plaguebearers
Enter an Armiger Helverin, supposedly the "lightest class of Imperial Knight combat walker", and its raking firepower, and my 'delaying tactic' was spread like so much mulch all over the ground with the roll of a fistful of dice. Such a disheartening loss at the very start of the fight left my entire centre wide open to the guns of a towering Knight Errant and my initially terrifying Bloodletter formation began to slowly get whittled away before my very eyes.

Fortunately, despite my opening set-back I was still able to push my main units up the table towards Khorne's Bleeding Icon (which was being used merely as an immobile terrain feature), whilst a pair of Beasts of Nurgle bounded along my left flank to take control of a small stargate which had been identified as the battlefield's one and only valuable relic. However, ominously spread out in front of my warhost ready for the second turn's Shooting phase, was an incredible amount of the Emperor's firepower, including a Primaris Lieutenant who almost glued himself alongside the reassuringly solid form of his force's smaller "fast-moving weapons platform, as well as the rest of the Ultramarines, which assembled before my Beasts of Nurgle.
The Bloodletters, Beasts of Nurgle and Plaguebearers fail their charges 
I can only give thanks to the Dice Gods that my Chaos daemons weren't completely eradicated in the subsequent hail of bullets that followed, especially after both my Bloodletters and Plaguebearers failed their charges. My Plaguesword-carrying warriors at least had their "Disgustingly Resilient" ability to help them soak up all the wounds which were riddling their ranks, but my liver-coloured "Slaughter-Kin" were increasingly finding their 5+ Invulnerability Save for being "Daemonic" wasn't enough protection when caught out in the open before the tender mercies of an Imperial Knight's weaponry.

Eight of the Bloodletters fell before the combined firepower of the Intercessor's Lieutenant and the "Questor Imperialis in High Gothic", utterly breaking the backbone of my once mighty close quarter combatants, and making it clear that the Blood God had probably been less than impressed with their decision to charge the solitary Ultramarine Officer stood atop a pile of ruins, rather than the nearby 'ancient battlesuit'. Certainly I wasn't looking forward to an impossible Morale phase as it even the bravest of Khorne's foot soldiers would surely flee from such a beating..?
Bloodletters swarm the Lieutenant, whilst the Beasts of Nurgle get stomped upon by the Imperial Knight
A single roll of the dice later and 'reality had blinked'. Not only had my Bloodletter's "Daemonic Icon" ensured that "no models flee", but it had bolstered my horde with five freshly-resurrected "Slaughter-Kin". Suddenly, the Lieutenant's position looked far less survivable, whilst my Plaguebearers and Beasts of Nurgle both finally made it into contact with their respective foes. Sadly, time was against us to finish the conflict, so the game's final act was to see the hulking Imperial Knight, quite possibly incensed by suffering a wound courtesy of "Smite", squashing one of my 'enthusiastic monsters who love to play' with its feet...

30 comments:

  1. The mouse tomb looks good. Glad to hear you got a game in of 40K with all those lovely daemons.

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    1. Thanks Simon. A straightforward paint-job, and perhaps I'll return to it to pick out some of the relief sculpture in gold..? But it was good to do a bit of "Burrows & Badgers" for a change of pace, and obviously an absolute delight to get so many minis on the tabletop for a game of "Warhammer 40K" :-)

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  2. Great looking tomb Simon, the game looked interesting, but to be competitive against a Knight you really need a demonic engine, there are several you could choose from that would give you some serious firepower, they will also become a fire magnet letting your close combat troops get into range for an assault

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    1. Cheers Dave. I think you're hitting the nail on the head though with regards to the AAR and the word "competitive" - I'm simply not, and just wanted an opportunity to get all my daemons (or most of them at least) on the tabletop. As for an engine, I don't like their look but have seen that "Games Workshop" will be doing a Chaos Knight soon apparently, so I could certainly be tempted by one of them if Khorne (or Nurgle) components are produced as well :-)

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    2. I'm sure forgeworld will do some, if not there used to be a bunch of symbols, or alternatively you need to know someone who can sculpt ;)

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    3. I'm hoping this weekend's "Warhammer Fest" will release plenty of news about the Chaos Knights, Dave, and I have been rummaging around my bitz box for anything which I could use too :-)

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  3. Like the tomb, it's definitely on my want list for my own B&B games.

    Your game sounded fun! Do you have a Greater Daemon? I bet they'd make short work of a stupid knight.

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    1. Thanks Dai. I actually own two old version Greater Daemons (one metal and one "Finecast"), but didn't actually find the larger Knight too bothersome as its load-out isn't designed for infantry and as a result many of its attacks only took out a couple of minis. The smaller Knight on the other hand was a major pain and clearly needs tackling quickly.

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  4. You mouse tomb is a lovely little mini. Really nice. Those daemons are very scary. I think those bloodletters would have had a fun old time chopping at the knights legs! Can't wait to see your force expand!

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    1. Cheers Undercoat. No reason why the tomb couldn't pop up on the tabletop elsewhere either tbh, and not just "Burrows & Badgers". Looking forward to a second battle, where perhaps my Bloodletters may have a change of tactics ;-)

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  5. I love that little mouse tomb, Simon. Burrows and Badgers is a game I'd like to get into but with so many other projects on the go I'm resisting its call to me. I hope you post more B&B articles on your blog as you and Brummie Simon are slowly eroding my resolve.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. The tomb is a nice sculpt, and I can certainly see why some might start picking out all the relief sculpture on it with gold or some such. I do have a second "Burrows & Badgers" warband to paint, it's just a matter of finding a month to do it in when so much else is out there to buy/paint.

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  6. I gave up 40K when they introduced fliers and ultra heavy tanks. I'm not sure how my Berzerker rush army list would fare against these Imperial Knights. That's the trouble with armies which are either too close combat or too `shooty', they lack flexibility. Where as a balanced army suffers against the two extremes. Can't win really. A great bat-rep though !!!!

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    1. Cheers Phil. I actually felt that I had a fighting chance throughout the game, especially towards the end when reality blinked due to my daemonic icon and my Bloodletters were reinforced. If I'd successfully made my charges a turn earlier, I think things could really have gone my way too. Glad you enjoyed the AAR, I've a rematch planned, so perhaps that game will pan out a bit differently..?

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  7. A Mouse-oleum! That has just made me grin from ear to ear - priceless!

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    1. It's a great name, isn't it Michael. The "Burrows & Badgers" range has some wonderfully witty minis in it :-)

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  8. Nice report on the GW stuff Simon, but I have to say the star of the show is definitely that Mouse-oleum, that is a wonderful little model! and a brilliant objective marker.

    Top stuff!

    Cheers Roger.

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    1. Thanks very much indeed, Roger. Glad you like the Mouse-oleum. I too think it'll make an excellent objective marker.

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  9. Mouse-oleum ... wish I had thought of that! Good name for it.

    As you are aware not a 40k or GW fan but they all look good to me.

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    1. Cheers Clint. I'm pleased to see the Mouse-oleum going down so well. It really is a lovely little piece of resin, imho.

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  10. That is a great take one the Mouse-oleum (clever) as you call it, the dark finish works really well.
    Sounds like another fun battle you played, good to hear you had victory in your grasp this time, surely you would have won if time permitted it 😉.

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    1. Thanks ever so much Wouter. I wanted to see just how fit the old OOP Charadon Granite was, and it certainly seems to have worked well in my books - btw, it was "Oathsworth Miniatures" which came up with the Mouse-oleum, that's genuinely what the piece is called :-)

      The Knight's ability to stomp out one if my Beasts of Nurgle was a bit disconcerting. But it did mean my Bloodletters could have another round of close combat against the Lieutenant, so perhaps he would then have died..? I've a rematch planned next weekend, so that should prove a bit more telling :-)

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  11. Now I'd like a Mouse-oleum, life size too!

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  12. Nice nice.... NICE. Keep up with the Warhammer, just love it.

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    1. Thanks Steve. Plenty of "Warhammer" coming... with some "Star Wars" too ;-)

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  13. Woohoo sweet. Yeah Tar is heading the new game cupboard in a decidedly Star Wars direction as well. Should be interesting to see where she goes with it. Oh Lord I`m scared now lol :)

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  14. This playing games idea seems to be getting quite a habit with you atm and I think I'd have claimed a win despite not having time to finish!

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    1. Thanks Joe. Playing more games was definitely one of my New Year Resolutions for 2019, and it seems to be becoming a habit. LOL!!

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