Mongol War Machines

This post is my recently completed heavy fire power for my fantastical Mongol collection.

The crew are a combination of bits. Heads from FireForge Mongol plastics with Bodies from Gripping Beast Dark Age Warriors. Just something I thought I would try to see how it would look. As crew they look fine in my opinion. In 'Kings of War' crew are purely decorative and have no game/rule function. The long pole they have are intended as the winding device but perhaps I could place an arrow head on them for the next reload.

The large iron bolt throwing machines are actually from the Goblin range by Mantic. They have a perfect space for a Mongol shield rather than a Goblin shield or symbol on the front. They are both mounted on 50mm square bases. These are a great model and are metal and it's been a long while since I constructed something metal and of this size. A little cleaning up and a little filing and they go together reasonably well. 

Cheers from Brendon

Three Cyclop giants. Monster March.

These three lads are from Puppets War, made of resin and, they have a ton of character. Well done to the sculptor for these excellent designs.

I have had them in my collection for some time. Mainly because two needed some filling at arm joins and I put that sort of work off. Not something I am a big fan of. It's just a part of the hobby that does not appeal but the effort is worth it...when I get around to it.

I attempted three different shades of skin tones with two ending up very similar. They are based on 50mm squares for use in my Kings of War Goblin army. These big idiots are around 75mm tall with the possible Rock Thrower war machine substitute being around 90mm tall including his nicely decorated Dwarven stone. I gloss varnished the Eyes and the mouths and really like the result of that.

I am never sure when it comes to adding blood to add more or less. Not really a fan of too much blood on miniatures but with a grisly stump it was required and the reason for the missing head was snack time no doubt. I just picked the nearest head as the likely consumer.
The eyeballs could have been painted to look down more but, I was happy with how they looked. They look at you the viewer rather than infantry below them. These are not as tall as the plastic GW Giant but I was very happy to discover three distinctly different looking Giants that fit tidily on 50mm square bases. Perfect for my desire of three Giants in my Goblin army for Kings of War. They are my last Submission for The Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge but also fit the Monstrous March challenge.

I rushed to get these photos done as I was short on time recently due to my City coming under attack from Cyclone Marcus. A big clean required afterward and I have a few images of that on my instagram profile.... the_brendonius. Lots of destroyed trees mainly. That's life in the Cyclone prone Tropics.

Cheers from Brendon

Goblin Sharpsticks Legion for Kings of War

This enormous unit is based on the dimensions required for a 'Legion' in 'Kings of War'. A 'Legion' is symbolic of 60 infantry. Like the previous Sharpsticks Horde I went with some base filling with a crazy idea to include a leader Goblin in a chariot. I had spotted two wheels and two side pieces in my bit's that I had kept from long ago and thought these would be perfect for a scratch built giant spider pulled Chariot and this was the project for those bits. The great aspect about being involved in a Challenge is to sometimes do exactly that. Challenge myself to try something.
My initial idea was a small chariot pulled by a single spider. However I dove into construction and ended up with a small but wide platform. In retrospect I knew immediately if I had made the angle less it would look more like a single animal pulled chariot but, this was try as I go building and not much planning involved apart from a quick sketch to cement my brain wave. Perhaps even taking some of the length of the side pieces would have shrunk it as well. So change of plan to make it a two spider pulled boss chariot. I found some more bits and added the wheel blades and the front pointy piece. Everything else on the chariot is just sprue carved up and the platform is a Renedra base. The Chariot rider is a converted plastic Goblin who did have a small Squig instead of a shield and a sickle type blade that went on a previously completed Spider rider. I decided that two gong bashing noise makers walking behind this Chariot to announce his presence would fit the bill.
I hope the presence of the chariot does not confuse people as to what this unit really is. Goblins with spears and shields....and lots of them. That's unit number five completed for project Goblin Army.

 

 

The term for the size of this unit (Legion) Reminds me of a 'KREATOR' songs lyrics....
"We are LEGION! United in Hate!"
So go and play some high quality German Thrash Metal.

Cheers from Brendon

Goblin Cavalry and a Wizard

Hello. Another installment of my Goblin Army in progress.

This is a Goblin Fleabag Riders, 'Regiment' for Kings of War. Based on a Plastic Mantic unit tray. I added rocks, sand, paint and flock of course. I also added a Perry plastic shield and a small Renedra Barrel to add interest and more detail to find. Originally I planned for the Boss looking dude to be at the front atop the same two rocks but I changed my mind and went for four across the front instead.
The leader was a regular Skull Pass Games Workshop Night Goblin but I shortened the spear and gave him the big sickle moon weapon just for fun.

Here is the first Hero. A Goblin Wizard with a golden cauldron filled with Mushrooms and a Grim Reaper looking puppet that bursts to life with nasty Lightning Bolts. In game terms he is only 45 points. A bargain perhaps. I am going to complete another one using the same figure but with some minor conversion and color variation. The Evil Twins. 

About time I added these up for a Kings of War army list.

Fleabag Riders Horde 255

Fleabag Riders Regiment 145

Spitters Horde 140

Sharpsticks Legion 230

Wix 45

Total:  815 points 

Cool! Puts me well on the way to Goblin Domination!

Cheers From Brendon

Goblin Cavalry Horde for Kings of War

Hello. The Goblin Army expands with unit 3 completed.
This unit was a long time in the making as I started this more than a decade ago for Warhammer but abandoned it shortly after starting.
The Barrels on the unit base are from Renedra and the Dwarf (and Hammer) is from Mantic and the unit tray is plastic also from Mantic but the stones are from my yard (painted over of course).
The Dwarf is painted to match my Dwarf Army. One day they will face the Goblin threat in a game.....one day.
This unit felt like it took longer than previous units. Perhaps that was because of the uncomfortable feeling of painting some of the older Spider Riders that I had glued to the Spiders. Any cavalry is easier by not having the rider attached to the mount when painting.

One of the interesting aspects of the Goblin Army is that in my on-line readings players consider all units expendable and no unit is the stand out threat. As scary as this unit looks (especially to those who don't like spiders at all) it's in all likelihood not very tough.

Hopefully another unit gets added soon.
Cheers from Brendon.

Goblin Legion

For Kings of War this is a 'Legion' of Goblins. The second unit for my Goblin army project.
 'Legion' size is a foot print representation of 60, 20mm square based infantry.
I manged to get 32 Infantry painted but also 2 x giant spider rider cavalry to help fill the enormous base. A future goal is to complete another Legion as it's Goblins and that means quantity.
The spider cavalry is a preview of what will be completed next.
There is room for more Goblins on this base and I may place some more but I will wait till I am closer to having more of the army completed to see just how far I can stretch my collection.

You may have noticed the Spiders have hairy bodies. This was achieved by gluing flock onto them. I was not a fan of the Skull pattern sculpted onto some of the spiders so this covers that up.
Originally I had painted them black with red stripes but I wanted to get away from the Black usually associated with GW Night Goblins. The Spiders originally came with 'Forest Goblins' but I want my Army to be mostly the same hood wearing Goblins. Gloss varnish on the Spiders fangs and eyes adds a little visual interest on them.

Not the best photos but they generally portray the real thing. Probably too much contrast with the rocks ending up too bright.

Cheers from Brendon

Goblin archer horde

These old Games Workshop Goblins are my first foray into building them again but for Kings of War instead of Warhammer. I have a few in my original collection but have sometimes added some from Facebook or ebay purchases when I get the Goblin acquisition bug. 

After returning from a holiday all my plans and prepared miniatures for the Painting Challenge had practically been forgotten so I strangely just started a new project which included a bit of prep work like cutting off old bases and the slotta tabs from these Goblins. Of course any new (2nd hand) purchase require flash and mold line removal as well. 

I really wanted to try Goblins with a different skin tone than the Disney witchy poo bright green that is usually associated with them. I reached for Vallejo Green-Grey and stuck with it. I also wanted to avoid the usual black clothing for these formerly 'Night Goblins'. Now they are just Goblins. 

I painted these in a batch wargame style and did not pay any or much attention to detailing or highlights. base paint and wash with Army Painter Soft Tone seeming to work better than Dark Tone. The un-hooded leader probably had more skin treatment that the rank and file and I did an attempt at rust on a few items.

The end result meant that the contrast between skin and clothing is often on the low side. Not a negative really just interesting to see the end result. I am pleased with the final outcome and it's made me eager to get more units done. 

Not the best photos but they convey how they look for the most part.

Cheers from the Monsoon soaked Top End of Australia. Brendon

Kings of War game report

Varangur (Fantasy Vikings) vs Goblins with some Ogre allies 1500 points. The scenario was LOOT. 3 loot markers got placed fairly evenly along the halfway line between each army.
I had thrown this list together based on my Dark Age collection of Vikings and wanting to use my Wolf units painted recently.

Vikings got first turn and Tundra Wolves spring out and grab Loot (Green tokens).

Sneaky Reavers (Berserker unit) run into the central wood.

I gave them Potion of the Caterpillar which proved crucial.

Archer Troop (Night Raiders) on a hill and a 'LEGION' of Thralls (scummy low level slave scum).

They might be scum but they have the numbers to make them brave enough to hang around

for an age. To be rid of them they need to acquire a lot of Wounds.

A Warband Horde.

Near the warband is a 'Bloodsworn' Regiment. Better armoured Vikings than the 'Warband' class. 

My Cavern Dweller beast gets double tapped by a Troll Horde and a Slasher and is routed!

Tundra Wolves attack Goblin Sniffs (Goblins on Wolves).

Unexpectedly the Tundra Wolves went on to defeat the Sniff Regiment.

At the top of photo the Reavers burst from the trees and hack through an Ogre unit.

Following turn they route an Ogre Captain which allows an overrun into a Goblin horde.

The Reavers are out of control!  

A Goblin Horde flank charges a unit of Tundra Wolves and routes them.
The routed Wolves had previously managed a brutal flank assault on the Slasher removing it. 

After that the Goblins rotate ready to face the Warband horde.

The Trolls and Viking Bloodsworn clash turn after turn with the Trolls regrowing limbs.

Near the central trees is a Varangur Magus who keeps blasting wounds using the power of magical Lightning (all the while mumbling something about Thor or Norns and fate).

The Thrall Legion at the top turns to attack a Goblin Spear Chucka war engine.

Reavers do the same in the middle to a Goblin Rock Thrower.

The remaining Tundra Wolves gets ready to attack a Goblin wizard.

Shortly after this point the Goblins realise it's time to go do something else like collect mushrooms and we call the game as a Vargangur victory.

Varangur Army list.

Team Varangur

Some interesting events happened during that game and it was great to play my opponent who is always a good sport.

My small 'Night Raiders' bow unit get a pre turn 1 move which puts them inside the 24" range required for shooting.

The Tundra Wolves are a great fast moving offset for the Goblin Sniffs who also have a big move value. They can flank very easily.

In retrospect I felt that many of my Nerve checks against the Goblin (and Ogre) units was very high. Probably not reflective of average results.

The Thrall 'Legion' is going to be hard to shift in the future. However the units large flanks means it will get side hits more often and the low armour may mean it acquires wounds fairly easily. It's a unit I would target early in the game. I will try it again some day.

Cheers from Brendon