Domain of the Geek

Paint Progress: Beast King and Dragon Monk.

2012-02-13T15:30:00.000-06:00

Look! I can (almost) take pictures where you can actually (sorta) see (kinda) what's going on with the miniatures!

Here's the Wargor BSB for the 'Mountain Temple' army. Still have a couple of highlights to add (teeth and buckles) before he gets his ale barrels and a 'lacquered wicker'-sytle pair of shoulder pads added. His armor is intentionally dark, as he's wearing the Blackened Plate so that he can stand in a unit comprised of my Shamans and a horde of Ungor inside of ~~Fozzrik's Folding Fortress~~ the Mountain Temple and give them all a 4+ ward against fire:

And, here's the Beast King himself, Shere Khan (it's a title taken by all Beast Kings; his real name is Janesh). He's in need of a few more washes here and there, having his stripes added, having his eye greened, his scars accentuated and having his armour weathered.Other than that, though, I think I'm pretty happy with how he's turned out:

I hope to be able to get them both finished this week.

Paint Progress: Beast King and Dragon Monk.

2012-02-09T09:45:00.000-06:00

So ... I picked up a paintbrush last night.

Looking this morning at the work I completed last night, I realized a couple things:
First, I'm not a great painter but I do think I am a decent painter (you know, considering I was working after 1:00am).

I wound up going to bed before these were completed so what I've got here are mostly just basecoats and washes. Touchups and highlights and re-washings are still to come.

Second, the things I paint do not look good at all when blown up to a ridiculous size in photographs. But, let's be honest: nothing looks good when photographed that close.

While I take solace in the fact that -- even with just the basecoats and washes -- these guys both look much better in real light at their real size to the naked eye, I've zoomed these photos back out a bit so that they're a more representative size of the actual miniatures.

And, third, I really need a light box for my photography. I'll look into that this weekend. You know, if I've got time.

So, with those disclaimers out there, here's what things look like so far ...

All in all, I'd say that's pretty decent progress for one night.

(Whether or not I get more done tonight depends on how hard I crash from staying up too late last night ...)

Beast Kings Character: Dragon Monk (Part One)

2012-02-08T10:20:00.000-06:00

Because I'm easily distracted ...

From the Beast Kings bestiary:

Among the Beast King’s harem, one can also find human female mates. These young human women, often members of the Tcho tribes, are the most beautiful virgins given (or sometimes sold) by their fathers to the Beast Kings. Those who aren’t killed in the furor of the mating process are held in high regard; only these humans can birth a Gray-Shaman.

These Gray-Shamans, unique white-furred and gray-striped female Ti’Gors, reside in the innermost sanctums of the Ti’Gors’ jungle temples. Because of the rarity of their births and their unique markings, they are believed to be predestined by Yag’ganesh for positions of power and respect. As soon as they’ve been weaned, young Grays are taken to a temple high in the mountains of the distant northern reaches of Ind and are taught to harness their natural gifts, learning enlightenment from the traditions of the Celestial Dragon Monks while also mastering the darkest arts of Chaos itself. When their training is complete, they are allowed to return to their tribes where they become revered advisors of the Beast King.

Preview of the mysterious Dragon Monk (who'll be that particular temple's Wargor Battle Standard Bearer):

Little is known about the mysterious Celestial Dragon Monk (well, that is, beyond his obvious martial prowess and his love of ale) , but there are those that say that he was a legendary warrior in Cathay, unmatched in his skill at the Cathayan martial arts, who retreated to the a quiet temple in the Mountains of Mourn after his beloved, a tigress, was slain ...

When completed, he'll have an assortment of ale barrels strapped to his back and a flasks, bottles, mugs and the like dangling from his bamboo weapon. (It's not so much a banner, per se, but alcohol that 'inspires' these troops to keep fighting.) The hat is removable.

The idea was inspired (obviously?) by World of Warcraft's Pandaren Brewmasters, Dreamwork's 'Kung Fu Panda.' The conversion itself was borrowed from ideas by 'Thundernuts' over on Live to Crush.

Beast Kings Character: Beast Lord (Part One)

2012-01-26T12:00:00.007-06:00

And so it begins ...

Shere Khan.

It was a title Janesh had not aspired to. He was a warrior, not a king.

Janesh had followed the previous Khan through everything and his Khan had rewarded him well.

For his resourcefulness, he had been tasked with helping find food for his people through the dry months of the drought, when the Peace Rock had broken the water's surface and left them all so hungry that their joints ached and their bones shown through their hides.

For that, he was loved -- not only by the ti'gors of their pack of clan-families, but also by the p'nthors and the other beasts of the jungles.

For his ferocity, he was chosen to lead the Khan's army into battle when the Ogres invaded from the mountains in the north. He had faced the tyrant alone, tearing out the tyrant leader's throat with his teeth even after the tyrant's blade had taken his right eye.

For that, he was respected and, some may say, even feared.

When the Khan had died sonless, and despite not having a clan-family of his own, Janesh was chosen to fight for the crown. His opponent was to be Darshan, elder-father of the largest clan-family in the pack.

For Janesh, it was a fight he didn't want for a title he didn't want.

For Darshan, it was the final step toward a crown he had schemed and manipulated and fought for since his youth. Darshan was powerful, indeed, but he was mistrusted by the other clan-families.

There were rumors swirling that, when crowned, Darshan meant to break the treaties with the human kings that his Khan had forged. Rumors that, even now, Darshan's ti'gors were preparing for war; that, once Darshan held the Khan's crown, they would set upon the humans -- humans thinking themselves safe behind their wood and clay walls, guarded by their axes and their dogs and their treaties -- and wash themselves in human blood.

Janesh had faith, though. Faith that Darshan would surely not be so foolish.

They were, after all, a people of honor. Their treating with the humans of Ind had meant prosperity and peace for generations. It meant that the children of the clan-families could grow strong and, if they were lucky, grow old.

When Janesh knelt, the pack that had encircled them jeered.

Darshan would simply draw blood, Janesh knew, as was required by the rite and take the Khan's crown and, with it, the pack. He would lead them as he saw fit, just as the previous Khan had.

When one of Darshan's sons threw him a sword, the crowd shouted. The only weapons were not permitted in these fights were fangs and claws and strength. And, to violate those sacred rules when one of the combatants had already ceded the battle ... ?

Darshan spoke. He spoke of power. He spoke like one already drunk with power. He spoke of a new kingdom; a new reign that would be grown in the soils of war and watered with blood.

"Blood for the blood god," he whispered.

The words were heresy, stinging Janesh's ears.

Darshan lifted the sword in a brutal arc, like a woodsman readying to split a log. Not simply attempting to draw blood as was required to claim his crown, but a killing stroke.

There were many gods worshipped in Ind but, for followers of Yag-ganesh, worship of the dark gods was forbidden. Darshan was a fool. And worse, his foolishness would bring death to the pack.

As the blade was plunging downward, Janesh's instincts took over. His hand jabbed forward; long black claws biting deep into the fur and flesh just above Darshan's groin. Scraping against bone, cutting through gristle and then, almost before either realized what had happened, there was a sudden spill of entrails over his hand and wrist and forearm.

And, in that instant, the fight was over.

Darshan stumbled backward, the blade falling from one hand even as the other attempted to keep his life from spilling out onto the jungle soil. But it was already too late. The spark of life was already gone from his eyes.

Janesh held his bloodied hand high for everyone to see. The pack roared its approval, and then chanted his new name.

Shere Khan.

Sculpting notes and progress pictures after the jump ...

When I set out to find a leader for my army, I initially thought I might make him from the Beast Lord with an Additional Hand Weapon that Games Workshop produces. The metal would be difficult to work with, as his horns would need to be removed, but I had hoped that they would soon release him in their (then) newly announced Finecast resin.

I'm still waiting.

However, in the meanwhile, Maelstrom Games released their Brunchaath the Vile from their BaneLegions line. Scars. Armor. A 'roar.'

Immediately, I knew he'd be perfect for what I was wanting to do with my Beast Lord. So I ordered two.

After the removal of his horns, the addition of some bits from Games Workshop's Warriors of Chaos, and some green-stuffing to make his features more feline, this is the result:

I think he's ready for paint ...

Warhammer: Beast Kings of Ind. (Beastmen)

2010-03-14T15:35:00.001-05:00

Every army needs a place to start.

With a number of models already in hand and a number of ideas for what I wanted to do, I sat down with the new Warhammer Armies: Beastmen book (updated from the Beast of Chaos book I'd used previously) and drafted up an extensive background for my new army: The Beast Kings of Ind.

Read it HERE.

Warhammer: The Seduction. (Beasts of Chaos)

2010-03-01T13:45:00.000-06:00

It may seem like it's been a while since I've posted anything about painting up that massive Skaven army. That's likely because it's been a while since I've actually put any work in toward actually painting up that massive Skaven army. Why's that, you ask?

It's because I've been seduced.

It started simply enough, as most seductions do: While idly surfing the internet looking for painting ideas and tutorials, I happened upon a particularly cool looking minuature: a Skorne Bronzeback Titan.

I decided that I ~~needed~~ wanted to have one.

I wanted to see if I could capture the same amazingly well-painted tones and textures and to see if I could do what this other painter had done.

But having a beast so beautiful with no reason to field it would seem wasteful. If I were to buy one, I would need an army with which to play him ...

So, I began reasearching it to see if there were, perhaps, rules that fit a beast of such magnitude. Clearly, it would need to be the centerpiece of the army. A general of some sort. Or, perhaps, a giant. Or some other massive beast, capable of instilling great fear by its propensity to rend flesh.

In the Beasts of Chaos book, I found what I was looking for ...

This beast, I decided, would become a Dragon Ogre Shaggoth. But, not just any Shaggoth. He has a smaller cousin that I ~~could~~ would use for the regular, garden-variety Shaggoth. This would be a Shaggoth Champion.

And, suddenly, I had two beasts -- a General (the Shaggoth Champion) and both of my rare choices (the Champion and plain Shaggoth) -- and, arguably, a decent start points-wise on a 2,000pt. army.

The problem was that the rest of the Beasts of Chaos didn't particularly appeal to me. I don't find much interesting in their models. Nothing that I would look at and think, "Boy, I can't wait to paint that!"

Reading through the book, though, what I did find particularly appealing was the idea of beasts from somewhere other than the Old World. Armed with that basic idea, a quick trip to wikipedia for information about other areas already established in the Warhammer world gave me the setting for my beasts' home: the Kingdom of Ind.

These two beasts were, after all, particularly elephantine and elephants are native to India (upon which the Kingdom of Ind is loosely based). India features, also, an elephant-headed god that could -- when blended with some choice lore from H.P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard's Conan stories -- provide a minor Chaos deity, unique to this particular warband.

These Shaggoths, I decided, would be the ancient guardians of the temples of Yag'ganesh.

In small cities in the ruins around the temples of Yag'ganesh would live the beastmen that would form the bulk of the army. Not goat-headed beasts like those of the old world, but cat-headed ones. Tigers (or, rather Ti'gors). In armor reminiscent of the Far East rather than plain loincloths.

Having learned the enlightenment and traditions of the Celestial Dragon Monks, they'd be more civilized than their Old World brethren, if only slightly, but every bit as ferocious. Bestial Kings living in relative peace with the human tribes and human Kings of Ind.

The rivers of Ind would produce large, crocodilian beasts: Crocogres or, perhaps, Crocotaurs (standing in for either Chaos Ogres or Minotaurs, I haven't determined, yet, which). Their chariots -- if they had them, after all living within the deep, dark jungles doesn't really lend itself to much charioteering -- could be pulled by vicious, singled-horned Rhinogors, smaller cousins of the Ogre Kingdom's Rhinoxen.

Within a few hours, I'd managed to develop a complete background on them: where their god had come from, where they came from, how they lived, their relationships with the peoples surrounding them, their society and traditions.

Actually creating them as a playable army would take a bit of modification, sure -- a tiny bit of sculpting on each and every miniature to produce a more cat-like face and the sashes and padding of their armors -- but, regardless, I found that idea far more appealing than slathering brown paint on a couple hundred Skaven.

And, just like that, I had been lured into Chaos.

I had been seduced.

Establishing the domain ...

2010-01-01T08:00:00.000-06:00

My wife has always graciously accepted the fact that she married a geek.* It's simply a fact of who I am, and she loves me in spite of it.

I've been collecting comic books since junior high. If it has been turned into a 'comic book movie,' I likely have most every issue dating back to the late 1980s. Batman. Superman. X-Men. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I have hundreds of issues of each; enough to fill dozens of 'long boxes.'

Several of my closest friends and I would sneak away from our Boy Scout troop to find an empty room in which to play Marvel Super-Heroes or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Role-playing Game.

( And, it should be noted, that another friend I've recently reconnected with via Facebook remarked that the thing that he remembered most about me was that I could draw the Ninja Turtles better than anyone he'd ever seen. )

In high school, Star Trek: The Next Generation was at the peek of its popularity. We had a Star Trek club at my high school (populated by a surprisingly high number of Student Council and Honor Society members). We held a viewing party in the school cafeteria for the final episode, "All Good Things ..."

In college, my interests diversified some. I discovered collectible card games. No, not popular ones like Magic: The Gathering or Legend of the Five Rings. More obscure ones like Highlander: The Card Game and Star Trek: The Customizable Card Game and such; games that tied back into my other, more deeply rooted geeky fascinations.

Those were merely a gateway drug into other, more hardcore geeky gaming pursuits, and after a while I moved on to other collectible games. Like Games Workshop's Warhammer and Mordheim and Gorka Morka.

Then, after a few more years, WizKidsGames introduced the ultimate in collectible super-hero miniature gaming: HeroClix.

Over the years, I've no doubt sunk enough money into my geek hobbies that, had I saved it away instead, I could've paid cash for a new car (or, perhaps even a modest house). Though, that would've doubtlessly been far less fun.

And, we've managed to have bought a modest house anyway.

Within that house, in a small room tucked away in the basement (ie: the realm that houses all truly great lairs of geekdom), resides the tangible evidence of my years of geekishness. The boxes of comics. The super-hero action figures. The dozens of role-playing game books. The hundreds and hundreds of miniatures. The thousands of cards.

It is my domain. These are its chronicles.

* - Technically, based upon militantgeek.com's definitions, I am both a geek and a nerd. Though not a dork. Not since elementary school, at least.