James WRR’s Leader Month: Nobody expects the Ordo Malleus

+++ LOG OF INQUISITOR ALBRECHT HALFTHOR, ORDO MALLEUS +++

+++ THOUGHT OF THE DAY: A LOGICAL ARGUMENT MUST BE DISMISSED WITH ABSOLUTE CONVICTION +++

The assault on Sanctum Sapiar was a great success. The texts upon which this small, yet unbearably thorny, culture had structured itself were located, swiftly interpreted by sacrificial Servitors, then burned upon the pyre.

My conclusion? There is not much to say. It is a common story after all. These people simply imagined their way into heresy. I have no doubt that it was quite accidental, mind. But a crime cannot be forgiven simply because it was an accident. 

I was surprised that the local population, as seemingly barbaric as they were, was able to mount such a defence. One Brother Donovan of my Grey Knights was slain in the attempt, simply overwhelmed by the mass of desperate arms. But I am told his geneseed was recovered and there were no further casualties. A Space Marine is but a cheap tool to replace. 

Our duty on this world is ended.

REMINDER: Inquisitor Clavicus was seen once again departing my quarters. If I suspect his fruitless investigation into my affairs is set to continue much longer, action will be taken. My writ is just as unquestionable as his.

+++ LOG ENDS +++

+++ LOG OF INQUISITOR ERROL CLAVICUS, ORDO MALLEUS +++

+++ THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: HATRED IS OUR SUREST WEAPON +++

My Grey Knights have proven themselves once more on the field of battle. Much unholy blood was spilled and many bones collected for future study. 

Halfthor was pleased with his little bonfire, believing the work to be done. But the war rages on. Only through the bloodrite and the scrying of bones will answers reveal themselves.

Either Halfthor is too arrogant to recognise this, in which case he must stand down and let a wiser mind take the lead, or he is complicit and must be removed.

The Inquisitor’s quarters house a great many books and scrolls, not all of which I have been able to examine. It is my belief that he has sequestered texts that he was so keen to have destroyed. Iconoclast, my boot. Halfthor is a fraud and, Emperor forgive me, perhaps worse.

I will consult the viscera.

+++ LOG ENDS +++

_________________

And so, with the triumvirate of leaders complete, my Ordo Malleus force is ready for battle!

Inquisitors Clavicus and Halfthor of the Ordo Malleus

Painting these two models over the course of a month has actually been one of the most challenging parts of this project. Obviously, each Daemonhunter had to receive special care and attention — as well as a carefully considered, utterly ridiculous colour scheme — but I think there was also an added pressure: I had to finish on a high note.

I’ve painted so much silver armour over the past few months I really wanted these guys to stand out. And boy, do they! With their near-fluorescent green accents (the lovely Bright Green from Rogue Hobbies’ Pro Acryl set), they really are set apart from the rest of the army.

Hmm. My finger points!

Which I think they should, right? While an army of Space Marines will be largely uniform beyond a few flourishes, a character as individual, strong-willed and revered/feared as an Inquisitorial Daemonhunter should be able to make their heraldry truly their own.

I can’t judge Halfthor’s pink and green styling, can I? I’d probably be executed as a heretic.

Slaying in style

Each of these models are just perfect representations of their character. The masked and hooded Daemonhunter, Clavicus, bears arcane symbology and devil’s heads designed to make him look as fearsome as the monsters he hunts. Meanwhile, the fellow with the robotic leg and cool ponytail, Halfthor, commands the respect of age and wisdom. He’s stoic, technologically advanced and totally serving judge. 

While Clavicus came to me through a job lot of old minis, as most of my army has, Halfthor was a very kind birthday gift from our resident miniature bug-painter Tom. I hope I’ve done him justice! 

A truly radical outfit

In terms of painting these fellows, I’ve obviously decided to go wild with their colour schemes, embracing that 80s anarchy found in old White Dwarfs and source books of the time. Halfthor’s green and burgundy armour would be considered complimentary if it weren’t for the flaming orange gun casing in his hand and shock of blonde hair. Clavicus’s black armour and yellow pauldrons paint him as something of a toxic creature, with the addition of the vibrant green making him look positively radioactive and dangerous… and strangely, I think, Brazilian. 

These models’ poses really didn’t pose much challenge in terms of painting (another reason to love Oldhammer), though I did struggle to get at Clavicus’ face between mask and hood. I think the bit of flesh tone and dots for eyes suggest enough of a hidden visage to do the job. 

A colour scheme that screams "danger" and, maybe, "Lé lé óh"

Of course, being augmented humans with the best healthcare and biomechanical enhancements the Imperium can provide gives them much healthier looking skin tones than my sickly grey Grey Knights. That's another key element that sets them apart.

One of my favourite aspect of this pair of Daemonhunter models is that one is clearly supposed to be more radical, potentially even heretical, while the other is a more clean-cut, inspirational character. Having both at the helm of my army gives it a nice split personality — an ideal representation of a horrific space Empire at war with itself as much as it is with heretics, daemons and aliens.

And so, that’s my quota filled for this year’s challenge! And a month early, too. But I’m not going to rest on these laurels. I’ve got a bit of a wildcard addition to add still…

_________________

Army list as of May

Inquisitor Halfthor
Daemonhunter
Tactical Dreadnought Armour, Bio-Scanner, Displacer Field

Plasma Gun, Power Glove, Digital Weapons, Psyk-Out Grenade

Bionic Leg

Psychic Mastery Level 3
201 points

Inquisitor Clavicus
Daemonhunter
Tactical Dreadnought Armour, Bio-Scanner, Displacer Field

Psycannon, Force Rod, Scare Gas

Psychic Mastery Level 4
454 points

Captain Torkamadus
Grey Knight Terminator Captain | Hero
Tactical Dreadnought Armour
Nemesis Force Weapon

Psychic Mastery Level 4
450 points

Techmarine Tarantus
Techmarine
Basic equipment
Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle
97 points

Squad Deza
Grey Knight Terminator Tactical Squad
1 Sergeant and 4 Marines in Tactical Dreadnought Armour

5 Nemesis Force Weapons

Psychic Mastery Level 4
1,200 points

Brother Bethor
Deredeo Dreadnought
Missile Launcher, Heavy Plasma Gun
Standard Sensor Package, 2 Power Fields, Power Field Synchroniser
270 points

Squad Heliod
Tactical Squad
Sergeant with Bolt Gun, Bioscanner and Power Glove
1 Marine with Missile Launcher
1 Marine with Flamer

7 Marines with Bolt Guns
275 points

Bright Sword
Rhino APC with Techmarine Pilot, assigned to Squad Heliod
2 Bolt Guns
387 points

Riot Corps
Adeptus Arbites Squad
1 Magister with Bolt Pistol and basic equipment

5 Judges with Bolt Pistols and basic equipment
102 points

Squad Apollo
Devastator Squad
Sergeant with Bolt Gun
2 Marines with Beamers
2 Marines with Heavy Bolters

5 Marines with Bolt Guns
379 points

Grand Total: 3,815 points

The Relief of Plavigorica - Mark's Araby Allied Contingent - May Leader month

 Forgive my handwriting, for I write in pain but also gratitude.  Today we moved against the besiegers, emboldened by hashish, desiring to drive a wedge before the gate, to bolster the defenders and share the provisions we have.  From our Sultan’s munificence our camels were laden with dates, sherbet, flour and honey, while we ate from the land. 

Yet just before dawn, the Skaven catapults brought down part of the west wall.  Therefore, our noble Emir diverted our spearhead to defend the breach.  He met Chief Vilethrottle in single combat amid the rubble, and slew him. Alas, our Emir’s wounds are grave and may be beyond the assistance of the magi.

Our corsairs fought an immense rat ogre who towered above them. Fierce stormvermin pushed back our spears. Evil fire throwers tore holes in our ranks. Our carpets - including my own - were brought down by their jezails.  And yet, at the point of defeat, with a great shout, the starving and desperate people of Plavigorica led by Vojvod Milos, surged out, sparking panic in the Skaven ranks.  With Vilethrottle slain, their captains could not stop a rout.  

Now we rest in safety and are thankful.  Our brave Emir lies in the Vojvod's own bedchamber.  Our alchemists and the local physicians have worked through the night but he does not rally.  He said "Let it be known, my wish was again to look upon the Old World, so beloved of my youth. I am at peace".   And I, Snorri, say this now: Although we have prevailed, surely there are no victors in these wars we wage.

---

This month, I am painting the contingent’s leaders – the commander, a contingent standard bearer, and a sorcerer.

I managed to get hold of a copy of Suliman the Saracen on eBay in late 2024.  I bought a Footsore warhorse, to which I added some tassels in hope of a slightly more arabesque look. 

But the opportunity for a camel was too tempting. I think the best camels are from Perry Miniatures’ Mahdist war range. 

To get another camel through the OWAC needle, I converted a standard bearer from a Gripping Beast Arab spearman. I’d painted myself into a corner in terms of banner size, with both the archers and corsairs having pretty big flags, and I didn’t want to make this one even bigger despite it being an army standard.  So, the hastily constructed backstory is it is the personal banner of the Sultan.  Although making the journey in person would be beneath him, sending his standard shows his endorsement, and serves as an inspiring rallying point for the troops (without being too large!)

A camel's profile is similar to a horse with a lower speed but higher toughness and willpower.

• In melee, riders have a +2 save from being slightly higher up, except when facing opponents with spears or polearms, when it is the normal +1 for being mounted.
• Camels repel horses.  A horse mounted unit must make a Cl test* to charge camels. 

For my story, this contingent is sent by Alkadi Nazreen, the Sultan depicted in Brian Craig’s Orfeo trilogy**.   The Emir is his military leader. The political leader, the Grand Vizier, will be painted in June.  He is really just a well-appointed member of the baggage train, who’d rather not be sent on this trip but needs must.  

Another important leader, and one of the Magi, is the sorcerer and astronomer Al-Nrikman. He is a level 20 Magus with the ability to summon a djinn.

 

The Citadel sorcerer is the foot version of the flying carpet rider painted last month.  Byron kindly offered to send me one all the way from Tacoma, but I managed to find one in the UK, on the Demon’s Lair website.  The djinn is from Ral Partha Europe, and is the equivalent of a level 6 air elemental. 

Al-Nrikman also has an imp familiar, N’tonik, who (as far as can be told) has the worst profile in all Warhammer:

---

The contingent so far:                              

January:  10 Arabyan Guard + Hashishin: 165pts

February: 10 Desert Archers:110 pts

March: 10 Araby Corsairs:198 pts

April: 2 Flying carpets ridden by fakirs and a Snake charmer: 325 pts

May:  Contingent commander: Level 20 hero on camel:109pts

Contingent standard bearer: Level 5 hero on camel with magic standard: 83pts

Sorcerer: Level 15 wizard: 155pts

Djinn: 600pts

Imp: 1pt

Total:947pts

Next month is the wildcard, which for me will be the baggage train.  More camels!

*Rider's Cool is the stat used to test for control of horses in WFB 3rd Edition - when they are spooked by fire.

**Nazreen is a convert from Estalia.  In some ways this makes him more interesting, (how did he become Sultan?), but I think a truly Arabyan character might have been better (just as Stands with A Fist from Dances with Wolves, should have been Sioux). 

Prince of the Night - Valtteri's Undead Legion - April Leader Month

All right, my first Leader Month!

Though I did paint enough models to qualify for a Rank and File month as well...

And this time most of the models are proper old METAL, not some fancy printed resin or what have you.

The models

I've been looking forward to painting the Mummies since the start of the challenge. I never had these models as a kid, partly because they disappeared from the Undead range with the first Vampire Counts army book. But now I finally got to paint and play with them!

These were a given a pre-shading with a bone coloured speedpaint, then drybrushed up to white and finally given the good 'ol enamel wash.
I noticed that the enamel had dried glossy on same parts like the weapons handles and corrected that with some matt varnish after the photo shoot. I still don't know why the enamels some time dry matte and some time glossy!

No banner for them because they don't have one in the Army Book and there's no command group models for them. They might get one later though once these arrive.

These Wraiths on the other hand are very familiar to me. I think I had most if not all of these sculpts back in the day. Like I said before, nothing was cooler than a Grim Reaper back then.
I painted them like the ones in the army book, though with a bit more muted color palette.

These guys were painted with straight acrylics with drybrushing doing most of the heavy lifting.

I also painted some more skeletons I had laying around. Gotta get some more bones for those Raise the Dead spells! These were painted exactly like the ones on my January post.

And then we get to the main course itself -  the Vampire Count. And what a model it is! One of my favorites from the 4th edition Undead.

He was painted with carefully layering and glazing acrylics and finally given a coat of ultra matte varnish for that smooth finish. He initially had normal white eyes with pupils but I decided on evil red eyes in the end.

I repainted that sword multiple times and I'm still not quite satisfied with it, but at least it looks like it belongs in the bold colours of 4th edition Warhammer.

Behold the ugly phase - the stage all minis must pass through.
But after a week or the mini comes alive. Well okay, undead but you get it.

Gotta say, I'm pretty proud of the Vampire!

But wait a minute, doesn't an Undead army need a Vampire Lord to be their general, not a measly Count? Well, there might something more powerful still lurking in the shadows...

Terrain

The Mummies and the skeletons were so fast to paint I had time to do a few more hills. To be fair, I can't remember If I started these on March but if I did, the majority of the work was done in April in any case.

Nice big gently sloping hills that don't make old precious metal models fall on their butts. The hills were shaped from a big block of cheap basic styrofoam, coated with a DIY sculptamold and then homemade texture paint. The cliffsides are pieces of dried bark. Everything was painted with browns and greys and then given a liberal coat of flock which was then sealed with diluted PVA. The flock itself is a mix of 5 different premade products (mostly Army Painter's) to give it a more natural look.

                                                                    Wraith for scale.

I didn't find the time to get a game in this month but hopefully I'll get to try some of my new units in May. Can't wait to field some cavalry and move more that 4 inches a turn!

Stats

What do you know, I've painted over 100 hundred models already. I honestly didn't think I had this in me! Phew!

January
25 Skeletons w. Swords&Shields, including Command Group	214 points	25 models
Wight	37 points	1 model
Necromancer Champion	163 points	1 model
2 Skeleton Ogres	72 points	4 models
2 Mummies w. 2-handed weapons	90 points	2 models
February
2 Wraiths	150 points	2 models
20 Zombies including Command Group	88 points	20 models
Zombie Ogre	16 points	2 models
Screaming Skull Catapult	74 points	5 models
March	904	61
Chariot w. Scythed Wheels, Crew w. Shield & Bow	79 points	5 models
Skeleton Horsemen w. Shields& Light Armor & Command Group	276 points	10 models
1 Wraith	75 points	1 model
April
8 Mummies w. 2-handed weapons	360 points	8 models
6 Skeletons w. Swords&Shields	54 points	6 models
6 Skeletons w. Spears&Shields	60 points	6 models
3 Wraiths	225 points	3 models
Vampire Count	200 points	1 model
Total	2233 points	101 models

For May my goal is to try and replicate the classic Army Book cover art. I've also got a special terrain project in mind...

Previous posts:

January

February
March

Waill and Roll rolls some dice (1358pts)

It's 6mm Warhammer 40,000, NOT Epic 40k!

March draws to a close and as promised I have prepared a little battle report.

Before we get to that though, let's look at the fresh paint. I took March as my Leader month, so please be up standing as the Dominatrix enters the fray. This creature, the Norn Queens planetside representative is a threat so significant that she lacks rules in 40k, relegated to Epic, so she is mostly here to cast a long shadow, but she has not come alone! A pack of Tyranid warriors are at her side and they certainly will be joining battle! The Warriors, clocking in at 55 points each, add another 275 points to the roster, by 2e reckoning.

The Dominatrix is a wonderfully strange miniature with no modern equivelent to compare it to, the throne or sarcophagus on the beasts back contains a Tyranid brain beast and gives the monster the look of a funeral barge.

Battle at Chordelis Wreck Site, a Battle Report in 5 Images

The Leviathan Swarm and a Horde of Speed Freaks face off across the site of a crashed ship.

A pack of Termagants scuttle to outflank some Ork boyz seperated from the main action.

Hive Tyrants exchange fire with Ork Dreadnaughts.

Time for some ultra-violence, scything talons meet choppas

A mighty duel between Ork Warboss Ghoulgutta and Hive Tyrant

The Tyrant won the day!

And Finally a glamour shot of the encounter! Tune in next month for genestealers, Biovores and more!

ChrisP's Orks - February - Leader Month

 This month I've painted my warboss, and also a little diorama.

 

 

 

 Like I hoped, Thrugg Bullneck works well in Evil Sunz colours.

This diorama is my attempt to re-create this classic artwork:

 Of course, it's not a one-to-one copy of the art, but I think I captured the spirit of it. I used a modern Horus Heresy marine because it's so large, making it easy to arrange all 3 orks around him. The orks were bashed together out of all kinds of bitz, from plastic zombies to chaos warriors. And yes, that's a marine shoulderpad on the screaming ork's head. For the colour scheme, I wanted something grimy and earthy to contrast with the marine, so I chose a "pre-clan" paint scheme for the orks. This was inspired by another artwork, the cover of the classic supplement 'Ere We Go.

Frank's Great Task, Building a Daemonic Legion of Slaanesh - February (Leader)

This month I worked on my leader model, which was already destined to be a Keeper of Secrets. In a daemonic legion battle, greater daemons are free of cost to the legion. However, a chaos power can only field up to it’s sacred number of greater daemons in the same place. Players are asked to agree on the number of greater daemons, but, if the players prefer, Slaves to Darkness has a chart to randomly generate the number. This chart can generate five greater daemons at most. Five is quite a lot, even with the amount of combinations available to the old Keeper sculpts. So, I tried to make each of my Keeper of Secrets models visually distinct from each other through the use of colors and conversions. 

This last Keeper was given the theme of ‘brawler’. I wanted him to look brutal and more mutated than his brothers. To this end, I gave him multiples of the one armored claw on the downward hanging upper arm bit. I wanted four of that claw to maximize the amount of armor on the model and because that claw looks 'stronger' than the others too me. It took a while, but I acquired three more of that upper arm piece. I then did a bit of snipping and affixed those claws to create a quartet of heavy armored claws with no human hands at all. I then took a spare tail/body piece from one of the many fiends I rejected after assembling this year's batch. I used this to give him a convincing scorpion tail mutation. I also used a very special eyepatch head. As Keeper of Secrets heads go, this is not one of my favorites, but this head is all that remains of the very first keeper my teenaged self managed to acquire and paint. I did not strip the original badly painted blue but rather used it as a primer coat and pressed on. I think it works well here, making a vicious model look even more brutal.

When I sat down to paint him, I had a couple basic considerations to keep in mind. First off, he was not going to be the same skin color as any of his brethren. That ruled out orange, pink, green, and yellow. Second, most if not all of his cloth would be yellow to tie him into the rest of the legion's models. I considered jet black for a skin tone, but in the end, I went with a deep purple. Mostly because I liked the effect that scheme had on a Fiend, I did a couple years ago. I went ahead and painted right over the original head. I like that this ties the model, and the legion back to the same effort I began so many many years ago.

This Keeper constitutes my effort for Leader month. Although greater daemons are free in a daemonic legion, they are valued at 900 points in the Realm of Chaos Slaves to Darkness army list. Finally, here he is posing with his brethren in the legion’s command group.

Astute readers may have noted that the sacred number of Slaanesh is six, and while I have maxed out the greater daemons the legion chart could require, I yet have only five here. The sixth slot is reserved for a special final model. I speak of the long lost unreleased Keeper of secrets model. It is pictured in Slaves to Darkness and can be known for the distinctive unarmored rounded crab claws, hanging downward, as well as the open hand not balled into a fist. If anyone reading this has such as treasure, please contact me, I would pay handsomely to acquire it.

[Pic courtesy of 'Stuff of Legends'] 

Pokrzyw's Sisters of Battle - Month 6 - Leader Month [475pts]

 "A single man with faith can triumph over a legion of the faithless. Untold billions of the faithful can never be opposed."

Plans for June.

After Mulligan month in May my plans were around finishing inquisitors with retinue. Entry level for June is visible on picture below.

 

Finishing additional sisters shall be bonus. Sisters from Month 3 were chosen.

                                        

Finally lack of canoness makes me sad, so i take small kitbash - seraphim leader with huge mechanical wings acts as a general for whole army (on the right).

Realization

As usual - entering month with procastrination level master, but last two weeks was busy..

Gallery

Points:

• Canoness (jump pack, power sword, plasma pistol) 101
• Redemptor Kyrinov, Arch-Confessor - 121
• Missionary (shotgun) - 25
• Battle Sisters Squad (veteran sister superior, 4 sisters, specialist flamer, specialist hflamer) 228
• Wild card.. 10 models (2 inquisitors, 8+ henchmens)  ?
  
  TOTAL: 475

Whats' next?

I have still about fifteen ladies to paint. Maybe it would be a part of the wrap-up month. I plan also prepare some better photo session, maybe in the heat of battle.