Lesser Oni (Kappa) for 'Hametsu'

In 'Hametsu' there are a wide assortment of villains with which the heroes have to overcome, ranging from the Oni, to the fearsome 'Bosses' and over-the-top 'Raid Bosses'.   The lowliest of the low are the Lesser Oni.  These are essentially the luckless mooks within the game's monster hierarchy. Individually they are fairly easy to dispatch, but if encountered in a mob (which invariably they are) they can be quite dangerous to an incautious adventurer.

The Hametsu figures from Black Site Studio are beautifully designed, but I find the cost of shipping to Canada is prohibitive. So begun the long process of looking for viable 3d proxies online (two of the heroes were in my previous post originated as stl files). During my search I came across a series of models from Sharedog Miniatures depicting Japanese water spirits called Kappa, which I think will make fun Lesser Oni for the game. 

In doing a bit of research I found that Kappa have a shallow depression on the top of their heads which holds a small pool of water. If this water is spilled, or dries up, it makes them weak and sluggish. Yes, how wonderfully odd! The list of defensive measures to ward against Kappa is quite lengthy (and rudely funny), so I suggest you look them up for a laugh if you have a moment.

I decided to give my Kappa a sort of tree frog look, so I used blends of vibrant Citadel Contrast and Vallejo Xpress paints over a white basecoat. Overall I'm happy enough with the effect and they should stand out well on the tabletop.

For those who are wondering, the yellow on the front base edge denotes their arc of vision, which is a big deal in 'Hametsu' which is all about keeping out of sight and timely ambushes. I chose the bright yellow as I'm planning on gaming with these online and I hope the colour will help with on-screen identification.

Thanks for dropping in for a look!

- Curt

School of Magic Heroes for 'Hametsu'

 

Hi All,

I like to have a LOT of things happening on my hobby desk, and this winter is no different! 

Last year my good pal PhilH pointed me towards a new game coming out called 'Hametsu' from Black Site Studios. I looked into it further and thought it might be a good candidate for our group, being as it requires a fairly low figure count, has simple, fast moving rules, and seems chock-full of flashing katana character. 

I duly plunked down for the rulebook and have been very happy with my purchase. The rulebook is gorgeously produced, very high quality stuff and more importantly the rules are excellent as well. So I've been busy ever since, amassing 3d prints and getting things ready to churn out for the Challenge. In fact, I was so keen to try the game that I've hosted several sessions with my primed figures (clutches pearls!), and even have had a few online games with pals from away using Discord. It's been well-received so I'm eager to move forward and get some colour on these figures.

'Hametsu' is essentially a cooperative monster hunting game. It's set in feudal Japan, built around the premise that a cataclysm has created fissures in reality across the country, letting demons (Oni) through into the material world. The population has largely retreated into the relative safety of the cities, while the countryside has been overrun with roving bands of Oni and other nasty creatures. As a result, Japanese society has created bands of 'Hunters' to go out into the wilds and try to stem the tide of evil infesting the country. I know, it sounds very reminiscent to 'Rangers of Shadow' deep, but it has a mannered structure and groovy Boss fights that make it quite unique and compelling.

In the base game the heroes originate from three 'Schools' of martial prowess. They are The School of Magic, The School of Stealth and the School of Strength. Each of the Schools has three 'classes' or archetypes.

Today I have three 'classes' from the School of Magic: A Monk (close combat/healer), a Bunraku (necromancer) and a Onmyoji (mage).

The Monk is a metal figure from Otherworld Miniatures. Surprisingly, I found him to be sort of ropey, which is kind of weird as Otherworld stuff is usually so darn good, but I liked his minimalist pose and so stuck with him (so many of the 3d designs for monks are a little too Marvel for me, if you know what I mean). I'm happy I preserved as I quite like him now.

The Bunraku is a 3d print from Kyoshuneko Miniatures. I was smitten by the effect of her flaming ensorcelled hands (great word: 'ensorcelled'). (Although to be honest, the real character class can't actually cast fire, but don't mess with my jam...).

The Onmyoji is a print designed by Epic Miniatures. I was curious about the whole basket-helm thingy and found that these guys were (and still are) Komuso monks from a specific Zen Buddist sect. Originally descended from samurai, the basket is worn over the head as a symbol shunning one's sense of ego. Interesting. Following this train of logic, I suspect Sarah will suggest that I get my head measured for one...

In the future I plan to post figures from the other two Schools of Magic along with an assortment of the baddies that the heroes have to face and overcome. If I get especially fired up I may even get some terrain completed. Hold my beer.

- Curt

28mm Shogunate Japanese Terrain - Cottage and Small Barn

Hey There,

I've been reading an early draft of Sidney's 'Until the Last Sword is Drawn' along with the newly released 'Hamatsu', and so felt a desperate need to do up some Japanese terrain. 

I've had this kit from 4Ground for YEARS. In fact, I picked it up at SALUTE probably a decade ago and it's been 'seasoning' ever since. Anyway, I girded my loins for the coming struggle, but managed to talk Lady Sarah into helping me (using my Jedi Tom Sawyer spiel), so we had a nice weekend afternoon putting these two buildings together.  :) 

I even managed to get through my part of the assembly process without saying any bad words. Now, that's iron discipline. (Okay, I may have muttered a few, but it was under the table when looking for dropped parts, and I don't think anyone heard...)

Love the Boris hair roof, but it's even better after a good coat of water mixed with PVA. Somebody really should tell him. 

Sigh, I miss 4Ground. Their stuff was sooo well designed. 

Nothing much to say about these as they're pretty basic, but still, they were a joy to build. I may give them a wash and highlight, but really they look pretty serviceable as is, and will be a great addition to the Shogunate Japan collection.

Thanks for popping in!

Curt

'Sukiyaki the Inscrutable'

Here's a classic for you. 'Sukiyaki The Inscrutable', a Games Workshop chaos warrior, first released waay, waaay back in 1985, and then advertised in White Dwarf 81, September 1986.

I've done him as a Japanese demon, an Oni, or at least a flamboyant multi-chromatic one! As a bit of fun, I indulged myself with portions of his lacquered armour, using some riotous shades from Greenstuff World's 'Colourshift Paints'. After that, I thought a bone breastplate, helmet and sword would be suitably creepy, and provide a counterpoint to the rest of his flashy kit.

'Sukiyaki' is a gift to my good pal, Sidney Roundwood, who is madly working on his to-be-released samurai skirmish rules (which we've already been treated to a tantalising preview). I know Sid has a great affection for Aly Morrison's early Samurai models, so I thought he might enjoy 'Sukiyaki' capering around, causing mischief in some future game.

- Curt

Jorõgumo from 'Rising Sun' and Ashigaru from Perry Miniatures

We recently returned from a nice, long vacation and so I thought I'd catch up with some figures I had done since the last time I had posted.

First up is this rather creepy-crawly lass, Jorõgumo, from the CMON game 'Rising Sun'. 

The kickstarter for this game was a few years ago and I quickly jumped in after enjoying its viking-themed predecessor 'Blood Rage'. 

Another thing that attracted me to the game was its fabulous miniatures. They are very unique -  elegantly grotesque and wonderfully chilling. Also, as I'm a big fan of the 'Daisho' miniature rules, I thought these figures would also serve as excellent stand-ins as mythological opponents for our players to face (more on that in an upcoming post).

The figures are molded in a relatively hard plastic, so they can both survive a bit of a tumble while still taking (and holding) paint. Like all plastic figures, you have to be careful when cleaning them with your hobby knife so as to not accidentally take away any of the fine detail.

Next are a batch of ashigaru spearmen and archers from Perry Miniatures.

These thirteen chaps are from the Perry's extensive metal range. After the requisite cleaning, bending,  annoyed muttering, etc., the figures were a joy to paint. I find that samurai figures can be daunting, so I kept it simple, working around a bold red and cream motif.

I cheated a bit for the heraldic mon on their sashimonos, using wee scorpion decals I had left over from an Adeptus Titanicus knights boxed set (so I guess this is heretical on several levels).

Next post will be an after action of a recent scenario we played featuring these figures, so stay tuned and have a great week!

Curt

The Seven (Female) Samurai' - Onna-Bugeisha

A few months ago I saw these female samurai (Onna-Bugeisha) from Warlord Games and immediately knew I had to pick up a set. Funny enough, there's a bit of synchronicity involved as well as I've had a Samurai-themed game rattling around in my head for a quite some time and these figures fit the bill perfectly. 

I think these are some of the nicest castings that Warlord has produced. They are beautifully crafted, have realistic proportions and are elegantly posed - you almost think they are from a larger-scaled range. Just exquisite.

I have to admit I was a little intimidated when I first set off to paint these figures as I wanted to avoid just knocking them all out in solid colours, instead I wished to try a few patterns that would (very) loosely convey some of the amazing textiles these women would have worn. But, as many of you know, patterns can be tricky, and after a few tests runs on a piece of card, I found that the simple triumphed over the complex (thankfully for me, this is a mantra followed by Lady Sarah in her choice of men). To my eye at least, these fairly straight-forward patterns seem to do the trick in not overpowering or 'muddying' the figures' inherent great lines.

The central figure, about to draw her bow, is my favourite of the set.

The flowers on the bases are perhaps a little excessive, but they were such pretty figures that I thought they deserved the extra bit of ornamentation.

I also managed to get some buildings done for this period as well. These are all from Sarissa Precision. Nice kits and very easy to assemble and paint. Here we have a temple shrine, a modest village house and two rice storage sheds.

I have a few more items for this project to get done but we'll see where the brushes take me.

Thanks for dropping in folks 

...AND a Very Happy New Year to you all!!

Curt

From ClintB: 10mm SCW Trucks and Artillery & Feudal Samurai (32 points)

From Clint:

Yet more 10mm Pendraken figures. Starting with some heavy artillery. These are 2 French 155mm Field Guns crew and tows. As they are larger artillery I have given them regular army crew. As about 1/2 the army deserted at the start of the war both Republican and Nationalist forces had trained troops as well as militias so the uniforms don't really identify the troops.

The two lorries are generic lorries from the period (Skytrex 200 range Opel Blitz circa 1934). 

Additionally finishing as I started, here are 16 Pendraken Samurai Archers. I still have more to do of course and an order for more to pick up at Salute. These will just bulk out my red army with 4 extra stands.

Great work Clint. I had to laugh when I saw the first pics of the SCW vehicles. With how those trucks are set on that cliff backdrop they look as if they're pulling their own last stand, 'Thelma & Louise' style. ;)

Those samurai are fabulous with their sashimonos waving bravely in the wind. I really think this is a great scale for feudal Japanese wargaming as it provides the iconic mass of the period formations but yet, due to the small size of figures, reduces the perceived need to get drawn into all the crazy detail of the armour (right Tim!). 

These miniatures will give Clint 32 points. Well done!

From KevinH: 28mm WWII Soviet Scouts, Feudal Japanese Monks & Royale With Cheese (80 points)

Kevin returns with this wonderful selection of miniatures for us to enjoy.

From Kevin:

For this entry, I have some BOLT ACTION WWII Russian Scouts.  Nothing too fancy with these figures, basic "amoeba" style camouflage suits and one model with a DP light machine gun.  The actual BOLT ACTION rules don't allow Russian Scouts to have a DP LMG, but other rules may, so I painted him as well.

Next up, is the Sohei (Monks) Buntai for the RONIN skirmish game, by North Star.  Again, nothing too fancy - I just followed the "box art."  I wanted to try and get these guys done quickly, as I have all the Buntai figure sets from the RONIN line, and when I try and get "fancy" (ie: creative) with my painting, I tend to get bogged down, and it takes me forever to finish things!

I had a number of things planned for the Fortnight Challenges, but because of the 'funk' I've been in the past few months, they just never materialized.  Case-in-point, this entry was either going to be a "Villain" or "Hero" entry.

I picked up lots of miniatures and games from my friend Tim's estate sale, including a bunch of the little, dark grey Copplestone boxes.  I didn't really even look in them at the time, but they were "Copplestone" so I scooped them up as I love his work!

As I was sifting through things over the last few months, I found the "not Samuel L. Jackson" figure in one of those little boxes!  I have had the "not John Travolta" Foundry figure based and primed for years!  But I never got around to painting it, as I didn't have the companion figure.  Now I had the companion figure, so it was time to get things done.  And depending on your point of view from the movie, these guys could easily be either "Villain" or "Hero."  I don't know if it will be visible in the photo, but I even got Vincent's (Travolta) golden earring!

Now that they're done, I feel like a ROYALE with Cheese!

Lovely work Kevin. I always love seeing your stuff as its just so smooth. That monk in black is my favourtie, he looks quite the hard-ass with that 'Osaka Slugger'! 

This wonderful assortment of miniatures will give Kevin 80 points. Great job and welcome to the Wild Bunch - you still have lots of time to participate in the madness!

From TimB: 28mm Feudal Japanese Samurai and Ashigaru (80 points)

From Tim:

Dragon Clan Bushi Buntai

Here are 16 figures I've finished up for my Dragon Clan Bushi Buntai. This is the seventh buntai I've now completed and have to or three more that I hope to finish up in the next week or so... along with a bunch of terrain... battle boards... what was I thinking!? Oh I also have a bunch of Samurai and Ashigaru casualties that have no use in the game, really, but I'll be finishing them up as well (for the next Fortnightly Theme Bonus Round!) 

The Bushou and Hatamoto - both figures are from the old Alderac Entertainment Group Legends of the Five Rings: Clan War game.

Three Samurai - Also from AEG's L5R Clan War range

Ashigaru Spearmen from Old Glory

Ashigaru Archers - the one on the left is from Perry Miniatures, the rest are from Old Glory.

Ashigaru Gashira Bannerman - like the previous bannerman is an Ashigaru Spearman from Perry Miniatures that I made my own banner and pole for. 

Backside of the Bannerman. 

Wow, you've done seven of these groups during the Challenge? Excellent work Tim! I know you're now down to the crunch but I've seen you work under pressure so I'm sure you can pull it off. In regards to this group I quite like the green and yellow theme and your custom banner-bearer turned out wonderfully.

This Dragon Clan buntai will give Tim 82 points. Great job!