Building a Skaven retinue

Skaven then... Even if I'm building a 24-point warband for Dragon Rampant, I still try to stick to the spirit of the Warhammer Armies lists: slaves and clanrat warriors for a start, then we'll see!

So:

• 1 point: 12 slaves, count as Serfs
• 3 points: 12 clanrat warriors, count as Foot Yeomen

Then:

• 6 points: 3 Rat Ogres, count as Greater warbeasts 
• 4 points: 3 Jezzail teams, count as Handgonnes 
• 4 points: 12 Clanrat Stormvermins, count as Foot Serjeants
• 2 points: 6 Eshin Gutter runners, count as Bidowers

And I have still 4 points to spend... I'm considering a rat pack of 6 models, but I have no equivalence in mind for them. I'm also considering 3 warpfire-thrower teams, count as Handgonnes again. Last solution would be a new batch of slaves and clanrat warriors, but this would mean 24 additional models to paint... Not sure it's a good idea... unless I consider that Giant rats equal Serfs. So, for the the moment, let us conclude with:

• 1 point: 9 Giant rats and 3 Moulder beastmasters, count as Serfs,
• 3 points: 12 Clanrat warriors, count as Foot Yeomen.

And now my first attempt to paint a Stormvermin. Considering the limited equipment, he may eventually join the clanrat warriors.


(wooden shield sculpted by Kev Adams for Hasslefree Miniatures)

A 24-point throng

OK, it's been a while since I've started to build this dwarf army following the 3rd edition Warhammer rulebook, but let's face it, there is absolutely no chance that I play a game with them.

So... plan B: Lion Rampant (or later on, Dragon Rampant). I've picked up the rules, and they seem perfect to me: a few pages, nothing too elaborated, I could even convince my old pal Haekel to play a game or two against my dwarfs, provided I paint his army of course... which gives me a perfect opportunity to change my beard-and-chainmail painting routine.

In Lion Rampant, the recommended size for retinues is 24 points, which means 40 to 60 models to field, grouped in units of  6 or 12. Considering the available units, I see the following equivalencies:

• Hammerers = Foot Men-at-Arms
• Dwarf warriors = Foot Serjeants (possibly upgraded to give them two-handed weapons)
• Slayers = Fierce Foot

So, in the end, these 24 points will consist in:

• 6 hammerers (including the commander) = 6 pts
• 12 upgraded dwarf warriors with two-handed axes = 6 pts
• 12 dwarf warriors with spears and shields = 4 pts
• 12 slayers = 4 pts
• 12 crossbowmen = 4 pts

Luckily, I've just completed my 11th and 12th slayers, which means that my mighty throng is ready for battle! (well, skirmish at least)

So, what's next? Possibly Dwarfs (Renaissance style), or Imperial dwarfs (but with more colours this time), or Chaos dwarfs (the Big Hat ones), or... Chaos dwarfs again (the Marauder ones), or Skaven (Haekel has a weak spot for these little bastards in fur), or Wood Elves, or Dark Elves, or Empire... or Halflings.

With Lion Rampant, it's rather easy to pick a 24-pt retinue... then of course, I need to paint 50 models before starting to play :)