From JamieM - Daughters of Khaine Spearhead (85 points)

Well, the starting gun has sounded and, as usual, I bit off for more than I could chew at the start of the challenge and only now have something finished. My process during the challenge is to start project A and get 85% done, then start project B as “it’s more efficient that way” and neglect project A. Then start project C before either project A or B is finished and end up with a mess of unfinished stuff lying everywhere

So I buckled on my Hat of Common Sense +1 and actually finished project A - a Daughters of Khaine force for Spearhead by GW (well, most of one as I had some figures already painted).

Age of Sigmar is a ruleset I’ve come to dislike. GW seemingly cannot help but give every a unit a special rule that breaks the normal rules. And don’t get me started on the “Double Turn” which is a d6 dice off to decide the game on plenty of occasions when I’ve played. But the Spearhead game, which uses Age of Sigmar rules but with small fixed forces (so no meta army building!) and also incorporates clever twists using cards and a small board is really rather good fun and plays very quickly. This is my second force for Spearhead and my other consists of three giants. Which is just as awesome as it sounds.

The first unit are the Melusai blood stalkers - five snake ladies with big bows. They were fun to put together and paint.

They pepper their opponent with arrows and sit on objectives quite nicely.

Next up are two units of five witch elves. Because the forces are fixed, I built five each out of the box using the two different build options for variety.

They were, to put it bluntly, a nightmare to build at times. Tiny connection points on the arms and the weight of the hair on the ones that had it dragged the head off the tiny neck if you looked away for a split second when the glue was drying.

I’m not a huge fan of the chainmail bikini aesthetic, but at least they are leaping into action instead of pulling a pouting pose.

This picture is with the rest of the figures that I’m not claiming for and gives me a spearhead to play with.

Points are 5 40mm bow snakes ladies for 35 and 10 28mm ladies for 50 to give 85 points in my opening salvo.

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Great to have you back with us once again Jamie! I've no doubt many Challengers will relate to your "system" that you outlined here: let's call it the "A-B-C" system. I can certainly relate - in fact, I often bolt "D" and "E" on using the same approach! And then there are the "oh, wait, I might fit this in for a theme round" diversions that further f*** everything up...

Age of Sigmar is a game I have only tried a few times, but it does not surprise me to learn that GW would spike their own wheel when it comes to good gaming rules. As you say - they cannot help themselves. But AoS certainly has some entertaining sculpts. Like you, I can do without the stupid chainmail-bikini look - but then Dark Elves always have had that hipster tw*t aura to them, have they not? I'm sure Khain is thrilled with his daughters here. 

But regardless, you have some impressive painting all set here to kick things off. I can't wait for your next submission in two or three weeks time where you suddenly have "B", "C" and "A2" roll off the painting line :) 

85 points for you! I promise I'll update the scoresheet after I wake up :)

GregB

From NickY: The Daughters of Har Ganeth [75 points]

The year was 1995 and I was until then a pure elven son from the ten kingdoms of Ulthuan. My soul was unscarred by the allure of dark seduction, and never had I tasted the bitter spite of our dread cousins. But that was to change when a book was placed in my hands, a book whose cover was devilishly designed to tempt the unwary with images that were 'da bomb'. A dope lizard riding elven dreadlord and a scantily clad vixen warrior and sorceress looked at me accusingly. 

11 x 25mm Dark Elf Witch Elves from Games Workshop

11 x 25mm foot @ 5 points = 55 points

Limbo bonus = 20 points

Total = 75 points

"Why had I allowed my pitiful mind to be deceived by the treacherous lies of false Kings?"

Had I? Was it all a lie? Had the true Phoenix King been betrayed and denied his rightful claim to the throne? How could a dinosaur, I mean lizard, riding elf and his oh so attractive entourage be wrong? 

I had not the courage or the time back then to sate my desires. Well, it is 'high' time I find out the 'dark' truth for myself.

With the hope that maybe I can play some fantasy battles in the Old World or in another fantasy setting, I am endeavouring to fulfill that promise I made to that dreadlord and his seductive retainers. 

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Nice work Nick - always so satisfying to finish off an old project and realise it. Feels like some kind of redemption from the unrealised pile of partial potential They certainly are a collection of dynamic ladies - I trust get to see some table top action soon!

-Paul

From TeemuL: Lust and Gluttony [Lust] [Gluttony] (60 points)

Finally making some progress in the theme Challenge (see below for a pretty map).

First we embrace Lust. 20+ years ago when I was getting into the GW hobby during the initial release of LotR SBG, after a bit of Bood Bowl every now and then, I browsed GW catalogue and Dark Elf Morathi was tempting me. However, I was bit scared for such an expensive and big model, which I had no game use, so I skipped her and bought Sorceress on Cold One instead. My other hobby money went to LotR and then to 40K minis, following the interests of my friends. Morathi has haunted me ever since and I was happy when she was on Made-to-Order campaign. I waited a few days to decide if I'd buy something else and after making the decision Morathi was gone. She no longer existed on the webshop, no explanations found... I have heard rumours, that no-one got Morathi, not even those who managed to place their orders in good time. Other rumour tells GW broke the mould, and could not reproduce her anymore, that's why she was withdrawn. All these rumours came from internet, so probably true.

I was extremely happy and quick, when some years later I noticed Morathi available in one of the 2nd hand forums and gladly bought her - for less money than MTO was supposed to be. It took couple of years to gather courage to paint her, but finally here she is. Rather simple mini in the end, not that scary. Not that many details, not on the mount nor on the rider. I painted her in couple of days among other stuff, so I was kind of disappointed - something I had lusted for was something rather simple, oh the irony. I made some highlights on the pegasus, grey to pick up details and shape of the wings, yellowish horns and spikes, grey mantle and read on the head to give a bit supernatural feeling. On Morathi I tried to get pale but real skin, some hightlights on the hair and several layers of metallics on her staff, which I came out better than I expected. I tried my best to highlight the tits, too, of course.

On the other hand the Morathi mini represent other kind of lust, too. She is the head of the Cult of Pleasure in the Old World. I quote Warhammerwiki now: "All who look upon her risk luxuriating in the aura of unbridled, wanton lust that she projects." I don't know if Sarah the minion is familiar with the Old World Dark Elves, Morathi, Cult of Pleasure and other relevant subjects, but I'm sure Curt can give you detailed lesson and spread out some source material or give some practical demonstrations. And if you have heard something about Slaanesh, this is not Slaanesh, this is an elf thing, pure and beautiful...

I think this is the best photo, light comes nicely to wings etc

Thirdly Morathi represent just pure teenaged-boy lust as a miniature with her almost naked body. Leia Organa's golden bikini, classic chainmail bikini and Morathi's outfit are probably in the top 3 of many fantasies of imaginative boys (most likely many imaginative girls, too). With these three arguments I claim the Lust bonus points.

Trying to focus on the staff...

Time to move on, next stop Gluttony. I was a bit puzzled by this in the first place, but then remembered these Fatties I got from Warlord Games Mystery Box. There should be three of them in one pack, but unfortunately my pack had just 2 torsoes and 4 feet... Being part of the Mystery Box and unboxed several months later, I decided to keep the damage to myself. Anyway, 2 Fatties are more than enough for Gluttony.

While Morathi was painted with traditional colours and "1990s style", these Fatties were painted mostly with Contrast paints, occasional metal or detail picked up with normal paints. I ended up drybrushing their clothes a little, since the Contrast colours were too dark for me. The skin colour is rather interesting choice, I decided to paint the skin with "Skeleton Horde" contrast, to give a bit unnatural and unhealthy look on them, and I think it works ok.

They have clearly eaten too much, but they still have a tray carried around their neck with some tasty snacks to eat whenever. I have no knowledge of their lore in the Judge Dredd universe, but apparently they have some. I don't think these will end up as gaming pieces, or at least not for Judge Dredd games. Some random skirmish game might need these kind of fellows, we'll see.

Females eyes look rather nice

I think these two count for Gluttony, so I claim points for the third circle, too. I have a good idea for the fourth circle, but I guess I need to hitch my way onward after that...

One 28mm mounted metal mini for 10 points

Two 28mm resin minis for another 10 points

Two Bonus Locations for 40 points

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Hi Teemu

I very much like the 'pretty' map of Dantes Abyss & Paradise.  I need visual reminders/cues, so I completely appreciate & shamelessly copied your drawings :)

Terrific backstory on your "lust" figure, Morathi. It is true that so often the object of ones lust does not live up to expectations.  Kinda depressing .. but there it is. 

Which then leads us to gluttony ... which means an over-indulgence and over- consumption and your two fatties certainly fit the  definition.

All three of these figures have been beautifully painted,  the colours selected have really enhanced their overall vibe.

I love it all!

60 points added to your scoreboard

- Sarah

From TamsinP: In Darkness We Are Born [Fantasy] (35 points)

 

Having finished up post-production in the "Swords & Sandals" studio, I find my path leads me into the realms of the "Fantasy" studio, where I am confronted with three actors done up with purple skin and pointy ears. The production assistant informs me that they are "Drow" or "Dark Elves" and hands me a book - the 4th Edition Advanced D&D Monster Manual. A post-it tag leads me to the relevant entry:

Drow: The "Black Elves", or drow, are only legend. They purportedly dwell deep beneath the surface in a strange subterranean realm. The drow are said to be as dark as faeries are bright and as evil as the latter are good. Tales picture them as weak fighters but strong magic-users.

These are early 1980s pre-slotta figures from Citadel, that had sat unpainted in my collection since I'd bought them. 

With these figures, I can tick off my 7th studio, and my 3rd in the Blue pass zone - next stop, Arthouse.

For Scoring

3 x 25mm foot @ 5 = 15 points

1 x studio @ 20 = 20 points

Total = 35 points

Friday Minion: Oh I love how the Drow are so rarely seen, they are but legend, but of course because they're the coolest elves, they appear in nigh on every D&D campaign as a player character. Predictable, really. 

Nice vintage Citadel minis here Tamsin, I like the purple/red/black/gold colour scheme, very haughty and regal. And an understated approach to basing, is this for a particular setting, or inspired by Mr Roundwood?

From PaulOG - Dungeon Bowl: Into the Shadows (80 points) (Glorantha)

Like several fellow Challengers, I am a Blood Bowl fan boy devotee tragic - have been since my teen years and then dragged my son Reilly into it before he was 10 years old. We are loving the recent GW attention to this game so the re-release of Dungeon Bowl last month was a no brainer for us.  I mean, its fantasy rugby/gridiron played in a Dungeon with exploding treasure chests and magic teleportors - whats not to love?

Dungeon Bowl is quite differently managed in comparison to the more traditional above ground leagues. Underground, teams are sponsored by a different Colleges of Magic and comprised of mixed race players. 

Skaven team members

This is the College of Shadows - one of the 2 teams that come in the new boxed set, comprising Dark Elves, Skaven and Goblins (though I added the latter models from our stash, they don't come in the box).

Dark Elf players

Each college has a theme colour and the College of Shadows has adopted (perhaps unsurprisingly) grey. I embraced the colourless tones overall with a saturated green for the Goblins to really leap out, and kept this same spot colour to get a consistent team look.  The dungeon styled bases are home made (3d printed) and the dungeon they are standing in is a project you will see more of later in the Challenge :-)

The Goblins are fun, but..not the most valued players in the team!

The Team's legendary female Captain is Harriett Heart-Stealer, so named for her long line of heart broken suitors. And also for her penchant of actually removing this vital organ during matches and then keeping them for some kind of secretive, post-match ritual that sensible people don't ask about...

In their quest for on-pitch glory, adoration of cheering fans and the attention of high paying sponsors, the heroes of this College of Shadows team are assigned to the planet Glorantha. Overall this submission is 14 figures, but 2 were pre challenge colour testers, so only 12 for scoring (60 points) plus the planetary bonus for a total of 80.

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I think it's terrific that you and Reilly have been bitten hard by this game, and that you share a history of Blood Bowl back to your early years. 

I like how cohesive your team looks, further reinforced by the excellent dungeon tile bases. Really sharp. I particularly like Harriet 'Heart Stealer'. She's a bit literal, but you have to applaud her fashion sense (though not suitable for Saskatchewan at this time...). 

I look forward to the post where you talk to us about your 3D dungeon tiles/walls. It really fits the bill for this project!

- Curt

Sarah the sorceress, Dark elf assassin (30 points)

 I’ve been stumbling around this dungeon for a while in the oubliette and thought it was time to get a move on! So I call upon Sarah the Sorceress to move me just one room to the tomb (yes I know it’s a waste but there we go!)

So I present for your pleasure the Dark Elf assassin Birchblood and her rather ugly assistant Ravenclench. Tooled up with poisoned crossbow bolts and wickedly sharp blades they look forward to joining my chaps warbands in my Realms of Chaos mini campaign. I’ve gone for a bluey-grey skin tone with paler lips to create her sadistic but alluring charms.

Birchblood is a nice metal old Citadel figure. Indeed my first ever metal miniatures were Dark Elves from the same range, long since lost somewhere. Either way a nice figure. 

Ravenclench is a classic fantasy regiments plastic figure. 7 skulls between the two of them... not bad! Still got a ton of these to paint but he makes a nice companion to our dame noir!

So two figures 28mm, One female to complete Sarah the Sorceress and a very simple 30 points. 

On to the tomb! Kaaaaazaaaaam!!!💥☄️

Cheers 

Mark Backhouse

From RossM: Final post for AHPC IX (160 Points)

So, we draw near the end of yet another fantastic Analogue Hobbies Painting Challenge and this is the eighth I have participated in.  Before I introduce the entrants for this post; just want to say a huge thanks to the minions, fellow painters and of course the Snow Lord himself - Curt. The challenge makes the dark months of the early year fly and is a highlight the hobby year.

This figure is this year's Curtgeld and his brethren have been used in past games of MERP as Black Numenoreans. Given the theme of Fellowship and the request for enemies, I looked for something just that little bit different to pass on and a pre slotta Citadel C09Dark Elf was just the ticket. 

Now I have a confession to make; the figure is based on a 25mm hex base and has been since undercoating. Normally there would be nothing wrong with this, however the Curtgeld figure would sit on a 25mm round base. The dilemma that I faced as I continued to base and flock this figure on a hex base rather than rebase it. Hope that is ok, Curt?

More retro figures from Citadel and more of their classic Skeletons, another six to be precise. Not much more needs to be said about these to be honest.

No kilts to lift here

Yet more 15mm Late Crusaders from Gladiator Miniatures, this time the cavalry arm of a Late Crusader DBA army. Following suit from the earlier figures from this army there are both Brother Knights in red surcoats and Brother Sergeants in black surcoats.

More infantry for the same army and two additional command stands for the same army in ADLG, have the figures and enjoy the game so might as well.

All of the Crusaders as a group shot.

Two stands of Arab swordsmen to oppose the above. Don't know who makes these, probably Minifigs or similar. The undercoat has gone a bit grainy on these and unfortunately this has effected the final wash on the figures. Too old to try and strip them so grainy they will remain.

Another stand of Late Romans that required three figures to be matched in to painting from approx 15 years ago. The figures are front left as seen in front rank and the first and second figures from the left in the rear rank.

The figures are from Wargames Foundry and are still some of my favourite for this period, if perhaps a bit small in comparison to the likes of Gripping Beast and Footsore.

I cut the spears to the wrong length and didn't notice until the figures where glued in place in the unit.  Oh well, its only a couple of mm.

Shown with their fellows who are waiting on basing

Shown below is the entirety of this year's challenge from me and this year I have learnt a couple things for next year:

• Don't change your mind 3 weeks into the challenge and start prepping other figures

and

• Never, ever start rebasing the largest ancients army you have in 28mm, or any scale for that matter 

In terms of points I make this

1 x 28mm figure (Curtgeld) - 25 points
6 x 28mm skeletons - 30 points
15 x 15mm cavalry - 60 points
15 x 15mm infantry - 30 points
3 x 28mm infantry - 15 points

For a total this entry of 160 points.

This will take my overall total to 354 points out of 500 planned for (see comments above)

Thanks again to everyone and I am looking forward to Challenge X later this year.

Cheers, Ross

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First, thanks so much for the wonderful Curtgeld figure Ross. I love these old school Citadel models and this guy's an absolute corker (don't sweat the base, it looks wonderful).  

Wow, what a great assortment you have for us as your closing entry. Skeletons, crusaders, arab swordsmen... this has all the makings of a fabulous adventure movie! I have to admit that my favourite of the lot are the Late Romans, bravely holding the line in their matching shields and Imperial standard - wonderful stuff.

Great work Ross and I look forward to you being with us for Challenge X.

- Curt