Drowned Rats

Skaven Clans Skryre and Pestilens go to war on the high seas! A battle report using the classic Warhammer boat rules from the 2003 General's Compendium.

 

Converting Plague Censer Bearers, Part 4

The Plague Censer Bearers are finished! Here's a look at how I painted their weapons...

 

Converting Plague Censer Bearers, Part 3

The Plague Censers are almost finished...

 

Converting Plague Censer Bearers, Part 2

Time to build the handles for the two-handed censer flails:

Converting Plague Censer Bearers, Part 1

A few years ago, I made a handful of Plague Censer Bearers, but I didn't get into much detail about the conversion work. I had always intended to revisit the unit and fill out its ranks to a full 20-rat regiment. Here's a step-by-step look at how I converted the them:

Painting Tutorial: Batch Painting Clanrats

I recently finished up a batch of 100 Skaven Clanrats, themed to match my Clan Pestilens force. Painting large units can be a daunting, even exhausting task, but if you have a plan and work at a steady pace, you can get through it in no time. Here's a look at the process I used to batch-paint all of these Clanrats:

 

Finishing Off the Skaven Queue

In addition to Plague Priest Scrabis-Tocsinous, I've put the lid on a few more of the projects in my Skaven queue:

 

 

Plague Priest Scrabis-Tocsinous

One of the things I've enjoyed doing with my Skaven is representing specific magic items and artifacts on my characters.

 

The Bilious Bell in the list of Clan Pestilens artifacts offered the perfect opportunity to model a unique Plague Priest, and allowed me to tick off my box on the Hobby Bingo card. In this post I'll take you through my process of converting this model.

 

What's in the Project Queue? January 2018

As we roll into 2018 I'm taking stock of my army projects, the backlog of painting and what I can look forward to going forward.

Sisters of Battle

My Shadow War: Armageddon kill team is finally finished. I could technically bring the team to ten models, so maybe I'll track down three more Sisters on ebay to round them out. But the slow rate at which I've been able to add models to the team and arm them, there's no rush on that.

 

 

I've been working on some extras for the game, namely the Necromunda Barricades and Objectives set I received for Christmas. The ammo boxes are painted, and make perfect loot counters. I also painted the exterminatus device from the 40K objectives kit. I used that as the promethium tank in the Raid scenario. I'll chip away at the rest of those objectives and barricades as time allows.

 

 

 

 

I also have the Servohaulers set, which I was excited to get my hands on, but have yet to begin assembling. Maybe I'll use that to experiment with painting yellow and weathering before I begin my Imperial Fists. Speaking of which...

Space Marines

I haven't played much of the new Warhammer 40,000 and I'm not sure if that will change with the Malign Portents Campaign coming out for Age of Sigmar. I still want to make a point to paint my Imperial Fist Primaris marines from the starter set sometime this year. I'd also like to add a Redemptor Dreadnought because that looks like a great kit, and I have an idea for converting its arms to resemble the more "boxy" look of the classic dreadnoughts. I'm also sculpting a set of industrial bases for my Skull Forge Scenics range that I'll be using for the basing.

 

 

Legions of Nagash

The Malign Portents campaign is coming soon, as is the Legions of Nagash battletome. I think we're still about six months out from any new undead models, and I don't know if what they release will slot into the existing undead range or be a completely new stand-alone army in the same way the Kharadron Overlords were their own separate force apart from the traditional Duardin.

The press release on the Legions of Nagash book said that it will contain warscrolls for every undead model released (so far). Clearly new Death models are coming, but I don't know if they will be in the Legions of Nagash book, or if it will literally only have the models "so far" and the new army will receive its own, separate Battletome. I hope not.

There has also been speculation that none of the Flesh Eater Courts will be in this book. That wouldn't surprise me, as they have their own battletome and allegiance abilities in the General's Handbook. I wonder if the Legions of Nagash is going to incorporate the Soulblight and Nighthaunt allegiances, or it they will remain allegiances that can be used in addition to the new allegiances in the book.

The Maggotkin of Nurgle battletome and its new rules also make me wonder if we will see a new mechanic for summoning. The Nurgle allegiances use a system where the army accumulates points to spend on summoning new units rather than casting spells to summon the units. The summoned models still need to be paid for with the army's reserve points, however. Feculent Gnarlmaw trees add to this pool of summoning points, and more can be brought into play as the game progresses.

Maybe we'll see a similar system for bringing death models into play. Perhaps the Mausoleums or some kind of mass grave can be unearthed on the battlefield, allowing undead troops to be summoned? Something else I've noticed is all the corpse-parts on some of the new Nurgle models, namely the Pusgoyle Blightlords. Perhaps the corpses mean that a new zombie kit is on the way, and the digital corpses are getting double duty across a few kits in the same manner that the spirit hosts appeared on Nagash and the Mortarchs.

 

I still have my Nighthaunt models waiting to be finished. I haven't had much desire to work on these since the Nighthaunt list is so limiting. It makes me laugh when I see people comparing Nighthaunt lists online, when the only real difference is whether they have more more Spirit Hosts or more Hexwraiths. There just isn't a lot of diversity in the Nighthaunt sub-faction and the limits of what they can ally with only exacerbates the sameness of everyone's armies. Hopefully that will change in the new Battletome. I'd like to finish these models before any new Death models release so I can jump into the new stuff without too much of a backlog. I've decided that the Knight of Shrouds will be my "buy and paint within 48 hours" model for this year's Hobby Bingo.

 

Skaven

This will be the last hurrah for my Conclave of Corruption. With the new focus on Chaos Nurgle armies, they will be fairly useless when facing them. I've already had a couple games against a Nurgle force, which rendered my Plagueclaws useless (they only wound Nurgle units on a 6). There are a lot of other abilities and tricks that Clan Pestilens uses which either affect Nurgle units on a 6 or not at all. That, paired with the first real attention paid to the Death Grand Alliance in Age of Sigmar's three years, means I'll be turning my focus away from the Skaven and back to my first love.

I still want to finish off the Skaven projects that I've already begun. If you follow me on Twitter, you've seen that the painting of my Pestilens-themed Clanrats has begun. Here's the first 20, waiting for their green robes and a few other details to be finished. 60 more after this...

 

 

I've finished converting my Plague Priest equipped with the Bilious Bell. This will check the "convert a model into a totally different unit or character" box on the Hobby Bingo card. I took lots of step-by-step pictures of this guy, so I'll talk about him in a separate post.

 

I also buckled down and finished converting my first Plague Censor Bearers. They're converted out of Plague Monks, rearranged to hold their staves two-handed. The censor flails were giving me the most trouble because I was afraid that the existing plastic chain on the censors would be too thin and brittle for a conversion.

 

I wanted to use spare censors from other kits like the Screaming Bell so they would have the smoke trailing off of them. The solution to the chain was to replace it with "rope" made from two lengths of thin floral wire, twisted by putting one end in a power drill, and the other held with a pair of pliers. The ends were clipped to use as a pin which could be inserted into holes in the censor and the post. Thinner wire was then hand-wrapped around the ends to create the connecting ties. The ropes were then bent into shape atop the flail staves.

 

 

When these models are finished, the Pestilens conclave of Warlord Skabsis will begin to rival the size of Skryre Lord Skreekits' Lightning Engineer Cult. Quite the power struggle...

 

'Til next time!

Making it Rain, Part 2: Painting

In part one, I discussed the construction of my Plagueclaw catapult, converted from a Screaming Bell kit. In part two I'll share my process for speed painting Skaven war machines.

Making it Rain, Part 1: Construction

Construction of the Plagueclaw Catapults is finally complete, and the Foulrain Congregation is almost ready for battle...

 

The Skaven War Machine Rolls On

My trio of Plagueclaw Catapults that will form the Foulrain Congregation is coming together nicely. Here's a look at how I'm converting the Screaming Bell into a third Plagueclaw...

 

Skaven Project Queue 2017

As it happens, I collect two of the most unsupported armies in Age of Sigmar. I guess that can be said for a lot of classic armies, but Death is the only entire grand alliance to receive absolutely nothing new in the two years since Sigmar premiered. The 2017 General's Handbook offers three new allegiance factions for the undead, but each one relies on such a narrow selection of units that, even though I have over 7000 points of "Vampire Counts" undead, I am unable to pull together 1600 points of the specific models required to build a 2000 points Flesh-eater Court, Soulblight, or Nighthaunt list.

I was kind of hoping that I would never have to paint any more Spirit Hosts, and I can't get excited about spamming the Crypt Horror/Crypt Flayer/Vargheist kit over and over. There's probably something on the horizon for the Death Grand Alliance next year, but until then I'm going to focus on my Skaven:

The Boneripper

I got excited to try the Moulder monster list I came up with. I only need a second Hell Pit Abomination to field it, so I'm using Thanquol's giant Boneripper. He's the right size and "abomination-y" enough to fill the roll if I leave Thanquol off. I'll paint up the Grey Seer parts so I can add him on later.

 

 

The regular Hell Pit Abomination was a nightmare to build and paint, but Boneripper went together much more easily. I had planned to magnetize the warpstone fists and warpfire projectors, but in the end I settled on pins.

 

Boneripper is primed and ready to go. I left off a lot of the mechanical parts so I could paint the body more easily.

 

Plagueclaw Catapults

To get my Pestilens Allegiance army off the ground I need two more of these for the Foulrain Congregation Battalion. The first Plagueclaw is assembled and sprayed...

 

 

The second needs to be converted out of the Screaming Bell. I've been trying to figure out how to rearrange the chassis. I'm considering using the monks pulling the rope as though they were pulling the catapult arm into position. The large brazier will be the catapult bucket, and I'll press mold some plague-glop into it. Should be fun.

 

Plague Priests

I'll use the monk and Grey Seer from the bell to kitbash a few more unique Plague Priests. One will be modeled with the Bilious Bell and the other will be the priest commanding the Foulrain Congregation.

 

 

Plague Censor Bearers

I've got about 35 Plague Monks that need to be converted into Plague Censor Bearers. I'll build these guys in batches of five or ten until I finish the lot of them.

 

 

Clanrats

Once the other Pestilens projects are complete, I'll be able to add in some Clanrats as allies, and that's where these guys will come in.

 

 

Aside from the odd character or weapon team, a couple extra Rat Ogres and plenty of old Clanrats, that's pretty much everything I have in my collection of unbuilt Skaven models. Then it will be on to some Space Marines or maybe Star Wars when Legion comes out.

'Til next time!

Skaven Allegiences, Part 2: Clan Skryre

Last time, I discussed the Skaven Pestilens allegiance abilities in the 2017 General's Handbook, and laid out my plans for my own Pestilens force. I've done a little work on the models– The first Plagueclaw is assembled and ready to be primed. I added a cauldron of filth on one arm using one of the spare pieces and a simple press mold of the glop on the catapult arm. Up the opposite side, I attached some strips of card, scored with a wood grain pattern and pressed with rivets. The Catapult, wheels, and crew will all be painted in separate parts.

 

 

 

I also converted five Plague Censor Bearers. They are assembled from the Plague Monk kit, with the censor weapon arm and staves rearranged and pinned together to create a two-handed weapon. I'm hoping to work in a few of the "smoking" censors from the Plague Furnace chassis to bring a little more life and color to the models.

 

 

Now let's take a look at the Skaven Skryre Allegiance:

Skaven Allegiances and the General's Handbook

I finally got my grubby hands on the 2017 General's Handbook.

 

 

In this post, I talk about the new Matched Play rules and see how the new Allegiance Abilities will affect my Skaven army.

A Plague of Pestilens Counters

We are starting a Path to Glory at the local shop, so my Skaven have been seeing some action lately. One of the things I'm discovering is that there are a lot of different sources for buffing the units, and keeping track of it all can get pretty confusing, especially when the opponent gets a double turn and one of your units gets to fight in three rounds of combat before your hero phase comes around again. There have been many times when I wasn't sure if I was applying a bonus longer than I should have.

I've been "rewiring" my brain to think procedurally in terms of the hero phase:

1. Remove spell counters and buffs that were in play.

2. Make any special moves that occur at the start of the hero phase.

3. Roll for effects that replace models (for the undead).

4. Make any other test that occur in the hero phase.

5. Cast spells.

6. Use the general's command ability.

When it comes to the Clan Pestilens Skaven, it seems that every unit either has or benefits from abilities that give a bonus to the wound roll. And sometimes those abilities are applied to an enemy unit, and sometimes they are applied to a friendly unit.

For example, Plague Priests can Wither an enemy unit, granting +1 to any wound rolls made against it. Plague Monk units have a one-use-only scroll that will also affect an enemy unit, allowing any wound rolls of 1 to be re-rolled against that enemy unit. The Plague Furnace, however, can Bless a single friendly unit, allowing them to re-roll any of their failed wound rolls.

Keeping track of which of these buffs were in play, and which units were benefiting from them was getting pretty confusing, so I put together some counters to make things easier:

 

 

Painting Tutorial: Meteorites from Skull Forge Scenics

My latest release for Skull Forge Scenics is a pair of resin meteorites, available here in my online store. I sculpted two different styles, one with a pockmarked and pitted surface, and the other rich with metallic or crystalline deposits. They are perfect for battlefield embellishments or objectives. The Age of Sigmar scenario Gifts from the Heavens in the General's Handbook has the players battling for control of two fallen meteors. I know my Skaven are always on the lookout for fallen chunks of warpstone!

 

 

In this tutorial I'll show you four ways to paint the meteorites. The paints used are Formula P3 colors with a few GW washes and Liquitex Burnt Umber Ink (called Brown Ink in the tutorial). Black spray primer is used as an undercoat.

 

Painting the Ground

You should paint the ground to match your own battlefield, but here's the process I used for my own pieces:

To start, drybrush the ground with successive layers of Battlefield Brown, Gun Corps Brown, and Rucksack Tan. Finish it off with a final drybrush using a mix of Moldy Ochre and 'Jack Bone.

 

Next, basecoat the individual rocks with Bastion Grey.

 

Wash everyting with Brown Ink. Use a paper towel to blot up any spots where it gets too heavy.

 

Once the ink has dried, use a small drybrush to carefully brush more Bastion Grey on the rocks. Then drybrush 'Jack Bone over everything for a final highlight.

 

Once the meteorite is painted, finish the ground by drybrushing some Thamar Black and Greatcoat Grey in the furrow behind and around the meteor to represent the scorched earth where it impacted. Add some flock or static grass to match your battlefield.

 

Iron Ore Meteorite

Basecoat the meteorite with a mix of equal parts Bloodstone, Skorne Red, and Battlefield Brown. Then, wash it with a mix of Brown Ink and Sanguine Base.

 

When the wash has dried, drybrush the color back up, first with a mix of equal parts Bloodstone and Skorne Red.

 

Next, add some Khador Red Highlight (aka orange) into the mix.

 

Dryrush some highlights around the edges using a mix of equal parts Bloodstone and Moldy Ochre .

 

Then, add a final highlight with straight Moldy Ochre.

 

Finally, soften the bright highlights by painting a glaze over the surface areas with a thinned mix of Bloodstone and Khador Red Highlight.

 

Warpstone Meteorite

Basecoat the meteorite with Gnarls Green.

 

Then, wash it with GE Coelia Greenshade.

 

When the wash has dried, drybrush the color back up with Gnarls Green and Iosian Green.

 

Then drybrush with a mix of Iosian Green and Necrotite Green.

 

Add a final drybrush with straight Necrotite Green.

 

Highlight the edges with a mix of Necrotite Green and Morrow White.

 

Finish off the edge highlight with straight Morrow White at any of the points and corners.

 

 

Obsidian Meteor with Gold Deposits

Basecoat the meteor with Coal Black.

 

Then wash it with GW Nuln Oil.

 

When the wash has dried, drybrush the color back up using Coal Black.

 

Apply successively lighter layers of drybrushing by by mixing in a little Thrall Flesh. Keep the mix dark, and bring up the brightness at the edges with more Thrall Flesh.

 

Add a final highlight along the edges with a mix of Thrall Flesh and a little Morrow White.

 

For the gold deposits, basecoat them with Rhulic Gold.

 

Then, overbrush the metal with Shining Gold.

 

Wash Brown Ink into all the recesses on the gold.

 

Add a final highlight with a mix of Shining Gold and Quick Silver.

 

 

Moon Rock with Crystal Deposits

Paint the entire meteor with a mix of Thamar Black and Greatcoat Grey.

 

Then Drybrush the meteor with straight Greatcoat Grey.

 

Mix Underbelly Blue into the Greatcoat to lighten the levels of drybrushing until you are brushing almost straight Underbelly blue at the edges.

 

When the drybrushing is finished, mix a wash of GW Nuln Oil and Brown Ink and paint it in patches on the surface of the meteor. Don't coat the whole thing, just add a little deep brown shading here and there.

 

For the crystals, this process will work with any color like red, blue, or purple. Just go from light to dark with final white highlights. For this meteorite I'm using greens to represent deposits of warpstone in the rock.

Basecoat with Gnarls Green.

 

Brush the color up with Iosian Green.

 

Highlight the edges with Necrotite Green.

 

Add a final edge highlight with a mix of Necrotite Green and Morrow White, and then a spot highlight of straight white at the tips.

 

 

And that's it! When precious stones come crashing from the heavens, make sure you're the first one to get them! You can pick up these meteorites and more in my online store:

www.skullforgescenics.etsy.com

 

 

 

'Til next time!