GW has announced that the old world is coming back, with square bases no less. That sounds like Warhammer Fantasy Battle (my first love) to me.

It is several years in the future, apparently, leaving plenty of time of for idle speculation. With that in mind, here is my 100% purely speculative, utterly unfounded prediction: the new game is going to be in 15-18 mm scale!

Why? New models for everyone (sales), less competition from 3rd party manufacturers (except the old Demonworld range), bigger units, unit price will stay the same but more figures will make buyers feel they are getting value, and GW can use their existing digital files to make the minis.

There you have it, I've gone on the record. Let's see what happens.

From the Dark Ages

I painted another handful (12) of spear wielding Gripping Beast plastic dark age warrior types. I figure they can do duty as a fairly wide range of early medieval North West European fyrd or levy type warriors, as well as generic warriors, tribesfolk, and/ or angry local farmers in various fantasy settings.

This time I went for a much more muted palette, attempting to represent warriors of more modest means dressed in humble homespun fabric. Again, these lads were painted mostly using contrast paints.

Charging across a white, featureless plain.

The shield designs are entirely speculative.

Granny and the Boys

I finished a few more viking types, including Granny. I'm in the process of planning my first Dragon Rampant game and Granny is going to feature in it - as are her two friends, most likely.

I picture Granny as being a local force, both due to her tendency towards sorcery (real in fantasy games, less real in historical games) and sheer force of personality. The miniatures themselves are (L to R) Citadel, Citadel (I think), Wargames Foundry.

Vikings Muster

A little while ago I posted some pictures of a batch of vikings that were "in progress". Well, I actually legitimately finished some of them. So here they are.

First up a pair of berserkers who've kept their pants on:

These fellows (Citadel) look to me like they've both just about had it.

I'm pretty happy with how that red and white shield came out.

Next up, a set of three berserkers who in terms of clothing seem to own an eye-patch, two shoes, and a belt between them. I'm not sure if they share...

That line from Dirty Old Town comes to mind: "I'm going make me a big sharp axe, shining steel tempered in the fire, I'll chop you down, like an old dead tree...."

The lesson here seems to be that a belt and a pouch will make your butt seem just a little juicier. These are Wargames Foundry miniatures.

Also, a handful of more regular viking types. They're a bit fancier than the shieldwall types I posted earlier. In the interest of transparency I should disclose that I finished the lass miniature a while ago (in fact you might recognize her from earlier posts), I just redid her shield.

Here they are coming towards the viewer...

... and here they are, moving away. The fellow second from the left is an old Citadel mini, the rest are Wargames Foundry.

And last but not least here's a cute viking couple and their kid. I hope they all stay out of trouble.

Hands on hips lady looks like she is not going to put up with any nonsense...

... that is, if she can locate the nonsense. The man is a Citadel mini and I think the woman is too. If not, she's from Wargames Foundry.

Actually Painted Miniatures: Celtos Gaels

Actually Painted Miniatures are posts where I show miniatures I painted "a while ago".

Here are some Celtos Gaels. The blue is supposed to be woad, but that one guy looks a bit like an angry Smurf.

These six have seen service in many a D&D game as wild tribesfolk, henchmen, and occasionally as individual player characers.

I'm working on a few more Celtos Gaels to keep them company (meaning that I have some unfinished Gaels in the started-but-not-done pile).

Five Leagues From the Borderlands

I just purchased Five Leagues from the Borderlands by Nordic Weasel Games. The cover looks like this:

It's a fantasy skirmish campaign type thingie, designed for solo play. I gave it a quick read today and it looks pretty cool. I'm going to roll up a party and maybe, just maybe, play a game or two. If I do, I will report back here.

We will see.

Four-legged Sharp-toothed Creatures

This morning, the early hours, I saw something disturbing down at the old barn. You know, the one at the edge of the woods. The one only used by vagabonds and crows seeking shelter from the rain.

This morning I saw three wolves, running as if possessed. They did not stop when they saw me. They did not stop by the carcass of the deer I had brought down. Not for a moment. They just kept running. I wondered at that.

Some old school wolves. I think Reaper (?)

I put it out of mind and set about to dress the deer. This would help us through the coming winter. Less than half an hour passed before I saw wherefore the pack had fled. Behind the wolves, following their tracks, was a pack of hideous creatures easily twice the size of a grown man. Multicoloured and behorned, tentacled and slavering, beholden to no mortal taxonomy - they were beasts of chaos. Hounds of some sort, I would call them.

This winter will bring tears, I reckon.

GW Chaos Warhounds, mounted on 25 x 50 mm bases because I recently decided that I'll be sticking to WFB basing for my minis.

The Chaos Hounds were painted mostly using contrast paint. Some of the colours are really good. Some of them are quite poor, in my eyes. And different shades have very different use cases, it seems. Still, a good addition to the toolbox and they do help get projects started for me so that's a definite plus.