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All the best to one and all! And thanks to the mighty mantis lord himself for once again running a contest that has inspired such a range of responses.

Great entries everyone!! Not envying Gits one bit- Gonna be hard to judge!

Wish I could have completed something in time, but with work, other projects, and most importantly an ill-timed cold, I just couldnt get beyond this:



Bonus stealth prize?
Damn... Better luck next year xD



Best of luck to the entrants!

That's a very clean and tidy job, Ramos.

Good work everyone. Good to see so many variations on a theme. Good luck Gits'.

Ramos- You missed a mold line.

Git- Blew it. Didn't get it done. I have it still, so if I finish I'll show you.

Whoa, awesome entries everyone! I don't envy the person who has to judge the winners..

Neat comp. Lovely work from everyone.

I get to play 40k tonight.... yippee!! Put together an absolutely rancid space marine army. Should be amusing to play and nice to look at... but not remotely challenging for my opponent. Ah well, such is life. I shall bluster and wave my arms around and call for the Emperor's protection. In the end it shall be for naught however.... and I shall slink home to plot my next battle.


@moonpie: I was so sad when you didn't make the deadline. Who am I going to disqualify this year if you aren't participating??!!

 Gitsplitta wrote:
I get to play 40k tonight.... yippee!! Put together an absolutely rancid space marine army. Should be amusing to play and nice to look at... but not remotely challenging for my opponent. Ah well, such is life. I shall bluster and wave my arms around and call for the Emperor's protection. In the end it shall be for naught however.... and I shall slink home to plot my next battle.

How bad could it be? You just laying the groundwork for your post-game excuses? If the main redeeming feature of your army is “It’s nice to look at” you had better pony up some pictures, if not a battle report.

Good luck and have fun!

Hope you have a great time, and yup pics are necessary.

Hey Gits, I'll get it done late and then you can disqualify me for being late.

Great competition. I think they are all awesome, except Ramos' entry, which kinda sucks.

I hope something simple but effective wins, personally.

I have many pics which I will post later. Lost a close, fun game to a fluffy Eldar list. Plagued by bad dice rolls the whole game. Great opponent though with a nicely painted army.

Looking forward to it, Gits! Always nice to see two painted armies duke it out, even when dice fail to cooperate xD

 Fifty wrote:
Great competition. I think they are all awesome, except Ramos' entry, which kinda sucks.

I hope something simple but effective wins, personally.

All because I missed that mold line....

Let me begin by saying that all but one of the photos I took of the battle were blurry. Damn android takes forever to focus and by the time it takes the picture the camera has moved and the picture isn't worth sh*t.


Here are the only 3 pics that were worth anything.

My opponent's lovely classic elder army, minus the flyer:



His wonderful vintage harlequins, which look so much like mine that I did a double-take. His are painted better than mine though.



And the only shot of any of my figures that turned out... this is what happens when you mishap your assault squad with your HQ. Even with jump packs they end up being by-standers for the whole game. This shot was taken from the extreme left corner of my deployment zone where they got stuck.



Fun game but I had horrible dice luck. Mishapped commander & squad, A TFC that never hit anything after turn 2, pods that scattered all over hell and gone, lousy marine saving throws, Iron Clad dread immobilized the first time it was shot at... I think I'm going to quit taking it... it never does anything. I didn't know they'd changed the rules on the quad gun so it no longer could shoot at ground targets at full BS. Not a pleasant surprise. Still, a close game in spite of all that & my rifleman dread did manage to shoot down the flyer eventually.

Lks great even if you did have some bad luck, it comes around. Assault squad looking good there, nice and safe!

Sorry... I sound very grumpy. I actually had a really good time playing a great opponent with a beautiful army. And the final score was 13 to 11 so it was a really close game. Nothing to complain about (seriously) on my end... just a bit of dice-frustration here and there. It's not like everything went perfectly for my opponent either, he had his share of bad luck too.

I'm trying to cook up an army that will receive a perfect "fluff score"... that is: 1 HQ (not named), 2 troops, 1 elite, 1 FA & 1 hvy. The idea is not to show up with something super-powerful like centurions. With the models I have painted... it's actually kind of hard to do & reach the 1500 points that the game is set at (and still make the army make any sense).

At the moment I'm thinking along the lines of...

HQ: ?
EL: 5 tac termies in LR
TP: 2 full tac squads in pods
FA: either an assault squad or 2x land speeders w/ MLs
HV: TFC or dev squad

Problem is there's no room in any of the transports for the HQ, so I'm not sure what to do with him unless I choose the assault squad. I don't have much in the way of heavy support options. Just 2 TFCs, a vindicator & a dev squad.

Finding the right spot for your HQ can be rough. Jump pack with the assaults is an easy choice. Drop pod with a 9 man sternguard or a command squad can also work. If you have pack-less assault marines, a pod with them is also a good spot, as they loose next to nothing by being understrength.

From a fluff POV, I might take rhinos rather then pods, and the Vindi for a HS pick. This gives you a fully mechanized armored column. Still have the HQ problem. JP still fits the theme, as they have the speed to keep up with the tanks, but bikes would be fluffier.

Make a little white tent that you can place on a hill for him to stand in and direct the battle.

Or just ignore the modeller and listen to the gamers...

Good to see you had a fun game.

 Ramos Asura wrote:

Holy crap! This one is my vote.. honestly you could have not pulled this off; based off of the theme any better.

As for HQ's....Go for a Generic Libby.

He is just out of phase in our continuam.

OK gang. No more late entries I guess. I'll do the judging tomorrow if someone will give me a bump.

Bump.


There. Hop to.

He's injured, why's he hoping? Oh sorry got it, yes indeed we are most patiently waiting aren't we. Yes we is.....Patiently.............Waiting....................................................

want...know....weinner....

I've been sitting here fretting over exactly how I was going to present the winners. There were just so many darn good entries that it makes not only the judging difficult but it also makes the presentation that much more important. I first want to thank everyone who spent their valuable time and talents producing a model for this competition. They were, one and all... fantastically done. Each model should be a source of pride when fielded and I sincerely hope each of you takes to opportunity to do so from time to time. For my part, it is truly an honor to have my work be part of the inspiration for such an amazing display of talent and creativity. I am humbled.

As you know I didn't lay out a point system for judging the entries, nor did I ask for any other judges to help. This, in particular... was a very personal process for me and I wanted to keep it as much about creativity and cleverness as possible rather than having people design and paint to a certain set of numerical criteria. That approach turned out to be the right one given the quality of the models produced. Because of the nature of the challenge, I also didn't want to dilute my own ideas of the chapter by involving other judges. Not that involving others is a bad idea... getting other opinions and expertise is wonderful... but this was a guilty pleasure I wanted to keep for myself. This also means that if you aren't happy with the final standings, you know exactly who to put the blame on. I'm an adult... I can take it.

How did I make my decisions? I read through the same paragraph from IA-10 that I based the competition on, as well as the clues I left in the instructions. I looked to see how many of the contestants had hit on everything (in my opinion anyway) and ranked them by how closely they hit the mark. I then went to the rest of the entries and found the best interpretations to fill out the bracket. I felt the first three places were pretty easy to pick, the last two were nearly impossible as there were SO MANY strong pieces. I actually cheated and went to 6 places rather than five... and they're not 5 and 6 so much as 5a and 5b. I'll add in one more prize for the choosing as a result.

I will list the top 6 in order then, with my positive comments about each one along with a pic of the entry. I will eventually do this for every entry... but only the first 6 are in order.


Shall we begin?

The challenge:

Your task is a simple one... match a single, Mantis Warrior infantry figure (including bikes) to the following quote from IA.

"Once the silent warders of the Endymion Cluster, in the wake of the Badab Wars the Mantis Warriors have been bound to a century long penitent crusade which may well see the end of the Chapter before its conclusion. One of the rare descendants of the savage White Scars, the Mantis Warriors’ millennia of isolation on the far edge of human space has left them much changed from their origins. Experts in the art of guerrilla warfare and the sudden application of violence from concealment, the Mantis Warriors are subtle and cunning killers, wreathed in mysticism, who strike with the fury of an unexpected storm."

That's it. Best figure that hits closest to the mark wins. No judging criteria, no point system, just you, your skills and your imagination fueled by the above statement. There is no limit on basing. While you may only submit a single Mantis Warrior, your scene may include as many "victims" as you'd like... I'll consider them part of the basing.

Of course... it wouldn't be one of my competitions unless someone got disqualified for not actually adhering to the rules. Last year it was moonpie and IceAngel who made a bloody amazing Inquisitional Retinue which involved many Mantis Warrior ties. Unfortunately I did specify at the beginning that each person had to do their own work (i.e. no teams) but then I blindly went ahead and let them enter the competition. That one was on me. :( This year... our sacrificial lamb has no one to blame but themselves. And even though I really loved what they did (it "hit the mark" like Robin Hood at the fair)... it was technically an illegal entry. So without further ado...



Disqualification: Brother Sergeant Waldorf by Anpu-adom
Reason: Rules clearly state that the entry must include "a single Mantis Warrior infantry figure". Unfortunately there is none.

 Anpu-adom wrote:
Here is my entry to the Mantis Maker II challenge...



And the entry description:
Brother Sargent Waldorf, of the Mantis Warriors.
Mantis Warriors are masters at using their environment to their advantage. Here is one of Waldorf's prepared sniper positions. One key to being a successful sniper is to realize that your location will be discovered. Another key to surviving is to no longer be at that place when it is discovered. Buried in the moss, Waldorf has left an explosive surprise for any who do find it.

Brilliant idea A-a. Seriously... I love it. Just didn't *quite* fit the comp criteria. - Gits



First Place: Dr H --- Prize: Infinity & non-GW figs

 Dr H wrote:

Tasked with laying mines, the Mantis Warrior became aware of the sound of approaching footsteps. He waited, hidden by the foliage, until the enemy was within sight and then burst forth to eliminate the patrol before they could raise the alarm or trip one of his traps prematurely.

Many angles, should show all...


Notes relevant to the competition/modelling:
I tried to use parts for the model that were (or appeared to be) of older marks of armour/equipment. This was to keep with the aesthetic of Gitsplitta's Mantis Warriors and to represent the length of time that the Mantis Warriors have spent away from the Imperium on crusade. The "beaky" helmet, to me, represents speed due to the streamlined look. This then harks back to being successors of the White Scars (the only other marine I have with a beaky is a White Scar), who like the faster modes of transportation. Plenty of purity seals to show that he (and the MWs) are loyal to the Emperor. The studded shoulder pad, in the tranquility camouflage pattern, shows that this marine was a veteran of the Badab war and, while his armour has been repaired and refurbished, he has chosen to keep the pattern on that shoulder as a badge of honour.

His bolter has been modified into more of a rifle than an assault rifle, and he carries a suppressor, to show that he is well versed in sniping from a concealed vantage point. The "many" grenades and the meltabomb, and the mines are all to show that he is also proficient in sabotage. Both of these to emphasize the Guerrilla warfare preference of the MWs. Most of the metals (in particular the knife) are dulled to avoid detection. The pose, however, is to show that he can act when he needs to in a "sudden application of violence from concealment". Holding the knife to show that he can and will get stuck in as well as the occasional, subtle, stab in the back/slash of the throat.

This model just jumps out at me as hitting all the main elements nicely . The pose clearly shows violent intent. The basing is fantastic and clearly addressed the cover issue. Aside from that the model itself is very well built, cleanly painted with extra details here-and-there, not to mention of very nice job on the MW insignia. - Gits



Second Place: Camkierhi - Prize: Imperial Guard package

 Camkierhi wrote:



Other shots spoilered to avoid boring you.

Spoiler:

Yet another model that just jumped off the page at me. The menacing elements of the chain-saw bunny ears... a-hem... I mean mantis-like arms above the head of the terminator. His exposed head showing a focused rage magnified by the finger pointing... he's got that "Your next me laddo!" look. The basing using the terminator time travel bubble effect to represent teleportation is what really elevated this figure into 2nd place. Great idea, very well executed. - Gits



Third Place: Littletower - Prize: Space Marine package

 Littletower wrote:

Barely seen through the heavy mist, the Battle Brother moved upon his target swiftly and without noise. A brief opening in the fog, a demolition charge casually left behind, almost as if forgotten…
The blast went off even before the mist had fully closed behind him, and the wall was breached. The fight was over before the debris from that first explosion had finished falling to the ground, the enemy never getting over the utter surprise of the attack.









Maybe because of living in an arid climate, coming out of the mist for a swift attack before getting lost in the fog again quite embodies the idea of the "sudden application of violence from concealment". Surprise assaults, bombs and quick strikes come to mind regarding the guerrilla tactics of a depleted or isolated force.

I really enjoyed watching LT work his way through figuring out how to do the mist. This is the last figure that I felt hit every aspect very solidly, though many of the other entries came close. Nice, solid work on the figure, love the little bomb and the cinematic effects (laser sight and mist) really make the figure stand out. - Gits



Fourth Place: D'naru Thuos by Knightley - Prize: Eldar 1 package

 Knightley wrote:



Tranquility sniper squad member D'naru Thuos. Ritually scarred as a follow on from the primogenitor chapter of the Whitescars, D'Naru has also reached high enough within his squad to go through first two trials of absolution, the aim being cleansed of their sins. Separated from his squad after a tight skirmish D'Naru found him self fighting alone to get back to the chapter, having gone through his bolter rounds he now has to rely on his bolt pistol, a scavenged knife and his wits. to survive.

Knightley hit on a bunch of details with his figure that I really like. The tranquility pattern armor brings the essence of MW camo with it, even though the base is simple. The drawn knife and bared teeth show a clear indication of the violent intent of the marine, and the ritual scarring is also reminiscent of the tribal nature of the chapter. An exquisite job on the face and the less then perfect state of the armor are just icing on the cake. - Gits



I want to comment that even in my own judges notes... 5a and 5b have switched places many times. They are both fantastic in their own way, but ultimately, I had to make a decision.

Fifth-a Place: Brother Mercutio by the shrouded lord - Prize: off-menu terminators

 the shrouded lord wrote:
I've always been against the whole thing of space marines being shown in pretty, un-damaged armour, completely unaffected by battle. so, this guy has just appeared in the midst of a traitor PDF patrol, and pretty much exploded through them with chainsaws.
bhold, brother MERCUTIO!

Quite simply put... its the pure, unabashed violence and carnage depicted by this figure that flips my switch... more so than any other entry submitted this one revels in violent intent. Just love it. - Gits



Fifth-b Place: cormadepanda - Prize: Eldar 2 package

 cormadepanda wrote:

"Like a Boss!!" as my children would say. Awesomely heroic viewpoint of a great figure. Pose and painting are excellent. I want this guy as my sergeant! - Gits


Prizes
Give me a day to get the last two prize pics done and I'll post them here. I will contact each of you by PM when it's your chance to choose & let you know what choices are left.




To continue on with my commentary on the submissions. These are in no particular order.

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
I added a holster and consider him finished

I really like the ancient feel this figure has given by the early mark armor. The dark green and black color scheme with the unusual back-pack also do a very good job adding to the antique feel of the figure. The knife blade mandibles are a nice nod to the chapter & I like the storm bolter as well. I think Jehan did one of the best, if not THE best... Mantis Warrior insignia. It's a nice "active" pose too, which I like. - Gits

 inmygravenimage wrote:
There is a legend, that is whispered in fear even in places of damnation and darkness. Striking, lancing with fire and axe, borne on the wind itself - the Flaming Claw.

Graven did a very nice job with this figure. Love the helmet slung on his belt, the tall grass reminiscent of my sternguard figures and the lightening pattern on the power axe. With the ornateness of the armor, the cloak, the weaponry... this definitely makes a powerful statement as a MW commander. Of course the use of the RT era bike tugs at my heart-strings. - Gits

steinerp wrote:
Here is techmarine Lansing Okemos. As with all the Mantis Warriors nearing the completion of the penitent campaign, his servoharness has seen many modifications such as the arc-inducer and powerful scissors replacing the tradition flamer and servo arm. He is seen here on the Battle Cruiser Transgression of Trust.

I love the fact that steinerp went a completely different direction than anyone else and that perhaps better than anyone... picked up on my "no limit on basing" comment to build this really cool diorama. The tech marine looks gritty and rugged and perfectly suited to someone whose been cobbling things together with not enough supplies and reclaimed/scavenged/antique equipment. - Gits

 deadmeat85 wrote:
Okay time to throw my hat in to the ring. Here is my entry for the Mantis Warrior Competition.

Date: late M41
Subject: Mantis Warrior Veteran Sergent Bektai
Here we have Sergeant Bektai during one of the Battles of Herodian IV. While the Mantis Warriors would gain their redemption after the defeat of the Tyranid splinter fleets, Sergeant Bektai was killed during the final engagements of the war.

A very nice, clean figure with dynamic coloring and really solid conception/construction. Absolutely something that would look fantastic leading a Mantis Warrior tactical squad. I really like the way deadmeat has brought the colors (especially the green) from dark to light. Nice work on the insignia and head as well as the scroll. - Gits

 Commander Cain wrote:
Okay here we go. Got this fella finished just in the nick of time!

In contrast to many of the other entries, I decided to focus on the violent aspect of the Mantis Warriors rather than their stealth abilities and as such gave him a heavy and rugged set of armour. To add a little bit of sneakiness to the model however, I fitted a silencer onto the bolter and then promptly contrasted it with a compressed chainsword for close encounters. The base was designed to fit with the aggressive theme as I can see him stalking through a recently breached starship, waiting around a corner to dispatch an enemy in a blaze of anger. Hope you all like him!

Spoiler:

Yet another gorgeous figure using early mark armor. The silenced bolter is so wonderfully chunky that it fits the armor perfectly. I loved the idea of the short chainsword for close-in action and the extra swirlies on the sling are a great add. Beautiful work on the base with colors that really compliment the green marine. It's absolutely worth your time to open up the spoiler to check the base out from above. - Gits

 Nevelon wrote:
Penance. Would that I could join my brothers in a simple crusade to remove the stain from our chapter’s honour. But the art of divination is rare in the librarium of the astartes; not that our foresight was enough to escape the Tyrant’s machinations. So when the Ordo Xenos “requested” my services, how could we refuse? So now I’m chasing an alien shapshifter across the frozen tundra with a motely kill team, none whom trust me. They will have to now. When the changeling fled our ambush, leaving his cohorts to die, he left no trail. But all things can be found in the Warp, for those who know where to look…

“He went this way. We can catch him if we run. And next time, save the howls until after the ambush is sprung.”

<sigh> Wolves. I think back to the rumors the surrounded the end of the Badab incident. Could a shape-shifter have replaced a chapter master? Maybe this one will have some answers.

+++Thought for the day: Victory needs no excuses, Failure allows none.+++

Nev did a great job with this figure and like so many others... interpreted the challenge in his own unique way. The black and silver look great and the way the figure is panted and posed it focuses your eye on the head, which is a great choice for the figure. The story just adds to it & makes it more "real". - Gits

 monkeytroll wrote:

Very interesting color interpretation. Still want to see this figure finished and based as it's got all the earmarks of a really amazing piece. - Gits

Congratulations to everyone who entered the competition, there were lots of awesome entries. You winners should be extra proud of your achievements.

Another great MMC, Gits. I look forward to another round, I'll have to go the whole hog and enter it next time.

Congratulations to all the contestants, some really amazing models presented and some really creative choices based on Gits's brief.

I don't envy having to judge all the entries, and well done to you Gits on another fantastic competition

Congratz all great builds!
Happy i didnt have to Judge them ^^
grtz
mark

Its a conspiracy, i was robbed!

Congrats to the winners!

Congrats to the winners! And good luck next time to the others!