Mierce Miniatures Darklands Ongoing News and Rumors Thread! Darklands Rulebook ships on April 18!

Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you:

No adverts like this in the forums anymore.
Times and dates in your local timezone.
Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance.
Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely.
Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net.

If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

**Denilsta**

I'm surprised these two updates have not been posted yet, I do like the Dark Elf dragon rider.

**Alpharius**

Hmmm...

Parawn might be 'cheaper' and or 'more value' in this campaign?

**skullking**

Though I'm sure it will look great, I'm a little surprised they went with Parawn instead of Ansiralog (sp?) for the first dragon in this campaign. I get that he's smaller, and perhaps better suited to have a rider, but he's also not finished yet. The other dragon is BIGGER and has impressed a lot of people already, which I would think made him a shoe in, but perhaps not.

Also, they Teased a new head for Gaalagaak on the cover of one of the pod casts they did. I'm not sure if I'm in need of a 3rd one yet, though it is tempting!

Anyone know what the painting from front page of the kickstarter is from, the purple hued one? I don't recall seeing it before now. And if it's new, I think it's revealing a few new beasties!

**GiraffeX**

I think I'd go for the dragon if it had an alternative female rider in armour riding it.

**highlord tamburlaine**

I'm happy about the Dark Elf since it finally means Parawn will start to get sculpted, and I'll finally see something I pledged for from First Edition II getting made!

**zedmeister**

Only 1 mierceday update for today:

Trollage

Another Friday is here, and that means it's update time - and it's a cracker today, fellow Miercenaries!

Enough intro: here's what you can find on this here update...
news of our fantastic non-Darklands Kickstarter project, BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters, which began last week;
sculpt work in progress images from Allan Carrasco and Yannick Fusier;
a list of what miniatures are currently being sent in Wave 4;
an updated list of sculptors and sculpts for this project;
news of where you can download the current QuickStarter Rules, Muster Rules and Kindred Musters from the Mierce Miniatures website;
...and anything else you can expect from us over the next few months.

Let's begin!

We have two new miniatures from Allan Carrasco to show off this week as well as another update from Yannick Fusier...! We do spoil you guys.

Bogad

The Oghu Keepers, Oghurithne Unit are progressing nicely now, and all thanks to the lovely Yannick Fusier...

The fantastic Bogad is looking awesome with the addition of swords and Oghu stone!

We do hope that Yannick will get Bogad completed fairly quickly, but it's very unlikely he'll manage to complete the rest of the unit before Wave 5. That means the Oghu Keepers should be a Wave 6 shipment!

Thórrir

The incredible skills of Allan Carrasco return, and we rejoice - for even though Cnebba was just before Christmas, it seems like a lifetime ago... so here's his latest masterwork, Thórrir, the Troll Konungr (King to you and me) of omens!

Even though it's early days for Thórrir, with Allan's speed and professionalism, we reckon he could make it into Wave 5... but we'll see, as always!

Ravener Birna

That's not it from Allan, either - he's also quickly sorted out Ravener Birna, the alternate version of Birna, for you all to enjoy!

Ravener Birna is with us and she will definitely be a Wave 5 shipment...

**Azazelx**

I don't hate Morley, as some do - and I like some of his work. I think he's a solid second-tier sculptor (which is not an insult). Unfortunately following in Goodwin's footsteps on things like the High Elves doesn't help. The previews of his work (Warlock, Plague Priest, Wizard, etc) for Mierce in this campaign can't be helping the campaign, though - they look solidly like forgettable mid-90's GW sculpts.

**Denilsta**

Azazelx wrote:
I don't hate Morley, as some do - and I like some of his work. I think he's a solid second-tier sculptor (which is not an insult). Unfortunately following in Goodwin's footsteps on things like the High Elves doesn't help. The previews of his work (Warlock, Plague Priest, Wizard, etc) for Mierce in this campaign can't be helping the campaign, though - they look solidly like forgettable mid-90's GW sculpts.

I agree with you, and unfortunately it is also the same reason I dropped my pledge from £100 to £30 when I saw he was involved in two out of the three monsters I was after.

**JWBS**

Which monsters is he doing? I feel the same as above with regards to his mierce sculpts.

**RiTides**

My impression was that he was just doing the riders / human sized models to accompany some of the monsters, but I agree, the sculpts shown for these have definitely been "mid-90s-esque".

Since the whole point of much of this was to convert some of the monsters to ridden fantasy versions (which may become obsolete in a few months with 9th edition), it does seem to kind of defeat the purpose.

I do quite like the art of that Ogre Drake, but not nearly enough to pledge while waiting for Monstrous Mounts to deliver later than expected... I'm surprised with how well that campaign has done despite all the headwind, though - it may get near to the level of Monstrous Mounts, but I think they had to unlock quite a bit more than planned to do so.

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

Wow! What a fantastic Kickstarter project we've just taken part in!

BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters has, of course, proved to be a rousing success, ending on £25,950 with 405 backers (of which a great many are new to both Kickstarter and Mierce Miniatures!), and we'd like to thank each and every one of you for contributing to that success. Without your pledge BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters and its associated miniatures would not be produced!

quite an interesting conclusion to this one

it clearly didn't scratch an itch for a lot of us established darklands backers (or at least not in a big way), but it seems it DID do what they wanted it to, bringing in new backers both to Mierce and even to KS which is a good thing

**highlord tamburlaine**

There were some neat things on display.

I'll be grabbing a couple.

Looking forward to the rats actually, as they tend to be my preferred race when we play Song of Blades and Heroes.

I hope there's still a possibility of getting a rat head to go with that plague priest.

Maybe we'll even get some Darklands rules tossed in for the Vras?

**prankster**

Well, the project is over now. Netting £25,950 from 405 backers. So less total than Monstrous Mounts but more backers.

The interesting number to see would be how many of those backers are previous Darklands backers and how many are new. Gut feeling suggests that many of them have been in previous Darklands campaigns and have come over for a figure or two, based off familiar names in the comments and the low average per backer pledge level.

Personally, I went in for a little. I prefer some of the alternates to the original sculpts. It's just a shame we didn't make it to the Phoenix Demon this time. It always seems that the stretch goal we just miss is one that I'm interested in...

Edit: update came out whilst I was typing. Guess there were more new backers that it looks, from glancing through the comments.

**skullking**

I understand that people aren't so into some of Gary Morley's stuff, but having a 90's feel to it, isn't such a bad thing. I mean, people still create and play new 8-bit (big pixel) video games. People still shoot movies in black and white, why can't we have a resurgence of a very 90's style of miniature. A lot of us were big into warhammer in the early/mid 90's, and it gives us a nostalgic edge to see the miniatures like that. Plus, I think at least both Tim and Rob were real fans of that era of minatures, and it's a big kick for them to have these classic sculpters making new stuff in that style. And, if differentiates it from the Darklands stuff a bit.

From one of the podcasts Tim was on, it sounds like the next banebeasts KS will be coming in April. I would assume they'd start it off with the Phoenix Demon land that new Chimera. Overall it seems like this one was pretty successful though, and since they're mostly using non darklands sculpters it shouldn't slow down production on that line, and let those fans have a breather as things catch up.

Really glad we got the the ox-gore though, love the original model, and this new one should be awesome!

**Darth Bob**

It definitely brought me in, ended up backing it purely because I love that Krull model from Darklands, but couldn't justify getting it for the price. But seeing the Banebeast War Demon, with the helmet and the two axes, I couldn't resist dropping the cash for it. And considering it comes at such a good price compared to the normal Krull, I'm not complaining. Cheaper and with cooler options? I'm in.

**Azreal13**

Im irritated because I thought it ended at 1900 GMT, decided to throw some money in at about 1830, only to log in and find it finished.

No matter, the Phoenix Daemon was the main draw for me, so April it is.

**Alpharius**

I find it hard to believe that April won't bring the next 'proper' Darklands Kickstarter (6?), not Mighty Monsters 2!

**Azreal13**

Well, until I have a rulebook in my hands, I'm going to be very conservative with my (already modest) funds unless any new models can pull double duty in other games.

**Alpharius**

Mierce's models can almost all be used somewhere else!

The QS rules are certainly more than 'good enough' though, and the Muster Lists certainly get a lot of attention.

On top of that, Rob keeps releasing interesting 'Advanced Rules' snippets too...

**Azreal13**

I'm a "book in hand" sort of guy, not going to try and rationalise it, it's just a quirk, but I find it much harder to absorb info off the screen or even a printout than a proper printed page.

Given I've got enough for a small force, plus a bunch of other models I got cause they were purdy, I'm now at the point where I just need the book to stop being pushed back.

**Alpharius**

So you didn't get the actual physical Quick Start Rulebook then?

**Azreal13**

No, my first big pledge was for the 2nd (?) project, so I am owed the full strength one.

It's not just my weirdness either, I've been an advocate for the models locally for some time, but whenever the discussion turns to the rules, I am frequently on the end of the "smelling a fart" expression.

No, not because I did a fart.

**Denilsta**

Azreal13 wrote:
No, my first big pledge was for the 2nd (?) project, so I am owed the full strength one.

It's not just my weirdness either, I've been an advocate for the models locally for some time, but whenever the discussion turns to the rules, I am frequently on the end of the "smelling a fart" expression.

No, not because I did a fart.

I have 6 of the physical KS mini rule books, PM me your address and I am happy to pay for 2nd class postage to stop your friends thinking you smell. I also am a 'book in hand' player so I know what you mean.

**Azazelx**

skullking wrote:
I understand that people aren't so into some of Gary Morley's stuff, but having a 90's feel to it, isn't such a bad thing. I mean, people still create and play new 8-bit (big pixel) video games. People still shoot movies in black and white, why can't we have a resurgence of a very 90's style of miniature. A lot of us were big into warhammer in the early/mid 90's, and it gives us a nostalgic edge to see the miniatures like that. Plus, I think at least both Tim and Rob were real fans of that era of minatures, and it's a big kick for them to have these classic sculpters making new stuff in that style. And, if differentiates it from the Darklands stuff a bit.
Really glad we got the the ox-gore though, love the original model, and this new one should be awesome!

I don't hate the 90's, but it was a time (in GW terms) where a lot of the really nice late-80's/early 90's stuff was sadly replaced by a lot of stuff that's was basically, pretty bad with silly-exaggerated proportions, ham hands and unimaginative design. Look at the Realm of Chaos-era Champions and Original Lesser Daemons, and then compare them to the second-generation Lesser Daemons. The original Chaos Dwarves and the Big Hats, Jes Goodwin's Elves and Skaven, Bob Naismith's Dark Elves - and their replacements. Some 90's stuff I still really like. The metal beastmen were (and still are) great. We're still following Goodwin's '90's Space Marine template today because it works so well. But for every step forward in sculpting and design, there seemed to be (at least) one step backward.

**Azreal13**

Denilsta wrote:
Azreal13 wrote:
No, my first big pledge was for the 2nd (?) project, so I am owed the full strength one.

It's not just my weirdness either, I've been an advocate for the models locally for some time, but whenever the discussion turns to the rules, I am frequently on the end of the "smelling a fart" expression.

No, not because I did a fart.

I have 6 of the physical KS mini rule books, PM me your address and I am happy to pay for 2nd class postage to stop your friends thinking you smell. I also am a 'book in hand' player so I know what you mean.

PM sent, you're a gent!

**skullking**

Azazelx wrote:
skullking wrote:
I understand that people aren't so into some of Gary Morley's stuff, but having a 90's feel to it, isn't such a bad thing. I mean, people still create and play new 8-bit (big pixel) video games. People still shoot movies in black and white, why can't we have a resurgence of a very 90's style of miniature. A lot of us were big into warhammer in the early/mid 90's, and it gives us a nostalgic edge to see the miniatures like that. Plus, I think at least both Tim and Rob were real fans of that era of minatures, and it's a big kick for them to have these classic sculpters making new stuff in that style. And, if differentiates it from the Darklands stuff a bit.
Really glad we got the the ox-gore though, love the original model, and this new one should be awesome!

I don't hate the 90's, but it was a time (in GW terms) where a lot of the really nice late-80's/early 90's stuff was sadly replaced by a lot of stuff that's was basically, pretty bad with silly-exaggerated proportions, ham hands and unimaginative design. Look at the Realm of Chaos-era Champions and Original Lesser Daemons, and then compare them to the second-generation Lesser Daemons. The original Chaos Dwarves and the Big Hats, Jes Goodwin's Elves and Skaven, Bob Naismith's Dark Elves - and their replacements. Some 90's stuff I still really like. The metal beastmen were (and still are) great. We're still following Goodwin's '90's Space Marine template today because it works so well. But for every step forward in sculpting and design, there seemed to be (at least) one step backward.

Ha! You're giving me flashbacks to opening a white dwarf and seeing those bald/bug eyed/massive clawed/ Xena Warrior princess dressed Demonettes! Man, what a poor change of direction that was! The second incarnation of Chaos demons in the 90's definitely was a turn for the worse in my opinion, although, the Plague bearers were pretty good I thought. That being said, there are surely some people (few I hope) who prefer this series of demons to any of the others. Most of the 90's stuff was not that bad, and I'm sure it was more the creative direction for the company than the sculptors fault that they looked as bad as they did. It did seem like there was some need by GW to 'kiddie-fy' all their stuff, and make it more friendly at that time for some reason, and admittedly, they've never quite gotten back to the 'Rogue Trader' edge they had for awhile there.

I hope Gary just does 'his style' on the pieces he's commissioned to do. And I really am interested in what Sean Green does with the plague demon, i hope he deviates a lot from the artwork, as I think the drawing isn't very good, and retains too much Druc in it.

**Azazelx**

The Plaguebearers were perhaps the least bad of the Lesser Daemon resulpts, but still not nearly as good as Kev Adams' originals that had so much more personality (and Nurglings!) Tha Daemonettes and even Bloodletters are ok in many ways, and if they were new things rather than replacements for the lovely twisted originals, they wouldn't have been received (or perceived) so badly.

Given the work that he's shown in the previews so far, the Prawn-dragon resculpts could be pretty ugly. Hopefully you guys get better sculpts on those. The Orc is okay, but not a patch on either Adams or Nelson's work.

**Alpharius**

The lightest highlights from this Friday's Mierceday Updates:

From Monstrous Mounts:

Thanks to an awesome backer of ours, Grant Kinsley, the name of Jason Monkman appeared in our brains and - if nothing else but to hit some deadlines - we've decided to give the original sculptor of Blunt-Claw on his Goz-Horror, Benoît Cosse, a break and give Jason the job instead.

Here's a link to some of Jason's work on Facebook. He seems to be an incredible sculptor of crazy beasts, so he's perfect for us!

https://www.facebook.com/jason.monkman.58/photos_all

From First Edition II:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mierceminiatures/darklands-first-edition-ii/posts/1141572?ref=dash

Yannick Fusier is plodding along with the Oghu Keepers and we're very glad that he is, because these guys are absolutely stunning...

Bogad is completed, although we don't have pics to reflect that, and so Yannick has begun work on Dungabad, the Oghurithne Nund or banner bearer. As you can see, he is going to be as fantastic as the rest!

We do still think the Oghurithne are on course for Wave 6... and we can't wait for them to arrive!

They've been a long time coming, the first shots of Eoric's Pack from Stéphane Camosseto, but we certainly think the wait was worth it... it's still early in the life of these sculpts, but they're going to be as fantastic as Hrōr!

Sigebald is the unit's banner bearer, a Fane Bearer.

The herald of Eoric's Pack is Heoruvard, and he's a Howler...

The first warrior of the unit is Rædwulf...

The last warrior of Eoric's Pack is Wealdhere.

It's taking Stéphane a little while to get these done, so we're not too confident they'll make it into Wave 6; but, as ever, we'll see...

We are running out of superlatives to describe Roberto Chaudon... so we'll let his work on Parawn speak for itself.

What a miniature! Here's a scale shot... the ring is 80mm round, so he will fit on an 80mm base. Note that we raised Parawn's head after this scale shot was made...

For the BaneBeasts: Mighty Monsters backers, and for those who'd like to see a sense of scale:

I trust everyone had a soft landing when they fell off their chair!

Parawn is a Wave 6 shipment, and next up for Roberto is Hrókr, the Gunnhrafn for the Norse... which should be equally awesome!

Parawn turned out 100x better than I thought he would - so yeah, that's him on the 'must buy' list!

**GiraffeX**

Based on Stéphane Camosseto previous sculpts what are we going to get quality wise for the finished Eoric's Pack do you think? I want to order them but I'm really on the edge after getting put off by Wulfric's Pack, they seem rather poor compared to the artwork (could be due to the painted versions).

**OrlandotheTechnicoloured**

He's done some really great stuff

eg Infamy's Mole

this (unreleased I think) Nurgle Demon

Wonderland Project's Sharkman (where he was working to detailed art and got it spot on)

Edit: I also remember him doing one of the bonus minis for the Figone Rocco Indiegogo but can't remember which, but it was good