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Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

December was a busy month but over the holidays I managed to get a few games in. In fact I actually organised the beginnings of a Burrows & Badgers campaign!

There are five warbands in the Campaign so far (one of which hasn’t had a chance to play yet.)

Here they are.


Initially based on the Wild in the Willows crew, a Badger, a Rat, a Mole, a Toad and an Otter (yes there are Otters in the book) this band of Freebeasts have proven eager if not particularly successful in their first two outings. But Tyson Furry is hoping his luck will change and they’ll manage to secure a solid knock out victory in their next bout.

Big Badger’s Quintet.


Another rival band of Freebeast these marauders have a pretty good mix of brains and braun. Scoring two big wins early on they’ve set themselves up as the warband to beat.

The Shadow Imps

Emerging like a post-mortem parp from the nasty end of the underworld, the foulest stench is in the air, the funk of fourthly thousand years; Zum the Necromancer and his band of ghoulish horrors have already stricken fear into the hearts of one local warband and hope for more opportunities soon to terrorise y’all’s neighbourhood.

The Call of the Wild

My own little cadre of critters, this band of lightweight, light-footed Wildbeasts led by a fearless Ferret are hoping to prove that bigger isn’t always better and that greater numbers can outweigh the hefty lumbering beasts.

StarFox

And bringing up the rear, a little late on the scene and yet to play their opening game is the Super Nintendo inspired StarFox royalists. Equipped for combat against any eventuality these versatile soldiers may yet prove a deadly threat.

I’ll not be doing full write-ups of every encounter but I hope to at least provide some of the highlights of the campaign as we go.

Will the burgeoning FreeBeasts rivalry come to a dramatic head?

Will my attempt at out-numbering the big bruisers result in anything other than a hospital-ward’s-worth of injured critters?

Will the version 4 Necromantic Warband rules prove more balanced than every OP version that preceded them?

Will I ever provide any narrative backdrop to this disorganised 5-way rumble?

Follow our progress here as I continue to paint sculpt and play this wonderful fantasy skirmish game.

   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

I love your warbands. However, your Starfox band needs an updated photo now that Pepper is painted

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/01/10 00:54:02



 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





Surrey, BC - Canada

And the gangs all here.

Successful project there theCrowe.

Cheers,

CB

   
Made in gb
Ancient Venerable Dreadnought






They look great the Crowe, plenty of cool minis to play with. Hope you have fun on the campaign

Goberts Gubbins - P&M Blog, started with Oldhammer, often Blackstone Fortress and Void Panther Marines, with side projects along the way 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

So it’s high time I dropped an update on how this campaign has been going besides some of the gangs involved.

Still no overarching narrative. No real story driver to engage my players. (I’ve been a very lazy campaign runner.) I’m just trusting that the narrative we create while we game will carry the thing. Knowing some of my players it’ll not be long before old rivalries are re-forged and ground to a bitter edge on the field of battle.

So enough pre-amble. On with the event.


************
It all started when my band of Wildbeasts were looking for a likely place to set up basecamp. An abandoned farmstead where we could plant up a kitchen garden to feed a good many mouths and likely a magical shrubbery or two. Pippin, our rabbit runner and our eagle eyed avian lookout Elwing had returned from scouting out just such a place. It was perfect, they said, there were even some ancient stone circles and dolmens in the fields which was sure sign of a good magical flow in the area. Perhaps too good, because as it turned out we weren’t the only ones eying up the old farmstead.

As we left the edge of forest approaching the farm from the rear I could see something glowing eerily in the field beyond the gate. Something ghastly loomed out of the mist passing right through the boundary hedge.

Pippin balked and would’ve legged it, (typical rabbit) if I hadn’t’ve grabbed him by the ear and looked him in the eye.

“Do I look scared?” I demanded, “What am I, a Ferret or a mouse?”

Míriel scoffed at this. Shrew’s don’t think much of the courage of mice as a rule and she, despite being half the weight of the quivering rabbit in question was the very picture of confidence.

“Ummm…” faltered Pippin, “ok.”

Mæglin was tasting the air. I’ve never seen an adder wrinkle his nose but I swear his face looked sour. “Foul Magics” he called it. Which, coming from someone who can freeze your blood colder than his own with little more than a hard stare, was fairly damning in itself. Melian didn’t look her normal bright-eyed bushy-tailed self either . Clearly the magic in this place was all off-kilter.

I was glad of Thorins steady reassurance that night I can tell you. A cool hand and a calm head has that hedgehog. Sturdy and reliable as they come.

Elwing twitched in the tree above us and almost made me jump, I’m not normally this nervy before a scrap but I don’t mind telling you the place by now fairly made my blood crawl.

But you know how it is; Ferrets don’t back down. I set our battle order and we headed for the farmstead. I’d be damned if I’d let some lonesome spook of a disgruntled farm-hand scare us off. I ain’t afraid of no ghost!

***********



There were five objectives to contest or control. The stone circle, the dolmen, the farm house, the outbuildings and the main gate. While I attempted to control or contest as many as I could my opponent went for the throat.

The fighting at the farmhouse gate was fierce with Thorin taking on the weasel thrall, and The Boss doing all he could to keep the big skelly at bay. It was a take and hold mission but the rabbit on the farmhouse doorstep didn’t take to holding much when the large mistghast came for him.



Across the way Elwing took a crossbow bolt for sitting exposed on a rooftop singing sweetly, while Mæglin rescued his tharn friend from the ghost.
Melian had done well to cast bear strength on the boss for his fight against the big stable-ghast but Zum the necromancer was lying I wait.



She rolled badly in her awareness to avoid the ambush and the bat made the most of his opportunity badly mauling my mage and ending a badly needed spell.

It all went down hill from there, first the rabbit then the squirrel fell, the adder barely made it out of the melee alive. Besides a banished Mist-Ghast the only successful elimination was the Black Cat apprentice necromancer. My only chance lay in grabbing enough objectives at the end of a round to claim victory but it wasn’t to be. Zum struck again as Elwing tried to swoop on the stone circle.

When Thorin the Hedgehog fell it was curtains for the Wildbeasts and a failed rout test was a welcome end to their suffering. The farmhouse should go to the Necromancer and his ghoulish minions. The Wildbeasts would have to find somewhere else to call home.

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

A fresh sculpt has jumped the queue as it’s going to be my entry for this months painting challenge.


This old fella has been raised from the depths of the ship he sank on. Looking forward to seeing him painted.

   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

I love your Necro-Parrot! I saw him in the latest Dakka Painting Contest. Your sculpting skills never cease to amaze.


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Cheers Kid, he’s getting some paint now; going for a Norwegian Blue, beautiful plumage.


Time for another update on the campaign I think. The second and third games were played back to back and went like this.

No love was lost between the two freebeasts warbands who appear to have instigated something of a bitter rivalry from the outset.


Camped out for the night and off their guard, Tyson Furry’s Wind in the willows gang were sitting ducks for Big Badger’s Quintet who had them surrounded. The forest they knew of it was the loud report of a blunderbuss in the night and Tyson took a critical hit.

Big Badger was quick to capitalise and took down the opposing freebeast leader before anyone had a clue what was going on.

With their leader out of the picture the remaining Willows gang battled on for another couple of rounds. Losing their otter, the writing was on the wall and they bottled it leaving the Quintet to gloat over their devastating ambush.

So we handled some post-battle book-keeping and perhaps unwisely decided to play another game.

This time my wildbeasts joined for a three-way search for a paychest.

The race was on to search the farmhouse. My Rabbit being the quickest reached it first and with a spectacular search roll found the paychest in the coal pile out the back. But she wasn’t the only one looking for the loot.


Sandwiched between Tyson Furry and Big Badger with a chest full of gold in her hands it’s hardly surprising that she went out of action in short order.

The rest of the battle can be summarised reasonably well like this.



In a vain attempt to save the rabbit my adder mage managed to paralyse one of the badgers but alas the other one had her well in hand but perhaps more significantly had the gold in hand now too.

But the Quintet weren’t done yet. As Big Badger struggled to move his fox buddy made a grab for the cash slashing at Tyson Furry with a poisoned blade.

Tyson battled on through the pain hoping for some assistance but the only Willows nearby were still dealing with my buffed-out leader gleefully swinging his sword double-handed with Bear Strength.

At one point a burning fox fell from on high but that was about the height of it as the club had to close for the night and our game was cut short. We rolled off between the two freebeasts gangs and were satisfied when the Quintet who looked most likely to carry off the winnings won the roll off. So that was it.

Three warbands with two games each. Only one of them with a pair of victories under their belts.

Next up a new warband joins the fray as a new band of Royalist mercenaries battle the forces of the evil dead.

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

(Slow) progress update on these two.

Been a bit on the back burner as the dead parrot has taken shape but now that he’s been nailed to the perch to continue pining for the fjords I’m getting back round to these.

Not a huge amount to show by way of progress, just the base layer of clothing. Looks like garbage now but I’m hoping more layers and some nice faces will help it all come together.

   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

You make it look so easy, Crowe. A lot of us would be proud to pull off what you would call "looks like garbage".

Good use of Middenheimer/Mordheim parts, BTW. Very curious to see those two finished.

And lastly:

E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

 KidCthulhu wrote:


E's kicked the bucket, 'e's shuffled off 'is mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!



   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





USA

Will the dead parrot be stored in a cage? You'll need to make sure he doesn't muscle up to those bars and 'vooom'! bust out of there.

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Ah yes. Looking forward to an outpouring of python quotes when the painted parrot lands.

In the meantime. Sculpting continues.



The dog is more or less complete. Just the second wing and the head of the duck to complete and they’ll be into bases and ready for paint.

   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

Oh very nice! Is that a chainmail coif on the hammer puppy?


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Nah, it’s just wool. His granny crocheted it for him and painted it silver to look the part.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
It’s bleedin’ (un)demised!






Not sure if I’m fully done on this fella but if I don’t take any notions to change anything this’ll be him done.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/02/15 00:49:28


   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





USA

Wow! That looks amazing!

   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

Hyacinth macaw?


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

 KidCthulhu wrote:
Hyacinth macaw?


Norwegian Blue.

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Another pair of completed sculpts to add to the growing pile.


I did a full audit of all the beasts I have available to use in the campaign and discovered a lack of medium sized hounds and medium sized birds so these have both been made to fill the gaps.

No ideas just yet for more sculpting but I have a half-dozen Oathsworn beauties to paint up anyway. I’m just hoping for a March painting challenge theme that fits.
EDIT: actually I just remembered March is for Marines. … aw well.

Also, do you think this duck needs a hat?


This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/02/17 13:17:43


   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





USA

To my eye, the duck's crossbow looks so much like a grumpy goblin at the angle of the picture
The duck looks great as is, but I'm intrigued by your idea of a hat. I'm thinking a big, floppy with a feather sticking out of it.

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Hmmm. You might be right with the big floppy hat plan. You see I’ve noticed that his head it too round and his bill is too wide so I’m hoping that maybe a big floppy hat might disguise that a bit and also I think his wings are too flouncy so an extra flouncy hat might go some way to making sense of that. I had been thinking something like a guards helmet but the more I think about it the more a feathered hat appeals .

   
Made in gb
Mad Gyrocopter Pilot





Northumberland

Aye I think a cavalier hat would look excellent.

One and a half feet in the hobby


My Painting Log of various minis:
# Olthannon's Oscillating Orchard of Opportunity #

 
   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

Another amazing pair of sculpts, Crowe!

I like the duck as-is, but but being a crossbowmanduck, how about a Landsknecht hat with a big feather?


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Just while the putty sets on this floppy hat here’s an Oathsworn original I’ve recently added to the painted collection.

It’s a bit hard to see in the kitchen spotlights but I’ve gone for a bit of a lighting effect like his little praying face is basking in the glow of holy intervention.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Definitely glad I went for a hat on this one.





I’m not sure if a cavalier would’ve used a crossbow or if such a hat wouldn’t impede a duck’s flying somewhat, if it would even stay on his head at all. Not very practical, I suppose but it looks nice.

I’ve thought about the Landsknecht look but honestly I’m just not that good at this. I’ve got a Von Wodr sitting ready to paint (
https://www.oathswornminiatures.co.uk/p/9144265/von-wodr-otter-mercenary-large-otter-freelances.html
and how Mike Lovejoy does the Landsknecht style is beyond me. There must be some method to it.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/02/19 17:10:59


   
Made in us
Utilizing Careful Highlighting





Tangentville, New Jersey

The end result on the duck's hat is great! I struggle with sculpting hats myself, so I envy your abilities.

Also, I'm really liking the Landsknecht otter and hope he's in your painting queue soon.


 
   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Oh he is. He’s just one of those slightly intimidating minis that you almost hesitate to paint because you really want to be sure you have a good plan in mind before you start.

I had a notion that I’d just do the same classic style as the original because I really like it but then it’s always nice to show something new to people with your own scheme.

I’ve also got the Oathsworn great brown rat which I intended for a conversion just for the same reason. But not having anything in mind I’m a bit loathe to start chopping. Need the right idea.

   
Made in us
Krazed Killa Kan





USA

I love the way the hat turned out!

   
Made in gb
Liberated Grot Land Raida






Northern Ireland

Cheers Syro_

I’ve gotten this fella painted and all.



Think I’ll maybe try for some better pictures in the morning light.

   
Made in gb
Mad Gyrocopter Pilot





Northumberland

Love the cavalier duck! What a fantastic miniature, your sculpting is always superb.

If the duck was worried about their hat blowing off, you could always sculpt a little bow underneath, tie it under their beak.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2023/02/23 07:53:16


One and a half feet in the hobby


My Painting Log of various minis:
# Olthannon's Oscillating Orchard of Opportunity #

 
   
Made in ca
Fixture of Dakka





Surrey, BC - Canada

They just keep coming.

Well done theCrowe

Cheers,

CB

   
 
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