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.

So, I should've seen this coming.

As you might recall, I've been preparing to make a Skaven army. I've always liked the rugged and crude look of the Skaven, their industrial and slightly steampunk-ish inspiration, and especially some of the large models, so I bought the Island of Blood with my friend, taking the Skaven part... And I soon realized that I was in over my head. I had always been thinking "Oh, but I love the Skaven models!", but now, seeing fething 40 Clanrats, I realized that what I meant by "Skaven models" was "Doomwheel" or "Screaming Bell", and not all these... These freaking rats.

So, yeah. I can most likely sell my models to the two other Skaven players in my area, but the question is if I really should. I mean, right now it seems daunting as hell to paint all these rats, but maybe it's just a hurdle I have to overcome. I've never tried to play Skaven, so I won't know if I actually like it, but maybe it comes with experience, or with age or whatever...

I know I love hitty forces that haven't got too many tricks, but win by a combination of power, tactics and outmanuevering, cutting of any enemy that could do damage and force the enemy to play on my terms, which, to me at least, doesn't sound much like Skaven, but more like Ogre Kingdoms, and their models are by far some of the better ones (Stonehorn? More like "I'm gone... In this model.". 'Cause it's awesome. Gettit?)

What is your experience with stuff like this? Is it better to keep painting and see where it leads me, or should I shift immediatly?

Painting clan rats gets old really quick,if your having trouble painting 40 I would go with another army. Clan rats being the core unit you going to end up painting 100+ Clanrats.

When it comes to painting Skaven, you have to take the approach of speed painting. You can't lovingly spend 2 hours posing and painting each model. Spray them brown with either an airbrush or a can from army painter (or if you can find a nice brown elsewhere), pick out some details in another brown (either much lighter or much darker for the sake of contrast), pick out some areas in another colour (red, purple, green, use a "Base" so you can do it in 1 or 2 coats), pick out metals with Leadbelcher, then hit them either with a dip of a heavy wash. I prefer heavy wash, use a big arse brush (0.5-1cm wide) for applying the washes and it'll speed the process up.

Yeah, there's a lot of Skaven, but when it comes to clanrats you should be able to get it down to only a few minutes per model. I'd probably be aiming to complete a regiment of 40 in a single Saturday

But still if you find all that too daunting, Ogres are an alright option.

To me it sounds like you are looking for Warriors of Chaos.

If you want to play 9th edition, and like Ogres in their current form, I suggest you don't start them now. OK will change pretty drastically.

 Darnok wrote:
To me it sounds like you are looking for Warriors of Chaos.

If you want to play 9th edition, and like Ogres in their current form, I suggest you don't start them now. OK will change pretty drastically.

My gaming group has decided to not touch End Times, or whatever comes after, with a ten feet pole, so I'm safe for the time being. Besides, while WoC looks cool, they're not Ogre Kingdoms...

I am in the same boat right now I have 30 of my 40 done. I do 5 at a time. My biggest advise is have something else to paint. If I get tired of paint rats ill paint some 40k stuff or dust warfare stuff. Just to break up the rats. So far it has helped.
I am looking forward to the rat ogres and the cannons next.

You could try the "on again, off again" approach and paint rats for a week, then something else for a week and see if they stay interesting to you.

Over the years, I have just over 600 skaven finished (only 350 are clanrats/slaves), and I've found taking a break now and then is a good cure.

When I first started I started dwarfs because I liked the idea of anti-magic, unique runes, and the castle fighting style. Or at least I thought I did. When I got them, played one game and painted a few models, my opinion flipped. I didn't like them at all. So I sold them and bought lizardmen just because I liked the look of them and they seemed fun to paint. From this I realized that you can always learn how to play your army but it's difficult to learn to like them if you don't already like them.

Drop the skagen and get the army you like the looks of the most.

Got me some Ogres from a friend at the club: 7 Bulls, 4 Leadbelcers, 2 Mournfangs Cavalry and a Bruiser with a BSB, for 60 quid. Oh yeah. Got me 2 more Mournfangs, 4 Leadbelchers, 2 Gorgers, a Butcher/Slaughtermaster and a few Bulls waiting for me for another 60... I'm going all Ogre!

Welcome to the top of the food chain