Cubes of Tzeentch

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**Nightbringer's Chosen**

It took me a while to figure out why this seemed familiar, other than in a generic Lovecraftian sort of way.

But I think what it reminds me of is Uzumaki. Just creepy and unsettling in a way that it really shouldn't be. And yet sounding just silly when you try to describe it to someone.

Automatically Appended Next Post:

Savnock wrote:It would be truly hilarious if you added bits of GW figs to the bases as battle detritus, and those weighed enough to make your army tournament legal.

I do feel like it definitely needs some baseline to contrast the abstract nature of the horrific beings. Horrified Guardsmen being driven insane for no conceivable reason just because these horrors from beyond the veil of reality are around, things like that.

Hell, you could make a whole project out of the basing. One looking like he's rocking back and forth holding his knees and weeping. One holding his head in pain. One standing limp with a vacant look on his face. One with blood streaming down his face because he just gouged out his own eyes. One with his laspistol in his mouth.
Lots of possibilities here.

**Santobell**

It's an interesting idea, youcan get some very chaotic shapes form melting foam and plastics like this.

Personally I would like to see some wailing faces in the trailing mass behind the screamers etc.

Lost souls traped in the every changing blah blah chaos lingo (sorry not a huge chaos follower), but certainly a well thought out army I guess I'm just looking
for something to link it to the game system some more something a little more tangable.

On the plus side floating cubes can be used cross game system from frightening space fleets, to shifty football players and relentless faceless soldiers.

An "A" for effort all round, perhaps with the addition of a blockomancer it'll get that tye in it seems to scream for.

Maybe call him Q-bert the shape lord?

**UmbrellaLegion**

You, sir, have inspired me. Perhaps it is for the better or for the worse, but I've had an idea for Nurglings that were piles of simple slime, and someone told me to make them from clay.

You have convinced me to build a clay Nurgle army!

A glorious testiment to the mucous and viscous gunk of Granddaddy Nurgle!

Thank you, Gwaahr.

**em_en_oh_pee**

I will be damned if I am not tempted to try something like this myself, as it looks fun to do! Very inspiring!

**oadie**

tylermenz wrote:Interesting, I'll give you that. Executed nicely [Eh... I'll withhold judgment, for the time being].

But i can't help but think the idea would be better suited to a book. Something like HP Lovecraft where the imagery is always vaguely hidden behind veils of horror [Honestly, I've never gotten the Lovecraft love. Something about the execution ruining the concept, like is mentioned next, only the words provide the concept-killing image. "Look! An unspeakable, indescribable terror that is terrifying because it is unspeakable and indescribable!"]. Sight unfortunately dispels that imagery and unknown.

Personally I think that miniatures are inherently a little more concrete, and that our hobby is a little bit less tolerant of the abstract.

[snipped a section I don't fully agree with] Your explanation of abstract art just seems like artistic snobbery to me [Agreed, 100%. That's not a snobbery knock, though. Without snobbery, there wouldn't be any purely academic disciplines left. Doesn't mean it won't occasionally make you want to stuff their cashmere scarves down their esoteric little throats.].

Your qoute "If people dont get it i feel no obligation to provide an explanation - some people just wont. "

Leaves me with an ill taste in my mouth. [Your idea, your "models," your business. Doesn't mean you don't deserve some flak for scoffing at the peasants. I'd expect more cries of "insubstantial artsy piddling" to come from your words than from the general concept or the models.] Of course you will no doubt say that abstract art is not about skill or technique, but I would counter that Miniature Hobbying is about skill and technique.

I leave you with an image that I think shows the abstractness of Tzeentch, gives a slight taste of horror, and at the same time remains concrete [Man, that thing is cool.].

By CMON user mazk7130

*Edit* its not a B&W photo

This post sums up a lot of my reactions. I've added notes where I deemed necessary.

This army simultaneously reminds me how much I enjoy thinking outside the box (ducks incoming barrage of pun-hate imbued produce) and why I want to blot out the latter half of the twentieth century in every generalized textbook on art history, ever - the invasion of what I like to call "modernist fappery." It's relatively satisfying, as a mental exercise, to explain/"justify" this kind of stuff, but that only takes me so far. The concepts are far more interesting than the execution in pretty much every case. It's rather akin to my view of formal logic - it's interesting enough to play around with the concepts and the system, but it only seems to have any significance within its own sphere. Eh, maybe I'm just embittered, due to the topic being given a disproportionate amount of attention (measure it how you will - by quantity of works, popularity, influence, etc. It deserves mention and study. It doesn't deserve more than 2-3 lectures in an intro course.).

That's part of the reason why this doesn't work, for me, as an army. There are some cool looking melted forms, in there. The concept is interesting. I'm even happy to see a few physical pieces to really convey your concept. But as a full army for a tabletop wargame, this feels like a fun little mental exercise stretched way too thin.

**Yggdrasil**

MajorTom11 wrote:We aren't accusing you of anything btw, there is nothing to be gained or lost either way, unless of course you are posting someone else's work, which I don't think you are anyways.

Just odd, I actually was a huge proponent of yours in a thread discussing this finished army last year, defending it as a wonderfully original, perfectly in character yet unique and well executed idea. I did say that a little more variety in Geometry would have helped, and also having multiple mini cubes orbiting the chariot for instance would have been cool. But overall, I was very impressed.

I do distinctly remember seeing a large, painted army. Forgive us for wondering out loud what is going on, but I've been a pretty avid Dakka reader for a while now and this is the first time I have seen someone re-present something as new before.

Hey, Tom,

I had posted a thread in the DCM Mosh Pit about it, for this army had really caught my attention on this forum.

That could explain why you had already seen the pics... And you had provided a good analysis of the matter, IIRC...

Here it is : http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/334234.page (sorry, DCM-only ha!)

waargh, I'm glad you're back to it, that was a really "think out of the box" thread to me, and I really enjoyed it! Whatever motives you are, I don't think you have to be blamed upon by others! Our motivations are usually a mix of various elements, and the price of an army is probably taken more into account than not (IG vehicles-spam, I'm looking at you).

I don't have money problems, but if I could have an original army for free, I wouldn't mind!!!

So keep up the good work!

**ChocolateGork**

gwaahr wrote:Your memory must be hazy, because the army is sitting over there on the shelf looking back at me in unpainted mockery.

Im planning on doing a second batch of horrors that have varying degrees of distortion/dissolution, to be interspersed throughout all the units to zazz them up. Im thinking a few mini-diorama type of things like the 'unit filler' thing used in fantasy armies. Id like to include at least one minidiorama of a cube attacking a human of some kind, just for a visual reference for the more discriptively inclined.

At first I was pretty hesitent to make the cubes any more representative, but now after having put the project on hiatus ive warmed to the idea of putting as much concerted effort into the modelling/painting as I would any other army. I had 2 commission armies on the go at the time of inception, so the cubes began as a fun side project away from all that.

Im currently painting up horrors, going with softer colour shifts like the screamers, albiet with a few outright rigid blue|pink shifts thrown in too. It just seems more chaosy, y'know?

oh yeah and hey im not that lazy guys, sometimes i get around to doing things, like i built this squiggoth in 2006/...or 07...or something, cant remember

Thats..........Gnarly? (I love it)

**MajorTom11**

That IS Gnarly! AwesomeSauce -

Gwaahr, you are quite right, it was much more recent than I thought that we saw it (Thanks for the reminder Ygssie!)

Here is what I wrote back in December, I must have been feeling particularly verbose that day lol, but it was an honest critique I hope you will find flattering/constructive for the new pieces you plan to add.

Um, I don't think there will be any hugely tangible artistic reference for these guys.

Were I to criticize this from my art and design backgrounds, I would say this, ahem -

The piece as a whole is competently executed and presented. It has taken a non-traditionalist route and leveraged simple cubes in form if not texture vs anthropomorphized (or states there-off) demonic representations. The effect as a whole is creepy, faceless and silent, somewhat reminiscent of Giger's design ethos with his Alien creature; The lack of eyes, and in this case, appendages as well, lends to a feeling of increased dread as the victim cannot discern the intent of the constructs nor the means through which they will be dispatched.

Unfortunately, as a whole, the theme is heavily reliant on bending the audiences expectations. Once the curiosity factor of 'ooh that's different' wears off, the viewer is left with a somewhat lackluster and repetitive army, one that does not readily convey a theme of change nor easily identify itself for gaming purposes.

Overall, I would say this was an interesting start and a good path to stay on, but it will require a lot more work and a variation on the theme to maintain an interest in the army in and of itself, and not basing it's worth primarily on comparison to expectation.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2010/12/17 10:37:11

**Sageheart**

well I want to see how far this goes, I do think the units look a bit too similar but it is a great concept, and seeing your other work I can see you making this very cool. It really needs more GW stuff on the bases to make it more in line with the rest of the armies out there, and i woudl say you also need to make the differences between units a bit bigger rather than just size. something that would make me see what is a soul grinder and what's a demon prince, maybe having some legs, or eyes, on certain units, such as the soul grinder has legs, but nothing else, the demon prince has one eye, etc. or going with different shapes or colors.

**Mastiff**

It's a great concept, and I love the texture of the models. I love the creativity and originality.

My only complaint is that I would like to see the models tied into the 40k universe a bit more, possibly with rubble or detrius that would also give the models a sense of scale. Bodies might take away from the simplicity of the models, but brick walls, barbed wire or discarded weapons would help tell the story of alien lifeforms invading the mundane world.

Can't wait to see what comes next.

**Agamemnon2**

oadie wrote:That's part of the reason why this doesn't work, for me, as an army. There are some cool looking melted forms, in there. The concept is interesting. I'm even happy to see a few physical pieces to really convey your concept. But as a full army for a tabletop wargame, this feels like a fun little mental exercise stretched way too thin.

I can't say I agree with anything you have said. For example, the black and white space marine fighting black and white tentacle demons picture you quoted from a previous poster is dull as dishwater to me. It's just bog-standard GW daemons painted intricately and time-consumingly. Tentacles, teeth, legs and faces. Dull, dull, dull.

**Piousman**

I think this guy could be an interesting start for the blockmancer.

He is a Chaos Renegade player for Blood Bowl from Gaspez Arts.

- Piousman

**dbsamurai**

TomxJ wrote:I like it.

But visually they have no sense of "place", something is only unusual if it differs from the norm, and in a fantasy world the common concensus is based on points of reference which might have to be explained to the viewer.

What about providing a contrasting point of reference against objects from the "normally perceived" world, such as battlefield detrius on the bases or as someone else has suggested a status quo centre piece, to really bring out just how weird these are and also provide a point of reference to us the observer.

Plus then you can legally use them in tournie's at most FLGSs since you can say "hey they're mostly made of GW parts! XDDDD

**Popsicle**

Stangely... entrancing. I applaud you, mate. Nice one.

**Wehrkind**

It took me a little to realize what irked me about horrors, and it didn't click until I saw the screamers: too many straight lines. The screamers from behind are really fantastic, and from the front (I am using the words loosely

) are good, with the trailing bits giving a good sense of motion.

The cubes though are a little too static looking, with too many square corners and straight edges. The melted out cube and the soul grinder both are improvements for me as well, giving more of a sense of movement and flow. I would like to see the SG have a little more of an pseudopod of something reaching out. Something to add some flow and motion, as opposed to just floating gently around. That might just be a personal thing though; I find things that seem to have motion and purpose to be more menacing that simply floating and unknown. Even I can't figure out how they move what purpose they have

Still, I am looking forward to more of the army. I might well end up playing with a similar concept in the future, as some of those forms are terribly hypnotic. Great concept; it is always cool to see different takes on just what "kaos" is.

**Young_Logan**

Very very interesting. I love the idea behind the army and if was any other army of deamons that where from other powers I would say no but it works for the changer of ways. One thing you could attempt is the cubes morphing, no arms, eyes etc but blocks turning into other blocks and other shapes would look really weird and awesome. It is also pretty freaky and reminds me of slimes ( evil slime ) from a game a play now and then ( shivers )

**sphynx**

Looks excellent, i'd love to fight an army like this, it'll feel utterly hopeless...

Well, I hope the Changer of Ways understands, because i sure as hell don't.

**terribletrygon**

The blockmancer should be Steve from Minecraft.

**Kathie von Vhoorl**

I like this concept quite a bit! I agree that there should be some 40kness added to the bases and/or a blockomancer to center the army.

Nice work!

**gwaahr**

**Matt.Kingsley**

This is taking cubism to the extreme!
In all seriousness, though, this is a great idea and while I sorta get it, I have to say, WHY?

Anyway, to all those fools saying 'It aint GW tourny legal' or 'it won't be alloed at your local gw store' Gwaargh actually stated that this army wasn't going to be used for tournies or at his flgs, it would be used for fun friendly games in his garage.

Personally, I like this, keep up the good work!

**Sageheart**

I really like that last one!

**gwaahr**

few sketches of potential updates...because it never hurts to have another soul grinder or...chariot...dick..thing

**Tortured-Robot**

Not that I want or would ever copy your idea, but can i have some info on your creation process? (I want to try some of your melting effect on bases/building damage.)

I'm guessing you use expanded Polystyrene and an Adhesive to melt/create the shapes?

I have a crap-ton of the compressed Polystyrene thats used for insulation, but im not sure if this melts in the same way...

anyway, liking the new sketches.

**gwaahr**

I use packaging polystyrene, the stiffer the better usually, then I melt it with a combination of lighters(jet lighter works best), spray paint and super glue. Each has a different effect and layering those effects will create new participations.

**AdeptusAssfartes**

So awesome and creepy! I can just picture a line of guardsmen behind a barricade blasting at them with looks of incomprehensible horror strewn across their pathetic, carbon based faces.

Keep it up! I really wanna see you model that second concept sketch.

**gwaahr**

ha ha, i like that. pathetic carbon-based forces

the basing needs more or less complete re-doing i think. More differing hights in the horror squads, and more battlefield detritus. Ruined hellenistic/imperial/representational architecture and screaming guardsmen. Its all a part of Cubes Phase II.

**Kensei81**

Hi there Gwaahr,

just wanted to add my applause at a unique idea. the cubes look great.

i would support the previous suggestions of adding some "victims" to the bases or something to the like, but that's just my opinion.

for the HQ, perhaps have some additional floating cubes circling the main cube, using wire or clear plastic, kind of like a satellite effect.

anywho, congrats on the originality. keep us posted.

Kensei81

**gwaahr**

**Sabet**

i personally do not like it. to me i cant see how they represent some of the things you describe, though i can see the screamers. but a question, why are you doing this?