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Arena of Blood is a mini-game found in White Dwarf #229 (1999) which introduced simple rules for Dark Eldar gladiator fights. I was a big fan of the Dark Eldar in 3rd edition and had quite a large army at the time. I have had a desire to build a 3D version of the mini-game ever since. I finally started it around January 2017 and have squeezed in several games with my group and at conventions. I recently finished up a second set of Wyches and alternative Beastmaster and Hellion so that we can have symmetrical teams.



The original game was played on a fold out map (included in the magazine) that had all the stats and specific rules for the characters. GW included stand up card markers for the Wyches. Players place 'murder stakes' around the arena and then chaos ensues.



The arena build was pretty time consuming and required laser cut acrylic, laser cut card, hexes cast with dental plaster and hand painted. I designed the murder stakes in TinkerCad, had them 3D printed via Shapeways, and then I cast the final product in resin. I thought a lot about the color scheme of the arena. The default would have been dark and gloomy but I decided to do something that was over-the-top opulence one might see in an Alma-Tadema painting of decadent Roman Emperors, so I went with light purple/gray stone and golden blades. The dark miniatures stand out really nicely. There's also been some debate about adding blood- I think when I get to that it will be acetate that I can place on the board as i think painted blood would look cheesy.













I decided to go with the newer Wyches since I prefer them to the older 3rd edition versions. I had to do a few conversions, since the Beastmasters are now on skyboards and there is no Razorsnare/Falchion Wych. I had to design a new profile for the Razorlails since they weren't around in 3rd edition.







The insectoid beast isn't GW, I think it was from Mega Miniatures. I converted the Beastmaster to look like the older version. The head is from the 3rd edition warriors set, and I even shaved 1/8th inch off the back. That's some huge hair...











This project is 'mostly done' at this point, although I'm thinking of adding a Razorwing flock (I painted up a flying Beastmaster the other day) and I'd like to add some captured Xenos to fight (Space Marines, Tyranids, etc.).

My blog goes into a little more detail on the construction and figures. Thanks for looking!

That is a real labour of love, but it looks fantastic.

Really great job in the wyches too - they are outstanding

Awesome project and some very cool looking minis.

Incredible project!
The extra work and detail you put in to this is just amazing.
Models look great too.

I LOVE the hellions in particular. I don't recognize the heads though; are they from a 40k kit, or did you make them yourself?

Thanks for the comments all, much appreciated.

 Jimsolo wrote:
I LOVE the hellions in particular. I don't recognize the heads though; are they from a 40k kit, or did you make them yourself?

The head is from the old Dark Eldar Raider kit. I had a couple left over from the olden days. It looked pretty close to the Hellion head on the illustration for the Arena of Blood game, I'm guessing they didn't have an actual model for the figure at the time it was written.

Here's my last mini of 2018, 'Sephea, Executrix Champion' by Raging Heroes. Honestly I wasn't super excited to paint this one (probably explains why she was last in the queue) since I don't like the resin Raging Heroes uses- it doesn't accept primer easily and I've tried quite a few brands, washed the resin, let it 'de-gas' for weeks, etc. etc.



She was originally just a test mini for priming. About a quarter of the way in I really began to like where it was headed and I really like how she turned out. Not sure what I'll use her for, but I based her to match my Wyches for the Arena of Blood. She may come out when a Wych avoids combat for two rounds or something.

Looks pretty good, I think it could use some weathering on the metallic, debris(bones, broken armor and weapons), dried blood spatter etc.