Thoughts of a Depressive Diplomatist

After a tiring day drinking all afternoon in the pub and playing board games all evening (my social life has picked up somewhat), it was nice to come home to a box of goodies from North Star.

They're not wearing spiked helmets - there's a fair bit of flash to clean off

With the pre-release offer came a free metal figure (on the right above).  I also splashed out on one of the human champions (mainly because of his fine 'tash) and a pack of three dwarf champions (regular readers will know I'm a sucker for dwarves).

Jenkins is going to need more than five rounds!

I saw these the other day in a charity shop and, although I haven't got an immediate use for them, they must be useful for something.  Right?  Statues, living or otherwise.

It a set from Past Times, apparently a 'Gothic form' of noughts and crosses (tic-tac-toe for those of you on t'other side of Atlantic) made of resin.  It provides ten gargoyles of two slightly different designs.  Only one is broken.


Dwarves!

In other news, Northstar Miniatures are taking pre-orders from today for their 'Oathmark: Battles of the Lost Age' dwarves (with goblins, men and elves to come and a promise of other races).  You probably know all about this, as they have been trailing their coat for some months, but

Oathmark is a mass-battle fantasy wargame in which players command armies of dwarves, elves, goblins, and men, and campaign to expand their realms and secure the loyalty of those they conquer. Oathmark allows players to field the fantasy army they have always wanted, whether a company of stalwart dwarves or a mixed force with proud elves and wild goblins standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the battle line.

The rules are being written by Joe McCullough, of Frostgrave fame, and published by Osprey Games.  The miniatures (which we are told will be compatible with Frostgrave minis) are sculpted by Bob Naismith.

Joe McC's post
Review of Dwarves
Preview of Goblins
Northstar's Oathmark page

Metal Dwarf Wizard (or Frostgrave Raven Master?)

I doubt whether I'll go for the game, but I do have a soft spot nicely sculpted dwarves.  Northstar has done the rank-and-file in plastic (a box gives you enough to build 30) with 'character figures' in metal.  Sounds a good approach.  Pre-orders are a bit cheaper and come with bonus figures.

Metal Dwarf King

For the Dwarf fans of you out there, Lead Adventure Miniatures are running a rather nice looking Kickstarter at the moment.  There's a lot of choice and it's already funded.  Details here.

Admin first.  I've changed the name of this series of posts from 'Frostgrave Fursday' to 'Fantasy Thursday'  as I think it will cause less confusion.*

* Not that that's a given though - did anyone else see the title of the post on Wargames News and Terrain last week 'X Stocking Fantasy Figures' and momentarily think the figures were 'Stocking Fantasies'?



Earlier in the month I mentioned a couple of figures I'd bought in a sale, thinking that they were from the same manufacturer as the various other wizards I'd painted up for Frostgrave.  I was mistaken - the first figures were from Midlam Miniatures and the new ones from Otherworld Miniatures.   Well I've now painted them up.  In truth, I much prefer them to the Midlams - they have more character and are more dynamic.  Of course you makes your choice and pays your money: Midlam's figures are £2.00 each, whereas Otherworld's are £5.00.  I have to think long and hard before spending a fiver on a figure.




I'm quite taken with the dwarf and how he turned out.  He's made me think that I might dig out the fabulous Oathsworn dwarves and haflings from last year's Kickstarter.  Why shouldn't they get some of the Frostgrave booty?

Of course you do.  Especially when they look like this:



This is a new Kickstarter from Oathsworn Miniatures, which seems to be a company set up by Michael Lovejoy (do follow this link, he's very talented) and his wife Jo.  According to their profile, Michael is

a life-long fantasy fan, with an unhealthy Dwarf obsession, Michael's ultimate goal is to have a range of 1000 different Dwarf miniatures... but he admits he'll need to sculpt other races too, whether he wants to or not...

This is their second kickstarter.  The first, earlier this year, was exclusively dwarves: sadly I missed that one.  This one is a mix of dwarves, halflings and monsters.  Frankly, the halflings leave me a little cold - and looking at the pledges, it seems I'm not the only one who prefers the dwarves.   Nethertheless, Oathsworn seem to have attracted a following, and the Kickstarter was fully funded by the second day!

I'm supporting this one and will watch for future releases with interest.

Now all I need to know is where I can get a knitted beard like the one in the promotional video...

A Welcome

Welcome to new follower Jur.  I can't see a blog for him, but someone will update me if necessary.

Edit - I've just realised that Jur is the man behind the admirable Rear Guard Action.