Arodruin Dreamthief

And that makes four with Aridruin Dreamthief, Troupe Master of the Troupe of the Shattered Spear...

The power glove is suppose to represent a Harlequin's Caress. My original intention was to paint it with a ghostly glow around the hand, but I decided the model had enough going on already. It was really the only model I had without a sword or second pistol in hand.

A bit of the method to my madness when painting these guys and more going forward... I like the appeal of some uniformity in an army. While the old school Harlequins captured my imagination long ago, I wanted to tone down the riot just a bit. I also wanted to avoid the more uniform appearance of the newer GW studio versions.

What I ended up with is a compromise between the two. I've kept a somewhat limited palette, at least for Harlequins. The main unifying detail will be the white masks. All sashes and ribbons will either be yellow or purple. I've already discussed the plan with the relatively plain attire of the Mimes and higher level Harlequins will sport more familiar patterns. To tie together the fancier lads, each will bear at least some of the diamond pattern and all of these will be red and something else. These few choices will give the force a cohesive appearance while still allowing freedom to run a little wild.

I enjoyed painting these minis. I'm not sure if I'll paint more of these now or wait until the need arises in the campaign. I'd like to paint a few more for a proper troupe for Rogue Trader. Flipping through the Shadow War book I've found I can make Imperial Guard, Inquisition, and Eldar lists from Rogue Trader models I've already painted. I also have a hundred or so RT Orks tucked away and a Kill Team seems like a great way to paint up a few of these without the worry of needing all hundred guys for a game.

Fun stuff!

More Shadowmunda

Two more members of my warband!

Forthorn Sorrowsworn, Harlequin Virtuoso (specialist)...

Galandrad, the second of my Harlequin Mimes...

The Vituoso has a Neuro Disruptor and Harlequin's Kiss and Mime has a Shuriken Pistol and Harlequin's Kiss. Harlequins are expensive in Shadow War and some forces run into an issue where you don't have enough points left to buy another model and end up with more expensive gear that you might have otherwise chosen. The Kiss is probably overkill for a Mime, but what the hell...

All I have left for the starting kill team is my Troupe Master! I'm also going to paint a Death Jester to add some fire support in future games. I'll paint other models as I recruit them (or promote them in the case of Mimes).

Harlequins for Shadowmunda

It's been a while since I've had anything in the vein of oldschool to post. I've been mostly concentrating on my 1690 historicals and I'm venturing into 1709 as well. Earlier this year I took on the US distribution duties for Warfare Miniatures and I've felt a responsibility to put in more time with those minis to push the ranges. I also hopped across the pond and got in a weekend of wargaming in Scotland and spent three days traipsing around the battlefields of Ireland (excerpts ongoing here) that form the backdrop for my collections - Londonderry, Newtownbutler, Athlone, Augsburg, and the Boyne. Besides being an amazing experience it fueled my fires to put in even more time in the War of Three Kings (hmmm... sounds like a book title).

Anyway, with GW recycling the Necromunda rules with Shadow War Armageddon, my friends and I are preparing to embark on a campaign. The new terrain kits look awesome as well (especially the cool cranes) and I already have half a dozen of them piled on my table to dress up my old City Fight table. The appeal of the new game for my friends was that they could all build gangs - well, strike that... KILL TEAMS... from their existing collections. I can do that too, however, I decided to take the opportunity to build a new force for the campaign, but I thought I would try to do it from the mounds of minis I already have on hand.

After flipping through the rulebook I acquired on Saturday (yes, I know now most of the forces have been out for weeks online, but I haven't been paying attention), I knew immediately what my new warband would be and as a bonus, I could use Rogue Trader era models...

This is Morrobryn the Mime and he is as Rogue Trader as you can get. Yes, he is a bit drab for a Harlequin, but there's a method to my madness. In SWA, Mimes are the Juves of the Harlequin faction. They are just growing into their first role. I decided to take the term 'mime' literally and paint all of my young Harlies in this fashion - if they survive three games, they level up to Players. At that time either the existing model will be taken to the next stage of their costume (and earn his last name), or replaced if their gear has been upgraded.

My starting list is a Troupe Master, a Virtuoso, and two Mimes. The first two will get the full clown treatment with an insane array of diamonds, stripes, hearts, and more. I have around twenty of these old minis (the box set and a handful more) and over time I may build them into a tiny Rogue Trader force to bolster my Eldar.

Harlequins seem very tough on paper, though I think they take some care to play. With only four models they will be out numbered by almost everyone. They are hard to hit at range, but if you can throw enough dice at one eventually you'll get a hit. I'm going to need to pay close attention to the victory conditions of the scenarios as my speed and maneuverability may make it possible to win certain games without even engaging in combat.

I suck at these games anyway because I'm just not competitive. I enjoy the painting aspect of the hobby more and prefer to act as GM in games, but the idea of a campaign with models gaining skills and gear appeals to me (or my likely for me splints and headstones, but maybe I can model those too).

More Harlies as I get them done!

Eldar Lightning Squad

The finished squad...

I'm on a bit of a ramble. Rather than continuing on the Eldar I've been distracted by an Imperial Guard unit and they will be up over the next few weeks. I'll return the Eldar soon...

Eldar Lightning Squad

Eldar Pirate with Shuriken Catapult!

I decided to add a blue helmet because I really liked the look of that scheme from the Rogue Trader book as well. He doesn't stand out too badly when viewed beside the models with no helmet and I'll probably have at least one more like this when I get around to painting my third Eldar squad.

Finished squad up tomorrow...

Eldar Lightning Squad

Eldar Pirate with Shuriken Catapult!

Eldar Lightning Squad

Eldar Pirate with Shuriken Catapult!

Eldar Lightning Squad

Eldar Pirate conversion with Flamer!

Strangely in the old catalog this model is listed as having a flamer, but the model obviously had a Shuriken Catapult. I scavenged flamer bits from a modern plastic model to convert the weapon.

Eldar Lightning Squad

The leader of my Eladr Lightning Squad!

Eldar Thunder Squad

Done and Dusted!

Really pleased with the uniform look of the unit even with the multi-colored armour. A Lightning Squad is up next week...

Eldar Thunder Squad

Eldar Pirate with Shuriken Catapult!

I'll post the completed squad in a day or two...

Eldar Thunder Squad

Eldar Pirate with Shuriken Catapult!

Eldar Thunder Squad

Eldar Pirate with a Missile Launcher!

I should mention rather than paint every model in the same color scheme, I am going to vary the armour color and use all of the schemes from the Rogue Trader book. The fluff states Eldar Pirates don't wear uniforms and many of the photos have mixed schemes. The yellow helmets will tie the models together...

I have enough old school lead to make two Lightning Sqauds, one Thunder Squad, a Harlequin Troupe (from White Dwarf, not the old Pirate list), and a handful of characters. I also have an old War Walker around here somewhere.

Moving Forward - Eldar Pirates

Whew...

It is premature to say I am 'back', but I do feel like it is time to move forward. I want to thank everyone for the kind comments on my blogs, the prayers, and the support. Life will never be the same, but I do find some comfort in keeping busy and I have not been idle, though I have lost my train of thought.

These Eldar Pirates are the first of ten. I really just wanted to paint something different and the Eldar were some of Sara's favorite.

I also started a new blog for Age of Sigmar. I really happen to like the game for a host of reasons, though it doesn't mean I've abandoned Oldhammer (all of my AoS games so far have been with my 3rd Edition Oldhammer armies).

I don't know that I will maintain the same pace I once had on this site, at least not for a while, but I did want to get back on. I'll try to get back to my Reading Rogue Trader series as well, though it's been a while since I cracked that tome.

Thanks again for the support.