Reaper Miniatures Demi-Lich - 77352

This is a fun sculpt that looks like it's only in the Bones line from Reaper.  I did some generic searching and looked through the Dark Heaven Legends line as well as the Warlords line and didn't come across a metal version of this sculpt - which is too bad, the metal version of this model would be great.  My only other critique is that I think it would be more fun if the skull was enlarged just a bit.

This model makes a great figure for the Flameskull monster which finally made its way out of a Forgotten Realms specific monster book and into generic Dungeons and Dragons lore.  It's used spectacularly in the 5e basic set in the Mines of Phandelver introductory campaign module - which, in my opinion, is the best "starter" module from any edition of Dungeons and Dragons - it's going to go down as a classic.  I had so much fun with this guy in our home game that I'm going to figure out how to use him again in another campaign.

Painting - normally I would have a really good set of instructions and paint used.  This model confounded me a bit.  I was expecting this one to be a quicky; but it went through a few variations and tried a bit of layering, washing, drybrushing - pretty much all the tricks.  I also couldn't get the exact colors I was wanting to use - the picture in the monster manual had some blue and white flames in there as well and I just couldn't get it to look right.  In the end, I used the Retro Emerald color which was distributed at ReaperCon 2017 mixed with various amounts of Solid White.  As this is supposed to be a flame, the inside would have the white with the darker green towards the ends.  I then did a splash of a watered down green on my cobblestones to give the aura of the flame playing across the dungeon.

The end result is alright and I'll look forward to using this guy often.

Kickstarter paint total: 109 + 1 Lich = 110

Reaper Miniatures Gargoyle Warrior - 2379

Third of three gargoyles that I had sitting around and used as a bit of humor ala Fable (the rpg video game) during a recent family game night.  I initially thought I might paint them as a red stone and then they could do double-duty as a small demon, but finally decided to go with a traditional stone color.  Painting was really simple - basecoat of black, drybrush of concrete, drybrush of arctic, and finally a wash of nightsky blue.

Reaper Miniatures Gargoyle Warrior - 2374

Second of three gargoyles that I had sitting around and used as a bit of humor ala Fable (the rpg video game) during a recent family game night.  I initially thought I might paint them as a red stone and then they could do double-duty as a small demon, but finally decided to go with a traditional stone color.  Painting was really simple - basecoat of black, drybrush of concrete, drybrush of arctic, and finally a wash of nightsky blue.

Reaper Miniatures Gargoyle - 2038

First of three gargoyles that I had sitting around and used as a bit of humor ala Fable (the rpg video game).  I initially thought I might paint them as a red stone and then they could do double-duty as a small demon, but finally decided to go with a traditional stone color.  Painting was really simple - basecoat of black, drybrush of concrete, drybrush of arctic, and finally a wash of nightsky blue.

Reaper Miniatures Chimera - 77257

This was a fun model to paint up and should prove to be a good wandering monster as the party makes their way through the Fields of the Dead just north of Baldur's Gate.  Hopefully I can burn them to a crisp, maul them with a paw, and gore them with a horn.

Painting instructions for Chimera...

Step 1: Undercoat model with Stynylrez green primer (this is awesome on bones)
Step 2: Use Maroon Red on dragon head, tail and wings
Step 3: Use Garnet Red on dragon head, tail and wings as first highlight
Step 4: Use Brilliant Red on dragon head, tail and wings as final highlight
Step 5: Use Griffon Tan on lion body
Step 6: Use Desert Tan as highlights on lion body
Step 7: Use Umber Brown on lion mane
Step 8: Use Ruddy Brown on lion mane
Step 9: Use Sunburn Flesh on lion mane
Step 10: Use Armor Grey on goat head
Step 11: Use Dirty Grey as highlights on goat head
Step 12: Use Maiden Flesh on goat nose
Step 13: Use Tusk Ivory on horns
Step 14: Use Maiden Flesh as highlights on horns
Step 15: Use Solid Block on lion nose and the base
Step 16: Use Armor Grey as highlight on lion nose
Step 17: Drybrush Concrete Grey on base
Step 18: Drybrush Arctic Grey on base as highlight
Step 19: Drybrush Solid White on base as final highlight

Kickstarter paint total: 108 + 1 Chimera = 109

3d Printed Terrain

One of the guys in the gaming group printed off 3d terrain of some graveyard ruins.  I sprayed it all with a black primer and then ran a drybrush of Cold Grey base and Stonewall Grey highlights.  Came out looking good for a quick drybrush project.  I'll look to incorporate these pieces into an upcoming game session.  Fourth picture has the fire elemental in the background - I sent that picture out as a bit of foreshadowing.

Reaper Miniatures Fire Elemental - 2251

The photo over-saturated on the yellow - there's actually a bit of gradient from a white-yellow base.  One of my players asked me if I wanted this model and could use him in the campaign - heck yes!  He's part of the whole rescue the maiden campaign to thwart the goody goody characters - heh, heh.

I needed to get this done quick for our campaign.  So a basecoat of Skull White mixed with Moon Yellow.  Then drybrush of Moon Yellow, Gold Yellow, Hot Orange, and Gory Red.

Reaper Miniatures Ostarzha, Elf Cleric - 77441

I noted in previous posts that I had an altar of evil and a skeleton minotaur as part of an evenings fun to rescue a fair maiden.  Here's the maiden, her name is Imsa in the campaign module.

Painting instructions for Ostarzha (Imsa)...

Step 1: Undercoat model with Stynylrez green primer (this is awesome on bones)
Step 2: Use Dragon Blue on dress
Step 3: Use Dwarven Gold on dress trim
Step 4: Use Fireball Orange on scarf and sash
Step 5: Use Rich Leather on leather and hair
Step 6: Use Caucasian Flesh on skin
Step 7: Use Sold White on scarf tip and sash center
Step 8: Use Devlan Mud as wash over entire model
Step 9: Use Desert Tan as highlight on leather and hair
Step 10: Use Solid White as highlight on scarf tip and sash center
Step 11: Use a bit of Solid White in mix with Caucasian Flesh for skin highlights
Step 12: Use Entrail Pink on lips
Step 13: Use Sunburn Tan for eyebrows
Step 14: Use Retro Red (red metallic from Reaper) on container
Step 15: Use Solid Black on base
Step 16: Drybrush Concrete Grey on base
Step 17: Drybrush Arctic Grey on base as highlight

Kickstarter paint total: 107 + 1 Ostarzha, Elf Cleric = 108