Reaper Miniatures Attic Whisperer - 60125

 

The Pathfinder Attic Whisperer is one of my favorite monsters.  It was originally in the very first Pathfinder Adventure Path module Burnt Offerings as the beginning of the Rise of the Runelords Adventure Path.  

A quick hit down history lane... 

Paizo was the sub-contracted publisher of Dragon magazine and Dungeon magazine.  One of Paizo's innovations to Dragon/Dungeon was the concept of the Adventure Path with Shackled City being the first where they would have twelve monthly Dungeon adventures be supported by content in Dragon.  Next was Age of Worms and then Savage Tide.  

In secret, WoTC wanted to go a different direction (4e and online publishing of supported materials meaning no more Dragon/Dungeon magazine). While 3.5e was still strong, they started to kill off their supported vendors and thus they ended their relationship with Paizo.  In order to survive as a publishing company, Paizo came up with an entirely new campaign world Golarion and the Pathfinder Chronicles Adventure Path.  Thus begins Rise of the Runelords which is technically their fourth adventure path concept but the first as a Pathfinder Chronicles Adventure Path and was written in 3.5e (it would be another year before WoTC kills 3.5 for 4e and Pathfinder becoming its own game).

Now for the fun part, although the Attic Whisperer was introduced in Burnt Offerings it wasn't actually used!  It was part of the Pathfinder Bestiary in the back of the module with a note that you could use it as a side adventure at the Turandarok Academy which was a school and orphanage in Sandpoint ran by a retired adventurer.  However, a better use would be in part 2, the Skinsaw Murders has the party in a creepy old mansion - that's where I use the Attic Whisperer.  The Haunted Mansion in 5e's Ghosts of Saltmarsh is another.

As to the mini itself - this is a wonderful sculpt and you get 2 in the package.  It's been a bit over a year since I last painted on metal.

Painting instructions for Attic Whisperer (used Reaper paints)...

Step 1: Undercoat model with black primer (back to metal so I used the spray primer)
Step 2: Use Yellowed Bone on skeletal bits
Step 3: Use Clouded Sea or Meadow Green on clothing
Step 4: Use Black Wash (Vallejo) on clothing
Step 5: Mix Yellowed Bone into either Clouded Sea or Meadow Green for highlights on clothing
Step 6: Use Polished Leather on teddy bear
Step 7: Use Flesh Wash (Vallejo) on skeletal bits
Step 8: Use Dragon Black on base

Reaper Miniatures Kallaguk, Troll King - 77267

 

So much to say about the miniature - this is just a fantastic fun piece and I can't wait to bring this onto the tabletop - it's going to be so much fun.  It's a Jason Wiebe sculpt - what more can I say, I have hundreds of miniatures still waiting to be painted on the shelf from various previous kickstarters.  I pull stuff off the shelf that I think looks cool and useful for my games - they just happen to be Wiebe sculpts.

I started painting this one many many many moons ago and it sat around on the table and received paint whenever the thought hit me to apply some leftover paint - so it has a bit of this and that and is true "fantasy" in color versus a realistic fantastical creature.  However, I think it somehow works and I've gotten to a point with it that I just don't see where adding more paint is going to be helpful and therefore I'm calling it done.

The version of the figure I have is from the kickstarter versus the metal version - as an original bones miniature it has a major failure - the bones pvc material is too flimsy and the heavy solid upper body doesn't "stand" on the two legs - hence the support piece I had to put into the middle from the base to keep the entire miniature from collapsing forward.  I noticed on Reaper's website that as of today, they are still selling this model in original bones - that's sad - nobody should actually purchase this in bones and Reaper should immediately convert this model over to their bones black.  It's a fun model that'll get a lot of ooh's and aahh's at the table and while the metal version is great, it's 5x more expensive at $26 as of this writing.

Kickstarter paint total: 150 + 1 Troll King = 151

WizKids Lich - WZK90020

This is the "other" mini in the 90020 package titled Lich & Mummy by Wizkids.  So in my mummy post I noted I wasn't exactly a fan of the translucent plastic piece.  However, in this model, I think the translucent plastic was well thought out and well done.  I was able to give it a wash of watered down purple and it worked out very nice - the skeleton coming out of the ground was cool enough but this bit of translucent plastic really ties the skeleton to the lich.

I've been playing with using more premade washes lately on these gaming models and with this one I wanted a "dirty" look.  Some it came out okay, the black wash I think needed to be watered down a bit.

Painting instructions for Mummy (used Reaper paints)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done

Step 2: Use Desert Tan on skeleton

Step 3: Use Brilliant Red on robes

Step 4: Use Twilight Purple on inner robe and collar

Step 5: Use Sunburn Flesh on skeleton's leather bits

Step 6: Use a dark silver (it's a sample bottle so no name) on skeleton's metal bits

Step 7: Use Artic Grey on cloud structure

Step 8: Use Dwarven Gold on robe trim

Step 9: Use Dragon Black on base

Step 10: Drybrush Vallejo's Cold Grey on rock

Step 11: Wash bones with Vallejo's Flesh Wash

Step 12: Wash cloud structure with Vallejo's Pale Grey Wash

Step 13: Wash robes and armor with Vallejo's Black Wash

WizKids Mummy - WZK90020

 

Part of a Lich & Mummy pack from Wizkids - this is the Mummy figure.  Comes with the figure and a clear piece of plastic for the cloud effects behind the figure.  Quite a few of the Wizkids figures have this feature.  Not sure how I feel about it -- some are okay, others annoying, and some are just meh.  Example, I liked the effects on the blink dogs, this mummy figure is okay, and the human wizard was meh (just a bit over-stylized in my opinion).

Painting instructions for Mummy (used Reaper paints)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done

Step 2: Use Desert Tan on base

Step 3: Use Yellowed Bone on mummy wrap

Step 4: Use Creamy Ivory on boney hand, feet, face

Step 5: Use Creamy Ivory and stippling technique on base

Step 6: Wash entire model with Flesh Wash (Vallejo)

Step 7: Use Uniform Brown on belt

Step 8: Use watered down Clouded Sea on cloud

Step 9: Wash cloud with Pale Grey (Vallejo)

Step 10: Drybrush very lightly the cloud with Maggot White

Step 11: Another wash of cloud with Pale Grey (Vallejo)

Step 12: Use watered down Maggot White and highlight all raised bits of cloud

Reaper Miniatures Dwarf Executioner - 77298

 

This was a bit whimsical.  While I was painting my Human Wizard, I always have some leftover paint as I go through the process and typically I have a few minis around where I spread the love - in this case, the dwarf received all the loving, lol. This also digs back into my Kickstarter pile...

Kickstarter paint total: 149 + 1 Dwarf = 150

WizKids Human Wizard - WZK72618

 

I needed a new model so that I can play a Human Wizard within an online Fantasy Game using Fantasy Grounds.  But Rick, I can hear you say, why would you need to paint a 3d miniature for a 2d computer virtual tabletop?  The answer is that every character needs a token - so I "tokenized" him for the game, but needed to visualize the entire figure - I'll also keep him next to my computer while playing the game on Fantasy Grounds to draw me into his character - an old wizard - a bit of a curmudgeon - wearing the traditional colors of his ancestry.

The token...

Here's what it looks like in game...

The model is Wizkids and I really like the sculpt - but I'm not too hot on the bit of plastic that makes up the spell - it's the latest craze and they're doing it to more and more of their models.  It's okay just not my "cup of tea" - maybe it'll grow on me.  And this is one of two models - the second one has the same face sculpt but a more elaborate outfit - maybe I'll paint that one several levels down the road.

Painting instructions for Human Wizard (used Reaper paints)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done
Step 2: Use Griffon Tan on face and hands
Step 3: Use Maggot White on beard
Step 4: Use Crimson Red on robe
Step 5: Use Rich Leather on leather belt, pouches, and straps across chest
Step 6: Used Polished Leather to highlight leather belt, pouches, and straps across chest
Step 7: Use Mossy Green on robe front
Step 8: Add a bit of Maggot White to the Mossy Green to highlight robe on front
Step 9: Use that mix and water down - wash on the spell, add more Maggot White and repeat toward the front of the spell to get a blend from green to white
Step 10: Use Twilight Purple on cape and trim of the robe
Step 11: Use Umber Brown on staff
Step 12: Use Vallejo's Flesh wash on face and leather
Step 13: Use Pure Black on base
Step 14: Drybrush Vallejo's Cold Grey on rock
Step 15: Drybrush Vallejo's Stonewall Grey on rock

Reaper Miniatures Mudcroak, Squog Shaman - 77269

Another frog-ee - squog - bullywug for you - painted at the same times as the warriors - this is the Squog Shaman.  The five minis will make for a nice D&D encounter in the swamps.

Painting Instructions for Squog Shaman (using Reaper paints)...

Step 1: Use Muddy Olive on everything
Step 2: Use Olive Green on skin as highlight
Step 3: Use Pale olive on skin as final highlight
Step 4: Use Golden Brown on shields and spears
Step 5: Use Woodland Brown on shields and spears as highlight as well ask skull
Step 6: Use Maroon Red on loincloth and strings
Step 7: Use Rusty Red on loincloth and strings as highlight
Step 8: Use Field Grey on pouch sack
Step 9: Use Dirty Grey on pouch sack as highlight
Step 10: Use Tusk Ivory on teeth and drybrush skull
Step 11: Use Dwarven Flesh on shells
Step 12: Use Pale Saffron on eyeball and starfish
Step 13: Use Fireball Orange on the blowfish
Step 14: Use Meadow Green on the lizard
Step 15: Use Clouded Sea on base

Kickstarter paint total: 148 + 1 Squog Shaman = 149

Reaper Miniatures Squog Warriors - 77268

Some frog-ee warriors - Reaper calls them Squogs - the "official" D&D name for these critters are Bullywugs.  These are the Bones version.

Painting Instructions for Squog Warriors (using Reaper paints)...

Step 1: Use Muddy Olive on everything
Step 2: Use Olive Green on skin as highlight
Step 3: Use Pale olive on skin as final highlight
Step 4: Use Golden Brown on shields and spears
Step 5: Use Woodland Brown on shields and spears as highlight
Step 6: Use Maroon Red on loincloth and strings
Step 7: Use Rusty Red on loincloth and strings as highlight
Step 8: Use Field Grey on pouch sack
Step 9: Use Dirty Grey on pouch sack as highlight
Step 10: Use Tusk Ivory on teeth
Step 11: Use Dwarven Flesh on shells
Step 12: Use Pale Saffron on eyeball
Step 13: Use Clouded Sea on base

Kickstarter paint total: 144 + 4 Squog Warriors = 148

Reaper Miniatures Familiars 2 - 77196

This was a bit of whimsy but I needed a small spirit for an upcoming Dungeons & Dragons session and I believe this mini will do nicely.  Was thinking about maybe a cool green or blues, but settled for red to yellow.  My original intent was to bring each layer up vertically onto the model, but then I'd lose the features as this is really such a tiny mini, therefore I did a bit of both layering a highlight color on top of another while also bringing the highlight vertically to the top.

This is also just one of the miniatures in what's been grouped as a package of familiars - I originally received as part of a previous Reaper Kickstarter.

Painting Instructions for Familiars 2 (Reaper Paints)...

Step 1: Use Crimson Red on base edge
Step 2: Use mix of Crimson Red and Rusty Red on base middle
Step 3: Use Rusty Red on base center and entire figure
Step 4: Use Burning Orange at bottom of figure and bring to top
Step 5: Use Fireball Orange at about the figures knees and bring to top
Step 6: Use Golden Yellow at figures hands and bring to top
Step 7: Use Pale Saffron at figures head and bring to top
Step 8: Use mix of Pale Saffron and Solid White and just hit the tips of the top

Kickstarter paint total: 143 + 1 Familiar = 144

Reaper Miniatures Creature of Blood Reef - 77189

I dug into my bones pile to find some sea creatures and these guys turned out to be a bunch of fun to base and paint.  As they're supposed to be down in the bottom of the sea I moved away from my normal rock/stone basing and made something a bit more fitting - I thought about painting the sides blue but decided against it.  They'll be put to good use soon in our current D&D campaign as the party travels up and down the Sword Coast.  I'm sure they'll be guarding a sunken ship broken against the reef.

It's been awhile since I used my Reaper Paints - they're so nice - just amazing.  I went that direction as I wanted to base these in an old Reaper color called Clouded Sea - just a fantastic blue/green which I figured would do these guys justice.  The Reaper paint is just beautiful to use - silky smooth off the brush and dries to a flat.

Another point about this - I'm not a fan of drybrushing but I want to get these on the table quickly.  So this is a "classic" basecoat, drybrush, wash, pick out the details - although I did spend a bit of extra time layering up some red to orange color on the fin.  I figured the opposite of blue/green on the color theory is red/orange.

Painting Instructions for Creature of Blood Reef (Reaper Paints)...

Step 1: Use Clouded Sea on everything but fin and claws
Step 2: Use mix of Creamy Ivory and Clouded Sea (60/40 - 3 drops to 2) - drybrush entire model
Step 3: Heavily water down Spruce Green and wash the entire model
Step 4: Use Rusty Red on the fin and claws
Step 5: Use Burning Orange on the fin and claws as initial highlights
Step 6: Use Fireball Orange on the fin as final highlights
Step 7: Use Solid Black on the eye socket
Step 8: Use Burning Orange as eyeballs
Step 9: Use Griffon Tan on base
Step 10: Drybrush Desert Tan on base
Step 11: Use Creamy Ivory and the stippling technique on the base (stippling is like drybrushing but instead of dragging across you dab onto the model with a down/up technique to put little dots onto the model)
Step 12: Use watered down Umber Wash (Vallejo) on base

Kickstarter paint total: 138 + 5 Creatures of Blood Reef = 143

Wizkids Fountain - WZK73865

Probably the easiest "miniature" I've painted - this is actually quite a good size miniature standing on a two inch base and reaches a few inches in height - it's part of the Wizkids Deep Cuts line. This model is really a fantastic set piece and will be great to introduce in an upcoming gaming session.

Painting instructions for Fountain...

Step 1: Disassemble the pieces - the fountain has three pieces and 2 clear plastic pieces representing water
Step 2: No need to primer - already done
Step 3: Use Ghost Grey (Vallejo) on entire model representing the fountain
Step 4: Use Pale Grey wash (Vallejo) over Ghost Grey on entire model representing the fountain
Step 5: Use watered down Ice Blue (Reaper - they're a bit less opaque and have really good coverage when watered down) on the clear plastic pieces
Step 6: Reassemble the pieces

Reaper Miniatures Treasure Pile - 77138

This actually comes as a multipart from Reaper with a pair of candleabras.  Originally I picked this up with one of the Bones Kickstarters, so I'll need to go dig for the two candleabras and do those up next.

Painting instructions for Treasure Pile (used my Vallejo Game Color)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done
Step 2: Use Charred Brown on wood
Step 3: Drybrush wood with Filthy Brown
Step 4: Use watered down Gunmetal Metal on metal bits
Step 5: Wash all wood with Umber Wash
Step 6: Wash all metal with Black Wash
Step 7: Use Bright Bronze for coins
Step 8: Wash with Umber Wash
Step 9: Use Black on base

Kickstarter paint total: 137 + 1 Treasure Pile = 138

WizKids Chests - WZK72590

Some more set pieces to fill a room - Wizkids is knocking it out of the park with these minis.  Combine this with mimics and you can host a fun encounter - 2 chests - one's a mimic - one is filled with treasure.

Painting instruction for Chests (used my Vallejo Game Color)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done
Step 2: Use Charred Brown on wood
Step 3: Drybrush wood with Filthy Brown
Step 4: Use watered down Gunmetal Metal on metal bits
Step 5: Wash all wood with Umber Wash
Step 6: Wash all metal with Black Wash
Step 7: For open chests use Bright Bronze for coins
Step 8: For open chests wash with Umber Wash
Step 9: Use Black on base

WizKids Hanging Cage - WZK73874

I have the perfect encounter for this set piece - can't wait until we get to that stage of the adventure.  This was so much fun to paint up and it's a working cage - the bottom comes off and there's an old man that goes in and out.  Another awesome Wizkids Deep Cuts product.

Painting instruction for Hanging Cage (used my Vallejo Game Color)...

Step 1: No need to primer - already done
Step 2: Use Charred Brown on wooden posts
Step 3: Drybrush Beasty Brown on wooden posts
Step 4: Drybrush Filthy Brown on wooden posts
Step 5: Drybrush Bonewhite on wooden posts
Step 6: Wash entire wooden posts with Flesh Wash
Step 7: Use Gunmetal on all metal bits
Step 8: Wash all metal bits with Black Wash
Step 9: Use Black on base and rock
Step 10: Drybrush Cold Grey on rock
Step 11: Drybrush Stonewall Grey on rock
Step 12: Drybrush Dead White on rock
Step 13: Use Bonewhite on skulls and bones on base
Step 14: Use watered down Dead White to highlight skulls and bones on base
Step 15: Use watered down Flesh Wash on skulls and bones on base
Step 16: Drag the string provided through Sepia ink
Step 17: Use Bronze Flesh on old man skin
Step 18: Use Scarlett Red on old man shirt
Step 19: Use Leather Brown on old man pants
Step 20: Use Charred Brown on old man boots
Step 21: Wash old man with Black Wash to give a gritty/dirty feel

Reaper Miniatures Lysette, Female Elf - 77076

Sometimes simple is best - we had another D&D home campaign which we started about 3 years ago and my wife was playing an Elven wizard.  Prior to the start, everyone painted their own miniature and this Bones figure from my Kickstarter pile was painted by my wife.  I added the eyes and the bit of white to the gemstone in the staff, but the remainder was all painted by my better half.  :-)   I could do some highlighting and shading, and pick out some details, but this wonderful mini was used well on the battlemat and it looks great as is.

Kickstarter paint total: 136 + 1 Elf Wizard = 137