Mustering from the Tomb
- Thread starter Grave Tacticus
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Scythe on! Still need to fill the gap between the haft and hand, but it's looking, go that nice curve we want scythes to have.
Harbingers arrived, after a month, sans Feast of Bone book and tokens. Fed up, but still wanting the missing parts of the order, I contacted the seller with a rebuke and hopefully I don't have to wait another full month. Need to throw together another list for the local store's Path to Glory campaign, which may include some Necropolis Stalkers at some point, since Petrifex Elite. I need to get my schedule sorted out so I can get back on the Handbook too. By Nagash, let it be so!
Wishlist:
19 liter Storage Box
Malign Sorcery
Black Sand Basing
Katakros
On Order/In Transit:
Assembly Queue:
Bone-Tithe Nexus
[UWSL]Necropolis Stalkers (3) [rfs][/UWSL]
[UWSL]Mortek Guard Shields (40)* [rfs][/UWSL]
Arkham the Black [rfs]
Morghasts (4) [rfs]
Mortek Crawler Crew (5) [rfs]
Kavalos Deathriders (5) [rfs]
OBR Endless Spells (2) [rfs]
Mortek Guard (20)
Mortek Crawler
Gothizzar Harvester
Mortisan Boneshaper
Conversion Queue:
Liege-Kavalos* [finishing/crow]
Mortisan Soulmason [fill]
Painting Queue:
Necropolis Stalkers (3)*
Mortisan Boneshaper*
Mortek Guard (20-20)*
Kavalos Deathriders (5)
Kainan's Reapers (6)
Vokmortian
Zandtos
Gothizzar Harvester
Bone-Tithe Shrieker
Mortisan Soulreaper
Mortek Crawler
19 liter Storage Box
Malign Sorcery
Black Sand Basing
Katakros
On Order/In Transit:
Assembly Queue:
Bone-Tithe Nexus
[UWSL]Necropolis Stalkers (3) [rfs][/UWSL]
[UWSL]Mortek Guard Shields (40)* [rfs][/UWSL]
Arkham the Black [rfs]
Morghasts (4) [rfs]
Mortek Crawler Crew (5) [rfs]
Kavalos Deathriders (5) [rfs]
OBR Endless Spells (2) [rfs]
Mortek Guard (20)
Mortek Crawler
Gothizzar Harvester
Mortisan Boneshaper
Conversion Queue:
Liege-Kavalos* [finishing/crow]
Mortisan Soulmason [fill]
Painting Queue:
Necropolis Stalkers (3)*
Mortisan Boneshaper*
Mortek Guard (20-20)*
Kavalos Deathriders (5)
Kainan's Reapers (6)
Vokmortian
Zandtos
Gothizzar Harvester
Bone-Tithe Shrieker
Mortisan Soulreaper
Mortek Crawler
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My local store owner has an Arkhan (NIB) he's been holding onto after an aborted attempt at starting OBR, and today I told him I'd pick it up next payday. I like that Arkhan can take any of the Legion keywords, and it's kind of a shame that Katakros can't. In low point Path to Glory campaigns with OBR want to start in Petrifex Elite, which means that once you can afford a big centerpiece character you're more likely going to recruit Arkhan. Running Mortis Praetorians is possible at higher values, since you can just have Katakros right out the gate, but you might find yourself running a less productive list if your opponents started at a lower point value. Hopefully the next battle tome will make Mortis Praetorians evergreen, instead of Katakros or bust.
Still need to sort out the paints I need, hrm.
Still need to sort out the paints I need, hrm.
I've been playing with the idea of a vampire adopted into the OBR hierarchy. The biggest narrative issue is: "Why not build the vampire harder, better, stronger, faster per Ossiarch doctrine?" I can think of a few reasons, first, the area in which the associated legion operates is dominated by vampire superstitions and having an actual vampire in the command structure makes "diplomatic" relations with the surrounding mortals substantially easier and said vampire might even be the progenitor of the very beliefs the legion is leveraging. The next reason would be espionage, vampires can go into mortal settlements with little fear of discovery, whereas the presence of a Bonereaper is hardly subtle, and I'm surprised the Bonereapers even have this blind spot in the first place. Sure, they have their little spy birds, but they're hardly going to be convincing the local noble to sell out his own town, or a guard to open the gates at an opportune time.
And why would a vampire want to join up with the OBR, even with an exemption on being turned into a bone golem? The Soulblight Gravelords faction is rife with internal conflict and, as I've bemoaned many times, armies full of rust and rot. The OBR represent Death's most ordered and productive faction, any vampire that values empire building and tactical acumen over ego stroking would at least have a passing interest in, if not a deep envy of their Ossiarch contemporaries.
And why would a vampire want to join up with the OBR, even with an exemption on being turned into a bone golem? The Soulblight Gravelords faction is rife with internal conflict and, as I've bemoaned many times, armies full of rust and rot. The OBR represent Death's most ordered and productive faction, any vampire that values empire building and tactical acumen over ego stroking would at least have a passing interest in, if not a deep envy of their Ossiarch contemporaries.
Arkham acquired, might put him together for kicks, since I don't plan on fielding him anytime soon. I do want to put together a unit of Necropolis Stalkers for the Order of Battle though.
De-sprued Arkhan and figured out the storage box size needed for him and the Bone-Tithe Nexus (and Katakros and Nagash eventually, the only models in the current OBR range I'm missing). I've got another 9 liter box just about ready for a magnetic sheet for most of second battleforce and the Morghasts. The local store changed their Warhammer AoS night to Wednesday, so it looks like for the foreseeable future I'll be playing at home. On that note, I did pick up the new DoK and NH books for my family, but haven't told them yet.
Worked a bit more on the Liege-Kavalos, added a soultrap to each of the hip plates, and I might add the last two in a similar fashion after I've checked it over after the green stuff dries a bit on the scythe. It's a nice conversion and I hope I can do it justice.
Decided to use all four soul traps, turned out pretty good.
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I have an extra skull raven I was going to put on the Liege-Kavalos, glad I remembered to do that before I primed it.
Speaking of birds, I've been thinking about changing the theme up a little, but it might to too much work to throw a bunch of Aviarch Spymaster heads into the army.
Speaking of birds, I've been thinking about changing the theme up a little, but it might to too much work to throw a bunch of Aviarch Spymaster heads into the army.
Just snagged an Aviarch Spymaster for $23, now I just have to wait forever for it to come over from the UK.
Local store finally got in my Bone-Tithe Nexus! Woo!
As I've been removing the Nexus from it's sprues and cleaning up the parts, it's clear that the statue will need to be painted in pieces. A shame, but the model otherwise is huge and amazing and it fills the Nexus shaped whole I had in my heart when I played my army without it.
Here we are, on the front side of 2023 and me with an army that hasn't been worked on in months...
"Grave," you may ask, "why are you planning to buy another Liege-Kavalos when you already have two you need to finish?" Because I've decided to put together that OBR Vampire conversion and get out of OBR what I've always wanted out of the Legion of Blood. This is spurred by three things: The Vulture Lord novel, where a human is trained by and fights alongside a Bonereaper legion; my Magic the Gathering Commander deck, which is White/Black vampires; and my enduring opinion that a proper leader arms their troops with the best training and equipment available. Don't get me wrong, I love the decayed Gothic look of Soulblight, but those guys are lazy, just grabbing whatever is in the ground and throwing it at the enemy, the Vampire units/models themselves being somewhat of an exception.
There's also a semi-roleplaying aspect to it as well, but I'll share more of that later.
"Grave," you may ask, "why are you planning to buy another Liege-Kavalos when you already have two you need to finish?" Because I've decided to put together that OBR Vampire conversion and get out of OBR what I've always wanted out of the Legion of Blood. This is spurred by three things: The Vulture Lord novel, where a human is trained by and fights alongside a Bonereaper legion; my Magic the Gathering Commander deck, which is White/Black vampires; and my enduring opinion that a proper leader arms their troops with the best training and equipment available. Don't get me wrong, I love the decayed Gothic look of Soulblight, but those guys are lazy, just grabbing whatever is in the ground and throwing it at the enemy, the Vampire units/models themselves being somewhat of an exception.
There's also a semi-roleplaying aspect to it as well, but I'll share more of that later.
Now, onto that roleplaying element...
Bonereapers have personalities, and their own motives, but they really don't have any needs to speak of. They need repair, sure, but they exist in an undead stasis if left to their own devices. The Mortisans search for knowledge and perfect their necromantic artistry, the Lieges administer their armies and cities and refine their military arts. They are made for a purpose and pursue the mastery of that purpose, but the society of the Bonereapers lacks a certain vitality. They are characterful instruments of Nagash's will, and that is one of the reasons I wasn't keen on playing them at first.
Vampires, however, are free agents, with needs and desires that can be contradictory or self defeating to their Nagash intended purpose. They also allow the undead to have nuance and to interact with mortals in more ways than just viewing them as "prospective fodder." Obviously, a vampire that trucks with the OBR is of a more conformist breed, but where a Bonereaper would mercilessly reap the tithe, a Soulblight might find or indulge in other means of satisfaction.
The problem with monoliths is that while impressive, they are ultimately dull once the initial shock has worn through. As I've mentioned elsewhere, it surprises me that the OBR don't take more advantage of their undead cousins in warfare, which leaves the faction sort of one dimensional. The Bonereapers are a machine and it's hard to step into the shoes of a machine. And GW agrees with me, the interesting lore and books about them come from edge case personalities.
So, how does this work? Easy, the Mortisans find a vampire with sympathetic values and of sure loyalty, and make him a Liege over a legion in an area requiring the talents and charisma only a vampire can possess. The OBR keep their secrets and the vampire holds power over a fighting force by which all other pale. He's not perfect, especially by OBR standards, and his survival in his current form is based on his merit and continued success. The stakes are high, the rewards are great, and the possibilities flow like the sweetest bloodwine.
Bonereapers have personalities, and their own motives, but they really don't have any needs to speak of. They need repair, sure, but they exist in an undead stasis if left to their own devices. The Mortisans search for knowledge and perfect their necromantic artistry, the Lieges administer their armies and cities and refine their military arts. They are made for a purpose and pursue the mastery of that purpose, but the society of the Bonereapers lacks a certain vitality. They are characterful instruments of Nagash's will, and that is one of the reasons I wasn't keen on playing them at first.
Vampires, however, are free agents, with needs and desires that can be contradictory or self defeating to their Nagash intended purpose. They also allow the undead to have nuance and to interact with mortals in more ways than just viewing them as "prospective fodder." Obviously, a vampire that trucks with the OBR is of a more conformist breed, but where a Bonereaper would mercilessly reap the tithe, a Soulblight might find or indulge in other means of satisfaction.
The problem with monoliths is that while impressive, they are ultimately dull once the initial shock has worn through. As I've mentioned elsewhere, it surprises me that the OBR don't take more advantage of their undead cousins in warfare, which leaves the faction sort of one dimensional. The Bonereapers are a machine and it's hard to step into the shoes of a machine. And GW agrees with me, the interesting lore and books about them come from edge case personalities.
So, how does this work? Easy, the Mortisans find a vampire with sympathetic values and of sure loyalty, and make him a Liege over a legion in an area requiring the talents and charisma only a vampire can possess. The OBR keep their secrets and the vampire holds power over a fighting force by which all other pale. He's not perfect, especially by OBR standards, and his survival in his current form is based on his merit and continued success. The stakes are high, the rewards are great, and the possibilities flow like the sweetest bloodwine.
Yeah it is a conundrum that they are monolithic and that is both their appeal and their deterrent. I would think however, that with time, just like robots (in most sci-fi settings) develop bugs that then act as personalities. Or a certain Legion might have a weird interpretation of Nagash's will.