Mustering from the Tomb

[The Sun King]

Wow yeah that sounds annoying. I've never had those sorts of issue with GW minis . I'm hyped to see all the work you get done! Really great to have the OBR represented on here.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

really? that's weird... usually with the latest products i have no issues.

It's possible the Tithe-Echelon box was stored or delivered with something heavy on top of it. I'll post pictures once I get to the conversion/repair part of the project.

 

[Raven Torrid]

It also depends on the retailer and the courier service they use. Some use cheap couriers but they are also awful. I used to get battered packets and boxes sometimes, but would ask (and get) a replacement sprue or partial refund in cases where things got broken. But I also had it happen with smaller boxes (Eltharion for example) where the outside package was ok. Those big army deals from GW do tend to be filled to the brim with sprues so it's not weird when something breaks. Not to mention the actual models are becoming more complex, with thinner parts and fiddlier overall.

 

[Unas the slayer]

Not to mention the actual models are becoming more complex, with thinner parts and fiddlier overall.

...which are much easier to break even under the "stress" while you cut them away

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Considering that my planned paint scheme is basically the Soulreaper variant of the Mortis Praetorians, I enjoy the thematics of the Bone-Tithe and Mir Kainan is of their host, I think narratively my legion will also be Katakroi. Reaper Praetorians, if you will.

Additionally, I think Mir might be a title, rather than a given name, via Persian.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Gothizzar Harvester is assembled! Also snagged some decently priced OBR warscrolls and dice; I am such a fan of the dice. Magnets are on their way too.

Decided to just build the Liege-Kavalos as Zandtos. I have thoughts about converting a Liege-Kavalos with Soulreaper bits once I get the second Tithe-Echelon battleforce. Speaking of the Liege-Kavalos, I think I'll want to run one and a minimum unit of Kavalos Deathriders in 1k. I'll post a preliminary list soon.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Rolling this list forward for my convenience. In all of my years of playing Warhammer, I have never been this excited to play an army. It's so weird that it took me years to come around to OBR, but I've had a lot of major changes in my life recently. I remember when I first started out, my cousin had brought over a copy of his White Dwarf, wherein Lord Skrolk and his Nurgle Daemon allies defended against a Lizardman force bend on wiping them from the jungle. Skrolk failed, and the battle report expounded on how he fell into the river below the temple and later, soaking wet, crawled up onto the embankment to swear revenge. My next birthday I picked up my first box of clanrats and the 4th edition Skaven book, and I think it was because at the time their energetic, "survive at any cost" mentality appealed to my personal situation. David Bowie once said that "aging is an extraordinary process where you become the person you always should have been.” A commander of the Deathless Legions it is then!

Wishlist:
Arkhan the Black
Malign Sorcery
Black Sand Basing
Katakros

On Order/In Transit:
White Dwarf 452
Morghasts (4)
Bone-Tithe Nexus

Assembly Queue:
Liege-Kavalos*
Mortek Crawler Crew (5) [rfs]
Kavalos Deathriders (5) [rfs]
Mortek Guard Shields (40) [rfs]
Necropolis Stalkers (3) [rfs]
OBR Endless Spells (2) [rfs]
Mortek Guard (20)
Mortek Crawler
Gothizzar Harvester
Mortisan Boneshaper

Conversion Queue:
Mortisan Soulmason [fill]

Painting Queue:
Mortisan Boneshaper*
Mortek Guard (20-20)*
[UWSL] Kavalos Deathriders (5)*[/UWSL]
Kainan's Reapers (6)*
Vokmortian
Zandtos
Gothizzar Harvester
Bone-Tithe Shrieker
[UWSL] Mortisan Soulreaper[/UWSL]
Mortek Crawler

 

[The Sun King]

Considering that my planned paint scheme is basically the Soulreaper variant of the Mortis Praetorians, I enjoy the thematics of the Bone-Tithe and Mir Kainan is of their host, I think narratively my legion will also be Katakroi. Reaper Praetorians, if you will. Additionally, I think Mir might be a title, rather than a given name, via Persian.

Nice catch with the farsi reference! The Persian Empire also used heavy cavalry called The Immortals (because of their heavy armour) and I think GW got inspired by that as well when they designed OBR.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Bone-Tithe Nexus is back in stock at GW, which means my local store should get it in soon.

Edit: I was wrong, it's only available outside of the US.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

There's a seller on ebay hawking Morghast kits for $50 (23% off retail), so I picked up two. Asked after the Feast of Bones booklet and token sheet, since that's where the kits came from, maybe I'll get lucky. I could have bought Feast of Bones itself, but with Vokmortian on the way and plans to purchase another Tithe-Echelon, I would be inundated with Necropolis Stalkers and end up with a bunch of ogres I don't have inclination to resell. There are a few international sellers offering the book and tokens, but I'd rather not pay $30 for them because of shipping. I don't need them, so I'm willing to wait for the right opportunity.

I was specifically prompted to buy Vokmortian and the Morghasts by the Mortis Praetorian legion's -1 bravery aura. I adore MP because in lore they are considered "consummate tithemasters" and even sport the caste sigil of the Emissarians on their iconography. The fear bomb strategy is at a disadvantage against any armies that can shut down the Battleshock phase, other OBR for example, but, unlike Null Myriad, Mortis Praetorians has other advantages to leverage. Vokmortian, while in-character for the theme, doesn't fair as well as his legion in such circumstances though. I guess sometimes you have to pay the tax to play the way you want.

I like to win, I enjoy bringing my best to the field of battle, but Warhammer has always been foremost about roleplaying for me. Speaking of, I can't wait to dig into a 3.0 Path to Glory campaign, it is exactly the experience I want to have.

Edit: The seller did indeed have an extra book and token set. I'm glad I asked after it.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

I think Vokmortian looks better sans the zombie heads on his staff. Definitely a victim of "more is less", he already has the face of Nagash in his chest and a stone coffin strapped to his back.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

 

[Grave Tacticus]

I want to get on with painting my 1k list, so I need to work some "minor" fixes on Zandtos and the Boneshaper. Some of the broken tail bits might have been my fault, but I also think there was something up with the molding process, but should be easy going. The Boneshaper, however, arrived with one of his back spikes missing and it will be a bit tougher to replicate. Well, it's off to the races.

The other fixes are a missing portion of cloth on the Soulreaper and a torn rib on the Mortek Crawler, which should also be easy, and I might get to them as well if the first two fixes go smoothly.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Got through all of them, the fixes aren't perfect, but once they harden I should be able to some finer work with my hobby knife to make them look even better. I thought the cloth fix ended up the best, but it was the biggest and therefore easiest to fix.

On the table, people aren't really going to notice, but it would have been worse had they not been looked after.

 

[The Sun King]

Good job on those repairs

 

[Grave Tacticus]

While White Dwarf 467 is taking its sweet time to make it cross country and the Morghasts haven't even been shipped, my second Liege-Kavalos kit arrived today in quick order and I'll be able to start building my narrative play general, though it will be a month or so before I buy the second Tithe-Echelon Battleforce containing the rest of the conversion material. I could use the Soulreaper I have on hand, but its point value is actually quite convenient for filling out lists, plus the repair work I've already put into it. Usually, I like to jump right into my General, but I did assemble Zandtos incorrectly (easy fix, he's just rotated away from where his arm should meet his hand holding the reigns) so I'm glad to have that experience under my belt for when I do the Liege.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Didn't judge the elbow angle correctly, but it was good enough to get in it place for some green stuff repair work to pull it together. I'll need to be very careful with the scythe modification, due to how the left arm held the spear.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Praise Nagash! The seller has finally created a shipment for my Harbingers and Feast of Bones book.

Filled the elbow on the Liege and finished putting together his steed; not much else can be done for now for it.

I should list out the paints I need and get ready to buy the first round.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Picked up WD 453, which features Vokmortian's Tithe Legion and an OBR painting guide. One particular passage stood out to me:

'Thou hast entered this discourse believing us to be alike in dignity. You parade in gleaming plate and beneath proud banners, and believe thine glories equal to ours. But mistake not our terms. Thou art chattel to fuel our designs. Five hundred skulls before the turning of the whisper-moons. I need not tell thee the price of defiance.' - Zarokles, Emissary-Liege of Nagashizzar.

Emissary-Liege is the title I've been looking for, to mantle upon my Soulreaper/Liege conversion. Additionally, information on the Tithe Legion concept was quite informative and gives narrative depth to the mechanical interactions I've been looking to take advantage of. I'm glad I followed the impulse to purchase this issue, it's become integral to my legion's backstory and operation.

Edit: From reading through this issue, the Hallost campaign has also caught my attention.

 

[Unas the slayer]

Picked up WD 453, which features Vokmortian's Tithe Legion and an OBR painting guide. One particular passage stood out to me:

'Thou hast entered this discourse believing us to be alike in dignity. You parade in gleaming plate and beneath proud banners, and believe thine glories equal to ours. But mistake not our terms. Thou art chattel to fuel our designs. Five hundred skulls before the turning of the whisper-moons. I need not tell thee the price of defiance.' - Zarokles, Emissary-Liege of Nagashizzar.

Emissary-Liege is the title I've been looking for, to mantle upon my Soulreaper/Liege conversion. Additionally, information on the Tithe Legion concept was quite informative and give narrative depth to the mechanical interactions I've been looking to take advantage of. I'm glad I followed the impulse to purchase this issue, it's become integral to my legion's backstory and operation.

Edit: From reading through this issue, the Hallost campaign has also caught my attention.

i like the lore part in which OBR use diplomacy first.

 

[The Sun King]

Yeah that is awesome lore.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

As I was futzing around with the OBR name generator, I encountered the combination of Bas-al, which I liked immediately being so close to 'basalt', it turns out that in English basal is a compound word Base + al (pertaining to the base or foundation). I was further reminded of a word from Akkadian: ishdum ‘base, foundation, bottom; lower extremities; administration, organization (of a government)’. And so, my warlord's name shall start with Basal.

Not entirely decided on the third part, but here's the short list: -oss: as in ossiarch/bone, -ek: per Mort-ek, which I determine to mean person, -ites: one of, or -(a)eus: sounds like a real word ending.

Edit: I think I'm going with Basalek, I think have a hard consonant at the end fits the character more.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Second Tithe-Echelon is, surprisingly, arriving tomorrow, which means I'll be able to finish my Emissary-Liege conversion! In the meantime, I'm working with my wife on figuring out her Daughters of Khaine collection and throwing down, which has been long overdue.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

Here's the pertinent parts of the Soulreaper for the conversion. I'm going to try to get at least four soul traps to suit my need for balance, and hopefully green stuffing the face to be more like Mir Kainan's will go smoothly.

 

[Grave Tacticus]

I was able to save four soul traps, hurray. The scythe ended up needing more work, so I built some handle on the hand to align it with the bottom haft. I'm fairly satisfied with it so far and should be able to get the scythe blade on tomorrow. Speaking of, I decided to try and keep the spirit effect, and I think it has a chance of not being terrible.