Day 15: Swordmaster of Hoeth

I liked the Island of Blood box when it came out, but I didn't have much reason to buy it since I didn't collect Elves or Skaven, and I didn't really play WFB. I picked up a few minis here & there from bits websites, like the Elf Mage & Skaven Warlord. They look great & are cheap on bits orders ($2-3 usually), but the units, like the Swordmasters & Seaguard, have to be bought as entire blocks ($18 & $20 respectively), so I don't want to make that kind of investment on minis I don't have any need for.
Although it turns out that a local guy went to my FLGS & turned in a group of elves on consignment, so was able to pick up a few minis for fun. Here's the scheme I came up with.

My idea for a High Elf force would be a sea-green scheme with green-shaded silver armor. The hair and cloth were done by basing with Orkhide Flesh, a wash of Biel Tan Green, then layering up to Warpstone Green, Sybarite Green, and then a final highlight of Sybarite with White Scar. I like the color a great deal. I wasn't sure what to do for the gems & sash, but I knew I wanted it to pop, so I gave orange a shot, and I think it works well.

I'm on vacation until Sunday, but I brought all of my painting & photo gear with me, so I hope to be able to keep updating while I'm abroad (across the state really). I hope to have more tomorrow.

~Muninn

White Dwarf Leaks: High Elves on the march

The first pics are in of the offerings in the next White Dwarf. The rumors have been accurate once again, and the High Elf Army will be receiving their new codex an units in no time. I nabbed these from Faeit 212.

By the way, is anyone else thrilled at the rate these armies are being released? This will be the sixth codex release of 2013 (Dark Angels, Warriors of Chaos, Daemons of Chaos, Chaos Daemons, Tau, High Elves) and is the rumors are true there will be four or five more, depending on who you believe (Eldar, Lizardmen, Space Marines, Orks, Tyranids, and Imperial Guard have all been mentioned.)

Anyhoo. Back to the Elves. Looks like a nice crop of new minis. I'd have to say my favorites are the Female spearman, and the Shadow Warriors, although I can see myself doing a bits order of those flaming bows & arrows. Those look stellar too.

I once entertained the idea of starting a High Elf army, but never could find anyone willing to split the Island of Blood box set with me. Something about an elite army speaks to me, since Fantasy armies have sooo many minis. I have an unfinished Orc & Goblin army, but there aren't enough fantasy players around to compel me to put it back on the front of my painting table.

~Muninn

High Elf photo leak

Well this morning came with a surprise leak of some new High Elf units, as well that the High Elves are being released in the immediate future. This was apparently grabbed off a GW facebook page by some lovely folks over at Warseer.

There's obviously a good bit of speculation about what we see here. There's obviously a Phoenix mount (possibly for Phoenix Guard) as well as the blue variant (Ice maybe?). One interesting bit to me is that it appears that the wings are interchangeable, so you can put them on to appear that the eagles are either flapping their wings up or down (compare the two red phoenix's wings).

Other sightings from this shot are what appears to be an Eagle Chariot, halfway off the bottom of the screen. Another guy thought the unit to the far right were new Reavers, but no one else sees it (I don't play HEs so I wouldn't be a good judge).

Either way, this looks like a good confirmation that High Elves are close, if not next. Exciting new for the folks who've been waiting patiently for their pointy-eared/helmeted army to be in the spotlight.

More when I have it.

~Muninn