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Lizardman Modifications (multiple photos)

I've always been a big fan of lizardmen.  When I first started playing D&D back in the stone ages, I always wanted to play one, and when I ran games, they frequently appeared as antagonists.  So of course, I've always been a big fan of lizardman miniatures.  Reaper Miniatures makes some great sculpts, but I've always been a bit disappointed with the selection of weaponry their lizardmen come with.  They tend to have a lot of clubs and things that while dangerous, just don't look that impressive.  Now I get it, they are stone age savages who live in swamps where metal would rust pretty quickly, but I want my lizardmen to be cunning and crafty.  I expect that they will actually use the weapons that they acquire from slaughtering hapless merchants and unlucky adventurers.  So I set about modifying this set of lizardmen (DHL Classics Lizardmen II available from Reaper for $11.99) to better match my vision.  Let's take a look at the the original minis.

The original lizardman group

Now, these are look pretty tough, and I certainly wouldn't want to run into any of them in a dark swamp, but I want my lizardmen to be more elite.  The fellow on the left has a stone sword, which I actually think is pretty cool.  Some effort must have gone into making that, and it's probably some sort of lizardman heirloom, possibly carved from a mysterious stone found by his grandsire deep in the swamp.  I like the look of that one, so I've left him alone.

Stone swords can be cool too!

Next, the fellow in the center has a rather wicked looking maul made from a spiky stone tied to a big stick.  While I sure wouldn't want to get hit with that, I think that we can do better, so I replaced it with a big curved two-handed sword.

Now that should up my damage a bit!

Finally, we come to the fellow on the right.  This guy has a bunch of skulls around his neck and appears to be rather important, but for a weapon he's carrying...a bone.  Honestly, were they on their way to raid a village when he noticed that he had forgotten his weapon?  Did he stop by the rubbish heap and just grab a dead adventurer's femur?  I decided that he really needed an upgrade and replaced his bone with a wicked looking barbarian sword.

I'm so glad I pulled this out of the rubbish heap instead of a bone!

So now we have my upgraded lizardman raiding party.

The final group armed to the teeth, or to the fangs!

The modification weren't hard, and my new mini craft drill made the work much easier.  I'm pretty pleased with how these modification turned out, and can't wait to get started painting them.  So what do you think, do you prefer your lizardmen to have stone aged weapons or more modern weapons?

Warhammer Quest

I'm not sure how I missed this, but Games Workshop is releasing a new version of Warhammer Quest this month!  Of course it costs $150, and it's one of their limited runs, but still it's nice to see them using some of their older popular properties.  Plus, if Space Hulk is any indication, it won't be the last time we see it.  I've grown rather disenchanted with GW over the years, but this certainly makes me think, even though it doesn't look as fancy as the original.

Miniatures Monday

This week for Miniatures Monday, we have a dual wielding northern warrior.  It's not among my best work, but I've done a bit of touchup here and there to get it to the point where I'm happy enough with it.  My attempts at painting black hair tend to meet with rather mixed results.  The miniatures is Dantrag, Northern Adventurer, and is still available from Reaper Miniatures for $6.99.

Weird Adventure Wednesday

This week's weird adventure seed:

On a stormy night you strike up a conversation with a mumbling stargazer in a busy inn.  The stargazer tells you a forgotten tale that 5 weeks travel to the west, across The Mystifying Hills of the Mysterious Warlock was built The Illusory Shrine of Extinction.  It is said that there is hidden The Crimson Tripod of Entanglement.  But beware, for the stargazer cautions you that The Dire Jailer of Mutation guards that place!

Miniatures Monday

This week, we have a couple of malevolent spirits.  I painted these a shading experiment where I base coated the the robes in white then used a light blue ink to fill in the recessed areas.  I was pretty pleased with the results.  The miniatures are from Reaper Miniatures, and are Model number 03298: Spirits.  They are still available for $9.99 from the online store. 

In my high school German class (1986), we listened to this every day for a month.

Miniatures Monday

After a hiatus due to some time away, Miniature Monday returns in all of its sorcerous splendor.  This week we have a staff wielding sorcerer from Reaper Miniatures.  I'm pretty please with how the shading on his robes and beard turned out.  The miniature is 03393 Vistaril Quillscratch and can by purchase from Reaper for $5.99.

Landing approach to Skull Island

Well, St. Lucia actually, but on first sighting it emerging from the clouds, it really did look like somewhere that you might find King Kong hanging about.  This is also the reason that I haven't been posting for a while. :-)

Champions of Zorb

This is seriously demented. Having said that, I would have played with something like this as a kid. ;-)  The little gem is from the ABCs of Death 2, a horror film which although I had no interest in seeing, seems to have at least one redeeming quality.  Thanks to +James MacGeorge for posting a link to this originally.

Off the cuff map

My friends Willie and Laura are moving out of the country, so four of us got together to hang out one more time before they leave,.  Part of that hanging out involved an impromptu basic D&D game.  Above is the map that I whipped up for the Skull Tower of Mygnos, complete with illustrations, some of which were done by the five year old twins of my friend Tim.  I think the owl monster and the skull to the right of the walled tower gardens are my favorites.

R.I.P. Admiral Ackbar

Actor Erik Bauersfeld, who was the voice of Admiral "It's a Trap!" Ackbar has died at the age of 93. :-(

Miniatures Monday

For this week's Miniatures Monday we have an enchanter using mystical gestures to harness arcane forces.  The miniature is from Reaper Miniatures.

Kickstarter: Mystery at Port Greely (Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea): Only 10 hours to go!

The Kickstarter for Mystery at Port Greely has only 10 hours remaining.  If you're a fan of Astonishing Swordsmen and Sorcerers of Hyperborea (or if you just like Swords and Sorcery), don't miss this opportunity.  For only $20 you can get the print and PDF copies, which I think is a fantastic deal.

Weird Adventure Wednesday

This week's weird adventure idea:

On a cool afternoon you are surprised by an overbearing apprentice hiding in the bushes.  
The apprentice recounts an ancient legend that 5 days journey to the southwest, in the Woeful Mire of Delirium, can be found the Bloody Cesspool of the Spectral Eye.  It is believed that hidden there is the Expanding Magnesium Blade of Misadventure.  But beware, for the apprentice warns you that Bleeding Leviathan of Corpses prowls that site!

If you enjoy Weird Adventure Idea Wednesday, be sure to stop back each week, and check out some of the other free resources in this blog.