Fae Sidhe
Recommendations: 3
About the Project
This started as a part of my Slaine project but has grown in intent and deserves its own project. The Sidhe are not represented in Slaine's world - it turns out that this is because Slaine and his tribe of the Earth Goddess are what the original version of the setting would call the Sidhe, as at the climax of the series Slaine's tribe are given refuge in the Otherworld leaving the Gaels to rule Ireland. In my version I will have the Sidhe as another faction akin to Wood Elves in other settings.
Related Game: Midgard Heroic Battles
Related Genre: Fantasy
This Project is Active
Trying a colour scheme on the Wardancers - NSFW
With this army I want them to look otherworldly. I have read about painters using purple as an undertone when painting skin. I like that as a concept and will try that as the final finish. Then to dial up the otherworldly quality I’m going to channel Edward Cullen in the sunlight from the horrid Twilight films. Therefore I’m going to highlight with Colorshift paints.
I’m starting with the Lucid Eye Root Elves. As fanatics they are suitably nude (hence the Not Safe From Weiners warning). They also have a nice Celtic look with their spiked hair and fit in very well with the Grenadier elves and AA sidhe.
Because I’m using Speedpaint the whole force have been zenith spray undercoated, white over grey. I applied the purple tint to the skin, Pastel Lavender thinned 50/50 with Medium. With this on I painted the hair with Sand Golem, wiping back the tips of the spikes with my finder for an instant highlight. Then when dry I dry brushed the hair with white to take the highlight up a notch.
Next the tattoos went on with a thin brush in a standard acrylic, Oxford Blue.
When everything was dry the skin was highlighted with Celestial Azzure and the tattoos with Martian Green. These Colorshift paints don’t really show up in the photos but take it from me they add a very noticeable shimmer to the skin and are strongest in the places where a ‘standard’ highlight would sit.
I’ve used some unusual paints so for those who aren’t familiar with any here they are:
Initial thoughts and a Midgard list
It is always miniatures that inspire my latest muse. In this case the classic Grenadier Miniatures Fantasy Armies range of Wood Elves as sculpted by the incomparable Mark Copplestone. Alongside those are the brilliant Alternative Armies Erin Sidhe range – all motion and ethereal menace. Having both been designed in the 1980s they are a good match. Because of the heavy Oldhammer overtones I’ll need to be careful with what I choose to put with them.
I had a look around and through what I already had. I’ve got a couple of Banshees that will make a great unit – after all their name has Sidhe in it (Sidhe is pronounced ‘shee’ as in Banshee). I have had my eye on some Lucid Eye Root Elves and I have some minor Fae from the D&D plastics by WotC. Finally I like an allied faction to add to the main army and I bought a mixed collection that had a box of GW Dryads that I’ll use for forest spirits. Finally every good Midgard list needs a moster – I’ll go with the Archon Studios Demonic Tree.
A 450 point Midgard list (45 reputation):
Heroes (151pts):
Titania Queen of the Fae (L3 Army Commander) – 44pts
Oberon Lord of the Hunt – L2 – 28pts
Cú Fiáin The Wild Hound – L2 Chariot Hero – 27pts
Druids – L2 – 26pts
Shamen – L2 – 26pts
Units (255pts):
4x Sidhe warriors 56pts
1x Sidhe Archers 25pts
1x Banshees 26pts
1x Wardancers 24pts
1x Minor Fae 14pts
2x Dryads 28pts
2x Glade Riders 52pts
1x Eagle Riders 30pts
Monstorsity:
Tree Lord 44pts
The bulk of the force are light infantry with a heavier punch coming from the Wardancers and the relentless horde of Dryads. Should make an interesting contrast to the largely heavy infantry Tribes and Drune forces.
Finally I needed a spooky autumn forest as a backdrop image. Sadly my Jon Hodgson books don’t have anything suitable so I went to Freepix.com to find something royalty free. This one will do just fine.
