Shadespire journey continued (Spring Clean)

Garrek was already painted with a pale skin but not much else.

I mixed some Army Painter Wolf Grey and some Bugman’s Glow for the base skin colour.

I used a part Citadel Dark blue Nightshade and part Fleshtone as a wash.

I did a heavy highlight of the Wolf Grey and Army Painter Barbarian Flesh but found this was too bright for what I wanted.

I did a part Violet, part Fleshtone wash to drag the tone back down again.

I did a thin highlight of Wolf Blue and Bugman’s Glow and then a more selective highlight on the upper areas of blue and barbarian flesh. The scars got the same bright highlights but with a touch of Rakarth Flesh mixed in.

The metal on show is painted in my usual, recent, go-to of lead belcher and Retributor Armour. All the metal got an Agrax Earthshade wash and few highlights of the original metal colour to bring it back up again.

The red is Mephiston Red.

For the legs strapping I used Zandri Dust, Agrax wash and a Rakarth Flesh highlight.

The black used is Abaddon Black.

The blood on the axe and dropped in moderation all over him is the Blood For The Blood God technical paint.

The brown of the trousers is the primer spray Mournfang Brown with some Zandri Dust weathering and an Agrax Earthshade wash.

The skulls on the base are Zandri Dust, Earthshade wash and Rakarth Flesh highlights.

I think the base is Army Painter Ash Grey with a heavy Nuln Oil wash, but this was left over from my original paint job attempt and I might be wrong on the grey.

I think I am going to use a similar scheme for the other Bloodreavers, but I am going to experiment with some other skin colours. I think they are all going to be mixed with a Bugman’s Glow / Barbarian Flesh base in the hope this helps tie them back to all being from the same cursed squad. The mirrored city has had a bad effect on them, more than just making them even more mad and savage than they were before.

I looked at various paint jobs out there and decided on the skin tones I am going to go for.

I like the Vallejo Black Red that I chose for the flesh on this model. I mixed it with a bit of Bugman’s Glow for some definition on the muscles.

I used a basic Citadel Fleshtone wash for the shading.

I think I could go a bit more cavalier with the random Blood For The Blood God spatter that I have decided to make a theme for this warband.

• Blooded Saek – Is going to have an even darker fleshtone.
• Targor – I will take to a purplish tone for the flesh
• Arnulf – Will have a more  green tint to the flesh.

Sometimes you only spot missed details when you start photographing, so there will be a bit of play at home spot the difference comparing these pics with the group shot at the end. ?

I went for a darker skin tone with a Abaddon Black and Vallejo Black Red mix as a base, with a Bugman’s Glow added to the mix for muscle highlights.

I used a Citadel camoshade on the axe handle strapping. I used an Agrax Earthshade wash on the skin and then a light Nulin Oil wash once the Agrax was dry

The skin is a mix of Death Guard Green and Bugman’s Glow with a wash of Citadel Camoshade.

I like the level of blood spray on this one.

I could have blooded up the axe more like the other guys in the band, but chose to just bloody the spike on the axe head instead.

Arnulf seems like more of a stabber than a chopper.

I think I will add some highlights to the boot fur to bring it out more, but otherwise happy with him.

This guy was far more purple under camera than I thought he was out of it. ?

I think he looks satisfyingly berzerk and this painting experience has got me looking forward to playing the game again after quite a while away.

The skin is a mix of Vallejo Royal Purple and Bugman’s Glow with a wash of Citadel violet.

I tidied up a few bits I saw were wrong in the individual photos and added some Vallejo Iraqi Sand highlights to the skulls.

I have never painted models to a standard I am happy with so fast before.

I am looking forward to playing the game, but the deck building element was awkward for me.

I found a video and found it helpful.

Some of my likely opponents are fairly good, competitive and some have collected a lot of the warbands. The deck building and liklihood of being trounced put me off playing to a degree, but I mainly found fun with games like Saga and a recent first delve into Blood & Plunder to enjoy instead.

I am not a competitive gamer at all and love the painting and social side far more, but I am looking forward to playing and testing out my first Chosen Axes list soon.

If my painting efforts warrent it please comment and like to enable this obsessive hobbyist in need of constant reassurance and painting praise. ?

Wanted to add one last post to say once I completed the painting project it has sparked a fresh interest in the game.
I got to play in a 4 player match last night and it was a ton of fun. True to form I didn’t win, but I really enjoyed it and look forward to playing again.

I had a concern that maybe the new magic wielding factions from Nightvault would stamp all over the Shadespire war bands with their new tricks and toys, but I think the balance is still solid.

My other concern was that deck building power creep would ruin the fun side; where those with all the best cards from multiple expansions would crush other warbands and make it all feel too meta heavy and competitive.
I think there is a risk of that still but as long as I play with friends rather than strangers at tournaments I don’t think that is going to effect my enjoyment.
With some luck and clever choices on your part I still think most of the war bands can give a good account of themselves.
I was playing against unpainted minis last night, but it was still fun to look at my painted minis as I pushed them around. My friends will get around to painting them and playing the game regularly as time goes on because they are our sort of people.

Thanks for coming on this journey with me if you have read and followed my project thus far. I appreciate the likes and time you have shared. ?