Wednesday 23 September 2020

Arrogant Lordlings - Citadel Guard Duellists

Part of the fun I've been having with my Mordheim / Frostgrave warband is selecting models for a particular role. Whilst it would be easy to have a rag-tag group of models with no visual coherence, I'm trying to add to the warband with models that fit visually and thematically. Cloaks are one of the dominant features on the Lone Wolf Citadel Guard, so I'm trying where possible, to ensure that my models are wearing cloaks. As a secondary criterion, I'm aiming to primarily use sculpts by one of the Perry twins.


In Mordheim, shields are a sub-standard option. Ideally you want your swordsmen to be armed with a sword and dagger as a minimum (or sword/axe or sword/mace). In Frostgrave, the Treasure Hunter soldier is equipped with a sword and dagger. There aren't that many cloak-wearing two hand weapon wielding Perry sculpts around, but I recalled the mid-1990s regiment of renown Vespero's Vendetta. A couple of those guys would be perfect!


With their natty headbands and non-militaristic fighting stances, I decided that I needed a narrative around their inclusion. 


Lordlings Evain and Edgyr Mountgray are young nobles attached to the Citadel Guard to learn fighting skills and gain combat experience. They are put through their training by the Citadel's Sword Master and accompany patrols of the countryside. Although skilled in fancy bladework, they are seen as arrogant, reckless and liabilities by the majority of Guardsmen veterans.



I kept the painting relatively low-key and functional, tying the colours to the rest of the warband with their yellow cloaks and blue headbands. I'm still not sure the blue headbands were the right choice - possibly pale blue shirts might have been the better option. Or maybe leaving blue out entirely and doing the headbands yellow?



I think they serve the purpose nicely though, and add another couple of tactical options on the tabletop.



14 comments:

  1. They look great, and I think the blue headbands work fine. The yellow cloaks are the strongest tie-in and work very well.

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    1. Thanks Bill, nice to be reassured! The yellow cloaks were definitely the key element for me too.

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  2. The blue headbands are just right as a spot colour I think. Blue shirts would have been too attention grabbing and leaving the spot colour out overall would have diminished them overall: the paintjob benefits from the visual pop.

    I do like the duellist trope, and I have always been keen on Vespero and co. I plan to use a Gutter Runner or two in a similar role for my skaven warband: the cloak, sword and dagger look is evocative.

    Hopefully we will get a chance for some swashbuckling sooner rather than later :)

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    1. Thanks cheetor, it's good to hear that the general consensus so far is that the blue headbands were the right option. There's not too many figures that actually fit the mould for sword duels - I can think of a couple of pistol options, but am drawing a blank otherwise. I'd definitely be up for some rope swinging and witty repartee at some point!

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  3. Nice contrast to the more stolid and heavily armoured minis already in the warband.

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    1. Thanks Carmine. It's fun to actually start nibbling away at the fringes of the group with some more exotic fighters now that I've got the uniformed core out of the way.

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  4. They look good to me. I think you got the amount of blue right. I like the grimy cloaks especially. I've not seen these models painted in a non-1990s style and I think it works well. The warband is looking good!

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    1. Thanks Toby. The cloaks are far and away my favourite element of this whole colour scheme. I think without the dirt and grime they'd all look a bit too bright and garish :)

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  5. As has been said above, the headbands look fine as is. A little spot colour to tie in with the rest of the band's scheme.

    Forgot about these sculpts - lovely usage for your games. Good stuff mate.

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    1. Thanks Dai! I'm not sure how long the range was around - not *that* long compared to the mainstream Warhammer range. Thanks for another vote of confidence on the headbands :)

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  6. That's quite a nice paintjob. As the others said, I think you really made the right choices about colours. They look interesting and of course they are asking for that extra background. Really great.

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    1. Thanks Suber! It's nice to have some slightly more individual/exotic figures in the mix.

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  7. It's probably just me but I keep getting Native American Indian vibes from the swordsmen. Weird I know. Regardless ... great work as usual axiom.

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    1. It's not just you - I had the same thought myself! Must be the combination of long hair, headbands and relatively natural colours!

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