figurines Archives - Page 3 of 10

Because in the end you have to show, not tell.

You don’t have to take my written word for it about the Lands of Hope. I have photos. And this time, I’ve decided to take you through the process in a world where heroes are built from scratch to suit the tales they came from.

I've had these three for over a year. Finally decided, I will paint them. — I’ve had these three for over a year. Finally decided, I will paint them.

Yes, for the first time in over twenty years I’ve decided to take up the brush again and begin adding to the massive store of visual evidence I have for the Lands’ existence.

WHO:

Are they kidding? Look at the rope! Much like Astor himself, too cool for words.

First and foremost, it’s the fine folks at DGS Games who I happened to see when one of their Kickstarter campaigns featured a hero of the Lands of Hope I never thought I’d see in person. Honestly, he’s perfect: Percis the Giantsbane, a hero of the middle years in the Lands who figures in the story line of Judgement’s Tale as well as in the Book of Tales collection. You had to support them at a certain level which resulted in three figs being sent, and I noted there was a very decent Pikeman as well as a Stealthic-type among the most original looking figurines I’d ever seen.

Best of all, these guys are larger-than-life! That is, they’re 32 mm scale, rather than the usual 25 mm; which means Percis is perfectly-sized as a Minion (his status in the present day of the Lands, something like a saint or angel in Alleged Real World Terms). I couldn’t believe my luck, and my rapidly-failing eyesight was grateful as well.

WHY:

Unpainted figs are already my favorite color! Percis, doing his imitation of The Scarecrow

It’s time, that’s why. Thirty years I didn’t write about the Lands because my head was screwed up about the job of a Chronicler, but I faithfully painted what I saw for two of those three decades. Some of my earliest figs predate my discovery of the Lands, to tell the truth. I enjoyed the painting nearly as much as sharing the tales themselves. And when you see such fine work coming to light, it’s impossible to stay out of that collective sense of patience and achievement. I’m no therapist (I’m on the demand side there), but I’m sure there’s a deep connection between the detail I can bring to my chronicles and the hours I spent trying to paint (and repaint) the buckles, eyes, shades, wine-stains and heraldry of these characters. Most of the time I was painting, there were guests around who took a figure here and there, and almost universally did better than me. I won’t tell you which ones, because jealousy. But I got steadily better and despite the eyes I think I can continue to improve now.

First attempt = epic fail. More patience, less glue.

The joy of having Sir Percis, Stathos or Astor to show will be well worth the time. And even the money… have to draw up a list:

Paints- mine are completely dried out, bricks of useless gorgeous color now. New colors will run about $10/3 good-sized bottles, and one brand comes with dropper-tops so I can precisely mix (and repeat) color shades. Very cool. I figure around $40-60 to get a good pallette
Brushes- checking mine, you need extremely small ones to do this kind of work (and I’m clumsy so even smaller is better). I have a few that will probably hold up to get started, but another two or three in my size won’t break the bank. A set of 8 at the craft store has five I’ll never use, but for the whole bunch it’s less than $10
A magnifier on a stand. I have to admit it, there is no way on God’s earth I can see what I’m doing with just the glasses (either set). I take them off to work already. Another $15
That’s a serious sub-total, but maybe if I’m a good boy my family will gift me for Father’s Day, and by the end of the summer I can show you Percis

HOW:

Never saw a pole-hammer so perfect for this hero. Percis' is even a touch longer, he wields it one-handed. — Never saw a pole-hammer so perfect for this hero. Percis’ is even a touch longer, he wields it one-handed.

Since my last column, my old Nokia Lumia phone completely died and my company replaced it with the iPhone 5. OK, wow- and this is not even the best tech they have? I’m nowhere near what the editor on the phone can do, so I’ll have to learn as I go. But it can get pretty darn close without any special lens, and I am using more light now so that helps. Here are shots of the opening stages, de-flagging and gluing the figs.

If you think about it, most figurines are cast inside a standard cylinder-sized space. What’s exciting about these figurines, aside from their size and detail, is how they all “break the plane” with things that are clearly outside that cylinder. Gluing is a weak point for me- Crazy Glue or other 10 second varieties are too

dangerous, so I have to use the old-fashioned model cement kinds and just. hold. on. for. ever. Deep breaths and try to lose track of time: my glasses are off so I can’t even read or watch TV! Ah the travails. But soon I’ll get paint on these beauties and it will all start to be worth it.

Be sure to check in later as the Minions and Heroes of Hope come to life!

Because in the end you have to show, not tell.

We return to the series where I can literally paint you a picture of what I’m talking about, for a quick look at one of the most unique characters in the Lands of Hope.

WHO:

The Stealthic is a dedicated follower of the hero Astor, vassal of Conar in the earliest days of Hope’s invasion. Whenever the job was dangerous, difficult or required secrecy– wait, let me rephrase. Whenever the record of history revealed that something impossible had suddenly been done, it was more likely than not that Astor was responsible. Down to the present day there has been a need for trained professionals who can scout out hostile positions, explore in risky environments, and “right wrongs without clues”. Astor was nicknamed Perilsgroom, and Stealthics today are not insulted by the epithet “danger-drunk”. But they WILL take umbrage at any comparison to a thief, of which the Lands of Hope boasts very few. The Stealthic lives by two credos, “Risk in the service of Hope” and “fighting is failure”. Stealthics always seek to accomplish the mission without resort to combat, and tend to judge the worth of a course of action by how much risk is shifted to them personally and away from others. The only theft they approve of is glory.

Probably the most famous Stealthic in living memory is Trekelny, a whip-thin Man who is rumored to have come from the fabled City of the Heroes bearing powerful artefacts that assist him in his jobs. Morinack, the quiet subtle Halfling who advises the usurper Yula was known to be a follower of Astor. Others like Bildon and Meandar figure in the tales but are no longer seen in the Lands. Folks in Cryssigens swear by (and sometimes at) a young and very wealthy Elven Stealthic named Feldspar, whom no one has ever seen except for his small army of trusted agents.

WHY:

Meandar, scouting in Despairing Jengesalamur

The Lands of Hope have been ruled by its Children for two thousand years of peace and stability. Crime is nearly non-existent, as most of its normal causes (such as poverty) have been removed. Stealthics can occasionally be found standing quietly in a far corner behind a ruler’s throne at court, waiting for a mission of delicate espionage. Others most likely have never been revealed by the record of history. But several Stealthics these days are to be found among the bands of despised adventurers, helping them get into (and sometimes even out of) perilous corners of the world where remnants of Despair still lurk. Army captains, court officers, rival merchants and adventuring bands all have need of specialists in accomplishing the difficult, or even impossible. Stealthics train for such jobs and display an often unhealthy love of the risk, to which some seem addicted.

HOW:

I may have felt a subtle tug telling me that, for these denizens of daring, the close-up ability of my smartphone’s Lumia Refocus lens was a must. Or, maybe my tablet wasn’t charged up yet. But I wanted to add that social dimension so I used buildings for the backdrop. I got very satisfactory range to target and think some of the angles and shadow came out quite well. Night-scenes were imitated using the Color-Pop facility or the Color menu in the MS Picture Manager. Nothing but nothing improves the focus once you’ve saved the shot in-camera, though, and I’m still looking for perfection on that. With these

Stealthics convention? I've never SEEN one... — Stealthics convention? I’ve never SEEN one…

guys it’s alright because you’re not supposed to spot them anyway. I also went for some more vertical angles, to suggest the Stealthic’s perspective (perhaps when watching a fellow member of the cult, to pick up some tips). The entire question of Stealthic training is one of the great unknowns of the Lands to date. I’ve seen a few clues… maybe some day I’ll look deeper into it. But for now, I think I enjoy the mystery and I hope you do too!

Any advice? What can I do without spending a lot to improve the quality of the pictures? Do you want to hear more about the Stealthic? Check out Fencing Reputation and the exploits of the wonder of Cryssigens, Feldspar as he gets caught up in a conspiracy that could plunge the kingdom into civil war. I hope to have this title out in paper soon!