Miniatures pt156 – Halflings
Nasty little hobbitses printed in FDM in 15mm scale. Brite Minis sculpts. They’re more round than my other halflings so they’re closer to hobbits.
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giorgis
Halfling swordsman Halfling crossbowman Halfling archer Halfling archer Halfling farmer Kettle Knight -
giorgis
Miniatures pt155 – Elves
I’ve painted more of the Brite Minis I had printed in 15mm scale. This time various Elves. A couple wood elf archers, a couple high elf warriors and several adventurer type elves (sorcerer, mage, mercenary, bard).
The wood elf scheme was close to my previous wood elves I had painted from Demonworld. Went with light greens, and red accessories.
For the High elves I went with a white and red scheme (wanted pink but guess I missed the mixing of paints in proper ratio, so I just went with it).
For the adventurers I focused on vermillion and turquoise with some variations.
Printing was okay bar the sorcerers staff head which was corrupted during printing so I turned it into a flame.
Wood elves 
High Elves 
Elf magic users 
Elf adventurers -
giorgis
Miniatures pt154 – Peasants, Villagers and Townsfolk
Continuing with a selection from Brite Minis, here are a few peasants, villagers and townsfolk ready to defend their land.
Scaled 60% for 15mm. Supportless models from Brite Minis. Printed on a Bambu Labs A1 mini with a 0.2mm nozzle. eSun PLA+HS Filament. 0.06mm layer height. High Quality default presets.
Halfling butcher 
Baker 
Townsfolk with rolling pin 
Villager with club 
Archer woman 
Peasant archer 
Peasant archer 
Peasant Spearman -
giorgis
Miniatures pt153 – Mycenaean Orcs
Or rather orcs in historically accurate Mycenaean armour. Brite Minis sculpts, printed in 15mm scale, FDM.
Orc party 
Orc heavy with axe 
Orc heavy with axe 
Orc heavy with hammer 
Orc heavy leader 
Orc shaman witch -
giorgis
Miniatures pt152 – Town Guard
I’ve been tampering with print settings a while now, but I don’t want this post to be another 3d printing guide. I’ll just give settings and information and proceed to the miniatures painting stuff. Perhaps I will make a separate 3d printing post later in the future.
I’ve collected several town-guard style sculpts from the Brite Minis catalogue.
Scaled 60% for 15mm. Supportless models. Printed on a Bambu Labs A1 mini with a 0.2mm nozzle. eSun PLA+HS Filament. 0.06mm layer height. High Quality default presets.
For paint scheme I went with a mix of earth tones (browns for leathers, gambesons, wood) and a Green (Permanent Green Light) and Yellow (Azo Yellow Medium) for the uniforms (capes, overcoats, pants, shirts). I free handed a tower in the shield with a Yellow/Green background.
I spent the extra time for details like moustaches, beards and buckles as needed. Overall I really like the end results, and will be proud to field them alongside my Blighthaven Town Guard.
Spearman Guard Captain 
Townguard 
Hornblower 
Drummer 
Spearman 
Man at arms 
Man at arms 
Man at arms 
Man at arms 
Spearman 
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giorgis
Miniatures pt143 – Mantises
Continuing on my bug hunt foes I used the mantis from Brite Minis. They come in three variations, so six with mirroring along X axis.
Painting sequence:
- Dark gray spray primer
- Airbrush zenithal
- Airbrush belly with vermillion
- Airbrush low with Yellow Green
- Airbrush diagonally top 285) Blue Purple/Yellow Ochre mix
- Airbrush top with Yellow Ochre
- Blue Purple Wash
- Tan Drybrush
- Paynes Gray eyes
- Warm Gray base
- Brown floor polish wash
And here’s them all together in a group photo
Mantises -
giorgis
Miniatures pt142 – Deinonychus
As discussed in my recent Bug Hunting Actual Play report, I’ve spent the recent past few weeks working to expand my “bugs” collection. I worked with the aim to have at least the distinct types covered first before switching to variants (for example insects prioritised over alien xenomorphs as I have not-genestealers already).
I needed a fast way to get these on the table as soon as possible, without compromising quality or variety.
Spent some time looking on available options and the most suitable models to print for each type. Then planned on the print, paint and sealing.
For printing I preferred types of enemies with at least a few variants, fitting on a standard sized base (didn’t want big or long bugs). Support free as always. I printed sets of 16 at a time, and to increase variants I Mirrored half of them in the X axis. The nice thing about “bugs” is that there’s no left or right side, you just want many, and this extra variety gives the mob look that is needed.
For painting, I decided to spray prime, then use a cheap (20 bucks) portable airbrush to lay down zenithal, and a few base colours. I followed them with a wash and drybrush.
I had never used an airbrush before, and it worked better than expected. Laying down the colours was nice, smooth and fast. There was a learning curve about thinning thick body acrylics in the right consistency, cleaning and avoiding clogs, but overall for batch painting that’s a tool I recommend, and will be using it more in the future.
Finally I did a lot of research on making a dip sealant, and combining it with a wash to tie the miniature together. I went down the rabbit hole of using floor polish, and it wasn’t easy to get out. But I succeeded in the end. I found a floor polish (perhaps the last in Greece) which has an acrylic polymer as an ingredient. I used this as my base. Added some PVA glue in order to avoid it running off a lot (for extra viscosity) and brown and black paint (no exact ratio here, just enough to give a nice tint, without covering the mini). I then did a quick dip, and it worked well! Sturdy enough for PLA also (dunno if it’s strong enough for pewter).
The first batch of bugs I painted was Deinonychus from Brite Minis – I only did the round based ones. They’re meant to be razor lizards and whatever else is suitable to be proxies.
The paint recipe was:
- Dark gray spray primer
- Zenithal
- Airbrush belly with Purple Red
- Airbrush low with Burnt Umber
- Airbrush diagonally & top with Raw sienna
- Airbrush top/head with Yellow Ochre
- Green wash
- Tan drybrush
- Vermillion Feathers, White stretch and Claws
- Polish wash
Deinonychus -
giorgis
Filament matters
Skeleton sample from Arbiter Minis 
Front 
Rear Mini from Arbiter miniatures, scaled down to 15mm. ELEGOO PLA Pro Purple. Bambu Labs A1 mini with 0.2mm nozzle. 0.06mm layer height.
So back to basics
I got a new ELEGOO PLA Pro to test versus my ELEGOO PLA basic. After doing all relevant calibrations I tried using it with the highly fine tuned settings I had for basic (0.03mm layer height, low speeds, etc).The results I got were disheartening at least. I got really fine stringing like hair which would cause minor imperfections.
I tried adjusting temperatures, retractions, z-hop, drying the filament. Nothing worked 100%.Then I remembered a lesson I had learned when starting 3d printing: back to basics. Whenever something doesn’t work, reset to default settings.
I switched to the Bambu default presets for 0.06mm layer height High Quality.
The results were amazing. Rigid printing minimal layers, no imperfections.My theory is that the different properties of Pro are more rigid, so it doesn’t allow the squishing of my other settings I was using for basic. However it works really well with default settings perhaps it fixes itself better together with no curling, stringing or gaps.
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giorgis
704 Special Forces – Session 0c
I was aiming for running this session last weekend, but with Strep and Flu B in the family two weeks in a row, I just didn’t have the energy to do it. The day came though, and I set a game up for the third Field Exercise of Forgotten Ruin. It took me an entire week though to write it down and post it.
This one has the entire Squad (both Fire Teams AND the Squad Leader), but no Platoon officers, so pretty much the regular team that I’ll be taking with me during the campaign.
The enemy force is just two Orc Mobs (Warriors + Archers) of Five orcs each, which sounds easier than last battle, especially considering how I’ll have double the firepower with me this time.
However, the objective is not to eliminate the enemy, but have a troop of mine go to the center of the battlefield and spend an action there. This sounds way more dangerous than sitting in the safety of long range. I can, of course game the game and sit back and let the orcs come to me, but where would the fun be in that!?
To recap, the squad composition:
Squad Leader – Sfc. Kirk Nielsen (M16 AR, M1911 Pistol)
Fire Team 1
- Sgt. Karl Welch (M16 AR)
- Pfc. Terry Shaffer (M60 SAW)
- Pvt. Martin Murphy (M79 GL, M16 AR)
- Pvt. Jeffrey Franks (M72 LAW, M16 AR)
Fire Team 2
- Cpl. Tommy Mayer (M16 AR)
- Pfc. Darin Gibson (M60 SAW)
- Pvt. Barry Mays (M70 Sharpshooter Rifle)
- Pvt. Dave Huff (M16 AR)
Some abbreviations:
AR: Assault Rifle
SAW: Squad Automatic Weapon (M60)
ARGL: Assault Rifle + Grenade Launcher (M79)
LAW: Light Anti-tank Weapon (M72)Distance conversions
Since the game is focused for a 3×3 table, and I’m going with 15mm miniatures on a 2×2 table (with the new 15mm base size, yay!), I’ll do a subtle conversion to gain a bit more room to play, but without being too fiddly to use. I’ll double the values, but measure in centimeters instead of inches, so a Speed of 5″, would convert to 10 cm.Champions: 1,2 No Champions
The two Fire teams met, and Sergeant First Class Nielsen arrived and took command from Master Sergeant Frank Lee. “Squad is yours Nielsen, I have to get back to Platoon HQ. Tangos are 2 klicks NNE, they seem to be guarding a tower. You are to investigate and eliminate any opposition.” Lee gave the orders and left, M16 strapped on his shoulder.
A short while later the 9 soldiers arrived at the point of interest. Two mobs of orcs were visible in the distance, archers sitting behind cover in some ruins. A tower in the middle of the battlefield.
Nielsen gathered the squad. “Fire Team 1 take the West Side, Fire Team 2 take the East side, you’ll provide cover against the enemy. I’ll rush in to investigate and dash back to you.”
Round 0 Round 1
Initiative:
2, 2, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 6, 6
Sfc. Kirk Nielsen (M16 AR, M1911 Pistol) – 4
Sgt. Karl Welch (M16 AR) – 4
Pfc. Terry Shaffer (M60 SAW) – 4
Pvt. Martin Murphy (M79 GL, M16 AR) – 5
Pvt. Jeffrey Franks (M72 LAW, M16 AR) – 5
Cpl. Tommy Mayer (M16 AR) – 3
Pfc. Darin Gibson (M60 SAW) – 2
Pvt. Barry Mays (M70 Sharpshooter Rifle) – 2
Pvt. Dave Huff (M16 AR) – 6Quick Phase
Pvt. Mays shoots his M70 at the orc archers in cover: 6+1: Great hit: 1+1/1+1: No Damage
Pvt. Gibson shoots his M60 at the orc archers in cover: 3,3,4,4: Miss
Sgt. Mayer shoots his M16 at the orc archers in cover: 2: MissEnemy Phase
The Orc archers suffer from War rage, and they move out of cover
The Orc warriors move in a flanking motion from the other sideSlow Phase
SFC Nielsen dashes to the objective tower
Pvt Huff shoots his M16 at the Orc archers out of cover: 4: Hit: 2: No Damage
Fire team 1 moves to the rock formation
Round 1 Fire Team 2 opens a volley of fire at the orc archers in the ruined gatehouse, however the orcs are in cover, and most of the shots miss, except one aimed shot by Pvt. Mays’ sharpshooter rifle, which grazes an orc, without wounding it.
Furious that they’re being shot at, the orc archers jump down from the gatehouse and out of cover, screaming war cries at the soldiers. The other group of orcs, stay in cover and proceed in a flanking movement from the west.
With the enemy busy, SFC Nielsen runs in a straight line towards the tower.
Pvt. Huff takes an extra shot at the orc archers, but misses, while Fire Team 1 moves in ready position waiting for the enemy to come to them, and keeping overwatch of the open ground at the west side of the tower.Round 2
Initiative:
1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 5, 5, 6
Sfc. Kirk Nielsen (M16 AR, M1911 Pistol) – 1
Sgt. Karl Welch (M16 AR) – 1
Pfc. Terry Shaffer (M60 SAW) – 1
Pvt. Martin Murphy (M79 GL, M16 AR) – 5
Pvt. Jeffrey Franks (M72 LAW, M16 AR) – 5
Cpl. Tommy Mayer (M16 AR) – 1
Pfc. Darin Gibson (M60 SAW) – 1
Pvt. Barry Mays (M70 Sharpshooter Rifle) – 1
Pvt. Dave Huff (M16 AR) – 1Quick Phase
Pvt. Gibson shoots his M60 at the orc archers out of cover:6,2,2,1: Great Hit: 4,1: One orc archer is down
Pvt. Mays shoots his M70 at the orc archers out of cover: 4+1: Hit: 1+1: No Damage
Cpl. Mayer shoots his M16 at the orc archers out of cover: 5: Hit: 6: Orc archer down
Pvt. Huff shoots hiss M16 at the orc archers out of cover: 5: Hit: 1: No Damage
SFC Nielsen moves into the tower: Interact: 5+1/4: Success
Sgt. Welch Delays
Pfc. Shaffer Delays
Orc Archers Morale: 2,4: Orc Archers StayEnemy Phase
Orc Archers shoot at SFC Nielsen (in cover): 1,5,3: Miss
Orc Warriors War rage forwards SFC NielsenSlow Phase
PFC Shaffer shoots his M60 at the Orc Warriors: 1,2,3,4: Hit: 6: Orc Warrior is down
Sgt Welch shoots his M16 at the Orc Warriors: 5: Hit: 5: Orc Warrior is down
Pvt Murphy shoots his M16 at the Orc Warriors: 5: Hit: 4: Orc Warrior is down
Pvt. Franks shoots his M16 at the Orc Warriors: 3: Miss
Orc Warriors Morale: 2,4,6: Orcs Warriors Stay
Round 2 Fire team 2 keeps shooting at the enemy, who are now carelessly out of cover. Two orc archers are down.
SFC Nielsen enters the ruined tower. As he scouts around he sees weird markings of a ritualistic nature. He notes some of them down in his notepad, before noticing the orc archers through the rubble at the dilapidated north wall, aiming at shooting at him. The arrows all strike at the masonry, Nielsen is safe for a few moments, but he knows he has to get out of there.
The Orc group from the west, enraged at their enemy in the tower, rush towards him, hoping to get there soon, but they’re now out of cover. Fire team 1 blasts at them with all their guns, killing three of them.Round 3
Initiative:
1,2,3,3,3,4,5,5,6,6Sfc. Kirk Nielsen (M16 AR, M1911 Pistol) – 3
Sgt. Karl Welch (M16 AR) – 3
Pfc. Terry Shaffer (M60 SAW) – 1
Pvt. Martin Murphy (M79 GL, M16 AR) – 4
Pvt. Jeffrey Franks (M72 LAW, M16 AR) – 5
Cpl. Tommy Mayer (M16 AR) – 3
Pfc. Darin Gibson (M60 SAW) – 2
Pvt. Barry Mays (M70 Sharpshooter Rifle) – 5
Pvt. Dave Huff (M16 AR) – 6Quick Phase
SFC Nielsen moves out of the tower back towards the squad
Cpl Mayer shoots his M16 at the Orc Archers: 6: Great Hit: Damage: 5,5: Orc Archer is down
Sgt Welch shoots his M16 at the Orc Warriors: 3: Miss
Pvt Gibson shoots his M60 at the Orc Archers: 5,5,3,2: 2 Hits: 6,2: Orc Archer is down
Pfc Shaffer shoots his M60 at the Orc Warriors: 2,3,3,4: Hit: 5: Orc Warrior is down
Morale: Orc Archers: 3,3: Orc Archers Stay
Morale Orc Warriors: 2: Orc Warrior StaysEnemy Phase
Orc archer moves forward and shoots SFC Nielsen: 5: Hit: Damage: 1 SFC Nielsen is stunned
Orc Warrior is with war rage and dashes towards NielsenSlow Phase
Pvt Mays shoots his M70 at the Orc Archer: 4+1: Hit: 6+1: Orc Archer is down
Pvt. Murphy shoots his M16 at the Orc Warrior: 5: Hit: 6: Orc Warrior is downBattle is over.
Round 3 SFC Nielsen is not going to stay and find out if he can defeat the orcs in close combat. He dashes out of the tower back towards the safety of his own men. In the meantime, the Fire teams don’t stop shooting. 2 more orc archers are down, and another orc warrior. Despite their severe losses, the humanoids stick to fight to the end.
The last remaining orc archer has a clear shot at the squad leader and takes it, the arrow hitting the Sergeant. From the west another orc closes at him, screaming with rage and brandishing his weapons.
They don’t get a chance to hurt the sergeant again though. A careful shot from Private Mays, takes out the archer, and one from Private Murphy takes out the warrior.
The day is victorious, without any casualties, but they need to head back and report to HQ what they found.Summary
As expected, the player side was victorious. I felt like the odds were in our favor right from the start. We were facing against fewer enemies, and we had more men than in the previous exercise. Perhaps if the table was more busy with terrain it could have been a bit different. During the regular campaign, terrain placement is more random from what I’ve read, and not left up to the player as in the exercises. It is my understanding that this (and of course the Aggression rule) will have severe impact to the flow of battle, but I’ll have to play it out and see for myself.
The battle ended quickly and I didn’t even have to (or rather forgot because it was going so well) use the Leadership tactics.
For the beginning of the campaign in next session, I’ll write down and finalize my own theme of the world, and perhaps spend a Story point to bring in Athen Smarte from my solo RPG sessions. -
giorgis
Miniatures pt121 – Footmen
The last part of my painted batch of 28 Brite Minis. 3 Halberdiers, 2 Clerics, A Noble, and a Crossbowman.
Footmen 
Ron Von Swannson 
Cleric 
Cleric 
Halberdier 
Halberdier 
Halberdier 
Crossbowman
Onibaba are discussing. 
Solo, Pen, Paper and Dice 
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