Proxy Wars Episode 1: Mordheim

I play a lot of games, and dabble in quite a few more, and for many years I scrupulously used only the exact minis intended by the manufacturer for use with their game.  Its helpful, of course, especially in terms of WYSIWYG, but eventually everyone that plays a faction within a game ends up looking very similar.

( Brunhilde, Kinght of the Blazing Sun and acting  Witch Hunter Captain stands firm against an assault by a Sigmarite Sister and two Novices...Brunhilde is a real Heroine putting one novice out of action and keeping the remaining Sister and Novice tied up in melee for the rest of the game (top and left).  Brunhilde is from the Raging Heroes classic line and the Sisters are GW originals. Below: MVP Gretchin interrupts her journey rescue of Captain Brunhilde to ambush a novice sister that was searching for warpstone.)






For me, these days, the "Looks Cool!" factor is a big deal so I've branched out into proxies in a pretty big way. I'd always used the odd alternate manufacturer figure for special characters, especially those written up in the rules but whose figure was missing from the product line, or just because it looked like it would be a good fit as a sergeant or unit champion/standard bearer/musician as these types of miniatures were often available in only one pose or might even be entirely absent.

 The table was set with a Deepcut Studios cobblestone mat and a pile of Tabletop World buildings.  To give the game a "night time feel"  I used a blue light and a couple of overhead white spots.  The result was stark shadows and a gloomy night time feel while still maintaining enough light for comfortable play.

The match was the opening round of a campaign and first up were Witch Hunters vs Sigmarite Sisters!

 Fueled mainly by the amazing complete proxy armies that are available from folks like Raging Heroes, Avatars of War (Although they now have a rule set of their own in Warthrone), and Scibor, I'm building complete proxy armies as my first choice.  In doing this I'm not necessarily looking for a less expensive way to produce an army.  Raging Heroes, for example, is not a discount mini shop.  I'm looking for the minis that best portray what I want to play.







 There are downsides to proxy armies, of course, but they are largely confined to official company events and tournaments where there may be a requirement for official miniatures in order to participate.  I don't do tournaments for the most part so it doesn't really have an impact on my gaming.



(Above and above right: A large central melee broke out.  The Witch Hunters face off against the Sisters.  Witch Hunter Gretchin, supported by the Warrior Priest Whilhelm and the wardog Walter, faces off against the Matriarch Beatrix.  A lucky crit by Gretchin with the dueling pistol takes the Matriarch out of action before she can strike! Witch Hunters Hildegard and Johan hold fast in a furious engagement with Sister Superior Magda and two Sisters.  One turn later, Wardog Walter, and Warrior Priest Wilhelm add into the grand melee while Gretchin exits the area to head towards Mercenary Captain Brunhilde who is all alone and engaged in a lopsided duel.  Meanwhile two novice sisters decide to dodge the grand melee and scour the area for warpstone.)

After dispatching both the Matriarch and a novice Gretchin claims final victory by forcing the game ending route check...











The teams!  The Sisters spent more gold building their warband (492 to 485) but came up short on rating compared to the Witch Hunters.  The ratings ended up being Sisters - 68, Witch Hunters - 96 not enough for an underdog bonus but enough to notice.

 

The minis:  Sisters of Sigmar are all Games Workshop while the Witch Hunters are a mix of Games Workshop and Raging Heroes.

Scibor Retinue Stunties and Mr Bones poses for Objective Markers

 Scibor has these great atmospheric Stunties (aka as Squats... shhhh) to help carry your cool war gear or your Xenophobic Message of the Day. 

I went a little crazy when I saw them and got the whole assortment... or at least all of it that I am aware of and put them to the brush.

Initially I had thought to use them as Watchers in the Dark and painted all the bases in Dark Angel colors for use in the ruins on The Rock but figures themselves don't really have that spooky vibe so.....

I did a set of them as Inquisition retinue.  Maybe a little odd using abhumans for that but some of them are obviously servitors, or at least well on their way, and it a perfectly acceptable hypocrisy to press them into Ecclesiarchy service.

The castings are relatively clean although there is some ambiguity in the harder to reach places, primarily the undersides of things but the resin has a good feel to it and I'm generally pleased with the product.  The sculpting is very cartoon like, which suits my painting style well.

Now to find a suitably thematic Inquisitor for them to escort!

The Heresy Suppression Force slowly fills out as a largely non-GW accessory.  The Sisters of Battle will be GW since I have a pile of them lying around but I'm thinking of spinning them up as a solo army and making the HSF a separate project entirely.  The HSF will be Raging Heroes.  I'd like to do wheeled, medium weight vehicles for them instead of a tracked heavy build to fit with the urban based, anti insurgent theme.  

" Hear Ye!, Hear Ye!  Today we HATE the Alien!"

To be fair they hated the Alien yesterday as well.  They probably hate you too!  Lots of hate in the Imperium!

 Here are a couple of armorer serfs for a Black Templar that I know... just a tad heretical!

"Hey Dracamir!  You gonna need your Boarding Party Gear today?"

 No retinue is complete without someone to carry your gun and a keg of your favorite beverage!


The keg can do double duty with my Dark Angels...

These guys could also make good objective markers themselves now that I think about it.  They serve no game purpose, other than possibly to represent wargear, and would look cool in that role.

Mr Bones!

He's cute and spooky in a Scooby Doo kinda way.  I thought I'd make use of him as a generic, color coded, objective marker set. The shovel just screams ... "Ok dig here!"

I failed when doing cleanup on these guys and the retain a lot of mold lines.  I might have to go back and do something about the most egregious of them.... the fingers!  I'll probably just paint them as rings and call it a day.  These are Tabletop quality after all!