Wednesday 30 November 2016

Rum and Goblins!

Hey folks :) Just watched the freshly released Part I of this very amusing battle report for Stronghold 2nd Edition, where Peter and Will at The Esoteric Order of Gamers battle it out at the castle walls.
I have no idea *wink* who crafted those war-machines they're pushing about, but the game sure looks fun! Great stuff!


Edit: Be sure to check out Part II of the siege too ... it's most amusing :)

While you're at it, take a peek at the huge list of truly amazing downloadable Board Game Player Reference Sheets created by The Esoteric Order of Gamers. If you have any of the games they have created them for ... and you likely do ... you WILL want their handiwork included within those boxes! They are fabulous.

I recently also got to make some new pieces among a batch of hand-crafted comestibles.
This time for Jamaica, a colourful pirate-themed race game set in the Caribbean.
The haul of morsels, including new sculpts depicting tasty sliced legs of ham, and corked jugs of rum, are off to a discerning gamer from Boise, in the US of A.

Meaty, beaty, big and bouncy ;)

Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum!

Surf and Turf.

Smoked fishy goodness.

...followed up with a nice fresh fruity desert.


Happy Gaming!
:)

Saturday 12 November 2016

Return to the Cursed Island!

A new set of my sculpted board game components, for Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island,  has arrived at its destination in the UK, and are now safely in the hands of their owner.

I got make a few variants on some of the pieces I had previously created for myself and others in this lot. New look Weapon, Roof and Palisade markers, as well as a double-sided Morale totem ... one side - with a smile - for when morale is high, and another - with a scowl - for when morale is down.

Individually personalised Cross markers displaying stones engraved with epitaphs included, and Traps for the King Kong scenario ... with bananas for bait!
A Military Might marker for 7 Wonders: Duel was also requested.

A glimpse of the motherload.

A most enjoyable (and pretty lengthy) commission.

One note I would like to make for those who may be interested in placing commissions. Please be aware of tariffs/import taxes you possibly may have to pay to have your parcel released to you by your postal service. Many countries don't charge a fee, but some do, as the UK resident who placed this commission discovered!

I do make note of this within my price-list/ordering info pdfs, and also on the invoices I send out.

I don't like the ecstasy people should be feeling when receiving my pieces to be marred by an unexpected fee. So please, hit up your local postal service if unsure, before placing a order! :)

Determination tokens,
plus a few alternate ones for special situations. 

The "two-faced" Morale marker.

New Palisade, Roof and Weapon markers.

...and their backs.

R.I.P.

A nice, warm, home away from home.

Wasteland markers.

Have a heart, or four.

Food glorious food.

Furs from the local wildlife.

It's a TRAP!

El fuego.

A tiny desert island... as the Round marker.

The 7 Wonders: Duel, Miliatary Might marker.

The grand collection!


:)

Sunday 25 September 2016

Is that a Trebuchet in your Pocket...?

The last pieces ...well, for now... pimping out a copy of Ignacy Trzewiczek's great game of siege warfare: Stronghold 2nd Edition.

The trebuchets were certainly another tricky build, involving many bakes and also some serious pinning manoeuvres in their assembly.

I think the orcs, trolls and goblins will be pretty stoked to have them in their arsenal; along with the previously unbased onagers - now all seated upon earthy plant and rock emblazoned pedestals.

Trebuchets and onagers complete.

Ready to sling some stones.

All mocked up.

I could already tell...

...this was going to be...

...a challenge.

Creating the first building blocks.

Two side braces.

Assembly begins.

Weighty weights.

Stage two... the weights and arms.

Arms assembled.

Holes drilled for some pinning.

At this point it actually swivelled on it's axle
like a bona fide trebuchet.

Slings added.

Almost done.

Wheels on; just basing to go.

I had left the onagers I had previously made without bases, planning to add them once the trebuchets were fully sculpted and ready to be based themselves. That time had come.

Previously unbased onagers; now complete.

The final war-machine group.

With over 60 hours put into this project, I have to say it's certainly been one of my lengthier commissions. As well as the 2 trebuchets and the 3 onagers shown here, there were also 3 ballistas, 3 mantlets, 3 siege towers, 9 cauldrons and 23 wall sections ...and there are still more possibilities for future additions.

A really enjoyable project; and one of the few I've created for a fellow Kiwi :)

Time to take a rest and put my feet up for a while, and take the school holidays easy ...well, actually ...no. I'm straight on into a bundle of Robinson Crusoe: Adventures on the Cursed Island goodies for a particularly discerning gamer over in the UK. No rest for the wicked!

Happy gaming y'all.

:)

Sunday 18 September 2016

Onward, Onagers!

It was time for the orcs to get down to business; smashing that wall down was on the menu ... and the recipe was going to involve flying rocks. "Bring the onagers!" yelled the captain.

Further commissioned work on the Stronghold 2nd Edition pimp.
Onagers, the classic catapult, all but completed. Just the bases to create for them ...and I'll get those done when I also base the upcoming trebuchets I'll be working on over the next several days.

These pieces have had more steps in their assembly than anything previously made. Multiple sculpts, bakes, and assemblies of pieces. Pretty fiddly, but it all came together without any real hitches.

I feel they're going to look quite acceptable once their bases are on and they're out there on the board.

"For those about to rock..."

A mock-up in grey.

A few more the maquette; from above...

...the front...

...and the side.

Winch axle with rope.

Braces, winch axle and skein assembled.

Vertical braces.

Stop bars.

The basic frame assembled.

Well bound.

Spoons for the pebbles.

Almost ready for another assembly.

Winch handles.

Coming together.

Arms, rope bound and attached.

Just the wheels to go.

And completed ...phew.

Bases to be added shortly. :)

Next on the list are the trebuchets ... I have a feeling I have left the trickiest sculpt for last. Thank goodness I've had a little practice of late building war machines.

Further updates soon.

:)